I am not your typical white person

Barrack Obama has now described the actions of his grandmother, which he had earlier alluded to as racist in nature, now says she doesn't harbor any racial animosity she's just a typical white person.

Just what in the Sam Hill is that supposed to mean? Is he insinuating that a "typical" white person just acts and talks like a racist but isn't one? If that's the case, you can take it to the bank that along with many others, I am not your typical white person. What do you think would have been said of Hillary or Bill Clinton if they had uttered the words "typical black person" in the context that Obama used the phrase typical white person? It would have been ugly.

Obama has put his foot in his mouth. He's not the only one, and not that malady can only be attributed to his camp. George Bush seems to be rubbing off on all politicians. The foot-in-mouth disease is contagious, as witness the Geraldine Ferraro remark and the numerous gaffs by John McCain.

It wasn't but a few weeks ago that Geraldine Ferraro stumbled. To quote her accurately; "Obama is only where he is because he is a black man." She didn't even say typical black man. But she said enough to get in a heap of trouble. Geraldine was only saying what the political pundits were reporting. She just said it very poorly. The trouble is she didn't specify what she meant by " where he is," and the comment that being black was the only reason for Obama's success was ridiculous. For this gaffe she was labeled a racist, and there was wild speculation about racism emanating from the Clinton camp. That's hogwash and Geraldine Ferraro is no racist. Hell, she probably isn't even a typical white person. Whatever that is.

Why is it racist to say that Obama is getting overwhelming support from the African American community at least in part because he is African American? That's just reporting the facts. Do we really think he would be ahead in this contest if he was not receiving 80 to 90 percent of the African American vote? Is it wrong to point out that Hillary is getting some support from women because she is a woman? She is, you know. It's okay to say that because it's true. Why is it considered negative campaigning to say the truth?

They even say stupid things at Harvard. Harvard's Orlando Patterson is a sociology professor of some note, who has spent years studying, writing and lecturing about slavery and racism in America. He did his resume and reputation great harm recently when he tried to make a case that Hillary Clinton's 3 a.m. ad had a sub-message, as he called it, that was racist. That's an outlandish conclusion, unfounded, and not supported in any way by Mrs. Clinton's history or her present position.

Patterson seems to think that Hillary's sub-message was, "You don't want Obama answering that phone because he is a black man." What the ad, to any rational person's comprehension, was saying Hillary believes she has more experience and would be a better choice to answer that call. That's all. That can, and should rightly be debated. That's fair. But she was saying nothing more, implied or otherwise.

So here is my message for Patterson, whom I hope, is not a typical Harvard professor.

Sir, it does not serve the purpose of justice to speak of conspiracies where none exist or to rant against evil that dwells only in your mind. To cavalierly attribute a motivation of racism on wild speculation does a great disservice to the fight against racism to which you have dedicated your life. Nevertheless, I will strongly defend your right to speak freely, albeit delusively, for that is one of the liberties we all still share in common. It is one of the liberties that has survived the savage attack upon our freedoms by the current administration. Trust me, sir, there is no sub-message in this statement either.

There have been many charges of playing the race card or making insensitive remarks during this campaign. Anyone can misconstrue almost any statement, to reflect something sinister that was never intended, if they have a mind to.

As eloquent as Barack's speech on race was, and I read every single word, the topic is very difficult to discuss without tripping up and saying something better left unsaid, as were his comments about his grandmother. The line "typical white person" that followed, only served to raise more questions that have yet to be answered satisfactorily. On its face it sounds terrible and appears to be a classic example of stereotyping.

Obama may very well get the nomination, and I will vote for him, but he's making it harder and harder.



Glen McAdoo, a Fallon resident, can be reached at glynn@phonewave.net.