Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Obama, Clinton, and the Media




This is funny. You know, the media has a great time depicting Hillary Clinton as a blood thristy, raging, power hungry white woman. Even though I am a supporter of Barack Obama, I'm leery of how others are presented to me by the media whether it is favorable or not. This is especially true when it comes to politics. Yes, I was also leery of Obama in the beginning. He seemed too good to be true. Plus, I felt like many who thought that America would never, never, never place a person of African descent on a believable path to the White House. Now, I'm just anxious to see how all of this will pan out. Is America finally ready to start the healing? Are we ready to turn the pages of history and start a new and inclusive chapter? Perhaps.


Photo Source: news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/bensargent

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, I hope so. This whole world can do with some healing!!!

Yasmeen Christian said...

I am very nervous.

NML/Natalie said...

"perhaps" is a good choice of word. Him being the candidate even though it is rightfully so, almost seems too good to be true... But if he makes it to the White House...history is about to make a very dramatic shift.
That cartoon is hilarious. You are right about media portrayal and they find it easy to do that with her because she's a woman.

Babz Rawls Ivy said...

I do not think it will bring healing.

Media today is about gossip, inuendo and exploitation of fears and anxieties.

I think America is ready for a person of Color, and for a woman. I think this is the door opening. Not unlike so many other instances of doors opening in terms of race and gender. We have seen it in sports, entertainment, litrature, music and now politics. And even with doors opening, isms still exist and persist. What I think will happen is a greater tolerance for the unbelievable...a Man of Color in the White House.

Cynnie said...

I dont think america is ready..I think the edges of the states would vote for him..even the south has become more open minded and accepting ..
but the middle states..thats where all the hard core super conservative super anti everything people live..
they scare me .

but he has more of a chance of winning than Hillary did ..
Black people got to vote before women did ..and thats for a reason..
men have trouble giving any authority over to a woman ..
at least a black man is still a man ..

I hope he does win though ..he's green..the one thing they all harped on was his lack of washington experience..
Thank god for that!..

Cynnie said...

Sorry..
I was reading your mother's day posting ..
awww!..
I'm from the south ..I had my mama, my mama Mae, amd then my more mama..
I miss that, i miss all the loving southern mamas ...it took all three to keep me out of trouble...
most of the time.

christina said...

I think America is ready for the healing to begin. This country is long over due for a bit of change. To say it will happen, I'm not sure I can say that out loud yet.

Cergie said...

Hi Stephen !
Comment vas tu ?

A French dictionary had introduced recently Hillary Clinton and not yet Barack Obama.
In France most people prefer Obama, however the French have not to choose.
;o)

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

perhaps, i concur

Bougie Black Boy said...

Hilarious. I saw another cartoon of Hilary waking up in the middle of the night, still in bed and answers the phone.
Once the receiver is to her ear, the scene cuts to a FAT opera woman singing through the phone.

It ain't over till the fat lady sings.

the prisoner's wife said...

i think to some extent the media has been harping on her since jump street, since bill was the gov of arkansas. she never fit into the mold of first lady. she wasn't quiet & homely. she couldn't win for losing. crying made her "human", but they'd all crack on her for seeming robotic. but as a woman, she has to be tough or else they would talk about her being weak & whining.

and Obama doesn't have it easier, although overt racism is taboo (in mainstream media), but sexist remarks are deemed ok. the problem in pitting the two isms against each other is that it forces us to take side. like...racism harsher than sexism, and vice verse. those types of politics are just divisive & will cause the dems to lose come November.

time to shake it off & unite for the team.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Emil-
Yes, we need some healing and understanding. Thanks.

Yasmeen-
You?!

NML-
Yes, I'm looking for the whole planet to shift. :)

Lovebabz-
Maybe you're right. Perhaps the TV show, 24 set the stage.

Cynnie-
Yes, we don't need anymore "Washington Experience." Well, at least not what we've had for the last 8 years. Thanks for stopping in. Peace to Mamma Mae. :)

Cergie-
Yes, I hear that they like Obama in France. Good to see you.

TStephens-
Thanks, bro.

Bougie-
What are you doing here? :)

Pwife-
Yes, we need to unite. I like how you broke that down. I tell you...those Gemini women! :)

Stephen A. Bess said...

Christina-
Yes, say it loud! :)

rebecca said...

the first time i heard him speak was at the 2004 boston democratic convention. my first thought: this man would make an excellent president. well, he's here and he proved himself to be a formidable opponent against the dirty tactics of the HIL and BILL. now, he has one more to go. but pundits and politicos alike believe he can only win this is if he chooses the HIL as his running mate. UGH! there has to be a better candidate than her.

i wrote a little ditty on obama and our current "commander guy" just last week.

peace,
rebecca

Lori Stewart Weidert said...

Whoo, I hope so, I hope so!

Stephen A. Bess said...

Rebecca-
Nice piece you wrote. Thanks for the comment and welcome!

Gnight-
Yes, me too. So much hope. Good to see you. Long time!

fitzgerald said...

I've been trying to learn as much as I can about Obama, I'm reading his first book "Dreams from my father" now. He is a different kind of black man, which has both its good and bad. But I do like his style, he seems to rise above all the negatives that get thrown around by the press. I am interested in seeing how he will deal with the far right and the extream racist that are begining to come out of the wood work.

I support him and want him to be the president, but Hillary would have gotten my support too, if she had won the prymary. As long as we do not get four more years of the same old stuff I will be happy.

Professor Zero said...

I think he'll win, although that will just be a first step - there are lots of twists and turns ahead. But it's a positive thing, largely because so many people have such positive reasons for supporting him. That right there is a sign of 'healing' already taking place, in my view, and a strong expression of who we'd like to be. I find this heartening - very.

I say this as a person who would have originally voted for one of the candidates who had already dropped out by the time we had our primary. I went out to vote for Obama because I'd decided it would be good to break the Bush-Clinton chain. It was when I actually pulled the lever that I realized hey, this is fun! I'm calling down some positive energy right here! And I skipped all the way home, and I've been increasingly pleased about the whole thing ever since.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Fitzgerald-
yes, we have to look at the bigger picture. I agree.

Profz-
We need all the positive energy you can muster. I'll join in. :) Good to see you.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

happy fathers day

Sista GP said...

Like you I am waiting to see how this all pans out. I wish this was not a race/gender election, but more on who is the better leader for this country and our part in the world community.

Sista GP said...

And Happy Father's Day

changeseeker said...

I'm still waiting for the other shoe to fall. I'm on the Obama wagon (as opposed to whom? McCain? come on...). But I, like Yazmeen Christian, remain nervous. And Clinton still lurking everywhere smells funny...

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

All this makes me remember a book by John Updike, Brazil. Brilliant, thought provoking book.

Tha BossMack TopSoil said...

We live in interesting times. I am leary of all politicians, yet I am more leary of Bush folk.

Stephen A. Bess said...

TStephens-
I hope you had a great Father's Day. I know I did.

Sista GP-
Yes, I'm still a little nervous, but I've calmed down a little. There hasn't been too much talk in the media over the last couple of days.

Changeseeker-
lol! Smells funny? Yeah, it always smells funny here in Washington.

Guyana-Gyal-
I've never read the book, Brazil. I need to put that on my already long list. :)

BossMack-
This campaign has made me and many others more politically conscious. I wish that I could say that I already was, but I'm not too sure. I mean, I've always been a registered voter, but this is the first time that I've paid any attention to the issues and debates. I followed Bush and Gore debates, but this is more intense and interesting.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Sista Gp-
Thanks for the Father's Day wishes. It was a nice, but exhausting day. :)

Unknown said...

I'm not holding my breath with America! Obama has come extremely far and has made great strides in the history making aspects, but if he can go ALL THE WAY still remains to be seen.

Crankyputz said...

He's a politician, and frankly he can't win if he is too angelic, but he is a great sales man, and I think that's what America needs right about now....someone to tell them there is a reason and that its all going to be okay.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Regina-
I certainly hope so.

Cranky-
Yeah, I think that a win by Obama would restore some faith in the system -- not much, but some.

Kyra said...

Stephen,

I am an Obama supporter. As a quilt historian, am also interested in how and if quilters are capturing the 2008 US Presidential season in fabrics. I've seen a couple of great pieces - one by DC artist Francine Haskins. Also have on my blog a free quilt block pattern featuring Senator Obama - there's also one on Senator Clinton. Are you seeing interesting election season artwork?

Best, Kyra
www.BlackThreads.blogspot.com

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