The Caucasian Card

As for being black having given Obama character - I too give him huge bonus points for being black. I followed his Illinois Senate run from California eagerly hoping for him to win - because he is black. (And articulate and smart but the excitement came because he was black) - but as for the character build, I have to bawk just a bit when I think of his years doing drugs which he himself tells us about in his book when he was 'up to no good'. Sorry, it doesn't seem to me that he took the built character route when dealing with whatever issues he faced in his youth. I'm sure some character came as well and respect many things about him now but I'm not conceeding that all black people have automatically the same character as a certified war hero who volunteered to fight for their country and sacrificed years of their life being tortured for US - to compare that with someone who is black in America is a crazy idea.

This lady is nuts on the race issue - completely blinded by the left - and I'm cancelling my subscription to Newsweek today. We will never have a united America if we listen to crackpots like her. (I say that as someone who has respected her opinion on many other issues, btw).

Isnt it funny how we need Affirmative Action because people can't join the rest of America in the work force or earn grades in highschool required for grants and gov. aide. However, when they become successful they do not want Affirmative action to be looked at as how they got to where they are? Well, last time I checked, if you say you need it to succeed, then wouldn' it be the reason you succeeded? The hypocrisy is at an all time high around the US these days. Whats next? Obama didn't pull 94% of the black vote against a CLINTON democrat because he's black? LMAO

I think your argument concerning race and meritocracy is excellent because I was caught in that racist trap of considering affirmative-action and quotas to mean the ascendancy of the second-rate. I knew that was wrong and unjust but wasn't able to articulate an adequate counter-argument, until I read your article so thanks for helping me to break through that conundrum. While I agree with practically all your points, particularly about non-whites experiencing discrimination (I'm east Indian so I know first hand), I will say in the case of Obama it doesn't apply. He most definitely was using race-card as a bludgeon against John McCain to try to shut down any attacks against him as racist. He stated it bluntly in June with him comment "oh by the way, did you know he's black" (where he repeated the same attack against McCain).

I personally have no issues with a black president, but Obama's values are downright dangerous for this country, particularly his passivity towards the enemies of America, not to mention his lack of any leadership experience, his far left radical connections, his endless flip-flopping for political expedience, partisanship, his arrogance and presumption of entitlement and so forth, I'm just scratching the surface. If Obama and McCain's background/character were reversed, Obama would be getting my vote, but since that's not the case obviously McCain deserves it. Let's not elect a president out of white-guilt, that'd be a disservice to the country and also a setback for race-relations when people realize Obama is incompetent and unfit to lead.

If that isn't the most ridiculous article I've ever read, it's too close to the top for me to say for sure. I did once read an article that tried to argue that black sprinters aren't really any faster than white sprinters but, I'd still give this one top billing. There are some arguments that are so absurd on their faces that it's hard to reply. This certainly fits that bill. I'll just call it stunning and leave it at that.

NOBODY is saying that black people commonly use the race card. To argue that one man, Obama is doing so is not the same as to argue that all black people do or even a lot of them do. How dare this author attack McCain again, just as Obama did two weeks ago based on a huge generalization that first John McCain will attack Obama based on his race - not because McCain has but simply because he is white and a Republican so therefore of course he is a racist or a demogogue who will play the race card - and second now you attack him as being somehow racist because he called Obama on playing the race card.

So now, according to Obama and this author, McCain is guilty of being a racist before he opens his mouth and says anything at all about Obama's race AND McCain is a racist if he calls Obama on unfairly characterizing him as being a racist (or demogague if you try to argue that Obama was only saying McCain would use his race for political gain, not actually acusing him of being a racist when he said they would attack Obama because he is black.).

I'm a liberal democrat on social issues, always have been my enitre life, but that is a screwed up view of the world you have there lady. You should be ashamed of yourself.

I almost came to tears after reading this article. It's so true it's scary!

I am a 22 African-America woman from Atlanta, GA. My mom grew up in Augusta, GA & my dad Atlanta & Texas. My parents both were born in the 50's & attended schooling in the 60's & 70's.

My mom has seen it all & been through some racist events growing up. From white teachers changing her grades from A's to C's & D's to receiving an F on a field trip assignment because my grandparents only had one car, in which my grandfather had to go to work with, and she couldn't meet her class at the field trip location. Most people think after 1969, racism ended in the south...but all of that happened in 1973!

Even today, I work in a office where everyone but me is white. Even all our clients are white. Every meeting I attend sometimes there are only 5 black people in a room of 100 whites and I'm always the only black women. I feel like I always have to prove myself. I'm the youngest in the room & I'm the only african-american woman.

As a black woman, you have to do MORE than the black man who has to do more than the white man just to be considered for jobs, promotions, etc. The race card is played in good ways and bad ways.

I have a friend who was hired for a job because she was black. Her employer told her never to dicuss her hourly wages with anyone because he didn't want tention in the store. She was later fired 3 months after that!

I can go on but I'll end there...Being black in America is hard...and being a black women is even harder...God Bless you all! :)

thank you for stating my thoughts so eloquently. h. armour-white

Wonderfully insightful and articulated piece...thank you.

I like the "good old boys" comment below. This is exactly what burns me. You claim to hate descrimination and stereotypes, but somehow it's o.k. as long as it's against whites. When have you ever heard a t.v. personality use the term "the R-word"? to describe a southerner. No "redneck" has such a nicer ring to it. The only diference is Jesse Jackson won't be all over t.v. tomorrow calling for their job over it. I recently saw Al Sharpton jump all up in Don Imus' face for using "you people" in a sentence. A couple days later, Sharpton was on Fox News and used "you people", clearly to describe whites-AND NOBODY JUMPED ON IT! Did they completely miss it? Or was it no big deal?

This was absolutely one of the most intelligent commentaries on the whole situation thus far. Brava, madam!

Not only is this a startlingly jaded argument, but it is simply not true. Most who use the phrase "play the race card" as a pejorative are as equally disgusted with the old boys club as they are with affirmative action based on arbitrary distinctions such as race. Both are an affront to liberty and equality. I believe that, on the whole, Mr. Obama deserves credit for refusing to use language and support policies that fan the flames of racial animous. It was, however, a mistake to say what he said...both a tactical error and an error in judgment. Sure, it may have been stating the obvious, but the obvious need not always be stated. Mr. Obama wants us to believe that he will bring us together and work toward unity and civility. Mr Obama (and Ms. Quindlen) should both know that such a cause is not well served by the tired implication that Republicans bridle at the use of race for political gain because they are all really just a bunch of closet bigots.

Anna Quindlen is irretrievably in the tank for Obama!

This was great article regardless of the "good ole boys'' that are commenting below and above me. Finally someone who could look out the box of their own life and see the issues of another. Whether Green, blue, black or white. Their is a word "empathize" that more Americans should live by but most will choose to live by another which is "quiet bigot". Is it to fair to believe that as a Caucasian male I have an advantage whither far or not? I love my son having a competitive advantage in everything from college, workforce, and all most anything I can think of(that???s not a bad thing in my mind). But the question is do I realize that he has one? Yes!!! Is also fair to believe that his black friend have had to work maybe twice as hard as a black male to obtain what I as an average white male sees as the norm. All while dealing with "good ole boy" ideas, people and attitudes. If I do well, "I'm an affirmative hire". If I fail like any of my other White peers it???s because ???I???m an affirmative hire, & shouldn???t have been here anyway. Damned if you do but also damned if you don't!! I applaud Mrs. Quindlen for have the courage and insight that so many others either fail to see or do everything in their power not to see.

Also as far as the election goes, Everyone who has read this article I included knows that if Obama's name and skin color was of Anglo Saxon descent that John McCain wouldn't have a vote on Nov. 4 with the exceptions of the die hards(which he doesn???t have their ideas either). If his name was John Smith and looked like Mitt Romney it would be a land slide. But his name is Obama and looks kind of like the guy u see dunking basketballs on TV, now here comes is he experienced enough, is he patriotic enough ect.ect.ect.!!!! Bill Clinton didn???t have a day of Washington Experience nor did G. Bush Jr. Did the questions about their experience come up as loud or as often? I think not. Through out this election thus far Senator McCain hasn???t outline or even spoke details about one position Energy, Taxes, Healthcare, or any other policy matter. The only thing that he has detailed is his disdain for Senator Obama, all while counting on the fears of the ???I like my pie the old way??? Americans to just see a white face and cast a vote on that more than substance of policy. Wake up America the world is changing and if we don???t change as a society then ALL OF OUR CHILDREN SUFFER in the decades to come and get this they will suffer TOGETHER.

A country can never over come race or even realistically deal with it if 75% of white America says "theirs no problem" or "we don???t have a competitive advantage" people have to empathize and see how their lives would be different or viewed different if they were born of a different race or completion...

The Democrates don't want anyone to imagine a soldier is a father and good neighbor (he's different!). Or a cop is good friend and sports fan after hours (he's different!). Or a christian loves outdoor activities and even sky diving (They're different!). Or a gun owner is a responsible co-worker or boss( he's different!). Or any achiever shops at the same stores and drives on the same streets as the rest of us (he's different!).
The DNC are the experts at waging discrimination campaigns of lies from a consistent menu of DIFFERENT PEOPLE we are all supposed to loath, suspect and dismiss! In sum it is the AMERICANS SUCK FIRST campaign and all of these Different People are to blame for all the ills of our nation..
Obama understands his party's discrimination campaign formula also used by the liberal media, and in a turn around is trying to play that HE may be the victim of the different peoples discrimination. (Those Different People bastards see ME as Different so rally around MY campaign! Save ME from those awful Different People Ogres!) (YOU know The Ones!).
The last The One to wage the DNC Americans Suck First Campaign from the Oval Office was Bill Clinton who had other agendas which were not in ANY Americans best interest! Obama is going to be The Same One as that!
Americans hate discrimination campaigns needing only to see threw the themes, messages, and call to action of lies and half truths. The DNC is betting that most Americans can't see threw it.
Americans are a great people! America is a great country!We all want the same thing.Prosparity and a future for our children! Discrimination campaigns suck! And so does the people who wage them!

This was great article regardless of the "good ole boys'' that are commenting below and above me. Finally someone who could look out the box of their own life and see the issues of another. Whether Green, blue, black or white. Their is a word "empathize" that more Americans should live by but most will choose to live by another which is "quiet bigot". Is it to fair to believe that as a Caucasian male I have an advantage whither far or not? I love my son having a competitive advantage in everything from college, workforce, and all most anything I can think of(that???s not a bad thing in my mind). But the question is do I realize that he has one? Yes!!! Is also fair to believe that his black friend have had to work maybe twice as hard as a black male to obtain what I as an average white male sees as the norm. All while dealing with "good ole boy" ideas, people and attitudes. If I do well, "I'm an affirmative hire". If I fail like any of my other White peers it???s because ???I???m an affirmative hire, & shouldn???t have been here anyway. Damned if you do but also damned if you don't!! I applaud Mrs. Quindlen for have the courage and insight that so many others either fail to see or do everything in their power not to see.

Also as far as the election goes, Everyone who has read this article I included knows that if Obama's name and skin color was of Anglo Saxon descent that John McCain wouldn't have a vote on Nov. 4 with the exceptions of the die hards(which he doesn???t have their ideas either). If his name was John Smith and looked like Mitt Romney it would be a land slide. But his name is Obama and looks kind of like the guy u see dunking basketballs on TV, now here comes is he experienced enough, is he patriotic enough ect.ect.ect.!!!! Bill Clinton didn???t have a day of Washington Experience nor did G. Bush Jr. Did the questions about their experience come up as loud or as often? I think not. Through out this election thus far Senator McCain hasn???t outline or even spoke details about one position Energy, Taxes, Healthcare, or any other policy matter. The only thing that he has detailed is his disdain for Senator Obama, all while counting on the fears of the ???I like my pie the old way??? Americans to just see a white face and cast a vote on that more than substance of policy. Wake up America the world is changing and if we don???t change as a society then ALL OF OUR CHILDREN SUFFER in the decades to come and get this they will suffer TOGETHER.

A country can never over come race or even realistically deal with it if 75% of white America says "theirs no problem" or "we don???t have a competitive advantage" people have to empathize and see how their lives would be different or viewed different if they were born of a different race or completion...

America 08