Cornel West on Obama: I Hope He's a Progressive Lincoln, I Aspire to Be the Frederick Douglass . . .

[bigtree]

. . . to Put Pressure on Him”


from DemocracyNow: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/19/cornel_west_on_the_election_of

Princeton University professor of religion and African American studies, Cornel West, speaks about the election of Barack Obama, his selection of Eric Holder to be Attorney General, the possible selection of Lawrence Summers to be Treasury Secretary and the role of the progressive left to push Obama.

He writes: “Now here we are in 2008. America finds itself looking to its blues people again to provide vision to a nation with the blues. That is a source of hope. Yet hope is no guarantee. Real hope is grounded in a particularly messy struggle and it can be betrayed by naïve projections of a better future that ignore the necessity of doing the real work. So what we are talking about is hope on a tightrope.”

listen/watch: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/19/stream

[Ninga]

1. I am always captivated by this man. Cornel West never disappoints, nor does he

shy from colorful analogies and memorable examples.

He will hold President Obama's feet to the fire for sure.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. Cornell West, now there is the smartest guy in the room

I really enjoy his views, and also the way he writes them. A briliant man.

[babylonsister]

3. Thank you! It's just coming on here, and I love Mr. West, too. nt

[bigtree]

4. I have a special memory of happening to be marching beside him

. . . in an anti-war rally in D.C. and sharing a few thoughts on the youth in the crowd as we stood in front of the White House. I can't get enough of the man.

[babylonsister]

5. How lucky for you! I was first introduced to him on

Bill Maher's show, so that's much less auspicious, but he left an impression.

And this is the first time I've ever heard Amy Goodman laugh! :wow: