Overheard in restaurant last night

[Holly_Hobby]

Two 40-ish white couples were sitting behind us. They were talking about the democratic presidential candidates. They really disliked Hillary, liked Richardson and loved Obama. But one of the women said she would NEVER vote for a black president or VP because Jesse and Al would be permanently camped outside the WH gates as their personal attack dogs, whether they wanted them or not.

Who here thinks Jesse and Al hurt Obama this week?

[malaise]

1. Imus could have responded anywhere he liked

He chose Al Sharpton.

[YDogg]

3. Imus gave Al Sharpton more credit than he deserves, IMHO.

[YDogg]

2. No more than any other week ...

... except in the minds of those who would never vote for an AA pres anyway.

[Little Wing]

4. I don't.

DU getting whipped into a frenzy over this doesn't reflect the rest of the country's interest on the matter. From what I know, Obama did one of those obligatory "I'm a candidate, here's what I think" public letters like Hillary did, and I think it would serve any candidate well to stay away from it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. I do

I read right wing sites. They are livid over Sharpton and Jackson. And then when Obama came out against Imus, they went nuts. I just spent the last hour reading one site that is fairly moderate for a right wing blog. They are now talking more about Obama than anyone involved in this Imus deal.

[Holly_Hobby]

7. This is in our local newspaper this morning

Imus an easy mark for riders of moral high horses

AT THE sure risk of being politically incorrect, I dare to wonder if some of the recent chest-thumping over the Don Imus affair is a bit disingenuous. There, I've gone and said it. But when the shameless opportunist behind the old Tawana Brawley affair gets on his moral high horse to rant against another man's failings, forgive me if the indignation seems a tad contrived. A paradigm of virtue Al Sharpton is not.

...

He (Imus) denigrated a group of young women at the pinnacle of athletic success without thinking about the impact or consequences. But you'll pardon me if I take exception to those opportunistic condemners of "Imus in the Morning" who seized an easy mark and ran with it.

If Mr. Imus' idiocy raises their public platform from nearly oblivious to practically relevant so much the better. Just don't expect rascals like Al Sharpton to raise the national temperature by virtue of their vitriol against the morally depraved.

Crusaders lugging their own personal baggage can't help looking a little labored in their campaigns to cast stones at other dubious characters.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070413/COLUMNIST13/704130320

I'm not defending or attacking any of the players, but I sure would like to know how this situation and the players affect Obama, if at all. Thanks.

[zanne]

6. The ONE time I watched Imus on MSNBC...

I remember thinking "Who watches this crap"? Now we know.

[Holly_Hobby]

8. How true!

The few times I tuned in to watch, I was either appalled or offended.

[Mister Ed]

9. I'm confused. What connection does Obama have with Jackson or Sharpton?

Is it just that all three are African-Americans?

I don't get why actions on the part of Jackson or Sharpton would reflect on Obama's campaign.

:shrug:

[Holly_Hobby]

11. That's what I got out of the conversation

I assume she was making the connection on race alone.

[rfranklin]

13. Well, they're all dark-skinned people, aren't they?

Isn't that enough to tell you?

(Though Obama looks like a very tan Caucasian.)

(And Al looks like an Elvis impersonator.)

[Bridget Burke]

10. The racists don't need a reason to hate Obama.

This is just their latest excuse.

[ChazII]

12. Just a hunch

but maybe they ( the people in the restaurant) feel that Sharpton and Jackson will tell Obama he owes them. Owes them in that they helped pave the way for any African American to run for president. Just a hunch on my part after listening to chatter on conservative sites.

[rasputin1952]

14. If Obama winds up in the WH, there will be a lot of "you owe me" types

camped on the lawn; just like in any other presidency. The difference is, w/Sharpton and Jackson are very media savvy and can make things very uncomfortable for Obama if he doesn't "play ball".

The best thing that could happen is that a lot of people realize that this would just be a show, and ignore them. But best case scenarios rarely work out...:(

[ChazII]

17. You are speakinging the truth and

I wish more displayed your common sense.

[cooolandrew]

15. Barack is intelligent enough not to make his acmpaign inclusive of Al or Jesse.

His campaign will go from strength to strenth mark my words. Barack's message has always been one of unity and that will continue I am certain. To be very honest to actually think that is the direction Obama would choose is taking him for an idiot which is a million miles from the truth I have found so far.

If there is one major reason Barack is the candidate for America is that he will bring about a more perfect union. Which most likely explains the Lincoln symbolism really.

[Postman]

16. If Obama wins there will be white slavery!!!! OH MY GOD!!! RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!!!!

n/t

[mmonk]

18. Ridiculous.

And no, they did not hurt Obama. They are just trying to justify their bigotry by throwing in civil rights activists which both Jackson and Sharpton are.

[KharmaTrain]

19. Nice Talking Points...

Frank Luntz couldn't have framed it any better...

:popcorn: