What to Think About Cornel West

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/ten-miles-square/2011/05/what_to_think_about_cornel_wes029635.php

What to Think About Cornel West

By Harold Pollack


I never know what to think about Cornel West. He shows that one can combine an astonishing range of brilliance, erudition, and humanity with an equally astonishing range of pomposity and self-involved grandstanding. Today’s headlines provide a case in point.

snip//

President Obama merits legitimate criticism for his failure to craft a more progressive populist message, and for his inability at specific moments to advance a liberal agenda larger than himself. Our president is a liberal, cautious, consensus-oriented strategic politician. He was bequeathed a daunting set of foreign and domestic crises. He has imperfectly navigated some of these crises. He has still earned our support in the face of implacable opposition from Republicans and from entrenched economic interests. Then there’s the fact that President Obama spent much of his first two years enacting near-universal health coverage for 32 million Americans, millions of whom are people of color.

The most foolish and poisonous way to pursue these issues is to present oneself as the self-appointed guardian of black authenticity. I’ll take that back. The one more foolish and poisonous thing is to believe that you can peer into a complicated public person’s mind and heart to make facile pronouncements as Professor West does.

I would have thought that a conspicuously pampered Class of 1943 Princeton University Professor would be well-positioned to understand the perils of such pronouncements. Apparently not. Like Barack Obama, Cornel West is a gifted, imperfect person. I hope he learns from the inevitable reaction his ill-considered outburst will evoke.

[tularetom]

1. Class of 1943?

That was 68 years ago which would make West like 90 now.

Perhaps Mr Pollacks analysis is somewhat imperfect as well.

[Mz Pip]

2. The original article

said Class of 1943. Most likely a typo that wasn't caught. I think West was born in 1953 so maybe it should have been Class of 1973.

[ProSense]

5. It's a title:

"Class of 1943 University Professor at Princeton University"

[joentokyo]

64. Who do you have to screw to get out of this organization. I do not want to belong now

that it has become a suck up to power, cheer leading group that allows no criticism of Democrats regardless of their performance in office.

[msanthrope]

8. It's who endowed his seat. The Class of 1943. n/t

[Mz Pip]

21. Oh, okay

That makes sense now.

[Dreamer Tatum]

48. facepalm nt

[Randy_P]

3. What exactly did West say?

:shrug:

[babylonsister]

7. This, which is in the original article at the link in the OP...

Chris Hedges quotes Professor West below:

I think my dear brother Barack Obama has a certain fear of free black men… It’s understandable. As a young brother who grows up in a white context, brilliant African father, he’s always had to fear being a white man with black skin. All he has known culturally is white. He is just as human as I am, but that is his cultural formation. When he meets an independent black brother, it is frightening. And that’s true for a white brother. When you get a white brother who meets a free, independent black man, they got to be mature to really embrace fully what the brother is saying to them. It’s a tension, given the history. It can be overcome. Obama, coming out of Kansas influence, white, loving grandparents, coming out of Hawaii and Indonesia, when he meets these independent black folk who have a history of slavery, Jim Crow, Jane Crow and so on, he is very apprehensive. He has a certain rootlessness, a deracination. It is understandable.

“He feels most comfortable with upper middle-class white and Jewish men who consider themselves very smart, very savvy and very effective in getting what they want,” he says. “He’s got two homes. He has got his family and whatever challenges go on there, and this other home. Larry Summers blows his mind because he’s so smart. He’s got Establishment connections. He’s embracing me. It is this smartness, this truncated brilliance, that titillates and stimulates brother Barack and makes him feel at home. That is very sad for me.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[vaberella]

17. There is a massive distinction. White and Jewish men do not face the same hurdels in life.

For example you do know that White men don't face antisemitism; while Jewish men aren't born with the "White privilege" right? Shit for some, being Jewish is far from a privilege. Despite many Jewish/Hebrew people have white skin (although this is far from a absolute) they are not White people. ie...Jewish. Well not in America at least. When people say Weiner, rarely do they say..."the White guy"---some will say..."Oh you mean that Jewish guy." The US has allotted Jewish peoples status as a Jewish "racial" group of sorts due to their ie large number or the suffrage they faced---mixture of both or either/or.

[Solomon]

20. There's a lot of folk who don't consider Jewish people to be "white".

[AngryAmish]

32. I know two Hispanic Jewish guys

I have no idea what that means.

[otohara]

24. Is POTUS Related to West?

why does he keep calling the President his "brother"?

So disrespectful.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

43. Cornel refers to *everybody* as either "brother" or "sister". That's how he speaks. n/t

[otohara]

50. Still Disrespectful

Some guy came to my house the other day, trying to sell this package of oil changes and he kept calling me, honey, sweetie, darling, back to honey.
WTF?
If we were in an office setting, this would be considered a no, no.

I wouldn't want anyone, I don't care who it is, calling me Sister Otohara, repeatedly.

Prof. West is taking liberties, because of who he is, calling everybody, brother, sister.

I've heard him speak many times, never liked the whole "brother" thing.

[monmouth]

4. He's a wannabe and the President is correct to ignore him IMO...n/t

[FrenchieCat]

6. He's from the old school of Trifflin' Intellectual 1970s Bourgeoisie.....

an old style ideologue very much impressed with his own rethoric
who is used to articulating age old problems with great relish,
but fails in proposing a realistic solution that is politically doable
in the context of our times.

[Fire1]

26. Exactly. These "intellectuals" seem to forget where they are

and the system of government where they reside. It's really amazing how someone so smart can be so dense.

[OutNow]

9. Dr. West is an intellectual

Dr. West is a real honest-to-God intellectual. You don't hear too much about, or from, progressive intellectuals these days with the TV channels filled with Bristol Palin reality shows and keeping up with Charlie Sheen (BTW I like Charlie's dad a lot more than Charlie). When you see him on TV it's usually a 20 second sound bite or maybe three sound bites if he's on Bill Mahr's show. Paul Krugman, one of the few intellectuals with regular contributions on the op-ed page also seems to piss people off when his well researched ideas criticize the White House.

If you can, you should hear Dr. West in person. Or listen to him on Youtube. Or read a couple of his books (most are available on Kindle). He's not a politician with an easy answer for every question. Read or listen to him at some length and then make up your mind.

[babylonsister]

10. I used to like Cornel West, but think he's a pompous, bloviating,

condescending clown now. Read the quote in the link at the OP and tell me how intellectual that sounds.

[politicasista]

45. Ego trippin

2 cents here (if the mods don't mind).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=675827&mesg_id=676171

[Peacetrain]

11. Dr. West has the all too human failing of the committed and many time brilliant

in any spectrum of the political parties. His vision is the only one he can tolerate. He puts everything through his scope.. and only his judgment has value..

[flamingdem]

13. I am tired of the "he lost his chance at the beginning of his term" routine nt

[CakeGrrl]

14. If there was any validity to West's "theory", how did this

sad, apprehensive, "more comfortable with white and Jewish" man possibly manage to marry a strong black woman like the First Lady?

Never mind...he's just spewing a bunch of crap and the MSM will throw the mic in front of anyone who's ready to take potshots at the President.

[nobodyspecial]

35. And apparently win you widespread accolades on DU

Because anyone who tears down Obama is a friend to a very vocal faction here.

[Number23]

15. Jack and Jill poltics (a black political blog) take him down even further

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2011/05/cornel-west-my-dear-brother-barack-obama-has-a-certain-fear-of-free-black-men/

"To call Obama “a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black puppet of corporate plutocrats” as West has done in the past? These are racially loaded terms and West is smart enough to know it. He may be getting attention for his harsh and inflammatory barbs thrown at the President, but it’s probably from the wrong people. West, if you’re looking to court embittered white leftists who think Obama isn’t left enough, neo-Nazis who fear Jews, black separatists and white supremacists, then be my guest.

...West, this is a bridge too far and I’m about to tune you out.

Hey I’m sorry you didn’t get tickets to the Inauguration in 2009. I can see how that might leave you salty. Keep it up and I’m guessing you won’t be on the list for 2013 either!" :rofl: :rofl:

[FrenchieCat]

16. LOL!

Hate to laugh out loud, but what the hell!

He'll be getting calls from Fox News any moment now.....
Talk about a mascot! :rofl:

[vaberella]

18. You're totally right Number23. Jeez..and the stuff he said about Obama's parentage.

I was like---I'm surprised more White people were not offended, but Black people were more offended. ~sigh~ That's the way the cooky crumbles.

[Fire1]

27. I'm offended b/c it was an idiotic statement. West has got

alot of nerve cause somebody in his recent past is white.

[vaberella]

28. He seems to have ignored that. n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

57. Great find! West is playing to his new audience. He's on the forefront

of a brand new cottage industry, and good luck to him. :rofl: May he get everything he's got coming.
He's a pariah now, and no one deserves it more.

[Bake]

19. Frankly, I don't NEED to be told "what to think about Cornel West"

Or anybody else for that matter. Thank you very much.

Bake

[Dr Fate]

22. I think we should present him as a Sista Soulja figure.

Instead of making sure that oil co.s dont get tax breaks, instead of getting out of Iraq, etc. You know, all that unpopular Liberal stuff, I think we should court centrists and independents by making sure they know that Obama disagrees with these things or anyone who says it.

[Armstead]

29. Bingo....Nail on head

[Mimosa]

52. LOL Methinks it will be done just as you say

Under the bus with West, Belafonte, Damon...and all those celebs who are disappointed.

[Avant Guardian]

23. I see zero refutation of what he said about Obama

All I see is character assassination.

[BklnDem75]

33. Because what West said about Obama wasn't character assassination...

:eyes:

[Swede]

36. So you agree Obama is afraidof black men.

:wtf:

[bemildred]

25. That's it, attack the messenger.

:sarcasm:

[Armstead]

30. He can certain have and express his opinions. Isn't that what democracy is about?

Just because he is critical about Obama doesn't mean he has legitimate things to say.

Tossing him under the bus seems inappropriate.

[BklnDem75]

34. Isn't the article in the OP expressing their opinion?

Why is this one inappropriate and West's opinion isn't?

[Armstead]

37. It's appropriate as is my response as is your response to me, etc.

My thought is just with all that is going on, thagt is doesn't seem very constructive to be tossing liberals like him who criticize Obama under the bus.

[Keith Bee]

31. K&R

[craigmatic]

38. If a leftist intellectual can't legitimately criticize the actions of a democratic president

then we might as well all become republicans. The fact of the matter is that some of what West said has some merit.

[bemildred]

39. Judging by the reaction, Cornel must have scored a few hits, as well as missing a few. nt

[stevenleser]

58. The reaction is your judge? You can get a big reaction calling someone a racial slur.

Does that validate what you say when you do it?

[bemildred]

59. So you favor ignoring how people react to events?

Does that make you smarter or more virtuous somehow?

[stevenleser]

61. Nope, but I don't judge the validity of something said by the loudness of the reaction either. n/t

[bemildred]

65. Good, I wasn't commenting on the validity of what he said, either.

I was commenting on the apparent fact that a great many people thought what he said was persuasive enough (or something) to need extensive refutation. This by contrast with my impression that most of the time when Mr West chooses to express himself, he is ignored.

[Tarheel_Dem]

40. But the "legitimate criticism" you speak of is totally lost, and that's due to

the good doctor himself. No one told him to go off on a racist anti-semitic tirade, he chose to do that. And he's now being held, and rightly so, to the same high standards he seemingly demands of President Obama. This wasn't about poor people, this was about Cornel's hurt feewings. I don't think you'll be hearing the term "leftist intellectual" anymore in reference to Mr. West, and I can all but ensure that it has now been replaced with "anti-semitic racist/clown". And that's a shame.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

44. Some of it does have merit, undoubtedly, but much of it is sheer pettiness! n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

46. What's legitimate about questioning Obama's heritage?

Or claiming he's most comfortable around rich whites and Jews?

[pscot]

41. I think everyone on both sides of this debate

should be given $20 and 3 gallons of gas and required to live out of their cars for 2 weeks. Maybe they would get a clue from the experience.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

42. He can kiss my black ass! And yes, I said it!

Great WaPost article:

"Obama worse than the Birthers"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/cornel-west-on-obama-is-no-better-than-a-birther/2011/03/04/AFcyUb6G_blog.html?nav=most_emailed

[Tarheel_Dem]

56. Move over, so he can kiss mine too!

:thumbsup:

[stevenleser]

63. And he can kiss my black-latino -aboriginal-french -german-jewish ass too! n/t

[dembat]

47. Cornell West

After hearing that diatribe, I think he is an educated ass,
who does not know anything about governing. I hate to see the
hierarchy blacks try to bring down their own blacks. With
enemies like Cornell West, the President does not have any
worries on defeating the Republicans and the Tea party folks. 

[rasputin1952]

49. Like every human being, we all have the caparcity to be good or bad...

civil or angry. Cornel West is no different than anyone else, in this case, he has decided to forsake civility and go to anger.

I find it interesting that from what West stated, he tends to portray that the only people he has any intercourse with are blacks men and women; this is it's own form of racism.

I've listened to West make brilliant arguments, I've also watched him make a fool of himself...something we are all capable of. To bring the president's race into this is not only foolish, but smacks of racism from the get go. I don't know if the president's father was a "genius", that is subjective, one man's "genius" is an other man's "fool".

What I gather is that West is often hung up on race, he has done well despite his race, but I would not call him a Frederick Douglass. Douglass found intellect wherever he could find it and used it to motivate people to the point where they would do things that normally would not do. West, while fully capable of doing the same, sadly, often takes a negative view, alienating more than he draws to a common cause.

Are there problems based on race, of course there are; but using race as a springboard for more division will do nothing to bridge the divide.

For the record, give me Melissa Harris-Perry...:)

[Tarheel_Dem]

55. Well stated Sir/Madam, Well stated......

:applause:

[Paladin]

51. I Think He's A Jerk.

I refuse to watch Maher's show anymore when West is a panelist, because I know he'll take over the show and ruin it.....

[mdmc]

53. Black Chomsky

Smart dude that calls it like it is..

[Jakes Progress]

54. He overstates the truth. But it's still the truth.

[kjackson227]

60. I don't think West has ever had this much attention in his entire...

miserable life. Too bad he has to make himself feel relevant by tearing down this president. Besides himself, who else does West feel is more black than himself???

[ZombieHorde]

62. I have never met and I have only seen/read him in short bursts.

The longest I have seen him on anything is Real Time.

He definitely seems to be on the side of the poor and disenfranchised, but I would have to see him talking longer, or read one of his books to really figure him out.