Castro: Racism in US keeps many away from Obama

Not to disagree fully but you realize his life has been threatened already and there has already been one serious attempt to assanaite him. Its actually seeded on the Vine. We've made progress but their are those still stuck in the past.

Obama has the A-team for Secret Service and he needs them... badly.

Castro is a hipocrite

Pot calling kettle black.

I'm sorry that I forgot to add a question mark to ask if it was not a hyprocritical statement to make, Rob. From most other people on Newsvine, I would not have bothered. You have always shown objectivity in the past where we have 'bumped' on each other. Thus the question.

I don't think that Obama has to fear political opponents nearly so much as those who have worked to put him in power, if he fails to satisify. 

Castro makes a statement that expresses surprise that Obama hasn't suffered an attempt on his life, and that statement somehow means Castro actually wants something to happen?

I thought Obama was supposed to be a dangerous radical socialist who fraternises with anti-American elements? Surely he and Fidel are great friends and always meet up at the Internationalist each year to exchange Marxist poetry? Whyever would Fidel want his fellow elitist-cum-socialist comrade murdered?

Alistair:

I doubt they meet, too public.  they are probably pen pals.

I can understand how you've arrived at that premise, but it's not logic I can personally get behind. Fidel is still a bug-bear for some proportion of Americans, and thus personally I'd see anything he writes that is vaguely supportive of Obama to be more damaging to the Obama campaign.

Either way, Fidel's not the man in power anymore and his opinions mean little now outside of Cuba's state media, and even some of those of us on the left such as myself are looking forward to him finally being out of the picture.

Rob;

Gads, that bet the absolute unvarnished truth.

Now dammit Rob, they kept barking while he was trying to sleep. ;-)

the puppy population had gotten out of hand and some had to be sacrificed for the good of the many ;)

I always thought Obama was a cat person, anyway...hmmm

Why, what do you mean socialism/communism has worked so well there?

Isn't it kinda like what the socialist here want for us.

When do I get one of those 1950's cars?

And that earthy free medical care.

Do we all get to live at the beach? Socialism hmmm can't wait!

Powell completely lost his credibility when he went along with what the Bush administration wanted to do in regards to Iraq.  Condi has a skeleton in her closet that would prevent her from ever getting elected as president or vice president.  Ford and Jackson are viable options but their family ties work against them.

Yeah, I don't ever see Powell or Rice ever seeking elected office, regardless of whatever you and I may see as possible problems for their candidacies. They really don't like the uglinesss that will be part of any campaign. As for Ford and Jackson, they can both stake out very conscientious, independent positions and accomplishments unblemished by family complications, especially since both are relatively young.

So, basically what you are saying is that you are Republican and would only vote for these people because they are Republican and follow party lines.....even though they are Black..............so in this case race doesn't matter to you because they are Republican.

I see, and you do know that as of now, Gen. Colin Powell has not officially endorsed any one of the candidates..............

Will you change your mind about voting for Colin Powell should he endorse Obama?

Talk about a swing voter!

Are you sure Harold Ford, Jr. and Jesse Jackson, Jr are republicans? You are wrong about those two! They are democrats! By the way, I've always been a registered democrat. If Powell endorses Obama, I will weigh it more than any other politician endorsing Obama. Same for Condi.

Basically what I'm saying is I'm no racist. Basically what I'm saying is I'm not sold on Obama as president and commander-in-chief. Lets see what Powell says.

WKB,

I was curious about Powell supporting Ted Stevens at his corruption trial this week.  I'm really not familiar with AK "inside baseball", but I thought that was very interesting.    Dont want to take this thread OT, though...sorry.

Yeah, Powell said of Stevens something like: "He's the kind of guy you want to take with you on a long patrol", or something like that, meaning Powell had faith in Stevens to soldier on , intending that as a fine compliment from an old infantry officer. From what I imagine, I think Stevens was very supportive of the defense department budget requests annually. As for AK politics, I think Stevens was known as a little loose on taking donations.

Division,

Condi has a skeleton in her closet that would prevent her from ever getting elected as president or vice president. 

Do tell what those may be?

It is widely rumored that Condi is gay.  Apparently during her time as a university provost she was out of the closet but in her political career she doesn't talk about her personal life.  She does own 2 homes with a gay movie producer. I don't have a problem with it at all, but some corners of the country certainly would.

Division:

So?

Divide that by zero and what do you get -- exactly what that gossipy rumor is worth:  ZERO!  

What is this?  High school?

Gosh, DBZ by the rules of this thread, I think that makes you a racist, too.  And, maybe a Homophobe.

What, pray tell, does this have to do with Castro?

Oh, puhlease....the question was asked and I answered it.  Rob, please delete all of my comments from this thread.  Thanks.

Gosh, DBZ by the rules of this thread, I think that makes you a racist, too.  And, maybe a Homophobe.

Obviously you did not read my post.  Allow me to break protocol and quote myself:

I don't have a problem with it at all, but some corners of the country certainly would.

Now, let me take a moment to explain things to someone who apparently doesn't understand the base of support on which the GOP rests.  If Condi is gay, in order to have her as first or second chair on the GOP ticket, the GOP would have to be willing to offend a great many social and cultural conservatives, on which the party has depended for the past 30+ years.  If Condi is gay, I have no problem with it.  Let me repeat that.  If Condi is gay, I have no problem with it.  For the past 30+ years, however, the GOP has completely depended on the religious right and social conservatives to get their presidential ticket into office.  That bloc of voters would not vote for a presidential ticket with one possibly gay person on it.  So in order for Condi to be on the GOP presidential ticket, she would have to quell the rumors and explain why she owns 2 houses with a gay Hollywood producer.  Is it right that she would have to do that? No.  Should she have to do that?  No.  Would she have to do that? Yes.  Unfortunately, it's the same as the rumors surrounding Sen. Obama possibly being a Muslim.  The same people who would not vote for Sen. Obama because he might be a Muslim are some of the same people who would not vote for Condi because she might be gay.  Again, it's not right, and it shouldn't matter, but that is political reality.

Now, before you try to paint me with some broad brush that it sounds like you're utterly unqualified to even wield, I'd invite you to read this post in it's entirety and present a cogent and coherent argument that social and religious conservatives would vote for a GOP ticket comprised of a candidate who might be gay.  Also keep in mind that at no point have I said that I wouldn't vote for Condi or any other gay or possibly gay candidate for local, state, or national office.  If you're going to paint me as a homophobe, you'd better know who you're talking about.

DBZ,

Please understand I don't accuse you of being racist or homophobic.  That was commentary on the reactionary nature of the weekend's responses in general.  My objection was that this is completely off topic and silly ( in the sense that it's hypothetical and appropo of nothing at this point).

I think if there was widespread concern, she wouldn't be Secy of State (and I think she's doing a solid job at a difficult time).  But, again, we're OT.  I don't think you are either a racist or a homophobe.  I hope you return the favor.

Best,

E

Thank you.  I'm glad we have that straightened out.  I have great admiration for Condi but until the country changes, she would have to work in an appointed position.