Obamarama

[LeeCovFox]

I really don't understand the hero worship that seems to be surrounding Obama. Yes, he is of African American descent. It is significant in the context of the civil rights movement. But this fawning is patronising in the extreme to that movement. The day a black man is elected without people having to make the point that he is black will be the day when that particular journey is complete.

Obama is a good speaker. His oratory skills tell us nothing other than that he can make people listen. Let us see what his actions are first. To all those who are indulging in this nauseating hero worship of a man who has not yet done anything to deserve it: Obama is another rich man in the world's most exclusive job. That is not to say he cannot be a good, or even great president. I hope he is. I like what I have seen and heard so far. But the real job begins now. His actions, not his skin colour or his oratory skills are what matters from here on in.

[Fox You Forest]

He's dancing on Sky News, It's a farce. With Beyonce singing also.

[fox123]

You can't judge a man by the colour of his skin, but you can by his reactions and choices he makes. I think his speeches were very passionate, carefully written and spoken (albeit Herman Monster esq voice), but this man has made a huge impact already, whether it be the hype of his colour I don't know. I just hope that the doubters don't put it down to that being the reason he is in office.

[LeeCovFox]

I agree with you Fox123. I didn't mean to come across as somebody who doubts Obama specifically, certainly no more than I doubt most politicians. But for him to become different to other politicians in my eyes, his actions will have to justify that viewpoint. He has a real chance. The United States is in crisis. He can take them out of it with the right moves. Its there for the taking. Lets just hope he justifies the hype.

[lildave3]

Obama will cure Global Warming and Cancer while he's shooting some hoops.

[Finnegan]

Good speech, but so what? Bill Pulman's was better and I wouldn't elect him!

I'm anxiously excited about the prospect of genuine change but the proof is in the pudding, really. Reserving judgement til he's actually done something.

[fox123]

I agree with you Fox123. I didn't mean to come across as somebody who doubts Obama specifically, certainly no more than I doubt most politicians. But for him to become different to other politicians in my eyes, his actions will have to justify that viewpoint. He has a real chance. The United States is in crisis. He can take them out of it with the right moves. Its there for the taking. Lets just hope he justifies the hype.

It's a difficult situation to be in when you are sitting on the fence. For example, he starts to with draw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan he is already going to become a hero. The global economic crisis will eventually become more stable, but media hype will hail him as the saviour. Good time, bad time to be president? I don't know, I would probably say good!

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Am i the only one that is over all this Obama crap, 3 out of 5 tv stations showed the coverage live this morning. Every news paper has 6 pages on him and we are Australia not the U.S. of A. There is a little bit of overkill going on imo.

Now i don't want to come off here as ignorant or a racist, but they keep playing up that he is the first black president and that, yes it is a fine achivement and shows how far america as a nation has come that this has happened (Which is a credit to your average american voter and to Obama and his party). But in every article i have seen it always mentions Barrack Obama then some where in the sentence it has black or african american. I would prefer Obama to be known as a good President not as the Black President and for him to be seen as an equal or superior President than as a unique President. Let his actions and what he changes be seen and heard rather than always refering to him as the black president, his black so what that doesn't mean his different if you understand what i mean. Just my opinion if there is offence taking i appologise.

[Smiffy]

Am i the only one that is over all this Obama crap, 3 out of 5 tv stations showed the coverage live this morning. Every news paper has 6 pages on him and we are Australia not the U.S. of A. There is a little bit of overkill going on imo.

Now i don't want to come off here as ignorant or a racist, but they keep playing up that he is the first black president and that, yes it is a fine achivement and shows how far america as a nation has come that this has happened (Which is a credit to your average american voter and to Obama and his party). But in every article i have seen it always mentions Barrack Obama then some where in the sentence it has black or african american. I would prefer Obama to be known as a good President not as the Black President and for him to be seen as an equal or superior President than as a unique President. Let his actions and what he changes be seen and heard rather than always refering to him as the black president, his black so what that doesn't mean his different if you understand what i mean. Just my opinion if there is offence taking i appologise.

Only time can allow that to happen and sooner or later he will be known as a good, bad or indifferent president. But for right now, with the newness of it all, he is the first black president. I'm not disagreeing with you, though. I think the fact that it is a big deal states how far we still have to go until people of all races can let racial differences go. When we can elect a black, muslim, jew, (insert other minority here) and not even acknowledge the fact that they are not a middle aged, white, christian man it will be a success. But his ability to be in this situation to begin with is an incredible achievement and should be noted.

[fox123]

Like I have said previously, this is probably the best time to be in presidency, the World's economy was already in a whole heap of crap before he took the seat, Bush had already burnt his bridges over the whole Iraq/Afghanistan situation, Obama is now going to do what the people have been calling for over the last 8 years of Bush and his people being in office.

This man has seen poverty, he has seen hardship, he is going to be in my humble opinion a very decent president.

[Smudge]

Am i the only one that is over all this Obama crap, 3 out of 5 tv stations showed the coverage live this morning. Every news paper has 6 pages on him and we are Australia not the U.S. of A. There is a little bit of overkill going on imo.

Now i don't want to come off here as ignorant or a racist, but they keep playing up that he is the first black president and that, yes it is a fine achivement and shows how far america as a nation has come that this has happened (Which is a credit to your average american voter and to Obama and his party). But in every article i have seen it always mentions Barrack Obama then some where in the sentence it has black or african american. I would prefer Obama to be known as a good President not as the Black President and for him to be seen as an equal or superior President than as a unique President. Let his actions and what he changes be seen and heard rather than always refering to him as the black president, his black so what that doesn't mean his different if you understand what i mean. Just my opinion if there is offence taking i appologise.

I voted in that election which most people on this forum were unable to do. I voted for change I voted to remove the sectarian dogma that has held this country in the dark ages for 8 long years. I sure as hell didn't vote for a man to wave the color of his skin back at me. I don't believe he did and I truly hope that we have a new beginning.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

I voted in that election which most people on this forum were unable to do. I voted for change I voted to remove the sectarian dogma that has held this country in the dark ages for 8 long years. I sure as hell didn't vote for a man to wave the color of his skin back at me. I don't believe he did and I truly hope that we have a new beginning.

I wasn't suggesting he did, it was the world media that seemed to have focused on the colour of his skin rather than his credentials.

[Smudge]

I wasn't suggesting he did, it was the world media that seemed to have focused on the colour of his skin rather than his credentials.

I didn't think you did. I am agreeing with you

[Jordan]

Without getting into detail and not wishing to start political debate, I'll just say that I'm delighted that Barack Obama is my new president--he's one of the most talented and intelligent politicians I've ever seen and the only one for which I've ever volunteed my time and money.

As for the race issue, Obama is proud of his multicultural heritage and was very close to his maternal family, but there are a few factors that have led to the mutual embrace of Obama and America's Black community.

The first factor is obvious: Obama, well, looks like a black guy. Obama does not, however, share the typical African American experience. Most blacks in America can trace their roots back several generations to West African slaves, and African American history is scarred by slavery, violence, poverty and a whole lot of other crap rooted in racism. Obama, however, is, of course, half-white and his father was from Kenya. But it's often the reactions of others that shape our experience, and Obama once said it succinctly: "When I'm trying to hail a cab, I'm black."

Also, before and after his Harvard Law days, Obama worked with community improvement organizations in the South Side of Chicago, home to many predominantly black communities. It was there where Obama developed great rapport with the locals, had a spiritual awakening and joined a traditionally black church, etc. These experiences had a profound impact on Obama's life and beliefs, and the manner in which he was almost "adopted" by the Black community was a prelude to what would happen all over the country 15 years later.

However, Obama spent much more of his time courting support from whites during his campaign, and when he spoke about race, it was always in terms of unity. If Obama couldn't inspire throngs of volunteers and also convince undecided white voters that our country can transcend racial divides, he'd have never gotten anywhere near the White House. Obama tiptoed through the "Rev. Wright controversy," a figurative racial landmine that could have killed his campaign, rather deftly. Obama actually caught some flak from black leaders for declining an invitation to an important black leadership meeting and had a memorable confrontation at a rally in Florida with a few black nationalist students that tried to interrupt his speech.

Save a few Ebony and Black Enterprise magazine covers, Obama did a clever job of not exploiting his blackness too much (or doing it very subtly); he knew America's black community would support him in droves, so he relied on his grassroots campaign team and the communities themselves to get fired up. One silly example: here in a progressive neighborhood in Westchester County, just north of NYC, we all rock our official Barack Obama campaign merchandise, but when I go about 20 miles south to Harlem, street vendors have countless tables full of DIY Obama merch.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

I didn't think you did. I am agreeing with you

Yeah i assumed as much

Only time can allow that to happen and sooner or later he will be known as a good, bad or indifferent president. But for right now, with the newness of it all, he is the first black president. I'm not disagreeing with you, though. I think the fact that it is a big deal states how far we still have to go until people of all races can let racial differences go. When we can elect a black, muslim, jew, (insert other minority here) and not even acknowledge the fact that they are not a middle aged, white, christian man it will be a success. But his ability to be in this situation to begin with is an incredible achievement and should be noted.

Agreed it should be "President Barack Obahma" not "Black President Barack Obahma" but im sure time will deal with this like you said.

[Raj]

Obama is a living Legend.

He has ALOT of Bush's shit to clear up.

Bush is a shitter...Good Riddance!!!!!

[Alexikokopops]

Good speech, but so what? Bill Pulman's was better and I wouldn't elect him!

I would

[Guest]

I think people are ignoring the real issue here. America has another left-handed president. First the US, next the world mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[SOCCERROO FOX]

All this talk about Barack Obama makes me hungry for a Chicken Parma washed down with a lager

[Corky]

I think people are ignoring the real issue here. America has another left-handed president. First the US, next the world mwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Why is it that left-handed people are so opinionated?

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Why is it that left-handed people are so opinionated?

Cos the right side of there body is sexually frustrated

[Corky]

Cos the right side of there body is sexually frustrated

I didn't really think of saying that to Lise because she'd have probably shoved her bottle of WKD in my face (thus improving my looks ), and spending a night in Casualty didn't appeal tbh.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

I didn't really think of saying that to Lise because she'd have probably shoved her bottle of WKD in my face (thus improving my looks ), and spending a night in Casualty didn't appeal tbh.

My post refered to all lefties.

[Fosse Boy]

Obama will cure Global Warming and Cancer while he's shooting some hoops.

:laugh:

I might go and put a fiver on that!

[Alexikokopops]

Brilliant advertising