*shrugs* whether the phrase does or doesn’t make you, me or anyone else want to gouge their eyes out isn’t really the point, nor is the source of the comment. Additionally whether you do or don’t sympathize with the comment or it’s source is also irrelevant. . . the point is that it’s an idea that’s out there, I don’t personally agree with it, but that doesn’t change the fact of it’s presence. Nor is it an issue of accommodation on your part, after all, you’re not trying to win an election. Actually I don’t know that, so if you are good luck ; )

Which is my point here, I guess, how much is too much, what sacrifices count and which one’s don’t in terms of goal achievement. . .maybe that’s too personal a question to attempt to answer on someone else’s behalf and if so, my bad. . . it was just a thought.

No, but I will say that the reason she’s NOT voting for McCain is because he (to her eyes) looks like George Bush, she’s said as much. From her perspective that only leaves one candidate, so the effect is much the same in that for her, the decision is made on the basis of appearance from some perspective.

It’s all about appearances with her, and I imagine with quite a few Americans. People vote for the person they like the look of or who looks the most like them or does things they identify with or like.

Again, I would love to believe that most people are at least engaged in a some sort of rudimentary political analysis, but honestly I think it’s closer to 50/50.

kissedthepixies, this is exactly what I think SM and I seemed to be sensing and were reacting to here. This has come up a lot lately, in quite a few threads, and you might want to go read up on it a bit. I think everyone is getting a bit sick of beating that horse, though. Summary: it’s not true and it’s a harmful thing to assert.

Though I personally intend to focus on the issues when I cast my vote in this campaign, I know that my great grandmother and many others would feel a lot more comfortable going to the polls if he’d pick up a cheeseburger every once in a while.

Cora, seriously? I mean, the candidates eat in public all over the place. It’s a huge part of campaigning. If you keep up with a campaign in the news you’ll see Obama eat in public. Also, I know you’re just quoting and that it’s your great-grandmother, but good god, the phrase “put some meat on [his/her/their] bones” makes me want to gouge my own eyes out. I have no interest in sympathizing with or accomodating anyone who says that phrase.

(Also also, see the comment above about how the WSJ stole this from the Onion if you are taking the article seriously and thinking it is based on some kernel of truth. It’s based on a JOKE. Though that Onion video itself uses up a few SW points for sure.)

To wit, this is not the first time I’ve heard this particular viewpoint about Obama. My great-grandmother for example sighs deeply and dramatically every time Obama pops up on her TV and says “That boy needs to put some meat on his bones.”

The fact of the matter is that while we would like to think that people will vote on the issues the majority of people will not. There is a reason why more African-Americans are set to vote in this election than any other just as there as a reason why the fingers of many white suburbans are hovering hesitantly over the Obama button. The reason, is, quite simply that we are all naturally drawn to people who look like us and live the way that we do.

While some of us manage to tamp down those feelings in favor of focusing on a more complete sample of the information available to us, many of us simply gravitate toward that which is familiar and comfortable, and eschew that which is not.

Though I personally intend to focus on the issues when I cast my vote in this campaign, I know that my great grandmother and many others would feel a lot more comfortable going to the polls if he’d pick up a cheeseburger every once in a while.

I don’t think this is a matter of right and wrong so much as it is one of perspective. I happen to think that Obama would make a great president for reasons that have nothing to do with his waistline. But politics is in many respects a game of what appears to be rather than what is.

The question then, is if eating or behaving a certain way will help Obama appear more everyday and accessible to a certain portion of the population while posing no real threat to his political message or well being is it really that big of a deal? What’s the real goal here, a perfect world, or a better one?

http://blogs.kansascity.com/tvbarn/2008/08/the-wall-st-jou.html

The video from Onion News Network is on that page.

That’s some good reporting, WSJ. Well done.

Neither was my comment to be taken that I think being black and being fat are the same thing. They’re clearly not but many in the FA/SA communities take the standpoint that being Fatness is the last acceptable thing to be unaccepting of… therefore it was a joke to the tune of “if they’ll accept a fat president then they must accept a black president!” – which makes some sort of sense if we do accept that being fat is the last place that people can comfortably feel they can discriminate. And I believe it is.

I’m sorry to have offended you. Unfortunately I’m not very well read. I have no articles or books to reference. I am very aware of institutionalized racism. My comment was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek.. not taken literally.. hence my stating that we need to laugh at the craziness at what I was saying. Perhaps politics and humor don’t belong together.

Please see the first line I posted… I said exactly what I really feel right there.. that I really hope America isn’t picking it’s president based on race or weight.. be that black or white – large or thin. Neither of these indications have anything to do with the persons politics.

kissedthepixies, I suggest you do some serious reading before making your conclusion that most Americans aren’t racist. Voting for a black president is not the magical sign that says you aren’t racist. If anything, the reaction to Obama’s candidacy shows how entrenched racism is in our society. Racism is a system in which we all are implicated — google “institutionalized racism” and “white privilege” for starters.

And how this is connected to Bill Clinton is really beyond me.