The issue of "race card" used to discuss Obama's choice of speaking topics is in itself racist. Race is a sensitive issue that will be under a microscope when tackled by Obama. The comments listed here discussing reverse racism are absolutely ridiculous. There is an obvious unequal holding of power, wealth and opportunity held by white American and to purpose that affirmative action or plans put in place to attempt to combat racism are "reverse racism" illustrates just how confused America is.
To base all opinions of Obama's comments on race is inherently racist and those who cannot see past his color are going to handicapped in choosing between any of the candidates.
Let's see, who will be the first to accuse Hillary of the "gender card"? Or Edwards of the "illness card"? Be real.
Base criticism on politics and content not on obvious skin deep perception.

[...] Sorry, should have noted that a related article on the content of the forum itself also appears here. No awards for guessing which candidate got the warmest response at this particular forum. Steve [...]

I agree with those of you who say that race-based organizations should be done away with. My only caveat - first racism needs to be done away with. Otherwise, any advances we've seen for minorities will rapidly vanish.

Tom Tancredo is a genius. He wants the Democrats to be associated with the immigration bill, that's why he showed up. And he wants blacks to stop auto-voting for the democrats and pay attention to what they are truly doing.

Non-blacks are tired of the race card. Look at Isiah Washington recently. Look at the immigration activists who told us that not giving up to thier demands is racist. It is used too many times as an excuse. Ever hear the story of the boy who cried wolf?

We are tired of living with race in categories in America. This style of life the Democrats promote divides the country and leads to more racial animosity.

For all those that wonder and are speculating on why more Republicans did not show up it is simple, it would not matter what they had to say, members of the NAACP are going to vote for the Democratic party. Even though African Americans are more aligned with social concervative values, they vote Democrat. The reason is simple, Democrats pander to any group that has a title. Democrats make their platforms based off of divisive politics: class warfare, racial differences, and every other way that a strata of our hodge-podge society can be pointed out. Just look at the Democratic calender for debates, they have gone out of their way to seporate out African Americans, Latinos, Gay/Lesbians, and the list will continue on to the general election. Republicans can't do that, because it is against concervitive ideology to speak "group" terms. Everything is centered on the rights of the "individual." Individual rights makes looking at groups irrelevant.

Isn't it irronic that the Democratic party, the party of so-called inclussion, is the party that is most likely to lable individual into groups.

Great Idea Kevin, lets fix a problem by ignoring it.

I think I agree with both sides in a since, however none the arguements are really nuianced enough to really get at the heart of the issue. I will preface my arguement with a brief description of myself. I am an African American, currently attending one of the best universities in the country, attended a prestigious private school and never really wanted. My family is as close to "old money" African American as you can find.

This being said, I am by far in the minority of African Americans, and most Americans for that matter. Very few white people have "old money".

I would submit that it is money more now than race that gives people advantages, by in large. It just so happens that fewer minorities (precentage wise) are the landed gentry of this country than white people.

We should recognize what money and position does. Students of any color who are legacies at universities have an advantage getting in over their peers, because their parents might give money to the college.

I think the politicians attending the NAACP convention were doing what they wear brought to do in that venue, pander. Thats what politicians do. You might be upset with them, but that is how the game is played. I just think this discussion of race in america is sort of a away of hiding the fact that the haves want to maintain their wealth, usually at the expense of the have nots.

I recognize that the criminal justice system, particularly in the south is still unfair, peoples minds have still not fully changed. By in large this issue is no longer a race issue but a monetary one.

When do you suppose the Democratic Party will officially change their name to the Socialist Party?

I'd expect to see some ignorant views about race on some random message board in cyberspace, but Americans educated enough to read this blog? Never. But they're there. Everyone advocating "abolishing race" and talking about people "playing the race card" should be ashamed of themselves for their blatant myopia. It was about a generation and a half ago that discrimination was part of our state laws and somehow now everything's changed. Somehow….

And people laugh at Kanye West for saying "George Bush doesn't care about black people," but for some reason, no Republican candidates think the NAACP convention is worthy of their time?

Is Bush running for re-election? News Flash! He is out! Why do the democrats continually bash Bush, he is not running for re-election? You democrats need to give us a reason to vote for you and forget what has happened, but what can happen!!

I am truly amazed at many of the black folks suggestion that we white folks were born with some kind of silver spoon in our mouths! "It just blows me away!!"

The unfortunate reality of the situation is that there are many, MANY more white people living in poverty than black folks! Maybe they're not as demonstrative so it's not readilly apparent, or perhaps they don't don't have a "mouthpeice" such as the NAACP. Further, they don't tend to be in any one area. They are country poor, city poor & suburb poor, whereas most poor blacks tend to be clustered in a city.

The notion that you're priviliged because of your skin color is just so absured; that is, unless of course, you have so many organizations and government agencies with a "Black" prefix in front of.

Why wouldn't people of other colors be biased?!? For instance, in every big city there is a "Black Patrolmens Association"

Could you imagine a White Patrolmens association in LA?

Every race based organization should be eliminated, then you'd have to wait for the current generations to die off, and maybe then, the pandering would stop.

i am so sick and tired of white americans saying that a black man is playing the race card everytime he mentions a black injustice. obama did not play the race card all he did was mention the facts, and here comes white people like yourselves. puttin him down you people are disgusting.

Mr. Jimmy-NYC, the NAACP was not pandering
to the Democrats, Republican candidates were invited as well. All
made excuses not to show up, except
Rep.Tom Tancredo, they truly are prejudice, and black people are not looking for a handout, but an opportunity to get into your rich white world, like Guiliani, and Mitt Romney, but they don't care whether people of color have an opportunity or
not. You live in a world that does not
exist, where a person is not judged by the color of their skin, that society doesn't exist and with people like you in the world making judgements it never will.

To the person who wrote there are no
white businessmen awards, as a matter of fact that's all there is, since
most of time they refuse to honor a good black employee, or Manager or owner of his own company. NAACP does
this because the rest of white society
doesn't recognize black accomplishments. Young black men especially, need role models, they can't continue to sit around and wait for a white person to honor them.
The young man in prison for statutory rape when he himself was underage, the
argument is the punishment was too harsh, since oral sex was consenual and they were both children. The state judge refused to commute his sentence, it's not race, the Judge is black. The remark was to show if you know the right people in high places you can
get your sentence commuted or pardoned
by the President while an ordinary citizen cannot.

Uh, they were debating at the NAACP. Wasn't Obama supposed to talk about race? Weren't they all? I'm also rather disillusioned that only one Republican candidate showed up. I guess I shouldn't be surprised as the black community traditionally votes Democrat, so their votes won't influence the Republican primary much, but last I checked the President of the United States of America serves all Americans, not just the ones who vote for him or her.

I have heard quite a few things that I believe Such as:

dubya sat in a class room listening to second grader read "My Pet Goat" even though he was aware that planes had slameed into the twin towers. Later he said he had watched the first plane
hit the first tower (He LIED)The tape didn't come out until the next day
or
GOOD JOB Brownie! They are stil finding bodies in New Orleans
or
WMD's in Iraq(Lie) Saddam allied with Al-Quaida (Lie)
or
over 3,700 Soldiers and Marines Killed because of dubya's lies- -So Many lies to mention here - -Ann do your homework!!!

Democrats blast Bush for no good reason. Democrats believe the American public are too lazy to do their homework and will believe anything they hear repeated long enough.

You anti reverse racism people are so funny and have no idea about how this country works.

You say if African Americans want to be equal than we need to do away with specific programs or associations. Those things must be equal from the start. That African Americans own more homes now than ever.

You fail to realize what the basis of the issue is. Equal from the beginning? The beginning was not 1964 it was 400 hundred years ago. And if you look at numbers, every time a program for African American's is rid of success numbers fail. Caucasians don’t need support groups because they have old money that African Americans worked to make. No support groups are needed when you have "GOOD OL BOYS" clubs that sit at the top of organizations, and if they are honest with themselves still has fear of a successful Black male or female.

Though most of you wont I advise you to read a book or two to truly understand this situation, if you haven't then please don’t comment.

I'm sure most of you have problems with uneducated voters. Well on this topic if you’re not educated then be quiet. You make us white people look bad which fuels the very issue.

I appreciate it that people responded to these few one-sided comments about the race card, hand-outs, and minority awards. Let me ask one question. I'll say something one sided myself. If it is a fact that over 90% of African-Americans are devout Christians and Republicans' main focus is living and deciding through faith, how come only one non-front runner Repub. showed up to the NAACP event?

The bottom line is candidates play what ever card they can to get elected. When in Rome do as the Romans do, that's the name of the game when they are out talking to groups of voters. If this country really did things fair and equal there would be no need to play any card except for the fair and equal card.

I appreciate it that people responded to these one sided views from these couple of people about the race card and minority awards. Let me ask one question. If you want to say something one sided, I'll say one too: If it is a fact that over 90% of African Americans are devout Christians and Republicans' main focus is living and deciding through faith, how come only one non-front runner Repub. showed up to the NAACP event?

I love the way Republicans take the high road. Your position on issues is simple BUT BILL DID IT. So by your standards you did not raise the bar you simply lowered it.

Why did not the Senators Clinton and Obama and all these others speak up on the Wilson case - it is a crime that this young man is still in jail. But look at Libby, Rich, Gonzalez, Sen Lott, Cheny and Bush - they are not in jail and the crimes they care committing against our country and our people here in America is unamerican and horrible.
Americans we cannot continue to allow Bush to get on TV and speak for "americans" who he says are not against him they are just 'burned out' on the war???? and that he and Americans were so disappointed in the immigration bill not passing???? HOLY COW - is he insane or so much in denial that he actually believes the BS he speaks on TV?????
"WE THE PEOPLE" this is our Country the USA, we need to take it back now and speak up, write, protest, whatever it takes.

Same ole stuff! Dems pandering for the black vote, yet Bush has more high placed blacks than any Dem prez ever had! Politics and press bias as always. As white guy bussed to a black school in Boston - 1974, which had race riots EVERY day, we were amazed at the worldwide attention the black kids got, who were bussed to the white schools and had problems. Yet our plight was delageted to a 1 inch column on Pg 19 of te Boston Globe. White peoples problems don't matter to anyone!!

Speaking of blinders, all those who are horraying Obama's pandering comment should take theirs off. Why is it that Republicans are always views as the oppressive party when they have nothing to gain by keeping Black Americans down. The Democratic party has played to Black America for over forty years. During that time black Americans have voted for Democrats, has your lot improved that much. People vote for Republicans because they promote policies that generate weath. (Open trade, low taxes, lack of federal intervention, higher production, etc…) Voting for a Democrat only means that you are voting for a government hand-out. Don't worry Dems, your hand-out was bought from the tax money from the people who voted Republican. If you want to stay in the gutter, allow them to pander to you, and keep getting your hand-outs.

KC in Tampa,

It's not about becoming another race, its about seeing ourselves in others. We are so mean to each other all the time, I just don't get it. God is watching us, especially now. Jon, Bless his heart has a problem, he can't be a Christian and think the way he does. If he is, he needs to go back to the altar and seek forgiveness.

I love President Bush! He has done alot of things that I don't agree with, but I still respect him as my President. Senator Obama is trying to get us to see ourselves in our sisters and brothers. But some people want to take his words and twist them for their benefit. God is not pleased!

The people of Georgia believe sex with a 14 year old is a felony and passed a law to protect their minors. A group of Wilson's peers convicted him of this crime. I wonder if Obama holds the same view on all laws passed by the people or is it just ones effecting black people??

HEY JON, YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY A REPUBLICAN WALKING AROUND WITH BLINDERS AND RACE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ISSUE WHEN JUSTICE HAS NEVER BEEN COLORBLIND. I WISH YOU COULD EXPERIENCE THE DAY IN THE LIFE OF A POOR MINORITY. BUT WHY WOULD YOU CARE ANYWAY SITTING IN YOUR LILLY WHITE COMMUNITY.

Kate from MD, the reason there are things such as "black busines man of the year” awards and “black and hispanic scholarships" are because white americans have been the "standard" since the beginning of this nation — they dominate every facet of our society, from government, media, corporate, and even academia. Is it because they are more apt? No. It's only because they've been in control for so long. And after being oppressed collectively for hundreds of years, blacks and latinos are just starting to gain ground and become successful at a competitive level. So, we NEED such events and awards to put our own people under a magnifying glass to show the rest of the world that we're doing big things, too, in spite of the fact that we're overshadowed and taken for granted.

Kate, it's always wise to put yourself in others' shoes and analyze yourself before you create such one-dimensional, misinformed posts.

Jon, Sacramento

You spun that very well. Congrats! So you are saying that when the word "we" is used by someone, they are basically talking about their own race? I got it.

That makes just about as much sense as 12 jurors finding OJ Simpson not guilty. You are really reaching, and I say, REACH ON! REACH ON!

There was no race card being used by Obama. He was merely bringing up an obvious assessment: There is still a lack of equality between the races and sexes. I've noticed a trend of people being trigger happy with the using the term "race card" and it's usually because they don't want to deal with reality and accept that things need to change. Many race card accusations are a matter of denial so that such persons can go about their lives w/o feeling guilty and having to make an effort to improve themselves.

Kate from Rockville MD
I believe you comment was an extremely ignorant blanket statement. If you actually took the time to get to know the black community around you, you would realize that a large majority of us don't receive the handouts that you speak of. I went to a major university on scholarship because I graduated at the top of my class and scored a 30 on the ACT. When that scholarship was offered to me, they didn't offer it because I was Black, or part Indian. I got it based off merit. I have three older brothers that also went to college on academic scholarships, and athletic scholarships. We all went to college based on the use of our minds and talents. Your statement shows so much imbedded hate and ignorance. I wish you would consider your thoughts a little better next time you get ready to post something and make sure you have a leg to stand on.

Lou ~ Missippi,

So your logic… because Obama made a previous statement which (I agree) was not regarding race - you then conclude that NONE of his statements would ever be about race??

He said, "We know we have more work to do …" clearly refering to the efforts made by the NAACP and Equal Rights. His suggestion is rich, white, connected men (Libby) get a different treatment than a young, smart (21 yr old honor student) black man.

Spin it any way you wish, louie, Obama was playing the race card to his audience at the NAACP.

Kate from Rockville - You sound really ignorant. You live in Maryland so I am not going to excuse you from not knowing the world. Walk around DC and Maryland, open up your eyes. This world is not equal yet.

More blacks own homes today than ever before, more blacks go to college, more money than ever for AIDS, more African Americans and minorities in his cabinet than any president ever.

How has pandering by Democrats helped out our black brothers and sisters exactly? Cycle after cycle of poverty or just getting by, by using nothing but social programs to get votes.

Black Caucus, Black Mayors association, NAACP, Black lawyers association and the list goes on and on.

How does this singling out help this country exactly?

The more we single ones self out, the more solitary we become.

Hey, Kate in MD maybe you should take a job at a University and work with the Scholarship committee. There are scholarships out there that only Caucasians can receive. When a scholarship is setup, restrictions or requirements can be attached. I'm black and I put myself through college. This BS notion that we get a free ride from the government is old news - an URBAN LEGEND. I paid for it, I did not, nor did any of my friends or family receive money for college based on the color of our skin. But back to the scholarship thing, there are scholarships out there that specify a particular major, and a particular hometown, county, high school etc. I can't speak for MD but here in Tennessee we have several whites only cities, towns, counties, etc. Not by law, that is just the way certain places are and have always been. By the very fact that there isn't a black or Hispanic living in Vonore TN, for example only a white student would qualify for the scholarship that specifies that town as an eligibility requirement. Much like scholarships that specify a minority majoring in Accounting that is a first generation college student for example. I do, however agree, with your most of your statement. Much like the fight against racism in the 60's & 70's - things don't improve until the dinosaurs die out. Please, Please, do not blame the whole race because of outdated loud mouth dinosaurs such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Real, intelligent hard working black men and women do not subscribe to this woe is me - I need government action so I can get ahead mentality that many of our black politicians spout on about. They're outdated.

Jon from Sacramento, I guess Senator Obama was playing the race card when he said that the District Attorney in the Duke Lacrosse Case should be investigated because he as railroading those young men. Right?

His comments had NOTHING do to with race but the justice system that is clearly unjust to both poor Whites, African-American and Latinos.

We all know that there is no such thing as "racism" towards black people anymore. Let's not forget that America didn't change and give black people equal rights because they wanted to. They were forced to.

This nation will never arrive at it's true greatness until people open their eyes.

Uh-Jon, wake up, slap yourself- -Clinton got hell for that(many years ago!)- -I suppose you agree with Shrub that Scotter should have been let off?! You guys keep bringing Clinton up! How I Wish he were Still the Man!! Lay off The kool-aid

Mr. Obama,

Your statement regarding Genarlow Wilson is correct, what a shameful play of politics.

All of you democratic contenders could take a page out of Mr. Tancredo’s book, and do right for AMERICA!

“WE THE PEOPLE”

Some people play the race card even when it screams of reverse discrimination. If minorities want to be treated the same - then they must be treated the same from the beginning, not better - otherwise it will drive more fear and hatred than originally existed. If you can't exchange the race equally for another race without raising eyebrows, then it is reverse racism. What's with the "black busines man of the year" awards. . . ever hear of the "white business man of the year"? Or what about the "black and hispanic scholarship"? I've never see "caucasian scholarships".

Tancredo gets a lot of respect for being the ONLY Republican to show up.

The criticism by the Dems is deservedly so.

However Tancredo hits the achilles heel in that most blacks (including some that I have personally talked to) are outraged about the illegal immigration issue because it severely impacts poor blacks whom need to make more than minimum wage.

The Democrats don't seem to get it, with only a handful siding against the Bush "Amnesty" plan.

I have written to my liberal senators to try to persuade them to vote against the Bush plan - unfortunately they both voted for it.

While I agree with Obama's sentiments RE Genarlow Wilson, the highly partisan move by Bush in commuting Libby's sentence has absolutely nothing to do with race, and it is shameful the way they are twisting it to meet their political ends. Race, sex, religion, ethnicity, etc. should not even be a consideration when deciding on a presidential candidate. Message, goals, experience, and leadership should be the only thing that matters, and with the front-running minority candidates in the Democratic party, I am afraid one may be elected primarily because of their race or sex, rather than what they have to say.