Thank goodness

JoeR — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:00:51 -0700

Thank goodness we don't have a crotchety 70 year old actually running for President.....oh wait. I hope my dad doesn't see this comment.

McCain's embarrassing connections

Renee in Ohio — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 07:27:12 -0700

I agree with your point here (vaguely reminds me of my own Polish grandmother). And I acknowledge that I am about to veer off your main point now. But this seems to be as good a place as any to point out this post at Booman, which reminds us of the sort of religious leaders who are backing John McCain. These guys are somewhat "out of the mainstream" as well.

Barack's former pastor - and that conversation about race Bill Clinton always wanted us to have

Tim Russo — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:04:33 -0700

(And I'm sure this is just how Bill Clinton wanted it to go, too.) Regarding Barack's former pastor, who sent Joe Scarborough on MSNBC this morning into fits of righteous conservative apoplexy -

My Polish grandmother who lived in Slavic Village is the first person I want to see if I ever get to heaven, because that's where she is. I miss her so much. One of our best memories of her in her very old age was taking Grandma shopping at the old Pick 'n Pay on Broadway. Afterward, we'd go across the street to McDonalds, for her favorite treat - a McFish sandwich and fries. She called it "fish fry", as if every trip to McDonalds was on a Friday in Lent.

Slavic Village in those days, the late 1970's, was just starting to see the major influx of blacks from the inner city outward to the old ethnic neighborhoods, and she didn't like it one bit. Grandma always made us laugh when she would inevitably point them out as we walked into the store, under her breath, like she was saying a relative had (whisper it) "cancer!" She'd use a Polish word for blacks - czarnas - always whispered, as if we didn't notice ourselves. We laughed - we still do when we retell the story.

Of course, it's a bittersweet memory. But my Grandma got a pass, as I would guess all old folks do. John Stewart said on the Daily Show last night that Geraldine Ferraro proves that people over 70 get to say whatever the hell they want about black people. And in some ways, it's true. If you're still harboring these resentments at 70, and aren't over your prejudices by then, you'll never be, and besides, there's so much more to love about our grandmas and grandpas. Why insert that division into a family if you don't have to? There's nothing more stubborn than an old war horse who just doesn't give a damn anymore.

So now, we have the media replay over and over the ranting sermons of Barack Obama's former pastor, thanks to Hillary Clinton's campaign inserting that division into our family. It's a transparent attempt to get into the psyche of people like my Grandma by waving people like Pastor Wright in front of them. One crotchety old fogey to another, just like Geraldine.

I think we can all agree that black people have a reason to be angry, and some folks just let it rip sometimes. From the pulpit. At least Pastor Wright isn't telling people from the pulpit how they'd be sinners if they voted pro-choice, or Democrat, or might be gay, or bi, and therefore, can't have Holy Communion, and might be excommunicated. Like my former pastor does. Which is why I don't go to church so much anymore. But I digress.

If Pastor Wright is such a pariah, and doesn't get a pass for being a crotchety old black man with a microphone, what do we do with the thousands more pastors who don't have age and history as an excuse? Most of whom, I'm sure, will support John McCain, using way more disgusting language than Pastor Wright could summon.

Remember when Barack Obama wasn't black enough? Boy, are those days over.

Buckeye State Blog - Barack's former pastor - and that conversation about race Bill Clinton always wanted us to have - Comments

Thank goodness

McCain's embarrassing connections

Barack's former pastor - and that conversation about race Bill Clinton always wanted us to have