Marc Lamont Hill

Melissa,

On Friday, I received one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2008 political season. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a close political ally of the Clintons, publicly endorsed Barack Obama. Although I’m not an Obama supporter (yes, I must write that every time we talk about him!), I am still excited about the endorsement. Why? Because it represents a rare moment of principled decision-making among mainstream politicians.

Unlike most politicians, whose endorsements are shaped by transparent careerism, Richardson made a choice against his own political self-interest. By most credible accounts, including ours, Richardson had the inside track on the VP spot on Hillary’s ticket. Although conventional wisdom suggests that he won’t secure such a position with Obama –I’m thinking Secretary of Homeland Security– he nonetheless decided to endorse the candidate who he believes is a “once-in-a-lifetime” leader.

Even better than Richardson’s choice was his response to the Clinton-sponsored critics. When they pointed out that he owed the Clintons because Bill made him US Ambassador and Secretary of Energy, Richardon replied, “I paid him back. Because I served well.” When hired hitman James Carville compared Richardson to Judas Iscariot (what does that make Hillary? and Barack?) Richardson dismissed the Clinton’s gutter politics and accurately pointed out that they “have a sense of entitlement to the presidency.” This is bold talk from a guy who spent much of primary season protecting Hillary from the competition.

So, Melissa, what do you think? Am I being naïve or is Richardson really doing something special here? Also, how significant is a Richardson endorsement at this point in the primary? Finally, doesn’t he look a lot more Mexican now that he’s not running for president?

Holla at ya boy!!!!!

Melissa Harris-Lacewell

Marc,

Richardson’s endorsement was, without a doubt, one of my favorite moments of the political season so far.  It had been a tough week for Obama because of the incessant replays of the Wright sermon clips and the screaming Buchanan and friends analysis of Obama’s exquisite race speech.  I confess that I was allowing my natural cynicism to begin overwhelming my Obama-generated political optimism.

Then, on the horizon, appeared a great hero to revive the momentum, repudiate the Clintons, and renew my faith in black/brown coalition politics.  Bill Richardson is my favorite person of the month.

Let’s review. First, I am sure Richardson was on a very short list to be Hillary’s VP.   The “Hill and Bill 2008″  buttons were already in production. (In part because “Bill” could easily refer to Richardson or to the past president!)  Richardson chose to follow his conscience rather than his personal stake in the Veep role.  That is the kind of choice I can respect. He then used his media platform these past few days to urge the Democratic Party to pull together, choose a candidate and act like adults.  I started to get a good idea of why Richardson is an effective hostage negotiator.

Second, this guy could have easily waited a week, two or even a month before offering an endorsement.  Richardson chose to stand with Barack at a difficult and potentially costly political moment.  He chose to support Obama in the fire of the Wright fervor. His timing signaled agreement with the central tenets of racial healing and reconciliation that Barack articulated Tuesday. Richardson’s passionate endorsement symbolizes the linked fates of African Americans and Latinos in the American political project.

Finally, Bill came out wearing a goatee!  What?!  In a week when Barack fully embraced and articulated his racial identity, momentarily moving against the insistent demands of a de-racializing  campaign, Bill joined him with a beautifully, blatant display of his ethnic aesthetic.  There they stood, black and brown, with no white politician to condone or bless the actions.  Just Barack and Bill. It was beautiful.

Yes, Marc, I am with you on this one.  Richardson is now to be referred to as “Brother Richardson”  by Obama supporters around the country.

Melissa

The Politician & the Preacher
By Mumia Abu-Jamal
[col. writ. 3/15/08] (c) ‘08

The recent quasi-controversy over the comments made by the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, retired pastor of the United Church of Christ, to which Sen. Barack Obama (D.IL), both belongs and attends, has shown us how limited, and how narrow, is this new politics peddled by the freshman Senator from Chicago.

Although first popularized via the web, the Reverend’s comments caused Sen. Obama to say he was “appalled” by them, and he has repudiated such remarks as “offensive.”

Just what were these comments? As far as I’ve heard, they were that Sen. Hilary Clinton (D.NY) has had a political advantage because she’s white; that she was raised in a family of means (especially when contrasted with Obama’s upbringing); and she was never called a nigger.

Sounds objectively true to me.

Rev. Wright’s other remarks were that the country was built on racism, is run by rich white people, and that the events of 9/11 was a direct reaction to US foreign policy.

Again — true enough.

And while we can see how such truths  might cause discomfort to American nationalists, can we not also agree that they are truths?  Consider, would Sen. Clinton be where she is if she were born in a Black female body?  Or if she were born to a single mother in the projects? As for the nation, it may be too simplistic to say it was built on racism, but was surely built on racial slavery, from which its wealth was built.  And who runs America, if not the super rich white  elites?  Who doesn’t know that politicians are puppets of corporate and inherited wealth?

And while Blacks of wealth and means certainly are able to exercise unprecedented influence, we would be insane to believe that they ‘run’ this country.  Oprah, Bob Johnson and Bill Cosby are indeed wealthy; but they have influence, not power.  The limits of Cosby’s power was shown when he tried to purchase the TV network, NBC, years ago.  His offer received a corporate smirk.  And Oprah’s wealth, while remarkable, pales in comparison to the holdings of men like Bill Gates, or Warren Buffet.

Would George W. Bush be president today if he were named Jorje Guillermo Arbusto, and Mexican-American?  (Not unless Jorje, Sr. was a multimillionaire!)

In his ambition to become  America’s first Black president, Obama is in a race to prove how Black he isn’t; even to denouncing a man he has considered  his mentor.

As one who has experienced the Black church from the inside, politics and social commentary are rarely far from the pulpit.  The Rev. Dr. Martin L. King spoke of politics, war, racism, economics, and social justice all across America.  His fair-weather friends betrayed him, and the press condemned his remarks as “inappropriate”,  “unpatriotic”, and “controversial.”

Rev. Dr. King said the US was “the greatest  purveyor of violence” on earth, and that the Vietnam War was illegitimate and unjust.  Would Sen. Obama be denouncing these words, as the white press, and many civil rights figures did, in 1967?  Are they “inflammatory?”

Only to politics based on white, corporate comfort uber alles (above all)” only to a politics that ignores Black pain, and  distorts Black history; only to a politics pitched more to the status quo, than to real change.

Politics is ultimately about more than winning elections; it’s about principles; it’s about being true to one’s self, and honoring one’s ancestors; it’s about speaking truth to power.

It can’t just be about change, because every change ain’t for the better!

–(c) -08 maj

Gibson Sues Over Guitar Hero

Guitar maker Gibson is suing MTV Networks and Electronic Arts, stating that the company has not been paid for a patent it owns for virtual guitar playing. What do you think?

Cassie Binnis,
Systems Analyst
“Finally, the name Gibson will be synonymous with fake guitars.”

Tim Bradley,
Janitor
“Now that I think of it, Capcom never paid me a dime for the patent I hold for virtual street fighting.”

Bruce LaSaard,
Elevator Installer
“Excuse me, but after last week’s championship game at Ray’s Creekside Tavern, I believe it is I who owns Guitar Hero

Today’s photo of the day shows Angela Bassett, who recently was awarded with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Congratulations!!!

Question: What’s your favorite Angela Bassett role?

Today’s video of the day comes from The Verdict with Dan Abrams, where Leslie Sanchez and I discussed current issues on the campaign trail.