Before I kick Ralph Nader in his butt, I have to give him credit for one thing: He's said publicly what some black leaders, especially those who were part of the civil rights movement, have been saying privately since Sen. Barack Obama announced his intention to run for the White House.
Obama has dismissed Nader's comments as a desperate attempt to get attention.
But don't think Nader is being courageous. Old-school black leaders know most black voters don't want to hear it. They are too close to turn back now.
Of course, a lot of black people want Obama to deal with more issues that specifically affect African Americans, but black voters are sophisticated enough to know that Obama isn't running to be the President of Black America, or the NAACP, National Urban League or Rainbow Push Coalition for that matter.
Frankly, if African-Americans were going to turn against Obama, they would have done so after Obama distanced himself from his former long-time pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Nader is playing the same game that white politicians who are dependent on the black vote have always played: divide and conquer.
It's not happening.
Nader is accomplishing only one thing by trying to characterize Obama as a race traitor. He is alienating a loyal voting bloc.
Mary Mitchell is a columnist for the 
A desperate need to get attention, now thats what Spike has been doing to promote his movie, and you fell for it.
Nader has it right
That Barry has been playing his white side more.
Rader does not understand the Black Unity Solidarity, the promises Obama has made to the black people prior to and during the campaigns. The vast amount of churches he campaigned in across the country. That every service he went to was a campaign stump speech.
That Obama's loyalty is to the Black first and foremost and he is just using his white side to get the white vote.
Nancy Pelois Thinks she can use obama as a puppet, with her saying he has no experience and just ideas. She really does not know Obama and what his priorities are. Sorry to say they only include her to use her.
RALPH NADER SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIMSELF, THE GOP USED HIM LIKE
A RAG-DOLL, AND HE PLAYED INTO THEIR HANDS!
HE HAD A DON IMUS MOMENT!
Nader has lost my respect here. I think he is sick because Obama comes up and does what Nader couldn't.
Ms. Mitchell,
I am thankful once again to be able to comment on your artical and other comments. The message I receive after reading the artical and the comments is this. As intelligent as I beleive you amd your readers are, I fail to realize why so many can not see that this is not a black or white or race issue. This is a GOOD or EVIL issue. We are at war. A war that evil has control now because we are fighting over things we can not control. The love in another for another. When you read the comments, you can see anger, prejudices, and almost hate. Thei comments make others
comment with the same attitude. I know you must write what is being said, please stay neutral because there are people out there waiting 0n something to discredit you with. I think the artical and comments are very inflamatory and is a tool of the evils to keep us apart. However I don't think you should sit back like "members of the old school" and be quiet. Thank you,
Rev. Eugene Baker
Mr. Nader's comment: "Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson?"
As usual, a white guy who wants to tell a Black person how he should act, behave and the audacity to poke at how well Senator Obama speaks. That usually comes from another arena, but I have to presume he doesn't have anything else to use to denigrate the Democratic Presidential Nominee, and digresses in the muck and mire of POLITICS AS USUAL. And To the point of using derogatory or negative 2008 Primary Clintonian phrase-ology
Excuse me Mr. Nader, but where the hell is your record on a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos? (by the way it is called Black communities and neighborhoods - regardless of media bias) Where are you on Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead and so forth? YOU DON"T HAVE ONE!! because I damn sure never heard about it! Or your stance a whimper only to be heard every four years? ... You are just a PRIVILEGE white guy running on the fringes of a political party which if engage truly with the electorate could probably shake up both parties, but still a fringe player.
Nader's comments: "I mean, first of all, the number one thing that a black American politician aspiring to the presidency should be is to candidly describe the plight of the poor, especially in the inner cities and the rural areas, and have a very detailed platform about how the poor is going to be defended by the law, is going to be protected by the law, and is going to be liberated by the law," Nader said. "Haven't heard a thing."
Excuse me, but all the candidates should have this position? But we know the reality is - AS YOU CLUMSILY INSINUATED - if harping to one group about the ills of another group JUST WHERE IN THE HELL WOULD HE BE?
Mr. Nader, don't hate the playa - hate the game - you guys created it and Senator Obama is simply shooting out the lights, baby boy! SWISH! Slam-Dunk in your face and you fouled out knucklehead.
Kudos to Reverend Baker and his thoughtful and compassionate comment. It's all about the content of one's character. Too bad the civil rights movement was hijacked by opportunists and has lost its credibility. It is plain to see that many see only through the veil of race and hatred.
You pro-Bamas, you're telling me you're not surprised he's now pro-War against Iran and Pakistan, has the DNC advertising for millionaires to plan the next steps, and his staff is made up heavily of "former" lobbyists and people who pioneered the predatory sub prime crises?
Nader may be to straight-talking for a "white" guy, but all you self-righteous blacks don't care he's selling you out?
Weird
Nader would run himself into the ground for us. I wish we cared. I'm too tired myself with all the "black is proud" anti-Nader people, who have no idea who he is and what he's fought for, and don't know if we even want to save ourselves. Obama's just another politician at this point. What has Obama fought for and what has Nader fought for? Who's dilution and illusion? Who acts like America doesn't have any "black problems". Which one is just talking smack? If you want to act like blacks don't suffer more from poverty and lack of legal representation, or slum lords more than most, good for you. I still think more blacks suffer from that, from historically being thrown penniless into a capitalistic society. You're right, we're all equal. The Bushes have finally caught up with the Booties. Nope, it's thinking backwards to think that part of the absentee black father situation has anything to do with incarceration (although being a player has it's price too). We've finally all made it, and we're all slaves, black, white, and everyone else. Or we're finally all equal. Wow, that was easy.
Blacks probably didn't complain when Lincoln stood up for them. Why is Nader so offensive, reminding Obama he came from Trinity and NYPIRG, and is now selling himself and all of us out? If black leaders would call Obama on his shifting positions, it wouldn't take Nader to tell us we're in trouble.
You tell me. Is he lying to us or AIPIC. I agree with Nader. If Obama wins, you'll lose any hope you had on fixing anything. Nader's been fighting for equality for a long time, and hasn't had to tell everyone involved a different story to do it.
This is our one chance. Do you think Obama's the candidate by accident?
Nader is correct when he says the biggest problem in this country is Corporate influence in every aspect of American society. The previous blogger's description depicting this as Good vs.Evil is accurate. His comments directed towards Obama were simply stupid.
to Mary, Phil Smith, Jr., and all the African-Americans on this blog:
Here is something thats going to make you madder than Ralph Nader got you. BUT ITS THE TRUTH !
Barack has been the victim of being accused of being 'white' before. But not by white people.....When he ran for the 1st District Congressional seat he was defeated by Bobby Rush because Rush's people (maybe on Rush's orders) portrayed him as the WHITE candidate because he was half-WHITE. They used racism against him and it WORKED. Oh did it work. So alot of you, before you point-fingers you had better look amongst yourselves.
I listen to your talk show every Sunday morning, on 07/06/08 there was a interesting segment to admend the law so that men would be able to marry more than one women. The speaker and youself thinks that this will increase the family income and decrease men cheating I was so feed up I frustrated I turned the radio off.
Get real men will always cheat, and if a law is passed they will cheat more as far as the increased income in black familes yes of course it would, but can we get alone in the same household. This is not of God and as a black women two women in a household loving the same man it won't work, It just won't you are a educated woman think about this situation
Greetings Ms. Mitchell: I have a concern that perhaps needs to be addressed in the public arena. A young African American male (Terrell Harper-Means) living in a DCFS group home was fatally shot on Monday morning. He appearently arrived at the home at 3:00 AM Monday morning, was heard "rapping" until approx. 4:00 AM. At 7:00 AM he was found unresponsive with an alledged self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. It is reported that he was searched at the time of his entry, and there was no weapon found on him, everyone entering the facility are alledgedly searched. The questions that I would like to have addressed is "Who lost Terrell?" Is there no accountability when the life of a young A/A male is stopped? Does the system that is designed to protect our children focus more on tthe dollars than on the children? And finally, when will we as a community demand more accountability from government agencies? Thank you.
Greetings Ms. Mitchell: I have a concern that perhaps needs to be addressed in the public arena. A young African American male (Terrell Harper-Means) living in a DCFS group home was fatally shot on Monday morning. He appearently arrived at the home at 3:00 AM Monday morning, was heard "rapping" until approx. 4:00 AM. At 7:00 AM he was found unresponsive with an alledged self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. It is reported that he was searched at the time of his entry, and there was no weapon found on him, everyone entering the facility are alledgedly searched. The questions that I would like to have addressed is "Who lost Terrell?" Is there no accountability when the life of a young A/A male is stopped? Does the system that is designed to protect our children focus more on tthe dollars than on the children? And finally, when will we as a community demand more accountability from government agencies? Thank you.