John McCain accused Barack Obama of playing the "race card" from the "bottom of the deck" no less. I'm not sure anymore. What is the race card?
I didn't interpret Obama saying that he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills" as him playing the race card.
The man doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills, just like Hillary Clinton didn't look like all of the presidents on the dollar bill.
Had Obama said he is being scrutinized by the media unfairly because he is black, he would be playing the race card.
When McCain supporters perpetuate the myth that the Obamas are unpatriotic, wink at the false rumor that he is a Muslim, and ridicule his wife, Michelle, as a "Baby's Mama," they are exploiting racial fears.
But when Obama points out that these supporters are trying to scare voters, he's the one playing the race card. What am I missing here?
Mary Mitchell is a columnist for the 
Mary, Obama accused McCain of using race against Obama when that was a blatant lie.
Can you name one instance where McCain has done that?
And Obama supporters have spread rumors about McCain being a lousy pilot and that he was a traitor.
Where's your complaint about that or are you just an Obama supporter and not a journalist?
Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod, acknowledged on "Good Morning America" Friday that the candidate was referring, at least in part, to his ethnic background.
When pressed to explain the comment, Axelrod told "GMA" it meant, "He's not from central casting when it comes to candidates for president of the United States. He's new to Washington. Yes, he's African-American."
You should know the race card Mary; you play it everyday in your column
McCAIN put Obamas face on the dollar bill in an ad released on the 27th of June! THEN, Obama mentions something to that effect, and they angrily accuse HIM of playing the race card?
APPALLING!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDTJDv4hevU&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com
There's no reason for you to ask the question of "What Constitutes Playing the Race Card"?
You play it in virtually every article you write.
Mary,
America has always been about race since it's beginning I don't understand why people act so surprised and even more afraid to talk about it
Hi Mary,
You're not missing anything. What is happening is that Sen. McCain has torn a page or two out of Sen. Hillary Clinton's play book during her campaign against Sen. Barack Obama.
John McCain is going to criticize and scrutinize every word that Senator Obama says now. McCain is going to show more fear ads just as Hillary Clinton did in her 3 AM ad.
So look for more comments, put-downs, and racial inuendos from the McCain camp in the 14 weeks that we have to go in this fight for the White House.
Senator Obama should just keep going -- but I would appreciate it if he kicked it up a notch.
But that would be the politics of old -- which Senator Obama is trying to change.
Obama isn't playing the race card. He's playing the 8 mile card and playing it well. In the movie 8 mile Eminem knew his fellow competitor rapper was going to point out all his so-called flaws. So he beat him to the punch, Eminem rapped about all of his possible bad points before the other guy could. His plan left the other guy dumbfounded. It's a brilliant strategy to say, "Here's what they're going to say about me."
Obama said that voters would fear him because he didn't look like the guys on the dollar bills. He could have been referring to his age, his facial features, his height or any number of things. What's really telling is that McCain and his staff assumed that it was all about race.
Unfortunately, when the chips are down and times are tough, desperate measures result. So far in this presidential election, Hillary Clinton (and Bill), Ralph Nader, and John McCain have sputtered and spewed vile racial statements to and about Barack Obama. The one fortunate result is that people who have experienced their own race-baiting, race-daring (I dare you to complain about my ugly behavior so I can accuse you of playing the victim), and passive-aggressive hectoring on an individual level now know they weren't imagining it. It is real. It is ugly. It is sad. But it is also instructive. Thank you Barack and Michelle Obama for your leadership and endurance.
Well, it's pretty clear to me, but I think it's also clear I'm looking at it differently. If you think of the entire quote, he (Obama) talks first about how they/McCain will try to "scare" people. He mentions, as he frequently does, his "funny name." Then he talks about how he doesn't look like all the other presidents.
In June, he said something similar, only then he DID add something about "And did I mention he's black?" McCain's campaign felt that this most recent remark, citing McCain and the campaign personally, injected the notion that MCCAIN was telling people to fear Obama because he's black. And that is most definitely my inference as well.
I hate the phrase "playing the race card," so I won't use it. But it's very clear (again to me) that Obama feels free to play it when he wants. My personal feeling is that he did it effectively during the primary. McCain/his advisors saw what happened, and they were ready to fire right back. More power to them, I say (and I'm not a McCain supporter, either). Keep this on issues, and not skin color. But that has to apply to both campaigns, not just one.
Oh -- and the part about McCain looking at the Clinton campaign and how race was used against it -- I didn't make that up or even come up with it on my own. I read it on politico.com, earlier this week.
Pretty much every one of your columns...
There's no race card when it comes to Obama,he's the front runner of thr Presidential Nomination.Sure he doesn't look like other Presidents on Dollar Bills when did we have a Black President Never and as far as I know Mr. Obama is still alive. I want so much to like Mr. Obama as a candidate but people like you must keep pushing the fact he has some kind of handicap his race.And god forbid if he loses the election then the whole black issue again,wake up there must be a better story then this....
The race card is always over played when diversity is an issue. The real issue is power. People without power are hurt when people with power disregard ones station in life i.e. race, gender or choice. If people feel empowered, the race card becomes old. Let us take the race card off the table.
This "race card" thing has totally gotten out of hand. It's taken a life of it's own. You can't say anything obvious about race without being accused of playing the race card. Here ya go. A good percentage of "White" people aren't actually White", they're Black. Double check those family trees, at your own risk, of course. Now!!! I just played the race card. Ha!
It has always been said the ones who perpetuate false rumors and myths are the ones who claim to be victims. Sen. Obama stated a simple fact that he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills". I just don't get it. Stop the rhetoric and focus on the issues.
From what I see white Republicans and Hallary supporters are playing the race card from the bottom of the deck. They are trying to find something negetive. They even said he's arrogant. Bush, Reagon, Clinton, Nixon, and Kenndy, were very arrogant. From what I see is black's can't be arrogant, all we suppose to say is "yes Sar, no Sar. Do you need anything else Masta. Thank you Masta President for all the walfare, thanks for letting the police beat up innocent Nigros, thanks for the lack of jobs, thanks for giving all the illegal all the jobs, including the one who get three walfare checks with three different social security number."
Ms. Mitchell, you're not missing anything. Obama is not playing the race card. The McCain camp is upset that Obama beat them to the punch as far as their strategy they were planning on using later on in the campaign. He hit it right on the head when he brought this up because later on in the year when McCain realizes he's falling back in the polls, his camp will start putting out these ads saying exactly what Obama brought up. They're a little salty right now. He can't win the election strictly on the issues, So the Republican party is using everything they can to divert attention away from them.
i cant wait till obama loses , after hiswfe said, she was proud of her country for the first time.ill remember that at the poles. tell whatb she said to the 10,000, marines who died in iwojima,or the people who freed the slaves, in the civil war.she open game when she helps her husband and im going to put an end to it at the poles
You're right when you say:
"I didn't interpret Obama saying that he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills" as him playing the race card."
I support Obama, but I think the McCain campiagn has a valid point here.
Was Obama playing the race card when he said his opponents were using the fact that Obama is black against him? Is it fair to say that the McCain campaign is using Obama's race against him?
You're not missing a thing, Mary. In fact, I suggest we start calling people who use this silly, meaningless phrase "pre-emptive whiners."
They're like the younger sibling, who, having lost a board game and about to get a sock in the arm ran up stairs wailing to ma and pa "He/she HIT me!"
Do you think Obama's comment about not looking like the other pictures on the US currency was related to his lack of a powdered wig? The fact that he doesn't wear wooden teeth?
Unlike Hillary, he is a man, and so what could it be that makes him "look different"?
It's clearly his race that he was referring to, and in a statement purporting to warn against Republican "attacks". So McCain didn't bring up the fact that he looks different, Obama did.
Only the Obama-blinders you are wearing prevents you from reaching this obvious conclusion.
Indeed this is true. Hope that more people pass it around.
A few weeks ago, Obama was recorded giving a similar speech, (paraphrasing), "they'll try to scare you. They'll say 'He's got a funny name. He's got a fiesty wife. . . Did I mention he's black?'"
Obama substituted the indirect "He doesn't look like the Presidents on the dollar bills" for his direct reference to being black. I think he did it so he would be able to invoke deniability, which he has now done.
It is intellectually dishonest to say that Obama did not mean to imply a racial difference with the dead presidents reference. He wasn't talking about height. To say that "McCain supporters" wink at the more offensive tactics means nothing. That could mean me and I am nobody. McCain himself has used none of those tactics. Obama himself did make the comment about his looking different than the other presidents. I don't have a problem with that necessarily because politics is a rough game but let's be honest.
Obama went overseas to tell Eurosnobs what's wrong with America, and his wife says for the first time in her lifetime she is proud of her country. The only reason Martha Mitchell does not believe this to be unpatroitic is because this resembles her own thinking, and she will never, ever admit it.
Mary - you HAVE to be smarter than this!
When you continue to state that: “People aren’t going to vote for me because I’m funny looking or have a funny name” - to me that is race-baiting everyday of the week! He needs to STFU and talk about the ISSUES! Not what he looks like – We KNOW what he looks like - what we don’t know is your stance on the REAL issues – like the RECESSION that we are on the brink of!. Why continue to play the victim – when you don’t have to??
My problem is exactly what Obama exemplifies – we continue to play the victim – even when it is totally unnecessary.
There are always blogs stating half truths, missing details and outright lies about candidates AND their families ( Rove and co put out the rumor that McCain had a Black Love Child) Did you hear McCain continuing to “DO THE COMPLETE FOOL – NO!!! He made his statement and Moved the F… ON!!!! – WHY do folks think that Obama should be immune???? Why is it that when someone’s makes the most minor criticism of him – they HAVE to be racist??? Why is it that 5,000 people have to provide commentary for 3 weeks when the most innocuous thing is said. We as a people need to MAN UP! We want to be equal – we have to roll with stuff!!! I’m not saying to not be vigilant regarding racism. It DOES still exist – but don’t look for it where it is not present!
This video called "Change", posted a month ago to John McCain's YouTube channel, emphasizes that Obama's face is out of place on (1) the dollar bill, (2) Mount Rushmore, and (3) the Statue of Liberty. If emphasizing this constitutes "playing the race card," McCain's minions did it first:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDTJDv4hevU
Dear Mary,
What exactly do you think Obama was talking about dearie? What do all those men on the dollar bills look like? They are all white men and we all know what he meant. This was not the first time he he did this. Remember a few weeks back he said;"Oh and did you know he's black" The only one talking about race is Obama.
It is amazing that you can't admit the truth. I guess Barry is just to perfect for the rest of us mortals.
Barack was specifically saying that John McCain was trying to scare voters by implying that Barack 'doesn't look like all those other presidents.' Not only did McCain never imply that (as evidenced by Barack's apology), but what if McCain really did say that? Would he not be a racist if he did say that?
So, Barack implying that McCain wants people to think McCain believes that dark skin color is a good reason to not be president, equals Barack bringing out the race card.
I would hope you are being facetious here and that you really understand.
Also, it is McCain SUPPORTERS you are referencing above, not McCain himself! If you put down all the stuff Barack supporters say about McCain you would get some pretty damning things as well. It's not fair to attribute emails from supporters or other places to the candidates mouth, that's a low standard.
Your comparative example--you notice that Obama's remarks about not looking like the other presidents on our currency would also hold true for Hillary Clinton, who is not black--makes sense. Why hasn't anyone else brought this up? It effectively invalidates McCain's comments about Obama playing the "race card." Some of the ugliness I've seen on the Web shows that if McCain isn't *overtly* using racist appeals, his supporters sure are...
June 20th,2008- Jacksonville, FL
Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama said on Friday he expects Republicans to highlight the fact that he is black as part of an effort to make voters afraid of him.
“They’re going to try to make you afraid of me. He’s young and inexperienced and he’s got a funny name. And did I mention he’s black?”
Dear Mary, I have nothing against Barack Obama on a personal or fearful level-- I am against his brand of politics. Chicago "networks" as we all know.
Here's what you're missing: Obama clearly ALSO said he was black-- with a wink and a smile-- and with the implication that republicans or conservatives are racists. That's what you are missing.
And, let's be honest here-- what has been said about black conservatives? I recall Condoleeza Rice being called an Aunt Jemimah and I recall Colin Powell being compared to a house slave. I also remember hearing a few Uncle Tom references (by Dems towards black conservatives).
And, Obama's OWN website denies that Obama was a Muslim. That is absolutely not true. He went to an Indonesian public school for THREE years (although he states it was two) and had Koranic studies. Former Indonesian friends have stated that he went to the Mosque with his stepfather for the entire 5 years he lived there (although Obama states he lived there 3 years). Friends remember him dressed in a sarong and attending Mosque. He was also in an optional advanced Koranic studies class where Islamic prayer recitation was required and his former teacher REMEMBERS he was quite good at it!
According to one friend, he was Muslim UNTIL he met Michelle.
Why do liberals give this guy a free pass? What has happened to liberal intellectualism? When did it disappear? Obama has consistently lied about his background, his associations, his entire history. He's lied about JFK airlifting his father from Kenya to the US. (His dad came in '59 during the FIRST airlift-- JFK paid for the SECOND airlift after 1961).
He has THREE years experience in politics, yet he might win the Presidential election and NO democrats want to even hear anything negative about him? They don't even want to know! They have no desire to hear the truth, to hear how his own views mirror Saul Alinsky's to a tee? That Saul Alinsky's mantra was "change"-- a euphemism, a code word, that meant change to socialism?
And, why don't you do a column about Obama's trip to Kenya where he CAMPAIGNED for Odinga, his "cousin", who was campaigning PROMISING he'd bring in Shari'a? If you had any intellectual curiosity or concern for journalistic fairness, maybe you'd discuss this in one of your little columns. This is not a rumor, by the way. There is a pdf file with Odinga's signature that has been on the internet for months. Atlas Shrugged site has it somewhere, I'm pretty sure.
Okay, hopefully I filled you in and now you know what you were missing regarding the "race card" issue. But, honestly? You and all the other liberals are also missing a lot more. Your critical thinking skills and intellectual curiosity, too, for starters.
I think the thing is the McCain group and McCain himself are trying to remind us that Obama is black and bring up the race card without coming out and just say look he is black.
hello Mary! the race card is the card that Senator Hillary Clinton has played before she lost to O'Bama. it is when one has no truth nor integrity in what they stand for or believe in, so they resolve to racist, slimy and snaky politics to try to bring us down. when Barack shut their antics down with class and dignity, he was accused of playing the "race card". when blacks stand up for themselves against whites like Senators Clinton and McCain, we play the race card. also for McCain to say that Michelle O'Bama is a "baby mama" is outright disrespectful. She is a beautiful black woman with lots of class. we cannot say the same about the old wrinkled up hag Mrs. John McCain.
A few months age, historian Sean Wilentz dubbed this tactic, Obama to cheering audience about the Republicans, "They're going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name", the "race-baiter card". Smear your opponents as racists, and if there no evidence for the claim, accuse them of using "coded language." There is no authoritative racial code-book, so the charge is easy to lodge. The campaign need not make such accusations directly, since sympathetic writers will do so. Similar attacks from Obama and his allies. "If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun," he recently said. He failed to add that the knife can be imaginary. The attacks will have an effect, since many Republicans have grown skittish about racial issues.
Of course he's playing the race card. He's just like YOU Mary .... just TRYING to make everyone that isn't black feel guilty of supposed "hidden racism against black people". That's what you've been saying since day ONE Mary ........ the minute some dirt is dug up on Obama ....... you question WHY dirt is BEING dug up and then make the conclusion "must be because he's black"
Well, when Americans are ready to get real about race then they can come talk to me.
Mary,
You are not out there alone. I agree with everything you say. Phrases such as "baby's mama, unpatriotic, and Muslim" do suggest racism. People want to suggest that you are wrong when you address racist inuendos and idiosyncrasies. I stand with you. Your friend, Roger, who has come to enlighten you, has indicated that YOU play the race card every day. Let me just say, "being Black in America means that the race card has to be played." Now Sean "b ass," as my uncle would so elegantly describe him, has the nerve, the audacity, the unmitigated galls to imply that Obama is using race as a handicap. Sean, my dear pal,for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. How in the hell would you will feel if you and/or your ancestors had suffered mistreatment, injustices, and persecution because you had an ounce of black blood in your body? Would you speak of handicap or mishap. hOLLA back.
Obama has been swimming in the sewers of Chicago for decades and that includes playing the "race card". He's learned that well at the knees of Daley, Axelrod and the rest of the mob-like Chicago politicians, who all are now an integral part of his campaign. If you disagree with anyone or anything here, you are called a "racist".
Obama successfully injected the "race card" against Hillary and Bill and now is doing it to McCain. Three different speeches in Missouri, a speech in June where he specifically stated, "and did I happen to tell you he was black"!
Ms. Mitchell, it's obvious you no longer are an objective columnist if Obama's offensive behavior is being ignored...in fact, defended.
WHEN YOU ARE LOSING AN ELECTION, WHICH MCCAIN IS
THE GOP AND MCCAIN ARE GOING TO SPIN NEGATIVE
ADS!
THE RACE ISSUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE AND IT
WILL BE TALKED ABOUT BECAUSE OBAMA WILL BE THE
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT!
JOHN MCCAIN IS A DESPERATE FELLOW, AND WHEN A
PERSON IS DESPERATE THEY WILL RESORT TO ANYTHING
IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR OPPONENT LOOK BAD, MCCAIN
CANNOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT OBAMA'S ROCK STAR IMAGE
NOT ONLY NATIONWIDE BUT WORLDWIDE AS WELL!
TO SUM IT UP, MCCAIN IS A BORING PERSON, HE HAS
THIS CRAZY LOOK ON HIS FACE, HE LOSES HE THOUGHT
PATTERNS REALLY QUICK, HE IS IN WAY OVER HIS HEAD
LIKE BILL CLINTON SAID OBAMA IS SMART AS A WHIP,
AND HE IS WELL-ORGANIZED, HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN,
AND HIS SPEECHES ARE MESMERIZING, HE WILL BE THE
NEXT PRESIDENT!
ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THEY WON'T VOTE FOR
OBAMA WILL VOTE FOR HIM NOVEMBER 4TH, THEY WON'T
SAY THEY DID, BUT THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING,
BARACK OBAMA WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT IN
AMERICA, AND UNLIKE MCCAIN HE ISN'T A WAR-MONGER!
HE WILL BE GOOD FOR ALL AMERICA, AND HE WILL BRING
PEACE AND PROSPERITY BACK TO AMERICA!
wow...Mary..this is the second time in a week I am agreeing with YOU. I am so tired of REPUBLICANS sending out FALSE emails about Obama. I have directed many republican supporters to SNOPES.com to try to make them realize they are sending out FALSEHOODS!
Has anyone defined this meaningless phrase yet?
I haven't read it here.
What does "race card" MEAN?
How does one 'play' 'it'--can anyone define this?
Seems pretty nebulous to me.
Question--if a phrase has no CLEAR definition--does it even belong in print?
Hi Mary,
I will like to respond to Jimbo regarding the lady talking loudly on her iphone, using a link card and driving a Mercedes. You seem to suggest that the lady was behaving like that because she is Black. If that is the case, please explain to me why homeless whites in my neighborhood hang in the alley drinking, panhandling and having sex. In addition to that where do the White come from who frequents the Jerry Springer show? Are they ignorant and pathetic because they are white or do they have major character flaws. I am sick of White people trying to pen negativity on the Black race as a whole. That is why we can't get over slavery, Jim Crow, etc. because of people like you. Before you get too critical of the black race, remember Europeans were the original savages-known rapists, murderers and thieves. I bet if any of these atrocities happened to your friends and family, you will be in court everyday demanding unusual and cruel punishment.
New to this blog - interesting approach this writer takes to draw attention to herself - NOT to the issue of race.
Howard Stern made millions by saying things that 1/2 of the people laughed hysterically at, while the other 1/2 thought was disgusting. YET, both halves continued to listen. Clearly this is the approach this writer seems to take. Play up to the least common denominator for black people, at the same time brushing over facts and logic.
Beating the drum for equality and against racism is admirable. However in reading this person's prior blogs, and a few of the columns, it has its costs. Playing up to people's fears based on over-generalizing issues, or worst yet, skimming over facts, is an interesting way to garner attention.
I am white, work with many black colleagues, consider many to be personal friends - yet I must say they would also find these blog subjects and columns truly offensive to white people. Aren't you required to do some level of research when you publish material for a major (well somewhat of a major) newspaper? Are you catering more to a uneducated set of readers?
I am not surrpised to read responses from white people with such anger - I can only imagine the ones that don't get posted!
Can't this lady(?) ever talk about anything but race? To me a racist is a person who thinks of and uses race for their own advancement. Apparently she is making a living off of this.
Mary, stop and think, where did we first hear the "race card"? It was from the dead johnny cochrane. Just because YOU see racism, which again is all you can think about, DOES NOT MAKE IT TRUE!
Mary, you play the race card every column. You are so blinded by contempt for the white person that it shows in your column. I am white, but I do not care that Obama is black, it has no bearing on the fact that he is a wild eyed Chicago democrat bent on spending the USA into a third world country. Do not lower our standards. We do not want to lower our health care to that of Canada or Great Britain. I inflate my tires and drive a small car, Obama, do not insult me. What kind of car do YOU drive? Develop some plans and I will listen to you. Until then, Senator McCain is the only one with a platform.
If Hillary had stated she doesn't look like all the other people on the dollar bills she would have been playing the "Gender Card" since Obama did it he was playing the "Race Card". If McCain had said it he would have been playing the "Age Card"
Hope this clears it up.
Of course Obama's comments injected race. If the dollar bill comments left any doubt, recall his comments to the NAACP when he said "Oh, and did I mention he's black?” Guess you conveniently forgot that one, eh Mary?
Of course Obama's comments injected race. If the dollar bill comments left any doubt, recall his comments to the NAACP when he said "Oh, and did I mention he's black?” Guess you conveniently forgot that one, eh Mary?
Simple question for Mary's black readers. Do you really think she is helpful to the cause of race relations? Or does she simply ignite a fire when it's unwarranted - thus creating a "little girl who cried wolf" day after day?
I really am curious...
Mary...got the guts to post this? I know you are quite selective!
TO:ALL
OBAMA IS NOT 100% BLACK, HE IS MIXED!!! HE IS 50% BLACK & 50% WHITE!!!HIS MOM IS WHITE & HIS DAD IS BLACK, WHITE AMERICA IS RACIST!!! PERIOD!!! TO WHITE AMERICA ANYONE WHO IS 1/2 BLACK IS CONSIDERED BLACK!!! HOW DO YOU FIGURE THIS????
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU AMERICA!!!
GOD CONSIDERS US ALL AS BROTHERS & SISTERS!!!
GOD CONTROLLED WHAT COLOR WE ARE, WE HAD NO SAY IN THE MATTER!! LET THE RACISM GO, IT'S BEEN TOO LONG!!! LET IT GO, UNDERNEATH OUR SKINS WE ARE THE SAME!! WHITES HATES BLACK, BUT LOOK AT HOW WHITE MIMIC BLACK WOMEN, THEY GO GET LIP INJECTIONS, BUTT & BREAST IMPLANTS, THEY GO TAN THEMSELVES TO LOOK LIKE BLACKS. SO WHY DO YOU HATE BLACKS? WHITE MEN LOVE BLACK WOMEN BODIES!
WHO CARES WHAT RACE THE NEXT PRESIDENT IS????
IT DOESN'T MATTER!! WHITES ARE AFRAID THAT HE'LL DO MORE FOR BLACKS? I DON'T THINK SO!!!GET A CLUE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!
"THEY GO TAN THEMSELVES TO LOOK LIKE BLACKS"
Ms BMK -I think I speak for most if not all white men by saying we DO NOT want our women to look like black women...
When was the last time you saw a white guy with a sista on his arm?
YOU really need to get the clue! Or are you just bitter cuz your ex is dating a white woman?
Black and bitter...just like my coffee.
Too funny..
Jason asks - "Do you really think she is helpful to the cause of race relations? Or does she simply ignite a fire when it's unwarranted - thus creating a "little girl who cried wolf" day after day?"
Tough to respond but the problem I have with some of Ms Mitchell's stories is that they are not fully thought through. Also, she does seem to over-generalize at time which I know raises the ire of white people and ultimately starts the nasty exchanges on this board. So in general I'd have to say many of her topics are counter productive.
I keep reading references to "the real issues".
Racism--hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race--is a very real issue in the U.S. and worldwide...and clearly a very painful issue for many of us here...Why else would so many of you get so heated-up and emotional over a blog and a topic that is supposedly insignificant? Honestly, I feel it is appropriate to address the issue of race in a presidential campaign. I guess a lot of us just aren't ready for that yet.