Obama rips Nader's 'talking white' remark

Source: Chicago Sun Times

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama hit back at third-party presidential candidate Ralph Nader Wednesday, dismissing Nader's claim that Obama is "talking white" as an attempt to get attention for his fringe campaign.

Nader got one quarter of one percent of the presidential vote four years ago.

"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader told the paper. "Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white?"

Speaking Wednesday, Obama almost sounded sorry for Nader.

"Ralph Nader hadn't been paying attention to my speeches, because all the issues that he talked about -- whether it be predatory lending, the housing foreclosure crisis . . . I've devoted multiple speeches," Obama said. "Ralph Nader is trying to get attention. I think it's a shame because if you look at his legacy in terms of consumer protections, its an extraordinary one."

But now, Obama said, "He's someone . . . whose campaign hasn't gotten any traction. So what better way to get some traction than to make an inflammatory statement like the one that he made? It is what it is."


Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1025947,CST-NWS-nader26.article

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Why the hell couldn't Kerry or Gore have done the same when they were running?

Obama gets it. Its about time one of our candidates did.

I like this man!

It just gives him one more day of attention that he doesn't deserve.

:spank:

(and in this case) attention.

Nobody cares what Nader says.


Now if McCain (or anyone of significance) said that, definitely hit back.

...into total dementia.

You still like him for the campaigns he fought in the past, but you cringe every time he opens his mouth and shows that his mind is gone.

Ooh that's not gonna sit well with some folks. :P


As for the smackdown: :thumbsup:

At least Obama didn't blame Nader for our 2000 loss (DLC Al From agrees that Gore did better with Nader in the race then he would have done if Nader did not run).

Nader running in 2008 is a good thing - it makes Obama look more mainstream and experienced.

You can't help but wonder if maybe Karl Rove himself writes some of their bullshit.

So how much money will Rotten Ralph be taking from the GOP this time?

That's because his money comes from republicans and like a good little employee, he's doing their dirty work.

I predict he'll be paid to say all the things the GOP won't dare.

Some undecided voters felt Gore was too much of a wacky tree hugger. Nader made Gore look less wacky to those undecided voters.

I often wonder why Greens and other leftist feel the need to run when the Democratic Party is so progressive and free of the influence of corporations. Why they feel the need to run?

Whatever you say, man.

:shrug:

I think its a crock of shit.

The rest of us have to suck it up and take chImpeachment off the table.

DLC!DLC! Go Democrats!

No. It's horridly driven by them. But the candidates seem to moderate public interest and corporate interest better whereas the republicans completely sell out to corporate interest.

I would like to see laws against public officials taking any money from corporations. It should be a mandatory prison sentence and public officials who do that should be shunned for it - selling out the public interest - the public who elected them to protect their interest. Imagine a lawyer or financial advisor doing that? They'd go to jail.

The reason we don't see those laws is law makers on both sides are bought. That's why mega corporations have more money than most countries and are the major cause of world grief. until those laws are in place, the rape of each countries resources - human and otherwise, for the spoils of the mega-rich, will continue. And, the degradation of our rights and laws to protect us will continue until we have no more rights and we have no protection. That's what these politicians are doing. Obama is helping the corporate interest along. He's just the least worst of the bad candidates (people who will not act in our interest but in their own greedy interest by profiting from carrying out corporate interest), that we have to choose from at the moment.

It shows Nader in his nadir!

:rofl:

well played my friend :)

....who says it. I don't condone any racism from Nader, Clinton or Obama or from anyone, period.

out of touch, so 60s

no one says "ghettos" now

why does he insist on "talking white"?

Be true to yourself, Nader, ole boy.

the second was unnecessary. I hope he matures into not taking stabs.

do something about that?

As for Obama's response to Nader...Obama shouldn't have mentioned the guy's name and give him publicity.

Nader's not talking 'black,' or talking 'white.' He's talking racism.

In the hood it is called talking white or speaking "job interview" english.

:shrug:

when at work i speak a certain way. when i am at home i speak a certain way. when i am at church i speak a certain way. when i am with my peers i speak a certain way. no one ever said to me that i was talking white. i have been told by a friend or relative that called into my job that they didn't know it was me, thought i was a white woman. i have a deep voice and sometimes get called sir. i don't know what hood your are from but, don't generalize to all of the neighborhoods. most people are bi-lingual. they speak a more formal english while at work or doing business and speak a more relaxed slang at home or in their comfort zone.

What a douchebag.