The War on Barack Obama: Part II

Ignorance isn’t bliss. It is dangerous in all of its forms and permutations. Ignorance is the forefather of racism, sexism and any other “ism” you see fit to include in this conversation.

Make no mistake, ignorance is not bliss, it’s quite dangerous.

From time to time I will verbally spar with the random Neocons who populate the various blogs and news media websites. It’s always good to hear and know what the “other” side is thinking and saying. It reminds me how much ignorance permeates this country, despite how much enlightenment generally and verifiable information specifically are available at one’s fingertips.

In part I, I indicated that the effort to discredit and demean Senator Barack Obama will invariably include the characterization of him as being “Un-American.” From his parochial schooling to even his name; Barack Hussein Obama (yes, that’s his middle name) will be portrayed by his detractors as “Un-American.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger is “Un-American”…he’s Austrian in fact. But I don’t remember that being a major component in the discrediting of his California gubernatorial campaign.

Obama detractors want to point to his early schooling as a sign of “Muslim” sympathy or his present Christian pastor as a radical. Which is it…is he a radical Muslim or a radical Christian? Obama detractors will argue both.

Incredible. Please pick one ignorant argument and stick with it.

Despite what social optimists will tell you, this country is not on the precipice of equality and inclusion. If it were, the immigration debate would be as much about keeping Canadians out as it is Mexicans…and Haitians for that matter. The complete northern border is open, but Congress is catching hell about an immigration bill that might grant 12 million illegal aliens “amnesty?”

Well, they wouldn’t be “illegal” if they were respected in the same way as Canadians.

If these same 12 million people were born in Canada and walked across the border…then no harm, no foul. There is an obvious and verifiable inequity in our assessment of rights and privileges. The immigration debate would be moot the moment Mexicans and other Brown people are treated with the same level of respect as Canadians. Keep everyone out or let everybody in, but just be consistent.

The immigration debate is a red herring, fueled by racism and irrational fears of terrorism. Terrorists don’t have to worry about being stopped on planes headed for America when they know they can just as easily fly to Canada and drive over.

The immigration debate is a sham, shrouded in racism and terrorism fear-mongering.

If this country were truly on the verge of equality, the Supreme Court would have ruled differently last week on the issue of public education. True equality is dependent on the recognition of inherent inequalities FIRST and then moving forward. To argue that race can not be a factor in the population of public schools yet not acknowledge and address the inherent inequities in public education in terms of quality and access that ALREADY fall along racial lines is a farce.

The moment that inner city schools are comparable in quality to the ones residing in suburbia, then and only then can this country argue that race should not be a factor in maintaining scholastic diversity. The moment that inner city children have equal access to a suburban-quality education, then the Supreme Court will be on to something. Until then, thanks for proving me right America.

But back to Senator Obama…

The ignorance parading around, disguised as political analysis is pervasive. From the intimation of Barack being a closet terrorist to even being unintelligent; the facts are clear. This country is neither ready for a woman nor an African-American as president. Our collective ignorance as a country is far too dangerous and formidable to overcome I would submit. Some twenty countries have had female leaders and we’re still debating whether we’re “ready” for even one.

As for Senator Obama’s middle name of “Hussein”…

President George Bush’s middle name is ‘Walker’…which is the same as John Walker Lynn…a known terrorist and Taliban…you know, like Osama Bin Laden. President George Bush has overthrown two governments and threatens to go for number three…but Barack’s middle name is a problem?

Maybe Senator Obama should have had a nice “American-sounding” middle name like James…you know, like Timothy James McVeigh…

Granted, Senator Obama trails other candidates in terms of foreign policy experience, but you don’t see the same critique leveled at MAYOR Rudy Giuliani. If MAYOR Giuliani is qualified to run the country, so is MAYOR Marion Barry…

Ignorance isn’t bliss…it’s exceptionally dangerous.

The War on Barack Obama is well underway, complete with Rush Limbaugh characterizations of Obama as being “The Magic Negro.” Maybe my memory is flawed, but I don’t remember any African-Americans assessing the “whiteness” of George Bush or any other white popular presidential candidate. To discuss the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama in terms of color but disregard the discussion of how color invariably works against him in the electoral process is too a farce.

This country will not allow an African-American man any parts of becoming the most powerful individual on the face of the planet. It is counterintuitive to every American ideal to date.

There are still dozens of African-American women and children who are missing or have been abducted…yet the only people I see being profiled in major news media are…

But hey, don’t take my word for it, check the news for yourself. It’s not even subject to debate.

George W. Bush just commuted the sentence of Scooter Libby, arguing that “the punishment didn’t fit the crime” yet had nothing to offer Genarlow Wilson in Georgia. Libby arguably committed an act of treason during a time of war but his punishment was allegedly unjust according to our Commander in Chief.

Genarlow Wilson continues to sit in jail for a BJ at a party. The intrinsic value of African-American people is clearly nil. But hey, don’t take my word for it, just read the news. It’s not even subject to debate. Wilson is still in jail and Scooter Libby is probably laughing at him.

We often talk about what is or is not “racism” in this country…well there you have it. Not Paris Hilton, not Don Imus, not Isaiah Washington, not Michael Richards…just look at Scooter Libby and Genarlow Wilson. That says all that needs to be said.

Senator Obama’s recent fundraising success is nothing less than remarkable and has energized the electorate overall. That fact shouldn’t be mitigated or disregarded. $32 million in one quarter is amazing no matter how you choose to count the money. But if you think that donations are the determining factor in crowning the leader of the free world, you surely have underestimated the evil of greed and power. Might I refer you to the states of Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004.

A Black Miss America…ok.

A Black NFL quarterback…ok.

A Black NFL coach…ok.

Black leader of the free world? Not in my lifetime or yours. I don’t care if you just celebrated your second birthday…not in your lifetime either.

All one needs to do is look at this country’s indifference to the plight in Darfur. Weren’t we supposed to be in the “democracy exportation” business? Weren’t we supposed to be deposing Saddam Hussein because among other things he committed genocide on his own people? Hasn’t Darfur been officially declared genocide?

Did I miss something?

Or maybe, I could point you to our reticence in South Africa when action instead of sanctions mattered most. This country will not allow an African-American man become the most powerful individual on the face of the Earth. You can call me cynical, conspiratorial or even ill-informed, but the truth, facts and most importantly history are on my side. If America can’t even get behind the fact that Jesus was not a White man in 2007 (although he was born in the Middle East) it’s safe to say she won’t get behind a Black man with a Middle Eastern sounding name as its leader either.

I wish the world were different, but it isn’t. A similar level of fervor and excitement accompanied the late Tom Bradley’s campaign to become governor of California. We remember how that turned out. More recently, we remember how Harold Ford’s campaign to become senator in Tennessee turned out. In other words, it did not matter who the "better" candidate far and away was, it only matters that the ‘other guy’ wasn’t African-American. Emphasis on 'guy' and 'not African-American.'

If Dr. King, Malcolm X and virtually every other powerful freedom fighter were executed in quest to secure legislative equality for African-Americans, it’s highly unlikely that less than half of a century later an African-American man will call the White House his own.

Ignorance isn’t bliss…it’s pervasive and quite dangerous. The War on Barack Obama continues.

The Mo'Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse...as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com. Morris W. O'Kelly can be reached at mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.