While I haven't (and won't for some time) officially picked a candidate to support, and to be honest don't know quite as much about most of them as I should, Obama's wife made a statement Friday night to CBS' Katie Couric that rubbed me the wrong way. In an interview Couric did with Obama and his wife, she asked Michelle Obama if she is worried about the safety of her husband, to which Michelle replied

"The reality is that as a black man, Barack could be shot just going to the gas station..."

Am I the only one that sees something wrong with this? While I'm CERTAINLY not saying that racism doesn't exist, I think her statement was quite ridiculous. The REALITY is, in the free society we live in, ANY American could be the unlucky victim of a random shooting or another act of violence, NOT just black Americans.

I don't know, it just really rubbed me the wrong way. Anyone else feel the same? Anyone disagree?

but yea, anyone can be the victim of random violent crime (a drive-by shooting bystandard, a mugging, getting caught in crossfire, road rage) simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Her response needed to be smoother, but lets be honest - the majority of people killed by guns each year in America are African American (unless you are hunting with Dick Cheney)

Couple that with this man is running for President - the Great Hope (as I like to call him) and that this country, in some parts, is still very racist - they have a right to be concernd about his safety - but she could have still said it better

among black males.

Black males age 20-24 have a 51% chance of dying of homicide as their cause of death.

I think Michelle Obama was just taking the opportunity to bring the issue to the forefront. She's saying, their are much worse things for African-Americans as a whole to worry about.

wasn't one Couric planned to ask I don't think, but I Obama mentioned something about how they (him and his wife) had discussed EVERY aspect of what a run for President meant, and mentioned they had discussed his safety too. Couric then followed up with the question to his wife.

If you sign up on his site, be sure to join the Northern Virginia group....

http://my.barackobam...

I think Obama knows what needs to be done. He's new so he's not beholden to as many string pullers. I heard his announcement on CSPAN radio and all the people who called in afterward except one wanted to support Obama. That includes all on the Republican line as well as all on the Democratic line. Whatever you think about Obama I think he's the only Democratic hopeful who can really unite the country. He also never forgets New Orleans which is a huge plus considering the rat who is in charge now. BTW, when was the last time Hillary mentioned New Orleans? I also trust that he would surround himself with real progressives and not merely left-overs from the previous administration(s).

that so many young people throwing their whole-hearted support behind Obama this early will give him a massive advantage over Hillary?  Seriously, if you browse MySpace and Facebook, the amount of support of the man is amazing!

Just a thought...

will help Obama win caucuses and primaries. 

Dean was able to solicit a ton of cash from his netroots support.  Unfortunately for Obama, I just don't see his thousands of college age "Facebook" supporters throwing $100 donations his way online.  So at best the advantage it gives him is a pool of grassroots volunteers and free medium to spread his campaign message.

I think getting the nomination is still mainly about successful retail politics and who can raise the most money to stay competitive. 

it was going to be a major factor. It was just an observation that there are literally thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people on both of those social networking sites already supporting Obama for President.

I didn't mean to come across smug in my comment.  it's an excellent observation you've made.  But I'm just not convinced that his popularity on those sites is evidence of a real "movement" per se.  The cynic in me thinks a lot of students are just joining it because it's trendy.

If his facebook supporters can stage many more rallies like GMU did, raise him money, and turn out canvassers and volunteers for him then I'll be impressed.

 

My favorite from a Presidential Candidate thus far.