I remember when it was "far left" to support Obama and centrist Democrats called him "unelectable".

[loyalsister]

24. "Obama was always a centrist Democrat"

Most definitely. In The Audacity of Hope, he talked about how an unsavory part of politics is that people impose their own beliefs on candidates.
That is exactly what happened. Obama opposed the war and said so, therefore he is liberal on all fronts.

There were other qualities imposed on him because he is African American by both the right and left.

"Versions of "angry black man" came from both sides. Some on the left expected a combination of the best of Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and even a little Martin Luther King Jr.

The right had any and all thuggish movie characters in mind. When it was discovered that he is a devout Christian, they found the angry Rev. Wright.

I think Moore was one of many who adopted a version of what to expect from Obama based on a personal belief system colored by stereotypes and he can't or won't shake them.

The way I understood Moore's comments is, "Obama has not behaved according to my positive stereotypes of a Democrat who opposed the war, and our best black leaders - therefore he will only be remembered by his skin color."

It's kind of like a teacher discovering that their only Asian student isn't good at math. Take away that quality of excellence and what do you have? The first and only Asian kid in the class?

The flip side of Moore's reasoning is someone disappointed to discover that Obama is not an thuggish "angry black man." In which case, the best strategy to repair the disconnect might be to try to ensure that he meets the lowest standard of achievement possible.

Moore doesn't want him to fail. But, he's angry about the disconnect between his expectations and reality. His best hope is that history will validate his feelings.

In the end, negative AND positive sentiments can perpetuate stereotypes. Why would we qualify one as racist but not the other? For some, the determinant is malice. For me, it is consequences that follow assumptions.

I think racist is appropriate language to describe Moore's comments. You don't have to hate an entire group of people to devalue them. But, racism is ALWAYS about consequences.

What would a black president or any black man have to do to measure up to Moore's standards? A lot of my friends have told me about having to work harder than any other employee to be considered good enough. Expectations range from too high to barely competent. Either way the yardstick seems to be different for people of color.

Michel Moore has made some positive contributions to our culture. For me, his not being willing to question his assumptions brings his future credibility into question.

I think it's good practice to question ourselves and our heroes.