Joan Walsh: Cornel West's tragic meltdown

[ProSense]

Cornel West's tragic meltdown

A few fair complaints about Obama drown in a sea of personal racial attacks. Is this how identity politics ends?

By Joan Walsh

The most tragic thing, to me, about West's meltdown was the way he tried to frame it as a universalist defense of poor and working class people – who in fact haven't gotten enough help or attention from this too-close-to-Wall Street administration – but then somehow descends into personal attacks on the president as "a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black puppet of corporate plutocrats." If that wasn't bad enough, West claims Obama's problem is that he is afraid of "free black men" due to his white ancestry and years in the Ivy League. “He feels most comfortable with upper middle-class white and Jewish men who consider themselves very smart, very savvy and very effective in getting what they want,” West claimed.

<...>

How did the man who wrote in "Race Matters" that it's time "to replace racial reasoning with moral reasoning" come to this? I don't disagree with some of West's critique of Obama, but Ta-Nehisi Coates is exactly right here:

Was there something more Obama should have done to get a public option? Should he not have traded the Bush tax cuts for extending unemployment benefits? Did Obama settle too quickly on a small stimulus package? Was he wrong to allow the GOP to shut down planned parenthood in DC? Is the strategy of increased drone attacks in Pakistan inhumane? Was the financial reform bill he signed ultimately too weak?

I think all of this is fair game. I think Charles Ferguson's critique in Inside Job was really solid. I think calling someone a "black mascot" or a "black puppet" because they don't agree with you is much less so.

<...>

But there's a way in which this whole controversy looks like progressives devouring their own tail. From the left, West attacks Obama for not being black enough; I've written about being attacked as a clueless, entitled white progressive for criticizing Obama; in a pro-West backlash, black Obama supporters are being dismissed as "elitist" fronts for white liberals and that half-white guy in the White House. It's crazy. The only good thing about the fracas is that maybe finally, America will learn that there's no monolithic "black community" and no one set of black leaders: The diversity of African-American opinions about the West-Obama tangle has been fascinating. And the ways that race comes into play when debating the achievements of our first black president shouldn't be surprising. But it's starting to obscure more than it reveals.

The focus on identity is stifling: I've seen people take potshots at many of the players involved based on their status in various Ivy League debates over the last decade. Preposterously, West attacks Obama's Ivy League background – yes, the president has degrees from Harvard and Columbia – when West has been sheltered beneath the cool ivy himself for most of his career. West defender Boyce Watkins of Syracuse University continued with the Ivy League slurs, trashing Melissa Harris-Perry as "a darker-skinned staple in the white liberal establishment" and an "Ivy League" pro-Obama sellout; other critics have suggested the Nation writer is attacking West because they didn't get along at Princeton (disclosure: Harris-Perry is a friend of mine who has brought me to speak at Princeton; now she's headed to a new post at Tulane University.) A few people have linked West's beef with Obama to his clashes with former Obama advisor Larry Summers back when Summers was Harvard's president, and West decamped to Princeton. Is our troubled country really supposed to care about who didn't get along with who in the Ivy League? Can I dismiss what all of them say because I went to a fine land-grant college, the University of Wisconsin? That would be stupid, right?

more

[FSogol]

1. K & R. n/t

[opihimoimoi]

2. Yup...West is using Domination Hubristic Lingo in his attempt tto control

The "Brother" route is not working...got smothered with his motives...self interest....

[still_one]

3. Attack Obama on the issues, not on some perceived racial impression you "think" he has. I am quite

disappointed that West decided to take this approach.

[otohara]

10. Reminiscent of Newt's Anti-Colonial Behavior Remark

"What if is so outside our comprehension, that only if you understand Kenyan, anti-colonial behavior, can you begin to piece together ?" Gingrich asked. "That is the most accurate, predictive model for his behavior."

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[ProSense]

6. "Take a break and enjoy the day."

There is more to life then obsessing over Dr. West.

Wouldn't it be great to have the forum all to yourself?

Wheeee!!!

There's more to life than criticizing Obama, but I'm not suggesting anyone take a break.

BTW, I'm enjoying the day just fine, and thanks for your concern.

[Cali_Democrat]

9. Yup

There are a lot more important things to worry about than Cornel's opinion of Obama.

This obsession is so strange.

[vaberella]

15. Actually you're wrong. It's as important because it touches on the racial divide.

I'm really pissed off that people don't see the racial dynamic used here and how significant it is when looking at the 21st Century. You are willing to dismiss this issue, because in part you agree, which basically touches on the ever present racism that is going on. We have racism against the President because he's Black or "too" Black. And now we have a well known Black man who speaks on racial issues calling Obama a "Black mascot" and suggesting his White side, ie his White mother made him incapable of recognizing poor people. This is not something you dismiss and say it's not important.

It's very important.

[Cali_Democrat]

16. "Because in part you agree"

Bullshit.

I did not agree with West's analysis that Obama's white side and upbringing influences his policies. West essentially called Obama an Oreo. I do not agree with that assessment at all. Some of his analysis of Obama's polices was correct, other parts were not IMO. The Oreo part was not.

Please don't tell me what I agree with. You don't know me at all.

[vaberella]

18. I'm speaking to when you stated in another thread that you agreed with some of his analysis.

That is not wrong or BS. You said so. I'm not going to sit there and nitpick each separation since the entire thing is associated with a racist root.

[Cali_Democrat]

22. Agreeing with parts of his analysis does not mean agreeing with the racial part of his analysis

Don't get it twisted.

[TheKentuckian]

72. More important is his lack of focus on the needs of poor and working folks

and more importantly valuing those needs of the great majority over the desires of the few for whom the whole world is not enough.

The why is of only secondary importance to the what is going on.

Whatever the offense taken West is more right than wrong whatever level of convolution his pop psychology is. The what is on target, the why is the discussion and I'm not too damn concerned about that other than what it means systemically to our representation.

[vaberella]

14. No it's not. This is serious issue and I'm fuckin' disgusted that people are willing to ignore it.

Why? Because Jack & Jill politics are still at play, people calling other people---I mean successful Black individuals dark-skinned or light skinned and then this whole "Black mascot"---yeah, for you it's meaningless. But when shit like this is not addressed and it's not dealt with we continue on in circular situation. People are disgusting when they defend, this fool West---who pushed an extremely racist dialogue. This is why we are not moving forward. Because people like you are willing to so easily dismiss it.

[VeryConfused]

5. There is a difference between intelligence and wisdom

if West's wisdom was even a fraction of his intelligence he would be unstoppable. Unfortunately with out wisdom he merely spouts meaningless but pretty sounding words.

[Kind of Blue]

7. Well said. n/t

[Kind of Blue]

8. Thank you. KnR. n/t

[Keith Bee]

11. K&R

I love Joan Walsh.

[Phx_Dem]

12. Cornel West has always been a huge pompous ass.

Every time he appears on Real Time with Bill Maher I have to change the channel because he is beyond annoying.

[vaberella]

13. Black people are their own worst enemy. You see that shit...

"dark-skinned staple" FOR GOD's sakes...I think I'm going to cry!

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Jakes Progress]

71. Really? Worse than the klu klux klan?

Worse than jim crow? Worse than lynching mobs? Worse than the republican party?

Really? Could you possibly rephrase this in a less offensive way?

[Avant Guardian]

17. It seems those who cringe at critique of Obama, just cannot let it die

This 'story' would have died days ago if not kept alive by the few that cant get over it.

[Name removed]

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[Avant Guardian]

21. It is a form of massochism

OK, then keep ranting about it ad nauseum for eternity, the rest of us moved on days ago.

[namahage]

26. Derailing for Dummies:

Don't You Have More Important Issues To Think About

When you're beginning to feel backed into a corner, you could do worse than to trot this one out.

As with the best of all these techniques, this step operates on several levels. First of all, it communicates to the Marginalised Person™ that you think the entire debate is trivial and below consideration, indicating you entirely disregard their feelings and emotions. Secondly, you disown responsibility for your part in the debate and anything that you've said that may have been discriminatory or offensive.

Finally, you reinforce your Privilege® by suggesting that it is Privileged People's® job to set the agenda for the Marginalised Group™. After all, how could they possibly know what issues they should prioritise for themselves, they're far too inferior and stupid! You, with your objective, ractional Privileged® perspective, on the other hand, know exactly what is most important and it is definitely not confronting you with your own bigotry and ignorance!

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

69. Deleted message

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[namahage]

30. You know who else would love to see this issue die?

Joan Walsh.

But there's a way in which this whole controversy looks like progressives devouring their own tail. From the left, West attacks Obama for not being black enough; I've written about being attacked as a clueless, entitled white progressive for criticizing Obama; in a pro-West backlash, black Obama supporters are being dismissed as "elitist" fronts for white liberals and that half-white guy in the White House. It's crazy. The only good thing about the fracas is that maybe, finally, America will learn that there's no monolithic "black community" and no one set of black leaders: The diversity of African-American opinions about the West-Obama tangle has been fascinating. And the ways that race comes into play when debating the achievements of our first black president shouldn't be surprising. But it's starting to obscure more than it reveals.
...
But I continue to observe a disturbing ad hominem campaign against Obama critics (the Twitter war rages on, with or without me). If you're white, it's "white privilege" speaking. If you're black, you're old or jealous or angry you're left out of Obama's inner circle. If you're neither white nor black, you just don't get American race relations and you should "STFU." Just today on Twitter, I saw two (white) progressives I respect make wildly contradictory and nasty generalizations about a grouping of Obama critics (of different races; I wasn't among them): One suggested they're trashing the president for fame and money; the other that they're angry they've been marginalized by Obama's popularity. Which is it?
...
Former Biden economic advisor Jared Bernstein wrote a really great piece about why he left the White House: It's pro-Obama, it's compassionate, it's fair-minded and it's also critical. This is the discussion we're supposed to be having. That West mess is a lamentable sideshow.

[ProSense]

31. Roland Martin on CNN

Video here

[Tarheel_Dem]

20. With this latest tirade, West has just proven beyond any doubt, that he's

just another in a long line of "carnival barkers", and I predict this will eventually diminish him more than the person he sought to diminish. The whole tirade was laced with racist dog whistles, and that's the part that has caught so many by surprise, myself included. I'm actually ashamed that I ever had any modicum of respect for Mr. West.

Great piece by Joan. :thumbsup:

[DevonRex]

25. I'm right there with you, TD.

:hi:

[Number23]

28. Yep. And it's interesting that so many were all too happy to embrace his "racist dog whistles"

It is very, VERY telling.

I also find if fascinating that Cornel says the president is "afraid of free black men" which is just about the greatest insult a black man could give another, but only the folks calling Cornel out are engaging in "character assassination." In other words, this president should and will be criticized for things he has ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER (his race, upbringing, biology etc.) but it is somehow against some magical rule to criticize anyone who engages in such bigoted critiques.

You cannot make this shit up. Falls in neatly with the "CALLING someone racist is actually worse than BEING racist" meme embraced by far too many of our fellow citizens.

[Tarheel_Dem]

73. Interesting indeed. As long as he's slamming the prez, he could've

killed a kitty, and all would be forgiven. It's still funny watching the president's critics spin this outside the bounds of reality. I'm having so much fun. :rofl:

[Jakes Progress]

35. So you agree with Joan

that the Obama administration is too close to Wall Street patrons and hasn't done enough to help the poor and the working class? You said it was a great piece.

I agree with her too.

[truebrit71]

46. He is bestest buddies with Tavis Smiley..and yet Obama is the sellout...

...oooooooooooookay then...

[Tarheel_Dem]

74. You mean Tavis "I never met a corporation I wouldn't take money from" Smiley?

:rofl:

[politicasista]

23. I remember him speaking at our commencement in college

He called us (our class) "Generation X/Expectations." His parents went to mine and my dad's Alma Mater. My late paternal grandmother taught him in grade school in Sacramento. She was thrilled to hear that he was going to speak there.

Have stayed out of the West vs Obama arguments, and while he has every right to his opinion, his ego and loyalty to Tavis Smiley is doing (has done) him in. This all started way before the meltdown, shouting match with Rev. Al Sharpton on that dreadful MSNBC special.

Chickens coming home to roost.

[MadMaddie]

75. I never understood why Smiley hates the President so much

and all I can ever figure out is it is jealousy. Jealousy destroys many communities, many of us have lived through it.

[Gunny1]

24. Cornel West is a poor, clueless soul.

He's out there lecturing Obama about "free black men" while he makes his home in the elite, almost exclusively white world of higher academia where he's a novelty act for white intellectuals to whom he provides diversity creds. West is no representative of the African American community. He's a self promoting clown playing just the song his white audience wants to hear. God this pisses me off!!! How dare this twit speak to Obama like that!?!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

41. "Cornel West is a poor, clueless soul"...How old are you?...I am just curious

[Gunny1]

42. 36

[ElsewheresDaughter]

43. I am 60 and grew up in the Jim Crow south & Dr. West knows more 1st hand then young Pres Obama

[truebrit71]

48. The son of a bi-racial marriage in 1960's America knows less...

...than Cornel West "first hand" about race and racism...Are you mad?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

62. President Obama was born in 1961 and was a baby /lived in Hawaii after the civil rights movement

hardly knows 1st hand what is was like living in the Jim Crow south.....if that's what you mean by my being "mad?" then I guess I am

[truebrit71]

65. No i meant being born of a black father and white mother in the USA in 1961..

...type of "are you mad"....just because he wasn't subject to racism in the Jim Crow South, doesn't mean he has no knowledge of the racism that Cornel West discounts as being non-existant...

[Gunny1]

66. If that's the game we're playing here then...

...Jackie Robinson knew more about racism than Cornel West so we should all defer to his experience and wisdom and vote conservative Republican. But we're NOT playing that game because it's fucking stupid! Anyone who cites credentials rather than lets their argument stand on it own merits gets an immediate "fuck-off" from me. I hate that shit! Whether it's a stage director defending a moronic idea by telling me how many times he's directed the piece or some grandma who gives me the "I was born before you and experience more" line. You know who was born before me? George Bush. Newt Gingrich. Rush Limbaugh. Even Sarah Fucking Palin was born before me. Get it?

[pnwmom]

67. Give me a break. That doesn't excuse West's vicious personal

attacks on Obama as a puppet.

And if age always brought wisdom, Reagan would have been our smartest President.

[jbnow]

27. Obama is not black enough and too black. He is

too liberal and too conservative, a socialist and a corporatist and so on.

He's heard it all. The race crap from West is something Obama heard a lot over a decade ago when running his losing primary race for 2000 House Seat
He was called a "white man in blackface" by a primary opponent. Well that guy didn't win either but Obama was often mocked for his education and the way he spoke.
(Which he felt that gave kids the wrong message as though education diminished your blackness etc)
The Primary ended up being considered between the Black Panther (Bobby Rush) and the Professor.
a quote
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/04/before_obama_was_a_favorite_so.html

Shortly before the primary, black progressive journalist Salim Muwakkil noted in the Chicago Tribune that Obama was "perhaps the least favorite son," observing that "his Harvard education and crisp elocution mark him as insufficiently 'black.'"

The race soon became seen as a contest between the Black Panther and the Professor.
Opponents nurtured distrust about how Obama would ignore the black community and just serve the rich white people, especially Jews, a was being pushed by a University cabal and so on. Sort of like West now...
He'd have lost anyway once Rush got back into race but a series of events made it a wipe out.
Oh and Bill Clinton campaigned against Obama then too.

west ranted against Obama in such an ugly way that any valid points were lost.

[Name removed]

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[Jakes Progress]

33. Didn't think you would admit this.

But then you quoted her position here:

poor and working class people – who in fact haven't gotten enough help or attention from this too-close-to-Wall Street administration

So, West aside, do you agree with Walsh about how this adminstration is too close toe Wall Street and hasn't done enough to help poor and working class families?

[ProSense]

36. Yes,

I agree with her that West should have stuck to policy criticisms instead of personal attacks.

One of the best parts of this debate with Al Sharpton was watching West mumble when asked to name a specific policy he disagreed with. He started talking about black men being rounded up on the streets of NY for decades.

[Name removed]

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[Jakes Progress]

68. But aside from hating West, you agree that Obama is too close to Wall Street

and hasn't done enough to help the poor and the working class? That's the article you posted.

[Mimosa]

37. Why trash West for expressing his opinion?

I remember when West was among Obama's top supporters. And DUers lauded Professor West.

I was also among Obama's earliest top supporters. I have noticed that Obama never has seemed particularly comfortable with people from the American South, for instance. It's as if our culture is foreign to him. His background was indeed 'exotic' and disconnected from mainland, mainstream America during his youth. That's just a fact. But Obama's comfort zone affects how he approaches issues and directs policies.

[vaberella]

40. How do you determine that? What has he done to show a discomfort with American South?

And do you deem that to be because of his White mother, as West explains away.

[Name removed]

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[ProSense]

50. Obama is an elitists!!!

"But the warm, 'common touch' which Bill Clinton had in abundance is nearly totally lacking in Obama."

:rofl:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

47. it absolutely does effect his approach

[woodguy]

38. Thou shall not speak truth to status quo!

I am a prototypical white male blond hair even and love this man for doing it. Our countries media is so right wing/oligarchical they immediately attack the messager delivering a powerful message. No wonder we can't move to center our own talking heads hate our guts.

[ProSense]

51. Thou shall not speak

out of one's ass about other people's ethnicity and comfort level with "free black men."

[Dr Fate]

49. Shouldnt we wait closer to the election before we trot out our Sista Soulja?

n/t

[ProSense]

52. Have you

taken this up with Cornel West?

Here's a good discussion on the issue.

[Dr Fate]

53. Have you

responded with blue text that no one will ever click on?

LOL!

Maybe we can agree that DEMS as a whole should focus on facts and issues as opposed to insults, name calling, generalities, distractions, etc.

[ProSense]

54. Hmmmm?

"Have you responded with blue text that no one will ever click on?"

You have never clicked on the "blue text"? Interesting, but somehow unbelievable.

Did you click on the "blue text" in the OP in order to read the article?


"Maybe we can agree that DEMS as a whole should focus on facts and issues as opposed to insults, name calling, generalities, distractions, etc."

Where did that come from?

:rofl:

[Dr Fate]

55. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? ( I have more mmms than you!)

Your repost of my text and your text just brought out all kindsa great points on this burning issue. I concede to your rolly laughy guy!!!

He always makes me smile.

[ProSense]

56. Isn't

it embarrassing to be exposed related to "blue text"?

Wait for it....


:rofl:

[Dr Fate]

57. Exposed? What in the world are you talking about? LOL!

Sure- I see your blue text-so I guess I am "exposed" to it.

But like everyone else, no one clicks on that crap and no one spends any time reading 'em either.


What are you even talking about?

[ProSense]

58. "What in the world are you talking about?"

click me

Please!

:rofl:

[Dr Fate]

59. Lord knows what insightful info we are missing out on by not clicking that one.

Are we still talking about West?

You lost me when you claimed I was somehow "exposed" over your blue links.

Your OP in this thread deals with "A few fair complaints about Obama drown in a sea of personal racial attacks." Its part of the title in the article you present in this thread.

Dont take it too personally- just b/c I dont read your in thread links does mean I dont read your OPs!

[ProSense]

60. "You lost me when you claimed I was somehow 'exposed' over your blue links. "

It's always a good laugh to encounter members of the "blue links" meme club, especially when they invoke terms such as "insightful."

[Dr Fate]

61. From your OP: "A few fair complaints about Obama drown in a sea of personal racial attacks."

From your own OP, in this thread. Look at the 2nd line in the title of the article you posted.

LOL! Here is the non-blue thingy link to it:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=675827&mesg_id=675827

LOL! It took me a while to see what your were trying to accuse me of. I get it now!

You were still wrong. I was agreeing with that sentiment expressed in your OP, not whatever your pretty blue links are a-saying.

Geeze- I cant even half-way agree with you w/o you fabricating a new argument out of nothing...

[ProSense]

63. " Here is the non-blue thingy link to it:"

It's blue!

"From your OP: 'A few fair complaints about Obama drown in a sea of personal racial attacks.'"

You: "Maybe we can agree that DEMS as a whole should focus on facts and issues as opposed to insults, name calling, generalities, distractions, etc."

"Non-blue thingy link": "Roland Martin On Comments Made By Cornel West: Be Specific About Policy, Don't Make It Personal"

One of these quotes is not like the other.

You: "It took me a while to see what your were trying to accuse me of. I get it now!"

Maybe you shouldn't admit that.

[Dr Fate]

64. So you posted the same thing twice- and now I can agree with both.

Cool beans!

LOL! I'm done arguing over whether I clicked your cheesey links or not- from what you are telling me, your link and the OP I read covers the exact same ground.

Sure my link to your OP is blue-but it's not one of your neat blue *thingies*

At least you actually clicked on mine!

What was it your OP said again- about how we should focus on issues instead of insults, distractions, etc? LOL!

;)

[RandomThoughts]

76. He is helping the president by distancing him from that group

It is a counter to birtherism, and makes the subconsciously bias more happy to hear he is on 'there side'

It helps President Obama.

Although I agree West went a bit over the top on those statements.