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CHICAGO — Barack Obama dismissed Ralph Nader's claim that the Democratic candidate is trying to "talk white" and has failed to challenge the power structure to appeal to "white guilt."
Obama told reporters on Wednesday that Nader, who has run for president several times, including 2000 and 2004, was trying to get attention with "an inflammatory statement."
In a story published Wednesday, the Denver-based Rocky Mountain News reported that Nader said he was not impressed with Obama and that the senator was playing down poverty issues. The interview took place Monday in Washington, the News reported.
"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader said. "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? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson?"
When asked if Obama does try to "talk white," Nader replied, "Of course." He also said that Obama doesn't want to appear to be "another politically threatening African-American politician."
"He wants to appeal to white guilt," Nader said. "You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."
Obama said Nader hadn't been paying attention because he has discussed predatory lending, housing foreclosures and similar economic issues throughout his campaign.
"I think it's a shame because if you look at his legacy in terms of consumer protections, it's an extraordinary one. But at this point, he's somebody who's trying to get attention and whose campaign hasn't gotten any traction," Obama said.
Nader, 74, is a consumer advocate and political activist.
___
On the Net:
Ralph Nader: http://www.votenader.org
Rocky Mountain News:
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/25/nader-critical-of-obama-fo r-trying-to-talk-white/
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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 | Nader: Obama is trying to "Talk White" appeal to "White Guilt" | The Boston Globe | Thu Jun 26 | 2 |
| Nader: Obama 'talking white' | CNN | Wed Jun 25 | 0 |
| Ralph Nader critical of Obama for trying to 'talk white' | Rocky Mountain News | Wed Jun 25 | 122 |
 | Obama, Don't Mess With Nader | Dolores M. Bernal | Thu Jun 26 | 61 |
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{"commentId":2049941,"authorDomain":"thecivicvoice"}
Nader is losing it.
{"commentId":2049941,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"thecivicvoice"}
- 1 vote
#1 - Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:08 PM EDT{"commentId":2050430,"authorDomain":"mimacarol"}
He can't lose something he never had!!
{"commentId":2050430,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"mimacarol"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2050623,"authorDomain":"thecivicvoice"}
He's a great American. Just sad he didn't run for Congress or something, instead of all these failed runs for President. Could have made some important differences in these last 8 years.
{"commentId":2050623,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"thecivicvoice"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":2051737,"authorDomain":"garjen1"}
{"commentId":2050036,"authorDomain":"media-junkie08"}
He's not losing it. He was merely expressing that Obama panders to the upper class, which (unfortunately) is usually WHITE. He's not racist OR losing it.
{"commentId":2050036,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"media-junkie08"}
#2 - Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:26 PM EDT{"commentId":2051748,"authorDomain":"haloalani"}
I can only assume he's suffering from the same disability that McBush has, poor judgement in the throes of absent-mindedness.
{"commentId":2051748,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"haloalani"}
#3 - Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:17 AM EDT{"commentId":2052026,"authorDomain":"jenn79"}
Nader's political career may be over...but his view on political pandering, corruption, and posturing is right on mark.
{"commentId":2052026,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"jenn79"}
#4 - Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:22 AM EDT{"commentId":2052124,"authorDomain":"thecivicvoice"}
His comments are nonsense. Obama doesn't fit the stereotype of the typical angry black man, so he's pandering to whites and selling out blacks? That's basically Nader's argument.
{"commentId":2052124,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"thecivicvoice"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":2052454,"authorDomain":"jenn79"}
If you've read his book, you'll see that he found that being an angry black man would get him nowhere.
{"commentId":2052454,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"jenn79"}
{"commentId":2052456,"authorDomain":"jenn79"}
And he didn't need to be one, btw....he had his reverend be that for him.
{"commentId":2052456,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"jenn79"}
{"commentId":2052191,"authorDomain":"SepticSkeptic"}
Just what the world needs. Ralph Nader and Ron Paul in the Senate at the same time. Blech. The guy's as loony as Ross Perot, but at least Perot was a successful businessman.
{"commentId":2052191,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"SepticSkeptic"}
#5 - Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:05 AM EDT{"commentId":2054938,"authorDomain":"luigi1783"}
Ralph Nader is a phoney and should have stayed out of politics and what do he know anyway.the only thing he knows is he ain't gonna win period !! what a dud !!
{"commentId":2054938,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"luigi1783"}
#6 - Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:00 PM EDT{"commentId":2066647,"authorDomain":"sarahsaturday"}
I like the green party for their environemntal stance, the other stuff I could care less about, including the race stuff. I know they say that a vote for the green party is a misguided vote that should have went to a Democrat, but I would NEVER vote for Obama, I would rather not vote at all. Obama uses his race when it is convenient for him, and his wife talks like an uneducated moron who uses double negatives.
{"commentId":2066647,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"sarahsaturday"}
#7 - Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:15 PM EDT{"commentId":2067008,"authorDomain":"jenn79"}
Really, what options are there for people who do want real change and not political posturing? We need a true progressive party.
{"commentId":2067008,"threadId":"299051","contentId":"1610488","authorDomain":"jenn79"}
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