Dr. Cornel West referred to President Obama as a "Rockefeller Republican in blackface" during a recent interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. How would the mainstream media respond if this same statement was made by a conservative?
Why, they would say he is "racist," of course.
President Obama was not the only target of West's criticism. He also "reserved very harsh words for Al Sharpton, Melissa Harris-Perry and frequent MSNBC guest host Michael Eric Dyson," as reported by the Huffington Post.
Broadcaster Tavis Smiley joined with West to promote their new book, "The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto." Dr. West is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, an avid Occupy Wall Street fan...and a professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary and professor emeritus at Princeton University, teaching the future leaders of America.
During the interview, which can be seen here, West does not hide his disdain for President Obama. He launches a fair criticism on the billions of dollars spent during the President's reelection bid and the "drones dropping bombs on innocent people", but then goes off on the typical and tired rant against the wealthy.
How much does a Princeton professor make these days?
He laments, in part, that "trade unions being pushed against the wall dealing with stagnating and declining wages when profits are still up and the 1 percent are doing very well..." He continues to talk about "...ecological catastrophe, climate change, global warming..." Well, which one is it? Global warming or climate change?
And then West expresses relief that there was not "a right-wing takeover," however, he continues, "but we end up with a Republican, a Rockefeller Republican in blackface, with Barack Obama, so that our struggle with regard to poverty intensifies."
Dr. Cornel West would probably approve of President Obama's stance that the wealthy need to "pay their fair share". However, the author contends that the rhetoric surrounding the so-called "One Percent" is nothing short of class warfare and is bad for America.
Image Source: Andrew Theodorakis/New York Daily News
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Comments: 14
If Robert Reich were President, he'd probably refer to Reich as a Conservative New Democrat.
West doesn't realize what Ms. Nal hasn't point out:
Since Clinton (and during Clinton), The Left has MOVED Right--because the NATION had moved Right.
But now the Nation is moving back to the Center--because of the changing demographics.
It is NOW the Republicans' turn to compromise.
Problem is, it is well known--NOTORIOUSLY SO--that the Right has a much, much harder time, in the quote, `compromise' category.
And if the GOP doesn't, we here on the Left can easily predict that it will be to the GOP's very obvious peril.
PS
Obama's comment that McCain's remarks and Graham's remarks about Rice, were "outrageous" is the beginning of a major repudiation of the egregious politicization of Benghgazi.
I am absolutely ecstatic that the President went after Graham and McCain, in his press conference!
I couldn't care less what idioms Professor West uses.
He is generally regarded as a marginal voice on the Left.
It's a non-issue.
Because his intellect is high, it'd be nice if he'd tone down his rhetoric--but he can't help himself.
He hurts his own cause.
Even a number Liberals, I believe, see him as anachronistic....and I'm not sure he cares, much less actually realizes it.
You never, ever realize when it is that your detractors are fully justified in crying foul, much less manipulative foul.
Underneath it all, you're doing it to be `pro....voc...a...tive' and really nothing more that can be regarded as truly redemptive.
Even if my source and basis did not arise from the kinds of battles you choose, this post alone is enough to put your wonderfully entertaining motives, above board....
....on zee `ole table.
It is common knowledge--in and out of the loathsome school of political correctness-- that Jews can castigate Jews, Catholics can vilify Catholics, Irish can lambaste Irish, the Italians can go after Italians, African-Americans can condemn African-Americans and so on and so on, ad infinitum....and...get....away...with....it.
There are a few exceptions, of course.
But my guess is that West doesn't even fully accept the President--from the standpoint of ethnicity, heritage, and identity--as a genuine African-American.
[What's more there may be a bit of Malcolm X in the genesis of his thinking--but I'd have to verify that.]