More crocodile tears and and a huge dose of hypocrisy...

I've been sitting on my feelings about the Changeling's second statement on the Trayvon Martin case for a minute.  But after reading and listening to all the ooey-gooey, "My Black president really cares" madness in the media and on the web,  I thought I'd chime in with Maxine, expressing my deepest, most innermost thoughts on his words (just so my head won't explode over his manipulative propaganda masquerading as empathetic concern):

As I read piece, after piece about his "iconic"blather, I could feel the bile slowly rising in my throat. Why in the world would anybody get all dewy-eyed, believing his alleged, "impromptu" comments about Trayvon (and yes, I believe it was as "impromptu" as him breathing), when only a few days before the verdict, he endorses the king of racial profiling for head of Homeland Security??!!  In The Atlantic's, Prominent Democrats Are Now Comfortable With Racial and Ethnic Profiling he states:

On Wednesday, President Obama assured a Univision reporter that Ray Kelly, New York City's police commissioner, would make a fine leader for the Department of Homeland Security.

"Well, Ray Kelly has obviously done an extraordinary job in New York and the federal government partners a lot with New York, because obviously our concerns about terrorism oftentimes are focused on big city targets," he said. "And I think Ray Kelly is one of the best there is. So he's been an outstanding leader in New York...But you know, we're going to have a bunch of strong candidates. Mr. Kelly might be very happy where he is. But if he's not I'd want to know about it. 'Cause you know, obviously he'd be very well qualified for the job."

(Do watch the Chris Hayes video further down the piece at the link above -- it is insightful, to say the least.)

During a spirited conversation over on Abagond's, "Obama: “Trayvon Martin could have been me”,  commenter, "GoldFire" posted a link to a clip from, "The Hunted and the Hated: An Inside Look at the NYPD's Stop-and-Frisk Policy" below:



"You look suspicious," is what one of the cops said to this young man (among other lewd, crude threats) -- exactly the same thing George Zimmerman said about Trayvon Martin.  The Changeling, however, thinks the man behind the implementation of these tactics, "is one of the best there is."  Tell me how this isn't talking out of both sides of his mouth??!! 

As I said over at Abagond's, "The Changeling is a manipulative hypocrite who says one thing and does exactly the opposite when it comes to us — yet many Black folk support him, talking about he’s some kind of “symbol.”  There’s just something real Stockholm Syndrome-like (or PTSD, Post-Traumatic Slavery Disorder-like if you prefer) about that."  There are so many folk just swooning over what he had to say, yet few (including his liberal, Democratic colleagues and talking heads) are challenging him on Ray Kelly's corrupt police department policies which violate the civil rights of an overwhelming number of citizens each and every day with Stop & Frisk.

If you check out the NycResistance channel on YouTube, you'll see a large sampling of what I mean.  According to its owner, he's been documenting Kelly's, NYPD atrocities for years -- the plethora of videos is daunting!  I've got nothing but respect for this brother, who cares enough about Black and Latino youth, to make sure their abuse is a matter of public record -- would that the MSM was similarly inspired.

Salon's, Listen now: Obama ad from 2000 rails against racial profiling -- is illustrative.  In it, there's a radio ad (no doubt crafted by the King-makers for the Black community), in which then, Sen. Barack Obama speaks out forcefully against racial profiling -- what a difference a "selection" makes, right?

"GoldFire" also posted an interview with Cornell West that bears re-posting (I see Asa's posted it as well over at AfroSpear):



As I commented there -- "Bro. West is on-point, but I know the Changeling’s supporters will keep on crowing about him still being mad about not getting tickets to the damned inauguration — as if what he’s saying has no validity at all. {smdh}"

Family, we've got so-o-o-o much work to do -- and none of it has to do with holding up this puppet, who's used Trayvon Martin's death, and worse, his parents, to bolster his "Black bona fides."  Rise up against the Ray Kelly nomination and confirmation.  And if we fail -- learn something.

Related:
- Obama, Race and Class
- Ray Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security?
- Kelly’s creative writing: Stop-and-frisk and Muslim surveillance are wonderful!

Puff, Puff, Pass - Caroline Kennedy's turn at the "Party" joint

As it was with the Changeling, the fix is already in. Whether he wants to or not, Gov. David Paterson will be appointing the Kennedy kid to finish Senator Clinton's term - regardless of how much hell people raise about Caroline Kennedy's lack of "experience" or how many times she says, "You know." Hell, none of them raised any questions about the Changeling's deficiencies, or how many times he said "Uh!" (Class, repeat after me - PA-TRI-AR-CHY)

This exchange last year between Mos Def, Dr. Cornel West and Bill Maher is a little long, but interesting. Mos makes a good point at the 9:13 click...



...and I agree with him completely. I'd just add that ANY political office, ANY top media position and ANY executive banking position - not just the presidency - is treated like a "party joint" within the institution of white supremacist capitalist patriarchy.

Nepotism is essential to keep the money and power in the hands of those who've always had it. Obama's selection changes nothing (They just allow him to play the game a little bit. You know, stuff like earmarks to the hospital that tripled MO's salary, or he and Jarrett's Grove Parc bonanza, or that sweet deal on the mansion?).

He's the perfect "two-fer" - as long as he doesn't step out of line. They believe his brown face will, at once, be the vehicle that allows them to maintain their kind of status quo, and repair America's image in the world. And with all this sui generis, "post-racial" nonsense, the media side of the afore-mentioned, unholy triumvirate is more than happy to do whatever they can to keep up the charade.

I really think they chose him because they saw in him, the budding of the same power-hungry, cutthroat greed and hubris they possess that has fueled their manipulation of the masses for all this time. Easier to control the puppet's strings when the joints are already oiled right? And it worked - beautifully! "All sheeple present and accounted for, Sir!"

Now comes the Princess of Camelot, poised to cash in her nepotism chips with the aid of Uncle Teddy, continuing to rage mightily against going "gentle into that good night." This is just more shining up shit and calling it gold folks.

Let's be clear. Gov. Paterson was appointed in the aftermath of Spitzer's dalliances. If he wants to keep his job next election - and I'm sure he does - he'll fall in line. He knows all too well, what will ensure he keeps it is not that pesky election by the people thing, but rather, those "Games Mother Never Taught You."

CORRECTION: ea..."Just a nitpick: Patterson was Lt. Gov. He is Governor now because of succession. I think that is right."
Si, está correcto. ¡Gracias Mujer! Nitpick away, it makes both of us better. And as a result, I read some more about Gov. Paterson. Now I'm pissed I may be right about this appointment!

• "Elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate in 1985..."
• "In 2002, David Paterson was elected minority leader of the New York State Senate, the first non-white legislative leader in New York’s history."
• "And 2006 saw Mr. Paterson make history again by being elected New York’s first African-American lieutenant governor."

He's been elected a time or two. Shouldn't he have some political capital built up to say, "No" to this very wrong thing?

New Dallas D.A.Craig Watkins and the Innocence Project of Texas - Real "Change We Can Believe In"

I watched 60 Minutes tonight and I have to say, the first segment, featuring new Dallas District Attorney, Craig Watkins, made the hair stand up on the back of my neck and all I could think of was Chris Matthews' "My! I felt this thrill going up my leg!" comment on Sen. Obama's big, "race" speech. Why? Because this Black man is in the process of "transforming the burning house" that is the Texas legal system - the exact requirement about which Dr. Cornell West spoke during a previous State of the Black Union.

The segment had to do with men who had been wrongfully convicted and exonerated by DNA evidence. I was listening to it while I was writing a blog post about New Orleans, but I had to stop writing when I heard this: "When he took office last year, Craig Watkins became the first Black District Attorney in the history of Texas. He is 40 years old, a lawyer, with no previous experience prosecuting felonies, but a lot of ideas about criminal justice."

Having lived in Texas for seven years and having my two, twenty-something year old sons now living there again because they think of it as home, I spun around to give the TV my undivided attention. Listen to this part of the interview and if you can honestly tell me THIS is not inspiring, I'll have to, respectfully, call you a liar. (I'm no computer wonk, so you have to stop the video after this piece or you'll get some other story - same for the link below).

Mr. Watkins has joined forces with the Innocence Project of Texas, backing them with subpoena power as well as opening up all the prosecution's files to the Project's lawyers and law students. He is using his position to effect real change where it is needed - to assist them in their quest to give voice to the voiceless, wrongfully convicted under the reign (or should I say siege?) of former Dallas top prosecutor for 30 years, Henry Wade.

He's only been the D.A. since last year, but as of last Tuesday, with his help, The Innocence Project has freed 17 men. The 17th, was James Woodward. Convicted of raping and murdering his former girlfriend 27 years and four months ago, he was the longest serving inmate in the nation, cleared with the help of DNA evidence. On the day he was released, Mr. Watkins apologized, not only for the part the Texas D.A.'s office played in this awful miscarriage of justice, but for the failures of the entire criminal justice system. Seems he's not afraid of upsetting white folks. Judge Mark C. Stoltz said, before banging that gavel, "Mr. Woodward, unfortunately, you're not getting justice today, you're just getting the end of injustice." Pretty stand-up guy for a Texas judge.

The student who chose Mr. Woodward's case and saw it through to the end, amazingly, had not even been born when he went to prison! That really puts into perspective how long this kind of shit has been going on without anyone, Black or white, stepping up to the plate and saying, "Hey! Stop this!" The Innocence Project still has 250 more cases to review. (I'm telling you, Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, co-founders and co-directors of the Innocence Project, have more than redeemed themselves!).

Scott Pelley put this question to Mr. Woodward. "All you had to do to get out, to get parole was to tell them you did it, why didn't you?" Mr. Woodward succinctly replied, "Because I didn't do it. A man has to stand for something." I hope the senator from Illinois watched this and paid close attention to that very last line.

Deferring the " Dream" for the "Burning House"

A few years ago at a State of the Black Union event, I remember an interview with Harry Belafonte wherein he shared one of his last conversations with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He said Dr. King told him, “I fear, I am integrating my people into a burning house.” Concerned, he asked Dr. King, “What should we do?” Dr. King replied, “Become the firemen. Let’s not stand by and let the house burn.”


That tete-a-tete kept popping into my head all day, so much so that I've had trouble finishing this post. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for the entire conversation, then I wouldn't have to speculate about what Dr. King actually meant. But I wasn't. So, drawing on my own life experiences in the Jim Crow South, I believe he was equating the state of American politics, policies and business at the time, to the "Burning House" - a house in which Blacks had NO hand in building.


Racism, more overt than covert, was both institutionalized and personal; poverty was then, as it is now, overwhelming for the have-nots and ignored by the haves; the Vietnam War, like Iraq, was un-winnable and unconscionable but, we kept fighting. Then, largely through his efforts, Blacks were thrust, uninitiated, into the "games" those politicians knew all too well how to play in order to line their pockets, stroke their own egos, bamboozle the people and maintain the status quo.


I'm so tired of this cliche, but both parts still hold so much truth: Blacks have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. The games, the political calculations and machinations, the "burning house" strategies - still exist. The only difference is the faces of the gamesmen have morphed into our own. We need only look to this very small, partial list to realize both halves of the truth in the cliche:

• Former D.C. mayor, Marion Barry
• Detroit mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick
• Former Louisiana Congressman William J. Jefferson
• Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Gen. Colin Powell
• Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice
• Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas
• Former HUD Secretary, Alphonso Jackson
• Talk-radio show hosts Armstrong Williams and Michael Baisden
• Prior presidential candidates, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton
• Television talk-show host, Oprah Winfrey
• Actor and comedian, Dr. Bill Cosby
• NPR Senior Correspondent, Juan Williams
• Presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama

The house WAS, and still is burning. And yes, the senator from Illinois has especially learned how to play those games very well (an interesting article from Todd Spivak of the Houston Press lays out some of his lessons). One has to admit that using the color of his skin and channelling MLK or Malcolm X to get the Black vote, then distancing himself from them after he's gotten what he wanted so as not to upset white folks, is perfect - for him! Having used Rev. Wright and his congregation to firmly plant his image in the Black community, then denouncing him when the shit hit the fan, to only later come back and tell white folks what they wanted to hear to assuage their guilt by excusing the reverend as some old, doddering, retiring, used-to-have-been is brilliant, learned, "burning house" strategy. Even Sun Tzu would have been proud!


Don't get me wrong, for minorities, learning those "games" was and remains essential to surviving and trying to thrive in the burning house. But Sen. Obama's pouring more fuel on the fire, through playing the same games that held us in bondage, is not where I expected we'd be after 40+ years. I, like Dr. King, thought we would be the firemen.


During the afore-mentioned State of the Black Union event, Dr. Cornel West said, “We must transform the House.” Much as I admire Dr. West, I don't see much transformation in the senator from Illinois.