Nader asks if Obama will be "Uncle Tom"

Smartypants

Sad. Despite agreeing on many issues, I've never liked this guy:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibsP6XN2dIo

rebornFixer

Nader is a classic example of a way-over-top white dude who thinks that he knows more about racial equality than someone who has actually lived the experience of being mixed race ... These folks never cease to amaze me. "Uncle Tom"? This is why someone like Nader should not be president of the US. The latter job requires that a person juggle the interests of a hugely diverse body of people. It is not about getting into power to do right only by your own social demographic. Obama, at least based on what he says, appears to realize this. People did not elect Jesse Jackson, thank God.

jimed14

Shep Smith is becomming my favorite Fox news guy ... love his reaction ..

"really? ................ Ralph Nadar ........................... what was that?"


I am SO ficking glad I didn't vote for Nadar, what a fucking doosh.

You can make a point, but that's NOT the way to do it.

What a disrepectful mother fucker the day after the election.

flywallyfly

Are his supporters on here going to try to explain this racist remark like the last racist remark? Anyone? Good to see the true Nader expose himself. What a joke.

ledvedderman

One of the funniest responses I've ever seen a reporter give after a stupid comment by their guest.

QuestionAuthority

I think Nader is starting to show the beginning stages of dementia..

Seriously.

Shep Smith is kicking ass.. I see him changing networks very soon.

Uncle Leo

What a clown. And I did consider voting for him. He's done a lot of good things, but his time has passed.

Joking rationalization: Maybe he's just trying to counterbalance the fears that Obama's going to be this angry black man who will do things like create a remixed national anthem featuring P. Diddy.

gobrowns19

I've always liked Nader, he had my vote up until a few months ago maybe.

I think everyone's emotions are crazy right now, no matter who they are or what they're feeling, and I think Nader is the same way. I think what he said was taken out of context but I do think it was unfair and disrespectful for him to say that. Like they said, his career has to be over after that.

And to build off of what someone said as a comment on that, Shepard Smith being a journalist? Last night at around 10-11 PM i must have stepped into a fucking black hole into another universe haha. He looked hurt after Nader left lol.

dmitry

funny to see such false disbelief by shep smith.

jimed14

ledvedderman wrote:

One of the funniest responses I've ever seen a reporter give after a stupid comment by their guest.

then you missed Shep Smith's reaction to Joe the Plumber after his "Obama's presidency means death to Israel" comments ...

wait for it ... 5:00 mark ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0bdh2GQiI


and while she wasn't a guest ... Jack Cafferty's reaction to Palin's interview with Katie Couric was BY FAR the single funniest moment in the election.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8__aXxXPVc

Smartypants

gobrowns19 wrote:

I think what he said was taken out of context but I do think it was unfair and disrespectful for him to say that.

I disagree - they played the whole quote. And the final question was whether Nader regretted using that phrase to which he responded, "Not. At. All."

Smartypants

I mean, it'd be one thing for him to have said, "I just hope he doesn't sell out to corporate interests." I agree with the sentiment. But to say he has to decide whether or not he's going to "be an Uncle Tom?" Uncle Tom??? What's to take out of context in that phrase?

gobrowns19

Smartypants wrote:

I disagree - they played the whole quote. And the final question was whether Nader regretted using that phrase to which he responded, "Not. At. All."

I agree with that, I worded myself wrong. I think Fox was being fair and I think Nader didn't mean what he said as strongly as it came off. It still doesn't make it fair or right though what he said, in my opinion.

flywallyfly

Let's see -- Uncle Tom and Obama "talks white" ......sounds racist to me.

blackredyellow

Thanks for the seatbelts Ralph, but maybe it's time to go away...

decides2dream

Smartypants wrote:

I disagree - they played the whole quote. And the final question was whether Nader regretted using that phrase to which he responded, "Not. At. All."

i have not viewed the clip, i do not view youtube at work...but if indeed he used such phrasing.....:( while he was never my candidate, i certainly had enormous respect for the man and his accomplishments outside the political arena. to resort to such, again, puts focus on race....when it is entirely unnecessary and something that we as a society should be moving away from, not embracing more. besides which, it is so entirely insulting to the whys of obma's ideas and future actions. definitely in bad taste.

Smartypants wrote:

I mean, it'd be one thing for him to have said, "I just hope he doesn't sell out to corporate interests." I agree with the sentiment. But to say he has to decide whether or not he's going to "be an Uncle Tom?" Uncle Tom??? What's to take out of context in that phrase?

exactly.

VictoryGin

what a class act. wait, who is he again?

MrBrian

Smartypants wrote:

I mean, it'd be one thing for him to have said, "I just hope he doesn't sell out to corporate interests." I agree with the sentiment. But to say he has to decide whether or not he's going to "be an Uncle Tom?" Uncle Tom??? What's to take out of context in that phrase?

The term first was used not to degrade blacks. Nader tried to speak from a more historical context. But again, in this day and age of political correctness it was not the best choice of words because it would only gain bad press and people would only focus on that phrase and not the question being asked which was infact very fair and correct.

Nevertheless, the Obama supporters who are so angry at this, if/when Obama shoots missiles or bombs a country, perhaps continues Americas digusting support of Israel...Will you be as angry at Obama for killing people as you are for Nader asking a question? Regardless of how he asked it or the words he used.

If Obama has Dennis Ross as a main advisor to him, will you be angry at Obama for having someone so backwards as that for an advisor? Or what if he's given secretary of state? Even worse.

Jeremy1012

How the fuck is his apparent pandering to corporations ANYTHING to do with his race?

UNCLE TOM?! Nader, what the fuck?

Brain of J.Lo

Smartypants wrote:

I mean, it'd be one thing for him to have said, "I just hope he doesn't sell out to corporate interests." I agree with the sentiment. But to say he has to decide whether or not he's going to "be an Uncle Tom?" Uncle Tom??? What's to take out of context in that phrase?

I totally agree. That was so inappropriate.

I have lost respect for Nader throughout this campaign. Wow.

decides2dream

MrBrian wrote:

The term first was used not to degrade blacks. Nader tried to speak from a more historical context. But again, in this day and age of political correctness it was not the best choice of words because it would only gain bad press and people would only focus on that phrase and not the question being asked which was infact very fair and correct.

Nevertheless, the Obama supporters who are so angry at this, if/when Obama shoots missiles or bombs a country, perhaps continues Americas digusting support of Israel...Will you be as angry at Obama for killing people as you are for Nader asking a question? Regardless of how he asked it or the words he used.

If Obama has Dennis Ross as a main advisor to him, will you be angry at Obama for having someone so backwards as that for an advisor? Or what if he's given secretary of state? Even worse.

i am not angry with nader. just disappointing to hear that.



i 'get' the historical context...but none the less. it STILL is a very poorly chosen thing to say. no matter how you slice it, if obama were not at all of african american descent, it would not be a comment to make. so yes, it is insulting to use......words ARE important. nader knows how to speak, so i do not doubt he meant those exact words. poorly done.


as to obama, of course i will hold him responsible for his decisions and choices....as i would any president.

Strangest Tribe

peeps that follow Nader have no reason to complain about the peeps that follow Obama with the respect to "drinking the koolaid"

fugawzi

Time for Nader to warm up to the Dems or go away. His gig isn't working out for him. I'm just talking about him as a presidential candidate. I like his other work like him as a consumer advocate.

Gonzo1977

Wow

That was mistake.

flywallyfly

Did Nader apologize yet or is he busy working on his 2012 campaign or maybe his stock portfolio of corporations he bitches against ?

fuck

Some people complain about the biggest bullshit.

No, Fox was not being "fair" - they never really are "fair" but I'm not even going to get into that. People always love to ignore the big picture and focus on little bullshit like the fact that he said "Uncle Tom" (and I think it's pretty obvious he wasn't being racist, he was just using it as a parallel to Uncle Sam), rather than what his entire point was. For those too ignorant to get his point, it was that Obama has a choice to either be an "Uncle Sam" (who happens to be a tall white guy, but no one gets angry about his using this phrase) and appeal to the true parts of America and do some good, or an "Uncle Tom" and sell out to corporations. It was a VERY valid point, and the fact that some of you actually agree with Fox News' bullshit response to the quote is very sad, and quite absurd.

I respect the fact that Nader is one of the FEW people who is saying that it's not time to celebrate yet, Obama still has to make the choice for how he'll take his presidency. So far, it looks like it's going to shit.

nothinghead

I've got throw my hand in and say I don't have a problem with what Nader said. It was a poor phrase to throw out regardless of how apt the analogy was or how valid the concern is...but that doesn't make him a racist.

It's like if he used the word "niggardly." Intelligent, thoughtful people understand what it means--but a lot of idiots watch television.

In short, Nader isn't a racist...he's an idiot.

(and he does have a point...)

g under p

Interesting things Nader said about Obama on Democracy Now this morning....Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader Discusses Future Obama Presidency and Two-Party Politics

Amy Goodman.....Your thoughts on this election?


RALPH NADER: Thank you, Amy. Well, obviously we all congratulate Barack Obama. We wish him well. But the precursor to his election has not been very encouraging, and he has repeatedly taken up the positions of the corporate supremacists, not just his latest vote for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, but a whole string of votes and policy positions. He opposes single-payer health insurance. Well, the HMOs and the insurance companies do, too. He wants a bigger military budget. So does the military-industrial complex. His idea of a living wage on his website is $9.50 an hour by 2011. That would make it less than it was in 1968, adjusted for inflation.


He matched McCain in the third debate, belligerent—belligerency for belligerency, toward Russia, toward Iran, more soldiers in Afghanistan, supporting the Israeli military repression and occupation and blockade of Gaza and the West Bank. And virtually nothing about 100 million poor people in this country. That’s why I really fault him, that he played the Clinton linguistic game by talking constantly about the middle class and not mentioning the word “poor.”


And we expect more of him. And I don’t think he has a public philosophy of where corporations must operate in this country. How? Under what rule of law? Under what regulation? Under what vulnerability to litigation in the courts? He’s proud of tort reform, supports the nuclear industry, supports the coal industry. So we’re really talking about just more of the same, in terms of the corporate domination of Washington.


I detected no concern, no quaking of concern, among the drug industry, oil, gas industry, nuclear, coal industry, Wall Street, over his probable election in the last few weeks. Usually, when they’re really worried about a politician, they will issue warnings. But Barack Obama has raised far more money than John McCain from Wall Street interests, corporate interests and, above all, corporate lawyers. And the question to be asked is, why are they investing so much in Barack Obama? Because they believe he’s their man. So, prepare to be disappointed, but keep your hope up.

Peace

flywallyfly

g under p wrote:

Interesting things Nader said about Obama on Democracy Now this morning....Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader Discusses Future Obama Presidency and Two-Party Politics




Peace

What an Uncle Tom.

flywallyfly

_outlaw wrote:

Some people complain about the biggest bullshit.

No, Fox was not being "fair" - they never really are "fair" but I'm not even going to get into that. People always love to ignore the big picture and focus on little bullshit like the fact that he said "Uncle Tom" (and I think it's pretty obvious he wasn't being racist, he was just using it as a parallel to Uncle Sam), rather than what his entire point was. For those too ignorant to get his point, it was that Obama has a choice to either be an "Uncle Sam" (who happens to be a tall white guy, but no one gets angry about his using this phrase) and appeal to the true parts of America and do some good, or an "Uncle Tom" and sell out to corporations. It was a VERY valid point, and the fact that some of you actually agree with Fox News' bullshit response to the quote is very sad, and quite absurd.

I respect the fact that Nader is one of the FEW people who is saying that it's not time to celebrate yet, Obama still has to make the choice for how he'll take his presidency. So far, it looks like it's going to shit.

What's absurd is your defending his use of the phrase "Uncle Tom".

g under p

g under p wrote:

Interesting things Nader said about Obama on Democracy Now this morning....Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader Discusses Future Obama Presidency and Two-Party Politics

flywallyfly wrote:

What an Uncle Tom.

I don't believe Uncle Tom but some what Nader said in that interview are true especially about the corporate interests. Like Nader said hope is up that he can make things better we shall certainly. He's under a high powered microscope for sure..


Peace