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Thursday, March 20, 2008
Obama on WIP: My grandmother's a "typical white person"
This item has been changed/updated with new information...

We thought we heard this, but we wanted to go back and listen to the clip of Sen. Barack Obama on 610 WIP this morning to be sure.

610 WIP host Angelo Cataldi asked Obama about his Tuesday morning speech on race at the National Constitution Center in which he referenced his own white grandmother and her prejudice. Obama told Cataldi that "The point I was making was not that my grandmother harbors any racial animosity, but that she is a typical white person. If she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know - there's a reaction in her that's been bred into our experiences that don't go away and sometimes come out in the wrong way and that's just the nature of race in our society. We have to break through it. What makes me optimistic is you see each generation feeling less like that. And that's pretty powerful stuff"

We doubt this story will have legs, but wonder if Hillary Clinton referred to a "typical black person," would we ever hear the end of it?

UPDATE: We gave the Obama campaign a chance to respond to this post. "Barack Obama said specifically that he didn't believe his grandmother harbored any racial animosity, but that her fears were understandable and typical of those often shared by her generation," said Obama's PA spokesman Sean Smith, who added that Grandma is 86-years-old. He might have meant that specifically, but that isn't what he said, especially as he spoke of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, in the present tense.  The Clinton campaign has not yet returned our request for comment on Obama's remarks. We aren't holding our breath for a Clinton comment.

UPDATE: We were wrong. The story did have legs. Here's a new post explaining how far it spread and including a funny attack on us.
Posted by Dan Gross @ 11:37 AM  Permalink | 37 comments
Comments   
Posted 12:00 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
Look at Dan taking a stand. Dan is not your "typical" gossip journalist.
Posted 12:39 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
Change we can believe in!
Posted 12:49 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
A "typical white person..."??? Rather than lecturing others about their attitudes, the Senator should look at himself. It sounds as if he has a problem.
Posted 12:52 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
By the way. BILLARY is a typical wacko witch.
Posted 01:38 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
Maybe Hillary should reference Bama as a typical black person, and see what kind of reaction she gets. That way, she puts him on the spot by referring to his earlier remark (on WIP). And hell, any publicity is good publicity for a politician. P.S. Is Jack Klompus the same Jack Klompus that used to write for Guideposts?
Posted 01:40 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
I would strongly suggest that Obama meant nothing derogatory about white people in his comment. I heard the interview and he seemed to be reinforcing that stereotypes are bad. Lay off. The guy is a lot less racist then BILLARY.
Posted 01:57 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
What exactally is a "Typical White Person"? If ANY white person made a comment like that about ANY "minority" group they'd be tagged a racist. That is a racial statement if ever I heard one...Obama just lost himself a vote.
Posted 02:46 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
If Hillary Clinton referred to a "typical black person," we would never hear the end of it! Racial issues are not a "2-way street"! Hillary would never "throw her grandma under the bus" for anyone!
Posted 02:48 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
For thoughs of you not familiar with Hillary's tactics of implimenting the race card to win votes only, take a look at this link; http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/03/20/the_race_card_is_the_wild_card/
Posted 02:58 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
I'm Morty Seinfeld's obnoxious cigar smoking neighbor from Del Boca Vista!
Posted 03:19 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
As a "typical white person," I can't relate to fearing people of color. However, after Obama's recent statements and associations, I do fear Obama's lack of qualifications to serve as President.
Posted 05:34 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
He will never get my vote. All I can hear is Go%(% America evry time I look at his face (and his wife's face). And now this!!! He better step down if the Dems want to win the GE. Otherwise, it's McCain all the way.
Posted 07:38 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
"Typical white person". And this guy wants to be President? It just wouldn't be a normal day if a liberal didn't put his foot in his mouth. But I'm sure that all the liberal elite will descend from their ivory towers to defend Obama's remarks just as fast as they would to burn McCain or any American (since liberals don't qualify as Americans) at the stake if they said "typical black person". The only difference between a liberal and a terrorist is that at least you know where a terrorist stands.
Posted 08:06 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
you people are a joke. I'm voting for McCain and even I think this is stupid!! We are voting for the leader of the free world, are we going to take everything a man say's and make a big deal out of it? People get a life!!!
Posted 08:20 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
Get over it. Given his comments the other day, he was clearly talking frankly (which is what we need, right? anyother politician willing to do that? I don't think so) about the views of people of his grandmother's generation. It's real. Get over it.
Posted 10:53 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
Hey Dan You've made an error here. Obama is HALF-WHITE!!! That means he can speak candidly about both groups. Sort of like how a Jewish person can make Jewish jokes, but it might come off bad if a genitle makes the same joke? I'm a little disappointed in you on this, so I hope you will make a correction.
Posted 10:56 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
Hey Dan -- Obama is HALF WHITE!!! So he does actually get a pass here. It's weird that you thought he could be making a racial remark about his grandma. It seems the mixed-raced thing is tripping up the pundits.
Posted 11:18 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
Isn't it illegal for a sitting U.S. Senator to partake in anti-American activities such as what was being allowed at Trinity UCC? Aren't they accountable to some standard? Or am I missing something? greeneyedstone@hotmail.com
Posted 11:56 PM, 03/20/2008
Anonymous
I think you are missing something. It is not illegal for a Reverened to voice his opinion. Nor is it illegal for an American to talk harshly about America. In reference to the "anti" American activities, maybe I'm missing something, but voicing one's opinions is not "anti American".
Posted 12:23 AM, 03/21/2008
Anonymous
"Aren't they accountable to some standard?" Sounds like McCarthyism. This is a free country.
Posted 12:24 AM, 03/21/2008
Anonymous
So a Senator is allowed to endorse Anti-American sentiments and that falls under freedom of speech? Wow... That's a loophole that needs to close forever.....
Posted 12:30 AM, 03/21/2008
Anonymous
I still know in my heart that were Senator Obama white, the cries for his dismissal would be deafening.There is no credible comparison between his grandmother and a white hatred-spewing pastor. it's the most cowardly, despicable defense I've ever had to listen to. He is being allowed the most blatant double-standard since the OJ trial, and making the US Government, as well as White America look like complete fools. He will NEVER get my vote.
Posted 01:36 AM, 03/21/2008
Anonymous
"So a Senator is allowed to endorse Anti-American sentiments" If I'm correct, Obama disavowed his "former" Pastor's comments. In reference to the so called double standard,I'm not sure if I agree. The history of America includes racism and oppression. Many people, justifably or not, believe that racism and oppression still exist. This is a great opportunity to have an open conversation on race, I hope we can have it.
Posted 02:21 AM, 03/21/2008
Anonymous
Why is it ok for a black person to make a remark about a white person but as soon as a white person makes a remark he is labled a racist?
Posted 07:20 AM, 03/21/2008
Denny004
As stated before, Obama is half white, he was talking about his white grandmother. But he speaks the truth. Most white folk look at me funny when I walk in their store and by their car in the parking lot.
Posted 11:00 AM, 03/21/2008
ralph
I agree Denny004. If you happen to be a person of color, chances are, you will experience some form of racism.
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Posted 09:37 PM, 03/21/2008
J.Dowd
"Why is it ok for a black person to make a remark about a white person but as soon as a white person makes a remark he is labled a racist?" Obama is half-black and half-white. So I guess he gets a pass. I do agree that people are hypersensitive both ways. I think we should stop playing "Gotcha" whether black or white. Too much political correctness now in this country. Anyway, it was a harmless comment. He is half white and talking about his own grandmother, so give me a break.
Posted 07:39 AM, 03/22/2008
awasnick
Business as usual, racist statements are ok if you are black. But see how far you get saying anything remotely connected to racist remarks about blacks and you will definitely be called to task. One other thing Angelo Cataldi and that whole morning show are nothing but a bunch morons that do nothing but salivate over young women every day.
Posted 04:56 PM, 03/22/2008
russellknow
The man is half-white. His mother was white. Both his grandparents were white. He was raised most of his life by white people. So, I think he was well within his rights to make the comments he made. And yes, African Americans would take offense if Hillary made similar comments. The truth is, Hillary couldnt make the comments, because she isnt Half-African American, and she wouldnt have a point of reference.
Posted 04:35 PM, 04/06/2008
Christine in ATL
Why can't Obama talk about his white grandma? She is his flesh and blood, not some stranger. He is not talking about another candidate's white grandma, but his own family. His point is that she is someone that other white people can relate to. She is not immune to prejudices, nor is any person of any color. Obama's diverse family reflects the ambivalence of race harbored and reflected in the larger society.
Posted 07:33 PM, 04/09/2008
Dakota
I'm an Indigenous Turtle Islander - ITI - a 'horse Indn' as opposed to an 'elephant Indian' - and a grandmother.. "typical white person" is a blanket statement, and as we know, 'one size fits some', "BUT".. racism is a fact of life in this country. And we ITI get it the most & the worst, make no mistake. I am really stuck this cycle - I don't trust Obama, I don't have much regard for Hillary, & I can't get warm n fuzzy about McCain. Guess I'll have to vote for my dog again. Doggone!
Posted 07:06 PM, 08/15/2008
left_wing_abomination
He isn't very bright is he? He knows everything he says is going to be heard by the public. He should keep the racism to a minimum if he expects to keep any of his white supporters. I guess he didn't have his puppet masters in his ear on that one. Good job Obama! That-a-way to show those true colors! If this disgrace is elected I am moving to Canada!
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