Whaling City Information - - American Presidential Politics & Choices

Oct 04 2008

American Presidential Politics & Choices

Written by Eddie L. Johnson

Saturday, 04 October 2008

NEW BEDFORD, MA - OPINION — Now that the first 2008, Presidential debate is behind us, and Americans has had a chance to get a clearer picture of what each candidate stands for and where both Senator Obama and Senator McCain stand on the issues that will greatly affect the American populist for present and future generation of Americans, I personally would like to offer my opinion, pose a very serious question and hope to generate some responses to this op-ed piece.
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- I shall begin with the question. Hopefully this will generate honest and sincere answers.

If Senator Barack Obama were a white man with the same ideas for American Foreign Policy, Economics, Health Care, Energy and his message of unification of Americans across political lines; how many Americans, regardless of race, sex, gender or religious affiliation, would the American public think that Senator Obama's campaign for the presidency of the United States would be such a big deal?

My personal thoughts are that those who are so strongly and adamantly opposed to Senator Obama's candidacy, it really comes down to the fact that he is a black man. Many will hide behind the "Issues" in their opposition to his presidential candidacy, but when it all comes down to it, I think that many who strongly oppose him, do so, solely based on the color of his skin. Many Americans also cannot accept a black man as Commander and Chief. But as the song sung in the great human and civil rights struggle, from slavery to Freedom, we as Americans shall over come.

This presidential contest often remind me of the long standing American saying; "if you are white, you are alright, if you are brown stick around, but if you are black get back".

What is more interesting and ironic in this presidential election, is that for many blacks, some say that Senator Obama is not black enough and that former President Bill Clinton as he was honored in 2001, as the Nation's first Black President at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

Former President Bill Clinton is not black, although he appointed more Blacks to cabinet level and responsible positions of authority than any other president in the history of the America. Neither have any historical researchers found any credible genealogy to remotely suggest that Bill Clinton had black ancestors.

Presidential history is now more so than in the past, is everyday discussions and dialogue within the black community. The issue and question often debated in intellectual circles, including at Harvard, is were there other black presidents in the history of America?

Some historians have reasons to believe many people both black and white don't often understand genealogy of past presidents. Credible research shows at least five U.S. Presidents had black ancestors, and Thomas Jefferson, the Nation's third president was considered the first black president according to historian Leroy Vaughn, author of "Black People And Their Place In World History".

For those of you who might read this op-ed piece and will wonder which five past U.S. Presidents had black ancestors and intentionally along with historians hid their presidents ancestral history, the list includes Presidents,Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge. They all kept their genealogical closet according to historians.

Just a question, but who would have thought long time former Republican segregationist, Senator Strom Thurmond had a black daughter? Strom Thurmond sadly never acknowledged that he was the parent of his black daughter, Essie Mae Williams. He supported her and had visits with her throughout her life, but he never acknowledged parentage, other family members have.

As we go to the poles to vote for our Presidential choice this November 2008, and my personal choice although I am a registered Independent is Senator Barack Obama, let us all hope and pray that the candidate chosen will be the best President for all Americans.

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