Jack & Jill Politics

I’ve been surprised at the tenacity of “Bittergate” and decided that this had to be about something else since it’s clearly not about what he actually said nor about his explanation/clarification/apology afterwards.

Why is this meme sticking and why does it feel successul in putting a temporary slowdown in Obama’s stride? Neither Barack nor Michelle had particularly ritzy upbringings. Nor did they clear nearly as much dough as the super-wealthy Clintons an McCains in the last tax cycle. But let’s not let facts stand in our way (that hasn’t stopped the Clintons before, right?) — cuz clearly this has turned into some kind of meta-dogwhistle that Obama is an uppity negro looking down on all you poor white trash in America. He apparently thinks he’s better than you and can’t wait to lord it over you while holding a 40 ounce in one hand and a piece of fried chicken in another once he’s in the White House. I’m not the only one smelling a rat. Check out this DailyKos diary from PearlJr:

This latest psychological trick intends to remind Whites that Blacks are supposed to stay behind Whites, and Barack Obama is nothing more than an irritating Uppity Negro looking down on hardworking good White folks who have less than he has, which is most untrue. After all, Barack Obama’s momma was a good hard-working white folk. Unlike, the $109 million dollar Clintons and Mrs. (Cindy) McCain’s $100 million dollar inheritance, Barack and Michelle Obama earned a meager $900,000 in 2007–finally those student loans could be paid off. Now who’s the real elitist? Using Bill Cosby’s book title, “Come On, People”

dnA’s covered this ground before about a month ago in his piece: This Just In: Who Does This Uppity Negro Think He Is? which covers an earlier, similar attack on Obama by Ron Fournier/AP. Sleight-of-hand racism using code words like “arrogant”, “entitlement”, “elitist” where they don’t belog still qualifies as racism, y’all. I’m not sure why the media is still flogging this story but it needs to stop.