When a white politican or public figure speaks well, they are called “eloquent”, “poetic”, “expressive”, and other vaunted terms, but if a non-white public figure speaks well, they are always called “articulate” as if the listener is amazed that the person speaking can put two sentences together coherently. Why the double standard? I know of quite a few white politicians (including our President) who must be embarrassing their English teachers every time they mount the podium. Every time I hear people talk about Barak Obama, the term that always comes up is “articulate”, (like Colin Powell when he first came on the scene). Is this actually code representing a subtle but apparent backhanded racism? The stereotypical assumptions that being able to express oneself eloquently is outside the norm for a black man.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama just can’t escape the word articulate.
“He’s charismatic, he’s articulate, he’s a very strong figure on the national stage,” White House political adviser Karl Rove told an Arkansas crowd. “But something tells me that people are going to say (they want) experience and depth. As a result it’s going to be, ‘Can he live up to the standards?”‘
Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, a Democratic presidential hopeful, described Obama to the New York Observer in January as, among presidential candidates, “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.” Biden later apologized for his remarks.
[Ed note: When I first read about this I felt the exact same way. See my comment in the comments section — John]
Readers should note that SmartAlix is our black contributing editor, not that it matters. But he does have standing in these issues that the rest of us do not have. Curiously I found this use of the word articulate with no other synonyms such as “eloquent” or even “smart” used by the White House and many other politicians to be a little suspicious if not downright creepy since this one word “articulate” kept coming up over and over as if it was a talking point or, worse, a CODE WORD.
Yes, Obama can pronounce words. Stop the presses!
Can he dance?
I think this post is important because it points out the kind of subtle innuendo the sharpies in the party employ over and over and over. It never ends. This is not a post about political correctness, but a post about subtle and sly propaganda aimed at the naive masses.
I agree completely. It’s as if they were describing an orc and how he just happens to not be stupid.
Interesting observation. Let’s see if the republicans will change their way of talking about Mr. Obama after this.
I don’t personally have any such feelings about the word articulate versus eloquent. I personally use the term well-spoken. I usually use eloquent as a stronger word for someone who is a truly great orator or writer. As long as Obama is mouthing perfect little sound bites that say nothing, I will probably avoid the use of the word eloquent for him.
Personally I don’t understand why he says so little in his speaches. His voting record on the environment is better than Hillary’s by quite a bit. I had to search other sites though to find out his actual voting record and what he truly believes. The bit that has disappointed me about his speaches has been his unwillingness to give indications of his actual plans.
I think it’s great that he voted against the Iraq war. It means he has a very good built in lie detector. I’d like to hear his plans to get us out. It’s not simple now that we’re already there. He may earn the term eloquent when he begins to offer specifics on real concrete issues. Until then, I will continue to say well-spoken, as I do for many other politicians of other race and gender. Articulate is the same to me.
In fact, since eloquence can apply to writing as well as to speach, it is actually both a stronger word and a less specific one. I trhink Obama is well-spoken. I find nothing unusual about that. I would use the same term for most politicians. It’s part of their job.
I would certainly not use the same term for our current president. His inability to pronounce the word nuclear while being in charge of the largest nuclear arsenal in the world is a complete embarrassment. He is far from articulate; he is a bumbling fool.
Well, *is* he “eloquent”, “poetic”, “expressive” ?
These politicians know exactly what they are doing. Rove and his allies are masters of innuedo and dog whistle politics.
I just don’t understand the stigma that is associated with being black Its certainly no different than being a Jew, a Pueto Rican, or whatever.
I think Alix is over sensitive to the issue and exaggerating just a bit. Their is nothing wrong with referring to some one as articulate considering Its a higher complement to be articulate than just smart.
No matter what is said or isn’t said, someone has and issue with it.
My Understanding is that Obama’s Mother is white and his father is Black.
As far as Alix being black I never noticed.
I would certainly consider voting for the obama over Hillary any day.
Gotta say, Joe Biden’s “articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy” is a better example than the Rove quote of – was going to say “dissembled racism” but that would imply Biden was aware of what had to be there either on or right under the surface for him even to make such a remark. It has a sort of “fish don’t notice the water they swim in” feel to it, an attitude thing that shows why cultural racism is so hard to overcome.
Rove’s another matter. Nothing he says in a political context is ever not thought out and intentional. It is not remotely plausible that anything he’d have to say in a political context about a democratic politician would be uncalculated or not intended to cause damage.
#3 – If the Republicrat strategists think “articulate” is an effective negative code word, they’ll increase their use of it. It’s the kind of politics they do best. I think Obama ought just to grab that particular bull by the horns. Thank Rove and Biden for recognizing the quality of his thoughts and his superior ability to express them. Remind everybody of how that it would be a good quality in a president for a change, since the next one will have a lot of damage control to do and the ability to speak ungarbled English would be a good start.
ok so.. we can’t call him clean or articulate… neither of those are requirements to be persident… as a matter of fact.. they seem to work against you..
for the last 6 years or so
I bet this happens again.. What can’t you call him next??
#6: “I would certainly consider voting for the obama over Hillary any day.”
lower case ‘o’ in Obama? insinuating something? just kidding…
Michael Bloomberg (current mayor of new york city) over *anybody* for 2008. Eliot Spitzer (governor of NY State) for 2016. These guys are politicians with brains, ethics, balls and CLASS. They are rare gems in American politics today. Very rare. Enlightened, I would even go so far to say.
Heres a picture of Alix.
He looks like big kid, with a silly smile, wearing a nice suite and tie.
http://www.tcf.net/NEXTFEST2006/slides/_R290285.html
Can he say “Nuclear” the proper way?
Yea this is the pointed republicans trying to say anything to get smudge Obama’s shiny image. To make us stop talking about what he does well, because that might be racist. Yea the republican think tank is all over this one.
I don’t think the United States was ever United just a bunch of racist people of all colors that hate one another.
Everything is politically motivated.
Would we better off if we had one political party?
A party where a candidate rose because of their merit and not their affiliation?
What if we where all one color, Would we get along then or would we be divided by other characteristics and features?
Do people in power care about making a difference in the world or do they do it for their own personal reasons?
So what does using the word “articulate” mean if it’s a code word? Anyone hearing it will associate the word with intelligence and the ability to communicate to others. If there is anything sinister in the word, it would be the same as secretly making the word “bright” mean “stupid” and continually talking about the President. It means nothing to those not in on the joke.
And I wish we could get off of Barak Obama’s color. That is as relevant as the color of Bush’s tie, Elizabeth Dole’s blouse, or Paul Wolfowitz’s socks.
All that the joe biden incident shows is that democrats can be just as condescending and prejudiced as republicans. If i had a nickel for every time someone meets me after talking on the phone goes I didnt know you were black. You speak very well. Quite sad really. P.S. You guys really need a Wap interface
#8 Remind everybody of how that it would be a good quality in a president for a change, since the next one will have a lot of damage control to do and the ability to speak ungarbled English would be a good start.
Agreed. It will be a heck of a PR job to erase the World Bully image that Bush and his henchmen created after September 11. Just imagine if you had a President with tact and brains in the aftermath of the attacks… Instead of “Either you’re with us or against us”, you could have had “Let’s unite and eradicate terrorism.” The sympathies were with the U.S.A., but Bush blew it real bad…
Whoaaaa??? Alix is black???
In what, color?
Never noticed that. And it does not matter.
@#1 – John, Thats funny…I thought everyone on DU was black….what?!? Thats just the type color…damn…my mistake.
I personally think that Obama is biding his time before making any sweeping policy speeches. Let Clinton come out giving speeches in a MLK cadence and singing hymns (what the Hell was she thinking?). Give herself enough rope to put herself in the noose then swoop in with some well thought out policy and tighten the noose and pull the hangman’s lever during a televised speech.
I think Obama is going to slaughter Clinton in a televised debate. He will then offer her the vice presidency and she will refuse it because in 2016 she will be 69 years old and she knows the US does not like old women, much less old women in power.
From what I’ve seen so far, Obama seems to have some world-class oratorical skills that match or exceed any of his peers among presidential candidates. I happen to agree with Misanthropic Scott’s earlier observation about their lack of specific content, but that’s par for the course in politics this early in the season. I’ll wait a little longer before I start docking points for empty rhetoric.
Referring to Obama as “articulate” may indeed be a subtle reminder that we all still have bits and pieces of racially-based preconceived notions and we’re especially surprised by his speaking skill. However, if our prejudices have any basis in fact whatsoever, then it should re-emphasize the utter importance of equal educational opportunity in America, and help us maintain our resolve to continue striving for this goal.
I’m surprised that any Republicans describe Obama as articulate anyway, since it evokes a comparison with our current Orator-in-Chief.
That’s right! It’s just Whitey and The Man trying to keep a brotha down. Oppression, that’s my motto.
When will ‘you people’ stop whining about it, and do something to clean up your own neighborhoods?
I’m not out there telling you to sell crack and meth on the corner. [don’t blame whitey for buying it, either; if you weren’t there, they would get it somewhere else OR NOT]
I’m not out there fathering children, but not raising them. [started some time in the 60’s, not sure why; Vietnam or discontinuance of church-going?]
I’m not out there playing loud bass music, with the main intention to be annoying people. [hey, and I LIKE loud music; but not the kind made specifically for subwoofers]
I’m not out there littering in your neighborhoods, you are. [in case you don’t know what I mean, drive through a ghetto; you’ll notice a LOT of trash on the streets, why?]
My cousin, who’s a white kid, grew up in the ghetto. He’s a full-on ‘wigger’. He’s 24 and still living with mom, who has moved to a rural area now. When he grows up, he wants to be a rapper, how original. All cuz’ ever does is bitch about living in the ghetto, and how bad it was growing up there. Yet, every time he comes into town, he goes right to the ghetto to hang out with ‘his peeps’. The mentality might be environmental, it might be genetic, or both – I’d go with both.
Cousin was amazed that I was helping my neighbors dig their cars out after a recent snowstorm. He asked, “Did they pay you?” I said, “Money?” He said, “Yeah, of course money, dumbass.” I said, “No, the reward was intangible.” He asked, “What does intangible mean?”
Look at Chris Rock. He does a great bit on niggers. He talks about black people, and he talks about niggers. There is indeed a difference, just like there’s a difference between white people and rednecks. The paint on the outside doesn’t mean squat about what’s on the inside.
I’ve always lived in Minnesota. I don’t see the racism that is prevalent down south. Actually, I see far more racism directed at us white folks than the other way around. Since this is a liberal welfare state, we get all kinds of immigrants here.
Back in the 70’s and 80’s, it was primarily black folk from Chicago and Gary, Indiana, fleeing the crumbling American steel and auto industries. Then came the Hmong, who tend to keep to themselves unless they want a hand-out. Now, it’s middle-east folks. I’m okay with that, I like diversity — yet, I wish all of them would do more to integrate, instead of intentionally segregating their societies.
Well, back to the brotha: from what I’ve observed, it’s a very delusional society. Retirement investing comes in the form of lottery tickets. Gold grills and chains and dubs on the car are important. Cadillacs are still a big deal, but everybody would prefer a Lexus or better yet a Bentley. Best term I’ve seen to describe the life is “nigger rich”…
Last, but not least: all members of all races are racists to some degree, don’t ask me why.
‘Speaches’? What are ‘speaches’? It’s not who’s voted in, it’s who he or she brings along. Don’t vote for the candidate, vote for his/her friends. Just remember, Bush brought you the Veep and his Halliburton. Yea. I’d still rather go hunting with Dick than ride in a car with Ted….
I’ve seen a lot of pictures of SmartAlix on this blog and until now I’d not noticed he was black, and it won’t make any difference now that I’ve had it pointed out to me. It’s really a non-issue. Kind of like me being a real bastard, along with being a fourth generation Scott.
But I know how that thing goes, as I’m fat, and old and after I clocked a mouthy old boy a few months ago he went around telling everybody how “fast” I was, like old fat guys can’t make moves when they need to.
SmartAlix
You make some great points…..very articulate.
Oh, sorry for the insult.
All that this shows is that Democrats can be as prejudicial and condescending as any Republican.
Unfortunately this attitude isn’t limited to the Political arena. If I had a dime for every time I talked to someone on the Phone and upon them meeting me proclaim ” I had NO idea you were Black”. “You Speak so well.” I wouldn’t be rich. But I Could buy a round or two at the watering hole.
P.S. This site really needs a WAP interface.
I recall
Alix was @ a party and he was Green….
So whats a nice way of insulting articulate green people?
I consider it a compliment to be called that in general – a lot of the populous really isn’t… but yes the er.. what’s the word… clustering(?) of the term around him a little suspicious.
Your 2008 Presidential Election will be:
Gov. Bill Richardson (D) vs. Speaker Newt Gingrich (R)
-Barack Obama: can’t be elected nationally, Dem’s will abandon him before primaries
-Hillary Clinton: all the baggage of a Bill Clinton, none of the charisma
-John Edwards: best challenger to Richardson for Dem nomination due to women vote
-Rudy Giuliani: straight talker, will say something really offensive
-Mitt Romney: great pedigree, but Southern Baptists will crucify him
-John McCain: still counting the votes from New Hampshire 2004
Everbody else is running on ego or a single issue and, of course, more articulate than George W. Bush.
Well it dosn’t matter to me anymore because I one the lottery LOL
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