American Politics Thread: The Hunt for Blue November

[Lanny_McDonald]

Nvm

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

In the case of Obama it's a bit silly. People weren't saying he was a good speaker because he's black. They were saying it because he's arguably the best speaker to hold major political office in our lifetimes. It was a weird take.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

My first reaction was kinda "oh come on" as well, because it sounded over the top and a non-issue, but then I googled it and learned something. Not so hard to do.

Yeah, I had no idea either. I still don't think you can judge a person's intent if they say something like that. It's a common phrase with a history of being used for non-racist purposes. Reading what I just read, I will be careful not to use it in certain situations now.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

In the case of Obama it's a bit silly. People weren't saying he was a good speaker because he's black. They were saying it because he's arguably the best speaker to hold major political office in our lifetimes. It was a weird take.

Especially in a world where people like Bush, Palin, and Trump get so much air time. You could put Al Gore in that category as well, smart guy, but not a great communicator.

Someone like Obama came along, and it was like "Wow". It shouldn't be surprising when a politician is a great orator, but it is becoming increasingly uncommon so that when one comes along, it is worth acknowledging. It's a great skill that people practice and work hard at to get better.

I wouldn't put Harris on the same level as Obama, but she is miles ahead other others that get the spot light. She can turn it on and be a lion when she needs to, but she is also great at explaining things in calm, rational ways. Obama could talk someone off a ledge though.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

He might very well try and cure cancer if it saves him in November.

Or he’ll claim that he’s cured cancer with the announcement coming out in a news conference Nov. 4. On Nov. 4 he denies saying it.

[Senator Clay Davis]

President Saying The Quiet Part Out Loud strikes again

https://twitter.com/user/status/1293883405990596608

[troutman]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...la-Harris.html

The Trump campaign's Senior Legal Advisor Jenna Ellis pushed a so-called 'birther' narrative Thursday that Kamala Harris isn't eligible to be vice president because her parents weren't citizens when she was born in Oakland, California.

'It's an open question, and one I think Harris should answer so the American people know for sure she is eligible,' Ellis told ABC News.

Ellis' views on the issue came to light after she retweeted a link to a 'birther' op-ed published on Newsweek's website Wednesday written by right-wing law professor John C. Eastman.

[SportsJunky]

"Hey, I'm just asking questions here."

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by troutman

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...la-Harris.html

Spoiler!

[ResAlien]

Looking forward to being lectured about how asking this isn’t racist, it’s simply a happy coincidence it’s only minority candidates whose Americanness/citizenship gets called into question.

[Blaster86]

JAQing off at its best.

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Looking forward to being lectured about how asking this isn’t racist, it’s simply a happy coincidence it’s only minority candidates whose Americanness/citizenship gets called into question.

"yeah but where are you reallyyyy from??"

[PepsiFree]

I don't know why tighty righties continue the birther thing (just kidding, I do). Born in the US (or even arguably just born to US parents)? Congrats, you're a natural born US citizen. The end.

[White Out 403]

#### here we go with birther #### again. the american right is so ugly and racist.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I don't know why tighty righties continue the birther thing (just kidding, I do). Born in the US (or even arguably just born to US parents)? Congrats, you're a natural born US citizen. The end.

Could you imagine if Tammy Duckworth was nominated? They would be having a hay day with the "born outside of the U.S." birth certificate. I can't help but think that was one of the factors that made her not more of a consideration.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

Looking forward to being lectured about how asking this isn’t racist, it’s simply a happy coincidence it’s only minority candidates whose Americanness/citizenship gets called into question.

Editor's Note: Eastman's Newsweek Column Has Nothing to Do With Racist Birtherism


https://www.newsweek.com/editors-not...herism-1524800

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by troutman

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...la-Harris.html

Here's the original opinion piece.

https://www.newsweek.com/some-questi...pinion-1524483

It should be noted that Harris' mother was issues a SSN in 1963. Kamala was born in 1964. This information was pulled from the Social Security Death Index.

This question to birthright was also litigated in 1898.

"United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898), was a landmark decision[4] of the US Supreme Court ruling that "a child born in the United States, of parents of Chinese descent, who, at the time of his birth, are subjects of the Emperor of China, but have a permanent domicile and residence in the United States, and are there carrying on business, and are not employed in any diplomatic or official capacity under the Emperor of China", automatically became a U.S. citizen at birth. This decision established an important precedent in its interpretation of the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution."

Full disclosure, John C. Eastman is a member of the far right Claremont Institute, resigned his as role as Dean of the Chapman University School of Law to pursue a campaign to become California Attorney General, which was ultimately won by Kamala Harris.

This is yellow journalism and race baiting all rolled into one. Newsweek should be ashamed of themselves for publishing such a weak "opinion" piece.

[troutman]

from the Newsweek comments:

John Eastman stepped down as Dean at the Fowler School of Law to run for Attorney General and lost to Kamala Harris. Funny how neither the original article and this editor's note both fail to mention this. Furthermore, you state Eastman "has LITIGATED countless cases at the Supreme Court". This is misleading, if not outright false. He has FILED amicus curiae briefs ("friend of the court" briefs) on behalf of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence about 140 times. Filing amicus curiae briefs is NOT the same as LITIGATED. The Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence is the public interest law arm of the Claremont Institute. John Eastman is a director of the Claremont Institute, and the founding director of the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence. While I was able to find only two times that Eastman *litigated* and argued a case in front of the Supreme Court, the bio page for Eastman on the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence states that Eastman "has represented more than 20 parties before the Supreme Court of the United States." It does not state how many cases those 20 parties were involved in. Needless to say, Eastman has not "litigated countless cases at the Supreme Court"

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by troutman

Editor's Note: Eastman's Newsweek Column Has Nothing to Do With Racist Birtherism


https://www.newsweek.com/editors-not...herism-1524800

Completely disagree. Eastman defended Ted Cruz in the past who was in a similar situation. He knew exactly what door he was opening, and why.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/...ity-president/

In Eastman's own words from this article, "So let’s move on from this particular silliness, and get back to the business of choosing a president from among the broad slate of well-qualified — and fully eligible — candidates before us."

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by troutman

Editor's Note: Eastman's Newsweek Column Has Nothing to Do With Racist Birtherism


https://www.newsweek.com/editors-not...herism-1524800

I am shocked. Shocked I say. Our racist article isn’t racist ok?

https://twitter.com/user/status/403359911481839617