The Mask Slips

New York Times ^ | 4/14/08 | William Kristol

[MartinaMisc]

I haven’t read much Karl Marx since the early 1980s, when I taught political philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. Still, it didn’t take me long this weekend to find my copy of “The Marx-Engels Reader,” edited by Robert C. Tucker — a book that was assigned in thousands of college courses in the 1970s and 80s, and that now must lie, unopened and un-remarked upon, on an awful lot of rec-room bookshelves.

My occasion for spending a little time once again with the old Communist was Barack Obama’s now-famous comment at an April 6 San Francisco fund-raiser. Obama was explaining his trouble winning over small-town, working-class voters: “It’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

This sent me to Marx’s famous statement about religion in the introduction to his “Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right”:

“Religious suffering is at the same time an expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world, and the soul of a soulless condition. It is the opium of the people.”

Or, more succinctly, and in the original German in which Marx somehow always sounds better: “Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes.”

[at bay]

A fine Kristol knock.

[Roy Tucker]

Here is an example of a brave Christian convert in Kuwait named Hussein who took the Christian name Robert.

He chose to take the Christian name at far greater risk than Barack Hussein Obama would face in changing his. Why would this Hussein do that?

[cricket]

Another thing that gets me - what devout Christians would say people “cling to their religion” out of frustration? Seems more like something an atheist or agnostic would say.

Agree; Obama's comments seem far removed from any genuine Christian context. But then, Black Liberation Theology is far removed as well.

The 'frustration' Obama speaks to, is really, his own. If anything; this explains 'Barak and Michele's' clinging to their church for over twenty years. Frustration IS the spoon that stirs the Marxist 'Liberation' pot as the message of Black Liberation is in truth, a 'non-liberation'.

Rather, it is an enslavement to bigotry, racism; class envy; feeding on anger and hate. Because of the frustration it engenders; Obama's church guarantees it's Sunday audience.

We know when one speaks; it is a reflection of who they are; and Barak will never 'speak' far from his Marxist Black Liberation home. . .which stands, not toooo far, from his Islamic roots as well.

[browneyedGAgirl]

The most committed Catholics I know are not named Mohammed.

Really, Roy. I mean, how is anyone supposed to answer such a NON-point??

I too have lived and worked in the Middle East - Jordan and Iraq to be precise. If you truly have worked in the Middle East or ANYWHERE in the world with a diverse population, then you would have come across many Christian Salaams, Rasheeds, Alias etc. just like I have. Or maybe you just assumed that they were Muslims because they were Arab with Arabic names. Just like every Anglo named John is a Christian, right??

And the idea of you trying to tell me or anyone else what defines the black experience, in this country or anywhere else is so preposterous I almost can't type it out fast enough. Stick with what you know, Roy. Which I can tell isn't really all that much...

[wtc911]

We would be wise to remember that the first two things every communist government from 1917 Russia to Castro and Chavez has come after is the people’s God and guns. Obama is cut from that same cloth.

[JudgemAll]

And yet Obama for political expediency chose to associated with the Black American experienee in one of its most extreme forms, that of the church of the Rev. Jermiah Wright.

That is a KGB play book act of instigation. I believe the lie regarding the Elder's of Zion stuff came from the same type of activity you describe Obama making.

[Just mythoughts]

GAG ME!!! I am NOT an Obama supporter but Kristol is trying to perform magic. That House of Lords of which all three of these candidates are members has this thing regarding rules of seniority. Now the magic is to attempt to frame lord McCain as willing to martyr himself over the illegal invasion.

Kristol’s is an OPEN BORDERS toon just as is lord McCain.

[guitarist]

Kristol, with whom I have not always agreed, ROCKS. But—please tell me if I’m not mistaken—didn’t he say “bourgeois” here where he meant “proletariat”? He has gotten nailed by the libs for making mistakes in his columns. Even if they are great, he can’t afford sloppy mistakes, as he has no tenure in his job...

[Louis Foxwell]

AND, he is not black. He is a white boy raised by his white family.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Are you a muslim?

And why are you so interested in US politics, as an Australian?

Thanks. Just curious.

[Louis Foxwell]

The Opium wars of the 19th century were not fought over medicinal issues. They were an attempt by an indigenous people, the Chinese, to overcome the chains of opium addiction inflicted on them by their overlords, the Brits.

[cricket]

I hope more in the media identify - as Kristol has - the sources of Obama's inspiration.

Also, noted your wise words on your homepage. . .The only cure for bad speech is good speech, at the same time and place and with the passion it deserves.

. ..and why, more in the media, need to get beyond Obama's linguistics; and to the heart of his idiological 'problem'.

And why as well, it is outrageous, that more Repubs do not step up to the plate. . .and counter the lies of the left; which because these people are unimpeded; their lies are easily cast into the eternal realm of 'political myth'.

Truth needs it's speakers, if it is to prevail.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

The Opium Wars on another level, arguably, were fought over Chinese international trade policies.

And the resulting massive bilateral trade deficit - with Britain.

[wtc911]

Are you yourself a muslim? It would certainly help us understand your perspective which, from your short posting history, appears to be one intent on defending obama in an oblique way. A number of similar freepers have popped up very recently.

[Louis Foxwell]

If the black experience is not genetic, and it cannot be, it is cultural. On that ground alone Barry is not black.

[Just mythoughts]

If the black experience is not genetic, and it cannot be, it is cultural. On that ground alone Barry is not black.

But of course, have you seen WHO these people are that Obama was comfortable to make the fund raising comments to??? A group of rich white people at the Getty Mansion on Billionaire's Row in San Francisco... A big part of the story that Kristol conveniently ignores.

[browneyedGAgirl]

If the black experience is not genetic, and it cannot be, it is cultural.

I believe it can be both. Both genetic (Black American by birth) and culturally (Africans, people of West Indian/Caribbean descent who move here). A good girlfriend of mine and her family are from Trinidad. Beautiful accents.

I would be hard pressed to tell anyone in their family they haven't had the Black experience. But your point is an interesting one. I completely disagree with it, but it's an interesting point.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Are you a muslim?

[Triple]

Bs opium masks painand does not cure. Then and now.

[Louis Foxwell]

The genetic argument is spurious at best. The 19 century definition of negro, 1/8 negroid genes, is racist, pure and simple. Genetic distinctions based on the % of blood have no basis in science or fact.
The only justification for maintaining a black experience is cultural and Barry does not share a black cultural experience. He is a white man raised in a white culture by his own white family. That he chooses to align himself with black extremism says more about the man than it does about his genes.