Joe Klein: People Like Obama Aren’t Let Into Republican Country Clubs

NewsBusters.org ^ | 6/24/2008 | Matthew Balan

[Pyro7480]

In a statement reminiscent of Howard Dean’s controversial statement from 2005 about the RNC and "people of color," Time magazine columnist Joe Klein blasted Karl Rove’s recent slam of Barack Obama on Monday’s "Election Center" program on CNN. "I just think that the image is kind of hilarious when you think about it: Barack Obama at a country club sipping a martini. It's kind of a parody of the Republican view of the world. Everybody belongs to -- since when [did] we start letting people like Barack Obama into Republican country clubs?"

"People like Barack Obama"? That sounds like Dean’s "You think the RNC could get this many people of color into a single room?... Maybe if they got the hotel staff in there."

"Election Center" substitute host Wolf Blitzer read Rove’s quote earlier in the segment, which began 22 minutes into the 8 pm Eastern hour of the CNN program: "Even if you never met him, you know this guy. He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall, and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by."

[Right Cal Gal]

What’s a Marxist Man o’ the Peeples like Obama doing playing golf anyway?

[RockinRight]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_effect

[StAnDeliver]

"Barack Obama at a country club sipping a martini. It's kind of a parody of the Republican view of the world. Everybody belongs to -- since when [did] we start letting people like Barack Obama into Republican country clubs?" -- Joe Klein

I like Joe's hobbit-on-rabies look. Suits him well.

[BigLittle]

I'm not allowed.......boo hoo!

[BenLurkin]

Face it -- Obama is just John Kerry with big ears.

[quadrant]

Forging links (pardon the pun) with the oppressed middle class.

[CT]

Obama’s use of race as a strategy is going to blow up in his face. Too many people - at least the one’s I hear from - have had enough of Wo-Is-Me approach to political discourse. Obama’s pal-gal Michelle, and the not-very-reverend Wright, among others will sink this campaign.

[buffyt]

I knew of a country club in California, when we lived there in 1988-1990, that had never had a black member and they were proud of that. I thought it was TERRIBLE. But it is true, there are country clubs that still don’t allow blacks. The waiting list for the above mentioned CC was YEARS, took years to get in, all whites. I was SHOCKED!

[Grampa Dave]

I only smoke in the 51st to 57 th states!

[buffyt]

But sadly, it is true, that it is a fairly recent development that blacks are allowed to play golf on many courses. TIGER IS AWESOME! GO TIGER GO! Loved every minute of his recent win!

[bill1952]

There are plenty of black liberals in my CC.
Its more the outspoken conservative like me that is frowned upon.

[Wil H]

"Vote for Obama, or you're a racist" is the plain message

Obama - BLACK father - WHITE mother.

Raised by WHITE mother

So what makes him BLACK?

Why does he claim to be BLACK and not WHITE?

Surely he is equally both?

So why does he throw "Whitey" under the bus?

[Carley]

Seems to me Vernon Jordan didn’t do so badly for himself.

He rose to the highest levels of power, being the fixer for the bubba and bubbette.

And there is Colin Powell. Any suggestion that he would be denied membership is any country club in the country?

[buffyt]

I am afraid that President Obama, every time the house or senate votes against his ideas, will whine RACISM!

There is only ONE race, we are all the same species, the human race. Dividing into subgroups was done to justify slavery of one group under another.

[Sans-Culotte]

CLINTON: "Web and Ah had to resign from thayat country club in Arkansas when the public found out it we didn't allow blacks to join".

[Gorzaloon]

we start letting people like Barack Obama into Republican country clubs?"

Yeah! Like the Yacht Club in Hyannisport! OWait. That doesn't sound very....Republican...

[buffyt]

Obama has no black slave ancestors. His mother’s ancestors owned slaves. I do have black slave ancestors. So if Obama orders Reparations, will HE have to pay Reparations to ME? Mine was Rufus Hargrove, freed slave.

[unkus]

Thanks

[JimSEA]

Not to worry, when Barrak is President, the taxes will be “adjusted” so no one can afford to belong to a country club.

[Lijahsbubbe]

But it is true, there are country clubs that still don’t allow blacks

And Tiger himself had to deal with that during his career also.