Ralph Nader Says; Obama "Talking White"

In a recent interview with ME Sprengelmeyern-The Rocky Mountain News, Independent Presidential hopeful (yes he's back) Ralph Nader commented on Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

During that interview, Mr. Nader who is known as the "spoiler" among Democrats (ask Kerry and Gore), commented that Obama was "talking white" in order to win the election. Now, before I move forward, I will say that I do appreciate all the work that Mr. Nader has done as a consumer advocate and his relentless "hustle" to call out corporate misdeeds and such. I will even go so far as to say, that I understand his position as a presidential hopeful, that he would want to call out his opponents and bring attention to improprieties in campaign financing.

Unfortunately, the line gets drawn when Mr. Nader comments that Obama is "talking white" to win the election." Is that anything like White Rapper Eminem "talking black" to sell rap records? Somebody "school" me please!!

I've never understood the phrase "talking white or talking black" whether it came from a black person, white person or purple person. Whenever I hear those words, it conjures up the idea that people should somehow be placed in monolithic groups- all thinking and acting the same based on superficial group category. I say, if Mr. Nader is running for the White House (yet again), please stick to the issues - 'cause I was following his argument (and even giving him some play) when he called out the other candidates (specifically Mr. Obama) about their stance on predatory lending, asbestos, lead poisoning and economic exploitation (in the ghetto). However, I would like to bring to Nader's attention that the above issues are not just confined to the ghetto and therefore not to be assumed solely as "black" issues. Case in point, the 1 million homes in foreclosure transcend the ghettos and are reflective of a trend that could quite possibly be described as predatory?!??! - anywho, I digress.

To Mr. Nader and all those folks out there who want to box people in, please be very careful because a huge part of the renewed energy in this year's election is the desire of the American people to remove stereotypes and solve our nation's problems - transcending race, gender, religion and all the other 'isms that have kept us divided.

I remember when Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was going through his hearings to take his post. During some heated exchanges, he commented that the issues being addressed (in regards to his qualifications, etc) were nothing more than a "high tech lynching of an uppity black man." Wouldn't want to relive that moment in history! It is unfortunate that even as we move forward, we step back ward when Nader and others want to invalidate individual accomplishment by playing the "race card" instead of sticking to the issues.

Come on US of A, let's show the world, that "We Can" take this presidential dialogue to the next level by - "Talking American and perhaps even Global!"

What say you?