Im going to weigh in on the debate being raged currently over Bill Clintons “coffee” comment now. For those who dont know,Clinton is being quoted as having told the late Sen. Ted Kennedy that “a few years ago, this guy would have been getting or coffee”, when referring to now President Obama.
Its been raised as an issue that this comment was racist,and therefore Clinton should be chastised/etc for racism. First of all, Clinton has not (as far as i know) ever shown any racist tendencies. Lets get that out of the way right now.
More importantly, the comment (to me) seems to refer more to the fact that we have come a long way from our past. It *ISNT* too many years ago that Mr Obama would have been relegated to fetching coffee for white politicians instead of being a viable contender for the White House himself. I firmly believe that is what Fmr. President Clinton meant by his statement. I believe it was more of a “Wow.. look how far we have come, it wasnt too long ago that he would have been fetching coffee not running for office” than ” Ahh the good old days when he would have been where he should be, fetching our coffee”
Honesty is not racism. It is not, has never been, and will never be “racist” to recognize, and be open and honest about the darker times in our history when racism was much more widespread and accepted than it is today.
Stop looking for racism where it doesnt exist, and congratulate Mr Clinton on his ability to recognize how far we have come as a country. Hes being honest, glad for change, and seeking even more change. Thats a good thing, so lets stop beating him up as a racist.
Igor Said:
on 24/01/2010 at 11:11
Seriously – without trying to be a international troll – americans are full of this racist-drama, you cannot say anything without being tagged as racist.
Let me tell you something in the BK near home there are just black people working, and I’m pretty sure some latinos or white people would like to work there, that’s racist? or discrimination? probably, who knows!, but you know white people actually serves coffee to politicians too.
If you think about it, more than “ahh this guy was nothing before and now it’s actually our goto guy” the quote can’t mean anything else, it could also mean that he’s younger than the usual candidate.
I think it’s just easier to just say: “ahh he’s racist” than to think about the real meaning… also the media makes some $$ as usual which is actually the real reason IMHO.