Daily Kos

Hillary's "I'm one of you" in Scranton Racially Loaded Bombshell

Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 10:02:25 AM PDT

What does this conjure up upon first reading:

I understand you, because I'm one of you.

Camp Hillary really went all out this morning, effectively playing a heavy handed double-entendre bombshell...   In a race dominated by discussion of the need for Obama to win over White Working Class Voters, in a State Rendell is on record for saying that it may not be ready to vote for a Black Man, to go there at this late hour is at the least insensitive.

"I'm one of you"  is simply a step too far...  And the Context makes it all the worse.

The context fails to lighten the original blow leaving the headline clear as day

Recalling childhoods spent in the area, she said she learned "the kind of common-sense values that matter here in Pennsylvania and across America."

"We cared about our families, we cared about our faith," said Clinton, who was interrupted several times by chants like "Hillary! Hillary!" and "Madam President! Madam President!" "We believed in working hard. And we had an abiding faith in our country, an abiding faith that never ever quit."

Again, I'm one of you... Why go there, unless you're implying that you're the one on the ballot who can be considered the Only One Like You.

Hillary's Context brings up Faith (Muslim Smears), Hard Work (Racial Stereotyping of Slothful Black Males), and Patriotism (Flag Pins).

So, in summation, Hillary slams Barack in a back handed way pointing out that She's effectively

White
Religious
Patriot
Hard Working

What is the reader/voter left to wonder about Barack?  

From the comments section on Boston.com

This is racism at its most insidious. What she is really saying is "I am white." Why doesn't the press acknowledge this? If Barack Obama went to a town in South Carolina and said to a black audience, "I am one of you," you would be all over it as signs he is "just the black candidate."

Revolting.

Indeed

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