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Hecky Powell vindicated?
From foxnews.com:
President-elect Barack Obama uses throwaway remark "mutt like me"
in reference to what his family is not looking for in the First Dog.
AP
Saturday, November 08, 2008
It popped out casually, a throwaway line as he talked to reporters about finding the right puppy for his young daughters.
But with just three offhanded words in his first news conference as
president-elect, Barack Obama reminded everyone how thoroughly
different his administration -- and inevitably, this country -- will
be.
"Mutts like me."
By now, almost everyone knows that Obama's mother was white and father
was black, putting him on track to become the nation's first
African-American president. But there was something startling, and
telling, about hearing his self-description -- particularly in how
offhandedly he used it.
The message seemed clear -- here is a president who will be quite at
ease discussing race, a complex issue as unresolved as it is
uncomfortable for many to talk about openly. And at a time when whites
in the country are not many years from becoming the minority.
Obama made the remark as he revealed his thinking in what is becoming
one of the highest-profile issues of this transition period: What kind
of puppy will he and his wife, Michelle, get for their daughters as
they move into the White House.
Because Malia, 10, has allergies, the family wants a low-allergy dog.
But Obama said they also want to adopt a puppy from an animal shelter,
which could make it harder to find a breed that wouldn't aggravate his
daughter's problem.
"Obviously, a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me," Obama said with a
smile. "So whether we're going to be able to balance those two things,
I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household."
GO HECKY!
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Go Hecky! He already has a sign in his window for the Obama mutt sandwich. I wonder if there will be lines of speakers at the White House to denounce Obama for his mutt reference? Don't think so. So much for the speech police in Evanston.
Jason - You like too many others are putting far too much of the issue of race about Obama -
I view Obama -background very differently - he was born to a father who obtained a PH.D at Havard and a mother who also was well educated. Clearly he recieved good genes, which allowed him to do well and go on to Havard.
Obams's choice in a wife - he married a Havard Law graduate here again - selecting good genes. ( He did not marry someone in a lower social class ie. High school drop out - with a baby or two )
Where does he send his children? One of the best private schools in the city - University of Chicago Lab School - not to a Chicago public school on the south side.
Race have any bearing on any of this?
Best students- that is maybe what we want in Evanston? Not really if you look how our schools have operated for years.
In our public schools - we for years have want to dummy down everthing - recently we discuss the elimination of honors class and put everyone together in high school classrooms. I doubt Obama would want to put his daughters in a non-honors class at ETHS. For that matter they would never likely enroll in a school like ETHS.
The issue is not race, Jason but intelligent.
Pure bred dogs are bred for selective traits - it done correctly it works - if done by a puppy mill - it creates genetic problems. Dog breds are created, bred for traits. All dog breds start out as Mutts that is mixing different dogs to get new traits until they get a reconized bred. This has little to do with people or their selection of mates.
Obama use of the term mutt is more politics than reality - he has good genes and in his selection process he continued those good genes -
Mutt comments make for good politics, it by passes the real issues.
I merely wished to point up how ridiculous the whole "mutt" issue was when it was first being trotted around town. I understand that many people may find it offensive, but really, our country is and always has been "The Great American Melting Pot."
If your point is that ability, character and intelligence are more important than race, of whatever pedigree, I agree with you. However, I don't think you'll find that I made any comments one way or another as to race.
"Jason - You like too many others are putting far too much of the issue of race about Obama."
Do you know for a fact whether Senator/President-elect Obama's race has anything to do with my opinion of him? Have we spoken about the issue? Have I posted anything that gives you the right to make assumptions about my position?
Again--lighten up!
I'd love to know what all of Hecky's critics have to say now?
Are they writing emails to Obama, scolding him for using the term mutts?
Hey Hecky, it's time to put the mutt sandwich back on the menu. Maybe you can rename it the Obama mutt sandwich.
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