Racial Politics "Miller Time"

Dennis Miller made me mad today. Today on the O'Reilly Factor, Miller was speaking in response to Barack Obama's speech in Jacksonville last week where Barack explained that the public was aware of the type of campaign the Republicans were going to run against him. He explained that they were going to focus on what the media has already been focusing. He said that they were going to question his experience, his ability, the fact that he has a "funny name", and of course the fact that he is black. Barack's exact words were "oh, by the way, he's black." This is where Dennis made me mad. Miller exclaimed that he was appalled that Obama would say such a thing. Miller explained that his frustration came from the fact that "every time you say something about him, he's gonna pull the race card, card." He used the term race card, card repeatedly. I was confused on his reasoning for applying what Obama said in that manner, but I did understand his terminology. He also said that Obama was playing the race card for the Republicans, who have yet to do that.

I think Dennis Miller's rant exposed his own personal problems with Obama as a black candidate. Dennis Miller's segment appeared pointless because he felt like Obama was attacking the Republicans by calling them racist. O'Reilly brought up the fact that Barack was speaking to an African American crowd. Barack made that statement because it is true. Miller made an attempt to pretend that Barack's blackness was not close to the forefront of why this race will be close at all. The Republican Party is obviously not going to base their campaign on the fact that their opponent is black. There will be plenty of media coverage that will take care of that for them. For Miller to suggest that Barack was playing a race card bothers me. He was talking primarily to blacks, and the way in which he meant that statement was an encouraging statement as if to rally the other blacks in excitement. The fact that his saying that has everything to do with the fact that he is black only proves that the race card doesn't really need to be played in the first place. Paranoia exposes and will continue to expose people just like Miller. Defensive players are usually defending themselves against attacks, or perhaps against the very possibility of attacks, and I really do not appreciate Miller putting on his public shield, as if to say: "I'm not racist." Thanks Dennis. You have officially proven Obama's point, and justified him saying what he said.