Garling Gauge

Bucket For Obama

“Barry” Obama, Senior yearbook photo, Class of ‘79

But is he black enough?

The question of whether Sen. Barack Obama is black enough has gained some traction of late. With many (white) pundits now echoing the call, some are asking if the first black presidential front runner has enough street cred for bonafide blackness.

What does that mean, exactly?

Aside from being the most moronic question debated this election cycle, it seems to mean a lot of different things. But ultimately what it means is this: Can Sen. Obama understand where I’m coming from? Can he relate to me? Are the issues important to me important to him?

From that perspective the answer to whether Obama is black enough is…maybe.

For some, Obama has got the goods. Quick! Look! Meeting with Ludacris is proof of Obama’s blackness!

Sen. Barack Obama with Ludicris and further proof of Obama’s blackness

From another perspective, Obama just might not be black enough for you. Here’s a snippet from Wikipedia on Obama’s heritage:

Born to a black Kenyan father and a white American mother, Obama grew up in culturally diverse surroundings. He spent most of his childhood in the majority-minority U.S. state of Hawaii and lived for four years in Indonesia. A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama worked as a community organizer, university lecturer, and civil rights lawyer before running for public office. He served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004, launching his campaign for U.S. Senate in 2003.

Does that sound like your life? No? Perhaps you’re not ivy-league enough to relate to Obama.

But wait! Perhaps if Obama can play basketball all will be forgiven.

Bill Maher’s addresses this in his recent “New Rules” section of Real Time with Bill Maher, being is as timely as it is poignant:

New Rule: Stop saying Barack Obama isn’t black enough.

First you weren’t sure America was ready for a black president, now he’s not black enough?

(Sarcastically) I like his stand on the issues, but can he dunk?

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Bill Maher’s latest. Obama bit is first up.

I wonder if Sen. Hillary Clinton is womanly enough? If anything, commentators are saying she needs to be less manly and careful when she raises her voice, as different linguistic social rules to apply to men and women.

What about Gov. Bill Richardson? Think he’s Hispanic enough? Perhaps all he needs is a sombrero.

These questions are stupid.

If you are concerned that a candidate is not culturally or ethnically authentic enough then that candidate will probably never be bonafide enough for you.

But don’t worry Obama fans, “Barry” delivers:

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Black enough or not, as Obama puts it: “I’ve got skills”.