Obama-Kennedy Dream Ticket and Other Itemized Musings

My thoughts for the day, while reflecting on events this week:


1. When I suggested on a whim in a discussion over at Black Women Vote! that Obama should pick Caroline Kennedy to be his running mate, little did I know that I would soon read a similar commentary by Linda Milazzo called "My Dream Ticket: Barak Obama and Carolina Kennedy." (Read Article)

There are so many reasons why this would ROCK the political world. First, it would render Hillary Clinton's "gender" victimization null and void, including the recent arguments by former VP candidate Geraldine Ferraro, and second, it would prevent the Democrats from thinking that a compromised ticket of Obama/Clinton is the way to go. Eversince I was an adolescent, I remembered tuning into a fascinating interview featuring the Kennedy matriarch, Rose Kennedy, who was asked about the potential of President John F. Kennedy's children, and she had waxed poetically that one of his children had what it took to be the future president. The interviewer (cannot remember which one of those white male talking heads it was) assumed she was referring to JFK Junior (when he was still alive), and the grand matriarch quietly stated, "I was thinking of Caroline."

I have not forgotten the subtle way she was championing her granddaughter nor the easy way Caroline had been dismissed as a potential candidate. My, how times have changed. And while Caroline Kennedy has not yet entered into the political arena as a major contender, her credentials as a lawyer, author, mother, and overseer of various foundations and causes certainly are no less worthy than anything Senator Clinton has done prior to serving as First Lady and in Congress. So, why should Clinton's loss simply be seen as the problem of sexism and sexism alone? What if the wrong white woman had emerged at this point in time? While Caroline Kennedy is already serving on a committee to pick Obama's VP, I sure wish someone in the party will state the obvious and tell the woman that she needs to step up to the plate. As Milazzo states in her article:

Some readers may doubt that Caroline Kennedy has the credentials to lead. But I
believe she has always led – just more quietly than most. She's learned from the
best. Her uncle is the Lion of the Senate. Her Aunt Eunice began the Special
Olympics. Her Uncle Sarge created the Peace Corps. She's steeped in a legacy of
public service. She has power and doesn't abuse it. She serves on foundations
and boards - all for the public good. She's on the Commission on Presidential
Debates and on the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and she's a founder
of the Profiles In Courage Award. She's traveled globally and lived abroad.
She's an adviser to the Harvard Institute of Politics, and though she doesn't
hold political office, she's worked with and for those who have, and for those
who still do. She's brilliant and universally respected. There is little
negative to be said about Caroline.

I seriously think this kind of combination would be a major coup for the Democrats and one that could heal the wounds already exposed in the party.

Obama-Kennedy for the win this November! :D

2. The gender debates already in circulation are truly fascinating, and I want to point you to two provocative conversations: Shecodes' Hillary's Transition from Candidate to Champion (few seem to be a fan of Clinton as VP, which is why I say: "Obama-Kennedy for the win!!") and Gina's So Will the Infamous Michelle Obama Tape Drop Today? (an insightful post that foreshadows how Michelle Obama will be the new whipping girl in the media, now that Clinton is out of the way, as everyone knows that one thing white America hates more than black men it's black women! And I guarantee you that the same white feminists who were outraged by the overt sexism expressed against Hillary will be quiet as mice when Michelle is targeted; just watch and see.)

3. Funny how all kinds of interesting emails pop up in your inbox when you post a few times about American Idol and David Archuleta. I received a message announcing that our 17-year-old-cutie-pie boy wonder has just signed with Jive Records. So, I guess losing the American Idol crown isn't all that bad! So, I followed the link to see the official announcement and just about fell out of my chair in front of my computer desk when I saw the numerous "acts" under this label - some new R. Kelly stuff, a bunch of lame-assed hip-hop buffoonery, and - my favorite part - Chris Brown (who's like two years older than our sweet little Mormon boy) doing some gratuitous and overwrought bump & grind act at a concert. Have mercy!

I don't even want to visualize what kind of corruption awaits little David if he's working under this label (although, to be honest, I don't see this kid succumbing too much - no matter how much he wants the fame and glory. This is the same kid who spent his week off ministering to troubled youth at a fireside camp and lending his beautiful voice to this effort and planning a "Thank You" concert charity for his local fans - until AI producers nixed this event since it threatened to cut into the profits of their upcoming Idol tour in the city: Welcome to the big bad world of capitalism!).

Of course, something tells me that, because of the way racial representations work, Jive will know exactly how to market his wholesome white masculinity for success, PRECISELY because we already have this good white boy/bad black boy dichotomy in place. So, as much as I'm pleased for Archuleta and like what he is able to do with his God-given talents, I'm downright pissed that, if a black teenager with his talents, looks, and values were signed to a similar label, NO WAY would he be allowed to exist in a wholesome manner. This same label would force a new and similarly church-raised black male artist in his teens to resort to that whole bump & grind, hypersexual and hard masculine image just to compete with the likes of Chris Brown and Usher and that whole lot.

So, I'm left to ponder: what happened to the wholesome black male vocalist? You know, the ones who would croon all those great (or even gooey) love songs? And....and...what happened to the New Edition types and the soulful longings and wailings and pleadings of the Boyz II Men types? What happened to the clean-cut wholesomeness and raw talents of the Michael Jackson types (albeit before he became a ruinous pervert - thanks to the excesses of fame and fortune) and the balladeering of Lionel Richie types, and the deep soul-piercing and heartfelt music of the Stevie Wonder types? What is this hip-hop-influenced R&B foolishness? There's no love to be made! It's all bump & grind banality! If there is any new R&B pop act that can take us back to the rope, please let me in on it!

And, I don't care if it makes me sound irrational, but I'm going to blame R. Kelly for this downward spiral. Talking all that crap about how "I don't see nothing wrong with a little bump & grind?" You filthy, urinating, pedophile! I hope they throw the book at you and lock you up and throw away the key! Not just for your sexual predatory ways with minors but also for the unpardonable sin of screwing over the best tradition of the R&B love ballad!!!!!!! [/ends rant]

My black brothers and sisters, let us embrace a new future. Down with R. Kelly, up with Barak Obama. Watch his example! Learn from him! See what he is showing you! He is telling you: See? See what you can accomplish? See what you can achieve with a strong, beautiful, and educated black woman by your side and two little daughters who look to you for guidance and leadership?

Make no mistake, my brothers. He got where he is today and accomplished as much because when you respect your women, you respect yourself. And when you respect yourself, you will go far.

If you'd rather degrade your womenfolk, well, then, you can either expect jail time like R. Kelly, or drama like the kind 50 Cent is currently having with his "baby mama."

Learn, my people, learn! Okay, I will now officially end my sermon. Moving right along...

4. Speaking of hypersexuality, just want to promote a new website that was shared with me in yet another email: this one is called Stop Porn Culture, and I want to spread their message. Don't get me wrong: I'm all about the power of the erotic and positive sexuality, but we can all do better than the nonsense and commodified junk that's in heavy rotation and circulation right now. We must do better!

Say it with me now: YES, WE CAN!!!