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WaPo’s Jonathan Capehart: Cornel West’s Criticism Of Obama Makes Him ‘No Better Than A Birther’

» 39 comments

Professor Cornel West’s criticism of President Obama as a “black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs” is reverberating throughout the African American community and the media, and is particularly disturbing to The Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart. After defending his comments last night on MSNBC, West did not sway Capehart from his belief that West is now leading a “Blacker than thou” crowd that is as embarrassing as the Birther movement.

In a controversial interview, West also suggested Obama is “afraid of free black men” and “has become head of the American killing machine and is proud of it.” Capehart was equally as blunt in his response to West, labeling West’s critique to be “myopic, offensive and embarrassingly petty.” Capehart continued:

“Whereas [Birthers and some Republicans] tried to deny the president his citizenship, West is trying to deny him his inherent blackness. By indulging in the ‘Obama-as-other’ narrative, West is no better than a birther.”

With Capehart’s charge here, might West be eager to forcefully return fire? It seems likely, given that the last time West defended his belief that Obama was not effectively serving the African American community, there were some memorable fireworks.

Check out Capehart’s full piece in The Washington Post.

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  • cjd ohio 1

    capehart is right here, i wish everyone would stop basing opinions on president obama’s race

  • Barack Must Go

    WaPo’s Jonathan Capehart: Cornel West’s Criticism Of Obama Makes Him ‘No Better than A Birther’

    Uh oh. Black on black crime is movin on up to the supposed right side of the tracks.

    Thanks Barack, that ‘ hope & change ‘ desease you’ve brought to America is spreading like cancer.

  • gottosay

    I swear I did not get the blacker than black thang from West—what I got was nerd hiding from the other battle…it takes courage to stand up for the disenfranchised real courage and to do with a education…many in the academia want to run away from the misery of living black in america…the president needs to know that this nation will stand with him just as long as he remember we are there with him and he our President must do a great job for the disenfranchise are in grief with their numbers high in unemployment high in dropouts…little girls only see their future as children with children …the great event was the selecting of Booker T. Washington and calming down a teenager who thought her president did not care and he touched in gesture to say I do and this is just the beginning..the disenfranchise needs a superman or someone working at becoming one…or should I say stride to become superperson

  • CAINtheBULL

    Urban blacks questioning suburban blacks “authenticity” is really lame. It happens in the Mexican community also. “White washed” is the term they use among us Mexicans.

  • Gasket

    cjd ohio 1 said:
    capehart is right here, i wish everyone would stop basing opinions on president obama’s race

    True. This is not exactly new either. West has been saying this over a year. West is sort of a black supremacist/separatist and a marxist who doesn’t like Obama’s policies one bit. Watch any serious debate in a forum where he’s an invited guest and you will see this. He says this stuff all the time unapologetically.

  • Gasket

    CAINtheBULL said:
    Urban blacks questioning suburban blacks “authenticity” is really lame. It happens in the Mexican community also. “White washed” is the term they use among us Mexicans.

    Not a new phenomenon. Goes back to the Uncle Tom days. This happens in both quarters (liberal and conservative ranks) equally. People forget Rev. Jesse Jackson’s comments towards Obama during the 08 campaign where he talked about “cutting his nuts off” for…geee…criticizing actions or subcultures within the black community.

  • Zandandido

    Cornel West calls himself a “non-Marxist socialist” and serves as honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. And I don’t know how he is a birther

  • WCinWI

    Gasket said:
    Not a new phenomenon. Goes back to the Uncle Tom days. This happens in both quarters (liberal and conservative ranks) equally. People forget Rev. Jesse Jackson’s comments towards Obama during the 08 campaign where he talked about “cutting his nuts off” for…geee…criticizing actions or subcultures within the black community.

    Ummm we still live in the Uncle Tom days. Also, people don’t forget what Jesse Jackson said. Liberals do. Conservatives just chalk it up to another hypocrisy – just as Harry Reid with his racist comment against Obama and so on. To think that we’re out of the Uncle Tom days is just false, based on the video evidence out there. Perhaps you think it still persists. If so, then good.

  • Zandandido

    Gasket said:
    Not a new phenomenon. Goes back to the Uncle Tom days. This happens in both quarters (liberal and conservative ranks) equally. People forget Rev. Jesse Jackson’s comments towards Obama during the 08 campaign where he talked about “cutting his nuts off” for…geee…criticizing actions or subcultures within the black community.

    This is normal though, just like intra-party fighting with Democrats and Republicans. I don’t like it ever when someone says if you disagree with Obama than you must be racist. It doesn’t allow you debate at all.

  • roxsteady

    Capehart is spot on. I think West is still smarting because he didn’t get invited to the Inauguration. He’s kind of our “Nutty Professor” if you will. He seems to lack a clear understanding of how government works. It’s easy to blame the President for things that don’t get done if, like West you ignore those who actually are charged with writing and passing legislation, namely Congress! Don’t let them off the hook Cornel!

  • Harry Flashman

    Just another example of the Great Uniter and his effect on the peeps. See how united they are? Man, that Obama sure can bring people together.

  • Gasket

    Zandandido said:
    Cornel West calls himself a “non-Marxist socialist” and serves as honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. And I don’t know how he is a birther

    I think the comparison was metaphorical ie. being irrational and demagogic.

  • illusive man

    roxsteady said:
    Capehart is spot on. I think West is still smarting because he didn’t get invited to the Inauguration. He’s kind of our “Nutty Professor” if you will. He seems to lack a clear understanding of how government works. It’s easy to blame the President for things that don’t get done if, like West you ignore those who actually are charged with writing and passing legislation, namely Congress! Don’t let them off the hook Cornel!

    Right, like when the Dem house and senate majority with help from Bush passed legislation that nearly destroyed our economy back in 2007/2008.

  • felixw

    Let’s just say it straight…if you criticize Obama like this, you MUST be a racist.

    (See, the liberal media has taught us well!)

  • Thelonious Funk

    Let me get this straight: Bernard Hopkins is black than Donovan McNabb is blacker than Cornell West is black than Obama?

  • tatboy

    Black on black violence. You have the “want it all” faction Vs. the rational thinking faction.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Barbara-Goodman/541880957 Barbara Goodman

    It’s an act. I saw Mr. West lunching in the heart of a very white Beverly Hills last year. In fact the place was called Villia Blanca! Then he went on Bill Maher’s show that night hootin and hollering. He shouldn’t cast his stone at the President.

  • tatboy

    Barbara Goodman said:
    It’s an act. I saw Mr. West lunching in the heart of a very white Beverly Hills last year. In fact the place was called Villia Blanca! Then he went on Bill Maher’s show that night hootin and hollering. He shouldn’t cast his stone at the President.

    The wisest words ever spoken… “everyone got a mortgage”. From “Thank You for Smoking”. West is just getting his paycheck where he can.

  • chatmandu002

    My opinion of our Campaigner-in-Chief is based on the white half of his race. And my opinion of him is bad.

  • teufelhunden75

    Capehart is the White House slave.

  • Pablo

    gottosay said:
    many in the academia want to run away from the misery of living black in america

    I’d run away from “living black” too. Living American works so much better and it makes actual free black men.

  • alicia2011

    dr. west has never lied on hobama

    hobama has agendas for gays/women/latinos….

    why should blacks be the only agendaless hobama fans???

    only politically suicidal racist hobama nazis are unable to handle dr. west’s rebel truths about hobama

    shame!!!!

    http://aliciabanks.xanga.com/732761867/dr-cornel-west-is-my-hero—his-love-for-obama-is-not-blind/

    http://aliciabanks.xanga.com/732462900/hobama-king-shrub–poppy-bush-a-bloody-dynasty-of-blood-ties/

    http://aliciabanks.xanga.com/732463514/hobamas-global-serial-wars-will-be-worse-than-vietnam/?page=20&jump=1521029595&leftcmt=1#1521029595

  • alicia2011

    no sane person who is not a bankster can EVER defend hobama!!!

    http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/does-black-president-owe-anything-black-community

  • mlb

    To bad they made this about race, because the truth is Obama loves Wall Street and they love him regardless of the color of his skin. The focus is right where the Obama camp wants it – on race. They should be thanking West, probably have. The focus should be that Obama has cut deals/breaks with Wall Street behind closed doors drums up election campaign $$$ for big promises and then publicly blast corporate paychecks/bonus, perks and parties. He says what he should when voters are paying attention in this rough economy, but his actions always speak of a different intent. Forget the color of skin and follow the money, then hold him accountable.

  • Gasket

    mlb said:
    To bad they made this about race, because the truth is Obama loves Wall Street and they love him regardless of the color of his skin. The focus is right where the Obama camp wants it – on race. They should be thanking West, probably have. The focus should be that Obama has cut deals/breaks with Wall Street behind closed doors drums up election campaign $$$ for big promises and then publicly blast corporate paychecks/bonus, perks and parties. He says what he should when voters are paying attention in this rough economy, but his actions always speak of a different intent. Forget the color of skin and follow the money, then hold him accountable.

    Precisely. That’s why the whole socialist argument never makes any sense to me. He’s a corporatist loving statist. Look at his actions.

  • ProObamaAgenda

    alicia2011 said:
    no sane person who is not a bankster can EVER defend hobama!!!

    http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/does-black-president-owe-anything-black-community

    obama dont owe you shit troll……get a gawd damn job

  • Paul G

    ProObamaAgenda said:
    obama dont owe you shit troll……get a gawd damn job

    Were you one of the kids in that Obama video???….. (rhetorical)
    Mmm Mmm Mmmm Obama……Quit singing and learn how to type English. Cubicle diaper girl.

  • JasonMays

    Gasket said:
    Precisely. That’s why the whole socialist argument never makes any sense to me. He’s a corporatist loving statist. Look at his actions.

    And yet, day after day, you and your Democrat cohorts are here defending him no matter what he does or says. Then you turn around and call anyone to the right of mikey moore, “corporatist tools”.

    Obama is pathetic in many respects, as are his brainwashed voters. Whether he’s a statist or a socialist doesn’t much matter to people who are going broke and losing their jobs.

    He speaks like a socialist when he’s talking to his sheep, but he acts like a jingoistic, war loving neo-con/croney capitalist. He does it because he knows the people who vote for him are idiots who at the end of the day will vote for him. It’s a sad state of affairs indeed.

  • LOGICandREASON

    Al least it has become pretty obvious to everyone NOW, that the only defense Progressives had against criticism of their messiah(Oba-Mao) was his race. And that prepared manual doesn’t seem to be apply now that the criticism is coming from a black person(one of their own).

    Americans who wondered why Obama would not feel comfortable proving his citizenship were called Birthers, then Birthers were called Racists;but since Racism wont work in the case of Cornel West’s Criticism Of Obama, they will still foolishly try to see if Birther analogy can perhaps fit in.

    The dogma of Liberals and Progressives is plain and simple: the messiah cannot and should not be criticized on any grounds. But unfortunately for them, the only weapon they reserved in their arsenal of defense is Racism charge, irrespective of the validity of the criticism or the Critic; they were by no means expecting criticism from a black person they consider one of their own. Progressives and Liberals actually believe they have total control over the entire minorities(blacks especially). That is why Liberals and Progressives never fail to implement policies and entitlement programs that make minorities subservient to the system.

    I can imagine the Phone calls,E-mails,Pings,and Twits that Cornel West would have received in the past 24 hours, reminding him that HE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO THINK FOR HIMSELF as other blacks and minorities do not.

  • greg454

    So when a black man criticizes another black man, who’s the racist? ;)
    http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/

  • Sean68

    Is there some way we can bring Dr. Eric Michael Dyson PhD and the angry black dude from the first season of MTV Real World in on this?

  • http://activitypit.ning.com/profile/massmurdermedia MASSMURDERMEDIA

    greg454 said:
    So when a black man criticizes another black man, who’s the racist? ;)
    http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/

    the racist is the 3rd party white dude who fomented conditions creating an oppressive and unjust country in which black-on-black criticism runs rampant… unless the black man being criticized is obama, in which case the black man criticizing him is the racist… we know this because liberals have taught us that if you criticize obama’s policies it’s because you are a racist…

  • eyemjustsayin

    Capehart was eloquent, West sounded like a crazy man spewing venom, not giving factual information, just spreading his poison. This ongoing verbal spitfire is unsettling, not productive, and continues to unsettle the Americans who can’t figure out what is going on.

  • CAconservative

    What the hell is “inherent Blackness”, suppose to mean? Is there an inherent Whiteness, Redness, Brown-ness, or any other inherent something other than human-ness? Cornel West is mad because Obimbo, “in his Blackness”, hasn’t pulled out another taxpayer tit for the bottom-feeders suck on, and Mr.Capehart thinks Obimbo should be allowed to molt in the gloriousness of his Blackness. As though that is some esoteric Never-Never land that allows Obimbo that special “inherent inner egos”, that drives his Messianic like visions of what he thinks America should be. Add the entire Black caucus to this mix and you’ve got one giant “inherently” sophomoric, ridiculous group of people who haven’t mentally matured beyond the point of how they can play the system for their own purposes.

  • http://activitypit.ning.com/profile/massmurdermedia MASSMURDERMEDIA

    simplevips63 said:
    We accept any form of payment.

    very good… my preferred form of currency is refried monkey dung…

  • AikidoJoe

    Tommy Christopher must be so upset because he can’t call Jonathan Capehart a racist. He’ll probably just have to sit this one or he’ll call him a self-hating black man and blame it on all the evil white devils who have persecuted blacks since the dawn of time.

  • FredCPA

    oh come on, next thing west is gonna tell me is that capeheart is GAY! right, sure. go get ‘em jonathan, you’re a tough guy.

  • MTinMO

    West’s assertions are ridiculous and make it sound as if he is pushing a separatist ideology. The president isn’t just president of the black people because he is a black president. He is the president for all of us- no matter skin color or nationality. The president doesn’t have unlimited power to do everything he might want to do or all of what some want him to do. He can’t change our world without many others joining up to work with him. And as long as we have such partisan politics there will be no change in Washington.No matter what he wants- what we want. It won’t happen. His becoming president wasn’t a signal that he would be changing things just for black people more than for other Americans, but it is a symbol that America has changed to make something possible that wasn’t possible in years past-when a black man could have never been elected as the President of the United States. That is the greatest gift President Obama has given; he has shown that yes, you too can succeed. You can tell your children that you can grow up to be president and know it is true. You can tell them that the color of your skin or the economic status you grow up in; it does not have to hold you back. You CAN make it. You can achieve.

  • Ranganaran

    Hi.

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