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If you've been watching cable news coverage of the presidential campaigns like I have, news of the black man who stood up at a recent John McCain rally and begged McCain to take the "gloves off" and to "take it to Obama" might have struck you recently. That man's name is James T. Harris. ...
And as I saw Harris' plea play out I was uncharacteristically speechless. I wasn't speechless because this black man was supporting McCain--that choice left me unfazed. I was shocked by the resolve of Harris' full-throated allegiance to McCain. Given that established and well-respected conservatives have criticized McCain's campaign for the nasty and at times violent and racist tone of its political rallies, Harris' complete and total buy-in to McCain and crew is remarkable. And I do not mean that in a good way.
Now Essence.com has conducted an interview with James T. Harris. I recommend you read it entirely, but here is an excerpt:
ESSENCE.COM: McCain has already addressed a lot of these issues, including Bill Ayers and ACORN, in campaign attack ads. What specifically do you think he should do, to "take it to Obama," that hasn't already been done?
HARRIS: That's different. That's ads. Barack Obama said yesterday that, "McCain hasn't said this to my face." You know what? He's right! Forget all these campaign ads. Say it to his face. I said, "We have one debate left, and we have a few weeks left; I am begging you take it to Obama!" That was the context. Not "Massa, please. Massa, please." That wasn't it. That's the context that's being looped on CNN and on blog sites. Nobody played the full clip. Maybe I'm just kind of jaded because of all I've been going through. I'm like, "Oh my God, this isn't right." I really do understand how this is an emotional thing, and people think Stepin Fetchit. But that wasn't the case at all. I don't think I carried myself like that, and I don't think my question was whining.
The first blog post I read post-Harris' beggin' was from the inimitable Field Negro who likened James T. Harris' enthusiasm for McCain to 'beat' Obama to that of "The Slave Catcher" of old. As is often the case, Field has it right on the money.
Comments: (397)
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By: Slim Jackson on 10/15/2008 9:17AM
I would not want to make national news the way Mr. Harris did. I was shocked when I saw the news clip of him speaking and sounding like "massa please", but then I put it in perspective. It's impossible for every African American to be a Democrat. We often label people as not "down for the cause" just because they don't think the way we do. He could have been a fiscal Republican more than anything else. Such is life though.
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By: Tachea on 10/15/2008 9:56AM
I don't have a problem with Harris being a republican, I have a problem with him being an ignorant. I saw him on CNN, and he didn't even have an answer for why he wasn't voting for Obama except for he's an conservative, and Obama's a liberal, I'm a democrat who has voted for republicans when I felt they were better suited for me and my needs. Harris seems like a hater, not just with Obama, but with himself. Honestly I wonder if his wife who he says he was there with knows he's GAY!!
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By: nimroy hill on 10/15/2008 10:07AM
i am also one of those black men that support mccain.the only reason i would vote for obama is because he is black and i will not do that
to me obama is a 'SLICK OIL SALESMAN" most of his policies when rationlized are realy not possible in the contex of this economy.if 95% of our taxes is not going to be raised where will the billions come from for the additional expenditures on health care,education etc?raising taxes on business? when taxes are raised on business.business contracts instead of expand with contraction come less taxes.anyway, business will only pass down the tax increases to the middle class in higher prices and more profit.
prediction,if obama wins his cabinet will be compose of less blacks and hispanics than president bush
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By: Jennie on 10/15/2008 10:40AM
This is such a sad story, I always thought that you vote for the best candidate regardless whether they were Republican or Democrat. John McCain is too old and little out of touch, and Sarah Palin is just a stupid idiot. Now, Obama is not as old as John McCain so he wouldn't have as many years of experience and Joe Biden is older than Obama, but not as old as McCain and he has the experience. So, who would you want to run this country, an old man and his idiot, or an capable man and his experienced vp. Anybody in their right mind knows that Sarah Palin is one scary chick, she is crazy and her husband doesn't even want Alaska being part of the US, but that's okay, I think not. With all due respect, being experienced as John McCain claims and being a POW does not a president make. We don't even want to talk about being smart, because John McCain was 894 out of a graduating class of 899, that to me is boderline stupid, just getting by. Please, don't get me started because everything is considered different when it comes to John McCain, but the bar is set really high when it comes to Obama, different standards for different folks. We all know that Obama is very well educated and very smart, so is his running mate Joe Biden. Sarah on the other hand attended 6 schools before she even got her degree, and not only that she is paradeing her daughter around like being pregnant is the happening thing, it is not, believe me, I have a daughter and she knows better than to get herself in such a situation, plus she wants to go to college and make something of herself. Bottom line, I also saw this man on CNN and he looks absolutely stupid. More than that, I think he was looking for attention and he sure got it. One thing we all realize is that idiots are born every day, in every race, in every color. I will continue to wish Obama well in his efforts to win the White House, either way win or lose he is a winner.
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By: Rachel on 10/15/2008 10:47AM
Black man in John McCains's corner, big damn deal, who cares. We already know that John McCain's supporters are KKK, skinheads, racist, so what difference does it make when he gets some Uncle Toms. This is America you know. He needs as many Uncle Toms as possible.
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By: Dottie on 10/15/2008 11:54AM
James T. Harris is a pitiful soul. Nimroy Hill #3 is just as pitiful. Mr. Hill, John McCain, Mr. Harris and Sarah Palin all need to be put in Sen. Obama's class and taught something. Mr. Hill, you deserve John McCain and Sarah Palin because neither one of you got sense enough to pour water out of a bottle with the instructions written on the side. Mr. Hill reread your comment and you will see what I mean. Go and get educated, Mr. Obama did. Is that the reason you won't vote for him?
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By: Arain on 10/15/2008 12:17PM
Let him support his candidate...We don't need to hate like they are doing to Obama..
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By: bill m on 10/15/2008 12:28PM
This guy had to be a paid actor. Powell will endorse Obama, and McCain/Palin speech writers will still figure out something negative to say about C. Powell at their rallies. When your upper cut in a fight/debate is reduced to Ayers, who was a radical when Obama was 8 years old you are in trouble. Expect him to swing for the fences, he has to. McCain was done before the race started, check out this cool POLITICAL SHORT FILM-AD...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KzbJtG9V2E
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By: Desmond on 10/15/2008 12:58PM
Truth is that most people need to look at his record. It may be short but he has done for the community both black and white.I believe we should stand with him and not do what we allways do.Which is down him because we are not him,stick together and not divide is the answer.Our kids will have to baer our decision that we make next month.
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By: Brenda on 10/15/2008 12:54PM
The bottom line is this: Who you choose to vote for is a personal decision. While I may whole heartedly disagree with his choice of candidate, I respect his right to vote for who he chooses. As for me...my personal choice is Barack Obama. Some of you may disagree with that, and your entitled too...but this is the choice I have made for me.
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