My Mama Ain't Speaking to Me

I got in a BIG fight with my mom. Over Barrack. That's right. I got in a fight with my mama over Barrack and she went all Joan Crawford on me.



See, Im voting for Barrack. And, to my surprise (Well, now that I think about it, not really.) Mi Madre is all about Hil. And what set this ball in motion was an email I sent. Clearly she shouldn't have been on the list. Clearly, I forgot who she was.

It all started when she brought up the email I sent concerning Tavis' Smiley's rant about Barrack not coming to his forum in Louisiana.

In a nutshell, my mother's thoughts about the issue and more broadly, Barrack, was this:

He should have gone. He's been avoiding black political social circles--to show he's not black--shoot even Bush went to the NAACP last year. Black folks always drinking the koolaid. The Clinton's have done so much for black folk and now we turn our backs on them-after professing love for so long. The man is short on experience and he voted present more times then he actually voted. He was not doing his job."

She talked over me the whole time--like we was on Jerry Springer. As far as she was concerned, I didn't know what the hell I was (trying) to talk about.

She's my mama. And I love her to death. But, um, that whole argument was flawed to put it nicely. And she ain't about to let you ever suggest that someone else's view might make some sense too.

She actually said I was drinking the koolaid, and one thing I don't do is drink a muuufuuca's koolaid. Im bright enough and savvy enough to do the research to make an educated opinion. I ain't fainting at nobody's rallies. And surely ain't hitching to no bandwagons without feeling comfortable with the driver

So, I'ma go ahead and pick it apart like I did that ign'ant women in the store who looked me in my face yesterday and told me I was voting for Barrack because he's "a brother." And admittedly, partially to make sure I still am who I say I am (and only a mother could make you question that, lol)

Lets start with Tavis. The brother's cool sometimes, but lately he needs to bring it down about 10 notches. You cannot single Barrack out, but not say one word about the fact that the other three candidates you invited said no. Tavis should know just as well as anyone born in black skin that if you want to win a national election in a country where race still very much matters--doing anything that the media can construe as making you "the black candidate", means "Don Pardo, please tell our guests about his consolation prize."

Second, that koolaid shit might fly, if Barrack hadn't achieved broad based support. If folks who never voted, never donated to a campaign, never volunteered hadn't decided to be civically active in this arena. We ain't talking just about bumper stickers and signs here. We are talking about volunteering precious free time. Calling folks who may very well hang up on you. And giving away money that could buy your kid another pair of shoes or put gas in your car so you can get to work. I'd say, in this apathetic ass country, it would take a whole lot a koolaid--the red kind.

Third, (now remember what I said, I love my mama. Lord knows I do, but sometimes her passion throws reason out the window--particularly if you don't agree with her.) er', um, she clearly don't know much about the Hill or the Hil (and might be drinking some koolaid her self--the carpetbagger kind) There are so many issues that get voted on and reviewed that it would be nearly impossible to vote with some knowledge on every nitpicky bill or motion that popped. Senator Clinton had quite a few "present" votes as well. Second, um, the bills that Senator Obama co sponsored--a number across the aisle with other Republican Senators--significantly outnumber Senator Clinton's. So what you saying?

Lastly, what does experience have to do with this? Experience, has put us where we are right now. And if I remember correctly, JFK is somebody my mother admired greatly. He didn't have a whole rack of experience before he ran and successfully captured the presidency. And as Pop said, (He who recently got lambasted by her as well) this country was built by a bunch of men with no governing experience. They kicked Britain's behind and declared themselves an independent nation. Seems to me, drive, vision, and the ability to lead, might be able to get a lot more than a policy wonk with a history of being divisive ever could in the highest national office.

And don't get me started on that "What the Clinton's did for Black folk" bull. That's a whole 'nother post.

Now I'm risking homemade Ziti and sour cream pound cake on the next visit, but so be it...

If wanting to see someone who works to appeal to the common needs of all folks in this country, who believes the only way to effect change is to reach across the aisle to those who we are supposed to hate, who brings a message of Hope to the masses, and has developed one of the biggest bottom up campaigns in the history of this country is drinking the koolaid, then in the immortal words of Senator Clay Davis...

SHEEEEEEEEIIIIITTTTTT, Gimme a Bigger Cup! cause I'ma go ahead and wear the red koolaid stain on my shirt like it belongs there, dammit.