This reminds me of one of my arts professors in college. These "educated" white men who have this image of what it means to be a "black person", like we're some *fascinating* historical aside to be studied where we're all poor, dumb, with teen sisters who are pregnant by drug-dealing dropouts, mothers who work two jobs and are still on food stamps, no father anywhere in sight and if we're not, we're not black. And they feel so *proud* and *enlightened* (certainly not racist and ignorant!) that they know that this is *truly* the black experience, that they completely miss that a large part of the black experience is having to be constantly reminded that when white people think of you, they think of all of the above.

:-O Wow :-O

This isn't really shocking or rare. Your best political father (Gov Deval Patrick) is openly criticized for being no different than white politicians. By liberals. Young ones included.

If he just said the "payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead," perhaps this would be constructive though these are issues that affect lower income people. If the debates months ago are any indication, everyone, Obama included, equates poor and black. If you say something valuable and couple it with something so blatantly idiotic, your point is lost. Or at least the "point" as I see it.

m.alpha -well said

Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead.
Nadar has a point here^^^ .Nadar is aware of how how Obama must play the game to win so there is no need for him to mention Obama "talking white".

Furthermore, isn't Nadar half Arab(?). That makes him Caucasian, but half white(yes) in this country too. I wonder how he feels , never mind

So, why hasn't anyone accused George Bush Jr. of talking "back"…..just saying?

I'm listening to KGO talk about it right now. The host is examining it from the standpoint of the idea of "acting white" and is it a common occurrence in society? Also, the host said that Nader just lost it, which really is nothing new coming from him, but he does have a lot of nerve.

Look, as irritating as Nadar is, he was making a valid point about Obama. If Barack started making firebrand speeches about the plight of poor black people, crime, unjust prison sentences, economic/social racism, his campaign would be OVER.

Whenever you start focusing on selective issues instead of national issues, your campaign is over. Like Obama said to Nadar, "Obviously you haven't been listening to my speeches." Maybe Nadar should look to Obama's track record in Chicago and helping the poor. There is nothing valid to Nadar, he says something inflammatory that will get him a news cycle. Next week he will be gone. "Talking white"…get the hell out of here.

Wow! I'm surprised. I used to respect this man. He just ruined his legacy. If he thinks Obama is speaking "white" than what in the world is speaking black? It also sounds like he thinks every "black" politician has to talk about the ghetto. Most of us don't live in the ghetto. I'm scared to even wonder what he thinks latino and asian politicians have to speak about. He really must be desperate for attention. This is just sad.

I don't remember Ralph Nader talking about any of these things when he ran. In fact, he ran both his campaigns as if black,asian,latinos,gays,etc didn't even exist. Well, perhaps the issues he raised are only 'black' issues needing to be addressed by a black politician. Whatever!!

I used to have a lot of respect for Ralph, but at this point he sounds bitter…he shouldn't be mad at Barack for achieving what he couldn't. Arabs are considered Caucasian, however skin color has nothing whatsoever to do with racial classification.

Maybe good old Ralph can hide behind that label,but to some in this country he is nothing but an Arab talking white.

Yup, I agree with Nadar's point. After all, the black community is giving Obama their votes. So he should be addressing the problems the community is facing.

Nader has no point at all in this! M. Alpha and 76classic made the main points for me. This speaks of those two things directly…1) a white man who thinks he is intelligent and "in touch" enough to know the problems of the black community better than a black person…2) A politician who is apparently unaware of Barack's history and work in the poor, working class neighborhoods of Chicago.

I always questioned the motives and true stances of Nader before…this just further asserts how questionable of a character he is

Backstage, yes, he's worked with the working poor in Chicago. That was before his political career. I think the valid point that Nader is making if you try to ignore the racist bullsht that it came with is that it hasn't been a focus of his. As someone already mentioned, if Barack focused on "black issues," it'd be the kiss of death. There's some middle ground though.

Maybe good old Ralph can hide behind that label,but to some in this country he is nothing but an Arab talking white

Blue nile you said what I was going to say.