LW: You were writing this book in the first half of 2007. Was your editor concerned about the amount of space in the book that was dedicated to Barack Obama's candidacy?
KG: In fact, it's funny. We toyed with the idea of calling the book Generation Obama. And my publisher felt strongly about not calling it that. Because, he said, "What if he flames out? What if he's not in the race a year from now? It will be after Super Tuesday, Hillary Cinton will probably already have won by then!" Which we all know now is hysterical. So we ended up with the right title for the book but it was very interesting to see how there was a lot of concern a year ago.
LW: As a political analyst with a popular new book, you've been making the pundit rounds on the news networks. A YouTube video of one particular MSNBC segment about Geraldine Ferraro, during which Pat Buchanan told you to "shut up," has been making the rounds on political blogs [Check out the video above, it happens around the 4:40 mark -- Lauren]. Any thoughts on that encounter?
KG: He's sort of like the boy in your elementary school that picks on the girls he really likes.
LW: Speaking of boys and grade-school crushes (yes, I've got a crush on Obama), what's your take on Obama's "typical white person" comments, which are still being talked about on news shows?
KG: I found that whole story and the fact that it got covered totally ridiculous, because if Barack Obama had said the words, "typical black person" it would never have been a news story. And yet he's someone who is as much white as he is black. So the idea that this comment was somehow offensive it was about a group of people that he is a part of, it just struck me as odd. I don't know if it's that people forgot that or they're just… it was very funny. You know my attitude about it is that Barack Obama himself might not be a typical white person but he's at the very least an atypical one. I mean, that's what his makeup is. The whole thing struck me as rather silly. The other thing I thought was really funny about it was the whole point of his statement was that he loved her and didn't find her racist. People take issue with that? That he doesn't consider typical white people to be racist? It was very bizarre.
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Well, as a Black registered independent, I will definitely look forward to reading this book.
I tell you Lauren, you are one heck of a journalist. I enjoy reading your entries daily and cannot wait for the next one. You inspire me both as a writer and as a Black woman who knows who she is and where she comes from. I appreciate your candid reporting. Keep up the magnificent work!
I am a 46 year old Black woman (who graduated from UVa in '83, Lauren) who first registered as an independent when I moved to Milwaukee from Baltimore 20 years ago. When I moved back east 11 years ago I again registered as an independent although in Baltimore, it means that I cannot vote in primaries. When we got together for Christmas, my 45 year old sister and 40 year old brother announced that they too were registered as independents. We had separately come to the conclusion that we didn't want to be taken for granted by the Democratic party. This in spite of the fact that our cousin (now 43) was one of the youngest people ever elected to the Maryland state senate.
Perhaps my siblings and I were destined to be contrarians. Our father is a registered Democrat, while our mother is a registered Republican. We spent most of the 1960s in Puerto Rico and therefore experienced the civil rights movement through a television set. We were raised Catholic - in the suburbs. We've all travelled to Africa multiple times. We all struggled with what it meant to grow up black and middle class in the 1970s (and 80s in the case of my brother). In the end, although we embrace our African American heritage, we don't let other people define what we should do or think as Black folks.
I will admit that I intend to vote for Obama - partly because of our mutual ages, experience growing up on tropical islands and attendance at Columbia U in the 1980s - but mostly because he doesn't expect that I'll vote for him just because I'm Black.
Another great read, Lauren. Hadn't seen that video before. How ridiculous is that man>?
they're contrarian but are they registered?
Yea, we're registered in Baltimore, DC and Oakland.