MSNBC's Tucker Asks All-White Panel, "Is Obama Black Enough?"

"Is Barack Obama Black Enough?" With increasing frequency, the highly subjective question has migrated from neighborhood barbershops and all-black talk radio to become a talking point on all-white panels of Beltway pundits.

The latest example could be seen Thursday night on Tucker, the MSNBC show hosted by neo-conservative journalist Tucker Carlson. The invited guests were A.B. Stoddard, associate editor of The Hill, and, Newsweek senior editor Jonathan Alter. As you can see from the screen capture above, none of the panelists were black. This made the on-screen graphic—"Obama Unfairly Facing Questions About Race?"—appear all the more curious. Odder yet were generic claims by Stoddard who was quoted as expert on "black people." Video and transcript at Media Matters:

Barack Obama is black when [Sen.] Joe Biden calls him clean-cut and articulate. He's black when he throws out those lines about hailing cabs in Manhattan.

At the same time, he is biracial, and he's an immigrant, and he went to Harvard, and many black people in America don't see themselves in him. It's just to me—it's not that it can't be asked, but I don't think it can be answered.

Tucker Carlson may not have asked any black journalists to respond to the question but Barack Obama certainly did.

Speaking in Las Vegas to the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists, the Illinois junior senator and Democratic presidential candidate said the question is perplexing: "The fact that it's been perpetrated through the press is interesting. We should ask ourselves why that is," Obama noted to the crowd of several thousand. "It's not because of my physical experience. It's not because of my track record because there's nobody in this race who has a stronger track record on the issues that directly pertain to the African-American community. What really does lay bare is, in part, we're still locked in this notion that if you appeal to white folks, then there must be something wrong."

Let's consider that question asked and answered.

Is He Black Enough? [Dallas Morning News]
Tucker Hosted All-White Panel [Media Matters]

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Comments

[Earl FF]

This is hilarious. I was just watching the same question being asked on a Fox News show,. also no black panelists.

[tony rio]

Few of the CNN and MSNBC shows invite black panelists.

[Henry TW]

It's really a ridiculous question. The implication is that blacks are all ghetto and uneducated.

[Joe Jons]

Tucker Carlson is very smug. His show is almost unwatchable.

[Jim John]

I don't understand the idea that black people are unable to identify with him.
And also, whenever I see this question being asked it's by white journalists on white owned news networks.
I don't think I've heard any black person say he wasn't black enough.

[tk]

And yet, aren't we some of the very same people who perpetuate that implication? I've faced that assumption from friends, family, coworkers and strangers for most of my life--while being as dark as billie's dress over there--that somehow I didn't live up to my blackness and what that means. That I was too OREO. So, I am not sure what you mean Rod with your statement that the question is asked and answered.

[ralphie]

TK, the point is that the question was being discussed by an all-white news show panel.

Obama asked the question to the black journalists convention. Does the fact that you speak correct English or have a good education or can apeal to white people mean that you aren't black? No.

[divaROSSishere!]

That unsubstantial repetitive question is just a media tactic to ensure that white (and a few black) voters do not get tricked by Sen. Obama's ruling class credentials. It is almost certain to be woven into every election discussion between now and Nov 2008. The question sheepishly whispers into the ears of pale-faced America that whether you believe it or not this boy is just another NGA.

[C. Baptiste-Williams]

is it so hard to believe that there are so many different types of black people... some that are quite well educated and clean cut

[Cadence]

I think the point is that people, Black and White people, keep bringing this question up, and it takes away from the real focus of Obama's campaign. People keep asking Obama if he's Black enough, but they don't ask him about his policies, or how he would change the country for the better.

It is also upsetting that people think there is only one way to be Black, and that if a person doesn't fit into a stereotypical view of what it is to be Black, then they are obviously acting White.

The bottom line is that the question is insulting, regardless who asks it or who answers it.

[rob a]

Cadence, you make an excellent point. Black people are not caricatures and stereotypes. We come in many shapes, sizes and persuasions. That is one of the reasons why I enjoy reading this blog.

[ATL Kid]

The question is insulting, even more so when black people ask that of another black person. That's when we're buying into our own negative stereotypes.

[Andy in Seattle]

Perhaps if Obama becomes President or Vice President and gives the country a strong and smart role model, the country's definition of "Blackness" (especially as defined by a White-owned media) might undergo a progressive evolution?

[Jim]

Black enough for what?

Will someone please tell me?

[Xavier Greene]

That's an excellent point Andy.

[LaRufus]

In 2007 a panel of all white folks asking this question, not surprising at all. And on Tucker? The only time he ever has a black issue on his show is if its a crime story. This whole thing is as silly as the gay movement being portrayed as all white in both the mainstream and gay media outlets. I for one am a black man, and could care less if he is black enough, since just what does that mean, droopy pants and a doo rag? Sorry peeps, not all blacks are the same and nor are we some monolithic group that goose steps with each other on all issues. The still racist perception of white people about black men is disgusting, and if Mr Obama thought he was going to escape it in this election, he is now seeing, race is still the major factor in this country as it always will be. And will most certainly be at the ballot box!

[Milton]

Is he black enough, and the white people are the ones who are deciding? Just how special is that, since they don't even have any black buds to compare him to! Amazing. But, since being "white" is still the best privilege one can have in this country, straight or gay, it really comes as no surprise that a white man and women are behind such an asinine question.

I wonder how they would feel if a question was posed if one of the "white' candidates was asked if he were "white" enough, since to some of the old timers good old Rudy isn't, and nor is Richardson.

[Robinev]

Since I watch it more often that I see Carlson's show, I've noticed that another MSNBC commentator, Chris Matthews, seems to address that bizarre question only when he has (as he often does) a black panelist to respond to it. It is -- as Obama says and as all the white folk in Tucker's discussion said -- a ridiculous question.

Frankly, I'm glad to see that Carlson was at least willing to bring it up without feeling the need to wait until he had one of MSNBC's short list of black commenntators on air to respond.

This panel did at least recognize that it's an unfortunate question that shouldn't have to be asked. All of them fortunately pointed out that it's an issue that's bound to fade into a more dangerous question as Obama comes closer to the nomination.

It's on par with the debate over Clinton's "I'm your girl" comment or the fashion sense of her jackets.

In both cases -- as Carlson's panel pointed out, the silly questions point to deeper and more troubling questions about American attitudes to race and gender and how those attitudes would be reflected in the voting booth if we have the chance to vote for a black man or a woman for president.

[AdamP]

Frankly, I'm glad to see that Carlson was at least willing to bring it up without feeling the need to wait until he had one of MSNBC's short list of black commentators on air to respond."

Did we watch the same show? Both of the white panelists and Tucker said that Obama had credibility issues with black voters. One even said "black people in America don't see themselves in him."

Frankly, as a black person, I'm not "glad" that Tucker "was at least willing to bring it up" without one black person in the discussion ... you're not black?

[TheTruth]

Blacks are ALWAYS judging someone whether or not they are black enough. I wish we as "black" people would be more honest at how we treat our own who do not match up to standards. People you know well that the "black community" is judging Obama in regard of his blackness. Case in point: I went hiking here in the Seattle area recently and invited a "black" friend he said that hiking was too white for him. I have no idea what that means. This is the DIRTY little secret the black community does not want to talk about. It is a shame that someone white has to talk about it; we should be discussing this readily and passionately.