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What's Wrong With a Little Liberal Guilt?

It's okay to vote for Obama because he's, ahem, black

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted May 24, 2008 8:13 PM CDT

(Newser) – Conservatives snigger about “liberal guilt" and deride white supporters of Barack Obama as “guilty liberals"—but what’s wrong with having a conscience after America's 4 centuries of racial injustice? There’s no shame in acknowledging it, Ron Rosenbaum writes in Slate: Let's not "delegitimize sincere excitement” that an Obama win would “represent a civil rights landmark."

“Guilt is good, people!” he writes. “The only people who don’t suffer guilt are sociopaths and serial killers.” But conservatives don't suffer it either, at least when it comes to racism in America. “Shouldn't conservatives feel guilty about slavery, or must they disdain such feelings, however moral, because they are associated with liberals?”

Supporters reach to shake hands with Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., after a campaign rally in Sunrise, Fla. Friday, May 23, 2008. (AP Photo by J. Pat Carter) (AP Photo)

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to veterans groups in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Saturday, May 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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What's Wrong With a Little Liberal Guilt?

It's okay to vote for Obama because he's, ahem, black

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Barack Obama • race relations • guilt • liberal

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Gingrich: Obama So Terrible Blacks Will Vote for Us

Gingrich doubles down on 'food stamp' president jab

2010's Lesson: Move to Center

America wasn't ready for a new progressive era

Tea Party's Whip-Wielding Obama Float Stirs Anger

NAACP official calls it 'sad'

Obama to Meet With Black Church Leaders

White House meeting comes amid criticism from African Americans

Bayh's Lesson: The Left Can't Govern

Washington's stuck because liberal ideas hit wall of resistance

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What's Wrong With a Little Liberal Guilt?

It's okay to vote for Obama because he's, ahem, black

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • race relations • guilt • liberal

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Gingrich: Obama So Terrible Blacks Will Vote for Us

Gingrich doubles down on 'food stamp' president jab

2010's Lesson: Move to Center

America wasn't ready for a new progressive era

Tea Party's Whip-Wielding Obama Float Stirs Anger

NAACP official calls it 'sad'

Obama to Meet With Black Church Leaders

White House meeting comes amid criticism from African Americans

Bayh's Lesson: The Left Can't Govern

Washington's stuck because liberal ideas hit wall of resistance

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?