Condoleezza Rice Proves One Smart Cookie [But plays follow the leader]

Newsday ^ | Nov 21, 2002 | Sheryl McCarthy

[syriacus]

When I was 16 - an overworked and harried high school senior trying to graduate and get on to college - she was 10. I remember her as the proper, well-behaved daughter of a popular local minister - a light- brown-skinned girl with button teeth, in the Birmingham, Ala., of the mid -'60s. Her childhood was similar to mine: She excelled in school, skipped several grades, attended church and Sunday school, took piano and dance lessons, was always asked to perform when relatives and friends came to visit, and strove to please her parents. Like mine, her parents did what they could to shield her from the meanness of race relations in Alabama at that time.

Decades later, I'm a fairly liberal newspaper columnist, and Condoleezza Rice is national security adviser to a president who seems determined to lead this country into war. Rice's role in George W. Bush's administration has celebrities like Harry Belafonte foaming at the mouth that she's an Uncle Tom while other blacks are wishing out loud that Condoleezza Rice was, well, different.

What do I think? I think she's a smart cookie. That's not a term I normally use. But, when a colleague used it to describe Rice the other day, I thought it fit her perfectly.

I often find myself defending her: "What do you expect?" I say to people perplexed that, while Rice is black, she doesn't think and act like a Democrat. "She's a Republican and a hawk in a right-wing Republican administration. Do you expect her to be soft on military and foreign affairs? Black people have the right to be right-wing hawks if they choose, even to believe in George Bush," I tell them. [snip]

[section9]

and how soon until they try to destroy her?

Let's all hope she is also one tough cookie!

That campaign has already begun. The Belafonte stuff didn't happen by accident. These things never do.

I strongly suspect that Rice already knows that she is the subject of an agitprop campaign. I also believe, as I am certain she does, that Hillary is behind it.

Rice is the only individual that would be a lead-pipe cinch to not only beat Hillary, but beat her into the ground by coring out her base: the black vote. Hillary knows this. Rice knows this. Rice also knows that Hillary wants to destroy her before Rice is too strong to be destroyed.

Rice is making shrewd use of the black media to get past the Washington media, beholden as it is to the Clintons and the Democratic Party. This set of interviews she did was a wise move on her part.

If black columnists have personal experience with Rice, they are far less likely to buy into the "race traitor" line being peddled by the black stooges for the Democratic Party leadership class.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[TheHound]

To me, it just makes it more remarkable, assuming our goal is to change things.

[nicollo]

Thanks for that ludicrous rationalization piece from "Alvin Wyman Walker, Ph.D., P.D., P.C. Clinical Psychologist/Psychotherapist."

He needs to go back to school.

[MattinNJ]

Less than 6 years to go until Condi whips Hillary's candy ass in the Presidential debates. I don't like to wish my life away, but I cannot wait to see Condi trounce the "worlds smartest woman".

The only question is will there be an increase in African American votes for the GOP and will it offset a decrease in Archie bunker type votes for the GOP? No I'm not saying the GOP is comprised of rascists and I have yet to encounter one on Free Republic.That being said, we must be realistic. A small percentage of white males that vote Republican may be turned off by a black female President.

[JulieRNR21]

Too bad this writer lacks the common sense to realize that both the President & Condi Rice are dedicated to protecting the lives of Americans and our nation's right to live free from terror!

[Gracey]

Too bad this writer lacks the common sense to realize that both the President & Condi Rice are dedicated to protecting the lives of Americans and our nation's right to live free from terror!

What more can you expect of weak Democrats. We can thank Carter for not doing anything about Iran when the Ayatolla Khomeni ran off the Shah and took over the American Embassy for 1/2 year. Since then we've had nothing but suicides in the middle east and the Islamofacists came to power. Then the next Demoncrat Clintoon did nothing but keep his brains between his legs while more Ayatollas bombed our soldiers, ships, embassies, etc... while continuously keeping his brains between his legs. Julie.... the Democrats are weak d..ks when it comes to foreign policy. Never, ever trust national security to a Demoncrat.

[CyberAnt]

Here's a secret: You cannot be a leader, if you don't know how to follow.

[janette]

With this "black female President" America could gain enourmos weight in the world!! She is great and one of the most "all over knowledge" persons in the USA. Watch out! (Eventhough I don't think America isn't ready for a female, especially black President yet) Sad, but time will come. Condoleza is just starting!

[janette]

correction: Eventhough I think, America isn't ready......

[janette]

She knows, how to follow, that's what brought her there!

[EternalVigilance]

Too bad this writer lacks the common sense to realize that both the President & Condi Rice are dedicated to protecting the lives of Americans and our nation's right to live free from terror!

While I agree that they have both done a tremendous job in the areas you are referring to, Ms. Rice falls short in that she doesn't defend that same life and liberty for the weakest and most helpless Americans of all; the unborn.

It's too bad. She coulda been a contender!

[Solamente]

Not only would I gladly vote her in as President of the United States, I would vote her in for Empress of the Solar System!

[condi2008]

"Mildly pro-choice" but nonetheless "a devout Presbyterian"~

She, like all of us, must reserve the right to come to her senses, through diligent searching of the Scriptures.

Dum Spiro, Spero.

[EternalVigilance]

She, like all of us, must reserve the right to come to her senses, through diligent searching of the Scriptures.

When and if she does, come talk to me; I will seriously consider giving her my support for elected office.

[blackie]

Condi...Ping!

Molon Labe!

[condi2008]

come to her senses

I'm praying to that end, anyway. The Bible is clear on the subject, I think. God can work in spite of His stubborn and blind children. I think that this idea expressed by Cal Thomas has a lot of merit and bypasses the "make abortion illegal" argument that is not working:

"On the upcoming 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade in January, the president can push for legislation that would fully inform women about the abortion procedure more than 40 million have chosen since 1973. Citing truth in labeling and truth in lending laws, the president could say that women faced with problem pregnancies deserve as much information as possible before deciding whether to have an abortion or give birth. Medical technology is now available that did not exist 30 years ago. Early data have shown that women who see a sonogram of their own baby (of the type beautifully depicted in the current Time magazine) overwhelmingly choose life for their child. Rather than 'restricting a woman's right to choose,' a law requiring women to receive more information is positive and likely to gain political favor. Pro-choicers would have difficulty opposing such a proposal unless they wish to be called censors."