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OJ Simpson no longer a touchstone of US racial politics (Because to think so might hurt Obama)
Guardian ^ | 4 Oct 08 | Caroline Davies

Posted on 10/05/2008 2:37:50 AM PDT by SkyPilot

In 1995 many African-Americans saw OJ Simpson as an innocent man persecuted because of the colour of his skin. This time, he is unlikely to receive similar sympathy.

Thirteen years to the day of his sensational acquittal on charges of double murder, the conviction of OJ Simpson for conspiracy to kidnap and armed robbery looks unlikely to have the same dramatic impact.

____________________________________________

But, will it provide the same cultural flashpoint that drew huge crowds to the court and polarised black and white American back in 1995?

This time, the court room was barely half full for most of the three week trial.

Perhaps it was because America is more preoccupied with the presidential election campaign, or consumed by the economic crisis. Perhaps it is because the victims in this case, two middle-aged memorabilia dealers who are said to have tried to cash-in by attempting to sell their stories to the media, are themselves less sympathetic.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: obama; oj; race; simpson
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Move along......nothing to see here.....
1 posted on 10/05/2008 2:37:51 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: SkyPilot

If the glove don’t fit...you must acquit.

One wonders if the boys in prison will be wearing gloves.


2 posted on 10/05/2008 2:39:52 AM PDT by palomonte (see the light or feel the heat)
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To: SkyPilot

Wonder if he will really confess


3 posted on 10/05/2008 3:00:41 AM PDT by valkyry1 (McCain/Palin 2008)
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To: SkyPilot

Hey OJ, isn’t karma a bee-yotch?


4 posted on 10/05/2008 3:05:56 AM PDT by libs_kma (NOBAMA. Keep the change)
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To: SkyPilot
In 1995 many African-Americans saw OJ Simpson as an innocent man persecuted because of the colour of his skin.

Even though there was plenty of substantive evidence to link him to the 2 murders ...

5 posted on 10/05/2008 3:16:29 AM PDT by pnh102 (Save America - Ban Ethanol Now!)
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To: SkyPilot

Obama’s minions threw OJ under the bus. The only silver lining to this guy’s ascendence.


6 posted on 10/05/2008 3:42:53 AM PDT by chopperman
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To: palomonte

O.J. will be kept in a somewhat private environment. No roomies, and little exposure to the general inmate population.
It wouldn’t look good if the jailers allowed someone to gain stature in jail by slitting Juices throat like he did his ex and Goldman.


7 posted on 10/05/2008 3:48:23 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (An enemy of Islam)
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To: SkyPilot

What (( IF )) O’bama cut him(O.J.) loose?..


8 posted on 10/05/2008 4:01:24 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: SkyPilot

I’ll bet you if there was 7-24 media coverage of this trial like last time there would be riots again.


9 posted on 10/05/2008 4:37:02 AM PDT by Fzob (In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Jefferson)
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To: Joe Boucher
O.J. will be kept in a somewhat private environment. No roomies, and little exposure to the general inmate population. It wouldn’t look good if the jailers allowed someone to gain stature in jail by slitting Juices throat like he did his ex and Goldman.

The guards (i.e. "Corrections Officers") won't be able to isolate him from the general population unless they put him in "the hole" for good. There is no way OJ would agree to that. Solitary confinement is its own kind of hell.

Prisons have a subculture which contains their own "government." Most of it is run by gangs that are divided among racial lines: Black gangs, Hispanic gangs, and White gangs.

Blacks and Hispanics are not minorities in prisons - in many cases they are majorities. Therefore, they have real power through numbers.

OJ will join the black gang and seek protection there. The guards will not be able to protect him 24/7 - and in reality the guards even deal with the gangs on the inside because they know they have real power and authority on the inside.

Guards could not prevent Jeffrey Dahmer from being killed either - and he was as high profile as you can get.

10 posted on 10/05/2008 4:37:18 AM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: SkyPilot

Good grief. The man just wanted his stuff back.


11 posted on 10/05/2008 4:43:24 AM PDT by Glenn (Free Venezuela!)
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To: SkyPilot

Like I always say, the Demonrats are the party of the OJ jury. It says it all and is a perfect description.


12 posted on 10/05/2008 5:17:36 AM PDT by bushfamfan (Palin is America's Thatcher, Obama is America's Chamberlain)
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To: Fzob

You got that right. Simple, really. Last time it was a media feeding frenzy which fueled the hysteria. This time, the media is “in the tank” for Obama. They will NOT push this like they did before....they simply don’t want to risk the wrath of white voters. I predict we’ve heard the last of OJ until after the election, if then.


13 posted on 10/05/2008 5:20:25 AM PDT by CanaGuy (Go Harper!)
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To: pnh102
In 1995 many African-Americans saw OJ Simpson as an innocent man persecuted because of the colour of his skin.
Even though there was plenty of substantive evidence to link him to the 2 murders ...

And, IMHO, a lot backed him only to stick it to The Man. Innocence or guilt was immaterial.

14 posted on 10/05/2008 6:04:30 AM PDT by Oatka (A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." –Bertrand de Jouvenel)
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To: SkyPilot
In 1995 many African-Americans saw OJ Simpson as an innocent man persecuted because of the colour of his skin.

I don't believe it. Blacks thought he was just as guilty as whites did. However, the majority of blacks appeared to take more joy in the perception of sticking it to whitey, than in doling out justice.

15 posted on 10/05/2008 6:06:18 AM PDT by SampleMan (Community Organizer: What liberals do when they run out of college, before they run out of Marxism.)
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To: SampleMan
I don't believe it. Blacks thought he was just as guilty as whites did. However, the majority of blacks appeared to take more joy in the perception of sticking it to whitey, than in doling out justice.

And the fact is, before the first trial, OJ was the "whitest black man" in America. He was the toast of White America.

16 posted on 10/05/2008 6:08:27 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: SkyPilot

If there had been two whites on his original jury, he would not have been acquitted. All the OJ jury did was make people like me aware of the game: most blacks are more more eager for revenge than justice.


17 posted on 10/05/2008 6:11:37 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (The Democratic Party strongly supports full civil rights for necro-Americans.)
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To: SkyPilot
I saw the headline and thought the same thing. This was a message to all media outlets to lay off the racial angle or ignore the story.
18 posted on 10/05/2008 6:14:22 AM PDT by BallyBill (Serial Hit-N-Run poster)
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To: SkyPilot; Joe Boucher
The guards (i.e. "Corrections Officers") won't be able to isolate him from the general population unless they put him in "the hole" for good. There is no way OJ would agree to that. Solitary confinement is its own kind of hell.

Why would OJ need to be separated? Even at 61 he's a very strong and fit man. Also I suspsect the black gangs would respect him. He won't be anyone's bitch. In fact he'll probably end up getting himself a white bitch.

19 posted on 10/05/2008 6:31:03 AM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.)
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To: Glenn

So if somehow I came in to have some of your crap,
(no put down meant as we all have our own cherished crap) you feel it ok to come over with a bunch of thugs to get it showing guns?


20 posted on 10/05/2008 6:36:05 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (An enemy of Islam)
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