cosby show elected obama?

[blugiant]

There's an argument circulating that ''The Cosby Show'' laid the groundwork for President-elect Barack Obama by presenting an appealing black family, the Huxtables, to young TV viewers who grew up equipped to thwart stereotypes and barriers.

Writer Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez called her theory ''the Huxtable effect,'' a counter to the so-called Bradley effect (named for failed black California gubernatorial hopeful Tom Bradley) of possible hidden racism among white voters.

Ask Cosby, 71, his view of the part his 1984-92 NBC sitcom played as political groundbreaker, and the man who looms large as both a comedian and blunt commentator on black America first offers a measured appraisal.

''I was amazed when the young woman's theory came through,'' said Cosby. It sounds plausible, he mused, recalling the show's immense popularity and the many times that fans said Cliff Huxtable reminded them of their dad -- their white dad.

But he chafes at what he calls the ''Karl Rovian'' interpretation, referring to the Republican strategist's Election Night comment on Fox News that viewers embraced the Huxtables as ''America's family'' and not a black one.

[Marilyn]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There's an argument circulating that ''The Cosby Show'' laid the groundwork for President-elect Barack Obama by presenting an appealing black family, the Huxtables, to young TV viewers who grew up equipped to thwart stereotypes and barriers.

Writer Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez called her theory ''the Huxtable effect,'' a counter to the so-called Bradley effect (named for failed black California gubernatorial hopeful Tom Bradley) of possible hidden racism among white voters.

Ask Cosby, 71, his view of the part his 1984-92 NBC sitcom played as political groundbreaker, and the man who looms large as both a comedian and blunt commentator on black America first offers a measured appraisal.

''I was amazed when the young woman's theory came through,'' said Cosby. It sounds plausible, he mused, recalling the show's immense popularity and the many times that fans said Cliff Huxtable reminded them of their dad -- their white dad.

But he chafes at what he calls the ''Karl Rovian'' interpretation, referring to the Republican strategist's Election Night comment on Fox News that viewers embraced the Huxtables as ''America's family'' and not a black one.

''The reason why he's in the White House is Cosby? No, no, no,'' Cosby said.

He suggests looking beyond the influence of a TV family to that of a real one: the household in which the future president was raised. </div></div>

\0/

[jah_yout]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
''The reason why he's in the White House is Cosby? No, no, no,'' Cosby said.

He suggests looking beyond the influence of a TV family to that of a real one: the household in which the future president was raised. </div></div>

seet deh;
proves single parent household (some of his yoouth) doesn't mean the end of the world

[RichD]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

i dont know about Cosby but i feel the casting of black actors in the role of president in popular movies and series played a role in making it more palatable(subconsciously) to some people.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: blugiant</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
''The reason why he's in the White House is Cosby? No, no, no,'' Cosby said.

He suggests looking beyond the influence of a TV family to that of a real one: the household in which the future president was raised. </div></div>

seet deh;
proves single parent household (some of his yoouth) doesn't mean the end of the world </div></div>....<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'">who</span> said it meant the end of the world?

[Tuff Gong]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i dont know about Cosby but i feel the casting of black actors in the role of president in popular movies and series played a role in making it more palatable(subconsciously) to some people. </div></div>.... no the 50 States strategy (pioneered by Howard Dean), organizing on the ground and the poor job of the current administration was the reason for Barack's victory!

[RichD]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i dont know about Cosby but i feel the casting of black actors in the role of president in popular movies and series played a role in making it more palatable(subconsciously) to some people. </div></div>.... no the 50 States strategy (pioneered by Howard Dean), organizing on the ground and the poor job of the current administration was the reason for Barack's victory! </div></div> what about the fact that he is a charismatic figure and a stellar orator?

[Tuff Gong]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i dont know about Cosby but i feel the casting of black actors in the role of president in popular movies and series played a role in making it more palatable(subconsciously) to some people. </div></div>.... no the 50 States strategy (pioneered by Howard Dean), organizing on the ground and the poor job of the current administration was the reason for Barack's victory! </div></div> what about the fact that he is a charismatic figure and a stellar orator? </div></div>Well yes it is part of it, but without running an A1 Campaign he wasn't going to get elected on no amount of good looks and speeches.

[RichD]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

yes there are many factors which contributed to it

[Dyoll_73]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

I don't know if his oratory was all that &quot;stellar&quot; but it was superior to his rather cranky opponent.

I wouldn't downplay the role of pop culture in politics: Morgan Freeman played the role of president handling a major catastrophe - I believe an asteroid slammed into the earth, killing a whole lot of people. Dennis Haysbert played President Palmer on Fox's 24, but I heard Obama said he has very little in common with David Palmer.

Having said that, I think Obama won simply because he offered a better vision of where he would take America than his opponent. He offered hope and optimism and rebirth; his opponent offered fear and the status quo.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Humano</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Having said that, I think Obama won simply because he offered a better vision of where he would take America than his opponent. He offered hope and optimism and rebirth; his opponent offered fear and the status quo. </div></div>....and ran a better campaign!

[Shine_Eye_Girl]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Humano</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Having said that, I think Obama won simply because he offered a better vision of where he would take America than his opponent. He offered hope and optimism and rebirth; his opponent offered fear and the status quo. </div></div>....and ran a better campaign! </div></div>


Thank you.... to the both of you

[Yvonne N.]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

This was a response I made to a question in GD on November 14 re the election:


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If I lived in America, I would say: &quot;Now that we have a President who is Black, it means that there will be no excuse to decry people who have worked hard and have succeeded in spheres outside of football, basketball and music. I would also say that now I can watch re-runs of The Cosby Show with a professional Mom and Dad and call members of such a family ... 'real'...&quot;.
</div></div>

[Dyoll_73]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tuff Gong</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Humano</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Having said that, I think Obama won simply because he offered a better vision of where he would take America than his opponent. He offered hope and optimism and rebirth; his opponent offered fear and the status quo. </div></div>....and ran a better campaign! </div></div>

Yes. Actually, a brilliant campaign. I thought that if he will govern the way he ran his campaign, the country would be well served. Now, I'm starting to wonder otherwise ...

[RichD]

Re: cosby show elected obama?

why?