Hoffa: Obama is Tiger Woods of politics

| April 13, 2008

Teamster Union president Jimmy Hoffa (the one whom we can locate) in an interview with the Washington Post called Barak Obama the Tiger Woods of politics;

Hoffa, son of legendary Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa, who disappeared in 1975, said that since the 1.4 million-member union’s February endorsement, he has encountered little resistance to Obama on racial grounds, adding that he sees Obama as the Tiger Woods of politics. As “unusual” as Obama is, Hoffa said, he offers a huge opportunity because of his ability to draw millions of new voters and thousands of new donors.

Now, there’s a direct comparison of the two mixed-race gentlemen. But on Tuesday when Staff Sergeant David Bellavia, while introducing John McCain to a group of Vetrans of Iraq and Afghanistan made reference to Tiger Woods, without even mentioning Barak Obama and the namecalling started, from Rochester, NY’s WGRZ;

Batavia resident and Iraq war veteran David Bellavia says he’s not apologizing for comments he made at a rally for Senator John McCain.

“You can have your Tiger Woods. We’ve got Senator McCain,” is the comment he made that some are now calling racist.

At the very least, Canisius College political analyst says it makes you wonder what he meant.

“You had to think what was he trying to say here?” Kevin Hardwick asked. “Obviously you think race because Barack Obama and Tiger Woods are obviously these guys of mixed race.”

The video of Bellavia’s comments Tuesday;

ARVE Error: need id and provider

So is anyone going to ask Jimmy Hoffa (the one we can locate) what he meant by the comment? Will the media drag out shocked pastors?

“My children will emulate and admire people who risk their lives in the duty of their profession,” Bellavia explained. “Soldiers like John McCain, firemen, policemen, not sports figures and celebrities. That’s where I used Tiger Wood’s name.”

Buffalo Pastor Darius Pridgen says he was initially shocked by the comments; but, upon further review, he says they were insensitive, not racist. At the same time, Pridgen doesn’t buy Bellavia’s explanation.

“I think he’s just trying to explain away the obvious. That you linked up black heroes. Why didn’t he call out any other name?” Pridgen questioned.

Look, if we have to change the way we talk these days, someone needs to send out a memo. If we can’t mention Tiger Woods, unless we’re Obama supporters, they need to vet the sportscasters. Are there any other mixed race people we need to avoid mentioning unless we support Obama? It seems to me they’re like land mines out there just waiting for us.

Category: Politics, Society

Comments are closed.