Barack Obama
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mucifer
(24,847 posts)Abraham Lincoln did say in the Lincoln Douglas debates that blacks and whites should never marry. If he really believed that then he wouldn't even want President Obama to exist. He might have said it for political reasons but we don't know that for sure.
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Douglas and the Democrats was making a charge that Lincoln and the Republicans not only wanted to get rid of slavery but full emancipation and intermarriage. It was a racist taunt. At the time only 15% of the North could be classified as abolitionists and not all of them wanted 100% full equality and intermarriage, so all politicians, even those proclaiming equality. Even Thaddeus Stevens who was in a relationship with Lydia Smith (mixed race) didn't publicly acknowledge that or advocate for full equality.
For an objective view of Lincoln there is no better commentator than Fredrick Douglass and his address in 1876 is one of the greatest either by Douglass or about Lincoln and the entire speech is worthy, but relevant to your point Douglass says:
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?documentprint=39
I have said that President Lincoln was a white man, and shared the prejudices common to his countrymen towards the colored race. Looking back to his times and to the condition of his country, we are compelled to admit that this unfriendly feeling on his part may be safely set down as one element of his wonderful success in organizing the loyal American people for the tremendous conflict before them, and bringing them safely through that conflict. His great mission was to accomplish two things: first, to save his country from dismemberment and ruin; and, second, to free his country from the great crime of slavery. To do one or the other, or both, he must have the earnest sympathy and the powerful cooperation of his loyal fellow-countrymen. Without this primary and essential condition to success his efforts must have been vain and utterly fruitless. Had he put the abolition of slavery before the salvation of the Union, he would have inevitably driven from him a powerful class of the American people and rendered resistance to rebellion impossible. Viewed from the genuine abolition ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed tardy, cold, dull, and indifferent; but measuring him by the sentiment of his country, a sentiment he was bound as a statesman to consult, he was swift, zealous, radical, and determined.
And then there is Lincoln as a person. While some northerners advocated equality as a principle, for Lincoln it was part of his personality. Again Douglass relates his first meeting with Lincoln:
http://www.mrlincolnandfreedom.org/inside.asp?ID=69&subjectID=4
Long lines of care were already deeply written on Mr. Lincoln's brow, and his strong face, full of earnestness, lighted up as soon as my name was mentioned. As I approached and was introduced to him, he rose and extended his hand, and bade me welcome. I at once felt myself in the present of an honest man â on whom I could love, honor and trust without reserve or doubt.
treestar
(82,383 posts)And probably would cheer were he around today. In his day, he pushed for what he could get.
graham4anything
(11,464 posts)The two are very similiar.
sheshe2
(87,578 posts)graham4anything
(11,464 posts)and boo to the first response, one thing if that was in the general disc. part, but not here.
It's rude. imho
sheshe2
(87,578 posts)I first titled this: What would Lincoln Say....
I forgot that one should not ask a question in the BOG, as it invites....that!
Cha
(305,447 posts)Lincoln.. YES! And, we're still Doing IT. Much Work Ahead
Thanks she
Kath1
(4,309 posts)Yes, we did! A lot of work to be done but re-electing President Obama was a great start! Just awesome!
Cha
(305,447 posts)sheshe2
(87,578 posts)Are you posting on all my old threads, so that I would return to the BOG and see that you shut down that nasty OP.
Well it worked! You are my hero! An with !
I saw it when it was first posted this morning! :banghead
Thanks Cha!
busted! I was going to pm you but you're here and already got it.
I've been busy, she.
BOG
sheshe2
(87,578 posts)"
A song to 's everywhere!