Condoleezza Rice's Aspen Performance Helps Barack Obama

What are you talking about? I was there (and it was Dvorak, not Schubert). Did you notice that the people in the $30 seats were the noisiest with their liberal expression, and the people in the $60 seats were the noisiest with conservative approval? Coincidence?? Dr. Rice is an alumna of the Aspen Music Festival and this performance had been planned for a long time. She made strong declarations about the role of the U.S. in the future and I think that helped many people in the crowd (some from international countries) understand her views on the state of affairs. I would certainly not say that she helped Barack Obama in any way. And most of the people there were not "the nation's most influential citizens." Most were regular folks, like me, who only wanted a chance to see our multitalented Secretary of State.

Better she should have made her career as a musician.

She has been a disaster as a Secretary of State. She specialized in Soviet affairs---I once heard her attempts at Russian--they belonged to a first year student of the language. She had no experience with the MidEast, Islam, or terrorism.

Agree with Marian--she should have remained a musician. Stick with what you are good at.

I'm all for multitalented people multitasking in an appropriate time place way. But this campaign has taken on a tone that is not healthy. While I understand my students especially looking for strong black role models I find a few things disconcerting. Why is is Ms Rice not seen as a strong back role model by young women and young men? She is attractive poised accomplished yet blacks view her as a sellout. If she were a man this wouldn't be the case. Why are there tee shirts that state "My president is black"? If whites did it that would be rightly called racism. Obama is not president. If elected he should be president of all people not just blacks. Anyway we have had other black presidents if you do your historic research. Check it our for yourself don't take my word for it. What about the role model of Bill Cosby for example? Why hasn't he commented? Because he's intelligent well informed astute and knows what is appropriate and what is not. Why introduce racism if that's been the problem all along?

I am an old goy who, thankfully, was raised in a predominantly Jewish section of Brooklyn's (N.Y.) Williamsburg district. Were I to come face to face with any of President Boob's entourage I would say, and you should pardon the spelling bubula, "Ich hub die in dred."