Obama Presidential Campaign Official Kick-off

[azbadpuppy]

Wow.  Silliness. 

Extrapolating the racial makeup of Obama's re-election team from a single promotional photo is just ludicrous.  There's simply no way any of us know enough about the circumstances of the photo, or how it's been manipulated, or what the rest of the room looks like, or how his entire organization is composed, or anything at all past what those 50 or so people look like.  In other words -- let's rely on facts, shall we?  Rather than Fox News style idiocy. 

The story was first "reported" by the Free Beacon, who make the guys over at Fox News look like flaming liberals.

[Gaspar]

I like the photo.  It has great depth of field given the limitations of indoor light.  It's a high resolution photo, probably taken with a pro-level DSLR with a full size sensor.  

As for the diversity angle, you do know that this is only one office in one part of one city, don't you?  And many of these people are very likely to be unpaid interns.  That means they have some financial support other than an everyday job.  Think mom-and-dad, trust funds, or independent wealth. It would be interesting to find out the details rather than speculate or engage in not-too-subtle innuendo.

That's not a campaign office.  It's the 2012 Campaign Headquarters.  You are right, it's a great shot.  I have a friend in Chicago (also an Obamabot) who was a little upset about this.  He's going to find out the employee count at this office.

[Gaspar]

Although I find this topic instigative and rather pointless, I have to comment that you are wrong to suggest that where this office is located is ethnically or economically diverse. This is The Loop: a predominantly white and wealthy inner city neighborhood. Average house prices are hovering somewhere in the million dollar range I would wager. If this office was located in Hyde Park or one of the more heavily African American neighborhoods there might be a tad bit more credence to your observation. Also, the Obama campaign HQ has about 700 people on staff. This photo shows about 80 or so, barely a 10% representation.

And actually, the photo depicts quite a bit of "diversity" given your argument of neighborhood demographics, or at least as much as a single candid photo can. Apparently its just not the right type?

That's good to know.  I'm sure those same demographic factors will be taken into account with the analysis of other campaigns, offices and staff makup.  Probably very difficult to assemble a diverse staff in the North Loop.  I'll pull a demographic map so we can draw our own conclusions, but you are probably right, folks in Chicago probably don't commute a mile or more to work. 

[Conan71]

Although I find this topic instigative and rather pointless, I have to comment that you are wrong to suggest that where this office is located is ethnically or economically diverse. This is The Loop: a predominantly white and wealthy inner city neighborhood. Average house prices are hovering somewhere in the million dollar range I would wager. If this office was located in Hyde Park or one of the more heavily African American neighborhoods there might be a tad bit more credence to your observation. Also, the Obama campaign HQ has about 700 people on staff. This photo shows about 80 or so, barely a 10% representation.

And actually, the photo depicts quite a bit of "diversity" given your argument of neighborhood demographics, or at least as much as a single candid photo can. Apparently its just not the right type?

Sounds like a really exclusive area which seems to exclude minorities, eh?

[azbadpuppy]

Sounds like a really exclusive area which seems to exclude minorities, eh?

Exclusive only by your net worth. After all, Oprah lives nearby.

[Conan71]

Exclusive only by your net worth. After all, Oprah lives nearby.

We need more social justice 

[Gaspar]

Sounds like a really exclusive area which seems to exclude minorities, eh?

Well of course.  For African Americans to work there they would have to trek 2.25 miles or take the green line from the Ashland station (Patrick Sullivan apartments) for a 8 minute bus ride.  Of course we know that African Americans only live in the projects, right?

You've got to be kidding me!  Chicago is one of the most diverse cities in the country, and to imply that his staff is mostly white just because he chose to locate it in an affluent commercial area is ridiculous, and frankly a bit racist.  

I've seen the same articles mentioning that the office employees 700 people (as azbadpuppy mentions), and that the campaign leased the whole floor.  The total sq/ft for each floor of that building is 23,200sf according to loopnet http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/16498515/130-East-Randolph-Street-Chicago-IL/ .  That means if you had no desks, no conference rooms, no bathrooms, no offices, no hallways, no mechanical areas, and no common areas, each employee would have 33sf.  If you did add this basic amenities, employees would end up with perhaps 20sf each. That would make it a frightful example of a white sweat shop, and I just can't believe that the Obama campaign would be running a sweat shop, no matter the degree of diversity or lack thereof.

Now if you throw in a Fire Marshall or two, and the concept of egress from a building built in the 50s, I'm willing to bet that an upper floor with only 23,200sf would carry a far smaller maximum capacity than 700.

[azbadpuppy]

I'm sure those same demographic factors will be taken into account with the analysis of other campaigns, offices and staff makup.

Wow, I hope not. It's a pointless argument, and a racist one besides. I cannot believe people are actually looking at this photo and trying to decide what ethnicity those people are. Just because there arent the obvious stereotypical "blackface" people in this one particular photo that shows less than 10% of the staff , somehow Obama is to blame for not hiring an ethnically diverse people? WOW. There's so many different shades of skin color, hair color, eye color, etc. in America. That's the beauty of it. It should be a non issue. It's those that make it an issue I find disturbing.

Are these people holding racist signs, committing hate crimes, or calling out their rivals using derogatory, bigoted, inflammatory language? Oops, no. Sorry wrong photo. They are just a group of diverse Americans who are eager to support what matters to them. Peroid.

People need to stop trying to justify the bad behavior of one group by trying to vilify another, claiming some sort of false parity.

I am certain there are other, more important matters to discuss.

[azbadpuppy]

Well of course.  For African Americans to work there they would have to trek 2.25 miles or take the green line from the Ashland station (Patrick Sullivan apartments) for a 8 minute bus ride.  Of course we know that African Americans only live in the projects, right?

You've got to be kidding me!  Chicago is one of the most diverse cities in the country, and to imply that his staff is mostly white just because he chose to locate it in an affluent commercial area is ridiculous, and frankly a bit racist.  

No, you said the neighborhood was one of the most diverse in the city. Not true.

Chicago is very diverse, as a whole city, but like most American cities (Tulsa included), it is racially segregated. Sad reality of life in America.

Your original argument about the location of the office in relation to the so-called lack of ethnic diversity of its work force made no sense and you were obviously just trying to stir the pot.

[Gaspar]

No, you said the neighborhood was one of the most diverse in the city. Not true.

Chicago is very diverse, as a whole city, but like most American cities (Tulsa included), it is racially segregated. Sad reality of life in America.

Your original argument about the location of the office in relation to the so-called lack of ethnic diversity of its work force made no sense and you were obviously just trying to stir the pot.

Dang!  I just can't seem to find that quote by me.  I said that Chicago was one of the most diverse cities in the country, so unless you are arguing with yourself, I think we can both agree that diversity should not be encapsulated in a single zip code.

[azbadpuppy]

Dang!  I just can't seem to find that quote by me.  I said that Chicago was one of the most diverse cities in the country, so unless you are arguing with yourself, I think we can both agree that diversity should not be encapsulated in a single zip code.

Here's one:

These look like smart kids.  That's in the Prudential building over by Grant Park in Chicago.  Great location.  Nice views and close to public transportation.  Very diverse community in that area.

And another:

In a city like Chicago that is almost 40% African American (even greater in the inner-city where this office is located)

And zip codes are always used to encapsulate ethnic, and economic diversity.

[Gaspar]

And zip codes are always used to encapsulate ethnic, and economic diversity.

Well that's awesome then because this zip code only covers a tiny swath of the city.  60601 mostly covers residences out on the harbor, and a residential population of only 5,000 folks, since it's a mostly commercial area.  Somehow this leads me to believe that perhaps, just perhaps, people from other zip codes may be working in this office.

[DolfanBob]

So Rick is done and it looks like good ol Mitt vs Barack in November.
Should be a good PPV bout.

[Gaspar]

Oh Yey, Rick learned math!

[Ed W]

Apropos of oh-so-very-little:




And from Woody Allen's "Bananas":

Mellish: l move for a mistrial. There's not a single homosexual on that jury.

Judge: Yes, there is.

Mellish: Really? Which one?  ls it the big guy at the end?