1954 Topps Aaron RC versus 1955 Topps Clemente RC

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Who is branding Obama's critics racist?

Hank Aaron (many others have done it as well).

From the article...

"MLB Hall of Famer Hank Aaron recently likened President Obama‘s Republican critics to the KKK in 'neckties and starched shirts'."

In other words, he's saying if you criticize Obama, you're a racist. Right?

[begsu1013]

"in other words"

[glynparson]

I think it depends on how you criticize the President, those that can point to specific things they don't like have legitimate criticism. Those just saying they want their country back and he's ruined it tend to have an air of racism to their comments. There are still large swaths of this country with tremendous racial prejudices.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by glynparson

There are still large swaths of this country with tremendous racial prejudices.

Very true, Glyn, but let's not pretend that only white people can be racists. There are racists in all races...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5S2E26BWoo

[begsu1013]

work ethic is my only defining character.

ya either got it or ya don't.

ya contribute to society or ya don't.



and if ya don't, i despise ya equally regardless of the color of your skin.

[Dpeck100]

I wondered at the time when those comments came out from Hank if it would hurt his card values and they have done nothing but sky rocket since.

Clemente has the luxury if you can call it that of dying in his prime and becoming a mythical athlete. He is also from the island of Puerto Rico and is a national hero.

Like many athletes their legacy can be impacted by their actions off the field or court etc. and when you die helping your countrymen you are forever a hero. I think his appearance also helps. Clemente was a handsome man and whether people like to admit it or not that can only help your popularity.

I personally found the Aaron comments to be highly insulting as my disdain for Obama has nothing to do with his skin color. If someone is to be given a free pass one could argue he deserves it. From the issues during his playing days to the issues at Turner Broadcasting. There was an angle in WCW between Ron Simmons and Vader where Harley Race made some very racially insensitive comments in his promo to create cheap heat and Aaron went ballistic. Seeing this throughout your life could certainly cause one to be jaded.

[egri]

If Aaron's comments were coming from someone of my generation, I would find them racist, but coming from someone who grew up black in Jim Crow Alabama, and debuted in the National League in 1953 when many of the teams were not yet integrated, I can see where he is coming from. I don't agree with him, but I can understand why someone with his life experiences would feel that way.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by begsu1013

work ethic is my only defining character.

ya either got it or ya don't.

ya contribute to society or ya don't.

and if ya don't, i despise ya equally regardless of the color of your skin.

yeap.