Although the liberal factions that like his policies will never admit to this, I think there are many White liberals who are attracted to Obama just because he is Black. As I recently stated in some commentary, it's usually the liberals who bring up his race. Many like to point out that every person who doesn't want Obama to be the next President is a racist.
Liberals are usually champions of the underdog, which is the reason for their bleeding heart label, of course. I don't think we can entirely preclude this mindset from how they've gone about making him their choice, or they would not be so quick to point the race finger at anyone who is opposed. Certainly, there are those who are dyed-in-the-wool Democrats who will vote partisan lines no matter what, but I think there is a direct, albeit subconscious, correlation to race by those voters supporting him so unequivocally. It can even be viewed as a matter of affirmative action that liberals so strongly defend and promote.
The fact that Obama is Black lends itself nicely to the aura that he projects that's so very attractive to those who want to believe a capricious tale of hope and change. Not only do his ideas project unrealistic expectations; they are being delivered by a Black man, so it seals the deal in a way that no White man or woman could. It's the epitome of the unattainable fantasy.
I'm not saying that it's the only reason, but from what I have seen from White supporters of Obama, many of them are driven by guilt of prejudice, whether their own from the past or whether it's rebellion from prejudice they have witnessed throughout their lives from family and others in their surroundings. They seem to be trying to prove to themselves and others that they are not racist by showing support. When someone uses the race card to point out why someone who is White doesn't want to vote for Obama, take a closer look at the person with the four fingers pointing back at him, and see if that person might not be overcompensating for a guilt that is his own.
Have you also noticed that many liberal voters who support Obama might be atoning for some bigotry for which they they themselves might be more guilty than any?
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Comments: 276
Anonymous, you missed the whole point. That's not at all what I said. I said that it is a PART of the reason that people who are unequivocally, meaning without reservation, voting for him, and especially the ones who are saying that whites who do not support him are racist, are the ones that may be guilty of their own prejudice.
From what I wrote, would you be able to point out from where in the article you got such an idea that made you formulate such a question?
The question I asked was "Have you also noticed that many liberal voters who support Obama might be atoning for some bigotry for which they they themselves might be more guilty than any?"
Neither answer from you or Rob was the answer to that question, but I appreciate your comments.
Thanks, Apryl. I'm sure that a lot of people have noticed this. I saw one too many comments today where a liberal is the person who brought the race issue in when people were clearly giving other reasons for their non-support of him and I mentioned it there, but also thought it worthy of an article.
You might be right in the assumption that some Whites are voting for Obama partially as an act of atonement, but why is that so bad? Isn't atonement a start on the path to reconciliation? Was Rev. Pfleger on to something after all? I'm asking merely out of curiousity.
I don't think that's the only reason, Peter, but when I hear liberal voters claiming that Obama non-supporters are racist when they've clearly given other very conclusive reasons that are not at all racist as to why they don't want him to be the next President, it is probable that it's just a transference of their own guilt.
Funny, De.
"You might be right in the assumption that some Whites are voting for Obama partially as an act of atonement, but why is that so bad?"
That's just not the way you choose a leader. That's why it's so bad. You choose a leader on his ability and performance, on his integrity and policy, not on his skin color. If you're a White who feels he needs to atone, then there are plenty of other ways to assuage your guilt.
The other thing you said is that
"this is a new phenomenom for me to witness in my lifetime, one's Blackness being described as an advantage." Affirmative action programs are certainly another way that Blacks have had advantages over Whites. Ivy League universities will often choose a Black over a White to even out their population, as they will with women over men. I think it's wrong. I just saw an article here the other day addressing the fact that women are still not paid what men are for the same work. I have to wonder if some of the women who have gotten educations from better schools are just not that qualified, so the affirmative action snowballs into the workplace, but now it's a matter of where the men are separated from the boys, so to speak, and when money talks the BS walks.
This is an EXCELLENT and COURAGEOUS essay.
If you've read any of my essay's, Sue, (and, You are getting to know me) Your statements here are empirical, and absolutely True. There is neither use nor excuse for this kind of behaviour. Thank You so much for having the gut's to say what needed to be said.
As I've said earlier, Sue; there seems to be an awful lot of "white guilt" going on, these day's..."
I don't think that they'd even admit it if they were thinking about it, Peter. I also think it's more a subconscious process that compels them. Why else is it that those who constantly point out that people who don't want to vote for him are racist? If they really think that I have to think that it's transference of their own prejudicial guilt, either past or present.
The "black" Barack was an active member of an anti-white racist church for 20 plus years. Has almost no gravitas in politics to warrant the presidency,former community organizer ala Al Sharpton type. Frienship with anti-American terrorist who bombed bldgs. in America and said he wishes he could do more.
The"white" Barack was a an active member of an anti black racist church. Was friends with someone who bombed black churches and wished he could have done more. C'mon folks the white guy would have had no chance and we all know it. Just be honest, his color got him the candiacy,and may well get him elected. And if it does I hope he does a good job, for America.
Your argument would have been genuinely interesting if we were talking about this as John Edwards bowed out. The three main candidates had such similar platforms that it would have been easy to say the Dems said. "Okay then, we'll take the black man version - just to say we can".
But after that it just got too complicated with Hillary's dynamics. It certainly doesn't hold up in comparing Obama with McCain. Their platforms are just too glaringly different.
And I just don't think there's too many white Dems running around feeling guilty. I know I don't. I have no idea why I should.
You can never dismiss the subconscious though. It's far more compelling as to how people act and react than the conscious in so many instances, not just here. If someone accuses someone of being something that they are not, and with no evidence to support the accusation, doesn't it make you wonder what has compelled them to say such a thing? It's usually a case of transference. The accuser, very familiar with the transgression, usually because they have been guilty of it themselves, finds it very easy to transfer it to someone else.
It's a matter of guilt, but even more a matter of hiding the shame and making it a point to let everyone know, including making themselves believe that it could never be them that would think in such a sordid fashion, so it's got to be someone else, thus the accusations.
If anybody tries to make that a matter of race then they are rather irritating.
I was for Hillary - and since her platform was rather close to Obama's then I'll just now wish him the luck.
As far as how the subconscious works, I won't say I agree or disagree - I just don't know. I JUST don't - ha ha.
HA
If I were a democrat I would vote for Obama
I Hillary was on his ticket as the VP
I would not vote.
Micky D.
Let's see, does the name JFK ring a bell? A short term senator that ran for president. Very similar resume there if you ask me.
The"white" Barack was a an active member of an anti black racist church. Was friends with someone who bombed black churches and wished he could have done more. C'mon folks the white guy would have had no chance and we all know it. Just be honest, his color got him the candiacy,and may well get him elected. And if it does I hope he does a good job, for America.
micky d., Jul 5, 2008, 4:51pm EDT
Can we have the FACTS that support this? I am a member of the Catholic Church. A church that has covered up Child molesting for years, paid out billions of dollars to cover it up as a matter of fact. Billions of dollars that people like me gave them to begin with. I am sorry but somehow I don't think that makes me a child molestor! In fact I hate the whole concept and think that anyone that does it should be locked up in a room alone for life. or worse!! If only the Catholic Church thought that way, they think that if you do it, you should be moved to another Parish where there are other kids. Or at least that is what they used to think. Now they are finally attempting to clean it up!!!
Can you explain "white guilt" to me? It is an interesting concept! I have been a white man all of my life and I don't think I have ever felt guilty for anything at all that I personally didn't do wrong on my own. Since I never owned slaves, I never stopped a black man from getting a job, I never was a Klu Klux Klan member, I never said "you can't be here because f your skin color", etc.... I don't think that myself or most other sensible thinking people would do anything out of guilt for something they didn't personally do!!!
That's like saying because you are a Conservative Republican, you owe the whole world an apology for how badly GWB and his gang have screwed things up! Do any of you feel that way?
No, Bob, the WOW is in your inability to read and understand what I specifically wrote in language for a fifth grade comprehension skill set to
avoid moronic comments like that one. There's no sense even reading the subsequent comments you posted, let alone answer them, since without an understanding of the material, we may as well talk about Rice Krispies. I'm sure you're at least familiar with that SNAP, CRACKLE and POP sound between your ears.
If this isn't an article about race, can someone please enlighten mef what would qualify as such? I mean after all , I do only have a fourth grade mentality, just ask Sue!!!
Absolutely not, Mickey. The resumé shows far too little background and experience, but the white man with the same rhetoric, expressed with such eloquence, would have been nominated, I believe.
I put up an article about the tactics of using Clark and Webb to smear McCain. I got called a racist too. My article had nothing to do with race. Some people are stupid. They can't be helped. Worry about those who are reasonable. The rest, just ignore.
Sue B.© The Sting IS Worse Than the Buzz
Who that ever got elected as a first term president had the background and experience to justify them doing the job? I know that any job I ever applied for, they looked for how I had done a similar job in the past. Did any of those that were elected do a similar job to being president in the past? I do know though that the first time I got hired for a different type of job than I had before, I did my best to impress the people that hired me and warrant thei faith in me. It's a shame that GWB didn't do that. Oh wait, he actually wasn't elected the first time was he?
WHAT???????????????????????
Please explain the facts behind him being "Too liberal" or when he was "disrespectful to the military and our country"
I must have been at my remedial reading classes when he did that.
Bob, let me remind you that I'm talking about the inanity of this comment. "You have to love someone that writes an article based on race and accuses some other "group" of being the ones that bring up race too often. WoW!!!!"
If you were going to write an article about how some people like vanilla ice cream with salt on it and you don't like that, how would you go about writing about people who like salt on their vanilla ice cream without writing about vanilla ice cream? The article was not at all about people who bring up race too often. The article was about many people who support Obama who accuse others who don't support him of being racist. I don't know what other way to write an article like that without using the words race and racist. The article is not about what you said it's about though.
I don't agree with you that "liberals are driven by guilt of prejudice".
Personally, I think people are voting for him because they like him, believe him and want what he offers to be true. He has a huge following of young college students. I don't think this generation is riddled with guilt or prejudice.
I think it's the old farts and the media who keep harping on racial bias.
I just happened to see your article when I was looking at my feed on my home page. But yet you accuse me of something that isn't true while you are saying that I accused you of something that isn't true.... WOW again!!!
You also say that "you are going to give me one more chance".. Wow, thanks Sue.. I am honored!!!!!
Does that mean that any black voter who pulls the lever for McCain is capitulating to the white man again because they feel inferior? (That's my sort of joke answer) Of course not and it would be very wrong to suggest such a thing, wouldn't it?
I'm really sorry, bob. You still don't get it and I can't agree with you on anything because I don't know what the hell you're talking about either.
Nick K., Jul 5, 2008, 9:40pm EDT
I guess if he were a black female, I would support her. (It's been a long day!)
There might be some, I wouldn't know for certain who they are, unless I see it for myself. (and bet you ten to one, those people are old farts. lol) The young people aren't paying attention to the racial factor.. they're probably rolling their eyes at it. I loved De's response, " I'm liberal and an Independent...so I need a bit more wooing from a candidate than just his being Black. However, Will Smith....call me, baby." I think she summed it up for most people.
"Sue, maybe I will agree that you have a point about "some" people if you will agree that there are some people that will not vote for Obama simply because they are racist?
Can I put it any plainer than that? That may even be written at a third grade level.. Are you saying that you do not understad that I am saying that there are people out there that will vote against Obama because of the color of his skin, no matter if he is better qualified for the job or not?
Nick, even though you say it's a joke, you don't seem to understand either. I don't know of any Black voters who would say such a thing even jokingly, yet there are several White liberals who have called others on this site racist simply because they don't support Obama. I have to think that these white liberals are getting that idea from somewhere. As I said to Peter above, "If someone accuses someone of being something that they are not, and with no evidence to support the accusation, doesn't it make you wonder what has compelled them to say such a thing? It's usually a case of transference. The accuser, very familiar with the transgression, usually because they have been guilty of it themselves, finds it very easy to transfer it to someone else."
So we may now have a possible president with an anger issue and potential alzheimer's. So he loses his temper and in that flash says "isn't thisthe red button that hit to call my doctor when i am angry" Ooops, there goes Cuba!!!!! "Sorry about that" Cuban and American public!
I'm saying that the answer to that is irrelevant here because that's not the point of the article. Maybe you should move on, Bob. Thank you for your comments.
Rex T., Jul 5, 2008, 9:52pm EDT
Rex, could you explain that, please?
It's not something that has ever crossed my mind. It bothers me when anyone uses the race card, whether they're Democrat or Republican.. (and everything in between) To me, race is a non issue, as it should be.
I have asked repeatedly for people who oppose Obama to explain why. Some are happy to and will say the reasons that have been oft cited around Gather. Inexperience, lack of time in politics, opposition to his foreign policy stance...which are all fine and valid reasons for moving your support somewhere else. I do grow concerned when I see so many people immediately turn crimson when you suggest that he is the best candidate and the best they can come up with is to call you a "moonbat" liberal rather than explain their position.
See, now to me, that says a lot. If we are willing to try and read peoples minds then I can read what I want into how they react. I choose not to, it's too depressing to think that there are still, in this day and age, people who can look at a persons skin and make an immediate decision. I prefer to think that most Americans are smarter than that. I prefer to think that this is all about our feelings on policy and the course and direction of this country and not, as someone above, so wisely put it, "who's the most popular kid on the playground".
And no Debra, I am not interested in a takeover (if that was directed at me - if not, sorry. Ignore the comment).
Debra, are you talking to me with the "bother you" comment. If so that is very good, because truth be told I can't bother even half as much as you "bother" me or most other people on Gather. If you do not want me to say anything to you, please refrain from doing the same to me, and it'll work out well!
Nick, yet again for are making the most sense but I think Debra's assinine comment about taking over was directed at me...