I have got to wonder about this. Barack Obama has very strong support in the African American community, true. But the thing you need to be aware of is the fact that he lags behind McCain by around 20 percentage points in the white community. I realize that Sarah Palin has excited some people by being "just folks", and McCain has fired away with the attack ads telling every lie he can think of, but really, 20 points? What's up with that?
Is Obama doomed to be the Moses of the African American contenders for the White House in american history? In other words, he gets the fun of looking down from the mountain top at the chosen place, the land of milk and honey- but he does not get to go there because the first guy never does?
Consider your attitude towards Obama. Do you think he is a Muslim despite the fact that every news outlet has repeated to you for months that he is a Christian and was never once in his lifetime a Muslim? Do you resent him because he is well educated and has some money around 10% as much as McCain's wife, and is therefore "uppity", as the Republican state legislator from Georgia said? When you hear that he is a celebrity, does it echo inside your head the way it never does when someone calls Sarah Palin a celebrity? Try this sentence on for size: "I am not a racist, I am just not sure that I am ready for an african american president in this dangerous time." Ask yourself this: when have we not been in a dangerous time? You jseem to have just told me that you are not ready for an African American president, and that you never will be.
I am not saying that everyone reading this post is a racist. I am saying- this is an important election, just like the last two presidential elections that we seem to have gotten wrong. You do not get to re-do this election. Do not count on mcCain quitting after one term because he will be too old- Reagan didn't, why should mcCain. Try to look at Obama objectively, put the chain emails full of urban legends behind you, and refrain from thinking in sound bites like drill deeper or no flag pin. Good luck.
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Comments: 21
You are right to point out: "fact that he [Obama] lags behind McCain by around 20 percentage points in the white community"
At the same time, you should also point out the 92% of the black community are committed to voting for Candidate Obama. So, what's that about?
White, black, yellow, red, and purple Americans should NOT "discriminate" against any Candidate on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, sexual preference, or handicapping condition! That is the basis of our anti-discrimination philisophy as Americans that has been carved into LAW. It is too bad that it is much harder to legislate attitudes. If any voter uses race, religion, sex, age, etc. in order to select someone to vote for, they would do well to heed the words of one of our greatest Americans who died to free us from discrimination:
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
August 28, 1963
It's time for that kind of nation. Each of one us must take on the responsibility to make it so.
1) African Americans historically back the Democratic candidate at around 90%+, so their support for Obama is only marginally more than it was for Kerry and Gore. Basically, there isn't much change in percentage, though its likely there will be a higher turnout.
2) Both Kerry and Gore lost the "white vote" to Bush. I don't recall the percentage off hand, but it was significant. Much of this is because a larger percentage of rural voters are white, and rural voters tend to vote Republican. You can argue why if you want.
So in reality there isn't much difference between this election and previous elections with regard to how blacks and whites vote.
Bigotry is alive and well in America and nothing shows it more than the republican neocon party.
I do not know anyone that has said they will not vote for Obama based on his color or race.
Obama has a no lose campaign if he gets back on track and starts campaigning against McCain instead of Palin.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-15-Michigan-voters_N.htm?csp=34
Are you sure?
It bothers you that Obama sat in a church listening to Rev. Wright for 20 years. Does it bother you that Palin sat in a church that believes terrorist acts on Israel are God's judgement?
Does it bother you that Michelle Obama made a slip of the tongue and said "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country? Does it also bother you that Palin's husband was a registered member of a third-party whose goal is to have Alaska succeed from the union?
The funny thing is, a lot of people who otherwise agree with Obama's policies make these strange statements about how they don't "trust" him, but can never give a real reason why. Have you actually looked at his voting record? Have you actually read his plan?
The thing that interests me is the voters who say that they oppose Obama because he will raise taxes and because he is fiscally irresponsible. Obama is planning to cut taxes for all but those who make more than 250k a year. Does that include you? McCain is planning to cut taxes for corporations, creating a trillion dollar hole in our fiscal ship. Do you run a corporation, or are you a large shareholder?
In other words, I am a bit baffled here about people who plan to vote against their own interests because they "don't trust" Obama.
See that woman going to work? Her boss makes more than $250,000. When Obama raises his taxes she loses her job. That's why I can't vote for him. (apparently her boss already told her that)
I replied:
And what world do you live in that you don't have to pay your bills? Do we continue selling our souls and everything else we own to China? When does that end? When our deficit is so big they won't buy any more, or when we have nothing left? She's losing her job either way, as are the rest of us. Increased taxes will buy time to sort this mess out. The Republicans proved over the last 8 years that we can't spend our way out of debt. We have to do it the old fashioned way, by spending less and saving more. That's why I am voting for him.
The time for silence is past.
He changed the subject.
1) economy
2) health care
3) The war in Iraq
4) Job Creation
5) Taxes
I know, you think your taxes will be lower under McCain, but sadly unless you make more then $250,000, you are likely mistaken.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html)
Any other issues you support McCain on?
I've only run across one other woman, in this town, who, upon realizing I was voting for Obama, (in whispers) told me she was so glad to meet me, cause she's voting for Obama, also. She was a sweet little old white woman. I found it very sad that she was so fearful to say it allowed, and looked so relived to find someone she could confide in.
Don- yes, it is a two way street. David pointed out that Dem candidates for president usually pull 90% of the african american vote, and there is not much difference between 90% and 95%, but conceded it is a factor. I am aware that we have never had an African american as president or as VP in 220 years, so for me the burden is on whites to behave. African american excitement is somewhat understandable.
WASHINGTON - Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them "lazy," "violent" or responsible for their own troubles.
The poll, conducted with Stanford University, suggests that the percentage of voters who may turn away from Obama because of his race could easily be larger than the final difference between the candidates in 2004 — about two and one-half percentage points.
Certainly, Republican John McCain has his own obstacles: He's an ally of an unpopular president and would be the nation's oldest first-term president. But Obama faces this: 40 percent of all white Americans hold at least a partly negative view toward blacks, and that includes many Democrats and independents.