Racism against Obama - Political Forum

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 05-13-2008, 11:01 PM

Interesting articles on this:

washingtonpost.com

ABC News: W.Va Voting: Race a Factor in November

I did some phone-banking for Obama in Virginia, Maine, New York and Wisconsin. Didn't encounter any racism there, but that was before Reverend Wright. Also, Indiana did elect officials who were in the KKK in the early 20th century, so maybe some of these other states have more racial issues.

emptypepsi · 05-14-2008, 05:37 AM

Quote:

According to Seifert, the woman pointed to Obama's face on Seifert's T-shirt and said: "He's a half-breed and he's a Muslim. How can you trust that?"

Quote:

One caller, Switzer remembers, said he couldn't possibly vote for Obama and concluded: "Hang that darky from a tree!"

Quote:

"The first person I encountered was like, 'I'll never vote for a black person,' " recalled Ross, who is white and just turned 20. "People just weren't receptive."

Good god - "How can you trust a half-breed"? Seriously, what the hell is wrong with some people?

West Virginia going to Hillary, in some ways, doesn't worry me at all. I'd rather not have racist, bigoted idiots voting for Obama.

And then this:

Quote:

Bringing "needed change," Obama's trademark, again was the most-desired candidate trait, picked by 47 percent in West Virginia as most important -- near its level across all primaries to date.

So, according to the second article, the people of West Virginia are hungry for the type of change that Obama speaks of, they just want it from a white person (numbers show that race was an obvious factor in WV). And on top of it, if it came down to Obama/McCain in November, the want for change would be thrown off for taking McCain instead. Wow.

Quote:

Even among voters in West Virginia who said Clinton is not honest and trustworthy, nearly a third (32 percent) voted for her anyway -- her best performance in this group to date, up from about a quarter of such voters in previous races.

To me, this is the most dissapointing piece of information. Though the numbers show that many feel she was more negative, and here saying that she is less honest, a nice chunk of the electorate voted for her anyway. This truly worries me about not only this state, but others in which this question might not have been asked.

NoCountry · 05-14-2008, 08:15 AM

Obama does appear to have a problem with a certain type of voter.

notahack · 05-14-2008, 09:00 AM

OK, and then there are those that will be voting for Obama solely because he is black; so what??

That is a sad reality of today and racism is both ways but the media only covers one side of the story. The good news is that racism in the USA is not as bad as it once was but again, that doesn't sell newspapers or tv ads so why cover it?

emptypepsi · 05-14-2008, 09:05 AM

Actually, Obama voters have polled that they are likely to vote for Clinton in a reverse situation, which would suggest race plays a larger factor for Clinton supporters. You are talking about how the electorate is behaving now, whereas the topic is also about what may happen in November.

The numbers above show that white voters will vote against the message of change, instead for McCain, and that race plays a huge role here. Obama's voters have consistently been polled to have higher numbers in a "Would you vote for Clinton?" situation.

Grokmaster · 05-14-2008, 09:20 AM

It seems to me that we are in just the initial stages of seeing race,and charges of racism,as the primary tact of the Obama camp.
Anything remotely critical of the Illinois senator is declared "racist',at least in one article,somewhere,on a daily basis.
That the Clinton's,who have pandered to,relied on,and MANIPULATED the black vote for decades,are now,suddenly exposed as "racist",is comical. The more such claims are bandied about so frivolously,the less Americans care to hear them.
The biggest known racist exposed in this election is,by far, Jeremiah Wright; yet,somehow, his blatantly racist positions have been affectively dismissed,with Bizarro World portrayals of Wright as "the victim" ,for being called on the carpet for his remarks.
Americans,are, by and large, tired of this asinine double standard,and if the Obama camp thinks that trying to brand their opposition as "racist", for simply opposing him,is their "Ace in the Hole",they'd better rethink it. It will more likely be their Albatross.

emptypepsi · 05-14-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grokmaster

It seems to me that we are in just the initial stages of seeing race,and charges of racism,as the primary tact of the Obama camp.
Anything remotely critical of the Illinois senator is declared "racist',at least in one article,somewhere,on a daily basis.
That the Clinton's,who have pandered to,relied on,and MANIPULATED the black vote for decades,are now,suddenly exposed as "racist",is comical. The more such claims are bandied about so frivolously,the less Americans care to hear them.
The biggest known racist exposed in this election is,by far, Jeremiah Wright; yet,somehow, his blatantly racist positions have been affectively dismissed,with Bizarro World portrayals of Wright as "the victim" ,for being called on the carpet for his remarks.
Americans,are, by and large, tired of this asinine double standard,and if the Obama camp thinks that trying to brand their opposition as "racist", for simply opposing him,is their "Ace in the Hole",they'd better rethink it. It will more likely be their Albatross.

Effectively dismissed? Are you kidding? The media circus was all over it, so much to the point that Obama not only made a public dismissal, but he followed that up with a speech about race based off of the situation in which he aimed to calm fears of voters, and then followed by a 'throwing Wright under the bus', so to speak. Saying that it has been dismissed is wishful thinking at best and dismissal of reality at it's worst.

By the way, this thread was based around the two articles posted in the opening post (having to do with exit polls based on voters race perception in mid-western and southern states). As of yet, nobody but the OP or myself has used the data in those articles to construct a response.

It is clear that race is an issue in the eyes of West Virginia voters, not something conjured up as a tact by the Obama camp.

NoCountry · 05-14-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notahack

OK, and then there are those that will be voting for Obama solely because he is black; so what??

That is a sad reality of today and racism is both ways but the media only covers one side of the story.

After 43 consecutive white male presidents there is now a black candidate that has a snowballs chance in hell of being elected. So black voters are excited and voting for him in overwhelming numbers. You call that RACISM?, I call it "about fucking time".

43 consecutive white male presidents. Explain that one to me without admitting it's racism.

notahack · 05-14-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoCountry

After 43 consecutive white male presidents there is now a black candidate that has a snowballs chance in hell of being elected. So black voters are excited and voting for him in overwhelming numbers. You call that RACISM?, I call it "about fucking time".

43 consecutive white male presidents. Explain that one to me without admitting it's racism.

I can't reply because the way you word it is no different than asking me if I have stopped beating my kids yet? The way the question is posed is exactly the problem, it can only be racism and nothing else.

Personally, show me a candidate who is qualified and I don't care if they are male/female/gay/straight/handicapped/black/white/yellow/orange

Just give me someone who has PROVEN they can do the job be they a leader from industry, governor, someone who doesn't surround themselves with radicals and racists, someone who doesn't want power at all costs, someone who doesn't always toe the party line etc etc

Personally, I am tired of the "if you don't support Obama you must be racist" or "all the past presidents is due to racism" arguments as they hold no water. This is being typed by a man who is "color blind"

emptypepsi · 05-14-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notahack

I can't reply because the way you word it is no different than asking me if I have stopped beating my kids yet? The way the question is posed is exactly the problem, it can only be racism and nothing else.

Personally, show me a candidate who is qualified and I don't care if they are male/female/gay/straight/handicapped/black/white/yellow/orange

Just give me someone who has PROVEN they can do the job be they a leader from industry, governor, someone who doesn't surround themselves with radicals and racists, someone who doesn't want power at all costs, someone who doesn't always toe the party line etc etc

Personally, I am tired of the "if you don't support Obama you must be racist" or "all the past presidents is due to racism" arguments as they hold no water. This is being typed by a man who is "color blind"

Now, what about a response to his point about why blacks might be voting for Obama? This is, without a doubt, the first black candidate that has gotten this far in history. On the surface, one could purport racism I'm sure. However -recent polls show that a considerable number of Obama supporters would vote Clinton, though the opposite situation yields different results. Looking at the numbers I analyzed in my first post on this thread, it is the Clinton base in West Virginia that is expressing slightly more of a racist ulterior motive in their voting habits. I'm making no definitive statement of the base as a whole, but inferring logically from the numbers provided from West Virginia.