Is it Racist?

[DawnCt1]

Jerimiah Wright indicated in one of his recent addresses, that if Obama is not elected, it will be due to the prevailing racist attitudes of white America. So, can it be considered it racist when only 6% of black voters in N. Carolina vote for Hillary Clinton, but 94% vote for Obama? Just providing a provocative question on Wednesday morning.

 

[Galahad]

It will not matter whether criticism of Obama is racially motivated or not. It will be successfully portrayed as racist. It's just too easy to do right now.

To your question though - the voting in NC was not so much racist as racial or groupism. There are plenty of whites that would never vote for a black man. Obviously, that is not historically the case with black voters. Black voters have supported countless white candidates. What's happening now is no different that Catholics voting for Kennedy because he was "one of them". Nothing bigoted about that really.

The Democrat candidate has usually gotten a large % of the black vote. If Obama still loses, it will probably be spun by some as a racist thing. But, if he does lose, I'd bet it won't be by any larger a margin that any other recent presidential election. IMO, that essentially negates the racist argument.

 

[DawnCt1]

I think that Obama has the "right" combination for black voters; he is ademocrat and he is black. The African American community did not turn out for Michael Steel, the black, conservative GOP candidate in Maryland.

 

[Charade]

Perhaps JW should join the ranks of AS and JJ to become the 3rd "Justice Brother". Sorta like the 3 Stooges.

If given the choice, I would bet that A LOT more black people would vote for a black candidate than white people would NOT vote for a black candidate.

 

[lilyv]

Good morning, Dawn. You forgot to mention that if one doesn't vote for Hilary they're misogynist, and if they don't vote for McCain they're against the troops.
And, of course, if you don't vote for Nader you're anti consumer.

 

[DawnCt1]

Good morning, Dawn. You forgot to mention that if one doesn't vote for Hilary they're misogynist, and if they don't vote for McCain they're against the troops.

Except, the percentage of black voters that supported Obama in NC is HUGE.

 

[DawnCt1]

Perhaps JW should join the ranks of AS and JJ to become the 3rd "Justice Brother". Sorta like the 3 Stooges.

If given the choice, I would be that A LOT more black people would vote for a black candidate than white people would NOT vote for a black candidate.

Our interim pastor actually "gave" Wright's sermon of GD America, with quotes on Sunday and explained which part was "right" and which part was "wrong". He saw a lot of it right and after church I told him that it was a very "courageous sermon however extremely misguided". He plans to convene a group to discuss the UCCs stance that they have taken. I have signed up. I am waiting for the date.

 

[WildernessBride]

Good morning, Dawn. You forgot to mention that if one doesn't vote for Hilary they're misogynist, and if they don't vote for McCain they're against the troops.
And, of course, if you don't vote for Nader you're anti consumer.

I love Lilyv!!!!

I am too happy this morning to be upset by anything...

GO OBAMA!!!!

 

[java]

Ah it's Wed.
I think Galahad said it best! Racial not Racist.

Dawn it is interesting that you point out the blacks voting democrat- Couldn't I point out that a white doctor's wife from connecticut voting republican isn't a suprise either?

 

[3jsmommy]

I think alot of people will find any reason not to vote for a black candidate. I think that a lot of people vote based on their fears, which is what racisim is born from. This is why the Wright thing keeps being thrown in our faces, to keep people fearful, if it works then maybe he will lose, but I am holding out hope that it doesn't. Then again fear bought the republicans the last election...

 

[Robinrs]

I think alot of people will find any reason not to vote for a black candidate. I think that a lot of people vote based on their fears, which is what racisim is born from. This is why the Wright thing keeps being thrown in our faces, to keep people fearful, if it works then maybe he will lose, but I am holding out hope that it doesn't. Then again fear bought the republicans the last election...

Exactly... and they will run it in a whole until the fear tactic is the only angle left. What a sad comment on our society.

 

[LohKee]

Except, the percentage of black voters that supported Obama in NC is HUGE.

I'm so happy it's HUGH!!

People can put their heads in the sand as far as racism is concerned, but all you have to do is look at the rural parts of most states and see that all white towns= all white voters who'll never vote for a black man any given day or time.

Even if Obama or any person of color offered these people a get out of debt free card, they'd rather stay in debt and go hungry than vote for a black man.

 

[DawnCt1]

Ah it's Wed.
I think Galahad said it best! Racial not Racist.

Dawn it is interesting that you point out the blacks voting democrat- Couldn't I point out that a white doctor's wife from connecticut voting republican isn't a suprise either?

Isn't it interesting that one can't begin a conversation, that will be, if it isn't already, a big area of discussion in this election season, without it getting personal? I don't think I assume that anyone on this board votes democratic or republican based on their color. When I point out that black voters vote democratic, there is a historical basis for that....in most elections. If they just voted based on color of the candidate, Michael Steel would have done better.
With regard to the "doctor" comment, you may find that certain "specialties" actually vote democratic; pediatricians for example.

 

[WildernessBride]

I'm so happy it's HUGH!!

People can put their heads in the sand as far as racism is concerned, but all you have to do is look at the rural parts of most states and see that all white towns= all white voters who'll never vote for a black man any given day or time.

Even if Obama or any person of color offered these people a get out of debt free card, they'd rather stay in debt and go hungry than vote for a black man.

That speaks volumes about race in our society....sad, very sad.

 

[DawnCt1]

I think alot of people will find any reason not to vote for a black candidate. I think that a lot of people vote based on their fears, which is what racisim is born from. This is why the Wright thing keeps being thrown in our faces, to keep people fearful, if it works then maybe he will lose, but I am holding out hope that it doesn't. Then again fear bought the republicans the last election...

I would vote for any conservative candidate and never even notice the color.

 

[3jsmommy]

My family is good friends with the Monsignor of our Catholic church.
He is old, white, (Italian actually) very educated & informed, he is a world traveler & is one of the most wise, honest & spiritual people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was telling us that he is voting for Obama.
He has actually met both Hillary & Obama. He has never met McCain but said he could never vote for (in his words) a war monger. He also said that Hillary is not to be trusted. He said Wrights words did not scare him & that alot of preachers get political, their are many people in his parish w/ very different ideas than he has.
This priest did not preach this on the pulpit, this was all shared during a conversation.
I guess not everyone fits the mold that you are pointing out, some people actually think for themselves with out fear or an agenda.

 

[Galahad]

He has never met McCain but said he could never vote for (in his words) a war monger.

Doesn't sound all that well informed to me then........

 

[PlutoPony]

The African American community did not turn out for Michael Steel, the black, conservative GOP candidate in Maryland.

That was an interesting election. Blacks turned out in MD election, but they didn't vote for Steele... they went for the white candidate who they were more in sync with politically. Being black wasn't enough for Steele and politics trumped race. IMO (and this is a very broad generalization) a large chunk of the black population WILL vote politics first then race, but I"m suspicious the reverse may not be true.... I think there are more white who wouldn't consider voting for a non-white male no matter WHAT their political views are....

 

[smartestnumber5]

To your question though - the voting in NC was not so much racist as racial or groupism. There are plenty of whites that would never vote for a black man. Obviously, that is not historically the case with black voters. Black voters have supported countless white candidates. What's happening now is no different that Catholics voting for Kennedy because he was "one of them". Nothing bigoted about that really.

I completely agree.

The same thing is happening in my own family, but regarding gender rather than race. My entire family votes democratic and every woman in the family other than my mom and myself have voted for Hilary and numerous of them have specifically stated her gender as a reason to vote for her. One of them said, "Women have to stick together--how will we ever get a woman elected if not Hilary? Who else will have a better shot?" Another one said, "Men have been president for hundreds of years and women have never had a shot. It's our turn now."

Clearly for them it is not merely about favoring a particular gender and they are not sexist against men. They have happily voted for men their entire lives and will do so again if Hilary doesn't get the nomination. In congressional races and state and local races they don't make a big deal of voting for the female democratic candidate over the male one because in those cases the glass ceiling has already been broken and the numbers of women in those offices has risen above 0% (Though it's still abysmally low at 16% which is quite amazing when we consider that Afghanistan has 27%!) So it isn't that they think one should always pick a female democrat over a male democrat.

And a big difference between those who are voting for Hilary because she is a woman and people who will vote for a man over Hilary are the reasons that support this decision. My aunt and grandmother don't assume that merely because Hilary has a ****** she will be a better president than Obama or that men as a group don't have what it takes to be president or that Obama will get his time of the month and screw something up (all of these things actual sexists my father works with have given as reasons for NOT voting for Hilary--now that IS sexism.) It's more that given the two of them are so similar and either would be a fine president, they want to use this election as a chance to make history for women. They rightly find it absolutely disgusting that in 221 years of our nation's history, no woman has ever come close occupying the government's highest office. And that fact is in marked contrast to 42 other countries which have had a female president or prime minister.

(Now I do have one problem with that kind of thinking--I don't understand why they privilege the history-making event of the first female president above the history-making event of the first black president. For me those things are equally important and so making history doesn't help me decide between the two candidates.)

I suspect that the situation of many African-American voters choosing Obama is very similar to the situation of my own female relatives choosing Hilary.

 

[LohKee]

[/B]

That speaks volumes about race in our society....sad, very sad.

Yes I know it's sad, and if you read some of the replies on most Hillary threads across the internet you'd see that line of thinking. Some will try to spin it to keep their true feelings from being known...example...When one say's "I just can't bring myself to vote for Obama, some are actually saying "I can't bring myself to vote for a black man"

If Obama is nominated, the same people who say "I just can't bring myself to vote for him" would vote against their party, and a better life for their children solely based on the ignorance that was bred into them as children which cycled thru their adulthood. These same people will breed that same ignorance into their children because they have to continue that cycle.

That said, Not knocking anyone for their choices, I just think people should be honest, because some are as transparent as cellophane.