Democrats target voters who think race is an issue

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CNN

By John King

COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) -- There are phone calls from Democratic and labor union phone banks.

Union households get glossy mailings with white working families offering testimonials to Barack Obama.

Literature is handed out at union halls and during shift changes at union plants and factories.


Barack Obama campaigns in Holland, Ohio, Sunday afternoon.

But sometimes, Gerry McEntee says, it takes a blunt face-to-face encounter to deal with those who say they can't support the Democratic presidential nominee because of the color of his skin.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/13/king.ohio.race/?iref=hpmostpop

[maddezmom]

1. smart move

:thumbsup:

[DeepModem Mom]

2. K&R

[cowbear]

3. Positive Related Story

I'm sorry...I've been a member here for a long time, but am rather lazy about actually replying to stories. (I read many though) But I just have to share my experience that's somewhat related to this story.

I was visiting my family yesterday and found out that my vaguely racist uncle is a huge Obama supporter! And not just an "I plan to vote for him type" but seemingly quite hard core! He also rips on McCain to anyone who will listen. My favorite comment was "He just thinks he's better than us...it's like he talks down to everyone." I thought this was extremely positive and very exciting...if he's this excited to vote for Obama, I think most of these people dragging their feet due to racism can be brought around.

[Raine]

8. WELCOME to DU

even though you're not really new...GLAD you decided to post! :hi:

[louis c]

4. That's exactly what we're doing in New Hampshire

we have specially trained union members going to fellow union members homes, with our wives, to discuss the election, face to face.

The unions know that the demographic that could cost this election is us. The white middle class worker with a high school education or less.

I've been up to New Hampshire 4 times. Let me tell you it can get rough, but it's worth it.

I had one guy tell me that he understood, but he could never vote "for a black guy". My response was, "I understand how you feel, but please don't take any offense in what I say. On election day, if you can't bring yourself to vote for Obama, the Democrat, please just don't vote. If you don't mind that your racism is hurting your family, please don't let it hurt mine."

[WildClarySage]

5. I've heard people theorize that once inside the pollbooths,

many racist tendencies will come out in voters who will discover that they can't vote for the black man. I think the opposite is true. Those people who think they can't vote for Obama will realize that they can- that they just can't trust McCain enough.

[NWPatriot]

6. Sorry for being a pessimist...

...but I think you're probably wrong.

I can just imagine some fat, dirty blue jean-wearing, grease-stained guy going into a polling booth and saying to himself...

(redneck)Thar ain't no way in Hell I'm-a votin' fer that g****mn n****r O-BAM-uh! No frikkin' way! No suh!(/redneck)

[ohio2007]

7. Thats how Murtha spins his districts voters opinions

You think the people who supported him will change their minds about him in the booth ? He does represent that part of Pa he bashes.

Murtha: Western Pa. 'racist' but Obama should win


PITTSBURGH (AP) - U.S. Rep. John Murtha says his home base of western Pennsylvania is racist and that could reduce Barack Obama's victory margin in the state by 4 percentage points.
The 17-term Democratic congressman tells the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a story posted Wednesday on its Web site that, as he put it: "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area."


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93R4AS82&show_article=1