The coming swiftboating of white southern Democrats. Opening in theaters this Saturday

[jackson_dem]

After the South Carolina primary the media will look at the exit polls and state the obvious, like it did for Romney's Nevada win during the very brief period Nevada's rethug caucus got coverage (half of Nevada's Republicans are Mormon. This is largely why the others ceded the state to Romney).

The exit polls will look something like this:

Whites: Edwards 44%, Hillary 36%, Obama 20%
Blacks: Obama 75%, Hillary 15%, Edwards 10%
Overall: Obama 48%, Edwards 27%, Hillary 26%

The media will note the racial nature of the vote. This is bad news for Obama heading into Super Tuesday and we have already seen signs of how Obama's camp will respond: by swiftboating white Democrats as racist. In his effort to bring unity to the party his poor showing among whites in South Carolina will be blamed on racism. Never mind the fact that nationally he is tied with Edwards among whites and Latinos. Never mind the fact he is running against a white southerner and the wife of a former president who carried the South. It will be racism that will be the official excuse for this. It is a shame because this will reduce turnout in the general election, especially if a man whose campaign said they were racist (evidence: they voted against him! :crazy: ) winds up being the nominee.

[Skinner]

1. Ok, help me out here.

Has Barack Obama or his campaign, or anyone closely associated with his campaign said that racism is the cause of any of their previous losses?

I have heard some of his supporters -- and, to be fair, plenty of people who are not his supporters -- claim that racism may have played a part. But I am not aware of Barack Obama or his campaign doing so. Could you please provide some information so clueless people like me can have some idea of what we are talking about here?

[jackson_dem]

2. It is a prediction

Going by what his supporters are saying I expect "off the record" comments from his aides of the nature I posted about, just as the Clinton campaign will try to minimize the value of his win by spinning the result as racial too. Neither will do this publicly but expect to see these talking points appear in the press after the South Carolina primary.

[Occam Bandage]

8. When has Obama's campaign *ever* blamed racists for their losses?

[jackson_dem]

9. They will starting on Saturday when they finish a distant third with whites

There was no need in the first three contests because he did well among whites and there wasn't enough of a black population in those states to put the racial disparity out there for all to see.

[Occam Bandage]

10. So you're "predicting" he'll do something unprecedented for his campaign.

I "predict" Hillary Clinton will, after SC, lop the heads off children with a machete, and catapult them at the Obama campaign headquarters in a show of force.

[rch35]

34. is that unprecedented? nt

[Bake]

43. That'd be fun to watch, at least!

Maybe she could fart in their general direction ...

Bake

[hiaasenrocks]

12. Does Obama's closest adviser count?

David Axelrod has a history of highlighting racial/minority divisions in the electorate as reasons why voters won't vote for the minority candidate.

I won't be surprised to see the Obama campaign do this; I'm just not sure when to expect it. This weekend might be too early, but if Obama fails to get the nomination, I'll fully expect to hear this after the fact.

[cali]

21. and I see you've provided handy quotes and links as evidence

for your claim. Oh, wait, you've done nothing of the sort. You're simply making an accusation with zip to back it up.

:thumbsdown:

[hiaasenrocks]

40. "Zip" lol

Here's one reference to Axelrod's history of this, just as I said:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE4DE1F3FF935A25753C1A9679C8B63

[iconoclastic cat]

3. I'll take "Load o' Crap" for 500, Bob! nt

[Bonobo]

4. So now we are screaming about racism even BEFORE it occurs. That's a bad sign. nt

[Unsane]

5. The story will be Billary's disasterous 3rd place finish.

[jackson_dem]

7. And they will spin it as being racial

While Obama, trying to not be seen as "the black candidate", will try to blame him coming in a distant third among whites while winning 70-80% of the black vote as being due to southern (white) racism.

[Unsane]

13. Wax in yer ears? Wont be about whites; will be about her shocking and disasterous 3rd place finish

Why cant she win black voters?

[jackson_dem]

22. That will be a story but a secondary story

Do the math. Both have racial problems. One has a problem with a group that is about 70% of Democrats, the other has a problem with 20% of Democrats. Guess who has a bigger problem?

[Occam Bandage]

24. Neither has a problem; both have high approval ratings among both groups.

[Occam Bandage]

6. That's like eight diapers' worth right there.

[calmblueocean]

28. LOL! Couldn't have said it better!

Sour grapes with an exponent from the OP.

[MethuenProgressive]

11. Obama Hopes to Swiftboat Clinton on Race

Rove knew Kerry was very strong on his military record and support of vets, so Rove attacked there.
Obama knows the Clintons are very strong with their support from, and their support of, the African American community, so Obama is attacking there.

Lets Hope Democrats won't let it happen again.

[Occam Bandage]

15. Because it is clearly in Obama's interest to demolish his message of unity and hope?

[Bonobo]

19. That "message" of unity and hope is coded subtext which actually means "Down with Whitie!"!

How naive can you get?

:sarcasm:

[IndianaJones]

14. We can argue percentage but a certain number that don't vote Obama are racists. nt.

[jackson_dem]

18. Edwards was at 1% with blacks the other day. Are Edwardians screaming racism?

[Occam Bandage]

23. Nope. Neither is the Obama campaign.

[puerco-bellies]

16. A fan of Andrew Jackson accusing non-whites of racisim..

Your hero ferociously slaughtered and displaced Indians, and made sure slaves had no refuge in Florida.
Me's thinks I smells me a ....!




The Few, the proud, the Apaches.

[jackson_dem]

17. Who was accused of racism?

I can't say how many whites, blacks, and for that matter Latinos vote based on race but there is an abnormal correlation between race and voting, at least in South Carolina polling. Are we to act as if this isn't the case?

Jackson is the founder of our party and needs to be judged by the era he lived in, like Jefferson and Lincoln. Did your St. Obama object to him when he has spoken at numerous Jefferson-Jackson day dinners?

[puerco-bellies]

30. Your thread is titled "The coming swiftboating of whites"

No mention or hint of racism there :puke:

And by the way I am a Kucinich supporter.

[jackson_dem]

32. That is what the Obama campaign will do. Want to put money on it?

[puerco-bellies]

35. Skinner, could you please moderate a granite cookie bet.

OK, let's make this interesting. If the official reason of the Obama campaign is that white southern democrat racism cost them the S.C. primary Skinner can tombstone me, if not you get tombstoned.

Put up or STFU!

[jackson_dem]

36. Official? Read what I said. Neither campaign will say it on the record

[Occam Bandage]

38. You're not a good liar. "It will be racism that will be the official excuse for this."

A good liar would have edited his post to reflect his lie.

Here, I'll join in tombstone bet. Two-for-one. If the official position is racism, we get tombstoned. If the official position is not racism, you get tombstoned. Wanna put your avatar where your mouth is?

[jackson_dem]

39. You read everything literally

The Obamite talking point here will be he lost because of racism. The Obama campaign, nor the Hillary campaign, or even the Romney campaign for that matter (regarding Mormonism) would ever say anything like that on the record. The test is whether a bunch of stories to that effect mushroom up after the SC vote...

[Occam Bandage]

41. "Official" has one meaning--official. You said racism will be the official excuse.

And talking points are, by definition, on the record. The bet is very clearly if Obama's official excuse will be racism; don't try to weasel your way around your words now.

Or did you "hit the wrong buttons?"

[Occam Bandage]

44. So does that mean you want to call off the bet? Too bad.

[puerco-bellies]

42. What's wrong Colonel Sanders..

Are you chicken?

[mrreowwr_kittty]

20. Thanks for your concern. nt

[ShortnFiery]

25. This sounds, IMO, like *wishful* Race Baiting ... The People will vote for Obama.

;)

[tularetom]

26. Sorry but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck

well, you probably know the rest. I haven't heard Obama blaming racism for any losses but if your predictions are anywhere near correct, he'd probably have a good reason to do so.

Wake up dude. There are racists out there. You either aren't paying attention or you're trying to excuse it in advance.

[jackson_dem]

31. It is a factor but do you think 80% of SC white Democrats are racists?

Let's be realistic here. He is running against a white southerner and the wife of a guy who carried the South. Edwards alone explains a lot of it. Why is Edwards leading among whites in South Carolina when he was 20 points behind in third among whites in New Hampshire and in the single digits in Nevada? It is because he is a fellow southerner and that helps him in South Carolina.

Racism goes both ways. How much of Obama getting 70-80% of the black vote is racism? Both whites and blacks are voting for a candidate of their race at the same rate in South Carolina. So if Edwards wins the white vote but is at 5% with blacks can Edwards scream racism for his loss? Of course not.

[Occam Bandage]

37. Given that both candidates enjoy strong approval ratings from both groups, no.

[THUNDER HANDS]

27. and your opinion means this much...

[Medusa]

29. 96% of the GOP vote in SC last week was white.

Are there any white people left TO vote in the Democratic primary this weekend???? Unless of course they are voting against Hillary which means that she will NOT win the White vote as you predict. I think you are grossly misunderestimating Obama's appeal with whites and are giving Edwards far too much credit in attracting voters as well.

[jackson_dem]

33. Hillary won't win the white vote. Edwards will

The reason the rethug vote was almost all white is not because white Democrats flocked to their primary but because the rethugs are not a diverse party. That skewed the percentage.

Edwards leads among whites in the latest Zogby. I am going by the existing data and making some educated guesses as to where the undecided vote goes.