Are Whites Afraid of Growing Political Power of Blacks?

[Bullet1987]

For the past week or so I've been completely tuning out the MSM noise and focusing on other things. I'm trying to get a summer job, going out having fun, this week was the last week of classes on campus. But I've been thinking about the reaction of many towards Obama's candidacy and have come to an interesting conclusion. Why is there so much of an emphasis being put on Obama and the White vote? Why are people in the MSM talking as if Obama winning 90% of the Black vote is a BAD thing?

I've come to the conclusion that certain folks are simply afraid of the potential of Blacks "coming of age" in American politics. And instead of simply being some interest group to pander to...having REAL influence. Everything from the possibility Obama has of putting states like Colorado and North Carolina in play (and a handful of others). Maybe Georgia and Alabama too (funny how no GE polls have come out of Southern states yet). I think we're seeing a knee-jerk reaction against Obama because of his race and what he represents. This conclusion would mean though that America isn't ready for a Black President. Maybe...it depends on how this nomination ends. It's a shame because MANY whites have voted for Obama all over this country (and it's ignorant to think he would have gone this far without their help), but that is all being ignored by a media out to tar and feather Obama over Wright.

People want to talk about Obama losing the White vote, but no one is talking about how Clinton has LOST the Black vote completely and is unlikely to get it back. Blacks and Women are the two strongest most loyal base of the Democratic Party...if Clinton gets the nomination and Blacks don't vote for her...will she win Maryland? Will she win Ohio or PA? While Blacks don't make up a majority in OH and PA...they are heavily located in key areas any Democrat needs to take before they even think about winning those states.

In the end, this election has taught me a lot about the biases some have in the older generations and how they will likely take them to their graves. I don't believe my generation is anything like that...but we're not running the show...yet. We weren't born in a world of petty racial strife, and we didn't grow up in segregated schools.

[zanne]

1. I think that some whites are.

I also think that some men are afraid of the growing political power of women. Growing pains; they'll have to get over their fears.

[The Backlash Cometh]

12. There's an entire culture of corruption out there that is afraid of losing their control

over the process.

[blm]

2. No - at the Charlotte rally I was at last night there were just as many white Dems as blacks, Asian

and Latino Dems.

[goclark]

20. Only speaking for myself and my friends and what I've been hearing

and reading within my community.

We are African American and we are not thinking about Obama giving our community any special treats or favors.

When I think about it,politicians are always coming to the Black community to get our votes and we rarely get anything in return. Well, we do get the chance to vote for the next White politician.

And voting for a White politician like Kerry/Gore/Biden/Edwards is just fine with us. They don't play games and have never disappointed us that I am aware of- the Clintons did put people like Ron Brown(who later died mysterious) and Andy Young in high positions.

But that is NOT why the Black Community has fallen in love with Obama.

We don't love him because he is Black, we love him because he is a "universal man" that cares as much about YOU as he does about ME. What more could we ask of him?

Are we proud that he would be the first known American President that admitted having Black blood?
Sure we are, for us he is a symbol of what America should be -- we really want him to be THE PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES.

[blm]

51. Great post.

.

[IsItJustMe]

3. Over 200 years of white male rule, you can bet some folks are outside their comfort zone.

[Doityourself]

45. Bingo! It would be the same if it were an Asian or Latino.

[4dsc]

4. Why?? Because republicans want you to think that way

A GOP operative I know and who blogs clearly wants "the white folks" to be thinking about the color of Obama's skin..

[babylonsister]

I've got a friend who's

white, female, 50, and a Dem. She won't vote for Obama because she thinks he'll do more for black people than white. I kid you not. We no longer talk about politics. But that thinking is out there, even among Dems. Sadly.

[goclark]

21. I 'm just responding to that thought

What I want to know is when did White people worry that a White politician was going to do more for Blacks than whites?

Probably when Bill Clinton was in office.

Well they can feel safe in knowing that HCBC have trashed us so much that maybe Bob Johnson or Stephanie Tubbs - Jones would get some low life job from THEM but it won't be much.

What position can she give to Maya Angelou? Tavis Smiley? Maxine Waters?

Tell your friend not to worry ~ guess it was OK when Bush the Republican gave jobs to Condi ( who the Black community HATES with a passion and Colin Power( we were not proud to see him shake that little glass tube :( - gave them huge positions but that power didn't help us one ounce.

:patriot:

[Aragorn]

48. skin color?

As a melanoma survivor (so far) and a long-time democrat (in the proper DU sense - I say WTF is USA thinking?) The very idea that homo sapiens is more than 1 "race" is stupid, and should have died long before J Jolmes did.

[Lady-Damai]

5. Didn't you know? Black voters don't count. BIG STATES WITH WHITES VOTERS COUNT!

Black ppl are only 13% of the population. Hillary can still win with older women and working class white ppl. :popcorn:

[undeterred]

6. Lots of whites - especially men - are uncomfortable.

Republican men are racist and sexist. The fact that Rush encourages them to vote for Hillary is interesting... they'd rather face a white woman than let a black man have a chance at becoming president.

I don't know why any woman or black would vote Republican under most circumstances.

Democratic white males are faced with a choice between a woman and a black - with all the white men having lost out. You bet it hurts. And to find out many white women actually prefer a black man and find him appealing- well its got to be scary for some of them. :shrug:

[murielm99]

7. Only republicans are afraid.

But they are afraid of the power of anyone who is not white and male. They are afraid of black power, women power, Latino power, etc.

So many of them think that power is only to be had at the expense of others. Shared power is good. It does not diminish the white males to share. Didn't those fools go to kindergarten?

[Rosemary2205]

13. that's just not true.

there are racists and non racists of every political persuasion and skin tone.

[murielm99]

16. Oh go fight with someone else.

What in the hell is wrong with this place these days?

[Rosemary2205]

49. No fight intended

simply a statement of unfortunate fact.

[loyalsister]

30. Just the other day

I was shocked to hear a person at a Democratic social event say that she was voting for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman and because she is white. This person is working on a local campaign for a Democrat. She is very loyal to Democrats and shows up to events around town.
The threat to white privilege is being felt by Democrats. It's just a fact.

[reflection]

8. This white guy embraces it. n/t

[cliffordu]

9. Have been since the end of slavery.

[dkf]

10. Nah, they are scared of hispanics more I think.

[Triana]

11. I don't have a problem with it.

But the lamestream media, the GOP and Hillary will use RACE, and anything else they can, to paint Obama as "unelectable".

[4themind]

14. I don't like the grouping of "whites"

any more than of "blacks", and Ithink you should change your title to "are parts of the MSM afraid" many of them happen to be white, but it doesn't make them 'the whites' many of whom (perhaps your self if you are also white) are supporting obama

[CreekDog]

15. It's like when my grandmother said there was going to be a race war someday

and I asked her, "oh yeah? which side are you going to take?"

that kind of shut her up.

but then she said that "smoking keeps the cancer down." :eyes:

(she's my step-grandmother, so this crap is not in my DNA)

[MediaBabe]

17. What political power?

I've read post after post insisting that if Obama does not get the nomination blacks will stay home in November. If that's the way they want it, okay, but it seems to me that it will backfire.

If they stay home whites will have all the power. The down ticket races will go to the folks that white power chooses. When blacks stay home the city councils, school boards, ballot measures, mayors, judges, sheriffs, etc. will all be chosen according to what white people decide. What kind of power is that?

[Cali_Democrat]

18. You aint seen nothing yet, just wait until Tuesday

Buchanan, Scarborough and the other bigoted pundits will write off Obama's NC win because blacks are voting for him. They will scream about racial division and will subtly suggest that Obama is dividing America.

Just watch!! Actually don't watch, that shit is garbage.

:puke:

[Bullet1987]

19. I'm not watching MSNBC on Tuesday...I'll be watching CNN

at least they have Black commentators that'll push back against any tripe. Eugene Robinson doesn't say crap when Scarborough and Buchanan go on their anti-Obama spree.

[Yossariant]

22. DEMOCRATS are afraid of losing the White House.

That "growing political power of 'blacks'" does not include being able to deliver the South, where the highest percentage of black people live, to the Democrats.

The South will go GOP no matter who the Democrats nominate.

Get over yourselves.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

29. And working class uneducated whites STOPPED voting Dem decades ago.

Get over yourself, Hillbots. They were going to vote for McCain anyway. Meanwhile, you race-baited your way into LOSING the crucial African-American vote for generations by acting like Richard fucking Nixon in this primary.

[Yossariant]

34. Wrong. Paycheck people are the heart and soul of the Party. Always have been.

I notice that you failed to address my post.

The fact is that the states with the highest percentages of black voters are going to the GOP --- always have.

That is not "political power."

Get over yourselves.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

55. Good god you Hillbots are tiresome.

You are of course ignoring the fact that it is the AA vote in big cities that is largely responsible for many states going blue.

Look at the fucking electoral map, broken down by county. Notice all the red areas in those big blue states like NY, PA, and CA. Whom do you think lives there? Whom do you think they voted for in the Primary in those big red expanses in the blue states? What do you think the chances are that Hillary can make those areas go blue? I'll answer that: She won't. Now, ask yourself how well she'd do if a lot of African Americans and young people in those cities sit the election out.




Oh, and BTW, non-white people get paychecks too, it may surprise you to know. :eyes:

[Radical Activist]

23. Just because the media and white party establishment aren't ready for a black President

doesn't mean that the American public isn't ready.

[CatsDogsBabies]

33. I agree

I think the American public is ready and I think that is a good thing. I am a middle age white woman and I would say if anything
I have a positive bias towards Obama. I think his message of unity and his willingness to engage people truthfully about issues that people have a hard time talking about is a really good thing. Also, I graduated from high school the same year as Michelle Obama, and I think she looks absolutely great! What an inspiration.

[bhikkhu]

24. "Are whites afraid of 4 more years circling the toilet bowl" might be more apt.

A guy whose hand I would be honored to shake does not scare me. Color is irrelevant.

[democracy1st]

25. Growing Political Power of Blacks ?

[BlooInBloo]

26. Kentucky white folks actually believe Obama wants to enslave the white race....

Proving that once again, reality beats Jon Stewart.

[McCamy Taylor]

27. No.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

28. 20% of the Democratic electorate. John Kerry would have lost by 17 points without the black vote.

The Clintons and their supporters are fucking IDIOTS for squandering their goodwill with such a crucial voting bloc.

[loyalsister]

31. I keep wondering

why "white working class voters" are the voters Obama needs the most?
I have not heard it mentioned that Hillary needs African American voters "the most." It is certainly not the focus of attention of the media.
It's like Good God he doesn't have the white people voting for him! As if we are something so very special. It really bugs me.

[Mezzo]

32. No, I think Barack's underqualified, white or black.

[Eurobabe]

35. Only the ignorant uneducated ones. n/t

[Exilednight]

36. I'm a firm believer that the word "elitist" is code for uppity. And if you don't believe me......

then all you have to do is every time you read a narrative with the word elitist, replace it with uppity. They're universally interchangeable.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

37. I think "uppity" is more racist

For example, I think Clinton and McCain are both more "elitist" than Obama. But it's hard to imagine anyone calling them "uppity".

They're rich, white, and they "know their place". Their "place", of course, being a world of privilege that the workers make possible.

[Exilednight]

38. but the label is only attached to one candidate. The candidate with a different skin color ......

and took out the inevitable one.

[Jawja]

39. Electing an African-American to the Presidency

is not only a "coming of age" for African-Americans in politics, but will be a "coming of age" for America in general.

If the American People elect Obama President, a transformation in the way we look at ourselves will have occurred: as a NATION, we will have begun to see and accept ourselves as the multi-ethnic, multi-cultural people we really are.

[TheDudeAbides]

41. Seriously, why this is important for Africa

Actually, I do believe an Obama Presidency will effect Africa in big ways.
What many people don't realize is that Africa has oil!
As the price of oil climbs, it becomes more and more financially feasible to
harvest that African oil.

So, I suspect various players are starting to position themselves to gain
control of the oil in Africa.

Now...we're going into speculation mode now. But, China is already in Africa.
Given Obama's network of backers (Odinga (Obama's cousin), Brezinski, Soros, etc), people are
speculating that an Obama Presidency would focus on taking those future oil
fields away from the Chinese. Kind of a dicey situation given that China
is our banker; we borrow money from China big time.

If the above is true, then it's interesting because it explains the
recent realization that Obama is getting more oil money than any other
candidate.

Isn't it funny how Bush went to Africa a couple of months ago? When
was the last time he took interest in Africa? Things that make you go "hmmm".

Hypothetically, let's assume the above is accurate. What wrong with the US
taking an interest in African oil?

[TheDudeAbides]

40. Actually, it's the bald people who are taking over; we must stop them! n/t

[uponit7771]

42. Some are but the rest could care less, I'm black and I'm scared of the growing influence of our...

...white controlled media.

[AspenRose]

50. Astute observation

:thumbsup:

[Obamanaut]

43. I'm afraid of white (or any) dynasties. I want this one to end. nt

[tekisui]

44. I can't speak for everyone, but, we're all people.

No worries or fears here.

[TheDudeAbides]

46. Are Men Afraid of Growing Political Power of Women? (yes, no doubt) n/t

[TheDudeAbides]

47. The Truth about rural democrats

I'm in small rural town, and the real truth about this matter is.....

The people who have some racists notions are republicans.
They'd never vote for a Democrat (man, woman, pink, purple, etc).
Frankly, I don't know many of these people but I've tangled with a few.

I never encounter racism within the democratic party...and I talk with
people from all educational and economic backgrounds in a very honest way.

Daily....and I do mean daily...I encounter amazing sexism within the Democratic
party that cuts across *all* demographics. I can't speak for urban folks,
but some rural folks are still struggling with the idea of women in positions
of authority.

[EffieBlack]

52. You're dead on . . .

I think that many of those who are "lamenting" that "Obama can't win!" don't really believe that. In fact they not only believe that Obama CAN win, they are terrified that he WILL win. This terror is not only based upon a fear of having a black president (What if he really IS a fire-breathing black man and he turns on us once he's sworn in?) but a real fear of a black president being elected partly on the strength of the black vote. After all, if those black people start to think of themselves as an important voting demographic, they'll be insufferable from here on.

[Roxy66]

53. I'm starting to wonder....

[frickaline]

54. I think its completely natural to be afraid of someone in power that you find dissimilar to yourself

You fear they won't have your best interest at heart. Lets face it, fears are irrational. They aren't grounded in anything factual, thats why they are fears. If a white person identifies himself/herself very distinctly from black people, then sure they will fear black rule. The same is true in reverse or in any other scenario where a person can find a lack of similarity. Note that this is not party based, its human based. Claiming that this phenomenon exists only in the republican party is a bit naive imo.

The real question here is do people have the intelligence to recognize that this is a fear, its irrational, and its not a way to make a political decision.