You're either for OBAMA, or you're a racist

[Taverner]

EXACTLY

(For the sake of clarity - here is the opinion piece that got me on this kick:)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/155117

What Will The Neighbors Think?

Obama's defeat would say that when handed a perfect opportunity to put the worst part of our history behind us, we chose not to.
By Jacob Weisberg | NEWSWEEK
Published Aug 23, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Sep 1, 2008



What with the Bush legacy of reckless war and economic mismanagement, 2008 is a year that favors the generic Democratic candidate over the generic Republican one. Yet Barack Obama, with every natural and structural advantage, is running only neck and neck with John McCain, a subpar nominee with a list of liabilities longer than a Joe Biden monologue. Obama has built a crack political operation, raised record sums and inspired millions with his eloquence and vision. McCain has struggled with a fractious campaign team, deficits in clarity and discipline, and remains a stranger to charisma. Yet at the moment, the two appear to be tied. What gives?

If it makes you feel better, you can rationalize Obama's missing 10-point lead on the basis of Clintonite sulkiness, his slowness in responding to attacks or the concern that he may be too handsome, brilliant and cool to be elected. But let's be honest: the reason Obama isn't ahead right now is that he trails badly among one group, older white voters. He lags with them for a simple reason: the color of his skin.

Much evidence points to racial prejudice as a factor that could be large enough to cost Obama the election. That warning is written all over last month's CBS/New York Times poll, which is worth studying if you want to understand white America's curious sense of racial grievance. In the poll, 26 percent of whites say they have been victims of discrimination. Twenty-seven percent say too much has been made of the problems facing black people. Twenty-four percent say that the country isn't ready to elect a black president. Five percent acknowledge that they, personally, would not vote for a black candidate.

Five percent surely understates the extent of the problem. In the Pennsylvania primary, one in six white voters told exit pollsters that race was a factor in his or her decision. Seventy-five percent of those people voted for Clinton. You can do the math: 12 percent of the white Pennsylvania primary electorate acknowledged that they didn't vote for Barack Obama in part because he is African-American. And that's what Democrats in a Northeastern(ish) state admit openly.

Such prejudice usually comes coded in distortions about Obama and his background. To the willfully ignorant, he's a secret Muslim married to a black-power radical. Or—thanks, Geraldine Ferraro—he got where he is only because of the special treatment accorded those lucky enough to be born with African blood. Some Jews assume Obama is insufficiently supportive of Israel, the way they assume other black politicians to be. To some white voters (14 percent in the CBS/New York Times poll), Obama is someone who as president would favor blacks over whites. Or he's an "elitist," who cannot understand ordinary (read: white) people because he isn't one of them. We're just not comfortable with, you know, a Hawaiian.

(SNIP)

[Marrah_G]

ummmm what???????

[bdamomma]

1. very true.

[Taverner]

4. Yep

You have a competent, intelligent young Senator who is a step forward

Or you have an incompetent, stupid old Senator who is a step backward

If you vote McCain, you are, by definition, a racist

[bdamomma]

20. those who do vote for McInsane

say bye to everything your rights, Supreme Court, him introducing the Draft and continuous invasions for oil. This man thinks everything is fine that is how out of touch he is, and the rest of the world will alienate us forever.

[NashVegas]

56. And What About People Who Vote for McKinney. I Suppose They're Racists, Too

[redqueen]

2. Uh...

[valerief]

3. Or you're a wealthy republican who wants to feed at the public trough. nt

[Sensitivity]

No. A lot of people just imbibe the subtle smears and believe the "just a speech" stuff.

[Yes We Did]

5. ummm.... explanation please?

[Taverner]

11. Sorry, moment of agreement after reading Jacob Weisberg's opin

What Will The Neighbors Think?

Obama's defeat would say that when handed a perfect opportunity to put the worst part of our history behind us, we chose not to.
By Jacob Weisberg | NEWSWEEK
Published Aug 23, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Sep 1, 2008


What with the Bush legacy of reckless war and economic mismanagement, 2008 is a year that favors the generic Democratic candidate over the generic Republican one. Yet Barack Obama, with every natural and structural advantage, is running only neck and neck with John McCain, a subpar nominee with a list of liabilities longer than a Joe Biden monologue. Obama has built a crack political operation, raised record sums and inspired millions with his eloquence and vision. McCain has struggled with a fractious campaign team, deficits in clarity and discipline, and remains a stranger to charisma. Yet at the moment, the two appear to be tied. What gives?

If it makes you feel better, you can rationalize Obama's missing 10-point lead on the basis of Clintonite sulkiness, his slowness in responding to attacks or the concern that he may be too handsome, brilliant and cool to be elected. But let's be honest: the reason Obama isn't ahead right now is that he trails badly among one group, older white voters. He lags with them for a simple reason: the color of his skin.

Much evidence points to racial prejudice as a factor that could be large enough to cost Obama the election. That warning is written all over last month's CBS/New York Times poll, which is worth studying if you want to understand white America's curious sense of racial grievance. In the poll, 26 percent of whites say they have been victims of discrimination. Twenty-seven percent say too much has been made of the problems facing black people. Twenty-four percent say that the country isn't ready to elect a black president. Five percent acknowledge that they, personally, would not vote for a black candidate.

Five percent surely understates the extent of the problem. In the Pennsylvania primary, one in six white voters told exit pollsters that race was a factor in his or her decision. Seventy-five percent of those people voted for Clinton. You can do the math: 12 percent of the white Pennsylvania primary electorate acknowledged that they didn't vote for Barack Obama in part because he is African-American. And that's what Democrats in a Northeastern(ish) state admit openly.

Such prejudice usually comes coded in distortions about Obama and his background. To the willfully ignorant, he's a secret Muslim married to a black-power radical. Or—thanks, Geraldine Ferraro—he got where he is only because of the special treatment accorded those lucky enough to be born with African blood. Some Jews assume Obama is insufficiently supportive of Israel, the way they assume other black politicians to be. To some white voters (14 percent in the CBS/New York Times poll), Obama is someone who as president would favor blacks over whites. Or he's an "elitist," who cannot understand ordinary (read: white) people because he isn't one of them. We're just not comfortable with, you know, a Hawaiian.

<SNIP>

http://www.newsweek.com/id/155117

[apnu]

6. wrong message

Playing devil's advocate here: I fail to see how being against Obama automatically makes one a racist. Perhaps, as in the case of the president of my company, a voter will not choose Obama because of his tax policies. This is the only issue my boss votes on: who will raise his taxes more. Whoever that is, he votes the other way. That's all he's ever done and that's all he will continue to do.

He likes Obama socially, and doesn't like McCain at all. Thinks he's a goofball, but since McCain is more of the Same, he'll get tax breaks because he makes a lot of money. Theerfore he's voting for McCain.

How does that make him a racist?

(again I'm playing devil's advocate here, I think people who vote against Obmama on fear based issues are racists weather or not they know it or not.)

[Taverner]

8. I can't do it justice, but Jacob Weisberg can:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/155117

What Will The Neighbors Think?

Obama's defeat would say that when handed a perfect opportunity to put the worst part of our history behind us, we chose not to.
By Jacob Weisberg | NEWSWEEK
Published Aug 23, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Sep 1, 2008

What with the Bush legacy of reckless war and economic mismanagement, 2008 is a year that favors the generic Democratic candidate over the generic Republican one. Yet Barack Obama, with every natural and structural advantage, is running only neck and neck with John McCain, a subpar nominee with a list of liabilities longer than a Joe Biden monologue. Obama has built a crack political operation, raised record sums and inspired millions with his eloquence and vision. McCain has struggled with a fractious campaign team, deficits in clarity and discipline, and remains a stranger to charisma. Yet at the moment, the two appear to be tied. What gives?

If it makes you feel better, you can rationalize Obama's missing 10-point lead on the basis of Clintonite sulkiness, his slowness in responding to attacks or the concern that he may be too handsome, brilliant and cool to be elected. But let's be honest: the reason Obama isn't ahead right now is that he trails badly among one group, older white voters. He lags with them for a simple reason: the color of his skin.

Much evidence points to racial prejudice as a factor that could be large enough to cost Obama the election. That warning is written all over last month's CBS/New York Times poll, which is worth studying if you want to understand white America's curious sense of racial grievance. In the poll, 26 percent of whites say they have been victims of discrimination. Twenty-seven percent say too much has been made of the problems facing black people. Twenty-four percent say that the country isn't ready to elect a black president. Five percent acknowledge that they, personally, would not vote for a black candidate.

Five percent surely understates the extent of the problem. In the Pennsylvania primary, one in six white voters told exit pollsters that race was a factor in his or her decision. Seventy-five percent of those people voted for Clinton. You can do the math: 12 percent of the white Pennsylvania primary electorate acknowledged that they didn't vote for Barack Obama in part because he is African-American. And that's what Democrats in a Northeastern(ish) state admit openly.

Such prejudice usually comes coded in distortions about Obama and his background. To the willfully ignorant, he's a secret Muslim married to a black-power radical. Or—thanks, Geraldine Ferraro—he got where he is only because of the special treatment accorded those lucky enough to be born with African blood. Some Jews assume Obama is insufficiently supportive of Israel, the way they assume other black politicians to be. To some white voters (14 percent in the CBS/New York Times poll), Obama is someone who as president would favor blacks over whites. Or he's an "elitist," who cannot understand ordinary (read: white) people because he isn't one of them. We're just not comfortable with, you know, a Hawaiian.

(SNIP)

[apnu]

22. This is true if one looks at the culture as a whole. but on the individual level...

... it may not be so.

There will be many, many people who vote for and against Obama on issues of race. Bet on it. Rut race, alone is not the whole decision path for all people in the voting booth.

What Obama will mean, and the ramifications of him, win or loose, will be complicated and diverse on several levels. But in the bigger picture, yes, it will come down to racial issues in America. Drill down, however, a different story will be found. Sadly, history books can't (or won't) drill down and it will be cemented forever as a racial issue.

Personally, that depresses me. If we are really to end racism in America, we all have to become color blind. It should not matter at all what one's color is at any time for any thing. No Exceptions. But color matters, and many voting segments will cast their lots based on skin color. Its a damn shame.

You know what? the same goes for gender. Were our pick Hillary, we'd be having the same conversation, only removing "race" for "sex" But its the same argument, the same problem, and the same shameful culture.

[progressivebydesign]

23. That's total BS. And it harms the Obama candidacy.

This is the crap that caused such intensely hard feelings in the primaries. That is an utterly immature and ridiculous statement made by that writer... he cannot know what people believe. I didn't support Obama in the primaries, and was called a racist because of it. You have no idea how much that talk damaged his standing as a candidate already.. NO ONE wants to be accused of being a racist simply for having their own opinion about someone. Older folks might feel more comfortable with McCain because he's old... or they're hardcore anti-choice, or anti-gay marriage, or still living in that mistaken belief that Repugs are somehow preferrable to their personal economy. It's almost MORE racist to assume that the only reason he wouldn't succeed is because of his skin color? Is that writer trying to guilt people into voting for him??

So the black voters I knew that did not support him are racists, too? Calling people racists who do not support Obama does more to harm his chances than it helps. It only pisses people off. Bad move.

[rebel with a cause]

59. You can not support Obama and still not be a racist.

You have to understand what the writer is talking about. He is not saying that everyone that votes for mccain is a racist, he is saying that Obama may lose because of the percentage of US citizens who are. He is speaking about Democrats that will not vote for him because he is Black. He is speaking about Independents who may not like the republicans and like what Obama stands for but will vote for mccain or someone else because Obama is Black. He is talking about republicans who want to vote Democratic this year but won't because Obama is Black. It is not the majority of people, but he is saying it may be a big enough number to make a difference in the presidental race.

I know people who are a bit prejudice, not racist, who like Obama but are still afraid that there will be racial riots if he is elected. I tell them they better worry about racial riots if he is not. They are voting for him. :evilgrin:

[Mike Daniels]

35. self delete

[Celeborn Skywalker]

7. i feel that in many cases this is true.

At least in the Democratic party. I don't see how someone votes for Democrats the last 40 years and then suddenly says they're going to vote Republican now that Obama is the nominee. He is about the same, policy-wise, as our last few candidates. To me, it has to be either un admitted racism or xenophobia.

[progressivebydesign]

28. I do believe that many hardcore Obama supporters are unable to see him honestly.

I support him.. and will vote Democratic, as always. But I am not a hardcore supporter like some who cannot see any perceived weaknesses in the man. Everyone views a candidate and other people with their own filter. I think it's dangerous to the party when you have fans of a candidate that cannot possibly see any flaw in him... and regard any questioning or criticism of him as attacks or just can't fathom why everyone else cannot see his perfection. Racism? If you don't support the female candidate than you're a sexist. Period. (Oh, you're not??) Hmmm.. cuz the female candidate was more experienced and accomplished, had better int'l credentials, and was outpolling both of the men running against her. Why.. anyone who did not support her was obviously sexist.

Get it??? Calling people racists or any "ists" only degrades the candidate you're supporting.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

30. I'm not a hardcore supporter.

I see many weaknesses in him. Some of these include: gay rights issues, trade issues, unwillingness to go to single payer healthcare, along with many other things.

I am simply saying that someone who is a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat who voted for Kerry, Gore, Clinton, Dukakis, Mondale, and Carter has no reason not to vote for Obama. He is roughly the same as these other guys.

[cyndensco]

40. I agree with you.

For those who say the have voted for the democratic nominee all their life but proudly proclaim they are voting for mccain, I am certain it is Obama's race that is stopping them. Certainly their choice in past primaries did not always win the nomination. They managed to vote for THAT 2nd or 3rd choice.

It is unfair, though, to say everyone voting for mccain are racists. The a**holes who voted for bush twice, those voting anti-choice, those who are warmongers,...they wouldn't vote democratic for the whitest of white man.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

43. Yes, that's true.

[BklynChick]

9. while this is an obvious overstatement, Dems. who agree w/Hillary and others on a policy level, you

would have to question their underlying reasons for not voting Obama, and racism would be at the top of the list.

[Taverner]

12. That was the primary.

Different case then.

[greguganus]

44. I have black co-workers who are Hillary supporters and still don't support Obama

and they tell me they may not vote. I don't see them as racists. PUMA's maybe, but not racists.

[BklynChick]

51. are they republicans?

[bridgit]

10. It's GROUNDHOG DAY!!

[tazkcmo]

13. You can be stupid

without bein' racist. What trash.

[Taverner]

15. Pepperoni or Mushroom?

[Egnever]

14. Um rejected

[Starbucks Anarchist]

16. In some cases, but definitely not all.

A RWer wouldn't vote for a white Dem, either, so there are many cases where Obama's ethnicity is not a factor.

[mkultra]

17. Its safer to say that no racist will vote for Obama

But some conservatives are actually not racists. I personally don't know any that aren't though, im just giving them the benefit of the doubt.

[progressivebydesign]

33. That's a much better assertion. It's like one of those IQ tests...

.. if all smaugs are thors, and some thors are thrains. (Or something like that.) But then again, we could be surprised and there may be a few racists that would vote for him, because they hate McCain more. The funny thing about people is that no one can ever truly know what's in their minds... that's why we have private voting booths.

[blondeatlast]

18. My racist yellow-dog relatives ("n* word and all) are donating, volunteering, and voting for OBama.

What say you to that?

[Taverner]

19. I didn't say you couldn't be both

I just said the only reason one would vote for McCain, given his negatives and Obama's positives, is if you are a racist.

I applaud your Yellow Dog Relatives!

[blondeatlast]

24. I think you are sadly ignorant of rabid Republicanism. It's common here in my neck of the desert.

It isn't race (maybe sometimes) it's pure, unadulterated hatred of anything even mildly progressive.

[knixphan]

62. wow.

[Lucinda]

21. Nope.

[jonnyblitz]

25. so if Alan Keyes were running and I didn't vote for him

that would make me a racist? DUDE, perhaps you should stick to lounge threads. seriously.

[blondeatlast]

31. Wish I'd thought of that.

:thumbsup:

[progressivebydesign]

32. You got it! Why isn't Al Sharpton president????

I'd respond to those making the racism claims in the primaries: "So, if anyone not supporting Obama is a racist, then why didn't Alan Keyes succeed? Or why isn't Jessie Jackson president? Or Al Sharpton? I'd be like.. What?? You didn't vote for them???? Why not?"

(they'd give some answer about why they didn't support them)

"oh, you didnt' agree with their policies, or their view on life? So you didn't choose them? But YOU'RE not a racist, only people who don't support Obama. I see.... "

It's so elementary.

[NashVegas]

58. I Think There's a Huge Contingent

Of Louisa and John Kittredges out there who are so certain of their superiority that ...

[Bunny]

34. .

:applause:

[Celeborn Skywalker]

39. I think

that any Democrat who has voted for our less than stellar candidates in past years (Gore, Clinton, Kerry, Dukakis) and is unwilling to vote for Obama has some type of underlying issue with him. Whether or not they admit it, I think they have some xenophobia and/or racism issues.

[Mudoria]

49. Clinton and Gore less than stellar?

:wtf:

[Taverner]

47. Alan Keyes wouldn't be the most qualified candidate

Obama is

[pecwae]

48. Good analogy.

[JBoy]

26. This isn't helpful.

[onenote]

27. so does that mean if you were for obama over hillary you were sexist?

And if you prefer Obama over McCain you're 'agist'?

The dumb is strong on DU today.

[demwing]

29. Or you're a true believer in the Republican party line

Which doesn't say much about said person's intellect, but it doesn't--by default--make them a racist.

We don't have to fall in love with our leaders, and we don't have to hate our opponents.

[Forkboy]

36. It must hurt to think that simplistically.

While I'm sure that racism plays a role in the thinking of many of those against Obama, saying they all are racists is thinking on frighteningly basic level. My father probably wont be voting for anyone this year. I can assure you that Obama's race isn't a factor in his thinking. There's some things you could call my father (curmudgeonly and cranky come to mind) but "racist" isn't one of them.

[amborin]

37. way too simplistic

an earlier article in the ny times summarized the thinking of a number of leading academics whose specialty is pres politics

they were in disagreement about the nov outcome, particularly about the kind of win o might expect to accomplish

most of them predicted a dem win, but the majority by only a very slim margin

they discussed reasons, and the so-called 'bradley effect' (racism in the ballot box) only partly a possible dem loss; there are many other reasons why o might not win in nov

from my vantage, if o loses, i'd say it's a less than stellar campaign

too wishy-washy, not hard hitting enough, not really understanding the kind of discourse and consciousness shaping that's needed, given this electorate

i saw the same rambling, lackluster performance from kerry, and you can't blame that outcome on racism (and let's face it: given bush's horrible performance, kerry should have won in a landslide)

[LostinVA]

38. Ridiculous

[Shealee]

41. So what does that make my husband..

...who is black and voting for McCain? An Uncle Tom? That's ridiculous. While I don't always agree with him politically, that's the great thing about this country, is that we can all voice our opinions. Not everybody has to believe the same thing. But to straight out just say that if you don't vote for Obama makes you a racist is just wrong. And that just fuels the fire of the other side, because it IS wrong...and they'll be quick to point it out.

[LostinVA]

45. Exactly

I am surprised about your husabnd, just because that is a "demographic" that usually isn't known for voting for McCain.

[Shealee]

50. He's in the military.....

**rolls eyes**

We just don't talk politics at home. Everything else in our relationship is wonderful.....just this one little bump. :)

[nini]

42. While a racist will not vote for Obama...

It isn't necessarily true someone who doesn't must be a racist.

They're possibly greedy, stupid, gullible, ignorant and many other things, but not necessarily racist.

A Logic 101 class is in order for those who believe this.

[Withywindle]

57. Some racists might, actually.

Surely you're familiar with that line of "thinking" that goes, "I don't like n******s, but my buddy Bob I work with, he's all right."

They'll never admit they're totally wrong as long as there is one person of color, anywhere, who lives down to their negative stereotype. But somehow every time they get to know and like a Black person, s/he's "not like the rest of 'em." And it happens more often than you might think.

If Obama gets to "my buddy Bob" status in their heads and they hate McCain enough, they will vote for him. They'll still be racists, but they'll pat themselves on the back too.

[nini]

60. Point taken but you're caught up on my choice of words..

My point is the OP cannot make a conclusion that a voter is racist if they do not vote for Obama because he is black. Some may be, but that doesn't mean all McCain voters fall into that category.


Surely you see that?

btw: don't call me Shirley
:D

[Eyes_wide_ open]

46. The article has some very valid points ...

however the conclusion you draw and title the OP with is simplistic bullshit and harmful to our candidate and his campaign. You go spreading this type of bs around and you will draw no more people to vote for him than we already have and judging by the polls that thought's rather scary.

Happens I agree about Obama's plusses and McCain's minuses, but just because someone else doesn't does not make them a racist by default, and that type of thinking is every bit as ignorant as being racist itself. Same mindset exactly.

[SeaLyons]

52. I don't think judging all on an all-encompassing level

is ever a good thing. I do believe if you're a democrat and refuse to vote for Obama, the reason may be racism, but I would never say it absolutely always is.

[mmonk]

53. Even those people that support Cynthia McKinney?

I don't think that theme will work.

[carguy67]

54. Had to join after seeing this

So even though I disagree with Obama on the 2nd amendment, socialized health care, taxes and foreign policy I should vote for him to not be racist? I should just go with the flow, be mainstream?

Constantly bringing up this race BS is not going to help win. That and Obama's wife is black he is mixed... so if I don't vote for him I would only be half racist right?

Obama is not perfect; for some he fits the ideal of what they would like to see in a president, Others disagree there is no need for name calling. That is a great thing about this country you can still have your own opinion. I might not agree with it, I may debate it but I will respect it and defend the your right to do so.

[NashVegas]

55. What a Fucked Up Method For Trying to Gain Votes

I'm sure undecided Republicans and independents will say 'fuck you very much' for this, about as much as Democratic voters did in PA and OH.

[knixphan]

61. "..with, you know, a Hawaiian."

Ouch!