<p>God forbid a Presidential candidate have a sense of humor or even act like a normal person…</p>
<h1>179–I haven’t seen the ad yet, but it sounds MUCH better than the ads that merely attack Obama. McCain should keep promoting himself and his ideas–as Obama should focus on his own message. Enough with the mud-slinging. … Leave that to us on CC. ;)</h1>
<p>pmr:</p>
<p>I also thought it was funny.</p>
<p>What would you put the odds of a Democratic implosion on this election? 50/50?</p>
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<p>And despite peoples vehement claims to the contrary, a sizable chunk of the electorate, in their heart of hearts, ultimately cannot see a black man as President of the United States, our nation’s symbolic seat of highest power. They cannot see it, squirm within themselves at the very notion, and thereby, in the privacy of the voting both, at the critical moment, will not press the lever that would make it happen.</p>
<p>But they will deny 'til the cows come home that “it’s not about his race”—no, no, no, not at all! It’s about his “associations”, his wife’s “racist” college thesis:rolleyes:(has anyone actually read that paper? I have. There’s nothing “racist” about it". It is a sociological study, done by a sociology major, examining a sociological phenomenon—that she happened to be a part of—which was brand new in our nation’s history), his “Muslim” roots, his “inexperience”, etc. Those are the excuses many people will hide behind, and who can really prove they’re lying? It’s positively brilliant—stealth racism.</p>
<p>I guarantee that if Colin Powell were running for President, against a white Democrat, many of the staunchest of conservatives and most of rust-belt middle America would find a way to disqualify him: He’s too liberal, his Caribbean background is suspect (voodoo, you know;), his wife is “nuts”, it was only because of AA that he was promoted to General/Head of Joint Chiefs/National Security Advisor/Secretary of State, "he was a “C” college student/not that smart, etc. I could go on and on.</p>
<p>Sure, there are people, some of them right here on CC, who would love to see an African American President, but who honestly will not vote for Obama because of his stand on the issues. And there are indeed people who are so enamored with the idea of an African American President, that they will vote for Obama, no matter what. It’s an ideological/sociological tug-of-war, where Obama’s race is front and center. That, in my opinion, is why the race is so tight. </p>
<p>But we must, must! pretend that American has, in only 50 short years, overcome over 300 years of abject racism, so that any mention of even the possibility that racism might ultimately play a pivotal role in the outcome of this election is, “playing the race card”.</p>
<p>Whatever…:rolleyes:</p>
<p>Oh, at least 50/50. Maybe 60/40 … or 70/30. We usually find a way.</p>
<p>Dusty Springfield,
" Wishing and hoping and
thinking and praying,
planning and dreaming"</p>
<p>that W doesn’t say anything about anything while in Asia this week.</p>
<p>Excellent, LongPrime. And probably very true.</p>
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<p>I would vote for a black conservative quicker than I would vote for a white liberal. Put that in your pipe and smoke it! </p>
<p>I’m sure there are folks out there who will not vote for him because he is black the same as there are those who wouldn’t vote for Hillary because she is a woman. There are those out there who won’t vote for McCain because he has been divorced. There are those who won’t vote for him because he is a Republican. There are many reasons why someone does or doesn’t get elected.</p>
<p>All you are doing by going on and on about this is prepping for the raging lunacy that will happen if he loses. Your ilk will never admit he got beat because of his policies (or those of the Democratic party), his lack of experience or anything any other reason. It will just be because we are a bunch of racists who would rather see the country to go hell than vote for a black man. What were the excuses for Gore and Kerry. They certainly weren’t black…</p>
<p>ph - I strongly disagree w/ your third paragraph. America is just not as racist as some seem to believe - at least not against non-whites. I really believe that the vast vast vast majority of whites in this country have gotten beyond race. </p>
<p>When will it become a non-issue? When non-whites stop making it an issue.</p>
<p>The whole suggestion I saw yesterday on CNN about how McCian’s ad about Obama’s celebrity featured Obama (& phallic symbols no less) along w/ 2 white women in an effort to appeal to the most vile and base of racist tendencies in America - what?? I would bet my life that that never even occurred to the creators of that ad.</p>
<p>Why do AfAms so often seem to suspect racism where there is none? (Leaving whites in the position to have to prove a negative).</p>
<p>Is the answer to the above question “because AfAms are themselves guided by racism?” Case in point - How many AfAms are SUPPORTING Obama b/c of his race? (Bet it’s a lot more than the number of people who aren’t supporting him b/c of his race).</p>
<p>Note to Dross - please don’t give me a long diatribe if you choose to respond to this post. Succint is good!</p>
<p>And go ahead - call me a racist b/c I even ask these questions. I’m sure it’s coming. My TRUE objective here, however, is to further the discussion about how we, as Americans, can EFFECTIVELY diminish race as an issue - isn’t that the goal of non-whites as well?</p>
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<p>Beyond it, over it…tired of hearing about it… I think that is biggest problem. I don’t have a problem with “non-whites”, as bz puts it, I don’t want to hear anyone’s whining about how tough it is…white or otherwise. I have my own problems and I think most people feel the same way. Perhaps I would feel differently if life were cushy and I didn’t have to worry about losing my house if I get fired or otherwise lose my job.</p>
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<p>It’s already come. I’ve already been called a racist because I didn’t vote for the black candidate in the Massachusetts primary. My wife has been labeled a racist. My daughter is now a racist because of her vote in the Pennsylvania primary. Just like the voters of Ohio, et al. </p>
<p>The African American leadership had no qualms whatsoever tarring political leaders who have been their allies for decades as racists.</p>
<p>In a way, it’s liberating. Since I was first old enough to vote in 1972, I believe that I’ve voted for the black candidate in every election until the primary this year, except for not voting for Jesse Jackson. But, now that I’m labelled as a racist by those same politicians, I might as well vote against them. Why would I vote for someone who calls me a racist?</p>
<p>bz - I’m not as eloquent as Dross and I’m white, but I also believe there is lot more racism in America than you see. I absolutely don’t think you’re racist, but I do think you’re naive. You are also fortunate if you have not been exposed to the entrenched racism that will affect this election. I don’t think that “The One” ads are designed just to make a case for a rock star, empty suit version of Obama. I believe that the language used is designed to strike a chord with deep seated fears of blacks attaining power in this country. Add that fear to the newer fear of Muslims attaining power and the fact that many still believe Obama is Muslim and you have a mindset ripe for exploitation. I think a lot of effort is being spent by the likes of Karl Rove to design ads that stir up that fear. Knowing the racist tactics they used against McCain several years ago, you don’t value your life much if you would bet it against the same people not going after Obama with worse. That is one thing that I will hold against McCain after this election - whether he is elected or not - that he allowed the people who attacked his family so viciously to have anything to do with this campaign. When others talk of core principles, I’ll think about that.</p>
<p>c45 - Yes, it is unfortunate when the candidates, once having gained the nomination, are practically forced to use a cast of characters already in place, for the most part, for the remainder of the campaign. Those are the people who know the “system” of campaigning, are part of the “organization”, and most of all, have the "lists’ of supporters, including volunteers & donors. It’s almost as if they (the candidates) are held hostage. But what else can they do - they can’t now, all of a sudden, start from scratch and attempt to build an organization from the ground up at this stage of the game.</p>
<p>And don’t be fooled - for all of Obama’s hype about his grassroots organization, you can bet he’s got DNC operatives running the show.</p>
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<p>My ilk, huh? Care to re-read what I wrote? I said:</p>
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“We”? Interesting, that you would assume I lump you in with that “ilk”, pmrlcomm. For the record, I do not. I assume you’re one of the “some here on CC” who will not vote for Obama because you disagree with him on the issues. But I also feel that you minimize the amount of racism that still exists in America. Something that actually exists, doesn’t disappear, merely by pretending it doesn’t. </p>
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<p>What “lunacy” are you expecting, pmrlcomm? I’ve read numerous times that some people are actually expecting black people to riot in the streets if Obama looses, an opinion I find both amazing and amusing. I would be surprised if there were riots. I think it’s going to be a close election, though not as close as some people are predicting. I concede that there’s a possibility that I’m wrong about my “Iceberg’s chance in hell” analysis of Obama’s Presidential prospects. But I still very much believe that it won’t take much in the way of sustained, subtly racist, Rovian tactics to push the buttons of the racially skittish, and cause them to ultimately stick with the status-quo. These people aren’t members of the KKK or Aryan Nation. They are essentially good and ordinary people who live in their own bubble, who don’t usually give race much thought, but who never-the-less, are susceptible to the subtle programming that reinforces stubbornly established attitudes about race in America.</p>
<p>You also wrote this:</p>
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<p>My comments were in direct relation to this part of your post. The reason for the inclusion of “we” is that when it comes to this anyone who didn’t vote will be lumped in… Kind of a Ready, Fire, Aim mentality. I am not foolish enough to believe there is no racism. Of course there is. Is it enough to keep Obama from winning, who knows. All I’m saying is that will be the reason used, whether it is true or not.</p>
<p>As for the lunacy… I highly doubt there will be riots myself. I’m referring more to the circus act that has followed that last two Democratic defeats. They don’t know when to admit they lost and move on. It will be drug out ad nausea. I still know people that complain the '00 election was stolen. Get over it already. I can’t predict what will happen. Only give me best guesses.</p>
<p>bz:
Nonsense and naive. </p>
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<p>Facts staring at you in the face and you continue with the Karl Rovian slant. First, African Americans overwhelmingly vote Democrat. Second, in 2006 Maryland senatorial race, AA voted overwhelmingly for the white Democrat (Cardin) over the Black Republican (Steele).</p>
<p>Racism is still practice (more subtle) in the USA. Take housing with the federal law not to discriminate and anyone being honest knows that blacks cannot live anywhere they want. There’s subtle racism to keep them out of certain neighborhoods. I remember during the 2000 campaign when the Dallas Morning News ran an article on Bush not wanting his house to be sold to an AA. His comeback was that it was the realtor that was at fault.</p>
<p>Comparing AfAms lack of support for Steele to AfAms support of Obama is apples & oranges. In spite of the fact that Steele is AfAm, he is no Obama - he doesn’t represent the same thing to AfAms that Obama does. </p>
<p>Now if Obama were an AfAm Republican, bet you’d see a big influx of AfAms to the Republican Party!</p>
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<p>Why do you find it amazing? Prominent African American political leaders have already predicted (threatened?) riots should the black candidate lose. It seems to me that this kind of “leadership” encourages rioting.</p>
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<p>I haven’t heard this. Who predicted that? … The only way I could see ANYONE rioting in the streets is if they feel the election was blatantly stolen from their candidate–as happened in 2000. If we ever had a reprise of that, this middle-aged ex-hippy might be tempted to take to the streets herself.</p>