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Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by AugC

First off, let me say I am an Obama guy, through and through...

So let's face one fact... blacks tending to vote for Obama because he is black is as "racist" as white people voting for a white candidate because she/he is white. Perhaps it is morally worse if you vote against a candidate because of his/her skin color. But presently there are only two colors represented, so it's hard to tell who's voting for their own kind versus voting against the other kind. In any case, I'm not terribly enthused that Obama essentially won South Carolina because of black voters. I believe he is the best viable candidate, and I wish he had won South Carolina because of black and white voters (who by a substantial margin voted against him).

The tidal wave of black support in South Carolina will, I think, come back to hurt Obama. I think white voters will be turned off by the fact (fairly or unfairly) that he is getting a ridiculously large portion of the black vote. Non-black voters will see the South Carolina results and will correctly see that Obama basically won because he is black. Now, there are a gazillion instances in American history where a white candidate, or a white defendant, or a white employee won because he/she is white. And rightlfully so, blacks are bitter.

Regardless of who is right or wrong in this situation, the fact is that many white voters (and a lot of Latino voters) will be somewhat bitter that Obama won because he is black. And I wish this wasn't true, but it is.

I think you're wrong
by zebra

I'm an Obama supporter, and I'm not black. Are you? Unfortunately, I don't even know any Obama supporters who are black. And I know quite a few Obama supporters.

There's nothing wrong with the black community supporting Obama. It's like women voting for Hillary. It's not prejudice, it's PRIDE.

Aug C
by keef2333

I wish you weren't right, but I must admit you probably are. Especially when it comes to Latino voters on the coasts. However, I find it funny that Hillary Clinton ( the first First Lady of The First Black President, Bill) secretly must hope that African Americans don't vote too heavily in some of the primaries or she might not win.

A friend of mine pointed out something interesting to me this evening while watching the SC primary vote come in. Hurricane Katrina shed a harsh light on the incompetence of government and its long-term ignoring of poverty - washed away the dirt and bared all, so to speak. The Clinton campaign and her sleazy, race baiting tactics are opening the eyes of what were once loyal supporters blinded by party loyalty.

Many people are seeing the Clintons for who they really are. Competent? Sure, why not. Experienced.? Yes. Inspiring? Never. A force for good - classy people? Not on your life.

Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by nerdnam

You're not correct in this at all. Black voters may have voted for Obama, but most black voters have often voted for whites in the past and will vote for whites in the future. So blacks don't vote exclusively for blacks. They didn't do it for Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton or that nut Alan Keyes.

You can't say the same thing about most whites, who generally have never voted for anyone not white.

Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by AugC

My point isn't really about who is the more racist voter, blacks or white. The fact is that 80% of South Carolinan blacks voted for Obama. Is anyone doubting that a lot of these votes were cast because of the color of Obama's skin? Without these black votes, Obama would have lost by a large margin. And I think that white Americans and Latinos (who from my experience as a group are more racist against blacks than whites are racist against blacks) will not like the fact that Obama won because of the color of his skin.

Again, I wish this wasn't the case, but it just is.

Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by Prim

They alreay are. You are correct.

Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by alexu23sphere
people have always voted for one of their own. There is nothing new, shocking, or particularly interesting about it. certainly, it isn't racist.
Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by alaskankingcrab
Please pause for a moment and draw an electoral college map showing Senator Obama defeating any Republican other than Alan Keyes this November.
Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by bsharporflat

Those same black voters who voted for Obama were polling strongly for Hillary not so long ago, so obviously there is more at play here than simple race favorititsm.

What is true is that southern blacks tend to vote in a bloc. And SOMETHING(s) happened in the past week to turn that bloc from the Hillster to Barry O. I think those things are named Jackson, Clinton and Clinton. Amazing how quickly they bloc smelled the stink emanating from that trio.

Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by Th Paine
But I think the fact that Obama got 25% of the white vote is pretty impressive, and I suspect some of the high Black vote for Obama was due to Clinton tactics in the past week or so.
Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by Lemis66
Not anymore. He got double his goal of white vote in a redneck state and plenty of whites including me in the northern states.
Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by Lemis66
what has 80% of one demographic got to do with who I will vote for. I'm going against my demographic WM over 65.
Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by Lemis66

Did I mention, I have roots in South Carolina? One of my ancestors married a black woman. Some of the kids turned out white. Then after the civil war, my line moved to Missouri. and passed for white. By the time my father came along we were racists. My sister never told my racist father that she discovered he had black blood in his veins when she checked our genealogy. and 4 days ago I was a contributing supporter of Clinton. I switched because of the nastiness.

Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by tobiasaf
alaskankingcrab: Same map as 2004, switch OH from republican to democrat. Throw in Iowa for good measure. Chances are Obama would win many more states than just these, but even just Ohio would be all he needs to win, and the OH republican party is obliterated beyond any hope of salvation in the near future.
Re: Strong Black Support Will Hurt Obama
by Hillary can beat republicans obama cant
Anyone saying they would change there mind from Voting Democrat to vote Republican better get to stepping dont let the door hit you on the butt on the way out we dont need your sorry butt.
The Democratic party stands for turning around this mess the Republicans and ignorant Administration of George W. Bush. If you dont get that then take a thick stick and beat yourself with it tell you do. Look around everything that was a positive from the Clinton years has been screwed by the Bush years and War.
We had so many Higher paying jobs and the deficit was paid and had huge surplus. You could open a news paper and see job after job and not low paying jobs but really good paying jobs.
If you are stupid enough to think others will vote with your republican buddies who have screwed up the economy the War and just about anything you can name that important. Blame yourself if you vote with them hopefully you lose your job first if you vote republican,
If you want to win and turn things around for the better Vote for Hillary in 08 she can win and will with our help. Democrats Independents and Republicans United behind a winner.
Hillary in 08 "Ready on day one!!
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