I was recently at lunch with my mother, grandmother, and great aunt. My aunt states that although she is a strong Democrat, she doesn't think she could vote for a person with the name Obama so as of now she has stated she will not vote at all in the upcoming election. I of course think this is ludicrous but I keep my mouth shut and the conversations drifts away from politics as quickly as it started. Later on that evening, I am talking to my uncle, who is a fierce and loyal Democrat, and I tell him about the statement my aunt made earlier that day. He tells me that his brother, my uncle, made similar statements a few weeks ago. He also said my uncle stated that America is just not ready for a black man to be president. We discussed the issues a little further, lambasting such an ignorant comment but it made me think, what does that even mean? I have heard it from several sources before my uncle that America is not ready to have a black man as the leader of this country and to be honest with you the more I think about it the more it confuses me. Why exactly is America not ready for this? When exactly would America be ready if it is not right now? What makes white men so fit to lead the country above everybody else? I mean the questions could go on and on. I realize that everybody that is against Obama does not think in these terms and I truly hope the majority of them do not. This statement though has irked me just because I don't really know what it means. Maybe I should just ignore it, maybe I am just thinking about it way too much but I know one thing and that's that the statement just sounds plain ignorant to me. Maybe, just maybe that is the reason is seems so confusing to me.
Before Obama started to run, I thought we were at least one generation away... in other words, more of the people raised before the Civil Rights movement would have to die and more people raised after the Civil Rights era would have to reach voting age before a black person could be elected President. I also though it could happen before then, but the candidate would have to an extraordinary politician. I didn't see that in Obama then, but I am increasingly coming around to that view. And really, sometimes change like this is best if it just happens rather than be a gradual process.
Being black (or "half" black) is a disadvantage for Obama, but he still has a realistic chance to win the election. The fact there are people who won't consider voting for him because of his race is not surprising. Some of the stuff I've heard from people I've known a long time is so ignorant it stuns me.
It's code, I think, for "I'm not ready to vote for a black president." Why vote against someone because other people aren't "ready" for him; those other people have their own votes to cast. But, it sounds better than saying, "I'm a racist."
Well, I think they are partly right...America might not be ready for a black man as president, and as a republican, this is good news...I'd rather people not vote than vote for Obama...but I digress... There has probably already been a thread about this, but this is a good place for it...I was at the gym the other day, a fairly high end gym and there are very few black people there, not that there's anything wrong with that... This black guy was saying, rather matter of fact, that this is the only time, he believes in his lifetime that there will be a black person to vote for as president and is only voting for him because he's black...IMHO, that is the most ignorant thing to do, voting for race...I know it'll happen and a lot of people will do that but I still think its stupid...It shouldn't matter what race the person is, just the qualifications and how we believe they'll do at running America... Have said that, there was a bit done by a radio personality in Dallas, Big Al on 106.1 FM (he's black)...he was going door to door saying the same thing and was firm on voting for Obama because he's black... Well the next day he had a change of heart of sorts...He had a drink with Tank Johnson of the Dallas Cowboys...He told Tank the same thing, vote for Obama because he's black, but Tank told him look, I just got a check for $1,000,000 and after taxes, I got about $600K...If Obama gets in office, I'll probably only get $400K... Take it for what its worth, but there is a lot of truth to that, meaning Obama will be a classic democrat and raise taxes to pay for social programs un-necessarily...
Don't vote for Obama - millionaires everywhere will only be 500,000aires! Don't vote for Obama - he is Black! Don't vote for Obama - his name sounds funny! Don't vote for Obama - he wants to give everyone access to doctors! Ahh!
I've said it before and I'll say it again, voting because of a characteristic one cannot help is ignorant. Yes, there are people that will vote for Obama simply because he is black but at the same time there are people voting for McCain because he is white. There are also people voting for McCain just because he has a female running mate. The whole 'I'm voting for this candidate because of Characteristic A' gets pointed too much at Obama when it is probably happening equally on both sides.
At this point I honestly would rather hear voting against obama because he's black because if you are voting for mccain because he won't raise your taxes or you think he's better equipped to handle this crisis, that just makes no sense. at least he is really black, to think your taxes won't be raised or mccain has any economic sense is lunacy
^ With the recent bailouts and such, taxes are going to get raised no matter who gets elected...It's how they get the $$$ and what they do with it that scares me... I can see that, but why say characteristic instead of race or gender...Call it for what it is...This thread is about race, plain and simple and it'll happen on both sides, I agree, but I believe you'll see it more on the Obama side because he's half black and you see it, or at least I do, on the news all the time...
I was extremely upset in a good friend of mine when she uttered the same words "I'm not ready for a black president" (she's jewish, like myself, and i find this ignorant and insulting) Things said in recent history... "I don't think women should have the right to vote" "I don't think I'm ready for a female/black CEO" "I don't think (insert culture) should be able to do (insert occupation)" You could have a field day with things people have been said and proven wrong.
I say characteristic because there are people deciding their vote on a lot of different characteristics including race, gender, age, name, etc. What makes you think you'll see it more on Obama's side?
Frankly, I think it's awesome that we have had a woman and a black man battle it out for the Dem. nomination, and now we have a black presidential candidate and a woman veep candidate on the other side. Very very cool!!!!! I have heard a few people talk about another aspect of this election, and that is that 1.) they would have a problem voting for an "old guy" like McCain, and that 2.) is McCain were to kick the bucket, a woman would be president!! It's unfortunate, but we're going to see this type pf stuff (and have) throughout this election on both sides.
Honestly, because he's black...The media brings this issue to light all the time, rightly or wrongly, and it's a main driver in his campaign...I do believe people will vote based on race, which is really sad....
You think more people will vote for Obama because he's black than will vote against him because he's black?
That's the $1,000,000 question...It's hard to say as it depends how many people make it a point to be apart of the democratic process...
I guess we need to wonder what the expectations are of a Black President or a Female President . . . .over that of a White Male President. REVENGE - Is there a feeling that resentment and arger over that whole slavery thing will see its way into public policy? [BTW Obama doesn't have any of that . .. his family was more likely owners than slaves] STEREOTYPE - Is there the ideal that the Black President will be Chris Rock or 50 cent or what ever generic evil stereotype of black folx. I mean seriously. . . I was would ask these people. . . . What *is* it that you are not ready for??? What is you Expectations? REMOVAL OF Privilege, Exclusivity, prestige ??? - Maybe Rocket River WHAT ARE THEY NOT READY FOR??? Merely the skin tone??? The Lack of a Penis. . . If so . .that is truly scary
I'll elect Michael Steele in 2012, or 2016... wish he'd been the Veep this go 'round. I made my position clear on that pre-Palin.
