The man is unflappable! Again Mr Obama shows a cooler head than those around him. Obama addresses race http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/Voters_vs_delegates.html Obama threaded a careful needle at his press conference today, seeming to step back from David Axelrod's assertion that Geraldine Ferraro's words were part of an "insidious pattern" of comments from Clinton surrogates. "That’s one person’s remarks and I don’t want to suggest that somehow one remark by one person is a problem," Obama said. The subtext is Obama's choice never to be the spokesman for racial grievance, and to explicitly disassociate himself from the older politics of race, and he offered an unusually direct glimpse into his thinking on a matter that few people in American politics have given more thought. It was a glimpse both at his views on the issues of race, and how he's been able to navigate the choppy political waters with such success. "I don’t think identity politics has served the Democratic Party well," he said, stating it as flatly as any DLCer would. He said Ferraro's remarks had been "ridiculous" and "divisive," but he also described his own wariness about allegations. (Obama aides said yesterday that Axelrod hadn't meant to refer to a pattern of racially-charged remarks, but just of negative attacks, though many of his examples have been seen as having a racial edge.) "I don't like to throw out words like 'racist,'" Obama said. "I would defy anybody to look though the rhetoric for the last year-and-a-half or the last year and a couple months to find one instance in which I have said some criticism of me was racially based." He did, however, accuse the Clinton campaign of slicing up the electorate along racial lines. He noted that Clinton's aides -- notably Mark Penn -- have told reporters on conference calls that part of her strength lies in her ability to win traditional swing-voting groups, working class whites and Hispanics. Clinton's aides, Obama said, say "there are a set of voters that Obama might not get." He said "that seems to track in a certain racial demographic." He also joked, as he has before, that he's been challenged as both too black and as not black enough. "I don't know what exactly [is] the margin of black vote that is the optimal -- not too black, but black enough," he said.
Since I seriously doubt you have ever been to a caucus and I have been to several in different states, (I was caucusing when the caucus wasn't cool) I am going to just say you don't know what you are talking about and should just scamper along now like you usually do. Jorge go POOF.
I think her point was a black guy running for president gets more media than a white guy or gal. And a white gal gets more pub than a white man. A white guy running for president just isnt interesting anymore.
I dont like either candidate so it really doesnt matter to me. I wouldnt vote for Obama or Hilary. Im finding it difficult to vote for McCain as well. I have no idea who im am voting for yet.
You know, you may deny it, but many African Americans do have some sort of inferiority complex. Deep down in their heart they may think that a black president can only exist in Hollywood movies. They simply didn't believe it to start with. If you haven't erase your memory, at the beginning people just thought it would be just like another reality show, with Hilliary eventually coming out as the ultimate winner and Obama got some credential in his CV that MIGHT get him the presidency when he's older. However, Obama is charismatic enough to draw some votes from the white, and he is a media favorite. Then at that point a few big guys, exemplified by Oprah, started to give him endorsement. The snowball started to roll. The black suddenly realize he's got a chance and it showed in the votes. A lot of African Americans have favorable view on Bill Clinton, so they are not really that against Hillary. If it's just about policy there is absolutely no way 90% of their votes fall into her opponent. I'm not saying Obama has nothing other than a great image derived from his own personal charisma and his race, but the bottomline is the race factor is indeed a significant helper. To deny that is just refusal to touch the reality.
well the black vote is a large and loyal part of the democratic party. And if they support one canidate greatly over another it would really sway the advantage to that canidate. My theory is the media coverage of a black canidate>>>media coverage for woman Thats TV time that you cannot buy (well you can but its expensive)
What it sounded like she was saying is that he doesn't have merits to be a candidate other than his skin color. It sounded like she was saying the only reason Obama got 1600 delegates was solely because he was black, and not because he actually had any worth as a candidate.
I read what you wrote, you said blacks are loyal democrats, which I don't know what that meant since these are two democrats. hillary was the front runner all last year until elections started. she had all the coverage. she blew it and the media chose to cover the rising candidate. obama earned his coverage, he worked then got coverage, not the other way around, that's what you have BARACKWARDS LOL
OK in the group of dems, the black vote has a lot of power. Thus if the vast majority vote for one of the 2 canidates than the advantage goes towards them. My post had 2 parts the first two lines and the second 2. They were separated by the "my theory" part
that's fine, its not an issue, it wasn't when black people voted for clinton (bill) it wasn't when they voted for kerry, even though many didn't bother, its not now.
look, you're going off track and you do this. I don't have any personal problem with you but you argue to argue. let's stick to the thread topic. of course its an issue. anything is an "issue" by the vague definition of "issue" is obama getting a free ride from the media because he's black. have people been less critical. that's the issue. lets stick to it instead of playing never ending questions that go nowhere
Geraldine Goofus. Queen of my new favorite word, hyperbole. Finds her way back into the national spotlight only to make a fool of herself. Now Geraldine will go back to the Goofus Cave and whine. Impeach Bush.
dude I'll take the offer to stop but... just for posterity I made a post responding to the general thread "is obama lucky to be black" I laid out two possible reasons why he could be, you misread my post then I was reluctant to explain.
Hillary's demographics: 55-60% of the Dem electorate is women 60% of the Dem electorate is white Obama's demographics: 40-45% of the Dem electorate is men 15% of the Dem electorate is black (another 15% or so is Hispanic - these are all estimates) All are getting voters from their demographic. Which one benefits here? Are more black voters voting for Obama because he's black than white voters are voting for Hillary because she's white? Are more women voters voting for Hillary becaus she's a woman than men voters are voting for Obama because he's a man? Without those numbers, we have no idea what kind of demographic advantage or disadvantage he has. The fact that our first 43 Presidents were all white men, though, shows that probably being (1) white and (2) a man both have benefits.
^^^^^^ There is that state school education shining through right there, lol. Actually it does not mean that being white and a man has benefits. It might, but it might not. Look at the demographics of the US. Lots of white men out there. Ever stop and think that they might be qualified for the position? Could it logically follow that the top man for the job was a white male? Nah, can't possibly be, especially in this day and age when it is so popular to demonize the white male... No one in their right mind would say that Obama is the 'most qualified for the position of President.' To say otherwise is just foolish. His resume is simply lacking in a big big way. His ascent through the democratic primary has been in part driven by his race. "What a great story it is to tell that a half black man got nominated!" "I did my part to help mend race relations and I feel great about it!" "Blacks haven't gotten a fair shake in our society, time to make up for it!" I guarantee you this is passing through democratic voters' minds -- at least some of them. He is celebrity endorsed, so he's hip. He looks good to the ladies. Heck, his name is so unique! What a novelty act this guy is! Let's make him President! HOW FOOLISH
Barack is better qualified than George W. Bush was when he ran, but you know that, Trader_J. You'd rather play the racist. I don't know why, because I doubt if you really are a racist, but you play one on a BBS for some bizarre reason. I hope you're enjoying it. Impeach Bush.
