There is considerable discussion these days about how racism of many undecided white voters might be the factor that keeps Barack Obama out of the White House. This is something worth pondering and an idea that I've been thinking for several months now.
In effect, large numbers of white people have conflicted feelings about black people and other racial minorities, just as many black and brown people feel conflicted about white people. And regardless of their political leanings, white people tend to want to be open-minded and accepting of other people who are not like them--and they tend to believe that they "don't see color." However, below the surface many of them unwittingly have questions and concerns that often do not become articulated thoughts.
At the same time, large numbers of white people feel inundated with the message that "all racism is bad." Naturally, they learn a coded language for how to think and act in multicultural situations or whenever one's behavior and ideas about race might be judged; they learn to say the right thing and appear as though they're a member of the multicultural team, even if they play for another side. Extensive research on "latent racism" (i.e., the racism that is largely buried just beneath the surface of our waking consciousness) clearly suggests that when the moment comes to pull the lever for a black man, many white people are not going to be able to do it.
Dick Meyer, an editorial director for NPR Digital Media, has written a very balanced piece that suggests that Obama's run for the seat in the Oval Office may well be derailed by our inability to create a society that is not mired in prejudice and racism. I'd like to think that Mr. Meyer's research is off base and ill-informed, that he's digging up divisive issues and playing the race card, and that the American public is progressing away from racism. But from what I know about the sociological underpinnings of racism in our society today, I think he may be on target.
You be the judge:
Against the Grain: Obama, Race and Undecided Voters
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I think that this is quite an interesting proposition. I would like to think that Obama’s being half-black strongly influences the elections, which it does, but I do not think it should be that way. However, from what I have heard in my discussion, which I believe to be true, different races definitely have different experiences in life. The fact that Obama is half-black and has fought through struggles throughout his life speaks to blacks. I, of course, will never really know what kind of struggles or what kinds of relevancy he can speak to those of color because I think a lot of it is political crap to get votes. Only he knows what his life has actually been like. I definitely believe that his color hands him a ticket from many minorities though because many relate back to the experiences of different races. If he is of a certain race he must know what those experiences have been like and therefore, he will address policy changes that speak to their people. In this way, Obama definitely has a hand in minority voting. From politics classes, I have learned that minorities are also the least likely group to actually vote, along with young adults. This may counteract his attraction as many of his supporters might not actually get out and vote. This creates a more balanced playing field. Because of this, I am not totally sure what to think about race playing such an important role in the upcoming election.
I think it would be completely awful if Obama was not elected president just because he's black. Although that would never be used as a reason, it would be a shame if people do not vote for him just because of his race. There are so many more important issues and it would be sad if the undecided white voters used his race as a deciding factor. It would be even worse if the white people were doing it subconsciously.
On the other hand, you have to look at all the black people that are voting for Obama simply because he's black and they want their kids to know they can grow up to be president too. The same issue comes up when gender comes into play. I saw Bill Clinton on the View today commenting on the fact that some female Hillary supporters are going over to support Palin simply because she is a woman. Some groups identify more easily with their own kind. There are some women that just want another woman in the White House. There are also some black people that want a black person in the White House. It is very sad though to think that there are people out there that would not want other person in the White House just because of his race.
I think that article brings up very valid points that many will consider when voting. I hope that the amount of people who think negatively toward Obama due to his race do not greatly impact the election results, because that is down right racism. The article mentions that some undecided voters have not yet thought about the race issue, and there is speculation as to whether or not the McCain campaign will bring it up as the election nears. I think this would be an incredibly low blow, and should actually deter people from voting for McCain, because that just shows his opinion toward race. I think that undecided voters should consider experience of the candidates before considering race. I also think, however, that Obama’s race may not negatively affect his outcome in the election. If you think about it, undecided white voters looking at race will probably vote McCain, but undecided black voters and possible other minorities will vote for Obama, so I don’t know that race will be too much of an issue among undecided voters. I also think we should remember that Obama is popular. He won the primaries for the Democratic side, so most Democrats should stick by his side, unless race is really that big of an issue to them. This is definitely going to be an interesting election, and the outcome is very unknown. I hope that people vote for whom they think would be a better president and who would represent us as a whole, rather than just basing their opinions of something like skin color.
I think that this whole election is just about race, no matter what anyone says or wants to believe; it is all about race. People are voting for what they believe and also what their views are about race. I feel like though this is very silly, especially since I think Obama is just really white. Yes, he is half black, but he is also half WHITE. He grew up with his white mother, his white grandparents, in a white community and upbringing. So therefore he is proportionally whiter, isn't he? But yet I feel like he uses his black side to his advantage to pick up minority votes. I am not saying that minority people should not vote for Obama, but Obama is playing up both the white and the black side of him. He acts like he is not black with his white friends, and acts like he is not white with his black friends. I know he is half and half, but really Obama, just pick a side. Although I do not like what Obama is doing with this, I do not think people should judge him by his skin color, and they should not judge McCain by his skin color, either.
- I am a little worried at the fact that these white people are subconsciously racist. They may walk around and whole-heartedly believe that they are color blind. I am curious to how someone one day wakes up and realizes that they have turned into the very person that they are so against. Will Election Day be the day that all white people snap out of their utopian, pretend worlds and embrace that they are racist? It is frightening to even consider the possibility that I am racist and I unaware of it.
I am not so convinced that the race card plays a big role in the campaign, however. The reason why I am HOPEFUL that I am correct is because of the deterministic factor. Obama has been brought up in a privileged way in comparison to other men in America. Yes, he did work hard, I am sure, to overcome some obstacles, but I have been informed that Obama naturally has it easier because of the privileges that he has had in life. I believe he knows that he is privileged and that is why he seems so strong-willed about his campaign. I can see that this presidential bid is a personal accomplishment for himself, and I believe he counts his blessings. But I also believe that he is in tune with the fact that other black men do not have it so easy. If he were to play the race card, he would be a hypocrite which would tremendously sink his credibility with Americans. But again, this could be my naive view that people are more informed about the issues of race, but I do not think Obama's campaign uses the racial issue as they progress into November.
To put it simply, I am so sick and tired of hearing everybody talk about the race card in this year’s election. I completely agree that it is an important factor, not in the sense that it should have some type of influence on who voters vote for, rather under the idea that our country has finally reached a point where someone other than a white person finally can run for election and also have a decent chance at winning. I have heard a lot of people talk about when “those white men go to vote, they won’t be able to vote for a black man”. Well, of course this is going to happen, there is always going to be racist people in this world. However, I think people are completely over estimating the number of people who won’t be able to “pull the lever” for Obama. Right now, no matter what way you look at it, our economy is in the tank. Obama’s stance on the economy is one of his stronger points, white middle class voters who are currently experiencing financial difficulties would be complete dumb-asses if they simply were not voting for Obama because he was “black”. The fact of the matter is that the majority of voters, particularly those unemployed will most likely but their biases aside (this is my personal opinion) and vote for Obama if they believe he will help them become employed again and out of debt.
Obama being black definitely does hurt his chances to become president, but I do not think that it should. Many people today in the United States think that they are progressing away from racism, but actually most are racist and try to hide it which in my opinion makes it worse. I am focusing my vote in the election on the candidate’s facts and changes that they want to make to the economy, not on their skin color. In my opinion Obama is a white man who has grown up in a white family, but he is playing the black card to get blacks to vote for him and at the same time whites won’t vote for him because he is black. Dick Meyer stated that there are many other aspects of the election that will affect Obama like his lack of experience. I believe that people who vote for Obama are going to be people of his same race and people who want a change in the United States since McCain is another Bush (some people say). People can repeat themselves over and over again saying that racism no longer exists. If it didn’t exist we wouldn’t have to worry about affirmative action and discrimination laws that have a greater number of cases being filed every year. Racism exists in the US and it most likely is going to affect Obama’s chances of becoming president, but there might be enough people fed up with the economy that they want a change, even if the change is a black man.
Kristi Konkus
This year’s election has earned itself the title of being the most controversial election yet in history. We know this is true because this is the first election with two candidates who are not white, and of the Anglo-Saxon Protestant race besides JFK. The controversy goes even deeper, which is apparent from the article. The question of whether Obama was an affirmative action choice would have come into consideration for any person of another race or religion running for president, which would occur at some point in the future, if not now. He is the first one to step up and even through him we are not pushing all the boundaries. The question that is presented is whether Obama being thought of as an affirmative action choice will greatly influence how people will vote in the polls. People question whether he is actually qualified to be America’s next president, which is understandable from his lack of background in the government, but race is also a factor people are taking into consideration. We have learned that there is a very small difference between people of different races; therefore we should not be questioning his abilities because of that factor. We as voters should try to ignore the race factor in this election and see the candidates for what change they will bring to America and how that fits with people’s needs and beliefs. Obama is a candidate who will bring great change, but the question we should be asking is not if that change will occur because he is half black, but because he is capable of being an honest and worthy president.
I find myself having mixed thoughts regarding the original blog post and article. Are there going to be undecided voters that ultimately make their decision based upon the race of the candidates? Undoubtedly so. Are white people going to pick McCain because he’s white? Yes. Are black people going to pick Obama because he’s black? Yes. Are white people going to pick Obama because he’s black? Yes. Are black people going to pick McCain because he’s white? Yes. There are all sorts of people who are going to vote in this election who are very well educated in politics, and the proposed platforms of both candidates. At the same time, there are all sorts of people who are completely uneducated in political and economic issues, the platforms that these candidates represent, or both. Based on pre-election polls regarding favorites, and in general satisfaction ratings with the current republican regime, I personally don’t feel like Obama is going to have a hard time getting elected. What if he doesn’t? then he doesn’t. Is he going to turn around and claim that he wasn’t elected because he is black? I highly doubt it. This whole article and blog seem to me atleast, a moot point. Firstly, even with the recognition that racism still exists, we are never going to know which votes, or how many were cast with racial undertones.
As our country is now only hours away from the second debate between Senator McCain and Senator Obama, I found Mr. Meyer’s column to be rather prophetic, but incomplete. In the time since Mr. Meyer penned his column, much has happened in America. As the downfall of the financial markets have raised doubts for all Americans, I believe many have felt an urge towards the most fitting way to move forward. That way is not of any color, background, ethnicity, or family. It is an inner sense that one candidate has the ability to lead our country through a historically discouraging time.
In past elections, candidates have promised similar rewards to voters. In that sense, many voters may have felt more comfortable seeing someone of their own ethnicity as the winner. That is misguided and harmful, but it can hardly be denied. This election is different though in that voters realize they cannot be biased without fear of economic impact. Choosing a candidate on color alone could result in further economic downturn. Alternatively, choosing a candidate on who is best equipped to lead the country is colorblind. Perhaps Mr. Meyer is right in mentioning the Bradley effect, and perhaps that will come into play yet again. However, I remain hopeful that in a time of repossessions and foreclosures the public will remain focused on which candidate will be the best to lead us, regardless of color. Let’s hope for the best.
I would like to comment on what Melissa has said. Melissa suggested that because Obama is half black he somehow starts with an advantage, but because she learned in her politics classes that minorities are least likely to vote, then that makes it fair. I think that is ridiculous. To suggest that Senator Obama has an unfair ADVANTAGE, please. Senator Obama has an up hill battle on his hands. I believe that yes, perhaps some people may vote for him because he is half black, but we all have to be real here and understand far more will NOT vote for him because he is half black. More importantly I have a real problem with the fact that race is such a big deal with this election. It is naive to believe that that we are past race, and I have heard that Obama will likely suffer around a six point hit just because he is half black, but WAKE UP PEOPLE, we are talking about the presidency, get over it, this is way too important to even allow race to cloud our judgment. Everyone has to understand, to be the president you must be smart, understanding, determined, direct, honest, honorable, trustworthy, and capable. Race has absolutely nothing to do with any of those necessary characteristics that we need in our President.
While I do understand and agree that race will play a role in the upcoming election, I think it’s important to note how race might play a positive role as well. My opinion is that many people will vote for Obama because he is Black and for all that will mean for America. Perhaps people will vote for Obama because he is different, because we’ve never had a Black President. I think Obama is right on target to emphasize his “vote for change” campaign, I don’t think it would be fair for him to play any sort of racism card like the article, “Obama, Race And Undecided Voters” suggests that McCain does. I believe that being Black will help Obama win, just as McCain is using the same tactic by trying to get the women voters, placing Palin as his Vice President. However, being Black is this election can be a dangerous factor as well. What I think is specifically interesting in Meyer’s article, is how he discusses undecided voters and the “Bradley effect”. This is something very important to consider because not only do some voters, “people please”, to disguise their racism in mock polling, but the Bradley effect shows how the undecided, lower educated, lower class voters can have a very powerful vote in the elections. On the other hand, I think it’s very sad how this election will come down to color for the majority of voters, whether people vote for Obama because he is black, or don’t vote for Obama because he is black. It’s a shame how easily we lose track of the issues and get caught up in the ignorance and shallow mindedness that is color.
I think Obama’s race affecting him becoming president could go either way. For sure there are white people who aren't going to vote for Barack simply because of his race. A minority has never been in office and white people may be too afraid of change. A lot of black people and minorities are going to vote for Obama because of his race. They may not even know about each candidate’s policies or plans when they get in office, but, because he is black they are going to vote for him regardless. As much as I would hope that Barack’s race doesn't have any say in his getting into office it really could have something to do with who is elected next month. Yes, there will be people who play the racism card, but, what about having a woman as the next vice president? That is just as big of a change as having an African American as President. Sarah Palin is just one heartbeat away from becoming the first woman president of the United States. Racism is still very much prominent in this country. However, sexism is also very much alive. This country has made it a point to overcompensate for the minority. We have supplied the work force and universities with quotas to fill. When one minority tries to make a difference and come above all the stigmas attached to his color, the race card still follows him. Barack Obama should be an example to people across the country that minorities do not need excuses and all people are equal to succeed. However, there will still be very naïve, very stubborn people who only see Barack Obama’s color.
As I have been following the presidential election coverage recently, trying to figure out which candidate I’m going to vote for, I’ve been listening to many of the political analysts’ opinions on the election and many opinions about which way the undecided voters will lean. I was watching the second presidential debate and one of the commentators, I believe he was a former advisor to Ronald Reagan, but I don’t remember his name, mention about many voters turning away from voting for Obama because he is black. I don’t think that this person was being racist at all with what he said, just stating a pretty fair opinion. He mentioned that many people who may feel this way are not racist but just not good about change. Having a black president is definitely a change in this country and many people aren’t willing to accept that. As I continued to follow the news coverage on the election I’ve noticed the race factor come up more and more with undecided voters. CNN did a piece on some campaign members of Obama going out to undecided voters to talk to them and maybe persuade their voting decision. The campaign members said that many people they talked to, the issue as to whether or not they were voting for Obama was his race. They said that many people were afraid to come out and say it’s because he is black that they wouldn’t vote for him, they would talk around it by saying he is Muslim, when in fact he has always been a Christian. They said when they told people this, it was then when the factor came out that is was due to his race that they were not voting for him. It’s sad to here that this is a large reason why Obama may not win this presidential election. I think it is true though that people still consider race as a factor in making their decision. It shouldn’t be about race when considering who is going to be President of this country; people should focus on the issues not the color of someone’s skin.
I think the article presents an interesting factor in this election in that really what is the undecided voter going to eventually decide? In a perfect world we'd hope to see them pick based on how they feel about the issues that are important to them, and in this election I feel that more people are likely to be more swayed by that than any issue of race or on the personalities or records of the candidates. I think what is funny about this article is that it focuses on whites not voting for Obama because he's half-black, but really how about white people that are doing the exact opposite. These people are ones that are possibly like me (although I'm hispanic doing this) that may be voting for him because he really does represent radical change for this country. The United States is looking for a different look, not only in representation but in policies. I'm sure the author of this article meant to imply that because Obama may not get vote based on the color of his skin that the voters would go McCain, but who's to say that they'll even vote McCain or even vote at all! I just feel that this election is too important to even consider race being a factor, people want the tide to change because things are definitely not going the right direction and with the candidates running this time around changes are likely, but its a matter of what things will get changed.
When there is the thought of a black man being the next president of the United States of America, many people believe that it will kill the U.S. in terms of racial issues. Without any doubt, many white people who will vote will look only at the color of the skin, not the issues that either of the candidates will hope to resolve. How can we, as Americans, feel that Barack Obama will not be able to control the country? We hear all the time that the racial issues of the past are gone. People do not look at color as a big deal anymore, and I say to them, WRONG! This is a typical white person saying because they are the people who do not want to admit that they are racist. Racism plays the biggest role in determining our next president. Actually I feel that it may be the only factor. White people will look only to this matter when they cast their vote in November. Many white people, again, will say that they are watching the debates and that is going to determine their vote. Well, they tell us this but then they are actually biased and will say that they do not agree with Obama and a huge factor in determining that is because he is part black. Instead of looking to racial issues to elect our next president, take time to actually listen to both sides and keep your eyes closed and make the right choice.
This election is probably one of the biggest in a long time. While I definitely do have an interest in politics and like to follow the campaigns, I cannot wait for it to be over, because it really is all the media and people trying to stop you on the street seem to be able to talk about. The way our economy is and with the war in Iraq, everyone seems to have something to say about the candidates.
There are, I realize, plenty of people who shockingly haven’t even considered who they will vote for, and I do think it is a fair assessment to say that some people will vote for McCain because of racism—whether consciously or subconsciously. Racism is an issue that has been around forever and will be around for a long time. I completely agree that there is a possibility that Obama will lose the race because of this.
However, on the flip side, a part of me feels it might actually have the reverse affect. There are plenty of people, mostly minorities but also white people who have strong feelings against race or perhaps like to go against the “norm”, who will vote for Obama simply because he is black. Due to the subconscious racism of some and people’s reluctance to admit their true feelings in many cases, it really is impossible to tell if people’s views on race will affect the voting enough to sway the election one way or another.
I am, however, leaning towards the idea that it will help McCain more than Obama. The rich upper-class white people are mostly the ones who will use racism as a reason to vote for McCain, while a lot of lower class, possibly uneducated people who are normally more liberal and hateful towards the fact that the rich seem to continue getting richer while they themselves seem to be getting poorer, would be the ones to use anti-racism as a reason to vote for Obama. It is these lower class, under-educated people that a lot of times do not take the time to register to vote or to go to the polls, or who often feel like there is nothing they can do personally to stop the problems they face, so they are more unlikely to vote. I guess we will just have to wait and see how racism takes a toll on the election, and I can only hope it does not bring Obama down, because it would be a shame for racism to be the reason for a win, whichever way it would happen to sway the vote.
I definitely think that this is one of the most interesting election in years, and it has a lot to do with the fact that we have a black (or half-black) man running for the high office. Although there is still racism in the world today, I do not think that it is going to affect the outcome of the election in a negative way for Barack Obama. With the issues at hand with this election, and the mass amount of people that they affect, people are not going to rule out a single candidate do to their race, they are going to want the candidate in office that is going to fix everything, and get them and the rest of the country back on pace and going in the right direction. Inevitably there are going to be people who dislike Obama because he is black and it is going to skew their views on him and what he stands for, but I don’t think that there are enough people in the United States who think that to sway the election, causing him to lose. To be honest, I think that the majority of “racism” that is affecting the election is from the black/minorities. They see that there is a minority running for office and they are automatically drawn to him and are going to vote for him simply because he is a minority and not consider what he of John McCain stand for.
I think that this position is true. I know a few people close to me that probably wont vote for Obama because of his color. I feel that using skin color to judge people is completely wrong. I have been looked at as a racist for no other reason than my white skin before and its completely ignorant. I believe that a person should vote for another based on the ideals that they have and what benefith they will bring to this country. I believe that no matter what the president looks like, as long as he has good moral character, makes his desisions based on the popular opinion, and helpes this country in all the way that Bush couldn't, they should have the chance to run as the head of our nation. I don’t consider myself racist by any means due to the fact that my best friend is black and a lot of things that we have been through opened my eyes to racism in our society. I find it completely ignorant that people who are racist will not vote on a person simply because they are black; they would rather see a incapable white president in office rather than a great black capable one. This is a major downfall in our society today. I want to smack some sense into the people who think this way. This is a serious issue that will affect the lives of millions of people and it needs to be taken seriously untainted by racism. The color of someone’s skin should never play a part in judging a person by the color of their skin.
I was watching a debate that featured Senator McCain answering questions from people in the audience. There was one lady that completely blew my mind with a comment she made to McCain. She said that she could not vote for Obama because he was Muslim and had dark skin. This is the world we face. I believe that people like her should have no say in our elections and shouldn’t count as a vote. I could sit here and complain and complain but I think that it will do nothing. I think that racism needs to be brought out in the open by white role models that will have an influence on what the white population believes. Racism is something that needs to be addressed and discussed more openly.
This upcoming election is extremely controversial. The bottom line is that we live in a society filled with ignorant people who don’t take the time to educate and inform themselves about the issues that affect us on a daily basis. As a result, come voter registration time, these same people won’t take the time to register to vote because they don’t care enough. As a result of this, so few people who actually know the kind of change they want to see in this country will end up voting. And what’s worse, people who did register but don’t know anything about the two presidential candidates will rely on the small bits of information they can collect to form some kind of opinion. For a lot of those people, the “race card” is going to come into play. I’ve been surrounded by so many of my peers that aren’t considering voting for Obama because they’ve been taught that a black man (or in this case, half black man) isn’t capable of running the country. The messages that their parents have instilled in their brains from such a young age hasn’t escaped them, and unfortunately this concept is ultimately shaping their opinions. But these people need to learn more and go beyond the issue of race to finally make a decision. The way I see it, race has been an extremely relevant issue in this campaign, and I fear that although so many of my peers have mentioned that they “don’t see color,” they will end up being blinded by exactly that. I will admit, however, that part of the problem does lie with people of color as well. Many people of color might vote for Obama simply because of his race, and that’s just as bad. Every single voter of every single color needs to think about the future of this country. You simply cannot base a vote on race. Both candidates are extremely bright men who would do great service for America, but a sincere examination of their policies must come into play. I worry that this article is justified, and that many people are too scared of the unfamiliar. Those people need to stop creating a race box and start thinking about what this country stands for in the first place.
I think that it’s obvious that race is playing a huge role in this presidential election. While it is undeniably significant that a there is a black candidate, it is also hard to focus on that without being attacked for “playing the race card.” This is a problem because it’s impossible not to see that Obama is black, and there’s no reason that it shouldn’t be noted. However, at the same time, race should not be a deciding factor in any voters’ mind.
I think an issue that race will play in this election will stem from institutional discrimination, meaning discrimination that is unintentional and hard to spot. White people today are taught to be politically correct when it comes to race and a lot of time, feel like they have to walk on egg shells concerning racial issues. I think this will lead to an “under the surface” white mind-set that Obama has a certain disadvantage because of his race.
There is no way that race will not play a huge role in November. I can only hope by that point, even those who will take race into consideration will also take the time to research other, significant issues. When alone in a voting booth, I hope that all people, regardless of race and candidate preference, will be able to make a "colorblind" decision.
I think it is pretty obvious that race plays a huge role in the 2008 election, both hurting and in favor for Obama. When Clinton and Obama were running for the Democratic nominee, the race and gender card was also significant. Sadly, many white voters will vote for McCain simply because Obama is black, and they could never see someone other than a White man as commander in chief. On the flip side, I think many voters will simply vote for Obama because he is of color, and therefore represents them, and their race. We watched a video in class today of white ignorant supporters of McCain. They claimed that Obama was a terrorist, and that he hated all white people. After watching this video, I couldn’t believe the ignorance and racism that some voters have towards the election.
Yes, it is a big deal that after all these years there is finally a black (half black) candidate but race isn’t everything! Voters should be looking at the candidates experiences, values, plans, and stands on different issues that are important to them. The fact that Obama is black and that McCain is white should not matter. People should vote for the best candidate, not the person who shares your same skin color. I just turned 18 last year, so this is the first election that I am able to participate in. I’m excited to see what happens on election day, I just hope people vote for the right reasons. Go Obama!
This election is shaping up to be a VERY interesting election. After watching the Vice Presidential debate, I thought about why a white person would not vote for Obama. Some may say it’s because they’re conservative and only vote republican no matter what color his skin is. Others may say they just don’t like his ideas. There may even be some people who will not vote for Obama just because he is black. It’s crazy to think that in the 21st century a man could be denied the presidency based on his skin color alone. I think it’s really sad that Obama might not get elected just because of his skin color.
The idea that whites don’t see color is hard to justify and I think that some white people subconsciously will vote against Obama simply because he’s black. I don’t think people need to justify their vote, so if a person wants to vote for someone else because he is black, that’s there prerogative.
The really funny thing about this whole situation is the fact that Dr. Richards brings up all the time: Obama is mixed, half black and half white. It’s amazing how so many people overlook this simply because he has dark skin. Overall, it will be very interesting to see what happens.
To say that Obama will not win the election based solely on the fact that he is a black man sounds absurd to me. I have more faith in the United States. The argument that his lack of experience could lead voters to believe he is only the Democratic candidate because of his race is equally illogical. His lack of experience, when cancelled out with his alluring personality, makes an adequate Democratic presidential candidate. The fact that Obama is black has nothing to do with his nomination. The Democrats were favored in the upcoming election due to the Republicans numerous failures in office since 2000. A likable candidate with a traditional campaign is sufficient and I believe voters will recognize that before viewing Obama as an “affirmative action” candidate. The comparison in the article to Tom Bradley’s run for Governor of Los Angeles in 1982 is flimsy. That was over 25 years ago. The race issue in the United States is not nearly as pressing these days. The excuse that voters may not want to admit their racial feelings to pollsters may have been relevant in those days, but I believe they are much less relevant in today’s society. It’s not viable to believe that race will not play any factor in the upcoming election. However, I don’t believe it will play enough of a part to sway the election away from Obama.
It would truly be sad if Obama were to be denied the presidency based on the color of his skin. I however do not believe that race will play as important of a role as many people are suggesting. As far as I know Obama is ahead in the polls. It is quite possible however that many people remain on the fence because they support the Democratic party and would decidedly vote for the Democratic candidate if it were a white man with the same stances running for president. The same however could be said for the inverse of this argument, Obama could have received many votes from black voters that would not normally have voted for him simply based on his platform. I realize that black people are the minority but I think that whites who won't vote for him based on race and blacks who will more or less cancel each other out. I think that how far our country has come to have a colored man be the favored candidate in a presidential election is a very good thing. All of that being said very few people truly vote based on the platform of their candidate and many people vote simply based on their image or based on what other people are doing.
How white voters are impacted by Barack Obama’s race is what is being explored in the final few weeks before Election Day. By this time in John McCain and Barack Obama’s campaigns, I cannot imagine anyone, regardless of race, is undecided. What was latent racism, expressed only in the line at the grocery store or in selection of television program, is now on the surface as McCain-Palin stickers. For those voters who are impacted by race and uneducated enough to decide their candidate by racial representation have jipped themselves by not paying attention out of an election of education, a chance to be astonished how we really are one human family. Race is a card they have forced Obama to hold and he only played it to be political and to draw in the voters who would vote for him because he is black. The video Sam showed in class yesterday of white voters speaking about Obama with blatant racism foaming at the corners of their mouths were lost causes from the start. If Obama wins this election there is a chance of hope for these individuals to reduce their hate and their misconceptions by how well he will represent them. One old woman on the video stated she is scared that Obama will be racist towards white people. So her vote is for McCain to maintain her power as a white person over black people. This ignorance is at the heart of McCain’s chance. I will believe there are enough educated truly open minded people out there who will vote for Barack because he will do wonders for this nation in the white house. At the least his win will do wonders for racial equality and giving half this nation to chance to be elected to office. Meyer was spot on in his fear of uneducated white voters. I believe Obama’s campaign has effectively reached the voters who would only vote against him due to their latent racism and informed them to not fear but hope for the change they believe needs to occur in this nation’s foreign policy. I feel his understanding of race will benefit the whole nation and make people who thought they understood racial equality realize their latent racism.
I find it very interesting that many people only seem to be focusing on the white people who aren't going to vote for Obama because he is black. What about the black people who are only going to vote for Obama because he is black? I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've heard people (not just black people, mind you) say that they are going to vote for Obama because he is black. In other words, because he is not white. Why is it not as big of a deal that some people aren't going to vote for McCain because he is white? Isn't that also racism? Obama's skin color is important in this election (as others have stated), not because he is black, but because he is a non-white running for president. This is historical for our country. But, bottom line, people should not be using his race as a reason for voting- whether it be for or against him. Yes, some undecided voters aren't going to vote for him because he is black, but some ARE going to vote for him because of that same reason. And some people aren't going to vote for him they don't like him or his politics. I just think that if we're going to talk about people NOT voting for him because of his skin color, we also need to talk about the people who ARE voting for him solely based on his skin color.
I think it is slightly ridiculous that someone would not vote for Barrack Obama purely based on his race. Vote for someone on their stance on the economy, their view on taxes and how they would deal with foreign affairs. A few nights ago I was watching the last debate (during commercials of the Phillies game, mind you) in mixed company. One of my black friends was shocked that I didn’t agree with every (if any) word coming out of John McCain’s mouth. I don’t. He turns to me and goes
“wait, you support Obama?”
“I don’t know but I don’t agree with a word McCain has to say.”
“But he’s black, I thought all white people were for McCain.”
“ARE YOU SERIOUS??”
However, unlike me, and I’m not trying to be preachy here, I think people do base their opinion and vote on someone’s outward appearance over their experience or policy. I can guarantee you there are people who don’t agree with McCain on one subject, but will still vote for him because they don’t want a black president. The video we recently watched in Sam’s Soc119 class, showed McCain supporters claiming that Obama hated all white people and was super close with all the terrorists. Yeah, based on what Obama said on hunting out Bin Laden during the debate, I completely agree (for those of you who didn’t watch it, he was very serious about capturing him and bringing him to justice).
The first thing that comes to mind when we talk about voting for a Black candidate is how everyone talks about how “great a change it will be to have a black president” or “we could be living in the most significant time in America to see a black president”. This just leaves me to believe that people are going to vote for Obama just because he is black, and not his politics. Then there are people who talk about his connections to terrorist and thugs because of his name and background. I have never seen such a big deal being made about a candidate’s name and life story ever. It just seems that people are more interested in who he is, then what he will do for the country. This election has been more like a VH1 special then an actual presidential run.
This reminds me of a case I learned about in my political economy class where there was a black candidate running, and the polls had him way ahead of his white opponent and when it came down to voting, people were all talk. It is as if they, meaning white people for the most part, were afraid to say that they were not going to vote for the black candidate because of what other people would say, and when they got behind that curtain, they all voted white. Scratching their heads after the black candidate lost, saying, I thought everyone was voting for him.
The way this election is being run, to be honest, noting will surprise me anymore.
I think it's terrible that race is a key factor in the upcoming election. Not only is it a key factor, for some, it’s the only factor. For the ignorant and racist, nobody matter if their views are completely in line with Obama’s, they still may not choose him just because of his skin color. The vial of ignorance is blinding. These racist people refuse to even learn the facts about Obama. Most of them think he’s 100% black. He’s half white. He grew up in a mostly white family with white ordeals. Many black people are aware of that fact, and in turn, don’t think he’s black enough to represent himself as a black man. There are also black people who are only going to vote for Obama because he’s part black. Never mind their beliefs. Just because Obama’s skin color matches their own, they’re going to vote for him.
Then there are all the people who think he’s an Islamic terrorist who is going to overthrow the White House. People are crazy. The entire Democratic Party wouldn’t elect a terrorist. Democrats make up half the country. Ignorance is running wild regardless of skin color and there isn’t enough time before the election to stop it.
In the beginning of the presidential race when I realized that some of the main candidates for presidency were going to be an African American man and a female I was a little skeptical. My skepticisms stemmed from the disbelief in the forward progress of prejudice and race relations in our country. Obama being a mixed race candidate has been identified to the public as African American and I believed that with that his fate for the presidential seat was sealed. I must say that I have been presently surprised by the outcome of this year’s presidential race. Some would like to say that this shows the forward progress we have taken as a nation toward equality and the extinction of prejudice but that is not what I see. I believe that senator Obama has become one of the exceptions to the rule in the homes of the overwhelmingly white American population. Obama has strategized and has subtly earned the trust of the American public. He has forced the masses to look past race and look to the best candidate. While many people in this election make race one of the biggest factors to define Obama he makes sure to take and objective view when making his policies and not favor one race or another but the policies that will be best for the whole. I think this objective point of view has convinced the majority white population that Obama is not out for some black supremacy agenda but out for the betterment of the country as a whole. It is naive at best to think that there won’t be Americans that vote against him because of his race or just as many that vote for him because of his race. That being said I think the majority of Obama’s votes are going to be coming from voters that are temporarily color blind by a candidate that can help this country be the best in a time where we need it most.
I believe the fact that race is an issue in the presidential election is quite sad, but understandable. We would all like to believe that we've moved on and in todays world it wouldn't be so much of an issue. I think for some of the younger generations, it is less of an issue than it has been with older generations. I would like to say that who I vote for doesn't have anything to do with race, but I guess I can't be sure. I just know that I've been trying to eliminate color and focus on the views of the candidates. I see how many are not able to do this however, as their distrust of another race was put into them by their families. I also think that having a candidate that was not white only 8 years ago, definitely would not have gotten as far as it has today, which is definitely a sign that our country is moving in the right direction. I can only hope that people can put aside their racial views on this, and vote for the person they think is going to do the best job in office. I understand that many will vote for someone of their race because they feel obligated to do so, and this just shows that our country still has some growing to do and that we are not all the way there yet.
I think this is a great point to bring up concerning today's society, the notion of latent racism, a racism lurking just below the surface. I fully believe this is a serious and debilitating problem many white Americans face today. Dating back from past history's filled with prejudices and institutional racism, many white Americans have grown up with a subconscious racism hiding just beneath their waking world. Such an 'illness' effects all aspects of people's life and their interactions with minorities. The undecided voters in this election face this same problem, and may be persuaded by this latent racism to vote against Obama. This is very troubling for me and shows just how far behind we are as a nation concerning the intellectual respect lacking for 'others' integrity. I believe the only way to attempt to combat this latent form of racism is to start young, considering that is when most children learn the 'system' to remain racist. If schools taught about latent racism and the horrible effects it has on people, I feel kids could learn to cope with our society and block out a lot of these subconscious racist ideas. If this election is swayed by latent racism we have to seriously examine ourselves and our nation as a whole, we as humans have the duty to do everything in our power to fight against remaining racism in our society.
I do not think that race should matter at all in the upcoming election. If a person is qualified to be the president, whether they are white or black, male or female, that person should be the president of the United States. It is upsetting that there are still people in this world that hate on people of a different skin color. When Sam brought up the point of “latent racism” and how some white people will not be able to vote for Obama when they are at the polls, it boggled my mind. The article said that the Democrat support would be a lot higher because of the bad job the republicans have done the past 8 years, but since Obama is the candidate, it is lower. If you believe that a person is capable of being president, then you should pick that person; you should not doubt a person just because of their skin color.
In the linked article, there was a statistic that said that seventy percent of black people have encountered specific instances of racial discrimination; that figure is higher than it was in 2000. That is disturbing considering we are supposed to be more accepting of everyone, no matter what the color of his or her skin.
Clearly there are many voters who will not vote for Obama because of his race; this fact is undeniable. For instance, in class the other day, Sam showed a video showing McCain supporters saying terrible, ignorant racial comments about Obama. It really is disheartening to see so many against Obama simply because of his race, or misinformation about his heritage, religion, professional relationships, etc. However, I think it is equally important to look at the people who are, in fact, voting for Obama. There is something about Barack that strikes a chord with many Americans; he is inspiring to Democrats, many Republicans, and even those who had no interest in politics prior to this election. He has continually broken fundraising records, month after month. On television today I saw predictions that he actually will have raised over one hundred million dollars for the month of September. These numbers are astounding, and show how many Americans are vitalized by the content of his character rather than his race. The article mentions undecided voters not voting for Obama once they arrive at the polls. Yet, after the series of recent debates, undecided voters were shown to be more partial to Barack, not McCain. I believe that if someone has feelings of latent racism, they would simply go to the polls to vote for McCain-why try to lie to yourself? McCain is a worthy candidate and no one should feel ashamed supporting him rather than the black candidate. Undecided voters will have a major impact on this election. Democrats are going to be truly competitive in many states that have traditionally been voting Republican for years, in part due to undecided voters leaning towards Obama, and independents. I really feel that there will be enough people who look past Obama’s skin color to elect him to office in November, which will be a groundbreaking event for race relations. It will be the first example of the majority of our country being able to transcend the issue of race, and hopefully will force the rest of the US to follow suit.
It is a shame that the presidential election stresses race and gender so much. I think it shows that our country is still struggling with those confilcts. However, the fact that a half-black man and a woman is even on the ticket shows that we are making extreme progress.
Everyone is quilty when it comes to voting for a candidate because of their color. I went to the Obama speech when we came to PSU and I saw supporters selling "Black and Proud" shirts. I would be proud too if a man of my race finally got on the presidential ticket, however that just shows that race plays a big role in people's decisions. Whites are obviously just as bad.
Personality is playing a huge role in the focus of the campaigns. Its frustrating to constantly hear the news reporting on stories about the candidates that do not have any substance. I want to hear about real issues and who is going to be a good leader for our country. It is unfortunate that our society focuses so much on race, gender and "personality" instead of real substance of the person. Part of me is so excited about this election because it is such a huge time is history, but then part of me is just sick of hearing about it all.
I think that this article is very interesting. First of all, I think it would be awful if people didn’t vote for Obama just because of his race whether they mean to or not. It does make sense though that this could happen subconsciously. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking something differently just because of someone’s race but I do it subconsciously. The funny thing is that Obama is half black and half white. People don’t look at that factor they just look at the color of his skin and automatically assume he is black. I think that this should not be the reason that people don’t elect him for president. There should be more reasoning behind who you vote for then their color. On the other hand Obama definitely has an impact of people of other minorities. He is able to relate to them in a different way then white people can. As much as we look at white people not voting for Obama because he is black we also must look at how many black people are voting for him because he is black. Although it is not right that white people will not vote for him because he is a different race, I’m sure that some black people do the same thing also. So this is a very interesting topic because who is right and who is wrong.
Since the debate at Hofstra I have not been able to get this situation out of my head. Recently I have heard and seen the racism that is thrown at Obama right into his face. I saw a news report on youtube about a group of housewives in a community that passed around a flyer to each other depicting Obama as a donkey on a fake one dollar bill. On this bill had his head on a donkey, fried chicken next to him and watermelon in his hand. The fact that many people in America are so ignorant makes me sick. White people need to let this go because he is our future. Everything about McCain and his campaign is the past and we must move on. It is a scary thing to actually think that Sarah Palin could be President of the United States one day if things pan out for the worst. This debate was full of back and forth bashing and many people are still using racism as the means of holding down modern America which made lead to the next great depression and years full of regret. This country is definitely in need of a change and it is up to us.
It's very sad that the majority of the comments here are from white conservatives who claim to be a Christian. WWJD? Like many of you, I was raised to not hate black people, but not to feel any empathy towards them. My Dad worked hard everyday and blacks were lazy, up to no good, violent and a drain on our economy. My student teaching as a Chemistry teacher was at an inner city school - all black kids. Talk about culture shock...over the years, I have learned more from these kids than any college could ever teach me. I wish some of you could be black for ONE day...most of you would probably kill yourselves. Although I would never know their pain, I have experienced racism by becoming friends with teachers and coach track. When we have to travel to rural areas for meets, the looks that we get surely must make Jesus shake his head in shame. I've gone to a black church and was taken aback by the shouting and dancing, but never did I question whether or not they loved the Lord. For some in the inner city, their faith is all that they have and they're waiting on a better life in heaven. I don't believe in reparations as far as giving $$ to Af-Am, but I do believe that they should all have access to free college education until the playing field is leveled. They were promised 40 acres and a mule and have received nothing...not even an apology from our government. I know, it wasn't my forefathers...I had nothing to do with it...my best friend is black...whatever! You will never know of the pain that African-Americans feel and if Dr. Wright tries to empower them by depicting an analogy, similar to the way Jesus taught in parables, of a world where although they may not be the chosen ones, that God will always watch over them and yes cause damnation to those who do them harm. Just be open and stop being so hateful...remember, WWJD? What will you do?
and here i am from bowling green, ohio ( bowling green state university )
the struggle continues here -
>RACE FORUM 6 - From Conversation to Action: Race in the Public Arena
> On October 14, 2008 the Committee Advancing Racial Equality/CARE hosted its
> RACE FORUM 6*** titled
> From Conversation to Action: Race in the Public Arena
>
> The raison d'etre for the program
> continues to be CARE's POV that the subject of RACE on our campus is
> for the most part kept
> hidden away in the closet.
> In this way, ongoing confusion and a lack of truthful knowledge about the
> topic are maintained.
>
> Two films were screened -
> "Silences" and "What Makes Me White?"
>
> "Silences" set in Maumee, Ohio follows Director's Octavio
> Warnock-Graham's search for his biological father. He sets out on this quest
> to San Francisco to find his biological father when his mother refuses to
> discuss the circumstances of his birth.
> "...your mother never told me you were black because you're not black"
> Grandma Warnock
> http://www.silencesfilm/synopsis.html
>
> "What Makes Me White?"
> Starting with her own story of a childhood in the suburbs,
> Emmy Award-winning filmmaker A.M. Sands gradually
> weaves in the stories of other white people.
> People of color frame
> these stories with eye-opening observations, some of them funny,
> some of them sharp-edged.
> Together, these narratives create a
> portrait of whiteness as a learned social identity, one that is vividly
> experienced by people of color, but largely unnoticed by whites.
> http://whatmakesmewhite.com/
>
> The following is a short summary that was shared with the
> participants of a successful and fruitful event afterwards.
>
> -The discussion of
> a difficult but persistent
> subject RACE was a valuable and small step forward
>
> I am convinced more than ever that many ( maybe all ) of you can serve as
> catalysts in changing the 'race' culture at BGSU
> whereby students leave here much more armed with knowledge about what
> effects race and racism will always play in our lives for future
> generations.
>
> To be a part of a 'better' society by our becoming a 'better' person is
> truly the goal of a truly educated individual.
>
> The rest of the University populace also needs to play an active role in the
> accomplishment of this goal.
>
> As i said, racial oppression is but one of many. My compatriot Joelle
> reminded us of others - for example gender, class and sexual. ( Others are
> religious and fat )
>
> Step by step we move forward, upward and always doing so with courage and
> confidence. As we take chances, we will gain confidence with strength and
> support from each other and our allies.
>
> Frederick Douglass the Abolitionist said -
>
> "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong"
> and
> "If there is no struggle there is no progress "
>
> Lastly as promised I share with you the name of the contact person for the
> Humanities Troupe - Darin Kerr - dkerr@bgsu.edu. This group is a good
> example on our campus that can effect change. I suggest our support for
> the Troupe and our being allies with them so that their operating funds are
> not eliminated. ( Darin, your comments are welcome )
>
> I look forward to hearing from you all.
> Let's be united.
>
> Respectfully,
> Errol Lam
> Committee Advancing Racial Equalty/CARE
> rlam@dacor.net
> ===========================================================
> Here is the link to the BG News report of Tuesday night's session -
>
> 'Documentaries spark discussion on race relations at University level'
> (BG News,10/15/08 )
> http://media.www.bgnews.com/media/storage/paper883/news/2008/10/15/Campus/Documentaries.Spark.Discussion.On.Race.Relations.At.University.Level-3487499.shtml
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> ***Previous forums -
>
> #1 - Working Across Difference: Coalition Building for Human Rights
> -Trying to bridge the gap & addressing the importance of unity
> March 2006
>
> #2 - Confronting Race: Continuing Struggles and Successes
> -Raising awareness about ethnicity and furthering dialogue
> October 2006
>
> #3 - Still Confronting Race: from Dialogues to Action
> -Staring racism in the face
> March 2007
>
> #4 - No Justice, No Peace: the fight for critical faculty of color
> -Struggling to retain critical faculty of color
> October 2007
>
> #5 - Confronting Race and Oppression while working to unify
> -Addressing homophobia, anti Asian racism and "Rollover"
> March 2008
> ===========================================================
>
> best,
> errol
> one love one peace
> ***emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
> none but ourselves can free our minds***
>
In regards to whether race will play a role in undecided voters for Obama, I believe that it certainly will, but most likely in his favor. Obama’s brilliant campaign has created an atmosphere, especially for younger voters, in which it is “cool” to vote for Obama and you don’t want to be left off of the historic bandwagon. Many white people may also fear being viewed as “racist” if they chose to not vote for Obama, regardless of their beliefs or political affiliation. This puts many undecided white people in a very tricky spot. When they mention voting for McCain they may feel left out in conversation. Etc. Obama also has the advantage that most likely the vast majority of black people will vote for Obama, many of whom will vote for him simply because of the color of his skin. I have read and seen some articles backing up this fact. One such study involved people going out and asking black people what they thought of Obama’s political positions, but they used McCain’s positions and many black people would said they supported Obama pretty much regardless of what the interviewer said. This is obviously just one example and is certainly not true for all black voters. That being said, I really don’t believe racism will play a role with undecided voters. However, I would like to end with this regarding one hardcore racist Republican that I had a conversation with. This was in response to be stating my intention to vote for Obama. “You f****** liberals would really vote for a f****** n*****, terrorist, Muslim to lead our country?” This just shows that racism does play some role in the election, but not anything that will cost him the election.
I find this interesting because my roommate is (well was) a McCain supporter and, because she and I do not follow politics, we never talked about either candidate until the night Obama was elected president. It was interesting to me to see her growing interest in the election after a trip home prior to the big week. The week before the election she went home and came back ‘enlightening me’ on her views about who should be the next president. She never imposed her own selection on me, but instead complained about the many conversations she was hearing around campus regarding support for Obama. She told me that once while in class she excused herself as her TA began ranting on Obama’s superiority over McCain. It was not until the moment McCain was not announced as the winner that I saw her unadulterated feelings toward Obama and his supporters. She, as we sit in our room listening to the screams of nearly the entire building, told me how she felt it was not fair. She told me that the only reason why people voted for Obama was because he was Black and that they had no idea about anything he stood for. Then, in the same breathe she says, “I mean, how could people vote for a Muslim!”
That to me says she did not do her research and maybe she let the influence of those from home make her decision, after all she said the reason why she was interested in McCain was because her hometown was pro-McCain.
Let’s face the facts America: Obama is a Negro. There is simply no other way to put it. People claim left and right that he’s only half black but that’s merely because he’s running for President. If he wasn’t aiming to be “Commander in Chief” of what was the most powerful country on the planet, he’d be nothing but a light-skinned black man to any random white person with no prior knowledge of his history. But, since genetics have risen to the peak of the pedal stole in this particular circumstance, why are certain Caucasians still skeptical about voting for him? The answer (in the bluntest way of saying it) is because he’s the potential nightmare they fear deep inside will switch the order of traditional white supremacy. The common white individual has secretly foreshadowed what is destined to come if a person of minority descent becomes ruler over the United States of America and it gives them the chills.
Hope will reign from California to Vermont and there will be nothing they can do to belittle it which sickens them to the core. Dick Meyer hit the nail on the head when he claimed that “when it comes to pull the lever for a black man, many white people are not going to be able to do it.” Someone needs to be obligated to exploit the truth and Meyers does a fantastic job in his piece. Some white people resemble plastic when it comes to interacting with different cultures and they think that we can’t see through their fakeness but it’s really obvious when their inner thoughts are so transparent. On account of Obama winning the election, the numerous inferior races are no longer hushing up about where they stand in these shaky times. White people are going to be respected as people of “similar status” instead of being “the man” because for the first time in history, the country is going to have everyone’s best interest in mind. Whites are going to get a culture shock and it’s going to slap them in face. For once, racism played a bigger part in the election more than political promises. The only prospective solution during the election was to make McCain beat Obama out. Since this did not happen it was considered by most the lost of the century. Beyond that, the majority of white individuals who based their vote on Obama’s skin complexion portrayed how badly this country is still in the past and as bad as it may seem, I sort of honor that minor insignificant characteristic in them. They at least have the decency to be up front with their opinions unlike other cautious white people who want to appear as the neutral type who say the “right” words but deep down have bigoted views. Either way, no matter how America decides to look at it, picking your best candidate for president shouldn’t imitate a life and death situation. For those of you who were undecided, I sure hope that you picked your best vote based on specific desires because gradually as the meek unified, the bridges of faith grew stronger; which was bound from the start to put a nigger in charge….
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