User Comments

eric on Jun 18, 2008 at 18:14:16 said:

I understand that Obama would be the first black president, but just because he will be the first black president does not mean he would be the best choice for president. I always see him on TV saying we need change, I will bring change, things will change. Well...lets hear it! What kind of change? Change for the sake of change is not good, anyone could bring change, it does not mean it will be a change for the good. If you are sitting in a room that is a very uncomfortable temp of 100 degrees and I ask if you would like me to change the temp, but change it to 120 degrees has it been a good change? Absolutely not, he does not seem to have any plan, and he has been caught in so many lies...like the one about his uncle liberating Auschwitz. Why do we only see Obama on TV??? Is it because he is the first black man to have a shot at winning the white house? We never see McCain getting air time, If it was revered I am sure many would say that McCain is getting more air time because he is white and that is racist. It seems to be a one way street.

Sophie on Jun 17, 2008 at 12:20:26 said:

I truly feel for the Black Americans who dont blame the white man for their tribulations-because of their constant challenge to prove themselves to others. But then there are the black Americans who feel they deserve to be catered to because their ancestors may have been slaves. Come on...isnt it time to knock it off! EVERYONE except for you are sick and tired of hearing it...stop blaming the white man for your failures! Obama isnt going to solve your problems...you are.

Janine Catanese on Jun 17, 2008 at 11:17:42 said:

In response to Jason Kiner's comments,

Your comments are the perfect example of racism in America. Not once did you mention that you will be voting for Obama due to your strong belief in his politics and what he stands for...no, you admitted that you will vote for him because you want to make history for the black Americans...Scary! Do you even know anything about Obama other than the fact that he is 1/2 black? So, your next president could ruin our country but as long as the color of his skin matches yours...he's okay? This is the point most Americans are fearing...that Obama wins a free ride because of his skin color and not what he stands for. That is just plain ignorance...and quite frankly, if i were a black American, I would want to shed the ignorance stigma and vote based on politics and not race. And just for the record...obama may appear to look black, but he is the whitest black I have ever come to know...how hipacritical...he would probably never survive in an all black community!

Anonymous14 on Jun 15, 2008 at 06:53:55 said:

I voted for Clinton and effectively against Obama because his wife and his "uncle" 20-year-membership-in-his-church ministers are racist hate baiters. I wonder how many people who voted for Obama in primaries held before Wifey and Preachy were outed would change their vote to Clinton if the primary were held over again?

Jeremy on Jun 08, 2008 at 15:57:16 said:

I had this same thought. Are blacks racist for voting for this man . . . just because of the color of his skin? I don't see why so many in the American black community are so proud of Obama?

Like Ann Coulture said . . . in paraphrase . . . he's a black man that walks and talks? So? I'm not impressed. The people that are impressed are the racist ones.

I wish more blacks were like Obama. In truth, his greatest virtues and traits are not so often present in the black community as they are in the white community. He has a strong command of the English language. I think we can can attribute his cultural makeup to his white and african heritage / ubringing . . . not black American culture. That's why I find this love affair of American blacks with Obama to be ridiculous.

billy blank on Jun 08, 2008 at 04:13:54 said:

as a black man i will admit we blacks are racist,,,there i said what most people won't. whites know it and are afraid to say it,,,,i have white friends who are so afraid of being called racist, they would kiss black butt. how can we heal america when noone will admit the truth.. i am voting for obama just because he is half black..and i know he really does like his muslim friends from the middle east...has criminal friends,,,look it up,,,if they disliked whites,,they are his friends,, now he is running for president and no one is going to ask him about it,,ha ha,, he will be your next president and the change is going to be you white crackers will see how it feels to be second,,,because all brown people will unite with blacks...be afraid,,,be very afraid,,,,

Brien Shea on Jun 06, 2008 at 22:05:49 said:

Let's get one thing straight: there is no such thing as reverse racism.

Racism is racism, no matter which way it flows. And the fact that 90% of blacks vote for a black man against a Democrat is very telling. It is clear that many African-Americans are voting for him simply because he has black skin and a black wife.

I've always lamented how ridiculous it is for blacks to blindly vote for Democrats. The revisionist history of the media overshadows the fact that during the most horrid times of the civil rights era, many Southern states were governed by Democrats.

Yet, each election, blacks blindly follow a Democrat, despite overwhelming facts that demonstrate that welfare and other liberal policies have actually kept the black man down.

That being said, Obama is a paper tiger. He's very charming, a fantastic speaker, and highly intelligent. His policies are downright scary, his associations with people like Reverend Wright are deeply concerning, and his "clean" image is a mirage. You don't make it through Illinois politics without crawling through a sewer.

Blacks vote for Obama because he is black. I doubt many of them even know about his policies. (Just as many ignorant white racists will vote the other way).

I think it would serve the African-American population to be truly educated about the facts, how policies affect them, and study the truth. Juan Williams, a highly liberal NPR, wrote an excellent book on the victim mentality of African Americans and how this mindset prevents many from reaching their full potential.

Voting for a man for the color of his skin is now way to help yourself or our country. Unfortunately, in this election, we'll see many blacks and whites vote for one of their "own."

Like I said, racism is racism. And there are just as many (by percentage) black racists as there are white racists.

come on on Jun 05, 2008 at 18:22:07 said:

If you do not think SOME blacks are voting for Obama because he is black, you are just lying to yourself. That is kind of like saying there are not white racists.
There are other reasons people vote, so what is yours?
His books are fiction, which is admitted in a cleverly written disclaimer up front, so he is not lying, they\\\\\\\'re just a new form of non fiction fiction.
His record is only somewhat better than pretty much anyone, in the sense that he skipped a lot of them. His camp was quick to point out that there was at least one other person, on the whole Senate, who skipped more votes though.
He is an extremely crafted lier, as you can see his speeches to Israel go back and forth on what he will do for them, and each time, it is the sincere God-honest truth, it really is that the truth changes, not his positions.
His speeches of a different politics are false, if they have anything to do with special interests, since he raised plenty of money from them. He can only use legal technicalities to say he has not taken a dime. If you want to think has not been compromised in his short career, please go there but do the research yourself first so you have a clue who you\\\\\\\'re supporting.
What little record he has is not good. So what is it, if it is not racism and blind desparation in a fictional character? Are we not even a little interested in who the real person is, and what his real plan is?

No so let us just get this over with and get the oil pipelines in Afghanistan or whatever the plan is going. I'm tired of seeing good people tricked, so let's just do the whole fascist thing, unite in militarism, because the candidate's black, young, and a new kind of politician. We can finally trust the spoon fed choices, and don't even have to question this time. Yeah!!!

Cherry Soda on Jun 04, 2008 at 08:44:58 said:

If Obama were not black....I doubt many blacks would have voted at all!

Jay West on May 31, 2008 at 13:43:30 said:

Let me say to all of you non blacks. You can't tell me my feet don't hurt until you walk a mile in my shoes !!

ObamaConManPlayedRaceCard on May 29, 2008 at 09:12:13 said:

Suddenly this man Obama wants my vote, I have NO IDEA who he is for real, He has no History with Civil Rights, I've never heard of him before, comes out of the shadows with money mysteriously in millions that came from god know where and his Pastor who was his spiritual advisor, says GDAmer...and I'm supposed to vote for him.
Obama has Noooooooo Experience, he is conning black people and his camp slyly puts out in the press Hillary should drop out, never have I heard a DEM Candidate's camp tell another candidate who has almost 50% of the votes in the Primaries, that they should just drop-out and let the other candidate have it(Obama)
Hillary for all the Obama hype (and almost 90% mass of the black vote to Obama's candidacy) has still managed to win every large Electoral State a DEM needs to win the Presidency, because on Election Day it is the BIG Electoral states that Win the Presidency,guess what, Obama has won none of those, except his own State. I am black, did I say I'm black, yes I am black, born in the 60's, but I can tell you clearly. Obama is NOT GETTING MY VOTE, unless Hillary Clinton is on the Ticket. Obama wouldn't associate with half of the black people voting for him. He is conning blacks, because once he's in the White House, he will go back to his Harvard elite associates. Blacks are voting on Race, it's just that simple and Obama's camp takes every word Hillary or Bill says and turn it into something racist. There is no way in the world, that Blacks believe Bill Clinton is racist, but this is the race-baiting rac card Obama's camp has played to get the mass black vote.
Obama will be the nominee, but He will NOT get my vote unless Hillary is on that ticket, that I can tell you clearly. Did I say I'm black,oh I did, I won't vote for Obama,his color is NOT enough to get my vote and that is the difference in the race vote. Many blacks have no idea who Obama is, they are supporting him because he is black.
Any DEM within 50% of the Democratic voter base can see that Obama is a weak candidate.
He's won a lot of Caucuses(in states that go Republican in the Presidential election) the states he won in Primaries had large black voter base. He is losing white voters he had early in the Primaries. The black vote is not enough for Obama to win the Presidency. I can see clearly Obama is a weak candidate, he lost California, Pennsylvania,Ohio,NY,NJ,Arizone,Texas,Nevada, all BIG States he needs to win the Presidency. Oh and those states won't automatically go DEM in the fall, that's the Obama mantra wish, but I can tell you with the large hispanic base, blue collar white voters and GOP in some of those states, they'll easily vote for McCain,without a problem.

Jason kiner on May 28, 2008 at 16:06:48 said:

As a Young Black male i think this coming President Election will show how racists Americans are, Just think about how many presidents we had in the past that were black, even a blind man can answer that because there hasn't been any and even if there was a black canidate for the last 50 elections we still couldn't name one. how you think blacks feel when if Obama is elected president that some crazy white dude wants to take his life. Blacks deserve the chance to feel we finally equal to whites. America doesn't want a black man in office because it's time for a change in people don't like change. I personally think it's time to change why 60% of blackmale are in jail in half are poor. If you not a racist you should be happy that Dr Kings prophecy is being Fullfilled.

kawahchan on May 27, 2008 at 10:49:28 said:

The 2008 Presidential Hopeful JOHN McCAIN : "The rise and fall of a nation USA is the concern of every citizen".

Kimmyber on May 27, 2008 at 09:24:14 said:

The premise that black voters are voting for Senator Obama because they are racists is ludicrous on so many levels! First let me begin by saying as a supporter of Senator Obama an a political enthusiast, I have watched his support from African Americans change with the tone of this campaign. Most black people did not support Senator Obama in this election until he garnered the title of "viable candidate" through support from white voters. Although true, blacks still did not overwhelmingly begin to support Senator Obama until Hillary Clinton's campaign went into attack mode with their "kitchen sink" strategy. It was then that many black voters felt betrayed by the Clintons, because ,many of their gaffes and misspeaks seemed racial in nature; and seemed to further promote the racial dichotamy that exists in this country. It was only then that blacks started to vote in record numbers. However, our votes are not just for Senator Obama, but to let the establishment know that this is a new day, we are not going to stand for "business as usual" politics. If it weren't for the black community, the Clintons would never have been in the White House. Therefore, it is telling that Hillary won't go back to the White House because the same black people who voted for her husband, became expendable in this election. She viewed us as not on the same level as "white hardworking Americans." Her Campaign gave white Americans permission to be racist. By basically running on the platform of: It's ok that you don't like him because he is different, vote for me because I am just like you and I understand how you feel. Thus creating a bigger racial divide in this country. Which is why I did not support Hillary Clinton from day one. I am not one of those people who have forgotten how divisive this woman has been in the past. I am not racist...I am informed!!!

Bruce Stevenson on May 25, 2008 at 09:32:44 said:

The black voters in the beginning were in doubt of Obama. That is when the right proclaimed that Obama was not "black enough". Now that he has survived that test they have contrived that maybe it is the black voter who is maligned. Never heard this question when white politicians benefited from the black vote. Hippocracy proveils throughout America. White America will use race to keep and maintain their advantage over other ethnic groups here in America. Large numbers of white voters will vote out of their class interest if they percieve that their vote will prevent a person of another race from obtaining political power... even if that person would be a direct help to their own interest. This for me proves that there is racism and stupidity. They are not mutually exclusive.

Mr. Unite Us on May 24, 2008 at 16:23:23 said:

Black Americans voted overwhelmingly for White Senate candidates, Kay Hagan in North Carolina, and Ben Cardin in Maryland, over
Black candidates. Of course the media and rightwing talk show host want to people to think Black American only voted for THE BLACKS.

Contrastly, Whites that vote for Obama are often ignored or ridiculed. Note how little has been said about Obama's huge victories in predominantly white states like Oregon, and Wisconsin, Maine, North Dakota, Idaho etc.

Sabotian on May 23, 2008 at 18:21:10 said:

Honestly, I believe that whites will turn on Obama shortly. This race is about to get ugly fast. The idea that even a half-black man might occupy the nation's highest office is unacceptable to many "white working class Americans" The Clintons had good relations with blacks until Bill started shooting off his mouth and Hillary started doing typical election foolishness. Their political capital with some blacks has almost been exhausted because of this. Also, Obama has gotten tremendous support from many progressive whites. Unfortunately, it probably won't be enough.

Some of the above comments were positively vicious. So allow me to retort with equal harshness. Blacks have to live up to a double standard in this country. Often standards that whites cannot even live up to. White people have never had to ask if they ever voted for a person because he was white simply because most of the candidates for any substantial office were usually white. Whites seem to believe that they are fair and impartial. They are not and never will be. Obama is half-black and half-white, but since he looks like a black man he will be treated like one. So much for transcending race. Sen. Obama seems to be the only candidate that is being judged by the people that he knows. The Clintons and McCains have some friends that are just as bad or worse than Rev. Wright ever was. Are they being called on it? No, and you all know why.

All these whiners out here complain about reverse racism and affirmative action. Black racism will usually only hurt your feelings. White racism can affect where you live, how much you earn, where you work, the size or eligibility for even small loans. Getting our feelings hurt is a very small part of the equation because it happens so often that we do not even notice it. White racism affects the quality of our lives. What is the complaint against affirmative action? There is at least a minimum standard that has to be met to even be considered qualified. I have never needed it because I was outstanding in all of my academics. With white privilege there is no such standard to be hired somewhere. This is demonstrated daily. Guys hire their unqualified friends for no other reason than that they have the same hobbies or go to the same church. Aff-Act exists because white people cannot be trusted to do the right thing voluntarily. The powers that be had to make it into a law to get whites to comply.

I keep seeing the phrase "playing the race card" in many articles. Sorry, but if you are a white person that lives in America you play the race card every day that you exist here. Your forefathers decided that whites would get all the wealth, rights, and land. Everybody else gets what they get. My ancestors had most of their land stolen by whites way back in the 1930's. After the theft of Indian lands, the theft of black owned lands is one of the least known of or cared about crimes in history. Whites own and control everything and yet they are crying for more.

Blacks are well aware that the average white person in slavery times did not own slaves. We also know that poor southern whites had to fight in a war that did not benefit them at all. Many of you feel that it has nothing to do with you. That may be true but you ALL benefit from simply being white in America. I say that because any European regardless of intellectual capacity or criminal background can come to America and be considered better than any black person.

All that being said, I hope that Obama wins. This country has deep racial wounds that need to be addressed or this country is doomed to be a second-rate world power later on this century. This country was built on racism. It does not have to end because of it.

Christopher on May 22, 2008 at 15:34:20 said:

Avant - You're an absolute goof if you think Bill Clintons remarks were race baiting. And…they were Bill’s not Hillary’s. Should we blast Obama because his controlling wife recently said that she “for the first time in my life I’m proud to be an American?” No. I’ll just blast her. I would suggest to you that it is easy to look for negative positions when factual statements are presented when you are hearing it from a candidate or the advocate of whom you do not want to win. You’re start out listening with a negative ear.

Yes Obama is a good candidate. So is Hillary. What the percentages tell me is this: More White Americans are NOT racist and look to vote for a candidate who they think is better. That is why you see such a divide in the white vote between the two candidates. However, would it not also stand to reason to see close to a similar breakdown of Black Americans voters if they were really voting for whom they felt was the best candidate? Certainly there is a racial divide. The only conclusion one can make is that a much larger percentage of black people voted for Obama because he was black. Don't try to sugar coat black racism against whites. It is rampant, tolerated and even promoted in this country. I am just telling it like it is and how I see and hear it every day. Why would so many White journalists get on the "white racist" band wagon, having a field day with the few honest white racists and you didn't hear shit when the southern votes were cast and the exit polls revealed the same racial conclusions. Why is that?

As to calling it like it is...you're half right. Obama is a good candidate. However...his vision absolutely does not transcend race. If it did...he would not have abandoned his mother as a white woman and eliminated his position as a mixed black-white American. He chooses to be identified as a "black" man. Which in and of itself is just fine. He didn't want to be identified as a mixture or a white man and thereby made his life that way. Again, Ok. But a true non-racist would NEVER belong to a church with a pastor(s) that preached such vial. It is very true that you can tell a persons moral character and values by the people and congregation they select to associate with.

One thing is very very clear. And, will become clearer as the next few weeks play out. Hillary supporters will not vote for Obama. This you can take to the Bank. For those who believe that “oh…they’ll come around and support the Democratic Party”. Forget it. Not this time.

The Presidency is not the big prize. The President is just a Bully Pulpit. The real prize is in the House and the Senate (more so the Senate). The democrats will have that wrapped up with no problem. John McCain is more liberal in his views and policies as a Republican. This 4 more years of Bush politics is bull shit and I hate that both Hillary and Obama use this as a political tactic. But…as a Hillary supporter, when I vote, the order will be this. Hillary vs. McCain, Hillary gets my vote. If I have to choose between McCain vs. Obama, McCain gets my vote.

And finally, this idiotic statement that “In a white dominated country it's not possible for blacks to be racist.”…Good lord…get real…and be honest with yourself and quite trying to sugar coat black racism in this country. I would much rather stand with an open honest racist than a closeted bigot any day of the week.

Jay Rice on May 22, 2008 at 11:54:24 said:

We need to examine our definition of the word "racism" and carefully evaluate the context in which it is applicable. Some definitions to get us started...
“Prejudice or discrimination based on an individual's race; can be expressed individually or through institutional policies or practices. racism is a system of oppression -- a nexus of racist beliefs, whether explicit, tacit or unconscious; practices; organizations and institutions that combine to discriminate against and marginalize a class of people who share a common racial designation, based on that designation. “
Source: Historical Society of Pennsylvania

“A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.”
Source: Merriam Webster
1. belief in or doctrine asserting racial differences in character, intelligence, etc. and the superiority of one race over another or others: racist doctrine also, typically, seeks to maintain the supposed purity of a race or the races
2. any program or practice of racial discrimination, segregation, etc., specif., such a program or practice that upholds the political or economic domination of one race over another or others
3. feelings or actions of hatred and bigotry toward a person or persons because of their race
Source: Your dictionary.com

ProgressiveNotLiberal on May 22, 2008 at 06:37:39 said:

And those that vote for Clinton are sexist? HAHAHAHA, this line of punditry is just plain stupid.

It is not the FOR vote that is the problem, it is the AGAINST vote that is. Blacks are not voting against Hillary because she is white, they are voting FOR Obama for a variety of reasons that may and probably does include the color of his skin.

Sad to say that the voters FOR Clinton aren't so pure in their reasons for voting AGAINST Obama by their own admissions in the exit polling data. The fact that Camp Hillary feeds this is a tragedy and damages more than just Obama and the Party, but also the Country. Shame on you Hillary! Shame on you!

John on May 22, 2008 at 06:24:38 said:

There are many bitter whites that have been sent to the back of the line by affirmitive action. How do you put a number on that? There are many whites that see their company fill positions based on skin colour only to have to look the other way when they dont work at the same level as the dept standard. This is not TV or the work place and I or my family have never owned a plantation or profited from slavery in any way...yet the toilet seat hangs around our neck. Its simply vengence against a political system that have made poor un educated white folk the scapegoat for what the arms industry and rich southern farmers did to Africans. Its kinda sad but if the Africans had gold to barter for guns the slave trade would never have reached the levels it did. 20 men for a cannon 10 men for a musket plus flint ball and powder. African Kings needed these guns and white arms dealers wanted to do business with people that nad nothing to barter...Add the southern farmers and you got a big problem where all are dirty as shit.Yes the black man/woman sold into slavery is a victom but so is the poor white slob with a toilet seat arond his neck... and vengence is best served cold.

Earl Woods on May 22, 2008 at 05:57:39 said:

Of course the lopsided black vote for Obama is racist! Given the Clintons record on civil rights there should have been a closer split with black voters between Clinton and Obama. If can only mean one thing. The black voters are more racist than white voters! Somehow that doesn't shock me. Excuse me if this white voter can now feel comfortable voting for a white candidate since the country is obviously not colorblind.

melissa on May 22, 2008 at 05:56:31 said:

Obama would not be in the lead with delegates, popular vote, and having won more states than Hillary if it weren't for the support of white voters. So yes, there are some white voters who will never vote for a black candidate and that's their right (and it's racist) but that's different from black voters who have supported plenty of white candidates now voting for a black candidate. If democrats cannot follow that logic they don't know who their friends are...

Andreas Brooks on May 22, 2008 at 05:44:52 said:

The above post is so perfect and well framed that I need not even make a comment just cosign what Avant wrote.

Avant Strangel on May 22, 2008 at 04:41:01 said:

I find it amazing that as a black person no one cared when there were only white candidates running. Now all of a sudden because there is a black person blacks are racist. Which by definition is defined as:
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2.
a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.
hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

In a white dominated country it's not possible for blacks to be racist. So in terms of accuracy let's reframe it as do blacks prefer Obama. I would say we viewed Obama as any other candidate. Because to be honest there weren't large blocks really breaking for Jesse Jackson. You also discount the number of whites breaking for Obama.

So instead of trying to be divisive. Let's just call it as it is. Obama is a good candidate who's vision transcends race. The fact that he's black for blacks is icing on the cake but not a prerequisite.

Also the Clinton's race baiting and playing the race card (and just the tasteless way the Clinton's have been running their campaign) was a slap in the face to the black community because it was a political ploy to do that and blacks are tired of helping people get to where they need to go then to turn around and get dissed. Because after that Hillary tried to swap out blacks for hispanics. It's an old game and I for one am not one for being discarded.

Blacks vote FOR someone. Whites may get upset because the frame of thought for those upset may be because they vote AGAINST someone. Those are very different approaches.

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