Are Blacks ready for a Black President?

[HHSDad]

This morning I was startled to hear on CNN that Barack Obama is being hurt at the polls by of all people, African-Americans. Polls have indicated that white voters are far more likely than African Americans to vote for an African American candidate for president. What's behind this? Part of Barack's problem with the Black commuinity is his parentage. His mother is white and his father is from Africa. This seems to have both a postive and negative effect on voters. On the positive side, he is viewed as an African American who doesn't have the hangups of many Blacks in America because of how he was raised. That is, in a mixed race home of some affluence. That's also the negative side. That he doesn't truly represent Blacks. But the biggest problem, which I don't get, is that most African Americans aren't ready to vote for a black candidate.

[STRIKE3]

Skin color, isn't a factor in friends, foes, like/dislike or Presidential candidates. I'm an issue and leadership person, both in selection and personal beliefs.

 

Whomever the best leader is, being Obama or others, not a problem with me....Of course I do have a political preference, but I'll keep that to myself.

[ladiesbballcoach]

Skin color, isn't a factor in friends, foes, like/dislike or Presidential candidates. I'm an issue and leadership person, both in selection and personal beliefs.

 

Whomever the best leader is, being Obama or others, not a problem with me....Of course I do have a political preference, but I'll keep that to myself.

I don't think I could have kissed the green chick that Captain Kirk did though.

 

I agree with S3 here. Skin color should be irrelevant.

[5wide]

That doesn't totally shock me...I was never sold on the line of thought that a minority candidate would get all of the minority vote or a woman would get all of the female vote...I certainly think it could help them some, but I don't think it would be the landslide some people expect. I could be wrong, but that's just what I think.

[Fastbreak]

If he/she is in favor of bigger government, higher taxes, punishing personal achievement, etc. it wouldn't matter to me if they could glow-in-the-dark... no thanks.

 

 

 

As a Christian, I sincerely believe we all come from the same lineage. We're all the same family. We cry the same tears and bleed the same blood. I know dark skinned brothers and sisters who avoid too much time in the sun to try to stay lighter. I know many more light skinned brothers and sisters who expose thhemselves to the sun and tanning beds to look darker. It's funny really... and sad too. The bottom line is, a darker tan or lighter skin has no effect whatsoever upon one's I.Q., dignity, integrity or spiritual strength.

 

Skin color has absolutely nothing to do with the content of a person's character, and the qualities that truly matter. :thumb:

[Big Bubba]

If he/she is in favor of bigger government, higher taxes, punishing personal achievement, etc. it wouldn't matter to me if they could glow-in-the-dark... no thanks.

 

 

 

As a Christian, I sincerely believe we all come from the same lineage. We're all the same family. We cry the same tears and bleed the same blood. I know dark skinned brothers and sisters who avoid too much time in the sun to try to stay lighter. I know many more light skinned brothers and sisters who expose thhemselves to the sun and tanning beds to look darker. It's funny really... and sad too. The bottom line is, a darker tan or lighter skin has no effect whatsoever upon one's I.Q., dignity, integrity or spiritual strength.

 

Skin color has absolutely nothing to do with the content of a person's character, and the qualities that truly matter. :thumb:

 

Not according to the Native Indians from this country......:madman:

[Fastbreak]

Not according to the Native Indians from this country......:madman:

You're gonna have to help us slow pokes here Bub... :confused:

[HHSDad]

Not according to the Native Indians from this country......:madman:

I'm not sure where you're heading with this, but I think its a place I'd rather not go. Unless your comment has a direct bearing on the thread topic, we'll just move on.

[Covercorner]

IMO, there are a couple of reasons that Obama doesn't have inital support as a whole from the Black community. African Americans, and I think all groups, have started to vote less and less as a bloc vote, and looking at specific candidates and issues.

 

Another reason that probably is more a sticking point with the older African American population can be summed up in four words: Clarence Thomas, Condoleeza Rice. Rice and to a lesser extent Colin Powell have been seen as blind follwers of George W. Bush, who has had absolutley horrible ratings among African Americans. For Thomas, he was widely supported by African Americans during his turbulent approval procedings. He had also been seen as someone who was assisted in given opportunites to advance in his educational carrer by Affirmitive Action programs. When he finally became a Supreme Court Justice, to many that supported him, he turned on them. It is a fact that his views and opinions from the bench are very conservative, which flies opposite to his largest base of support before that time. Black America is wary of Obama, and they would be of any non established Black politician running for high office.

[HHSDad]

On another news show they were discussing the prejudice of blacks against other blacks who act too white. (They also mentioned that this phenomona crosses all racial lines.) Is a black candidate who is, as Joe Biden said, " articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy" automatically at a disadvantage getting the African-American vote because he is "too white"?

[Fastbreak]

On another news show they were discussing the prejudice of blacks against other blacks who act too white. (They also mentioned that this phenomona crosses all racial lines.) Is a black candidate who is, as Joe Biden said, " articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy" automatically at a disadvantage getting the African-American vote because he is "too white"?

And I would submit that an AA candidate that looks or behaves too "gangsta" would be rejected by other voters.

 

Where is the ideal compromise?

 

P. Diddy?

[Diamond Dandy]

I have heard it explained to me by some black friends that the statement

"not black enough" refers only to his upbringing.....not experiencing the same struggles as the majority of the African American community. He did, however develop his intrest in politics when working for the church in the South Side of Chicago, where he witnesses the poverty and lack of opportunity that some of the poorest in Chicago experience. Is witnessing the poverty and strife the same as living it? That is what Oboma is going to have to sell.

[02Ram54]

Obama, were he to win the Democratic nomination, would have a near 100% polling with the black community.

 

His problem is the huge popularity of the Clinton name with African American voters. It cannot be understated.

[the mathemagician]

I am still not convinced that AMERICANS are ready for an AFRICAN-AMERICAN President. Skin color shouldn't be an issue, but , unfortunately, it still is. I certainly would support a black candidate(as long as he was a donkey, not an elephant), but I just don't know if America is ready to elect a black President(or for that matter, a female President). I hope I am wrong.

[HHSDad]

Obama, were he to win the Democratic nomination, would have a near 100% polling with the black community.

 

His problem is the huge popularity of the Clinton name with African American voters. It cannot be understated.

That's not what the news indicated. In fact, their polls are finding that a majority of black voters would not vote for ANY African American presidential candidate. It's only partly an Obama problem. The bigger issue is much of the black community's lack of confidence in candidates of their own race. In other words, race is a bigger issue for black voters than it is for white voters. I'm still unable to come to grips with this. But you are correct about them favoring Hillary.