Why?

[leatherneck]

I have stayed away from the race issue that has been and will undoubtedly play a role in the election of our next President. But after listening to a radio station interview 6-8 African Americans last night and talk about the historic presumed nomination of Obama for President, I thought to myself: why?

 

Not why as to it being an historic event. Of course it is and I think Obama's nomination shows Wright and other hate mongerers that not only are they wrong in their message, they are way wrong.

 

But why is it okay for some African Americans to vote for Obama because he is an African American, but discriminatory for some Caucasians to vote against him because he is an African American? Several of those African Americans interviewed stated (remarkably I might add) that they weren't even sure of Obama's policies but they had voted for him in the primary and would vote for him in the general simply because he was an African American. If they can use the logic that they are going to vote for him because he is of the same skin color, why isn't it acceptable for others to vote against him because he is not of the same skin color?

 

In America's seemingly endless preoccupation to deal with our "guilt" over what happened in this country over 200 years (and for that matter happened in Africa itself), are we giving African Americans a pass to be discriminatory while at the same time, condemning Caucasians that discriminate? Shouldn't the same standard by applicable to all Americans? If not, why?

 

And don't for the moment think I am fine with voting against a person because of his/her skin color. I condemn such. But I equally condemn those that will vote for him simply because of his skin color. Yet there seems to be no condemnation in the press for those that do and will vote for him because of his skin color and I ask myself, why?

[RebelK]

I have stayed away from the race issue that has been and will undoubtedly play a role in the election of our next President. But after listening to a radio station interview 6-8 African Americans last night and talk about the historic presumed nomination of Obama for President, I thought to myself: why?

 

Not why as to it being an historic event. Of course it is and I think Obama's nomination shows Wright and other hate mongerers that not only are they wrong in their message, they are way wrong.

 

But why is it okay for some African Americans to vote for Obama because he is an African American, but discriminatory for some Caucasians to vote against him because he is an African American? Several of those African Americans interviewed stated (remarkably I might add) that they weren't even sure of Obama's policies but they had voted for him in the primary and would vote for him in the general simply because he was an African American. If they can use the logic that they are going to vote for him because he is of the same skin color, why isn't it acceptable for others to vote against him because he is not of the same skin color?

 

In America's seemingly endless preoccupation to deal with our "guilt" over what happened in this country over 200 years (and for that matter happened in Africa itself), are we giving African Americans a pass to be discriminatory while at the same time, condemning Caucasians that discriminate? Shouldn't the same standard by applicable to all Americans? If not, why?

 

And don't for the moment think I am fine with voting against a person because of his/her skin color. I condemn such. But I equally condemn those that will vote for him simply because of his skin color. Yet there seems to be no condemnation in the press for those that do and will vote for him because of his skin color and I ask myself, why?

I've often wondered myself how it is acceptable to vote for him because of his race but it's wrong to vote against him for the same reason.

Edited June 5, 2008 by HHSDad

[pigman]

Over 200 years ago isn't exactly true. But I do agree with you on the it's ok one way and not the other.

[All Tell]

I'm absolutely certain that if the Socialist Obama loses Kentucky we will all be painted as racists, just like when he lost the primary.

[Son of Bear]

I'm absolutely certain that if the Socialist Obama loses Kentucky we will all be painted as racists, just like when he lost the primary.

 

:thumb:

[75center]

Over 200 years ago isn't exactly true. But I do agree with you on the it's ok one way and not the other.

 

Not 200 years ago, over the course of 200 years. That's how I read it anyway.

 

Good questions. One way is biased against, the other way is biased for which as seen as not being as wrong.

[pigman]

I am white, but I would guess if you could be hung in this country simply because of the color of your skin, it probably isn't that big a deal to vote for someone because of their skin color. I do understand your problem with the double standard, and I also understand the other view.

[gchs_uk9]

I'm absolutely certain that if the Socialist Obama loses Kentucky we will all be painted as racists, just like when he lost the primary.

 

But who does the painting? Media? Democratic party? Obama? If he wins Kentucky, could the Republicans say that Kentuckians only voted for Obama so they wouldn't look bad on television as they did in the primary? Seems like an impossible tight rope to walk.

[leatherneck]

I am white, but I would guess if you could be hung in this country simply because of the color of your skin, it probably isn't that big a deal to vote for someone because of their skin color. I do understand your problem with the double standard, and I also understand the other view.

 

And you are implying that there has never been a Caucasian killed by African Americans because of the Caucasian's skin color?

[pigman]

I didn't imply that at all.

[leatherneck]

I didn't imply that at all.

 

So then, if its okay in your opinion for an African American to vote for Obama because African Americans were hung because of their skin color by Caucasians, is it likewise okay in your opinion for Caucasians to vote against an African American because African Americans killed Caucasians because of their skin color?

 

In my opinion, past bad actions by both races should have nothing to do with whom people vote on for the President and nor should skin color. I think the office of President is a little too important to base a vote on skin color or past mistreatment of either race. But it seems you differ on that or at least want to say its okay or understandable for African Americans to vote for an African American because some African Americans were hung due to their skin color but say its not okay or understandable for the inverse to incur.

[HHSDad]

Over 200 years ago isn't exactly true. But I do agree with you on the it's ok one way and not the other.

You're right. Slavery was first practiced in what is now the United States almost 400 years ago. The first African slaves reached North America courtesy of the Spaniards to work as laborers in Cuba and Hispanola over 500 years ago.

[All Tell]

But who does the painting? Media? Democratic party? Obama? If he wins Kentucky, could the Republicans say that Kentuckians only voted for Obama so they wouldn't look bad on television as they did in the primary? Seems like an impossible tight rope to walk.

 

All I know is that after Hillary won the Kentucky primary a HUGE issue was made out of the 29% of the respondents of exit polls that said they voted based on race and we in Kentucky were painted as racists. I have no doubt that if McCain carries Kentucky that the same media will do the same.

 

I very strongly doubt that if the Socialist Obama carries Kentucky that there will be any questions raised by the media as to the possible hidden meanings.

[pigman]

All I've tried to say is that I understand both view points. Whatever reason you vote for or against someone is your right, best I can remember. Simply the color of ones skin shouldn't be the reason, but if it is, it's that persons right, and yes in my opinion it's racist either way.

[leatherneck]

You're right. Slavery was first practiced in what is now the United States almost 400 years ago. The first African slaves reached North America courtesy of the Spaniards to work as laborers in Cuba and Hispanola over 500 years ago.

 

Heck for that matter slavery had probably been going on as long as there have been humans. The ancient Greeks and Romans took slaves and if my recollection is correct, slavery was practiced in Africa by Africans using Africans way before the Spaniards showed up. None of which justifys the abhorrible practice of course, but it does point out that it was unfortunately an accepted practice at the time it was done in the U.S.