Why many Voters DON'T have a problem VOTING for a BLACK President

[FrenchieCat]

Look, I realize that many folks aren't NOT voting for Obama because of his race (its because of Reagan, or whatever), but there are many who have expressed that as one of their chief concerns. They don't believe that America will do this. In fact, many are practicing what some will call a self fulfilling prophecy....since if enough folks thinks this way, they become part of that group that don't believe that we can.

However, the world is not the same world that many of us still see, and it has changed....even if we haven't. In particular, the younger generation (Obama's most energetic voting bloc) don't have a problem envisioning that this country would elect a Black President. Why? Because they see Blacks play Presidents on Teevee all of the time...and judges...and police commissioners....and doctors.....and TV anchor persons.....and models...and hyper successful talk show hosts, Oscar winners, extraordinary Golf pros, sophisticated business persons, and oscar winning directors, etc., etc... In other words, the image that used to be perpetuated in the media that all Black men were criminals, pimps, and con-men interested in your wife or daughter or you is no longer the popular mindset and such has been integrated to render Black folks to be a lot of everything ranging the gambit, just like everyone else.

Sure, the OJay Simpson prototype is still lurking out there with some, but folks in the 21st Century have become accepting of MLK's dream quote that one person of a particular race doesn't dictate anything other than something about that person. Although at times we may get stuck, sure enough, folks are "evolving". Sure there is still racism out there, but little by little, and bit by bit, it is being brought down; because at the end of the day, Americans want to feel that what they say is indeed what they do.

Dennis Haysbert Says '24' Helped Open Minds to a Black President
Fictional President Gives Obama a Boost in TV Guide Interview



http://tinyurl.com/3yn9wf

[FrenchieCat]

1. Oh...I see....

no comment, hey? :shrug:

[cboy4]

2. I think you're right about the young people in the same way

I feel it's this generation that will eventually help vote to approve equal marriage.

Kids grow up with gay kids in their schools now, and gay characters/actors are part of pop culture unlike any period of time.

I continue to worry, however, about everyone else that they won't vote for a black person for president.

Obama is not my guy, but I hope bigotry is not what prevents him from succeeding.

[Egnever]

3. At the age of 42

I have never had a problem with voting for a black president. Hell I was rooting hard for Mosley last time. Course I never had a problem with voting for a woman either. Maybe I was born in time to miss out on a lot of the racism of the past I don't know for sure. I know my father embarrasses me constantly with his racist shit and has been doing so as long as I can remember. One would think growing up with a father thats a bigot it would somehow transfer to me but somehow it had the almost exact opposite effect on me.

[IsItJustMe]

10. I had about the same up bringing as you, and I too am 180 degrees from my father. But to this day,

he can still make me want to bang my head into the wall with some of his comments.

[FrenchieCat]

20. I also believe that folks my age are also much more open to

OBama....and I'm damn near 50! :(

In witnessing the civil Rights movement as kids, and seeing JFK, RFK and MLK felled did move a lot of people, in spite of how the institutional racism continued.

[Sadie4629]

4. The younger generation

has historically NEVER been a factor in any presendential election. Don't see that changing this year.

[FrenchieCat]

5. I do.

I believe that they have witnessed first hand how we got into this war.....something that also ignited the younger generation of the 60s, although the draft played a more major factor.

I think that tuition cost, the Dot.com bust, high health care cost, The Katrina disaster, Global warming, the high cost of fuel, young people seeing 2 elections get stolen and watching day after day a President dumb as shit has resonated.

Never say never....as that equates to saying, no, we can't.

That's what the cynics said to the Wrights Brothers.

[IsItJustMe]

11. In addition to what you said, many of the young folks are working two jobs and have no health

coverage. Could be a factor, for sure.

[Windy]

7. it has already changed... you're not paying attention!

[citizen snips]

8. I am a college student

and I don't see a lot of enthusiasm going around. Maybe it is becasue the primary season sucks in my state.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Hey, I know this

I work in a small Arkansas town in a county that has a KKK organization in it. The other day, the two techs, both natives from here, were talking about how they hated the KKK folks and what ignorant fools they were. One casually mentioned his mixed-race nieces and how he wished the KKK idiots would wake up and realize people were people.

[lvx35]

9. I think it won't hurt him, racism in america isn't a black and white thing...

Its more complex. Nobody wants to be called a racist, so those who act in a way we might call racist, blame it on African American culture rather than race. But to prove they aren't racist, they point at Bill Cosby's critique of African American youth culture and say they agree, and that Cosby is fine with them. Obama has the same appeal, because he doesn't seem to be part of the culture, so he is one of the blacks they can point at to say they aren't racist. They can say "we'll, if these young black kids acted like Obama, I wouldn't have a problem, but...." and it gets them off the racist hook.

edit: Its important to understand that they want to prove to themselves that they aren't racist as well as others, that's why I don't think you will see him affected in the private voting booth as well.

[Kucinich4America]

12. If David Palmer was on the ballot, I'd vote for him

But I never heard him praise Reagan, get endorsements from DINO's like Ben Nelson, or be "approved" by the DLC.

Obama's level of skin pigmentation doesn't matter to me one way or the other. His pandering to the right wing does. We already have Hillary as the right wing candidate. Who are the Liberals supposed to vote for?

[TheWraith]

15. He didn't praise Reagan, he said that Reagan had changed the country more than any other recent prez

He never said he agreed with the direction. And could you point to where Obama was "approved" by the ooh-booga-booga DLC? I hadn't heard that one.

Seriously, I think you have an awfully low threshold for "pandering" to the right wing.

[TheWraith]

13. A lot of biases are kept alive by the older generation.

Racism, sexism, homophobia--largely gone in a vast tract of the young population of America, primarily the people who've grown up with modern media and the internet.

[Sparkly]

14. People who wouldn't vote for him because of his race

wouldn't be likely to vote Democratic anyway. That's what I think, anyway. :hi:

[TheWraith]

16. Agreed entirely. We lost the last of the knuckledragger vote 40+ years ago.

If not before that.

[loveangelc]

17. maybe its a generational thing but I really don't understand the big deal

about a black person being president. I don't understand why "america is not ready." the whole conversation seems so ridiculous. i mean, to some racists i'm sure it matters, but i would think most people would have moved on from that by now. i think its stupid to say people won't vote for obama because he's black. maybe i was just raised to be non-racist, but i don't knwo anyone who has said they won't vote for obama because he's black. and even if theyre not saying it, i really don't think 'omg he's black' is the first thing people think about when they see obama.

[Chovexani]

18. I would vote for David Palmer in a heartbeat

Unfortunately, he's not real, and Obama is the one we're stuck with carrying that particular banner.

[FrenchieCat]

19. Obama is actually much smarter than Palmer, if one listens.....

Hell, he's smarter than a lot of people.