Charles Barkley supports Obama, but questions whether Americans will elect a black or a woman

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Barkley supporting Obama's White House bid

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former NBA star Charles Barkley told CNN Tuesday he is supporting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, for the Democratic presidential nomination, but said neither him nor Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York will likely be elected president.

"I am going with Sen. Barack Obama," Barkley told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "I like him a lot. I respect him. I really think he'd make a fantastic president."

But Barkley, who is black, questioned whether the American people are ready to elect either an African-American or a female to be the next commander-in-chief.

"I do not think they are ready for it," Barkley said when asked whether he thought Americans would vote for an African-American to be president. The former NBA star also went on to say he did not think Americans would vote for a woman. "That's why I don't think Sen. Clinton can win, either."

"But that's why I say the next two years, America's going to really get a chance to show their true colors if they can look past Barack being black or Clinton being a woman," he added.

http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/blogs/politicalticker/2007/02/barkley-supporting-obamas-white-house.html

[ellacott]

1. I agree with Charles

I've always liked him because he's not afraid to speak his mind.

[Crayson]

2. My worries exactly..

As an European I'd very much like to see a Democrat being voted into office.
I'm a bit worried whether democrats are wise to come forward with a black or woman candidate right now.

I have some scenarios:

Worst case:
American middle class votes for the republican candidate whoever he may be, just because he is NOT black or NOT a woman.
We end up with another 4, most probably 8 years of a world bullied around by a republican and some more wars. The democratic party is totally idealistic and intellectual but will also totally loose this election.

Best case:
The democrats are absolutely cold blooded and think that NOW OR NEVER is the time for a black or woman candidate because the Republicans are loosing ground on a daily basis and the democrats could with EVERY candidate, even a black or woman, just because the republicans fucked up.

Latino voters:
Black and latino communities grow by the day and so does their voting power. Could a black candidate be the trump card?




Just for your information:
I think it would be great to have a female president for once. It would do much good and probably move much money away from the arms industry towards health care and other social problems and most probably make the world a bit more poeaceful. But I really fear that the republican candidate gets elected because a black or female president is too farfetched for a large part of the american population.

Please share your thoughts about this with me.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. I share your fears. It's interesting that European countries have had so many...

females as heads of state, and we have yet to do so. That said, I honestly don't know if this country is ready for a female or black President. I truly hope there are enough people in the U.S. who are ready for this, because if there are not, it's really regrettable, and disturbing.

[Ishoutandscream2]

3. Yep, Chuck is exactly right

We still have a long way to go in this country.

[closeupready]

4. self-delete

never mind

[closeupready]

5. At the same time, I disgree with him.

It will be harder for a minority to win, but I don't think that means they are unelectable.

[spooky3]

7. "him...will"--no editors at CNN? Ah well--go Charles!

I don't agree with him, especially not the "look past" comment as though it is a characteristic that needs to be forgiven, but I think he's very clever and a plain-speaking guy.