So I'm checking out the message boards on CNN.com...

[Bicoastal]

...where, unlike DU, there's very little Moderation. Anybody can chime in, using a different name every single time they post if they really want.

I'm already seeing a number of "Democrats for McCain" posts, which is a bad thing...BUT...

...every single one of these posts, the ones that say they would never vote for Obama, REPEATEDLY bring up the black vote in very negative terms. Whether it's talking about Obama's race, or the pivotal Carolina's, or defense of Hillary's comments this week--they bring up race no matter what the subject of the news story. It's their obsession. Gender doesn't come up nearly half as much as black people, and they usually come up just short of blaming African-Americans for ruining the party and the country.

I would never say that all or most Clinton supporters are racist--but I would say that so-called Dems so willing to change parties rather than vote for Obama, on CNN.com at least, CLEARLY have a problem with black voters, black politicians, and black people in general. From my perspective, it's simply too great a consistency to ignore.

It worries me--not enough to think that Obama shouldn't be our nominee--but it worries me all the same. Before this Election, I thought I knew who the Democratic Party essentially was, and I'm now willing to admit that I had no idea.

[rockymountaindem]

1. On the other hand, you might want to consider

that posters making comments like that aren't really Democrats and are just trying to stir up shit. Here on the internet we can largely create our own personal narrative, so who knows who they really are? I wouldn't worry about them too much.

[nxylas]

2. I'm guessing most of them were never Dems to begin with

As you say, any racist cracker can post *claiming* to be a Clinton supporter, but people like that haven't voted for a Democrat since LBJ.

[WillyT]

5. Yep... Happens On Limbaugh All The Time...

"I'm a Democrat, but I've really got to agree with you Rush."

Yeah... right.

:shrug:

[KSinTX]

3. Two things

First, given the anonymity of the internet, these are likely not even democrats.

Second, given the nature of their race obsession, there's a good chance they are Republicans in sheep's clothing (bored out of their gourds and having fun) and aren't even likely voters.

[rucky]

4. That's expected...

among a small percentage of any group of people. Then there are the astroturfers a-plenty, who make shit up.

Even more so on a message board. Ever been to Yahoo chat?

[BlooInBloo]

6. Well of course. They're not as tricksy as Clinton supporting DUers think they are.

[dailykoff]

7. CNN is a shitbucket propaganda channel

that actively promotes racism, so don't think their message boards reflect anything but what they want them to.

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. It is a self-reinforcing cycle.

Obama has wisely recognized that his campaign must transcend race. Neither his supporters nor his detractors are willing to go along.

On the one hand the supporters see racism in every single negative comment. The opponents then argue the point.

I have never believed that race was an insurmountable obstacle to Obama, and in fact might be a slight advantage (americans love an underdog). Lately, however, I'm beginning to think I might be wrong.

Both his supporters and his detractors believe that everyone else in this country (except themselves, of course) is irredeemably racist. This belief works nicely for repubs. It is unsurprising that Democrats who listen to the conventional wisdom become concerned about issues of electability.

It is an extremely self-destructive move to call our fellow Democrats racists. It is obvious that this lesson is lost on many.

[Bicoastal]

11. No, it's a self-reinforcing cycle when HRC & surrogates SAY "White People won't vote for Obama."

And they already have said as much several times.

What this does is strikes fear into the heart of your ordinary white voter--it tells them, "YOU may not be racist, but a lot of other people are, and that's why nominating Obama is a mistake!"

Which would be fine, except for the fact that it's simply NOT TRUE. A) Obama won the popular vote in many, MANY states that have very few minorities. B) Most of the whites in Pennsylvania and Ohio would vote for any major candidate who isn't a Republican--unless, of course, they have any reason to suspect EACH OTHER, of being bigoted.

But the last stage of HRC's campaign is to trick us into thinking that the US won't be ready for a Black nominee--because if we believe her, we truly won't be.

Do you see now why we admire Obama's campaign for its optimism and positive outlook?

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. I admire many elements of his campaign too.

I do not admire the open contempt of many of his supporters for "old" democrats and the stereotypes they promote about them.

If it becomes firmly established in the conventional wisdom that 17 millon Clinton supporters and 30 million Republicans are racists, then it's not unexpected that this raises some questions in the minds of anyone who may generally approve of Obama but who can do even rudimentary arithmetic.

Tricking us into thinking that the US isn't ready for a Black nominee is much easier when Obama's supporters have already done the heavy lifting.

[Bicoastal]

14. *Double Take* When you say "supporters," do you mean the people on this board?

Yeesh, listen to Obama himself. Listen to Kerry, Kennedy, Richardson, and Dodd--all of whom support him. Why listen to DU'ers to know what the average Obama supporter really thinks? There were may assholes here before the primary, and there will continue to be after it's over. Surely you remember this. Why should it be any different now that most PEOPLE here support Obama? Obviously, since Obama has the most DU supporters, he'll have the most DU assholes.

But has Obama himself ever called HRC people racists? No. Has his campaign? No. It's Hillary's people (like Bill) who keep hammering home the point that there are too many bigoted whites to vote for a black nominee. They're NOT racists, but they're take advantage of Democratic fears over racism--which is nearly as bad.

And the people who cry "McCain over Obama" are part of it too.

[Dumak]

9. these are republicans

Don't worry about it. It's called "gamesmanship" or "frat boy mentality", and goes hand-in-hand with the fascist/neocon personality profile. I mean, you can typically tell who is the republican in any TV discussion just by watching who's doing most of the smirking. Sports metaphors are commonly heard in their speeches. It's all a game to them.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. If We Were To Judge The Electorate Based On Anonymous Message Board Posts,

then we'd have to assume most of Obama's supporters are taunting childish morons without the ability to think for themselves.

We know that's not the case in reality, so maybe you shouldn't put so much merit into what people online say.

[tabasco]

13. Wow, you sound bitter.

It must be all the ridicule you have taken from Obama supporters because of your childish, moronic posts.

[Arrowhead2k1]

15. Don't worry about those trolls.

They're the same bunch of pseudo Democrats concentrated at hillaryclintonforum.net. It's a known fact that they go out of their way to make it seem like there's a lot more of them than there really is on the internet. Pathetic really.

[jazzjunkysue]

16. How many decades have we had black athletes and entertainers?

People like Will Smith have brought americans over that bridge, even if they don't appreciate real leaders like Martin Luther King.

Of course there is alot of bigotry, racial profiling and fear. But there really are very few people in america who haven't been introduced to minorities. You can't watch basketball baseball or football without accepting that our country has people with diverse backgrounds. All those black athletes make zillions more dollars than I do as a teacher. They don't make that money by accident. They're revered for their ability to win.

Look at Oprah's success, Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy. I think we're ready.