Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause

[Number23]

Entire article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051203014.html?hpid=topnews

(Snip)

"Victoria Switzer, a retired social studies teacher, was on phone-bank duty one night during the Pennsylvania primary campaign. One night was all she could take: "It wasn't pretty." She made 60 calls to prospective voters in Susquehanna County, her home county, which is 98 percent white. The responses were dispiriting. One caller, Switzer remembers, said he couldn't possibly vote for Obama and concluded: "Hang that darky from a tree!"

"Karen Seifert, a volunteer from New York, was outside of the largest polling location in Lackawanna County, Pa., on primary day when she was pressed by a Clinton volunteer to explain her backing of Obama. "I trust him," Seifert replied. According to Seifert, the woman pointed to Obama's face on Seifert's T-shirt and said: "He's a half-breed and he's a Muslim. How can you trust that?"

[cali]

1. Yes, there are ugly, bigoted people in this country

and yes, it's discouraging to hear such unvarnished racism, but it's hardly a surprise to those of us who live in the real world.

[Number23]

4. One would think

... and yet, just today, there was a post from someone asking if racism could TRULY keep Obama from getting the nomination. The number of replies from DU'ers, who I assume most if not all live in the real world, that replied with an unequivocal "no" was really quite fascinating.

[cali]

12. there was a thread asking if racism could keep Obama out of the White House

different proposisition. Obama already has the nomination- barring something along the lines of a dead girl/live boy.

[Number23]

17. Same difference

He has to get the nomination to get to the White House. And the question was still a valid one.

[chascarrillo]

18. Uh, he won the nomination.

:shrug:

[Number23]

22. Okay

To prevent someone else coming on here, reading your post and acting out, until Barack Obama announces he's won the nomination, he ain't officially won it yet, okay?

Let's move on....

[depakid]

5. Yep -and it's hardly anything we need to keep harping on

Because it sure isn't going to help us get the message out.

[Number23]

6. Excuse me?

What exactly is the message you're speaking of? And who's harping about something?

[depakid]

26. Pardon my elitism, but it seems to me

that Republican ideologues and fundamentalists have hijacked reason in America- on just about every level.

Personally, I'm not enamored with either of the two remaining candidates- got my reasons and it isn't easy. Nevertheless, this is what America has to offer this election cycle.

My guess is that a lot of folks think and feel the same.

Bottom line: folks on both sides (or three sides) can't transcend (or get a clue about) the ultimate irrelevance of race.

Fair enough- that's the nature of the species.

But we can all still think, critically, at least some Democrats and Greens seem to have a go with it, every now and then.

So I 'spose the message would be: how about looking at at least at two sets of worldviews and competing sets of policies- which is, for the time being, what we have- for what they are, and how they've proven to have effected us.

If we all did that- had a look at policies- and how they affected us, could be we'd all find a way to improve our situations.

</reason>

[Number23]

29. Soo....

that Republican ideologues and fundamentalists have hijacked reason in America- on just about every level.

Completely agree with you about that. And if you're an elitist I'll have to take your word for it because I'm not all familiar with your posts. You don't seem to be, though...

how about looking at at least to the two worldviews and competing sets of policies that Americans have- for what they are, and how they've proven to have effected us.

Not at all sure what that has to do with the Washington Post article I quoted but that's okay. Critical thinking and a careful review of the two (or ten million) worldviews held by Americans is key to this and every race. And you're right, some folks are so caught up in BS that they can't do that. Obama's ethnicity has revealed some truths to many people in this country who naively or wishfully thought that race was just not so much of an issue anymore. This article and many others in the news lately prove that it still is...

[depakid]

33. Inertia

worldviews held by Americans is key to this and every race.

Understood, though I confess to not clicking on the Post link.

Got my reasons for that. Comes down to being laughed at one time (and also realizing some time ago that Katherine Graham must be rolling over in her grave about her son, who turned a once respected paper into a laughingstock).

Be that as it may, I agree - Obama's various ethnicity has revealed some truths to people in this country. And, having grown up among a lot of people back east who saw (and a few alive who somehow still believe) that the color of one's skin is representative of the content of their character, I recognize that it's an issue.

But not a major issue- and I say that not as a Southerner or a Westerner or an Oregonian- or as an Australian soon to be.

I say that as just a person who's seen a couple things- and never forgot- and never will forget, where he came from. Nor how he got there.

I reckon folks who stayed behind understand that. And they'll come around. Maybe not this election cycle- but someday.

You know why?

Because I'm one of them.

[Number23]

46. Comin' Around

I reckon folks who stayed behind understand that. And they'll come around. Maybe not this election cycle- but someday.

I hear you. And I'm so glad to hear that you believe so strongly in redemption having been redeemed yourself. It takes a strong person to come to see things from another's perspective.

I'm in my mid-30's and sometimes I wonder if I'll be around long enough to see the world change. The anger I feel for myself is nothing compared to how I feel for my daughter, and the idea that her brown skin/hair/eyes will automatically render her "less than" in some people's eyes makes me want to punch something. The only thing I can do is instill so much confidence in her that she will know without a doubt that the people judging her are the ones who are "less than," and certainly not her.

And you're going to love Australia. I've been here for a few years and the country is not without its issues, but it's a helluva place.

[SeattleGirl]

2. God.

Some people don't realize it's the 21st century. :cry:

[Freedom Train]

13. What does that have to do with anything?

The 21st century is the "no racism" century or something? Keep dreaming.

[SeattleGirl]

16. Go peddle it somewhere else, okay?

This kind of racism sickens me to no end. I don't need your shit. Go away.

[Freedom Train]

20. You don't need "my shit"?

:crazy:

I pointed out to you that racism won't just miraculously go away because of a calendar change. If this is what you believe, you're delusional.

[SeattleGirl]

21. F you.

I am not dreaming. I said that that kind of racism make me sick. You sound like you are excusing it.

THE IS NO EXCUSE FOR IT, NO MATTER WHAT YEAR IT IS.

Got it?

\

[Freedom Train]

27. Yes, pointing out that racism exists is the same thing as excusing it

Like i said... :crazy:

[Shakespeare]

44. It's a euphemistic recognition that we're not as evolved as we should be.

Or is that too difficult for you to understand?

[bluestateguy]

3. Racists should lose their right to vote

Anybody with racist views should be legally disenfranchised.

[w13rd0]

8. I don't agree...

...because, quite frankly, you'd have to have a group of persons that decided what constituted racism.

What we need instead is a social structure and policy that weeds them out over time.

[Freedom Train]

15. And just how would you go about doing that, if I may ask?

:eyes:

[Oleladylib]

24. So prejudice can exist..just not in certain regards..Hmmm..interesting.

[thoughtcrime1984]

45. You mean like prejudice against disingenuous people?

I will admit to that.

[Burma Jones]

38. Shoot, I think anyone without a Graduate Degree should be disenfranchised

That should just about take care of it......

Do I need the sarcasm smilie?

[dkf]

7. TPM cites WP/ABC poll

"While overall discomfort with an African-American president is much lower, it rises among less-educated whites - the same group that's been a challenge for Obama in the Democratic primaries. Among whites who haven't gone through college, 17 percent say they'd be at least somewhat uncomfortable with a black president; that compares with just 4 percent of white college graduates. Clinton may face a similar problem, however; less-educated whites also are more apt to be uncomfortable with a woman president (21 percent, vs. 7 percent of white college graduates)."

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[Number23]

10. Thanks dkf

The very group that Hillary is courting so heavily seem to have the same reticence about her as they would Obama, in slightly higher numbers, too. This is all f*cked up....

[dkf]

14. Ironically numbers for older Prez even worse...

"39% of Americans said they'd be uncomfortable with president who enters office at age 72, as McCain would, whereas only 16% think same about a female president and only 12% say so about a black president."

[Number23]

19. Ha Ha!

Good to hear! (high fives dkf)

[Oleladylib]

25. don't buy the l.e. whites being uncomfortable with a woman president..not here.

[dkf]

34. Why not?

I think its weird myself, but I'm under 65 so I'm cool with any gender, race or creed as President.

[WeDidIt]

9. My neiece experienced similar racism in Iowa

Racism is pervasive.

It's everywhere.

[SeattleGirl]

11. And it's despicable and ugly. n/t

[Oleladylib]

23. This can't even be discussed without being accused of racism..

[boppers]

47. You just did. :)

[EmilyAnne]

28. My experience in Pittsburgh was pretty appalling. It was the first time in my life that

I heard the "N-word" used as a very matter-of-fact term. By that, I mean that I didn't sense too much hostility attached to the word. It was said so coolly, without any shame. It happened on four different calls, all to registered Democrats.

The worst part of my experience, however, was hearing the stories from two young African-American women who were threatened and called racist names during the St. Patrick's Day as they were passing out pro-Obama literature. The African-American man who answered the main phone at the Pittsburgh HQ was called the "N-word" many times a week. I can't even begin to count the number of registered Democrats who told me that they wouldn't support Obama because he seemed "too foreign" and that he would pit too many minorities in positions of power over white people. Once again, these were all registered Democrats! I felt like I was talking to REpublicans about John Kerry in 2004 all over again. It was bizarre.

I never reacted angrily or hung up/ walked away from any of these people. We actually were able to have some pretty good conversations about just what an American is and what the basis of their fear is. While I don't think I was ever able to convince any of them to vote for Obama in the PA primary, I hope that some of the things we talked about has opened their minds to the point that they will vote for him in the GE.

[Number23]

30. EmilyAnne

Thanks for your post.

I can't even begin to count the number of registered Democrats who told me that they wouldn't support Obama because he seemed "too foreign" and that he would pit too many minorities in positions of power over white people.

This is what alot of people have been saying for a long time. Racism is not confined to a particular area or political party - Republicans just seem more up front and blatant about it.

I never reacted angrily or hung up/ walked away from any of these people.

Girl, you are a bigger woman than I am. Fantastic job.

[SeattleGirl]

31. And a bigger woman than I am, too.

But sometimes, we need the tooth and claw fighters as much as we need the other.

[DangerousRhythm]

32. Ugh, this is some powerful ugly.

It really makes me sick to read stuff like this... sick and angry. I don't know how these volunteers don't just lose their heads when dealing with people like this. Kudos to them.

[mmonk]

35. Rightwing talk and programming has given social legitimacy

again to racism. No democrat should accept it nor let it deter them.

[NC_Nurse]

36. I never got ANY responses like that down here in the South.

So there! :P

[Burma Jones]

39. Oh, it's down South too

It's everywhere and that's what smug folks that slam the South need to figure out......

[NC_Nurse]

42. That's the point I was making. It's not just down here.

[IsItJustMe]

37. There are sad ass people in this world. Always have been, and will always be.

[NorthernSpy]

40. and those are the attitudes that Hillary has been appealing to...

But you know what? We're going to keep right on going regardless. The hostiles -- and their endless lot of paranoias and resentments -- are not going to be allowed to occupy center stage.

[stillcool]

41. For every racist American...

how many are not racist? Who gets the microphone...the racists and bigots, or those who see beyond the color line?

[Thrill]

43. You can bet your ass. These are people who have never been worth a damn

their whole entire life. My guess is with their ignorance, they'll continue to be that way