At the end of the day, Clinton's ominous comments have really discouraged me

[ecstatic]

Poll question: At the end of the day, Clinton's ominous comments have really discouraged me

And they make me wonder: Is she right? Was it really just foolish to think Obama could be elected president in a country like this? Are most whites (particularly working class) racist?

No, I'm not kidding. This is what is on my mind now, especially with the WV and Kentucky contests looming. On C-SPAN this morning, a caller said that Obama gave such a great speech, but the local and national media refused to cover it because the audience was 90% black.

So, I want you guys to level with me and tell the truth. I don't know what is said behind closed doors in white households. Is Clinton correct? Is this country still too racist? Are most of the people you know racist? I added a poll option just in case someone wants to answer anonymously.

[jakem]

1. race will be A factor, but not the only, or most important one.

thankfully we have war, global warming, disease, crime, the economy, terrorists, and republicans...

[Aloha Spirit]

5. agree. plus, a lot of racists have gotten old and died... black culture is more widely embraced than

it was even 5 years ago...the country has gotten less rural...
the country is very dynamic right now.
i think this is most clearly demonstrated in how well Obama's done among white folks in the southern states. Nearly 40% of the white vote in North Carolina? Not 10 years ago, no way.

[GarbagemanLB]

2. Will race be a factor if Obama is the nominee? Sure. Will GENDER, if Hillary is? Yep. Will AGE, for

McCain? yep.

There are fucking morons in this country.

[keep_it_real]

3. Race will be a factor but one that can be overcome

[thoughtcrime1984]

12. I was going to say the same thing, thanks for saying it for me! nt

[tokenlib]

16. Exactly, we are going to fight to overcome it because we must....n/t

[FSogol]

4. It is still the economy stupid. That's what will decide elections.

The Democratic Party will win big this year regardless of their candidate. America has already turning the page on the dysfunctional Bush administration and McCain doesn't have any answers.

[TexasObserver]

6. She's wrong. For every racist, there's a white person who will overvote them.

The racist vote has been going to the Republican candidate for president since 1968. Hillary is merely tapping into those voters, many of whom vote in the Democratic primary.

[2rth2pwr]

7. Polls are not anonymous, if I remember correctly some people have been tombstoned based on

poll responses.

[Yael]

8. The racists are typically Republicans

so no dent in the outcome. Those people wouldn't have voted for a Democrat anyway.

They will all be too busy protesting for Ron Paul to make a dent.

[killbotfactory]

9. I think it will be a factor in states where there is a strong history of racial conflict

And among those who grew up before schools were desegregated.

It may or may not be a deciding factor in a couple states, but I doubt they would vote democratic anyway.

[CakeGrrl]

10. If race mattered as much as Clinton hoped it would, Obama wouldn't be winning.

Obama isn't winning this race so far without having significant white voter support. He CANNOT win primaries with only the black vote.

This is another Clinton ploy to scare people away from Obama and get them to stick with the "safe" white choice - namely HER.

There has always been, and will always be, an element of racism in this country. And sexism. And ageism.

You can always plant seeds of doubt in people's minds. If we don't try to move forward with Obama, when WILL anyone feel "safe" about doing it?

We can only try. If this country is too backward to choose someone who wants to change the mess we're in just because they aren't the same skin color as the majority population, then it gets what it deserves.

[rucky]

11. It's a factor...

and whether or not it sways the GE depends on how we address it.

We already know how it looks to show righteous outrage, but we can't just lie down and accept it, either. Just keep saying "it shouldn't matter" until it doesn't to a majority of voters.

We need to take cues from Obama, because he always handles issues of race with ease.

[Lilith Velkor]

13. I reject your premise

Clinton (clumsily) stated a fact regarding the demographics of her voters, and everybody freaked out and started screaming about racism.

Working class whites (and Latinos) probably voted for her because of name recognition, but blaming poor people for the racism that benefits rich people has become all the rage lately.

[graycem]

14. Here's the thing..

Yes, I know my evidence is anectdotal, but I come from a white working class family in Louisiana. Many in my family have used racial slurs on more than one occasion, just because it was common more than they were rabid racists. However, they're still racist to a degree that cannot be ignored. I've begun changing that though. More than I ever advocated against it in the past, I've started to be more forceful in insisting they stop it, and way more vocal about shaming them for it. I have a large family, but 4 of them already voted for Obama and will again in the fall. I'm voting for him, and I know of at least 3 or so other whites in the working class who've been guilty of racial prejudice and the use of stereotypes in the past too, aquaintances, and they're voting for him.

I truly believe that though it may be an uphill battle in some areas, the people who are racist to the point that they would never vote for him, were for the most part already Republicans. I believe we open minded fair people outnumber the racists. And I believe the economy is going to trump all of it for most people. I really feel good about his chances. If I thought different, I'd say it and be advocating going with Hillary, because more than I want to make history, I'd love it if a Democrat wins this time around. I think he can win. He's polling really well against McCain and we haven't even started the fight against him yet.

[MonkeyFunk]

15. Clinton

never said what you say she said.

Good lord, don't you guys EVER tell the fucking truth?

[Tribetime]

17. I had a different view on what she said

I thought she said only whites were hard working. So I can't answer your question it isn't a true statement of what she said IMHO

[dailykoff]

18. I haven't believed anything a puke has said since 2000

and that includes Hillary Clinton.