I'm going to go out on a limb here. I agree with Conspirator.

[CatWoman]

and I'm black, and live in the U.S.

[tekisui]

1. Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't think a black man has ever won a states Primary.

Until Thursday.

He can do it.

[CatWoman]

2. yes, that is a first

of which I am very proud of.

one state does not equal an entire nation.

we shall see.....

[TwilightZone]

7. ...

Sorry, wrong place. See below.

[CatWoman]

8. thank you guys, TZ

I was not aware of that.

thanks for the information :hi:

[Lisa]

25. though consider the state ...

Okay, so maybe it's not like a sweep of all demographic groups in, for example, Alabama ... that would be great, wouldn't it ... but I think Obama's Iowa victory does say something about the changes in American culture and society. Perhaps in a few years, a black person winning in a mainly-white state won't even make headlines.

US Census data on Iowa:
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19000.html

Just as it's not unusual anymore if a woman, or someone who is Jewish or Catholic, runs in an election. When my parents were my age, a candidate for local office who was black or Asian or aboriginal -- or even Italian or Greek! -- was looked at as some impossibly exotic curiosity.

And it's encouraging to see so many young people getting involved. I hope that the Iowa trend continues nationwide -- continentwide, actually, since I'm Canadian.

I like this new world. As you say, CatWoman -- we shall see!

[CatWoman]

26. Hi Lisa

:hi:

thanks :)

[TwilightZone]

3. Jesse Jackson won eleven caucuses and primaries in '88 and five in '84.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Jackson

1988: He captured 6.9 million votes and won 11 states; seven primaries (Alabama, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and Virginia) and four caucuses (Delaware, Michigan, South Carolina and Vermont).

[tekisui]

30. Ok, thanks, I wasn't sure.

[TwilightZone]

31. He did surprisingly well.

I was glad to see him do well. I saw him speak in '84 in a very small town in a very red state, and a bunch of white, small-town farmers gave him a standing ovation when he finished. It was amazing.

[Syrinx]

4. Jesse Jackson won Alabama in 1988

Along with a few other states.

[Skinner]

5. Self delete.

I see some other people beat me to it. :)

(For the record, I think if Obama is the nominee, he can win the presidency.)

[Warren Stupidity]

9. You are wrong.

1988, a real progressive black man, Jesse Jackson:

"He captured 6.9 million votes and won 11 states; seven primaries (Alabama, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico and Virginia) and four caucuses (Delaware, Michigan, South Carolina and Vermont).<11>. Briefly, after he won 55% of the vote in the Michigan Democrat caucus, he was considered the frontrunner for the nomination, as he surpassed all the other candidates in total number of pledged delegates."

http://www.google.com/search?q=DTM+best+practices&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLD

That was the last time that the progressive left wing of the Democratic Party mounted a serious challenge.

[TomClash]

14. You're wrong - Jesse won several in 1984 and 1988 nt

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. No, Jesse Jackson won Michigan in 1988

That was a while ago, but it does count.

[JackRiddler]

27. Yeah, this is why they had to even further rig the process...

Not that Jackson could have won the general, but this shows that even as late as 1988 the process of fixing elections to make sure that only reliable corporatist non-entities win still had kinks.

But it's never been more rigged than today, eh?

Used to be if you came in fourth in Iowa, you were called dark horse and had a shot to win some states.

Now if you come in second, everyone howls: Why are you still in it? Hurry up and get out for unity!!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

29. Yes, Jackson's relative success (he even got 39% in OREGON)

must have scared the corporatists silly.

They knew that America was still too racist to elect an African-American who had come up from poverty, but I'm sure that in the back of their mind was the thought, "What if some white candidate starts talking like this?"

From then on, anyone who talked about excessive military spending or the deindustrialization of America or workers' rights had to be marginalized.

[salin]

6. CatWoman - I really think this is a unique year.

Were it 04 or even 12 you could be right.

*But the Rovian DeLay type of politics started loosing republicans from the fold - even more independents now identify themselves as dem.

*Bush policies have effected many, many people in the kitchen-table economics and when folks fear for their personal economic security - especially when the GOP offers NOTHING and easily to blame for many of the conditions contributing to that insecurity - those concerns take precedence.

*When the major GOP candidates except one run races that essentially promise exactly the same policies that we have right now, and the one exception is a theocratic extremist (even if he tells good joke) - and after the country grew weary of the over influence of the extreme theocrats ala the Schaivo spectacle which included GOP memos indicated that they would use the show to try to go after living wills (making people realize that this extremism could impinge on their lives and their families)

*When the GOP field is clownish in a way that can not be remembered...

I just think it is a "perfect storm" scenario that gets enough folks past their latent prejudices.

[CatWoman]

10. Salin

several of us were discussing this at work yesterday (me, security guard, and three IT people; all black) -- and we all shared the same opinion.

A couple of them took it one step further and expressed the belief that he would be killed before ever taking the oath. That's just how cynical we are in this fucked up, racist world.

[salin]

19. given the frothy anger on the extremist right

I would be less concerned about winning the election (I think it can be done) but the assassination attempt ...

I remember having just a horrible ominous feeling during the standoff of prolife protesters at the hospice care facility for Schaivo - it just felt like some very unhinged person - beig completely stoked up by their peers and all of the talk radio/tv crap could just do something crazy and violent. It didn't happen, thank God. But my feeling that somewhere some violent prices are going to be paid for all of the whipping up of hate that goes on in far right radio and tv. Hell, there have been high prices paid - the thread on "Why Gay People Fight" shows some who have paid the price.

Do remember that you are in Georgia - even redder than Indiana. People are really in a state of discontent. This state hasn't gone blue at the top of the ticket since 1964 and that, imo, was a sympathy vote in honor of JFK. This year could be different. Bush's buddy Mitch took over and has governed with an arrogance that has appalled many. We just had the largest call-up of the Guard to Iraq. There is great hostility to the arrogance of power that has been welded. I have to wonder how many folks might actually get caught up in the positive message here - and one that doesn't feel smarmy - which is how regular joes here are starting to view the GOP spin-sell on a lot of things.

Not saying Indiana would go for Obama, just saying it could go Blue - but it could - even with Obama at the top of the ticket.

He isn't my top choice - I don't have one. But I am very aware of the highly unusual political climate right now.

[EFerrari]

22. I'm really torn on this. Part of me believes we could run a sock

and win because most people are SO disgusted with Republics.

The other half of me is aware of all the work the Republics have put in to fan bigotry of all kinds in this country for so long.

I hope you are right.

[Midlodemocrat]

11. He's not my first choice, but I think you are wrong.

As racist as this country still is, the key states aren't. I think he could win in the GE, and frankly, I think Hillary could as well and Edwards.

I think people are sick to death of Republicans.

[CatWoman]

12. I am one of those who are sick to death of Republicans

and I have also witnessed first hand just how unreasonable and intolerant people can be -- even to the point of sacrificing that which is in their best interests.

[Midlodemocrat]

18. Very, very true. I know my 17yo was supportive of him, as are a lot of her classmates.

In this red state in which I dwell, I like hearing from folks who are turning the tide against the Republicans, mainly because the Republican party isn't recognizable to them anymore.

And, FWIW, a lot of Dems sacrificed their best interests, (financially) to vote for Kerry and Gore, so it can be done.

Is Obama your first choice? If you'd rather not say, I understand, but I don't recall reading who you were supporting.

[CatWoman]

20. No, Edwards is my first choice

however, I have absolutely nothing against Obama. Actually, I'm very proud of him.

[Midlodemocrat]

21. He pissed me off with the McClurkin thing, which I think was a serious

mistake to make, but I remember his Keynote speech and what a rising star he was at the time. I think he would make a great President. Take that with a grain of salt, because I honestly think any of our candidates would be light years above anything the repugs put up. That's the partisan in me that my husband dislikes so much. His loss.

[TwilightZone]

16. I agree. The country took a bit of a left turn in '06, and I think that's going to carry over to '08

I think any of the Big Three could win the GE, and perhaps win it convincingly. If 2006 - a year in which we picked up seats at every level of government and lost few, if any, incumbent seats - was indicative of a trend, people have indeed had enough of Republicans for a while.

[JohnnyLib2]

13. oops, link needed, please.

Posts are coming so fast today.....

[CatWoman]

15. ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2598208&mesg_id=2598208

[JohnnyLib2]

28. Thanks

[EFerrari]

17. My mom and I last night tried to figure out who would deal with the most

bs, a black man or a woman.

We were sort of giggling even though we were serious and it wasn't funny. We've known too many Spaniards.

It would be so great to be so wrong.

In any case, I'm glad both of them are running, Really glad. Because the Republics had done their best to drag us back to the 19th century.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

23. Obama broke through the racial barrier of politics... K&R

Either that, or he has some very powerful backers and I don't just mean, Oprah!
If he wins the primary,I will definitely vote for him! I always liked him but didn't think he had a chance...

Some folks,(including my own family) still, need to learn, not to fear the color of a person's skin or the sound of their name...

I hope all of us, including myself,can get beyond stupidity and wise up to what really matters!

We all need to look a little deeper... Maybe we have come a long way, but still,we need to unite...

This still poignant song 'A Change Is Gonna Come' (video Heidi posted)-- inspired me to take a closer look, at Obama!

Sam Cooke | (some graphic content)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x81066

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

32. Does that make you a co-conspirator?

Couldn't resist.