Poll on Obama and Race

[Perky]

Poll question: Poll on Obama and Race

I would like to see if a theory I have is true.

I am trying to guage the reluctance of African americans to view Obama as having a realistic shot ath the White House

I have heard:

He is black therefore whites will not for him
He is not black enough.
He is great... but he will drag the party down with him.


Wwhat do you say.

Disclosure: I am white, a son of the south, and I enthusiastically support his candidacy.

[Colobo]

1. A black Latino here

Supporting Obama all the way.

[ShortnFiery]

8. "Heinz 57" European Heritage here ...

And I also support Obama. :hi:

[VelmaD]

2. If he gets the nomination...

I will work my ass off on his behalf. But in the primary I'll support whichever candidate is farthest to the left...and right now that's Kucinich. We'll see who's in as it gets closer to the actual primaries, though. I have a tough time saying I support any candidate at this point.

[BOSSHOG]

3. I don't know if I'm white enough

If Obama gets the dems nomination, he will certainly get my vote. I don't know if he will be my number one choice in the primary, however his race will have nothing to do with my vote. I urge all to listen to all the candidates. Ya got plenty of time to do that.

[peace13]

6. You said that perfectly and I second it! N/t

[Colobo]

4. Every time a black person says "I can't because I'm black"

Racists around the world are empowered.

[napi21]

5. Way too soon to know! Do this poll again in about Sept or Oct.

If Obama looks like the best candidatethen, I'd say YES I'm white and I don't care what he is!

If it's someone else, so be it. IMO race has nothing to do with it, and neither does gender!

[Breeze54]

7. I voted 'other' ...

...as in another reason.

It's way to early to even try to decide anything!

[HockeyMom]

9. I am undecided

I don't vote based on race, or gender either. I will definitely consider him, but I need to learn more about him before I can make up my mind. I was very, very impressed with his speech at the Convention.

White, middle aged, suburban woman, and new Democrat.

[Buzz Clik]

10. If it's not Scottish, it's crap!

[TahitiNut]

11. Other: I'm going to wait to decide. It's too early.

:shrug: Premature electionation.

[Karenina]

12. I won't cast a vote in your poll

but will go so far to say that I believe we are all about to witness the UGLIEST campaign in America's history.

[Perky]

14. I am very concerned about what the Adrican american voter

will do with Obam... .

What will Jessee and Sharpton do? Does their endorsemnet ratify his standing in the community but make white votere very wary?

Doe a lack of endorsement disgnal greater lgitimacy of Obama by white.... but effectively split the black vote between the Old Guard and those for whom Bill Cosby's comments about the contemporary african american male resonates.


Is he the hope of a generation or an Uncle Tom?

[Tiggeroshii]

13. i'm a hapa...

So i chose "I am neither and I plan to support obama"

I guess "caucasian" would also work :shrug:

[Marrah_G]

15. Please clarify

Is this if he wins the nomination?

I haven't decided who I will vote for in the primary's, maybe Sen. Obama and maybe not, who I vote for won't be because of race or gender though.

If this poll is assuming he wins the nomination then yes as a white female I would vote for him without hesitation.

[Perky]

17. Primary

I sense he may have a problem here with african americans which is good and bad

what makes hi attractive is that he is not thought ofas a minoriity candidate by the majority and a split among blacks helps... but in the primary......without ragging support I am not sure he can win. in a croded field.. though he would likely beat Hillary in a head to had competition.

[B Calm]

16. Is this a racist thread?

[Katherine Brengle]

18. Not sure...

it's a weird one though.

[Colobo]

21. If anything

I'm kinda shocked by some of the results...

[Perky]

23. which ones?

for me it is the lack of enthusiastic support among African-americans.

I would very much like to get to the heart of this, but I don't share the experience.

[Forkboy]

25. The surprise for me is that so far more african americans claim his race is a factor than whites do

[Bassic]

24. I'm shocked that two people on this board actually said

they wouldn't vote for him because of his race.

[Forkboy]

26. more than two

[Bassic]

27. Ah christ, I hadn't seen the other such options.

:banghead:

[WillyT]

41. Trolls, Or Smartasses...

Some people here like to mess with DU polls, to ensure that they are not taken seriously.

Oh well...

:shrug:

[CitizenLeft]

45. those two people...

...may not be "of" this board. Freepers who register can vote too, even if they've never posted.

[Perky]

19. No....I sensed Obama may have a larger problem among blacks

than whites. for a variety of reasons most;y anecdaotal.


AS I said in the OP I am white and enthusiatically supporting him.

[Bluebear]

20. It's a hot mess. nt

[Marrah_G]

22. The problem with this is that many people haven't decided

I can't answer anything but "other" because frankly I haven't decided who I want to vote for yet. I suspect many others are in the same boat. We can be supportive of his candidacy without having chosen him for our vote yet.

[LWolf]

28. Other.

I am caucasian. I'm not voting for Obama. Race and other candidates have nothing to do with it.

I'm not voting for him because I don't like his stance on some issues.

[Perky]

29. PLEASE VOTE ON THIS POLL!!! PLEASE VOTE ON THIS POLL!!!

More votes help to validate or invalidate the current numbers which are pretty ugly at the moment.

[Warren DeMontague]

30. Wait. I don't understand how the numbers could possibly be "ugly".

Isn't in conceivable that there might be reasons other than race that a Caucasian or non-Caucasian voter might support or not support Obama right now????

[Perky]

31. I am somewhat distressed a the numbers who say they will not

vote for Obama because or race. I suspect'hope that it because people who are adamant are more likely to vote in a poll like this then the non-adamant..... but I won't know that for sure unless more people vote

[Warren DeMontague]

37. Yeah, but that question isn't really reflected in the wording of your poll.

Obama's not my first choice, but that has nothing to do with his race. Actually, he's been impressing me more lately. Between him, Edwards, and Hillary, he's got the clearest, most morally cogent position on Iraq. That counts BIG in my book.

[Perky]

39. .

[LWolf]

38. I did vote. I voted "other." n/t

[meldroc]

32. Obama is one of the best candidates I've seen in my lifetime, black or white.

It doesn't matter whether he's black, white or green - he's the best candidate I've seen in years. As far as I'm concerned, whether race will bury him or not, we should be fighting hard for him. Even if we lose, we fought the good fight.

[Dracos]

33. White Male

from Ky right now I am undecided I am torn between Edwards & Obama and race has nothing to do with my decision I think either one would make a great President & either one could win.

[sakabatou]

34. Caucasian; to early to decide choice

Who knows who is going to enter/leave?

But if Obama does take the nomination, I will vote for him.

[Grandrose]

35. African-American voted other...

Senator Obama will have my vote if Mr. Gore
refuses draft.:)

[CitizenLeft]

46. my sentiments...

exactly! :)

[Eugene]

36. Other: African American, but not decided on Obama yet.

I am black and Barack Obama's race is not an issue for me.
I don't have a favorite candidate (except maybe Al Gore).

I like what I've seen so far, but it is still early days
in a long campaign. Obama still needs to show more of what
he is a about and what he is made of as a campaigner.

[leomcgarrysghost]

40. Optimism

I like Obama because he talks about hope. He's the only candidate whos doing it. We're so damn cynical that we need it. Just my opinion.

[abelenkpe]

42. I would vote for Obama

He did not vote for the war, so no one will ever accuse him of flip flopping.
He does speak of hope, which is uplifting in a time of despair and decay.
He doesn't appear to be manipulated by corporate money.
And every time Fox News makes the effort to smear him, or his picture is placed with the wrong headline somewhere I realize that some very powerful people are afraid of him. Now why would that be? Could it be that he would actually be good for the people? I don't really know. But I sense fear from the right and that makes me love him, and fear for him. Ever notice that truly good people in this country have historically been targeted while evil bastards live long prosperous lives?

[JackRiddler]

43. How dare you?

Barack is a brandname in a major psychological operation being waged by the corporate media to pre-select the two Money Candidates as the only ones with a chance. They want to kill any spark of democracy a year in advance of the first primaries - establish a perpetual election cycle where only money and celebrity power counts.

This is transparent and disgusting. I also believe it is overplayed and will backfire, and HRC and Barack will both go down in well-deserved irrelevance.

His race is irrelevant, except apparently as a means of defending him against criticism by accusing anyone who doesn't like him of racism. This is also transparent.

The "no" choices in your poll allow only "have another candidate" or reject him for his race as reasons! Well I don't need to have another candidate to see a slick, corporate-cardboard distraction, a figurehead in the making for whatever interest is willing to pay up, a man who has made it clear he could see reasons to bomb Iran tomorrow.

[CitizenLeft]

44. I am an African-American...

...and I will vote for the Democratic nominee, whoever it is, even if it's someone I don't like.

At the moment, I'm not supporting any primary candidate, because my candidate of choice is watching from the sidelines - at the moment. My candidate is Al Gore. My dream ticket is Gore/Obama.

I think Obama does have a chance, and I will be thrilled to see him win the nomination. His charisma, demeanor, intelligence, and common sense attracts people to him like a magnet.

But essentially, I'm watching and waiting.

[BlooInBloo]

47. Sweet! White folks have set the narrative: Obama loses because black folks are racist!

We seed the polls appropriately, and we can't lose on this narrative-construction!

:rofl:

The lengths white folks go to in order to (a) be racist, and (b) pawn it off on black folks - lolololol!

You guys slay me.


EDIT: Whoa! Look at that elephant!