One thing that has recently caught my attention is the overwhelming majority of racial support for Obama. According to the different polls that I have seen today it seems as though race is playing a significant part of the election. Obama is currently enjoying 90% support from African Americans compared to 5% support for McCain. (not even Romney received that kind of support in Utah) In my opinion, that fact alone makes evident that policies, platforms, and voting history in office are NOT playing a role in their decision on which candidate to vote for. The topic of race in this election was discussed in an article written by Ricky Hampton in the Flint Journal. I posted some key points from his article below with my response in red.
Are you voting for Barack Obama because he is black? Many people are. If you don't think so watch/listen the video at the bottom.
It's a question some African-Americans find offensive because it is a question hardly ever asked to a white person about a white candidate. Because in this case white people aren't voting for a candidate based on race...look at the polls. And if they are, that is racism!
That said, Obama's ethnicity is certainly a big role in why he is doing so well among African-American voters, where he enjoys more than 90 percent voter support. So, in part, the answer to the question is yes. You are right about that.
However, to think Obama's race is the only reason African-Americans vote for him is naive. Obama's overwhelming support is about the same as Bill Clinton and Al Gore received from African-Americans. Incorrect, look at the graph below and you will see that even Hillary Clinton, a democrat, received a mere 15% from the black vote when running against Obama.
In summary, I think that Obama is receiving support from people solely based on race and not on the key issues at hand. I have friends and relatives who support Obama and I enjoy having intelligent discussions/banter with them regarding their reasoning. I respect anyone and everyone's choice in candidate, even when it is contrary to my personal choice, IF and when that support is given because that canditate supports the key issues of that person. Unfortunately, in this case I think Obama is supported by blind followers, and it may cost us an election and a decent future for Americans. It's a tragedy.
16 comments:
It seems like everyone is caught up in the "excitement" of a black man becoming the next president and they are completely over-looking serious things about Obama's character, record, experience, and social ties. I've devoted most of my blog to Prop 8/same-sex marriage, but I've also recently started blogging about Obama. Please feel free to share my link to anyone you think might be interested.
That clip is awesome. Those are the same people that called me a "Girl-Elder" on my mission. I heard a thing about how they love Obama, but don't turn out to vote. I think the main reason for Obama's lead is he makes lovely promises. Everyone who's into him thinks he can pull out the troops with no reprecussions, lower our taxes, send everyone to college, pay more for education, give us all great jobs, on and on, because he says he will. McCain isn't promising to give the moon that he can't give, so people want the guy who says he'll go up and get it for them. That's what I think, but have done no research on the issue.
We were talking about the election at school. My kids said they like Obama because he grew up poor, using drugs so he understood them. I showed the biographies on both canidates to correct their thinking. I'd show 5 minutes of one then 5 minutes of the other- after about a half hour, they only wanted to watch the McCain video because they said "Obama is boring!" I'm just glad none of them are old enough to vote!
That clip makes me sad, sad about all the uninformed voters who will be casting a vote on election day. I guess it shows that propaganda really does make a difference and may have more of an impact than facts.
Howard Stern is not a great source for information on anything. Many websites and TV shows have very similar clips "exposing" the mentality at Palin rallies.
What you are failing to realize is that for many black people race is itself an issue. Life is not the same, the playing field is NOT level, people are treated differently based on the color of thier skin. To those who are consistently on the losing end of racial issues, seeing one of thier own, or at least someone facing those same struggles, in office, is a moral victory like no other.
Mitt may not have had 90% of Utah but Utah is not 90% Mormon. You cannot deny that many, MANY, Mormons supported Mitt based solely on his religion.
These people would likely not admit as much, citing his ideas that fall in line with what they already believe, ignoring his problems, and ignoring that deep down they just want one of "us" to win. One may argue that we would want a Mormon in office as to finally have someone with the same value system as us... fair enough.
Reality is that many of Obama's stances are solidly democrat... as is the black populace, even when Barack wasn't running. Barack's race has motivated black people to action like nothing else has... so what? I fail to see the real problem here, especially since for a black person, or any minority for that matter, race is an "issue" that affects thier life.
Why wouldn't it affect thier vote?
Brohammas,
We agree then that race is an issue. The fundamental difference between us is that I don't think it is ok, while you defend it.
You state that Obama faces the same struggles as other African Americans. You are wrong. Obama went to Columbia University, graduated from Harvard Law magna cum laude, makes over $1Mil per year...the list goes on. His wife has lived a similar life. His accomplishments are very respectable for anyone, but don't say he represents "his own" people.
Many LDS did vote for Romney. As you stated, it was because of similar beliefs. If a black and white LDS person were running and the white person received 90% of the vote...IT WOULD STILL BE WRONG. That however didn't happen.
You wrote, "you fail to see a problem here" and that is very scary to me. If you want racial equality you can't act radical to try to achieve social norms.
Possibly you missunderstand me, more likely I don't communicate completely and affectively, but...
I do not say I'm glad race is an issue, I wish it wouldn't need to be.
You say I'm wrong that Barack hasn't or doesn't face the same thing as other blacks because of his and his wife's education??
Are you serious?
Being poor and uneducated is not what makes a person black, or what makes up the whole of the black experiance. How would the idea that his and his wife's accomplishments disqualify them from being in any way representative? Think about what that implies.
They have very much had many of the same experiances as other blacks, and reached success. What fantastic examples.
If you were part of a segment of the population who's greatest obstacles to success are bound in societal issues, would it be so bad to vote for someone who has navigated the same social problems you face.... and done it with such resounding success?
I used Romney as an example, thinking maybe you could understand the deep emotional tie many feel when dealing with a candidate from a like group as the voter in question.
Just as many Mormon's assume Romney has like values as them, many blacks assume Barack has thier values and interest at heart. In both cases, assuming, of course insinuates some level of ignorance.
What I propose is that the level to which black people supporting Barack, based on race, alarms or upsets you, is out of proportion.
What you see as pure "reverse racism" is more likely a missunderstanding of what it is like to be black in America.
Being black in America creates issues for a black person whether they wish it to be so or not. It just is. The amount of money in your account or diploma on the wall do not erase those issues but rather give you more resources with which to face those issues.
Should someone vote for Obama solely because of his race. No.
Is race a legitimate factor? Huge yes.
There are plenty of reasons to vote for him seperate from his race.
Add his race to those reasons and you see the passion that follows this man around the country, not only with black people, and not only with the looney bin left "socialists".
To post video clips of Stern obviously preying on the lowest common denominator and commenting on it as if it represents the whole is unfair and innacurate.
Speaking of the wild promises... When I was at BYU two young men ran for student body president/vice president (the organization was a little different back in the 70's) and promised all kinds of things. They had big rallies and as excellent speakers they were hugely entertaining. They promised such things as a ski lift from the ELWC to Seven Peaks (it was going to be a ski hill back then), better food, free this and low priced that. Of course they were running as a joke, but they won by a large margin.
I'm not implying Obama is running as a joke, I'm only commenting on the big promises he makes. Most of his speeches are filled with generalities about change. I am personally disappointed in the choice of candidates this year. I have never before had such a hard time deciding who to vote for (the lesser of two evils, as the saying goes). Even Bush-Kerry was not this bad of a choice. This would have been a good year to vote in Virginia where a vote would mean something. In Utah a blue vote is wasted and a red vote is meaningless. Time to dump the electoral college, but that's another issue altogether. At any rate, it's too late now. I voted for Palin last week. ;-)
Obama/Palin!!! Can't go wrong, right??! :)
It´s embarassing how ignorant Americans really can be. I kind of have the same opinion as you--I´m feeling torn about who is really going to be a better president...if either of them really would is maybe the better question!
Good post. That whole Howard Stern thing was CRAZY (i'd heard it before). This is a very scary election, for sure. I just watched the video of your little girl and the whole backscratching thing. soooo cute!!
Here is another link for more backup:
http://news.yahoo.com/election/2008/dashboard;_ylt=AlVl9uTQBQe_aOz9VDdalO1snwcF
You can sort out projected votes by race. only 2% of black people are expected to vote McCain. 97% for Obama.
As for whites, it is 40% Obama/ 53% McCain. That is just ridiculous.
O.K. so you have these numbers showing black people are overwhelmingly supporting Obama. You suggest, or state, and I don't dissagree with you, but I ask you, "why do you think it is happening this way?"
Ok, so my turn to chime in after reading and watching. Brohamas, my opinion is that this was happening because black people wanted to see a black president elected. Whether for historical reasons, to feel more "American" to feel justified, whatever.... they wanted a black President, regardless of his stance on issues, regardless of whether they agreed or disagreed with his plan to get us out of this financial crisis, how he feels about troops in Iraq, his stance on abortion, his experience or lack thereof....etc. Yes, the black polpulace as you state has always voted solidly democratic, but if you look at the numbers in the past primary elections this year and other presidential elections, never before this election have blacks voted so overwhelmingly democratic for a particular candidate.
Not only have they never voted so solidly democratic, but they have never voted in such great numbers.
Sure many voted for him because he is black, others on issues, whatever the reason, they came out in record numbers and voted.
The pertinent question is still "why?" Why would race resonate so strongly and motivate so deeply, that I actually saw old ladies cry at the election booth.
Why is this such a big deal?
Is it because they are stupid as Howard Stern suggests?
Is it because they are the true racists as I have heard so many insinuate, if not state plainly?
Why, if you think race is no longer an issue, or shouldn't be an issue, do so many black people think otherwise?
That is a question worth thinking honestly about.
Brohammas,
The question "why" keeps being asked and I think both you and Michelle have hit on the reason. I don't think the answer is as elusive as you may suggest.
To justify voting based on race is wrong, especially since the US government has instituted programs that try to eliminate this behaviour. It seems as though the tide has turned.
The fact that so many caucasion men and women voted for Obama is indicative that racial prejudice is diminishing. I hope that the near future holds the same for all races.
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