ELECTION WATCH ’08: Black People Aren’t Voting for Obama Just Because he’s Black
Yesterday, a random man on the street made a point about Barack Obama that was so valid, that I had to hear him out – even though he was a complete stranger just standing on the street talking politics with just about anybody who would listen.
He said that Black people weren’t supporting for Alan Keyes just because he is Black, so why would that same argument be made for Barack Obama?
I never thought of comparing Obama to Keyes in this way, but it’s true! None of our folks were really checking for Keyes when he announced his presidency. Heck, we still aren’t. And even though a sizeable number of us rallied our support behind the Rev. Al Sharpton in his past presidential bids, it was not of the same magnitude as the support that has been shown for Obama.
Maybe it’s because Obama is the first African-American presidential candidate who is also United States Senator and a career politician, while so many others were civil rights leaders first, and politicians second. Maybe it’s because America isn’t ready for a civil rights leaders as its Commander in Chief. Or maybe, just maybe, as the man on the street put it, Obama is simply the most charismatic and qualified candidate we have seen in this entire presidential primary race.
But as Obama has been steadily gaining in primary wins and popularity, we are starting to hear more and more in the media that Black people are just voting for him because he’s Black. But betting on Black certainly didn’t win him Wisconsin…or Iowa.
So now that we’ve established that Obama isn’t getting votes for the color of his skin, but instead for the content of his character…
Why do you think Barack Obama is the man to beat in the 2008 race for the White House?
He said that Black people weren’t supporting for Alan Keyes just because he is Black, so why would that same argument be made for Barack Obama?
I never thought of comparing Obama to Keyes in this way, but it’s true! None of our folks were really checking for Keyes when he announced his presidency. Heck, we still aren’t. And even though a sizeable number of us rallied our support behind the Rev. Al Sharpton in his past presidential bids, it was not of the same magnitude as the support that has been shown for Obama.
Maybe it’s because Obama is the first African-American presidential candidate who is also United States Senator and a career politician, while so many others were civil rights leaders first, and politicians second. Maybe it’s because America isn’t ready for a civil rights leaders as its Commander in Chief. Or maybe, just maybe, as the man on the street put it, Obama is simply the most charismatic and qualified candidate we have seen in this entire presidential primary race.
But as Obama has been steadily gaining in primary wins and popularity, we are starting to hear more and more in the media that Black people are just voting for him because he’s Black. But betting on Black certainly didn’t win him Wisconsin…or Iowa.
So now that we’ve established that Obama isn’t getting votes for the color of his skin, but instead for the content of his character…
Why do you think Barack Obama is the man to beat in the 2008 race for the White House?
I am a single black woman and a proud Texas teacher. I think it is very unfair to minimize the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama. He is intelligent, honorable man of good character, proven ethical behavior, and qualified to be President of the United States. To put him in a box and admire him for part of who he is excludes so many people on being apart of who he is. Let's not think about race, lets focus on the fact that he has more delegates, he has popular vote, he practice what he preaches not flip flopping like Hillary is (aides talking to Canada about NAFTA, protecting our kids (12yr old rape victim-morale irresponsible), he is transparent (Billary's tax returns), his bills regarding health care and education in Chicago, he is willing to stand up for what he believes in even when it is not popular. He is a great man. I implore everyone to donate, volunteer, vote, call your superdelegates to make the right decision based on how the voters are voting, not personal decisions, and get on-board with spreading his message for change we so desperately need. Our constitution was decided upon to ensure the government would not have too much power. Here we are in 2008 and the people are speaking loud and clear. Senator Barack Obama has reminded me of the democratic process. He reminds me that we elect politicians to go to Washington and fight for issues important to us. They work for us and a lot of politicians have forgot that. We need to be heard, our voices are important. We need to start holding them accountable. We need to encourage the DNC to put a stop to this unethical behavior by Hillary and force her to drop out. I am all for the process but, she can't win at the point and she knows it. Now she is just trying to plead her case for joint ticket and Bush him over to taking the VP position,when he is in the lead and at this point she cant get the lead. Hillary was a corporate attorney for monopolizing Walmart (they don't believe in letting their employees unionize-google Walmart lawsuits). There are some jobs we can't do because we feel morale responsible. Hillary has a history of doing whatever it takes to get ahead. Her other experience that she goes all over touting is being the first lady. That was her husband job not hers. We are all sure Bill told her everything (wink wink shall I say M. Lewinsky). We must not forget that 9/11 was planned on Bill's watch (Did we forget that?). The best thing about Obama is his ability to organize, strategize, and assemble the most intelligent people for the job. If she was honest, ethical, and had a history of making sound judgment I would be on the "Girl Power" train but, she is not. She thinks the American people are stupid, she puts information in the media to get the results she wants. After 8 years of dealing with the decisions Bush has made, color nor gender can decide for me. I want the qualified candidate that exemplifies the attributes my leader should have.
VOTE BARACK OBAMA