The Race Factor in the 2008 Presidential Election

Obama Plays the Race Card

It is Obama who plays the race card, not the voters. We get to not vote for him because he is an empty shirt, pumped up by internet frenzy, an adoring media, and those who delusionally still think he is a college professor.(amongst other things he claims that he is not) People who support him read his books and listen to his silver tongue and believe the Messiah has come. Get a grip. Hitler had the same effect on German voters who were hungry for a message of change.

I am a yellow dog Democrat voter, but Obama sure will not get my vote no matter how much whining we hear from him and his suppoters about his race.

I'd like to know what many people consider to be an "average voter." No doubt, to some people it is exactly the opposite of Barack Obama. I am sick to death of voting for "average" people. You know, billionaires who fly their private jets everywhere they go and can vacation wherever and whenever they want. The "average" people who don't have to worry about health insurance or making their next mortgage. People who think that "true sacrifice" is giving up golf.

Barack has had an exotic upbringing for sure. I don't see why that is bad. The fact that people refuse to vote for Obama because he thinks he's Muslim is also scary. They willingly refuse to acknowledge the facts. They willingly spew Muslim hate, and willingly hate things that are not familiar to them. They do not take the time to research the facts, and rely on others to make the decisions for them. And if the belief that Muslims should be treated as humans, that people who are exactly like us or represent our "values" do not a good President make (see Bush 43), and that there is no such thing as an "average voter" makes me an elitist--than I wear it with pride.

This country is far too great to have silly prejudices holding us back.

Rick of PA and many of you against Obama with your uneducated views, pls read more of him and just spend some time finding out who and what kind of citizens are endorsing Obama. You could be a lonely voice in this wide world that Obama has support. Definitely you are in a sorry state. Start being proud of your America because Obama is bringing pride to your country from around the globe that you have lost big time.

"When will you libs start taking responsibility for your own failings?"

well... seeing as how they evidently believe that, despite numerous deadly attacks perpetrated upon this country by radical Muslims and thousands of innocent Americans killed by radical Muslims, they are considered "the enemy" because "prejudice has been abused (???) by Bush... " ... I wouldn't hold my breath on that one either. The true evil for the libs doesn't seem to be terrorism or murder, but conservatism... They seem much more comfortable thinking of Bush as the enemy than they do Bin Laden. Sadly...

Backlash

Mr. Barone does not address the backlash effect as Obama's surrogates repeatedly paint in the background commentary criticism of him as racist . Based on no data, I can see a significant number of folks in the end voting for McCain just so they won't have to hear these repeated accusations for four more years. Americans as a whole are generally fair-minded and I agree that only a small number of them will vote against Obama because of race, but they are fatiqued beyond tears of race-baiting and having their supposed racism thrown up in their faces. I seem McCain getting > 300 EVs with many commentators citing the "Bradley effect".

I would like to see Mr. Barone's comment on this, with data drawn and analyzed from beyond the east coast.

In addition, I would like to see commentary on the fact that as we have moved to a predominant defined contribution retirement system, most employees of privately held corporations realize that substantial increases in the SS tax will inevitably be offsets by reduction in the employer match to their own retirement accounts. Seems like once this sinks the democratic camp will be more likely to discuss benenfit means testing regardless of the consequences to the political consensus that has supported SS for 70 years.

"Prejudice has been abused by Bush so that Muslims are the enemy and the right wing has been putting out emails for a year with stories about Hussein Obama being a Muslim, a Muslim friend, and the like."

Actually, this has been perpetuated by Democrats. After all, it was Hillary Clinton's CAMPAIGN MANAGER that leaked the Barack Obama picture of him wearing a turban when he was in Kenya.

By the by, race and gender was woefully exploited in the Dem Primaries. Conservatives and right-wingers had no hand in that. When will you libs start taking responsibility for your own failings?

NOBama

Don't know where he got his info........I know of MANY democrats that are not going to vote for 'b-o', or McCain. Don't trust Obama, don't like his or his wifes arrogance. I cannot believe anyone would compare her to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, they're not even from the same planet, lol!!!

As for Colin Powell, he's a gentleman and I'd vote for him in a second! Could care less about his color! Race has nothing to do with my not liking Obama.

If he's elected it won't be because of me, I won't vote for him or McCain.

Write in Hillary!

racists

Some of the article is true and some is delusional.

The internet is full of comments about Michelle, likening her to an animal.

Visit the South. Visit Appalachia. 40% of AOL respondents say they wont vote for a black or for a woman.

I think that the observation that a person named Hussein will do well in the middle east is correct but that is another matter, than pure racism.

Prejudice has been abused by Bush so that Muslims are the enemy and the right wing has been putting out emails for a year with stories about Hussein Obama being a Muslim, a Muslim friend, and the like.

End of War on Terror

I think it would be a shame if Obama is denied the presidency simply because of race. I don't pay much attention to the negative stuff that flys around in cyberspace, but based on my reading of the books written by both candidates, I think Obama stands out as the deeper thinker and more adept problem solver of the two, while McCain's appeal seems to be based for the most part on his P.O.W. background. I do like the idea of a guy who has worked his way up from a comparatively low station in our society being elected our president as opposed to a guy who seems to have arrived at his current station on the basis of being the descendant of admirals and the husband of a millionairess, albeit a heroic prisoner of war. As a kid growing up, I was always led to believe that anyone could grow up to become the president of the United States. That concept still has a great deal of appeal to me.

I think the main benefit of an Obama presidency is the likelihood that the so-called war on terrror would come to an abrupt end without another shot needing to be fired. By that I mean that our country's stature would be instantly enhanced throughout the world based simply on the election of a person of color. I would think that the religious extremists in the Muslim world would have a much more difficult time recruiting people to conduct jihad against a country led by a person by the name of Barack Hussein Obama. So if voters are still going to make their decision based on the politics of fear that we have been subjected to for the past 7 years, then they would be very wise to cast their vote for Obama.

obama lightweight

Race is not any significant factor in why most whites dislike B.O. He is a socialist, propped up by Soros and his minions. I'd vote for Rice or Powell in a NY minute. McCain's biggest problem is McCain. A democrat will win this year b/c they are both democrats. The major difference is Iraq and McCain wins hands down here. B.O.'s plan to get us out is wrong, wrong, wrong.