Hillary Clinton and the Black Vote: Should Have Seen It Coming (or Going)
Reader Comments
"Divided We Fall"
All those cliches are rushing to mind right now, "there's strength in numbers" and so on. How I wish I could believe that Blacks are as unified as you claim. However, I suspect many of the polls are inaccurate.
During the 2004 presidential election, I lived in a predominately Black community in Michigan. In that community, at least in my voting district, there was overwhelming support for George W. Bush. Their logic still escapes me: They were voting against Gay Marriage; they were voting for "the fight against terrorism" (in our neighboring community, a large population of "Arabics" resided).
And in 2000, their case against Al Gore was that he was a continuation of Bill Clinton. These Blacks identified more with that "evangelical" base.
Therefore, I believe that Black Americans are Americans first, and subsequently vote for their individual concerns, even if some are merely "hot button" issues. Otherwise, Al Sharpton would have received more support.
In the case of Jesse Jackson, well he was a civil rights leader. And he was still battling for causes.
Obama just happened to broadcast the right message, while Hillary failed to get hers out. Then in her desperation, she sent out the wrong message.
Rosalind Collins -
I agree, I followed it exceedingly close, too - and Obama did not play the race card. He seemed sincerely to want to stay away from dirty politics. ( Now, McCain is saying the same thing. )
I also find it rather odd, that everyone terms him the "black candidate". Technically, he's not. He's 1/2 black... but I guess, that still makes him "too black" for some... :-(
i want to vote for hilary clinton
Im not voting for McCain
Black Republicans and Black Democrats united
The aggressive strategy the Clintons deployed against Barack Obama accomplished what no other political candidate of any race or party has been able to.
The Clintons united Black Republicans, Black Independents, and Black Democrats against Hillary Clinton and soon, John McCain.
Several Black Republicans have openly declared support for Barack Obama.
Others are more subtle in that they've demurred opportunities to endorse John McCain.
MEDIA IS RACIST
EVERYONE KNOWS THE CLINTONS ARE NOT RACIST- that’s just CNN bogus show, scarred that Obama will loose.
President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton have done a great deal for many years not just for blacks but ALL minorities and middle class working whites! His office is in HARLEM! Blacks loved Bill Clinton and if they would tell the truth they still do. The media hates the Clintons because the media can’t stop talking about the Clintons and it makes them mad, President Clinton knows how to handle the media and they don’t like it. Both Clintons are more experienced and have millions and millions of supporters. I’m thrilled that the cable news pundits like ALL on CNN & MSNBC are finally being called out by the American viewers on the bogus unfair and bias reporting, they are now just tabloid TV like the enquirer, in fact with the Edwards story, the Enquirer is more reputable than both CNN & MSNBC, they cant see any news unless its boasting Obamaboy...Truth is this; The race card was played in SC buy David Axelrod and Michelle Obama with Oprahs help, when they saw Obama was going to loose terribly against Hillary, they panic and as usual blacks use race card to excuse why the cant, wont or don’t do ...Period...
It is complete racism against whites that NO blacks are voting for the white man John McCain??? See its only racism when blacks don’t get their way!!!
WE NEED TO STOP THE OSAMA TRAIN WRECK NOW
Senator Obama
What we should be thinking of is "who's best qualified to keep this country safe"? And not about race and all this irrelevant stuff.
Senator Hillary Clinton Accomplishments
As an African American I would vote for Senator Hillary Clinton any day! I never assumed she felt as though she automatically had my vote. I knew exactly of many of her accomplishments that was made not only to propel Blacks American but was for all people. Yes! Senator Obama is a good candidate himself, however, my decision was based soley on the candidate that I felt would best serve this country.
The Black Vote
Its true I'm an African American voter myself. This is the first election I'm old enough to vote in. I thought at first that Obama would go the same way as Jackson, so I was skeptical of him. However after seeing white voters in Iowa of all places I was quite sure that this man could bring both races together. White also hurt Clinton a lot was the fact that she was undercutting the African American struggle when she said things like well Bobby Kennedy was killed in June, or if it wasn't lbj the civil rights movement would have had the same effect. Those are things black voters really care about.
Hey, Larry....
The only people who have played the "card" was the Clinton train reck. With Bill as the conductor. Mark as the porter and Hillary as "Box car Willie". What a combo!
It was time for them to eat some crow and eat it they did. They underestimated the competition, underappreciated the voters.
And I the future speak for you and you alone.Not for us ignorant "blacks".
maz hess
Iowa was never something else then a fight for black votes in the remaining states. Obama had to convince the black voters with a win in Iowa that he would have a chance to win the primaries and he did it. Would he have lost Iowa the black votes woudn't have been monolithic. Maybe it would have been smart for Hillary to support Edwards in Iowa to kill the hope of the blacks and keep them away from Barack.
