Monday, November 9, 2009

Opinion

Racism in the Presidential Race

May 14, 2008 10:30 AM ET | Bonnie Erbe | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

barack

in the presidential election obama has had alot of black votes as well as white

race is the race for office

Why is Hillarey still in the race? To get an honest answer you first must be honest with your answer . And that is to say that the so called

American people ie... white blue collar worker, conservative, Reagan

Democrate, rural American or what ever context media chooses to

subvert its connotations. This demograph has a history of racism which the media will not expose. While at the same time blast a religious man for his views of a country true nature, and its history. And with this they categorize any association as guilt. So one‘s

patriotism willed be questioned to the extent that defense of such allegations become

prime news . All this is to keep the back woods on the back burner.

My Vote...

I'm a Black American that does not consider my vote as a default to any political canidate just because we share the same ethnic background. If I did not consider Sen. Obama as the Best Presidential Candidate, then I would'nt vote for him, period. I support him for what I believe he can deliver as our Commander and Chief; not just the significant differences between Clinton and McCain as individuals. I commend the 26-30% of the WVa voters who stood on higher ground and challenged the media stereotypes by voting for Sen Obama. I think thats a more compelling story than the 70% who voted along the path of least resistance and competence....race.

Presidential Presence, Business Acumen, the ability to communicate effectively and the humility to surround himself with people of higher competence and experts is what Sen Obama provides day one - thirteen hundred. I cant imagine either of the other 2 candidates, having the ability to achieve or sustain those critical qualities at any time. Their best respective qualities, arent enough, even embellished.

In response to a few "prejudiced WV" comments...

Maybe we West Virginians are prejudiced. Yes, when I think about it, I suppose we are...

We are prejudiced against liberal spending policies that bankrupting America...

We are prejudiced against people who are so tied up on the idea of "racism", that they completely ignore other rational reasons for voting for Hillary... On a related note, it should be noted that we West Virginians have gotten past our deep seated misogynist feelings since we overwhelmingly voted for a woman (yay, WV on that, at least).

We are prejudiced against those who assume that all West Virginians are "shoeless hillbillies" who can't rationally look at the issues. Be honest folks, it the majority of people are mentally equivalent to sheep and can't see the deeper issues.

So (let me skim up the blog posts) and make a comment to Kathlene of IL. Kathlene, if I'm prejudiced for voting for someone that I feel would be a better Presidential choice, I suppose you are prejudiced also. After all, it takes that special type of "superior-feeling" person to make a blanket statement against a group ("W VA because of their prejudice"). Would it be fair of me to make a judgment about Illinois based on my current opinion of you? Be thankful that I'm not the stereotypical kind... Oh wait, that makes me sound "superior-feeling", so I suppose you are right - I must be prejudiced.

Racism

I cannot believe that in this day and age there are such narrow minded people out there.

Far as I'm concerned, W VA because of their prejudice, do not count and do

not represent the rest of the United States. Read that. United States!!

Race and gender should not be the issue, quality, integrity, capabilities

and sincerity should.

Barack Obama is the answer. I am a 71 year old white woman and have been

around for many elections and have never, except for Jack Kennedy, been so

enthuised, so impressed with a candidate. He represents ALL of us. And

CARES about all of us. He is like the rest of us, an American first.

Did it ever occur to you...

...that people have a problem with Obama's politics and belief system---not to mention the folks he hangs out with--and not the color of his skin? No, it probably hasn't. It's much easier to blame racism. It's nice to look in the mirror and feel superior to all those bible thumpin', gun huggin', toothless beer swillers, isn't it?

Did it ever occur to you...

...that people have a problem with Obama's politics and belief system---not to mention the folks he hangs out with--and not the color of his skin? No, it probably hasn't. It's much easier to blame racism. It's nice to look in the mirror and feel superior, isn't it?

lies, d*mned lies, and statistics

I'm an older white woman and I voted for Obama. I know a slew of 30+ white people who are pro-Obama, and some live in PA too! And we will vote in November. But then, what do I expect CNN or any other 24/hr news agency to do but spout such "if this, if that" stories...

bonnie erbe article on racism

A candid true picture how racist attitudes among many white as well as Hispanic, Asian, etc. voters will profoundly effect the presidential vote for Obama. The democrats in their infinite wisdom has entered the wrong horse in the Derby. They ,in fact are the horses with blinkers on who cannot see the whole track.

The baggage that Obama carries on his back aside from racist factors will prevent him from even coming close in November. Thanks for the reality check...

Racism

Thank you for being one of the few honest journalists out there. You hit it in the nail and the super delegates are aware of that. In States where the population is older such as West Virginia and Pensylvania, that population has grown through sagregation and taken part of it,. It is hard for those people to let go of those ideas. That is part of who they are and cannot be changed. I am very happy that the youth of today does not see it that way.

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About Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

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