Blacks Are More Socially Conservative Than Barack Obama
One of the many holes in the progressive coalition that brought President-elect Barack Obama to power is making itself known in California. According to the Sacramento Bee:
...an overwhelming number—70 percent—of black voters in California...voted for Proposition 8 and helped secure its passage, according to exit polling conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International. African Americans, energized by Barack Obama's presidential bid, boosted their numbers at the polls this year to 10 percent of the state's electorate, up from 6 percent in 2004. "The Obama people were thrilled to turn out high percentages of African Americans, but (Proposition 8) literally wouldn't have passed without those voters," said Gary Dietrich, president of Citizen Voice, a nonpartisan voter awareness organization.
Latinos were 18 percent of California's voters, and through sheer numbers also contributed to Proposition 8's success. But 53 percent of Latino voters supported the measure, a much lower percentage than black voters. Among white and Asian voters, 49 percent voted for the measure.
African-American Democrats are fiscally progressive (to wit, in favor of more government benefits for low-income Americans) but many are socially quite conservative, due to the influence of the black church. As the Bee article notes, black support for the ballot initiative to ban gay marriage is what propelled it to victory. This may come as a surprise to many white liberals who believe African-Americans to be on their side on social issues as well as financial issues.
I'm not sure I agree with the following citation, because it comes from an antiabortion rights website, but it represents the feelings of a segment of African-Americans:
Based upon various studies over the past 25 years, it is clear that a substantial majority of African Americans are opposed to abortion. An early study published in 1973 conducted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Charlotte, North Carolina, concluded that black Americans, especially young black males, are suspicious that genocide is the aim of family planning programs controlled by whites
It is also true that African-American women experience higher rates of abortions than other groups of women.
In the United States, the abortion rate for black women is almost five times that for white women.
How the pro-choice Obama administration will bring these two groups (African-Americans and gays and lesbian) together during the next four years could prove to be more difficult than righting the economy. Stay tuned.
Tags: politics | Barack Obama | race
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Abortion
I believe it's a documented fact that MOST white women, particularly your suburban and middle class types ARE having the MOST abortions in THIS country. That's one of the very reasons they're without children, (along with the high number of them being homosexuals) and UNABLE to get pregnant LATER in life.
Bonnie Erbe racist ????
Please don't speak on behlaf of African-Americans. You are clearly "out of touch" with the people. The only data YOU need quote was obtained on Nov. 4th. I really could care less about your feminist views ( and I am a woman) because your feelings for African Americans- primarily for an African American President are so transparent.
Sorry Bonnie, just because you're black does not mean you vote in one solid block.
Speaking as someone who would be lumped in with African-American label...please do not assume that I or anyone else who is labeled "African-American" vote with one voice. We are individuals, with different views and mores and as such vote as we will, INDIVIDUALLY. This was something that used to drive me crazy with the whole Jesse Jackson/Rev Al Sharpton thing...Those men do not speak for me and NEVER WILL. We are not a flock of birds!
I believe that two consenting people should be allowed to marry. I do not care if they are same sex; if you want to make that commitment to each other, go for it! I always wonder if those marriages are a lot stronger simply because it's such a huge thing to let everyone around you know you are gay or lesbian, and then to actually marry...that's huge to me and well worth supporting.
Bonnie, you remin me of my public speaking professor who wants everyone to pick a side in a persuasion argument. Who cares if you believe in what you are saying, as long as you can stir up a hornets nest and see what happens.
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