Can Obama Win White Voters?
A victory in Oregon, yes, but presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama also got a thrashing in Kentucky. Although both states are populated predominantly by white voters, together they prove there are strikingly different shades of white. Oregonians are progressive to a fare-thee-well (I know, I spent two years at Reed College in Portland, Ore., in the 1970s.) Kentucky voters are less affluent, less well educated, and considerably more conservative.
The Kentucky results and the state's impact on the Obama campaign were summed up most succinctly by this L.A. Times blog entry:
Barack Obama, assuming that two consecutive primary thrashings don't cause the pause among Democratic superdelegates Hillary Clinton is hoping for, will get within shouting distance of Kentucky later this year as the party's presidential nominee. The key swing states of Ohio and Missouri border it. So do Virginia and Indiana, which Obama might be able to put in play.
But actually setting foot inside Kentucky would seem a fairly pointless gesture by Obama, unless he's got Clinton in tow as his vice presidential pick. Not only did she follow up her rout of Obama in last Tuesday's primary in nearby West Virginia with an overwhelming win in the Bluegrass State, but exit poll data showed her voters feel none too kindly toward him.
Those figures found that only a third of Clinton supporters would vote for Obama in November, while about 40 percent would cast their ballot for Republican John McCain and the rest—roughly a quarter—would stay home.
Liberal Democrats who refuse to believe the party could self-destruct by placing Obama at the top of the ticket are hoping Obama's upcoming push on religion will draw in wayward southern conservative Democrats.
Sen. Barack Obama plans to roll out a new nationwide faith effort to make it clear to voters that the presidential candidate is a Christian who reflects the values of the electorate.
Could it work? Hmm. From where I sit, not sure. If Obama starts emphasizing his love of God in an attempt to lure those same working-class voters he accused of being "bitter" and having to "cling" to religion, the tactic could just as easily ricochet. There's also a video on You Tube showing Senator Obama in the pulpit addressing an African-American congregation some years back. If this video gets a lot of play on national television, that probably would not help Senator Obama with white working-class voters.
It was produced by a local Chicago TV station right around the time Obama was considering his run for national office. The reporter makes the point when Obama speaks to white audiences, his intonations and accent differ markedly from when he speaks to African-American audiences. It's hard to imagine this video would endear him to the West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky voters who supported Clinton's campaign.
Tags: Kentucky | Oregon | Democrats | primaries | voters | Barack Obama | race
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Our Greatgrand Nation
Dear Fellow Americans,
Our Great-grand Nation, the United States of America
is facing and will face very critical and substantial
"Challenges" in coming, months, years, and next
decade[s].
It is very essential as well as critical that we pick
our next
President keeping in mind the following criteria.
1. A candidate who has a clear and candid " Vision
and Mission" for our Nation.
2. A candidate with " Strong Character and Stable
Integrity" in-spite of adversity during our present
election process.
3. A candidate with sound and sustained
"Presidential Temperament" and " Judgment".
4. A candidate with little "Washington exposure"
and "real connectedness with people and future
generation".
5. A candidate who "Inspires us up" rather than
"Tears us Down".
6. A candidate not based on sexism,
racism,regionalism,and ageism and as well as “
attempts to bring us together “
In my professional, political and personal opinion,
the only candidate that meets the all above
characteristics and has shown constant and consistent
coolness, calmness, and connectedness { PRESIDENTIAL
TEMPERAMENT } is Senator Barrack Obama.
As an independent registered voter since 1980. I voted
for Carter, voted for Reagan, voted for First Bush,
and second Bush in 2000 and In the process last
interest in Washington politics and I stopped voting.
Getting disinterested and disgusted in our political
process and stopping voting that was a very bad
decision in any circumstance, particularly under
present circumstances.
This time we can not afford to stay on side lines and
let "Washington" stay the same.We can not afford our
Greatgreat Nation to become less than what we are,
what we were and what we can be?
We need to send clear, careful and candid message to
the world and some time 24 hour partisan divisive
media,
that WE the American people will set the agenda for
our future and America will be back.
These partisan media outlets are trying to deprive,
dupe, and derail us and our Nation in getting it right
this time. We not let it happen this time or in
future.
Some of these partisan media and pundits are trying
their best
to deny us better future and continue focus our
weaknesses and generate bitter future for us and our
Greatgrand Nation. { Our Greatgrand Nations people
are persistently and constantly subjected to this
Psychological Terrorism" without common people’s
knowledge. The
common and regular people do not have time to see
thru and sort thru this psychological terrorism
perpetuated
by some of these partisan media outlets. I find it
tragic, unfortunate, and sad [ Probably they do not
care about our Greatgrand Nation ].
We the Americans should not and would not to allow
Some these partisan media outlets psychologically
terrorized, traumatized and silence us this time or
any time in future.
I am sure that we will get it right this
time and elect Senator Obama our next President.
Let us remember that our Greatgrand is constituted of
family, friends,fellowships, faith, funds,foundation,
fun, and future with fairness and freedom and without
fear, favor, or failure .
We can not afford to lose any of above. Let us stand
up, be counted, save, build our Greatgrand Nation for
centuries to come and regain our world economic,
moral, and power status back.
God Bless our Great grand Nation and its diverse
people.
Our Greatgrand nation needs present and future
stability, security, safety,sustained progress and
restoration of our due status in this perilous Global
World at the all levels.
Yours sincerely,
COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall M.D.
Forensic Psychiatrist.
Disables American Veteran.
Las Vegas Nevada.
Cell: 951-505-6975
Voice of Reconcilliation
Now that Senator Clinton has had her day and I think she hoped donations to bring down here debt it is time for her to take a long walk with Bill away from her million dollar a week advisors and start to mend fences for the future of our nation.
She needs to make some definitive statements to her base.
Racism, sexism, class-ism, even republicanism is a disease of fear. It has been at play in trying to move the electorate back to the idea that HRC was our most experienced and familiar candidate. Maybe you should fear what you don't know was a hammer that might sway voters back to the familiarity of another Clinton presidency. Clintons are familiar and well white.
We need Sen. Clinton to quell this ferment and believe many will come to reconcile that they too were speaking out of fear. She need to "find her voice" of reconciliation. She needs to tell those that expressed color as the reason they could not vote for Obama that they are wrong and that she has and will vote for what is best for our nation and our world. She needs to tell her followers that sexism is not a reason to blame Obama. It does exist but would you rather be a white women or a black male? That Obama carries the flame forward for our nation and that she will need all of her base to energize with her in making this a historic moment in our nations history. If it is true that “hard working white Americans” are listening to her then it is her voice that needs to bring them behind Obama.
There will be few moments in our lives that define her or us better than now. Our future lies in building a unified party and nation.
He already has
Every "white" person I have met so far intends to vote for Obama - there is no one among my friends, family or acquaintances who will vote for Clinton.
The idea that white people won't vote for him is a fabricated issue...except for bigots - and you can't change them.
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