Barack Obama's Problem With White Female Voters

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I'm an Independent, homeschooling mom of three, educated, and happily married. I'm struggling hard to understand what's going on with women voters out there right now, and consider myself mildly ashamed to be a white woman in America. I'm tired of being lumped in with the rest of the femsheep out there supporting McCain/Palin. The fact that a lot of women out there obviously haven't read the comparisons between the Obama and McCain proposals, haven't taken the time to educate THEMSELVES by reading or researching the actual facts instead of listening to the blatant pandering towards female voters by the McCain/Palin campain sickens me. WAKE UP LADIES! There is nothing female friendly about this ticket. McCain/Palin's strategists obviously know how to play the gender gap and you're buying into it like needy children. The reality is voting in a sexist way does NOT help this world or the "cause" It's like picking a man because he's a man; it's massively hypocritical. It shows an uneducated, narrow minded and seriously confused side of many women that needs to stop. You can put lipstick on Palin, but she's still a reproductive control freak, she speaks in a way that belittles a lot of women by assuming we're all "folksy" unintelligent oafs who need to be told what to think and how to live. I don't want a "MOM" in the Whitehouse, I want progressive thinkers who care. Overturning Roe v Wade, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! She's an extremist with obvious control issues. The Republican Party Platform, which bottom line is NOT good for women of any age. Poor healthcare platform, women forced to have children they cannot possibly afford to raise, and perhaps shouldn't necessarily, welfare policies that push marriage as an option instead of other roads. Why is it her daughter gets to "choose" her unborn child and the rest of us might have it made for us? I'm highly dubious Palin's daughter made the choice for herself anyways, please. That Evangelical Mama had some input for sure (also nice to have a rich family to help you out) In the McCain/Palin campain, religion rules whether you want to admit it or not. There will be no separation of Church and State because these 2 Candidates obviously make their decisions on religious morals, not educated or open-minded decision practices. This is bigger than the US, it's going to effect the world. To me,Palin will have doors slammed into her face not because she's necesarrily a woman, but because she has no real political substance worthy of being paid attention to. Obama and Biden aren't perfect, but they're a WAY more educated,realistic and positive choice for this country. I mean heck, even my 10 year old daughter deduced that Obama was a better choice for President without my help. If a 10 year old can do it, so can you. Stop calling what some of you are doing thinking, it's demeaning to us women out here who actually take the time to read, learn and make smart political choices based on fact, not sexism, racism or greed.

FedUp of OR 1:24PM September 17, 2008

Uhhh I think Obama spoke volumes about who he is when he chose a "man" as his running mate. He denied women what men have been denying women for years..The right to be equal and share power.

Ezmarelda of LA 7:55PM September 15, 2008

personaly i think it's a way for them to gain power and respect.There using thier suductive ways to get what they want.They arnt thinking, their emotions are comming more and more out.

Tylon of WA 6:04PM September 13, 2008

I think Obama is all confused. He talks as if he is sitting in a court room, in front of a judge. He lacks flow of thoughts, words and its fluidity. He looks, his facial expressions and even the way he talk since winning the nomination is display of his arrogance. He definitely wants to say more but he has NO grasp of things; like “I understand that".

I have a nephew; who can talk non stop for hours and in the end it is all about him and his family, and children. Obama reminds me of this guy. He has to change his attitude and get the hold on the things. When one can deliver the impromptu message, one needs a coach. As one journalist remarked that presidency is not “training on the job”.

Obama can repeat what is on the teleprompter or on the script in front. He just has no knowledge. Other day I say on the U TUBE that he s already “visited 57 states”, and two to go. He sure has enough knowledge.

I don't think Americans can be that stupid and gullible to fall for his rhetoric approach and vote for him or for his party. Yesterday Joe Biden tells at the town hall meeting that Hillary would have been a better pick. My gut feeling is that DNC chose him “a cock eyed guy is better among the blinds (Democrats)”. Even if Obama dumps Biden, Hillary stand a lot better chance in the 2012 election, and will not accept his nomination, in case he drops Biden.

He has not said much so far. He will increase the taxes for corporations who create the employment, and give to the workers who would have No jobs because business men closed the shops. Today when he has millions wants no more rich people, but wants their wealth to be given to those who are in the line up for goodies.

There is No denial that Bush went into war to protect American because of 9/11. But attackers had planned and exercised the whole affair several moths ago. Planning and the execution did not happen overnight. It was in the making for years; and Bush was not in power, then.

If Obama has been looking for his identity because of his white mother and black father who abandoned him then he is away from the truth. That curse that he was raised by a single mother represents 30–35 percent of today’s children who are of mixed/ races. Is he telling them to rise and look for your identity? Liberal policies have been nothing more than to keep people on the dole and be happy, don’t struggle and strive; “we are here” be on the dole and ask for food coupons. His win will bring nothing but snobbery among the ethnics and they would be asking for more goodies. Watch out the Non Democrats Americans.

Nari of 2:22PM September 11, 2008

Does anyone believe that George Soros and the other elitists that support Obama are only donating $1200 to his campaign? There's a big difference between direct versus indirect campaign monies. Barely 1/2 of the Democrats voted for Obama in the primary. He's not that popular in his own party let alone the US. Something is wrong with this picture and I assume it will eventually come out. At least you knew where you stood with Hillary and Bill.

By the way, take a look at latest Council for Citizens Against Government Waste 2007 Congressional Ratings list @ http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/DocServer/2007_Senate_Ratings_Final.pdf?docID=3242. Sounds like the Senate and House are the ones wasting all the money. Obama's a little better then his VP candidate but nothing to be proud of as a nation. These are the folks that create the deficit, not the President.

Rachel Sanchez of MS 3:31PM September 10, 2008

At Rachel Sanchez of MS

There is a limit on how much a person can donate that is rigorously enforced. The Candidates themselves do not dare break the laws limiting the money the can receive from individuals and PAC's because it will CERTAINLY cost them an election. The limit is low $1,200 I think it was. This was to avoid fat cats and the wealthy from ruling the country at the expense of the poor. Obama's "hollywood friends" are not funding his campaign, the American people are. If Celebrities are donating money to Obama they cannot donate any more than any other American which is no where near enough for them to have Obama's ear or influence his policies in any way. As to the many celebrities you claim never finished high school. Your comment seems to say that if they dumb people like Obama he must be wrong. Whether they are dumb or not even dumb people can get lucky when they make a choice

Stefan Urscheler of FL 2:24PM September 10, 2008

The real issue is not how well Obama or McCain might do in the closely divided battleground states, but that we shouldn't have battleground states and spectator states in the first place. Every vote in every state should be politically relevant in a presidential election. And, every vote should be equal. We should have a national popular vote for President in which the White House goes to the candidate who gets the most popular votes in all 50 states.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted, in identical form, by states possessing a majority of the electoral vote -- that is, enough electoral votes to elect a President (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

Because of state-by-state enacted rules for winner-take-all awarding of their electoral votes, recent candidates with limited funds have concentrated their attention on a handful of closely divided "battleground" states. In 2004 two-thirds of the visits and money were focused in just six states; 88% on 9 states, and 99% of the money went to just 16 states. Two-thirds of the states and people have been merely spectators to the presidential election.

Another shortcoming of the current system is that a candidate can win the Presidency without winning the most popular votes nationwide.

The National Popular Vote bill has passed 21 state legislative chambers, including one house in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, North Carolina, and Washington, and both houses in California, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The bill has been enacted by Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These four states possess 50 electoral votes-- 19% of the 270 necessary to bring the law into effect.

See http://www.NationalPopularVote.com

susan of CA 2:19PM September 10, 2008

At Jose of Pennsylvania

Of course Obama will raise taxes if the Democrats win. They have to in order to pay off the gigantic debt President Bush has run up.

Stefan Urscheler of FL 1:29PM September 10, 2008

I must say... I think women are above the strategies being played out by either party. I think that the McCain camp seized an opportunity to attract the Hillary supporters that were upset over Obama's decision to exclude her from VP. I think Hillary is an amazing individual that is by all definitions brilliant.

Palin should be supported by the fact that she is worthy of this nomination via her Policies, Ability to lead, and her support for the people as a nation, not because she is a women. If we cast our votes on the sole purpose of gender... we are in trouble!

On a second note... for any of the media personalities blasting comments that Palin is HOT or making sexist references toward her, you should have some shred of class and some self respect... she could be our next VP, have some dignity.

Billy of CA 11:45AM September 10, 2008

Who thinks that Hollywood reflects the values of America? You can always tell a man by his friends and Obama's friends are bad for this country. With most of Hollywood's elite being folks that can't even graduate from college, I wouldn't assume they're the "sharpest knife in the drawer" when it comes to political prowess. Thanks to Hollywood, the Middle Eastern folks hate (and I'd also say fear) our culture.

Hollywood's repulsive lifestyle portrayal of America is what makes the Islamic world consider us a threat to their well being. I have many friends from the Middle East and there's a general consensus that "Sex in the City" and "Desperate Housewives" is representative of the low moral standing of Americans.

How can the Democrats claim to be the party of the common person and yet attract such money from the rich and famous? Does anyone care that Obama is running on the largest donation haul of any presidential candidate in US history? Who are the "rich" folks behind all of this? Is this really change? Why do these folks want him elected? What's their agenda and what has he promised to achieve on their behalf.

You don't invest that kind of money for nothing!

Rachel Sanchez of MS 8:53AM September 10, 2008

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Bonnie Erbe

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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