Racism and the election
Pennsylvania and Ohio will go to McCain unless Clinton can hold her voters. I’ve been in the back country of Pennsylvania and it has deep racism, beyond anything you’d find in the Deep South. Don’t confuse ‘northern’ with being ‘liberal’ on social issues. McCain speaks their language as being a maverick; that they can relate to and vote for. Remember Lynn Swann?
As for the polls, the poor urban versus poor rural will be divided by race not economics this year. I live in rural/suburban Florida and I’ve yet to hear anyone say they will vote for Obama in November. Many of the people here didn’t like Hillary, but at least she had their grudging respect. No one likes or trusts Obama. The most common phrase I hear is, ‘I don’t trust him’. Whether the country is ready to elect a biracial president or not, it’s already clear here that they’re not ready to elect this biracial candidate.
Few people are honest enough in today’s America to have an frank discussion about race. When you live in a place where the ‘N’ word is tossed about when talking about those blacks versus our blacks, racism will skew every poll from now to November. If I was in Obama’s campaign I’d come right out and challenge Clinton’s voters to look inside and to offer an alternative.
“There are those of you who see me as a black man and look no further. There are those of you who wish the Civil Rights Act had never been passed. There are those of you who will vote for my opponent for no other reason than because I am biracial. There are those of you that will vote for my opponent (who will seek to overturn Roe v Wade) for no other reason than I am a product of the American Dream. There are those of you who judge me by the color of my skin rather than the content of my character. There are those of you who feel that this great nation is on the wrong path and feel that I am the wrong sex for the challenges that are ahead. There are those of you who believe that being an elitist is wrong yet every president since Jimmy Carter has been very much an elitist. There are those of you who feel that I have no knowledge of what it’s like to live on food stamps while being raised by a white single mother. There are those of you who believe in the dumbing down of America. Well my fellow Americans, this biracial man is not one of those that revels in ignorance. Yes I am educated. Yes I have pulled myself up the ladder of prosperity. Yes I am reaching still higher. Yes I believe in a fairer more compassionate nation that can lead with dignity and power. Yes I am Christian and I believe that State and Church serve two different purposes and that this country thrives because of its spiritual differences. Yes I believe that the Constitution of the United States of America is under attack and I will honor all branches of the government who seek to uphold that sacred text. Yes America I am a black man and proud of my heritage and family and if being black is the sole reason for declining to vote for me, then I in turn will decline your support, for that is not an America I wish to serve.”
Our novel can be purchased at 
Blessing~ 1991-2008
Very nice speechin’. You may have chosen the wrong career.
Well Quill, when he was in high school, Bernard wanted to go into politics. Nothing ever came of it in the end and now, I really have no interest. Politics are too political and the naiveté of youth has given way to pragmatic cynicism. I do think we can get better as a country and as human beings.
I’ve been leaning towards Obama for some time now, but if he takes Hillary on as VP, then I’m gonna have to switch to McCain!
Hugz to you, Bri, it’s been a while since I visited
((((((DB)))))
You were wrapped up in the Penguins.
this is an exceptional post brian,, and i have to say that i am of the same mind… i feel this election is a landmark.. i am proud of the democratic party for breaking the glass and choosing two such diverse candidates in the race for the nomination..
but i am a white american.. i have lived in six states ohio kentucky florida texas michigan and now california,, i have known first hand a reasonable segment of the american population,, and if my life experience tells me anything,, it tells me,, we are not about to elect a black man as president.. i am sure many of us are ever so proud of ourselves for “letting him run”… but elect him??? i could be dead wrong.. but i think not…
Thanks Paisley. You and I share an honesty about the reality of life in America. It’s not what people pretend it is.
Brian–Paisley–I’m living in the heart of radical right country. Brian I think you remember when I was a political blogger and was trolled to death–they’re shadows of what they once where–and my being a political blogger took two years away from my personal goals but I digress
I’m becoming a member of the community–go to the hair salon that’s the most in, nail salon etc–becoming friendly with people
I live in North Myrtle Beach not Myrtle Beach–it’s less touristy. Yes many people are from the North but the girls I’m becoming friendly with are South Carolinian’s. This is Strom Thurmond land
Yesterday was primary day and a woman was conducting a vicious campaign against a “liberal” It back fired. The girls and their mothers were aghast at the campaign. I don’t bring up politics or my views and I look sort of Southern. Have the kind of look where everybody talks to me
Well the girls and their mothers are planning on voting for Obama and working on their fathers and husbands who I admit are a problem–but more women vote
We might see many changes by November. Plus many many young people who have been alienated are planning on voting for the first time. Many older people too. I have Black relatives–well the woman who owns the house I’m staying at–kid’s and their kids–all began young. For the first time they feel part of the system–and they’re educated and prosperous but always felt….I gave my blog to nephew Kenny–and his post is one of my most read–keeps getting stumbled on–I will put it up next week again
This all said Brian I love your post and suggest that you send it to Obama. Obama is receptive. I know many people don’t believe that he’s been getting small donations but I listed all the people I know who send Obama money each month to one of those people–he was aghast
Our country is a mess. I was an Edwards person but listened really listened to Obama one day and thought he can heal the nation. The economy, health care and the war are ancillary to healing–if healing begins everything else can fall into place
Clinton and I loved Bill was divisive. Obama isn’t
And I speak as somebody who makes a living–used to be good–on the stock market and has an apartment that hopefully will sell soon. I’m suffering Brian but one thing I know is that this country doesn’t do well under Republicans–under Bill we had a budget surplus
I always thought of myself as a fiscal conservative but when McCain said that people who have “little portfolios” make 250K, I could easily out argue that
And guess what? Many brokers who have their pulse on Conservative America are fed up and planning to vote for Obama. My broker and my father used to worship at the alter of Nixon and Reagan together–I’ve long thought my father had a stroke and died as he couldn’t stand Bush 41–would hate Bush 43 as my broker does–and because I’m my father’s daughter he talks to me and tells me about his disillusionment with this country and its government–he tells me about other clients who feel the same way
And they don’t see McCain as the answer
Everyone of us is responsible for “converting” people to Obama
Dear Pia,
Thank you for your comments and sharing your experiences with me and the readers of this post. Yes I remember your struggles with political trolls and the only way to be heard was to shout louder than them. They haven’t gone away though, but their audience is shrinking. In America it’s the rich that decide the agenda and when the portfolio takes a hit, then the eyes are opened. But there are more problems than there are funds and until enough people have a vested interest in this election, racism will be a part of the equation.
Even as things change it seems they never do.
That said, I do know people, personally, who have changed, who have learned and embraced the reality that people are individuals, that as individuals we are all quite alike and very much not alike depending on who we are comparing one against. Those individuals went from hating or disliking people by race or creed to human beings who looked at people as individuals and with acceptance that just as members of one family are not all of the same personality, intelligence, or at the same kindness level, neither is any other human being.
It is happening, contact and awareness via TV and blogs and newspapers and close quarters have served as a catalyst for that even as it has given those that can’t see beyond their hate sources to feed their hate. People are changing, but yes, there is still so much hate left out there — and some of it well hidden from people like me and it leaps up in a surprise attack. I have become much more wary in recent years.
Whether Clinton or Oboma won, there are those that would have used sex or race as a reason to fight their every move, but then they would have found yet another excuse to fight another presidential winner as well, so all is still very much the same.
Marcia, thank you for adding your viewpoint. The more people talk, the more we can understand and move forward.
IF Obama is the right man (I refuse to disclose my political views) then shouldn’t it be about what he’ll do in office, rather than his SKIN COLOR??? Why should I vote for him just because he’s black? To prove a point? Isn’t that just as bad as if I were to vote for McCain, because he’s white?
If I were Obama, I’d be insulted – I would want people to talk about issues. About upholding the constitution, etc., and how I’d be great at it. Not what color I am. But then, he brought it up. So I guess not. Some of us would like to move on past racial America – either way.
Texas, my point is that many people will never vote for Obama only because he is black. If he doesn’t challenge the status quo that says racism is all right, then he never will be able to talk about the issues. Someone who sees him as a black man first, will not listen to anything he says.
That’s no different than not voting for McCain only because of his age. If you wish to stay on topic than acknowledge the problems and offer solutions.
I agree. People shouldn’t vote for McCain because of his age. None of it is relavent. Only issues & the constitution. Only by research will people vote intelligently.
Good Texas, then we agree.