Do you agree with the following statement?

[Colobo]

"Barack Obama can't and won't win the presidency of this country because this country is too racist to elect a black person."

My parents just told me that. Do you agree or disagree? Be honest. I won't lie to you, it's heartbreaking to listen to my parents having such little faith on people of their same skin tone.

[mike_c]

1. deep in my heart, I do believe, we shall overcome some day....

Times HAVE changed. Have they changed enough? I have to think so.

[Journeyman]

2. I really don't know. . .

though I hope as a society we've come at least that far in my lifetime. . .

[snowbear]

3. I think Barack Obama CAN win the nomination and the presidency.

However, I suspect that those here who don't like him (for whatever reason ) will respond to your poll blaming it on America not being ready.

Pure Bunk.

[jobycom]

4. I don't agree with it in general, but it may be a factor.

The majority of people who would refuse to vote for a black candidate based solely on race already vote Republican, so he wouldn't lose many votes. They'd probably be made up by the number of people who would vote for him specifically because he is African American. And since he appeals so strongly to younger voters, and they are the least likely to be influenced by race, in general, he may come out ahead in that equation, as he draws new voters into the process.

But there's that intangible racism in America that prevents African Americans from being hired, promoted, found innocent in a court of law, paroled, focused on as missing on the national news, insured for a reasonable rate, etc. It makes people believe that Terrel Owens is a bad person and Jeremy Shockey just a colorful one. It makes people think that Jesse Jackson is a camera chaser despite a resume that would make 99% of other American public figures look insignificant. It makes Oprah Winfrey have to search harder for a cab. Etc.

It's out there. Obama knows it, he's planned for it, he accounts for it. I don't think it would prevent him from winning. But like most African Americans discover--he will have to be better at his job than a white candidate with the same qualifications just to get equal consideration. He won't be Jackie Robinson, but he will face discrimination. I just don't think it will be a decisive factor.

Just my thoughts. Wouldn't mind being wrong on them.

[Richard Steele]

5. The current situation is unique, it makes the consideration of that statement more complicated.

If the last six years had been anything close to NORMAL,
rather than six years under the most blatantly criminal
misAdministration in history, I would agree with that.

I think a lot of racism still exists QUIETLY; it's just not
"in style" to admit it publicly these days. And I think
that a large enough percentage of Dems would NOT vote for
a person of color, and Obama would lose any ordinary election.

But 2008? That's a unique opportunity. These are not normal times,
and I think a large majority of voters are planning to cast their
vote for ANYONE who doesn't have that (R) next to them.

So, Obama would win in '08, without a doubt. But any other year,
either past or in the forseeable future, not so much.

[SaveElmer]

6. I do not agree with that statement...

I believe he will lose this time because he is not the best candidate, not because he is black....but as I have said many times, I do believe Barack Obama will be President someday....

[Greyhound]

7. It has nothing to do with "being ready", the euphemism itself is proof of that,

it is because we are bigots, period. We will go into the booth, where nobody can see, and vote for the white man.

It doesn't much matter who the white man is, if the choice is between a white man and a black man or a woman, the white man will almost certainly win.

:puke:

[Colobo]

8. I wonder how many of the Yes votes are supporters of other candidates

trying to take votes away from Obama.

[Ninga]

15. Well you know there is always some of that no matter what. But if you are looking for

genuine thoughts, I can only offer that what I want to believe (yes) and what i experience, are at odds with each other.

If he wins the nomination, I will plaster my car with his name, and mortgage the house to donate to him. I will pound the streets and fill mailboxes and proudly wear his campaign buttons.

But that is me, it is who I am at the core and my loyalty to good Dem's at all levels.

It is too scary to offer an opinion here, and then watch as my guts are carved out by those waiting in the wings for a word, or a thought, or an opinion that differs.

But here it is.

The face of racism in this country is very real and present.

What that means, and how it translates to the Oval office, I for one do not know. But racism is real, and present, and I have witnessed it's ugly face.

[JDPriestly]

9. I think that race would not prevent Obama from winning if he gets the nomination.

The American people want change. I think that, in part because of his race, Obama's candidacy is seen as real change. So, I think his race is an advantage.

I'm an Edwards fan, but I do not see Obama's race as a drawback. But then I'm in California. I realize the rest of the nation may not be as colorblind as people are in Los Angeles. I think White people might be a minority in L.A. I'm not sure.

[Silence Dogood]

10. The only color holding Obama back is GREEN-

and his poor polling numbers.

[saltpoint]

11. Voted 'No' because I feel times have changed.

The 60s are roundly ridiculed by Limbaugh and Hannity and the other socioStalinists in the media, but they sometimes on purpose and sometimes inadvertently generated an environment in which many, many more ideas had value and integrity and beauty.

Ageism tended to linger too long in many 60s circles, but racism took the hit it deserved, and many people began thinking differently about what a human being is and why all human beings deserve acknowledgmet and respect and equality across the board.

A huge triumph for the 60s, no matter what Rush thinks.

If Obama is our nominee, he is our next president.

[LWolf]

12. I don't know.

Racism is real, and it will be a factor. Obama should do well with the black vote and obviously poorly with racists.

What percentage of voters are racist, and wouldn't vote because he's black? I don't know. I do know that he won't get votes from many on the left because of his positions on issues. I think he'd need the non-racist population to unify behind him to win the general, and I don't think that's going to happen.

Not because he is black, but because of where he stands on issues.

[Ninga]

13. Personal experience has sadly dashed my hopes that this country is ready.

A very dear friend who is African American, an accomplished lawyer, a NE Ohio Pol, Harvard educated, and many times elected, was driving in a far eastern suburb of a blue county, and was
pulled over in a traffic stop (by 2 cruisers) and not cited. He was professionally dressed on his way to a speaking engagement, arrived late and was shaken.

Pure unmitigated bull-shit.

It made me cry.

I want to believe this country is ready.

My biggest fear is that the overwrought rationalization people will put themselves through, will allow them to find a non- racial "reason" not to vote for a black candidate, and that will take them off the hook.
The kind of voter I am talking about is not the base of this party, but the swing voter and cross over GOP voters.

I experienced such wrong rationalization during the 2004 presidential campaign. I engaged as many people in the days before the election as i could to encourage a Kerry/Edwards vote.
People kept saying "gee wiz we are at war and Bush has kept us safe and we haven't had another attack"...... I couldn't believe my ears, I was horrified that people could not think beyond their own fears. The eve before the election I talked to some people who were STILL undecided.

Right now, I am very concerned for the welfare and future of this country.....both in national safety and economically. The great American experience and melting pot that makes up this country is on the bottom end of the see-saw and we need to return to some balance.

[wyldwolf]

14. other...

"Barack Obama can't and won't win the presidency of this country because this country is gullible enough to buy into the rightwing racist smears to come, Obama isn't experienced enough yet to fight them off, and Clinton is too strong a candidate for Obama to get past."

[treestar]

16. No, I think media exposure will help with that

Most people I know make "exceptions" for people they know.

Everyone who personally knows an undocumented immigrant complains about how the INS doesn't legalize that person. He/she is such a good person, hard working and honest, and why do they let all those others stay here illegally but fail to legalize my friend? (Completely disregardng the fact that the equal application of the laws puts their friend in the same position as all the rest of the illegals).

So not that they aren't still racist, because they are making an "exception" for Obama, but if they like him, they will simply put him in the "exceptional" category.

[Adelante]

19. make "exceptions" for people they know

That's a good point and very true.

[Netbeavis]

17. I'd like to think that we are further along than we actually are...

but I live in a state with a "Corridor of Shame" where predominately black schools literally have roofs collapsing over the class rooms.

I know this is not indicative of the rest of the country, but I can't believe that we, as a nation, are as far along with race/religion/gay-les/women equality issues as we would all hope or think to be. This will have an effect on the race to the White House. To what degree, I don't know.

[Adelante]

18. I voted no, because I don't think it's about his being black or white

There are probably as many dunderheads who won't vote for a woman and given that particular choice, with a gun to their heads, would vote for the man every time. Clinton and Obama both face this ignorance. The issue is in one of them being most convincing over the other one and the lengths to which each is willing to prepare the ground for defense against the certain exploitation to come of that ignorance.

Obama has shown himself capable of hard knuckle politics in the past. I think he is intelligent and sincere. I'm hoping he is ready to roll, because I do like a whole lot about Obama, and I've moved very close to becoming a supporter. I feel reasonably sure, though, that Clinton is ready to roll on that level, though I'm not supporting her in the primary. Between them, it may have to come down to machine against machine, but I doubt anyone arguing race against gender or vice versa has much to go on for the primaries or for the GE. I know when I see anything like it on DU it's an immediate eye-roller for me. I just don't think most people care all that much anymore and the ones who do care so very much aren't voting for them anyway.

I want to say to you, Katz, with no intention of offense, your parents come from different places and you are young. I can't even begin to describe the societal changes, particularly in race relations, that have taken place since I was a kid in the 1950s, when black people and white people were pretty much strangers to each other, when black teachers and bank tellers and executives might not have existed from the white perspective and mostly didn't exist, when every ad and almost every single TV show or movie was white white white. Most people now have black neighbors or their kids in school have black friends or they were soldiers together or there is interracial dating and marriages in their families. Most white American families have come to see that there is no difference between their family life and black American family life.

The races, if not in perfect harmony, have become familiar to each other and that's no small thing. The comfort level between races has adjusted for most people for the better. This isn't to say there is no racism, of course there is, as there is sexism, both are bred into society and maybe always will be, but it's gone from being primary to a distant whatever number on America's list of anxiety producers.

[Mellowtone]

20. Your parents may be correct but for the wrong reason

Barack Obama may not win the nomination, but it won't be because of his skin color, it will be because he is opposed by Hillary Supporters, Corporations, and a half dozen other interest groups. In my opinion.

[electron_blue]

21. That may be true of many whites, but... whites are not the majority they used to be

This country is far more diverse than when your parents grew up.