If people vote against Barack Obama because of his race

[redstate_democrat]

If people vote against Barack Obama because of his race and John McCain is elected, this country, the people who did so, will get what they deserve. I am a strong believer in Karma. I'm a spiritual person. I believe that this is this nation's test, a moment for redemption for its original sins. It's one thing to vote against him because you don't believe in his policies or positions, but to vote against him based on race or his name? That's a clear invitation for bad karma. I mean, think about it, this guy is probably the least likely person America would ever think about electing, yet he is here. His name is Barack Hussein Obama. Just his name scares the hell out of people. Is there a coincidence that parts of his name are the same or similar to the men this current administration has used to instill FEAR in the hearts of Americans? I don't think so. I think this is some sort of cosmic sign to all of us. Can we overcome our fear to save our own behinds? His parents are from two continents, Africa, where slaves were kidnapped and transported to America, and America, the heartland, and has both white and black in his DNA. His DNA comprises unity and his name instills fear in the hearts of some people. He is a black man, born in raised in Hawaii and raised by his white grandparents and mother. How common is that? He bypassed a lot of the racial strife experienced in the South and inner cities around the country in the 60's and 70's, yet he understands the concerns on both sides of this racial tension. He lived for some time in Indonesia, a scary place for some people in America due to their ignorance about the world. Yet, he is as American as apple pie.

He is a brilliant man and everything this country tells young black men they should be. Yet, for some, this fact is questioned and even doubted by some. They don't "trust" him with the management of this country. But yet they trusted GWB and then reelected him when it was clear he was nothing but a failure. It seems Barack Obama would never be good enough for some people because of his skin color. He is half white, but the black side of him is just something people can't get over (as if his race is something people should even be concerned with in the first place). John McCain is an idiot. Seriously. He is quite dumb. He has a record of being a impulsive hot head, an abuser, a womanizer, and has demonstrated lack of character. He has openly admitted to not knowing anything about the economy and also gets it wrong on Iraq more often than he gets it right. He wants to plunge this country into a war with Iran for no apparent reason. Yet people are seriously questioning whether Obama is qualified, ready, smart enough to lead this country? They ask Obama to give more specifics when he has given them, but don't ask McCain about any of the specifics regarding his real views he has managed to keep out of the public discourse. There is a double standard when it comes to race in this country. A black person truly has to be twice as smart and qualified to get and do the same job as a white person. The standard is just higher for a black person.

He is a representation in the physical of what this nation could be. He inspires hope in people. It is sickening to me that some people would try to twist that and make hope out to be something negative. What is the country coming to when simple hope is rebuffed?

If people vote against their own interest with full knowledge of doing so because of Obama's race, then they deserve everything that's coming to them. I won't feel sorry for them. They will deserve it and I hope they get hit hard with whatever John McCain has planned for them. Then perhaps, when they are living under a bridge, they will finally realize that a roof over their heads and food on the table is more important than a momentary feeling of false superiority.

If John McCain gets in, I say, hey John, stick it to them hard. Bring them to their knees so when they finally get up, they will realize they never want to be down there again.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. many people don't reaise what the GOp have been up to

[Tim4319]

2. If people hadn't learn from GWB

They will never learn! People voted against their best interest, for someone they would much rather have a beer with. So, we are on our knees now. If they vote for McCain, we will be on our bellies! And, truly hope, like you, people realize that they don't want to be down there again, after voting for Bush.

[redstate_democrat]

3. My thing is is that I don't think ENOUGH people have suffered yet.

That's the problem. They are willing to overlook $4 a gallon gas, an illegal war, pervasive incompetence, massive budget deficits, zero progress, lies and outright criminal acts, for what? What would make a person shoot themselves in the head?

This country has a deep mental illness. It's based on ignorance, fear, guilt, and low self esteem. When you mix those components with poor education and poverty, you can manipulate those people to go against their own self preservation for the benefit of the masters..the wealthy, elite, ruling class. They don't even know they are nothing but throw away tools to these people. It's sad.

[janet118]

15. Oh they are suffering but they blame it on stupid stuff

Today a Republican client was complaining about the real estate collapse in our region and the price of gas. He came to the conclusion that he will vote for McCain because McCain was in favor of drilling in Alaska. The office cleaning woman told me the same thing last week. They have tunnel vision. They suffer, but they refuse to look at the big picture. They want a short term, quick fix. Anything that will make their lives easier right away.

I tried to explain to each of them that drilling in Alaska was like spitting in the wind. Big changes were coming and it was long past time for us to change our thinking about energy. Low priced gas was gone and that McCain knew nothing about how to change direction or fix the economy.

The real estate guy said, well maybe that's true, but then just shook his head and said he couldn't vote for Obama. I asked him directly if it was because he was black. He said no, of course not. He added, without a trace of irony, that he had some black friends. So I asked him why he couldn't vote for Obama then. He said he didn't know enough about Obama. I told him to go to his website and listen to his speech in NC on the economy. He said he would.

I doubt he will. I felt like I was talking to a brick wall. And, guess what, I live in one of the bluest states in the country. We are going to have to work very hard in the time we have left and hope that there are more open minds than brick walls. Talking to Republicans is hard work.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

28. Cognitive dissonance! People can't seem to make the connection

between Bush/McSame's policies and their own lot in life. Or, they choose to ignore the facts right before their eyes. The media is complicit in the Bush deception. It should have reported more on Scott McClellan. It should have reported more on the Senate Intelligence Report just released that confirm that Bush lied about Iraq. The problem is that Americans were never explicitly asked to sacrifice for this war. This is the first war in our nation's history where Americans weren't asked to sacrifice. Americans have become too selfish and insulated from the rest of the world. That's the real problem. If their hatred for a biracial man is greater than the carnage that is happening in this country and all over the world that was created by this administration, then they deserve what they get...

[Hoof Hearted]

4. This is what you said you wanted. A 1/2 term senator. Don't blame it on race if he loses.

That would be the cheap and easy conclusion but not very conducive to the learning process.

Not everybody keeps kool-aid in the fridge. He failed to inspire 18 MILLION Democrats. I'm not voting for McCain, but I know several dozen people who are.

typo

[Window]

5. There will be plenty of people who just will not vote for Obama because he is Black or

mixed, whatever. And if you don't believe that, then you've got a problem. With or without them, we will still win the GE.

If those "18 million people he failed to inspire" are truly Democrats, they will vote for Obama in the GE.

I find your statement insulting...your insinuation that those who voted for Obama in the primary were/are kool-aid drinkers.

Get it out of your system by high noon tomorrow.

[papapi]

8. ...conducive to the learning process? Maybe you should brush up some......

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/FrenchieCat/248

Come back when you've read Frenchiecat's thread, then we can discuss it.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

9. You already said you would never vote for him unless Hillary was VP:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6245325&mesg_id=6246170

[roseBudd]

25. 18 million votes includes Operation Chaos and rural racist Appalachian white voters

[papapi]

6. K&R. What you have expressed is nearly how I feel.....

I've lived in the midst of racism all my life. I'm from Virginia. I'm one of the fortunate ones who had parents who weren't racists. But I see and hear it around me all the time. Only by educating our youth about racial injustice can we ever hope to overcome this dispicable mindset.

And in passing, why do some insist Obama has no experience? Hidden racism is suspect in this case....just sayin'.

[redstate_democrat]

14. "why do some insist Obama has no experience? Hidden racism is suspect in this case....just sayin'."

I always scratch my head when people make this comment. If you compare Obama's political experience with the front runners in the Democratic primary, no one really had a leg up on experience. And truthfully, Obama had been in elected office longer than Edwards and Clinton.

Did anyone say Edwards wasn't experienced enough when he ran? He only served one term in the senate and held no political office before that.

Hillary only served a term and a half in the senate and no political office before that.

If we're talking about executive experience, none of them had experience running any government agency, department or office.

John Edwards was a trial attorney before going to the senate. Barack Obama was a civil rights attorney before getting elected in Illinois.

Hillary Clinton sat on some corporate boards and was a corporate attorney. Barack Obama sat on some charitable boards and was a constitutional law professor.

Hillary Clinton tried and failed at universal health care while first lady. While she was doing that, Obama was in the Illinois legislature passing bills that had an immediate impact on the residents of Illinois.

Hillary Clinton's education reform in Arkansas was the model for many reforms in education, but this also led to NCLB. Barack Obama, while in the Illinois legislature got police interrogation reform through by requiring video tapped confessions in a state that was notorious for false confessions and sending innocent folks to death row.

Although Hillary did have little stints on the Legal Aid board and Children's defense fund board, those very short stints, like a year. Alternatively, Barack Obama was a community organizer at the time Hillary was on the board of Walmart and he was helping people with job loss and other matters.

Just because Hillary was in the White House does not mean she had any input into how things were ran. We have no proof besides her word.

Barack Obama - Columbia and Harvard Law
Hillary- Wesleyan and Yale Law
Edwards- North Carolina

Barack Obama is the only candidate to have served as president of their law journal. He ran the most important law journal there is.

He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law. Obviously he is a very intelligent man. So, why all the talk like he wouldn't know what to do? It's not like the president actually runs all of the operational aspects of the white house. He will appoint hundreds of very smart people to run matters on a day to day basis. His job comes into play with using judgment and having the final say on matters. His role comes in when it comes to laying out a plan and vision for the country. Even with all of this, the president does not have all power. The president is checked by two other branches of the government. They act like he is gonna just be able to do what he wants unchecked. He would be the most carefully watched president ever.

What really kills me is the fact that these people entrusted the country to a C student with a proven track record of failure and reelected him in 2004. The country is in bad shape and it's Bush's fault and there are some people out there who still like him. Yet, I would bet these people actually think Obama is the unqualified one.

This whole argument that Obama was the least experienced out of all of them is absurd. He has plenty of experience in government. These assertions that he is "unqualified" or "inexperienced" are just code words with racial overtones. Almost as if they're trying to imply he is some affirmative action candidate. It's clear as day.


If Obama is unqualified, then that would mean so was Edwards and Hillary.

[Riktor]

16. Of course, none of this is pertinent

Calvin Coolidge held political positions for 25 years before being elected president, to John F. Kennedy's 14 years. Who was the better president?

Clearly, experience is not everything.

[AspenRose]

7. K and freaking R

You nailed it :kick:

It's a 'test' of gigantic proportions. And a lot of Americans are going to 'fail' because they can't grasp the big picture. They are too blinded by hate and prejudice.

Bookmarked!

[saracat]

10. I don't think race should be an issue in either direction for or against a candidate.

And while I do NOT support him, I do not think John McCain is an idiot. John Mccain a patriotic veteran and a political opportunist.

[redstate_democrat]

12. I would have to disagree with you regarding McCain not being an idiot.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

19. McCain

is not very bright.

He barely made it through the naval academy and then he crashed 5 planes. He is however an opportunist.

I have listened to the guy give several speeches and he rambles and is unable to remember pertinent facts. He thinks Putin is the president of Germany.

He is not smart.

[Grown2Hate]

11. On the other hand entirely, an a-political (re: ignorant) white friend of

mine recently said to me, "If Obama wins this election, I don't want to hear any more complaining. CLEARLY race is no longer an issue in this country." Even in victory, we'll have to combat some dangerous thinking. (For the record, I slapped him up-side his face for good measure). :)

[MaraJade]

18. And if Obama makes one single mistake,

it is guaranteed to ensure that no black person will be considered for the presidency
for the next 50 years. This is very important. Obama MUST BE PERFECT or else.

[Raineyb]

32. You act like that's something friggin' new in this country

That happens with black people making inroads everywhere. Obama is more than aware of that.

You really don't want to give the man any credit for ANYTHING do you?

Regards

[Cha]

13. Thankfully, we don't have that many

ignorant people in this country and this is a new time and I said this at the very beginning.."Obama transcends race". And, was prompty laughed at by certain members who supported another candidate.

[MaraJade]

17. There may be the odd racist nut that votes against Obama due to race. . .

but the vast majority of the people who vote against him or sit it out are just plain
doubtful that he can do the job. After all, this is not the place for on the job training, or
learn as you go. This nation is in deep trouble and people want to make dead certain that
the next President GETS IT RIGHT and gets it right every single time and for every single
citizen in the ways that count.

[roseBudd]

26. POTUS is a veto pen, a bully pulpit & but one coequal branch, there is no Day One Magic Mommy

to blow on your boo boo and make it better

[Beacool]

20. Did it ever occur to you that the majority of people couldn't care less about his race

and care a lot more about his lack of experience and even his position on the issues. To say that people who do not vote for him do so due to his race is a cop out. There are plenty of things to dislike about Obama and race is not one of them.

[saracat]

22. I agree but it matters little!

[Beacool]

31. According to the statistics, it matters to 15% of the population

who will not vote for a minority. That's a small amount and some are Republicans anyway. To insist that people who do not vote for Obama are doing so due to his race is either naive or disingenuous. I strongly dislike Obama and don't think that he's ready to be president. He could be white or any other racial combination and I would still feel the same way. Ditto for most people I know who don't want him as president.

[LordJFT]

21. I don't believe in karma at all

but if McCain wins people will definitely get what they deserve

[MrSlayer]

23. I don't believe in Karma and I hate that I have to suffer along with the fools.

These fucking idiots will continue to vote against themselves NO MATTER WHAT happens because they refuse to accept reality, they refuse to think. I'm tired of suffering for the actions of fools. And BushCo is going to walk away from all this counting their money and laughing just like the last time and the time before and the time before and so on. Don't give me Karma. Where was the Karma for Prescott Bush? Where is the Karma for Poppy Bush? Reagan? Nixon? Johnson? Dying in your 90s rich beyond your wildest dreams is not punishment for past misdeeds.

[dbmk]

24. Hanging around here for quite some months now..

And I have realised more than ever, that a large part of the US population does not deserve what such a turn of events would bring.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. People should take Randi Rhodes' advice: if you can't vote for the black half

of him, vote for the white half of him!!!

[barack the house]

29. A classic post. Not a word needed to add.

[rucky]

30. We all just need to focus on registering new voters.

and making sure Dems are still on the rolls.

and not waste a minute defending Obama to unreasonable people.