If you were going to convince a racist to vote for Obama

[XemaSab]

how would you go about doing so?

(I don't mean Aryan Nations or the KKK, I mean an ordinary white person who is uncomfortable voting for a black man.)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. Tell them about the Jesse Jackson open-mic incident.

A moderate racist's chief concern would be that Obama would give special breaks to black people. (Only the most rabid supremacist would thinnk Obama isn't smart enough for the job.)

Jesse Jackson doesn't seem to think Obama is in the tank for black people, and Jesse Jackson is reliably unpopular figure with racists, moderate or otherwise.

[liberalmuse]

2. I honestly don't know of any...

well, except one or two Republicans I work with. They would never admit they were racist though, but sometimes they let it slip. They'd never vote Dem anyway.

[Zenmaster]

3. Stick to the issues. Tell them how their life would be worse off under McCain.

They don't need to bow down to the President. They've likely never met any President and won't have to deal with Obama in Person either. But if his issues make their life better off than McCain, just tell them to do it for themselves.

[JI7]

4. not sure i would waste my time with them

unless you mean the type that is not openly racist but you know is holding back support for Obama because of his race.

then it would depend on whether i think they are the type that would actually take the time and listen and really consider voting for him.

[XemaSab]

14. I mean the type that's sorta-racist

The sort of folks who might tell a racist joke, or lock the car door if they see a black person.

'Cause I think that's where we could do a lot of work.

[EC]

23. Ask them what they are afraid of?

Find out if it's a rationale uncomfortable...work from there...if they cite something really stupid, ask them if they really believe what they just said...sometimes just making them state outloud what makes them uncomfortable shows them just how crazy their fear is...

[jhrobbins]

26. Very good!

[coalition_unwilling]

5. Draft him or her to serve in

combat in an integrated platoon. Everyone bleeds in the same color!

[Lisa0825]

6. The one racist I deal with on a regular basis who dares to talk issues with me

is far more interested in Roe v Wade than she is in Obama's race, so it didn't take much convincing once Obama clinched it.

[No Elephants]

29. Not sure if anything would work with a hater. Unless the racist is rich, try the money issues--

lower federal income taxes, Social Security, health care.

[Booster]

7. He's not really a racist, but my nephew was considering voting

for McCain because he's also a military man. I sent him Douglas Carpenter's excellent compilation of the voting record of McCain, Obama and Biden found here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3846630

Then I sent him a side by side comparison on McCain and Obama's tax proposals, which someone on DU put together (sorry, can't find it) showing who they would and would not be taxing. Then I told him to vote for whichever candidate he thought would do the most for the common man and woman. He called
tonight and said he was voting for Obama. I'm very proud of him.

[Booster]

12. I don't know how to get an older thread back on the front page,

but if anyone does could they get Douglas Carpenter's thread back on. I think it's one of the most important threads I have ever read on DU, and he put a lot of work into it. Thanks.

[FrenchieCat]

8. I would give them

this article: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3469425

and make them watch this short 3:41 video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfKXVDbvkoQ

All good for those who loved Reagan, in particular.

[Up2Late]

9. Why bother?

Just convince this "person" NOT to vote for the "the woman," it would probably be much simpler.

Or better yet, convince him/her to vote for the Libertarian candidate, it's just not worth the time.

[lob1]

10. Explain to them that Barack Obama

is really Robert Downey Jr. playing a black guy. Tropic Thunder was just a practice run. He's on a secret mission for 24.

[nevergiveup]

11. I told a racist I know

to put a bag over his head when he was listening to Obama's and McCain's convention speeches and then after hearing both decide which one would best represent his interests.

[vixengrl]

13. This response is *not* how I think--

but it's kind of a way to get someone who just can't vote for a black person to go "Big Picture"--

"It's not about him. Take a look at his VP pick. Joe Biden. He's going to surround himself with the smartest people he can find. You aren't voting for one person, you are voting for a cabinet. If he gave one thought to just being a 'Black President', for one, he'd never win, but for another, if he won, half his cabinet would mutiny. Because odds are, he'll have a lot of white faces surrounding him. You can deal with out-of-touch McCain and his do-nothing economics, his health care foolishness and stubborn insistence on keeping us in Iraq without saying what 'victory' is, or you trust that, with Barack up in front, and the Democratic congress acting with him...they will get the hard work done that we need to fix Bush's mistakes, stop dumping money where it does the least good in the war on terror and maybe see the government working more for us."

The answer distributes responsibility from one person they don't trust for their personal reasons, to a whole slate of ideas that might help them, and a whole group of people, many of whom might be "trusted" who will get things done.

[XemaSab]

16. .

:thumbsup:

[Claire Beth]

15. You may not be able to but you can

ask them why a black person should ever vote for a WHITE person?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

17. Tell him to go fuck himself.

Sorry, I have no patience with racists.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. This is a great question...

and one I shall ponder. I've been focused on simply exposing racism as the root of their disdain (even though it's disguised in "he's a muslim," "he doesn't respect the pledge," etc.), without thinking I could possibly sway their vote.

Having been surrounded by out-and-out racists my whole life, I can think of one thing that MAY sink in (though, granted, it's a longshot):

"You thought the NFL would fold and disintegrate when black quarterbacks came into the picture. As you can see, it's doing just fine."

Now, how to convince them that there is no need to worry about their GREATEST FEAR, which is that he will seek retribution for the treatment of blacks (people, they are very, very afraid of that)? I don't know how to ease this fear; I think I could talk until I'm blue in the face and it would be useless. Quite frankly, I secretly wish that, in an alternate universe, it would come true and I could see karma played out, nice and neat, in front of my own eyes. LOL.


:)

[vaberella]

19. It would mobilize other whites into believing the country is lost to the minorities.

It freaks them out and you have to think their way. I'd assume that's the way it would work when I read an interview of a racist and why he would vote for Obama.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/08/national/main4331869.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4331869

[OneGrassRoot]

21. See, this is why I am convinced they MUST be exposed!!!

Even those who don't belong to white supremist organizations but embrace that mindset, and act on it, are dangerous.

I was watching Michael Moore on Larry King earlier tonight. When Larry asked Michael if he felt race would be a factor in people not voting for Obama, his response was to be incredulous (not sure if it was genuine or feigned). "What century are we in? I would hope not, not in America."

I thought that was very naive. It is very, very prevalent, though disguised in all these "he's a muslim," "he doesn't respect the pledge," etc., etc excuses.

I think rational, independent voters will be shocked to realize the extent of racism in this country -- and Barack hasn't shied away from admitting the same and that it needs to be dealt with...and how there's a lot of reverse racism as well.

But it is a subject that truly can't be swept under the carpet. If so, people like those in this article will indeed become more and more dangerous.

[crimsonblue]

20. ask them if they like their retirement dwindling

ask them if they like government continually failing them.

ask them if they like a government that won't help them during a catastrophe.

ask them if they are want to continue to increase the influence of Russia and China. .

ask them if they want jobs to continue the surge overseas.


and then ask them if they said "no" to any of those questions, and would prefer a man who also said "no".

If they say "yes", tell them that Barack Obama will say "NO MORE! ENOUGH!"

and then tell them that Obama will bring change that you personally believe in, and that they can believe in.

[w13rd0]

22. You aren't asking them to choose someone to date their daughter...

...you are asking them to take an honest look at who will best see to it that their interests and concerns are heard.

[bunkerbuster1]

24. "Just vote for the white half"

Half a loaf is better than none.

[Obamican23]

Jesse Jackson's Remarks are a good start

Even I can't stand that blowhard.

[Obamican23]

25. Jesse Jackson's Remarks are a good start

Even I can't stand that blowhard.

[samuraiguppy]

27. good lord

how do we appeal to the racists. as much as we need to win--we damn sure better be able to do it without relying on them

[Heather MC]

28. If John McCain Dies tell them Sarah Palin will appoint Dick Cheney as VP

Or tell them to vote for Obama's white half
HE was raised with is white family, he was educated in white schools
Leave out indonesia.

[RagAss]

30. Waterboarding.

[crispini]

31. He's smart. And he'll bring good people to the white house.

Say things about Obama that are obviously true and get them to acknowledge them, one point at a time, slowly.

[Guava Jelly]

32. I am working on one of those right now

My co-worker is an extreme bigot who strangely enough votes democrat.
Not for any other reason but the fact he has made more money under democrats.
I personally have heard him refer to Obama and African Americans using that lovely 'N' word.:mad:
He has mentioned how he doesn't even know if he will vote this time.
I tell him that Obama is 'whiter' then he is. (I hate having to go this route) but it is slowly working.
He is also a bit of a sexist so the Palin thing is helping out quite a bit.
In the end,he and his wife (I believe) will pull the lever for the non white fella.
And then I can go about avoiding him with a passion again.

About his use of the 'N' word. The owner of my small company knows about it but won't do a damn thing to stop it.