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Ray Ballentine was waiting for a sign to throw his support to Barack Obama. And when Obama coasted to victory in Iowa's caucuses, there it was — evidence that the senator had the broad racial appeal to get to the White House.
"I did have some reservations before, but he certainly got my vote now," Ballentine said, eating a brisket and roast turkey salad with hush puppies at The Q Shack, a barbecue joint in Raleigh, N.C. "I was sort of undecided, but I feel like he can win the presidency."
Obama's convincing win in Thursday's caucuses in Iowa — a state with just a smattering of minority voters — demonstrated the Illinois senator's support crosses racial lines and bolstered the notion that America is receptive to electing its first black president.
Whether Obama's appeal stretches beyond the farm fields of Iowa will become clear over the next month as the freshman senator faces a series of tests on different political terrain — beginning with Tuesday's primary in New Hampshire, another overwhelmingly white state.
But for Ballentine, who had been wavering between Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Obama, Iowa was a tipping point. Like many black voters, he says, he was looking for proof that Obama could garner white support. Yet he wonders if the rest of the nation is as willing as Iowa to embrace the idea of a black president.
"I'm not really sure if they're ready, you know," he said. "I think it's time. He's speaking about change, and certainly that would be a change for this country. A change for the world."
Polls have indicated the vast majority of Americans say they would support a black candidate seeking the White House. A Gallup survey conducted in early 2007 found only 6 percent of men and 5 percent of women said they would not vote for a black presidential candidate — a seismic political shift from 50 years ago when more than half those surveyed felt that way.
Though Obama's win captured headlines and gave his campaign fresh credibility, he is not the first black candidate to triumph in a Democratic presidential contest.
In 1988, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, making his second bid for the White House, piled up Democratic primary wins in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia and the District of Columbia along with caucus victories in South Carolina and Michigan.
But Obama's roots and resume — as well as his campaign — are unlike other black candidates who've run for president. The son of a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, Obama was just a child during the dawn of the civil rights movement, grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia and has not made race the centerpiece of his candidacy.
"Obama is running in a way that a lot of white voters feel very sympathetic," said Merle Black, an Emory University political scientist. "He doesn't make them feel guilty. He's not running a Jesse Jackson campaign or an Al Sharpton campaign. He's positioned himself to be a candidate who happens to be black, rather than a black candidate."
In a far different way, the Republicans have their own presidential candidate with an unusual back story: Mike Huckabee, who won the GOP caucuses in Iowa with heavy support from Christian evangelicals, is an ordained Baptist preacher.
But it's Huckabee's years as an Arkansas governor, not his time in the pulpit that have taken him this far, said David Bositis, an analyst at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a black think tank. "If he had been a minister and never a governor, especially a governor who was re-elected ... he wouldn't be in this situation," he says.
For some voters watching Obama, his campaign — and his Iowa success — are simply reflections of changing times.
"America's becoming more open-minded," said Mark Jambretz, a 36-year-old sales director at an Internet company in San Francisco. "I as a Republican can say that, and we need to open our eyes to people representing all ethnicities."
Still, he said he could envision some "radical groups" taking violent steps against a black candidate or president.
That also worries Ballentine, the 53-year-old North Carolina electric utility field technician.
"I think he will certainly need to beef up his security, because I think there's these wackos that will go to any extent to make sure he doesn't win," he said. "It's sad to say that, but I think it's a possibility. Some people just don't want to see that happen."
Obama received Secret Service protection last spring — the earliest ever for any presidential candidate. He acknowledged at the time that some of the threats against him were racially motivated.
Some voters, though, say Obama's race may not even be that much of a factor in his campaign.
"I think that America wants a lot of change. I don't necessarily know if it matters that he's black or not — just that they want something different," said John Beckner, while waiting for a table with his daughters outside Matt's Big Breakfast, a diner in the shadow of downtown Phoenix.
Beckner, a 34-year-old systems engineer who is white and married to a black woman, said he knows not all Americans will be able to look beyond Obama's race. "I'm sure he's going to alienate some people that just aren't ready for that, or think he has special interests or a minority agenda," he said. "... But the thirst for change is so strong ... that would probably be enough to get him elected."
Standing nearby with her husband and son, Nancy Bergkamp said it's experience that counts and Obama doesn't have it.
"He's out there, `Oh yeah, let's change, let's do something different and all that.' But I think he's kind of a flash in the pan at this point. I think he's very unproven," said Bergkamp, 51, a registered Republican. "The fact that he's black is somewhat of an afterthought. Maybe I'm naive, but I would like to think we're beyond that."
Maxine Siegler, a 54-year-old flight attendant from Miami, also said while Obama's victory is a good sign that the nation is ready to elect a black president, "I don't think this particular African-American is up for the job. I think we have a mess, somebody has got to fix it but I don't think he's the right person."
Collette Lease, 32, an education assistant from Minneapolis, has reservations, too. While she said she's excited a black candidate has the chance to take the White House, she's not sold on Obama.
"He gives a great speech, but just because you can give a great speech doesn't mean you can run the country," she said.
Others, though, say Obama's candidacy is groundbreaking and a sign that America is changing — even in the South.
"We can all go back to our history books and a couple of years ago something like this would never have happened," said JaQuinda Harkness, a 20-year-old College of Charleston student strolling during lunch hour in the South Carolina city's historic district. "For this to be happening this year, this century and for me to living in it is amazing."
Sivi Bobbitt, a 35-year-old graduate student at Clark Atlanta University, is enthused too and believes Obama "wants the country to be the melting pot it's supposed to be."
She also thinks Obama's biracial background may make him more palatable to white voters — especially younger ones who tend to be more open-minded.
"How our society is now, the younger generation doesn't see color anymore," she said. "It's not a white thing. It's not a black thing. We don't think like that anymore."
___
EDITOR'S NOTE — National writers Pauline Arrillaga in Phoenix and Allen G. Breed in Raleigh, N.C., Elizabeth Dunbar in Minneapolis, Errin Haines in Atlanta, Scott Lindlaw in San Francisco and Bruce Smith in Charleston, S.C., contributed to this report.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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- Regions: United States , Kenya , Indonesia
 | Teacher and Apprentice - Hillary and Barack | theatlantic.com | Sun Jan 6 | 3 |
 | Analysis: Obama Shows a Black Can Win | Associated Press | Thu Jan 3 | 0 |
| Sharpton and Jackson: Biggest Losers in Iowa, New Hampshire, and...::By Harry R. Jackson, Jr. | townhall.com | Tue Jan 8 | 14 |
| Dems Chase Freshness-Craved Voters | Associated Press | Sat Jan 5 | 0 |
| Barack Obama's Racist Church | NewsMax | Tue Jan 8 | 0 |
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6.1
{"commentId":1332228,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
Once again, a superrficial corporate piece. One can have "appeal", and still be a disaster. Just look at Hitler. This kind of analysis without looking at the political failures of Obama, is called a fluff piece.
What should we think about Obama funding the occupation, forever? What should we think about Obama refusing to impeach the President, including all class elites who were complicit in these illegal crimes. That includes the democratic leader, Pelosi who knew about the torture and secret camps, and said nothing, did nothing in here secret committee hearings. The latest corrupt criminality, if I am reading this right, is that Jane Harman knew about the destruction of the CIA tapes? and did nothing, said nothing, yet she herself is a thug who pushed for the fascist enabling law, the Homegrown Prevention Terrorist act, which criminalizes political thought.
What about the failure of the democratic party to stop the war, what about Obama's failure to take off the table the criminal warmongering against Iran, and nuclear aggression on the table? What about the failure of Obama to vote against these fascist enabling laws? Such massive failures, capitulation to these criminal policies should have everyone rejecting not only Hillary, but Obama himself, and vote for Kucinich who has done none of these serious failures, yet gets ignored by the media. The fact that the public is totally unaware is due to the fluff pieces of the corporate media, like these. They and the public are manipulators and manipulated, delusional and bereft of information. BOYCOTT THE CORPORATE MEDIA.... TO HELL WITH "APPEAL" WITHOUT MORAL CONTENT.
{"commentId":1332228,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 8 votes
#1 - Sat Jan 5, 2008 2:43 PM EST{"commentId":1332260,"authorDomain":"Aunk"}
Hetep and Respect Eric albert you make some good points, I would like to see a Obama, Kucinich ticket.
{"commentId":1332260,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"Aunk"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1332587,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
Well, if Kucinich gets picked, which I doubt, but in fact he does, I hope Kucinich has the principle to turn it down. If not, I hope Kucinich becomes an irritant, in his side, whenever Obama fails to come up with a universal health plan, or fails to stop capitulating to liberal war hawks and Zionists, which the democratic party is notoriously known for.
Possibly, Kucinich could embarrass Obama enough to break from the corporate party structure, and to fire all of his and their democratic party ideological thugs, advisors, the neocons, zionists, political hacks that routinely are picked from the rotten think tanks, the American Enterprise Institute, and Brookings instiutute. If Kucinich achieves these smalll successes with Obama, the "non commercial" so called public radio, NPR, would have problems finding its "expert idiots", neocon and liberal warmongers, cheerleaders, if both Obama and Kucinich take on the corporate media hacks, including NPR radio.
{"commentId":1332587,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1332700,"authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
BOYCOTT THE CORPORATE MEDIA.... TO HELL WITH "APPEAL" WITHOUT MORAL CONTENT.
Then Eric you should boycott Newsvine, which is owned by MSNBC, which is owned by General Electric.
{"commentId":1332700,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1332740,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
Observer: Your near cleverness did not make the point. We live in a corporate world, and we can sort things out, unlike you. BOYCOTT THE CORPORATE MEDIA MEANS BOYCOTT THEIR IMPERIAL AND CORPORATE VIEWS. That means you can take a crack at most of the rot, but that part which is fighting it, but which you support. Ditto for here. Now go out with a shovel, you have a lot to sort out yourself.
{"commentId":1332740,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 6 votes
{"commentId":1332981,"authorDomain":"dugan49"}
The question was whether the U.S. will vote for a black President, not to create another forum for your socialist diatribes.
{"commentId":1332981,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"dugan49"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1332994,"authorDomain":"phaedrus72"}
Thank you Dugan, I was hoping I wasn't the only one who noticed what a blatant socialist Eric is.
{"commentId":1332994,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"phaedrus72"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1334025,"authorDomain":"jdoyle"}
Thank you Dugan, I was hoping I wasn't the only one who noticed what a blatant socialist Eric is.
You make it sound that his economic views should negate his opinion.
What wrong with being a socialist?
{"commentId":1334025,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"jdoyle"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1334154,"authorDomain":"dugan49"}
Well for starters, socialism is a utopian pipedream, not applicable to the real world. One might just as easily demand a world in which no lies steals or cheats. Good luck with that one.
Human beings are born with a competitive nature, which is needed as a survival mechanism. It cannot be removed through political compulsion. When a 'socialist' society is created, inevitably INDIVIDUALS abuse the system for their own aggrandizement, defeating the purpose of socialism, and causing a whole lot of misery.
{"commentId":1334154,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"dugan49"}
{"commentId":1334162,"authorDomain":"jdoyle"}
When a 'socialist' society is created, inevitably INDIVIDUALS abuse the system for their own aggrandizement, defeating the purpose of socialism, and causing a whole lot of misery.
When a capitalist society is created, inevitably CORPORATIONS made of up greedy INDIVIDUALS abuse the system for their own aggrandizement, defeating the purpose of capitalism, and causing a whole lot of misery.
{"commentId":1334162,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"jdoyle"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1334204,"authorDomain":"dugan49"}
I don't disagree. We do need heavily regulated capitalism so that greed and cheating and manipulation by corporations can be kept to a minimum, and I don't think we have that, at all, now. One problem is that the regulation itself becomes corrupt and unmanageable.
I don't think human psychology has kept pace with the technological advancements of the past 50 years, and the result is a society of self-obsessed individuals who lack not only compassion but even more so, a sense of perspective. The thieves who ran Enron felt entitled to implement Social Darwinism as company policy. This attitude is the major problem facing this country, not capitalism itself.
{"commentId":1334204,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"dugan49"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1334244,"authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
@Eric Albert
BOYCOTT THE CORPORATE MEDIA.... TO HELL WITH "APPEAL" WITHOUT MORAL CONTENT.
Then Eric you should boycott Newsvine, which is owned by MSNBC, which is owned by General Electric.
#2.3 - Sat Jan 5, 2008 3:57 PM MST
BOYCOTT THE CORPORATE MEDIA MEANS BOYCOTT THEIR IMPERIAL AND CORPORATE VIEWS.
==
But when you use their products, the corporations profit and grow stronger. They appreciate your help!
{"commentId":1334244,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
{"commentId":1332242,"authorDomain":"leftist"}
pre-algebub
{"commentId":1332242,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"leftist"}
#2 - Sat Jan 5, 2008 2:47 PM EST{"commentId":1335726,"authorDomain":"leftist"}
has a devil put aside for me
{"commentId":1335726,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"leftist"}
{"commentId":1332247,"authorDomain":"Aunk"}
Hetep and Respect, no, it does not mean Americans are blind, but is does mean that America's National Cultural Health has dramatically improved. The Iowa Cultural Health Shot is being heard around the world.
Not only are they not blind, Americans may be seeing more clearly then they have since the formation of the country.
{"commentId":1332247,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"Aunk"}
- 3 votes
#3 - Sat Jan 5, 2008 2:49 PM EST{"commentId":1332511,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
If that is clarity, and not criminal complicity, then what is "cultural health", Aunk? You don't replace the "rigid" racist attitutes, with new forms of "rigid" class servility, that do nothing for the majority, no matter what race, ethnicity they are in. Class servility, criminal complicity, Imperial partnership in these policies do not liberate culture, they only cancel each other out, and now instead of a "good old white boy" class hierarchy, we now have the Colin Powells, Condaleeza Rice's, Gonzales's, as class thugs, and the Obama's, Hillary's as equal opportunity class mercenaries, appeasing class dictatorship and American class Empire. That is not "health", that is a public confused, and misinformed, uninformed manipulated by the new faces, new servants for corporate tyranny. It is a more cynical and subtle form of deception.
{"commentId":1332511,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1332952,"authorDomain":"JesusaBernardo"}
That is not "health", that is a public confused, and misinformed, uninformed manipulated by the new faces, new servants for corporate tyranny. It is a more cynical and subtle form of deception.
Good point, Eric. Looks like racism is out. It's a good thing. But corporate tyranny is in.
In the Philippines, the mainstream traditional media have the public largely misinformed and in tow following the 'Edsa 2' bullsh_t. Our corrupt congressmen have also refused to impeach the impeachable, corrupt and not-truly-elected president Gloria Arroyo. Sad, but I guess there will always be oppression and misinformation--its form varies according to the point in history. And as well, there will always be complicity among those who refuse to rock the boat.
{"commentId":1332952,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"JesusaBernardo"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1333737,"authorDomain":"Aunk"}
Hetep and Respect Eric, you should not think of the reduction of racism and excessive corporatism as mutually exclusive. They are both systems kept alive by anti-humanists. If that reality is understood you and I may have the same target in our sights.
If that is clarity, and not criminal complicity, then what is "cultural health", Aunk?
Cultural Health deals with the cultural orientation regarding ethnic relations. To the extent that Cultural health brings people closer reality based information it is, and should be considered of great value to our fellow citizens who wish to bring corporations back under the control of the people.
For instance, I am in favor of disconnecting corporate profit from the delivery of health care to human beings. Will you join me in this?
{"commentId":1333737,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"Aunk"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1332528,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
If any corporate democrat were nominated, I would vote for Cynthia McKinney, if she is the presidential candidate in the Green Party. At least she takes her diversity seriously. She spoke out for impeachment, she took on the Isreali Zionist Lobby that corrupts and warmongers to no end with our class liberals and neocon thugs, and she does not capitulate, like Obama. You want diversity?, you want to vote for both real change and "health culture", as Aunk states, then vote for Cinthia McKinney over, not only Obama, a cultural hack, political hack, but over all complicit corporate democrats, Hillary included. Don't substitute one form of slavery for another form of slavery, Class and race are intimately related, that is why the corporate Media and its ideological thugs have shifted their tactics, because they know the system is being fundamentally challenged, and they want Obama or Hillary to rescue their power, to keep the broken class system in place, its corporate and imperial Empire.
{"commentId":1332528,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 2 votes
#4 - Sat Jan 5, 2008 4:38 PM EST{"commentId":1332705,"authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
Do you agree or disagree? Why?
An Obama victory may do for blacks what the Civil Rights Act did for white Southerners--break the Democratic Party's hold on them. This sounds counterintuitive, and we are not predicting that blacks will break from the Democrats this November. In fact, if Obama is on the ballot, ethnic pride would be an additional attraction for black voters. The usually tiny black Republican vote could well become even tinier.
But if Barack Obama can grow up to become president, the notion that America is an irredeemably racist society is absurd on its face. The perpetuation of this notion--and of the corollary that the GOP is a racist party--has been crucial to maintaining the Democratic hold on the black vote. By defusing fears of racism, an Obama presidency would make it harder for future Democrats to exploit those fears. Democrats wouldn't necessarily lose the black vote, but they would no longer be able to take it for granted.
{"commentId":1332705,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
- 2 votes
#5 - Sat Jan 5, 2008 5:59 PM EST{"commentId":1332779,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
Observer: I agree with some of what you are saying. The democrats do take for granted black voters, but then minority voters, are not the only ones taken for granted, as a class, corporate agenda embraced by foolish voters, through diverse opportunism, or just plain deformed, uninformed voters, who think there is only two ideologies, ideoligical frameworks, class liberalism, and class neocon views, in fact are embracing their own powerlessness, and letting these class parties, and class ideologies taking them for granted.
Such massive failure allows corporate and imperial parties to divide the middle class and working class against each other, pitting immigrants against "Americans", or any scapegoat needed to weaken a social ideological view, and a party that can reject this class corruption and tyranny. And yes the Republicans are mostly racists, because they see poor people of color as a threat to their white privilege, and they hope to keep the white poor groups in their corner, as they yahood their way into Iraq, completely clueless about whom they are serving, a corporate, and imperial Empire, called the United States of Amnesia.
{"commentId":1332779,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1334028,"authorDomain":"jdoyle"}
Observer is wrong is wrong if he thinks the Republicans care about any people of color. Their economic actions and military adventurism has already shown they care only about corporate profit.
{"commentId":1334028,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"jdoyle"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1335000,"authorDomain":"biggerthebetter"}
I don't agree, Observer. Why? Because we only elect white Christian men at present, and yet white Christian men constantly feel they are persecuted.
{"commentId":1335000,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"biggerthebetter"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1332762,"authorDomain":"zennhead"}
I think there are many European nations where there is as deep if not more racism than the United States. No nation has the true melting of nations, ethnicities, races, religions, faiths, beliefs ... that the U.S. has. It cannot be diluted by charges from Europeans who call America racist. It does have racism, and the ugly head of racism is alive and well, but put all of the various nationalities and ethnicities, religons, faiths, creeds, colors, in any European society, and see where all the non-whites wind up. We are far from perfect, but the truth will emerge on Obama by the end of the day on Super Tuesday. There is clearly enough mix on that day, and before it, that if Obama is the nominee for the Presidency of the United States, for the Democrats, then it will be clear he has overcome the virulence of White hatred in many places, most notably, the South, and in many parts of the rural United States. We will never be finished with racism. The GOP is a racist organization. It learned, under Nixon, then Reagan, how to attack non-whites with some euphemisms, and gather to it's folds the racists who were mortified at what Lyndon Johnson, Kennedy, Humphrey, et al., did for whites of the South and racist urban northern cities. I would contend that all you have to do is watch TV commercials, and glossy print ads in any magazine aimed at the 30 and below crowd, and you will see more racial mixing among the people in the ad than ever would have been possible ten years ago. There are mixed race couples and indidividuals in many ads today which reflect the fact that younger Americans accept race differently. The same can be said for gays, lesbians, and other lifestyle reflections that that generation takes for granted. Obama reflects that. If Obama's helpers, like Oprah decide to launch massive registration drives for African-Americans and Hispanic Americans, their presence in November, 2008, will be tremendous. If the vote tallies that we saw in Iowa for Democrats and Independents carries through the year, the Democrats will crush a number of Republicans. Even in the Huckabee movement, there is a different kind of "evangelical Christian" emerging. There is a revisiting of the principles of Jesus which are focused on his statement: "Whatsoever you do for the least among you, you do for me." That is a tremendous point of differences for many of us who are Christians but are focused on how Jesus lived his life, rather than, how Jesus died on the Cross for our sins. How Jesus died is paramount in the minds of attitudes of many "born again" Christians who appear to many of us to be an embodiment of modern Pharisees. Obama can call forth that presence of Christ in the sense that as an African-American who has risen to this place in time and space, he can call for the best of America and Americans, to build on and around him and his candidacy. If he wins, it should stun many parts of the world. A TRUE African-American, with a name, Barack Hussein Obama, will surely bring out the most bigoted of Americans. But it will also be a way for the millions upon millions of we Americans who have been shocked by the country's direction under hate monger Bush ... to say, "this is the best of what we can be, world! Take Note, all Muslims, for instance, who hate America." How many men of a blatantly Christian sounding name and faith, could ever achieve the same, in all Muslims nations of the world? Obama's win, if he is the nominee, would rock the planet and signal a recharged America is on the move.
{"commentId":1332762,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"zennhead"}
- 2 votes
#6 - Sat Jan 5, 2008 6:19 PM EST{"commentId":1332802,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
Obama could do a lot with the good will and ignorance of so many. It could be more of the same corporate and imperial policies, most of which he appeased, but if he finally breaks through this ideological class rot, and fires his neocon, zionist, liberal war hawk advisors, and starts thinking for himself, and also linking himself to social thinkers, he could become a historical figure. Being black, like Colin Powell, in a uniform works initially, for so many know nothings, but even they catch on that Liars and imperialists of color are just as criminal as white imperialists.
{"commentId":1332802,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1332803,"authorDomain":"phaedrus72"}
More than likely, and I've been saying for awhile, maybe I haven't said it here on Newsvine though, that it will be either an Obama/Clinton ticket or a Clinton/Obama ticket, but how great would it be if it was an Obama/Edwards ticket? That would be fantastic myself, and I could see myself, as a conservative voting for that ticket. Any ticket that includes Clinton though is just going to turn a lot of people off.
{"commentId":1332803,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"phaedrus72"}
#7 - Sat Jan 5, 2008 6:32 PM EST{"commentId":1332821,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
Phraedrus72;
And if they both support a bipartisan attack against Iran, as the majority of Democrats already did with the Kyle Lieberman resolution, to put nuclear aggression on the table, based on the pack of lies against Iran, as appeasers to Zionism, liberal war hawks, while failing to come out for impeachment against these criminal policies, and putting that on the table, these two class parties and their political hacks will look good only on paper, glitter for appearances, while corrupt in content, based on their class views, imperial views, and history.
{"commentId":1332821,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1332885,"authorDomain":"phaedrus72"}
Eric, there is such a thing as extreme views in politics, yours are on the far extreme left, I have not had any dealings directly with you here on Newsvine, but I've seen your writings, and quite frankly some of the things you say would make Keld Bach blush, if he is even around any more. Seriously, are you a member of the Communist party of America? You are so liberal you make Hillary look like a member of the Christian Coalition.
My only point in pointing this out to you, is that the majority of Americans are not so inclined to the Left as you are, most of us are middle of the road, therefore ANY candidate that YOU would find acceptable would most definitely not stand a chance of winning. And thank God for that!
{"commentId":1332885,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"phaedrus72"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1332875,"authorDomain":"joshuadurrell"}
IF OBAMA CAN WIN IN IOWA HE CAN WIN ANYWHERE
{"commentId":1332875,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"joshuadurrell"}
- 4 votes
#8 - Sat Jan 5, 2008 6:58 PM EST{"commentId":1333983,"authorDomain":"chasing"}
What makes you say that? What about a heavily Hispanic state? Or a less rural one?
{"commentId":1333983,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"chasing"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":1333992,"authorDomain":"chasing"}
I don't think this means that America is "colorblind". I think this means that plenty of Americans don't really see an African-American when they look at Obama. Why should they? Plenty of African-Americans themselves don't. He's about as culturally "black" as I am (and I'm Irish), and about as White as I am German (which is to say half - nevermind I identify as Irish). Granted he's got a "funny name" (note the quotes) - but no more so than half the people on any given episode of Jerry Springer. Or Oprah, for that matter. I think America is more "colorblind" than it used to be - but that's not necessarily saying alot. Take a look at the makeup of the Congress - either house - and tell me how it could possibly be otherwise? Honestly?
{"commentId":1333992,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"chasing"}
- 2 votes
#9 - Sun Jan 6, 2008 7:32 AM EST{"commentId":1334396,"authorDomain":"gpnavonod"}
.
I think America is more "colorblind" than it used to be but that's not necessarily saying alot.
I think it says alot to the Republicans,
Who have such a dismal record an lackluster, more of the same, candidates......
that they are hoping "that possibility" along with their newfound [Pro PNAC Middle east policy] Democratic Crossovers, an their "usual suspects" base, will squeek out a final victory in November.
What other reason would so many [known Republicans an Neocons] be happy about Obama's win in Iowa? Repressed Liberalism?
{"commentId":1334396,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"gpnavonod"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1335014,"authorDomain":"biggerthebetter"}
My honest opinion? Because they are more confident they can win against Obama; they probably also feel a woman could beat a black person easier (having grown up around republicans I can say that at least with the ones I know their sexism doesn't hold a candle to their racism).
{"commentId":1335014,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"biggerthebetter"}
{"commentId":1334465,"authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
What other reason would so many [known Republicans an Neocons] be happy about Obama's win in Iowa? Repressed Liberalism?
Because they hate Hillary...
{"commentId":1334465,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
- 1 vote
#10 - Sun Jan 6, 2008 11:36 AM EST{"commentId":1334673,"authorDomain":"gpnavonod"}
What other reason would so many [known Republicans an Neocons] be happy about Obama's win in Iowa? Repressed Liberalism?
Because they hate Hillary. ..
AN ARE AFRAID OF HER.....Otherwise, you would feel confident of your ability to beat her back into the Senate in November,with a good thrashing.
Like you feel about Obama.
....or your not a Republican?
Which is it?
{"commentId":1334673,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"gpnavonod"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1335236,"authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
1) A person can hate her w/o being afraid of her.
2) Hillary does have a strong chance of being elected.
Like you feel about Obama.
You don't know how I feel, Miss Cleo...
{"commentId":1335236,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
{"commentId":1335843,"authorDomain":"gpnavonod"}
A person can hate her w/o being afraid of her.
On a personal level ...yes.
In Partisan Politics....If you need not fear ...you ignore.
Why waste time an energy?
Hillary does have a strong chance of being elected.
Yes, She does......So she cannot be "ignored".
You don't know how I feel, Miss Cleo...
I know....... all I need to know. ... about you,Observer
Btw...... Miss Cleo says you owe her money
{"commentId":1335843,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"gpnavonod"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":1335976,"authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
I know....... all I need to know. ... about you,Observer
What is that supposed to mean?
{"commentId":1335976,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
{"commentId":1334497,"authorDomain":"alexanderbadas"}
I dont think this shows American is color blind. There are still people who will vote for or against Obama simply because he is black. We do not see any articles claiming "Bill gets 2% of the vote, Iowa racist against Latinos" So why when Obama wins why should we suddenly think American is color blind? I think at this point we are just looking for the best person.
{"commentId":1334497,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"alexanderbadas"}
#11 - Sun Jan 6, 2008 11:47 AM EST{"commentId":1334515,"authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
Alex,
What point would we have to be at to show America is Color Blind?
{"commentId":1334515,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
{"commentId":1335314,"authorDomain":"m-tioran"}
{"commentId":1336190,"authorDomain":"CliffDog"}
I'm afraid that many people in many parts of this country will never be colorblind, at least not in my lifetime. Most of these are in the same states that were slave states. Today we call them "red" states. Here's a link to maps for comparison. It's scary. Obama is doing well with Democrats in blue states. What will happen in a general election? It's going to be interesting.
{"commentId":1336190,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"CliffDog"}
- 2 votes
#13 - Sun Jan 6, 2008 9:45 PM EST{"commentId":1336864,"authorDomain":"Aunk"}
Hetep and Respect CD, very interesting map I will post it in my column it will help me in a discussion I am having, regarding Oboma and Cultural Health, tnx.
{"commentId":1336864,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"Aunk"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":1337243,"authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
I'm afraid that many people in many parts of this country will never be colorblind, at least not in my lifetime. Most of these are in the same states that were slave states. Today we call them "red" states.
That is a bigoted remark.
{"commentId":1337243,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"TheObserver1"}
{"commentId":1349909,"authorDomain":"CliffDog"}
That is a bigoted remark.
No, it's true. Sorry.
{"commentId":1349909,"threadId":"198393","contentId":"1205863","authorDomain":"CliffDog"}
- 1 vote
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