Ed Rendell, Straight-Talker ('Some whites probably not ready to vote for an African-American...)

The New Republic via Drudge ^ | 2/12/2008 | Noam Scheiber

[rfp1234]

Via TPM Election Central, I see that Governor Ed Rendell is back to embarrassing a presidential candidate he ostensibly supports. Here's an account of how Rendell, a Hillary supporter, recently sized up Obama's chances in Pennsylviania:

Gov. Ed "Don't Call Me 'Fast Eddie' " Rendell met with the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week to talk about his latest budget. But before turning the meeting over to his number-crunchers, our voluble governor weighed in on the primary fight between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama and what the Illinois senator could expect from the good people of Pennsylvania at the polls:

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," he said bluntly. Our eyes only met briefly, perhaps because the governor wanted to spare the only black guy in the room from feeling self-conscious for backing an obvious loser. "I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann [2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate] been the identical candidate that he was -- well-spoken [note: Mr. Rendell did not call the brother "articulate"], charismatic, good-looking -- but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so."

[utherdoul]

We could use her about now

[Uncle Miltie]

I haven’t seen so much racism in my life until now when the Democrats are baiting each other so much.

[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

Not a black socialist liberal, no thanks.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

[LibLieSlayer]

“I’m gonna ask you one more time... where’s my Gumbo”!

LLS

[malia]

NOT READY....

Don’t they wish!!!

They can’t figure it out with out bringing race or gender into the conversation.

Give me a Margaret Thatcher and in a heartbeat she would have my vote!!!

Give me an “African-American candidate” whose philosophy agrees with mine, and I can agree with theirs - and by the way - whether male, female, black or white or Asian or Spanish or ? - I would vote for that person.

Do you get my picture .... it is what is in their minds and heart that I judge.

And the # 1 issue, with me, for me, is our National Security, which now includes who comes in and out of our borders. (and who takes flying lessons)

And in todays case neither hillary clinton or Barack Hussein Obama will ever meet my requirements.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Yeah, about that picture, it says things to a Southerner that the Yankees will never see.
Jimmy should come out of the closet, he ain’t fooling us!

[Myrddin]

I'm not ready to vote for a socialist. I don't care what the color or gender. Playing the race card isn't going to push any "white guilt buttons" on election day. Bring me a guy like Michael Steele and I'll be pleased to give him my vote.

[Reeses]

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate"

Don't blame white conservatives! They have nothing to do with this. Blame Hispanic and Asian Democrats. It irks me how Democrats always try to toss their dirty diapers over their neighbor's fence.

[LeonardFMason]

Ed Rendell, in a recent story about the PA Budget, announced an economic stimulus package that includes a tax rebate for the poorest Pennsylvanians. He described them as PA’s “hardest working citizens”. Not just hard working.
Not even SOME of the hardest working. He called the poorest folks in Pennsylvania the “hardest working citizens” in the state. Everyone else in the state who is succeeding financially must be loafing their way to prosperity. The man is an overrated moron.

[the invisib1e hand]

I would love to vote for a black American presidential candidate, or a female black American presidential candidate. Bring on someone worth voting for.

[mombonn]

I don't vote race, gender or party. I vote ideology.

If a purple martian supported life, tax cuts and defending the borders, I'd vote for he/she or it.

[Tribune7]

ping

[rfp1234]

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Oh, great. Now I’m sterile. ;)

[barker]

Amen to that.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

"Blame Hispanic and Asian [and 'white', blue-collar] Democrats."

For Obama.

For Hillary, you could also add in 'black' Democrats.

And all generalizations, of course.

[Kid Shelleen]

Fast Eddy is right. Check out the election results of every Democratic primary in his home town of Philly

[FReepaholic]

...I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate...

Which is why I believe the GOP machine is pushing McCain.

McCain is liberal enough to garner a bunch of crossover votes from Dems that aren't comfortable voting for a black guy.

[trimom]

I live in PA and I had no problem voting for an African-American (Lynn Swann). What I could NEVER do is vote for a Dem!