Blacks’, whites’ views of Obama differ starkly

The Star Telegram ^ | July 16, 2008

[Pinkbell]

Heading into the first election in which an African-American will be a major-party presidential nominee, Americans are sharply divided by race, with blacks and whites holding vastly different views of Sen. Barack Obama, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

The results of the poll, conducted during a campaign in which race has been a constant if not always overt issue, suggest that black voters are highly enthusiastic about Obama’s groundbreaking candidacy but do not see it as evidence of significant improvement in race relations.

After years of growing political polarization, much of the divide in American politics is partisan. But Americans’ perceptions of the contest between Obama and Sen. John McCain also underlined the racial discord that the poll found. Over 80 percent of black voters and about 30 percent of white voters said they had a favorable opinion of Obama.

[Pinkbell]

Check out the chart at the link for the poll results. One thing you'll see is that only 5% of blacks give McCain a favorable rating. Now that doesn't surprise me considering 90% of blacks vote democrat.

Other questions are asked as well.

[Always Right]

If 99% of blacks vote for Obama, but only 40% of whites vote for him, the media will point to the whites are being racist.

[weegee]

“African-American” If Kenyan Arab raised by white parents in Hawaii and Indonesia is what people typically think of when they are told someone is of the African-American experience...

[Fawn]

Another ‘Captain Obvious’ thread.

[Loud Mime]

The issue of compentency never raised its head? Gee, that is what affirmative action does, right?

[WayneS]

I had no idea blacks in this country were so racist.

[econjack]

...the survey included larger-than-usual minority samples — 297 blacks and 246 Hispanics — with a margin of sampling error of 6 percentage points for each subgroup.

Hmmm...wonder why the NYT would bias the sample? And one of the questions to that sample used to draw their conclusions:

Who has a better change to get ahead in the US [blacks or whites]?

The "I'm-a-victim" message sowed by Jesse and Al fits this question perfectly: It's whitey's fault, so let's throw some more money my way. Sorry, but there are just too many blacks who, through their own hard work, made themselves an economic success. Responsibility for one's own actions and making good choices about education and hard work seems to be what works...not throwing more of my money down a bottomless pit. (I'd say "back hole", but you know what happened in TX.)

[GT Vander]

You forgot your SARCASM warning........

I hope.

[musicman]

Blacks’, whites’ views of Obama differ starkly

[KansasGirl]

Whites favorable/unfavorable of McCain and Obama are very similar. Blacks on the other hand...

Who’s the racists again?

[I still care]

“Over 80 percent of black voters and about 30 percent of white voters said they had a favorable opinion of Obama.”

If that is accurate, I don’t see how Obama can win an election that way.

[50sDad]

I had no idea blacks in this country were so racist.

You simply don't understand the "black experience". It is OK for them to say someone of another race is universally bad based on the color of their skin.

We first must acknowledge that in the view of this segment of black society, any black person who has succeeded has "betrayed the race", is not "keeping it real", is an "Uncle Tom" or has become a Republican. Then, for that segment it must all be blamed on the known fact that since no one they have ever met has been a slave, and since no white person they have ever known has been a slavemaster, they have been scarred for life and cannot be expected to judge another human being on the contents of their individual hearts as MLKJr advised them to do. And thirdly, this group must be forgiven, because they have been told by the Democrats all their lives that they cannot possibly be expected to achieve on their own without help of Big Government programs to lower the expectations of employers and educators.

Once you have been reeducated to accept these three points, you can see that only the mellatonin-challenged can be "racist". Those who are mellatoninly-gifted are just "preaching the truth about The Man."

[WayneS]

I often forget that.

At this point in time, my cynicism level is such that I think people should just ASSUME my comments ARE sarcastic unless I say otherwise.

[Gay State Conservative]

Osama Obama is a despicable individual not because he's black (or half black) but because he's a filthy,opportunistic,phony,empty suit Communist tool.

[Calpernia]

>>>Heading into the first election in which an African-American will be a major-party presidential nominee

Alan Keyes?

[Gay State Conservative]

God...I love your tagline! Too bad you couldn't make “you know he's Ayers” work too.

[Calpernia]

But, those stats don’t work. Obama is only 6% Black African. US Census shows Arabs classify themselves as White.

Obama is 50% White 44% Arab (US Census counts as White) and only 6% Black African. Therefore Obama is WHITE.

So, ‘racism’ doesn’t work.

[Calpernia]

He is not half black.

[iopscusa]

The Metro Coastal Elite just do not get it. They may be very surprized that when/if BHO gets the Nom, the Campaign will officially start and the numbers will shift away from the anti-American Marxist NooBee pretty rapidly. In the voting booth, the Bradley effect will be large and mcCain will be the lucky & unfortunate recipient of a 1 term Presidency.

[Calpernia]

>>>Who’s the racists again?

Obama

[Tribune7]

From the graph it looked like 14 percent of Blacks had an unfavorable opinion of Obama.

If true, Obama is toast.

[Calpernia]

bttt

[Gay State Conservative]

He is not half black.

White mother...black father=half black/half white by my math.

[Calpernia]

White mother, Arab father.

He is only 6% black african.

[Maverick68]

Didn’t you hear? According to “academia” black/brown/red folks can’t be racist...

[Niuhuru]

I always heard about it, and listened, but hearing how so many blacks are increasingly saying such hateful things, it amazes me that such hatred exists. And for what?

[Gay State Conservative]

He is only 6% black African.

His father was Kenyan...a Kenyan muslim.Having traveled in that part of the world I can attest to the fact that the typical Kenyan is about as black as anyone you'll see on the planet.Was his father an Arab....a true Arab....who just happened to live in Kenya?

[Calpernia]

Yes, his father is Kenyan. But of Arab descent. Not Native African. Obama is only 6% Native Black African.

[Sig Sauer P220]

Clearly the blacks are just voting on skin color, cuz he ain’t black enough personality-wise. He’s an elitist snob.

[Right Cal Gal]

Which is why I think Nobama was always polling higher. It’s easier to say you’re voting for him and avoid the “it’s because he’s B L A C K, isn’t it?” follow up to any answer saying “Nope!”

[The Lumster]

suggest that black voters are highly enthusiastic about Obama’s groundbreaking candidacy but do not see it as evidence of significant improvement in race relations.

Is there anything that black voters would point to as evidence of significant improvement in race relations.....anything........anything at all....

[Ratblaster]

“and only 6% Black African. Therefore Obama is WHITE”

The Democrat created “One drop rule.”

[Calpernia]

That still doesn’t qualify with the US Census definitions.

One drop rule is fine for commentary. But, this man is running for CIC. And the federal rules are 12 percent.

[stuartcr]

What an incredible surprise!!!

[stuartcr]

Yeah, so?

[9YearLurker]

I find it silly for anyone who has seen a picture of Obama’s Kenyan father to dispute his being at least predominantly black.

[Arrowhead1952]

[Calpernia]

Find it silly all you want. The definitions do not work by skin color.

[weegee]

Do you see Slash to be more or less of an African-American than Obama?

[weegee]

Which is why I think Nobama was always polling higher. It’s easier to say you’re voting for him and avoid the “it’s because he’s B L A C K, isn’t it?” follow up to any answer saying “Nope!”

I voted for Alan Keyes in the Texas Primary.

Their push poll does not consider my voting habits.

[weegee]

The press did not push the Democrat candidacies of Jesse Jackson (in 1984) and Al Sharpton (in 2004) as much. Then again, the press also kept mum on their racist quotes as well.

[weegee]

Didn’t you hear? According to “academia” black/brown/red folks can’t be racist...

That's because they don't hold the positions of authority to have anything to do with their prejudice, therefore they are not "bigots".

So if they hold the presidency, will we suddenly be able to call them bigots because they WILL have the ultimate authority in the land?

[Mr Rogers]

His ‘Arab’ father sure looks black in photos!

Must get a lot of sun...

Muslim does NOT equal Arab.

[Calpernia]

>>>Muslim does NOT equal Arab.

Correct.

And African does NOT equal Black.

[Calpernia]

I don’t think Jackson’s and Sharpton’s PACs had as much of an influence as Obama’s community orgainizing skills in ACORN’s Project Vote and his granting program in his Hopefund PAC.

[Salvation]

[Ratblaster]

I have no idea from whence your numbers came.

[Maverick68]

Actually it’s because “academia” is populated with many fools...:)

[Mr Rogers]

African doesn’t equal black, but there is absolutely no doubt that Obama’s father is a black man. Look at the pictures.