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Half of White Americans Call Obama A ‘Risky’ Choice
June 23rd, 2008Two-thirds of Whites say they see McCain as a “safe” choice
Lost in all the hoopla over Sen. Barack Obama’s historic victory as the first African-American major-party nominee is the reality that a sizable chunk of White America would never support him for president. While racism in politics is a topic people only whisper about or hint at, a new poll sends a loud signal about just how much of a role it could play in the upcoming general election. Sixty percent of all Americans say that race relations in the United States are in sad shape, and nearly a third of Blacks and Whites admit that they harbor feelings of racial prejudice, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. Even though negative racial attitudes are not as intense as they were in the 1990s, the chasm between the way Whites and Blacks see race is wider than ever, the poll shows. Six in 10 Black folks say that race relations are “not so good” or “poor,” compared with slightly more than half of White folks (53 percent) who see race relations more positively. Last month, 90 percent of Whites say that they would have no problem voting for a Black president; that number has dwindled to about 65 percent who say they would be “entirely comfortable” with an African-American commander in chief. But perhaps some more important numbers, as far as Obama’s presidential hopes are concerned, are the more than half of Whites who say that Obama is a “risky” choice, and the two-thirds of Whites who see McCain as a “safe” selection. Twenty percent say they believe Obama would give Black Americans extra consideration if he were president. Do you believe that 90 percent of Whites are OK with the idea of a Black president?
i think it’s sad that America cannot see past color.The white majority see color first and foremost before the personality.Even some blacks have that mindset,and it’s quite sad.Yes racism has improved but it still exists,though subtle, which makes it quite alarming.
having said all that, obama can still make a difference by his message! The message should show the power of his mind,the message should focus on issues and the message should tackle issues of race as well. if the campaign is powerful and practical enough, Americans might just see past color.The American public should believe that the man has the country at heart, both blacks and whites alike especially the whites who access the situation as risky.obama is not doing enough to convince Americans he is a better choice than mc cain.the message should be stronger!!whites are currently not comfortable with the idea of a black president but that paradigmn could shift.
sorry the word is paradigm
As a whole we need to stop being bandwagon people, we do not get excited or mad unless someone tells us we should be offended. No I’m not talking about every black person. Like the person said previously every president that has been in office has been “risky”, but that didn’t stop them for voting for them. Clinton he was a good president, but we were willing to vote for his wife, for what? Hillary has shown her true colors in this race that she would stoop to any level to win. I’m not saying that she single-handedly started the racial divide, but she kept throwing coals on the fire. For the first time in over a hundred years white america is afraid that we could possible get ahead in life if Obama gets into office they would rather be poor white trash than to give him the opportunity to “try” and turn this country around it is going to take years for us to get back to normal, because our dear president has sold us to the highest bidder. They keep saying Obama is unamerican if that is even a word. Our president and his family has been friends/business partners with the Bin ladens for years and God knows who else. So for a country that Bush is “suppose” to love so much why do I have to choose between gas in my car or food in stomach. So please I beg you do not vote for Obama because he Black vote for him because we need change!
O’yeah I almost forgot they are trying to play mind games with us saying that, this is the only reason why we are voting for Obama because he is black, but it is ok to vote for their good ol’ boy because he is white. The same applies to everything they do whether it is an promotion or any type of assistance they will keep the tradition going rather if they are qualified or not. If you don’t believe me take a look at the White House Bush and Cheney aka Dumb and Dumber. As the old saying goes change is not always good, but even if it is bad we would still be better off without McCain. While that is my saying, And to the lady that said we should do our research,although Obama has some views and beliefs that I do not agreed with for the most part he is the only one talking about helping the american people in the long run. So I will say it again do not vote for Obama because he is black, vote because we need change! And for the record if he was green I would still vote for him.
To Shucky stay off of our blog with that ignorance. It has been proven that not only are “blacks” smarter than whites, we excel at anything we set our minds to, and that is what scares “you people” the most. So thanks to the Bush administration past and present we do have to be “smart enough,” because they have got the bar set so low anyone, namely yourself, with no political experience and common sense could pack your bags and move in to the White House and get the country back on track. So please stop make this a black/white issue because we will prevail everytime. Even your slavery couldn’t keep us down. So put that in your crackpipe and smoke it, ’cause you got to be on something for posting that mess, you genious!
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE PRAYER OUT OF GOVERNMENT! YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE! CASE CLOSE! POINT BLANK! YOU CANT DO NOTHING WITHOUT GOD! NOTHING! OUR FIRST FATHERS HAD GOD IN THE DECLAMATION,PREAMBLE, HELL PROBABLY THE PREAMBLE! AND EVERY THING! NOW HE’S NOT IN THERE SO WHAT DO DO EXPECT! DO YOU THINK WE AS HUMANS MADE ALL THIS ON OUR OWN! NO! BUT YOU KEEP THINKING LIKE THAT AND LETS SEE WHERE THIS ENDS! THE GOVERNMENT TRIED EVERYTHING MAN-MADE! BUSH TRIED EVERYTHING MAN-MADE! DID ANYONE EVER REALIZE “HEY! NOTHINGS WORKING HERE! OUR PEOPLE ARE DYING IN IRAQ FOR NO REASON! THEY ARE COMMITING SUICIDE IN IRAQ! AND WE STILL HAVE THEM THERE! WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO” DUH! WHEN ALL FAILS TRY PRAYER, GENUINE PRAYER!
WHITE or Black….Obama is a RISKY choice!!!!
BLACK or White…McCain is a RISKY choice!!!!
People had better wake up and smell the coffee. If McCain gets into the White House we are going to be doomed for sure. The news media needs to really put out the true word not false tales. America is long overdue for a CHANGE.
As a middle age white woman I will not vote for
Obama, No I am not predjudiced, I am married to a black man and have children, but Obama is the wrong black man. And I really don’t like McCain, 2 bad choices after much research, I don’t care what Oprah says!
Yes, America does need change! However, I do not feel as if either of our choices at this time are ready for such a demanding responsibility. I am not predjudiced, I am also married to a black man who feels the same as I do! However, if Obama receives the vote and becomes our nations first African American President, we should ALL back him up because he will need positive feedback from all races!
I don’t know about the rest of you but every time I leave the gas station I get HEATED!!! When I look at my grocery receipt I want to SLAP SOMEBODY!!! For those of you that are wealthy…I’m not talking to you…but for the rest of you…what are we going to do when gas is over $5, $6, $7 per gallon, when we can’t buy milk because it’s just too high and we’re forced to eat a lot of turkey and chicken because it’s cheaper than fish or beef. When we’re trying to pay our mortgages and we’re sweating in our homes in the summer time because central air cost money and salaries are not increasing fast enough to keep up with normal living expenses. What are we going to do when this recession starts to really hurt!!!! Will black or white matter so much then??????????????? I’m voting for whoever I think will stop this economic 8 ball from rolling over me and mine!!!!
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU SESCHRIS, because this economy is so so horrible, the cost of living period is just insane, I want a president who really cares about IMPORTANT issues and start helping the average class working people and stop sucking us dry foe every little thing we have, RAISE minimium wage to and stop focusing on RACE. Clinton was white and I know not think, he was the best president we had, none of this bull**** was going on. You didn’t have to worry about stuggling for gas, food, housing cost, jobs, education, and health insurance, it was NOT this bad. I even remember all kinds of youth programs that they had for this kids to do, all the positive things and programs were CUTT when BUSH came into office. I PRAY OBAMA do become president and help us because we REALLY NEED IT!!
GOD HELP US ALL!!!!!
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU SESCHRIS, because this economy is so so horrible, the cost of living period is just insane, I want a president who really cares about IMPORTANT issues and start helping the average class working people and stop sucking us dry for every little thing we have, RAISE minimium wage to and stop focusing on RACE. Clinton was white and I know not think, he was the best president we had, none of this bull**** was going on. You didn’t have to worry about stuggling for gas, food, housing cost, jobs, education, and health insurance, it was NOT this bad. I even remember all kinds of youth programs that they had for these kids to do, all the positive things and programs were CUTT when BUSH came into office. I PRAY OBAMA do become president and help us because we REALLY NEED IT!!
GOD HELP US ALL!!!!!
It is amazing that any American who can openly say that they are not supportting John McCain for president but would not vote for Barack Obama simply because he is a, “risky choice”! Men of color that have broken barriers throughout history have all had one thing in common, they have all been extrodinary. It is time for those who say that race is not an issue for the presidency to understand are they really being honest with themselves. We are looking for a positive direction in this election and everyone knows this. We have been down this street before we would like to take a new route for a “Change!”
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU SESCHRIS, because this economy is so so horrible, the cost of living period is just insane, I want a president who really cares about IMPORTANT issues and start helping the average class working people and stop sucking us dry for every little thing we have, RAISE minimium wage to and stop focusing on RACE. Clinton was white and I know not think, he was the best president we had, none of this bull**** was going on. You didn’t have to worry about stuggling for gas, food, housing cost, jobs, education, and health insurance, it was NOT this bad. I even remember all kinds of youth programs that they had for these kids to do, all the positive things and programs were CUTT when BUSH came into office. I PRAY OBAMA do become president and help us because we REALLY NEED IT!!
GOD HELP US ALL!!!!!
It’s obvious based on the current condition of this country, we’re all ready for a change . . .
It’s obvious that our children need to see a man who looks like them to know they can be the most powerful and respected people on the planet . . .
And it’s equally obvious all our children really need is all of us.
R. Lee Gordon
President / Executive Director
UniTee Design, Inc. / The Better Detroit Youth Movement
http://www.uniteedesign.com / http://www.betterdetroityouth.org
rgordon@uniteedesign.com / rgordon@betterdetroityouth.org
Toll Free: 888.OUR.RBG.TEES / Phone: 313.516.8384 / Fax: 313.342.6324
If you really look at the facts… This was all a set up! A set up to get Hilary Clinton out of the race, so that the republicans can win again!!!America is not ready for a change. They are content with the way things are. As much as I would love for Obama to win this race. This is “White America.”
I voted for hilary b/c it was the logical thing to do. Even though Obama has excellent views, he doesn’t stand a chance in November. WE as african americans don’t stand a chance…It sad, but it’s reality
I don’t care what race the president is or isn’t, I just want someone in office that will do the right thing for all people reguardless of what!! Also I do believe which of course is my own personal opinion, that it’ll be a true day in history when an afro-american man rules the nation. To all afro-american people our day is coming!!!!!!!! When we can feel like Martin Luther King jr. has truly died for a purpose!
Honestly, this is a topic that’s been going around since the late 1960’s when Civil Rights were coming about. But one thing that both White Americans and Black Americans have a problem with is that we’re not in the 1960’s anymore. This is fricken 2008 and racism, though still out there, is no where near as big of a problem as it was before. What people have to understand is that it is not always just black or white. There are a lot of situations where there are grey areas and seeing as the race of a mixed generation or “hybrids” have become more popular, they need to support their beliefs, not according to their skin or how dark their hair is or how big their lips are but by the content of their minds. Untill America, Black, White, Asain, Hispanic all alike can realize and admitt and SUBMIT to the inevitable, we are NEVER going to change our wicked ways or racism.
Obama is a good choice for both black and white citizens. Give him a chance to prove himself.