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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?
WELL PEOPLE NEED TO STOP LOOKING AT THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN AND GET OVER IT CAUSE WHEN WE BLEED WE HAVE THE SAME COLLOR. IT’S TIME TO GIVE US A CHANCE U KNOW CAUSE WE DONT KNOW WAT WILL COME.NOW FOR HIM TO BE OUR PRESIDENT WE ALL NEED TO VOTE EVER ONE NEED TO VOTE AND GIVE US A CHAIN.I KNOW THEY GOT TO PROTECT HIM AND MAKE SURE NO ONE BOTHER HIM YALL THATS A CRAZY THING.OTHER THEN THAT I THINK HE WILL WIN IF WE ALL VOTE AND U HAVE WHITE PEOPLE THAT LIKE HIM ALSO SO WE CANT PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO STILL IN BACK IN THOSE DAY’S CAUSE THEY DONT KNOW NO BETTER WE JUST HAVE TO PRAY FOR THOSE KIND OF PEOPLE U KNOW LIFE TO SHORT FOR STUPIED STUFF ITS NOT WORTH HE GET HE DONT LONG WE KNOW HE TRY AND STEP UP TO THE PLATE LESS HE GOT THAT FAR..I LIKE MRS.CLINTON TO SHE DID GOOD ALSO I BOW DOWN TO HER SHE SHOW US LADY THAT WE CAN DO IT TO.WE GOT TO BELIEVE IN OURSELF AND GOD BLESS
People act like racism doesn’t exsist but it still does. White people don’t realize that he is half white and black they just know that he got black in him he’s all black. Think about this, you put a homeless black man and a dog side by side and i guarantee you that 80 percent of white people would feed that dog first. They might wouldn’t say it but it’s in their hearts.
Jon in Sacramento, I aprrecicate your comment because just like yourself and other White American, yall aint bit more thinking about no color. Yall want someone to make changes. And yes, we need to reach out to those people who didn’t think their voted counted and those who aint never voted in many years or just havent voted at all. We need to reach those people no matter what color they are to get them to vote. So everybody we know America have racial issues but dont get sidetracked by it. I am a black democratic women who voted always when I had the opportunity. White America Love you, but don’t be afraid to step out on FAITH and vote for OBAMA.
ALL THE PRESIDENTS WERE RISKY, SO WHY IS OBAMA BEING SINGLED OUT?
TO MS TRICE:
IT’S LUDICROUS TO CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT SKIN COLOR IS THE SOLE DECIDING FACTOR FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN VOTING FOR SENATOR OBAMA. IT’S ALSO GETTING VERY OLD TO KEEP HEARING THAT BLACKS ARE NOT READING AND RESEARCHING THE ISSUES THAT OBAMA SUPPORTS. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT OBAMA SUPPORTERS ARE INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO HAVE DONE OUR HOMEWORK (JUST LIKE YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE) AND WE STILL SUPPORT HIM? AND AS FOR THE BLACK FOLKS THAT ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA JUST BECAUSE HE’S BLACK…..SO WHAT!!! HOW MANY WHITE FOLKS ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN JUST BECAUSE HE’S BLACK!!!
Once again, we are being bombarded with so called “polls”. I do not believe that all whites have been polled, so how can you state 50% believe this and 90% believe that! Obama had many white supporters and was able to bring out the masses which hasn’t been seen in many years. Why are we still discussing race? The man has more intelligence in his little toe, than Bush has in his whole body, has the media complimented him on that!!!! The purpose of articles like the one above are simply meant to keep a nation divided. Keep dragging Obama’s name through, the mud, keep calling him a “terrorist”, if you like. Obama will be supported because people with half a brain realize what is truly going on and what really matters! BET, if you are unbiased, let’s see some blogs on positive things that people of color are doing.
It would be great for America to make history of having the first black, minority, or women president in office. Other countries had changes, why not America.?
I was listening to the Russ Parr morning show on the radio and I think it was an online poll that they where talking about in reference to a lot of white people will vote for Obama….but on another note either if it’s a lot of white people voting for him or not or a lot of minorities voting for him or not he needs to be in the white house period. I think. but YA’LL CHECK OUT THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO !!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwtyLHcrfu0
HIT ME UP
CRACKAS BE NOT LIKIN OBAMA CUZ THEY NO HE WILL GEY US PAID AN THEY DONT WANT US TO BE RICH
Barack Obama is the American Saviour,White folks can go to hell,it is tyme for the BLACK rule,a better Rule.
I don’t know why people are still living in the stone age. This is a new day, age and time. Whites are marrying blacks and blacks are marrying Asia etc. There are so many mix race Americans today who want a change! I don’t know why race always have to be a factor with anything that goes on in America. It’s already proven in my eyes as well as others, even if Obama doesn’t become our next president that a black man can do any thing a white man can do. I think what’s scary is… HE JUST MIGHT DO A BETTER JOB!
OBAMA 08′
I do not believe that 90% of Whites are ok with the idea of a Black president, but I do believe there’s a larger % that looks at character over color.
In the way we are headed As a country we need a president that can prevent total global destruction. Unfortunately racism will always exist on this planet due to mankind’s ignorance and NO tolerance with each other.. If you have any doubts that racism does not exist check your mirror and see what reflection you get back.
Marvelous Marvin a member of the human race!
I fully understand why a significant number of White Americans would be skeptical about voting for Senator Obama. Its for the same reasons that many Black Americans hope and pray that he will win….we hope that he will make some changes that will benefit our people. Its just sad that a change for the better for our people (Black Americans) is automatically seen as something negative for any other race. Why is there always an “us or them” mentality? If we all want security for our families, a better health care system, lower gas prices/better foreign policies, and to bring our troops home….then I don’t understand where the problem lies. I do agree that change can be scary, especially on such a large scale. But if I have to choose between something new versus what we’ve been dealing with for the past eight years (with which McCain seems to see no problems), then I choose the former. I don’t think that he would -or even could- make it so that any one race or subculture of people would be the only ones to see improvements in their quality of life. Nor do I think that helping any one group would have an overt affect on the status of those who have been fortunate enough to build happy, healthy lives for themselves and their families. Helping some doesn’t necessarily to mean hurting others. Besides, with all the damage that’s been done with leaders past, its going to take more than the two terms that he’s eligible to serve to make any stand-out changes. I say Obama is a great symbol of hope that there are still people who care about people, regardless of race, socioeconomic background, education, or any other condition. Obabma ‘08!!!
I was talking to a white man in my office that is for Obama. He told me that he was talking to a white woman and she said “Well, what will happen to white people if he becomes president”. Are you kidding me? I thought that was such a foolish statement. What does she think he’s going to do, put all white people in a concentration camp like they did the Japanese? Make them slaves like they did us? Be racially profiled and shot at a moments notice. Sadly, I think this is the opinion of a lot of white folks out there. They would never say it to you in person, all they do is smile in your face. But they know they have special privilleges and can’t stand to see anyone other than themselves in an authoritative or even equal position. It’s ridiculous but its reality. White people need to get over themselves quick because Obama will be president, and hopefully we can all look beyond the color of this mans skin and see that he is truly qualified to run the country.
I swear to God or as he may say Allah, if he F’S up this world im not taking fault for it, so yeah he better have his security tight cause if he is going to be my first Black President, i will not have him assasinated within 2-3 weeks…im just kiddin, good luck to Mr. Obama if he wins!!!!
this is the bottom line, Barack Obama wouldn’t hav won the primaries without just a vote from African-Americans. i mean, he won states where u dont see many black folks like Alaska or Oregon and he won those states.
Yes, this country has a lot of racism, as an African-American i experience it everyday. Those who voted for Hillary and would rather vote for MccCain then for Obama r the real racists.
ALL I’M SAYING IS THAT OBAMA BETTER BE PRES!
OBAMA ‘08!
AAAAAAAAAAAARHHHHHHHGGGGGG
NOT THIS BULL!!
I’M TIRED… JUST TIRED!!!!
I KNEW IT WAS GOIN TO COME DOWN TO THIS! WHY CANT PEOPLE JUST VOTE FOR WHO THEY BELIEVE WILL HELP SAVE THIS COUNTRY FROM FALLING APART?
90%? U MUST BE JOKING!?
please let all comments be excepted thank you.this is america, not just for some but for all.does this machine reject it or is it some one behind the machine? go figure….
they are only saying that because a black person was not suppose to ever take over the white house in their minds i mean why vote for Mccain it would be worst then bush being in office the rich would get richer and the poor would get poorer and more thousands of dead bodies from a pointless war….