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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 I do still believe in miracles, despite what polls may say. I would hope that everyone could look at Obama’s qualification and what he is trying to accomplish. It will truly depend on the will of the American people to get past many deep dark secrets that many still hides within mankind (themselves). I hope and pray that after this terrible situation America is now in will lead Americans to do the right thing and elect Senator Obama.
With all this race- card playing, they need to worry about the white man destroying our lively hood. We’re in a recession and it’s not getting any better with the choice that was made 8yrs ago(BUSH). Did they really think he was a better choice. Please people take your heads out of your behind and get with the program. We need someone that’s for the American people, not for their own agenda(OIL). Come on PLEASE do not make the same mistake because you feel a black man can’t do a job Bush should of done 8yrs ago. Please think!!!!We’re all feeling the pain- Gas, Food, Houses, ext…. the list keep going on with the replubicans in office. I’m not black to let you know.
Everybody should stop talking and start campaining to make sure Obama is elected come November,Of-couse we all would like to see him as the President but first we all have to make sure we vote,so go and tell all your friends both Black,White,Hispanics and all that are ok to vote and tell them to vote OBAMA for a change,not only in America but all over the World.
I’m half black and half white woman.
Everyone on the white side of the family wants obama.
They have nothing against color.
and its the same with the black side.
I honestly think that this is a rumor.
Alot of people like to start stuff jus cuz we’re in this HUGE battle between which race is better then the other.
and with me being both black and white.
I get to see both sides of the story and i think that everyone acts foolish because they THINK that one race is better then the other.
White America? So apparently whites are the only racist ones? Maybe someone should have done a poll of the whole country to see if they thought he was a risky choice. Maybe he is a risky choice because he lacks a lot of the experience that other candidates bring to the table? Oh wait no that doesnt make a good story, must be racism.
Nice.
I dont deny that there are white racists out there but this is just a stupid story to raise some eyebrows and give sweeping generalizations that whites are racist and scared of Obama. I’m white and im voting for Obama, we need change in this country.
We need change but in order to get change we have to get to the root of the problem which is racism…True feelings are now about to show.
As a white man — I will not only VOTE for Obama — I will campaign for him. His speech on race relations was one of the most powerful I have heard in my adult life. I trust his intellect, his heart, his wisdom, and vision.
We must turn against prejudice. As another great man from Illinois Everett McKinley Dirksen once said — there are no hypenated Americans.
Here is (FINALLY) our chance to act on that.
Spit this out here is the real deal.For any white person that is scared to have Obama as a President of the United States there scared because they never thought that a black man could run a nation.Bush has ran the United States and he is a white man and look at our conditon in the United states now.Get real there are no more slave ship rollen in.Martin Luther King Is alive and well(spititout1@yahoo.com)Essie Rerun Berry
people wake up.it will take a long time to get the country back to where it should be.please don’t think he is goen to help black people.we have to help ourself.get a good education.sharonda stop.people all you religious crazy nut you make me sick.when you leave this earth you turn to dust.more than 60% of you give your money to the church.the preacher laugh at you.wake up.faith is good to belive in youself.
I,as a black man feel that Obama is a terrible choice for President.
Obama is the wrong black man for Presdent.
Qualified black man? How about JC Watts?
RACE IS STILL A BIG PROBLEM IN AMERICA AND THE WORLD. IT WILL TAKE MANY GENERATIONS TO DISSOLVE THE RACIAL BIAS THAT IS FIRMLY SET IN PEOPLES SUB-CONSCIOUS MINDS. I RECENTLY WENT THROUGH A SITUATION AT WORK WITH A WHITE FEMALE SUPERVISOR WHO WOULD SWEAR SHE IS NOT RACIST BUT MAKES CHOICES BASED ON RACE EVERY DAY. IT IS THE SAME WITH SO MANY WHITES SAYING OBAMA IS A “RISKY” CHOICE. JUST AS THE 90% SHRUNK TO 65% THIS NUMBER WILL FURTHER SHRINK WHEN WHITES STEP INTO THE PRIVATE VOTING BOTHS. THE FACT THAT SOME THINK HE WOULD GIVE BLACKS PEFERENTIAL TREATMANT IS PROOF OF THIS INSAINITY.THEY DON’T EVEN REALISE THEIR WARPED THINKING. WHAT DO THEY MEAN BY THIS? BARACK OBAMA IS CLEARLY A FAIR MINDED PERSON AND ONE BLACK PRESIDENT WOULD STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH A MAJORITY WHITE SENATE,CONGRESS AND SUPREME COURT. YES THINGS HAVE IMPROVED BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF US TOWARDS TRUE EQUALITY.
http://WWW.HUGHEMC.COM
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/HUGHEMC
White america will never be ready for a person of color to run this country! This time they have no
control. And that is scary as hell to all of them!
True change is inevitable…and why should we as a people not benefit from this change finally? Its no different from bush or any president in history; they have always taken care of their own.
Obama is Gods’ Devine Intervention…we will be free at last, free at last, Thank God All Mighty, FREE AT LAST
In this society and previous, many are (and have been) scared of our (afro-am. +) strength. Now that we may have “arrived” the word is no longer “scared” but terrified. It had been time that we receive our “due.” Many may be terrified of the whole reparations idea, right? It is written ‘what is last shall be 1st,’ and vice versa. Now to my understanding, for a period of time we were kings and queens. Later, we were beaten and chained. After that, we endured (and are enduring) explotation of all levels. This question alone is one form of it(explotation). Terror comes to mind when the bully sees the person he has been pushing around finally stands up to him and push back. This is just a little nudge. We shall overcome. Real talk. LstandsforLove.
We (refers to those who know a change is gonna come) gain more than getting a black man in office but we must remember we gain having a black woman, the mother of the universe, oracle (if you will), there too. Behind every strong, intelligent man, there is a woman just as strong and intelligent. In this case, a black woman. LstandsforLove. Peace.
I agree with Angellic777. I am confident in a candidate that is 46yrs good health, rather than a candidate that is 71, has cancer and is content with keeping troops in Iraq. Voting for McCain is like keeping the Bush legacy alive. OBAMA for 2008!
Look, change is change, and America has been asking for it for some time now. White America has had a strong say in Obama continuing to make political and American history. There are more whites in America than there are blacks. When you see his rallies, and speeches given in front of large crowds, the majority of the people are white. So America is due for change, and the white people are leading the march. A lot of blacks in America do not realize how many white people died during slavery just for befriending a black person. So more white people like us than you think. It will be a great day for us blacks in this country, and i look forward to it.
i think those half white americans are just afraid to take a chance, and try something new. abraham lincoln didnt have a clue on how to be a president, but still went down in history as one of the most important presidents. i personally think we can try something new because we are still a strong nation and there is always room for change
When will we begin to chose our leaders based on what they will bring to our country instead of how they were brought to our country? Until we expand our thinking beyond melanin distribution, we will continue to chase our tails and watch others succeed at what we thought we were leading in. How does that make us look as Americans not being able to accept our own as our own? For as long as there have been white people in America there have been black people in America. Will it take us another 200 + years to figure out that we are all equal?
first of all Whites who say that Obama is a “risky” choice, and the two-thirds of Whites who see McCain as a “safe” selection, is because that is all they want to know, and they have issues with black people who was brought here to work, and not beable to persue the american dream as most who have came. Black people struggle day to day and whites do not what to help us unless it is sport related where they can make money. It is still not fair in the US andBlack are lost people still trying to find themselfs lost is our history, relgion and our names they willforever be slave names. Lastly the key question is if y9u are happy where you are now with this country high gas, limit funds, high unemployment then it is clear Mc Canin is your choice however if you are tired and want change then Obuma is your choice he brings hope something I and other have lost