Is America still too racist to elect a Black President?

pushmepullme

If America had 2 guys standing for election, one white, one black, is America still too racist to vote in the black guy? Particularly in the southern states I think people would vote for the white guy, because he's white.

harmless_little_f***

pushmepullme wrote:

If America had 2 guys standing for election, one white, one black, is America still too racist to vote in the black guy? Particularly in the southern states I think people would vote for the white guy, because he's white.

When was the last time a black guy ran for president? Not trying to be ignorant, just curious.

pushmepullme

Never, but this Osama guy could be the first.

lukin2006

pushmepullme wrote:

Never, but this Osama guy could be the first.

Bin Laden's gonna run for president, thought he was arab.

IndianSummer

pushmepullme wrote:

Never, but this Osama guy could be the first.

obama guy you mean?

harmless_little_f***

pushmepullme wrote:

Never, but this Osama guy could be the first.

Quick! Edit tool! You've no time to lose!

Btw, to the original poster, there's no point in speculating about these things if a black guy has never ran; when he does, and the deep South are shown to be remarkably unfavourable towards him, then we should talk about it. Until then, we're just stereotyping people and 'guessing' what they might do according to our prejudices.

pushmepullme

Yeah thats the one.

IndianSummer

so in a couple of years time we may have barak hussian osama trying to hunt down obama bin laden.

chopitdown

pushmepullme wrote:

If America had 2 guys standing for election, one white, one black, is America still too racist to vote in the black guy? Particularly in the southern states I think people would vote for the white guy, because he's white.

I think the majority of americans have an open mind towards race and would vote for a black guy if he represented their views. I'm also sure there is a small (def not close to a majority) percentage of the population that would vote against him strictly b/c of his color; and I'm sure every country has that subset of population. The problem in America would be, if a black guy didnt get elected some people would say the only reason he wasn't elected is b/c he was black.
The US has made great strides in race relations but it seems the race card is so easily and quickly played at times when it's inappropriate.

Pacomc79

ha ha, that's as funny as me saying white elitists in the north would vote for the black guy because of thier guilt. Or black people voting for them because they are black.

If voter individually feels the canidate is the best person for the job people will or should vote for them. Is it time? Sure it's time, it's past time. Now, if it's a moron like Jesse Jackson or Cynthia Mckinney who have nothing to run on but race no, but a guy like Obama....sure Obama can certainly win.

Dumb ass racist white people stay home on voting day too.... they are still upset over the silly flag change here in Georgia....all 7 of them.

Uncle Leo

pushmepullme wrote:

Never...

Not true. Some have run for president. But none have really made any progress in their primaries.

pushmepullme wrote:

...but this Osama guy could be the first.

How do you do the "eye rolling" smiley?

Uncle Leo

Pacomc79 wrote:

ha ha, that's as funny as me saying white elitists in the north would vote for the black guy because of thier guilt. Or black people voting for them because they are black.

And there is some truth to both. There are blacks who would vote for any black candidate and there are "white guilt" people, I suppose that would do the same--though most of those would not vote for, say, Alan Keyes.

And there sure as hell are whites that would never vote for a black candidate and it's more than 7 people in Georgia.

I think Obama would get smoked. I don't think America is ready for a black Democrat president. Maybe a black republican that is against affirmative actiion. Similarly I don't think America is ready for a woman president--especially one that is percieved as a feminist.

Pacomc79

Uncle Leo wrote:

And there is some truth to both. There are blacks who would vote for any black candidate and there are "white guilt" people, I suppose that would do the same--though most of those would not vote for, say, Alan Keyes.

And there sure as hell are whites that would never vote for a black candidate and it's more than 7 people in Georgia.

I think Obama would get smoked. I don't think America is ready for a black Democrat president. Maybe a black republican that is against affirmative actiion. Similarly I don't think America is ready for a woman president--especially one that is percieved as a feminist.

Oh there are certainly more than 7 racists North Georgia itself is pretty bad I simply tire of the arbitary "southern racists ruin everything posts", I was talking about the very few idiots who are still upset about the governor changing the Georgia flag to not include the stars and bars, which consequently had a very positive impact on Atlanta tourism and conventions as well as sports events and blah blah blah.

You could be right. You're definately dead on with Alan Keyes or even Condi. I just don't think after the past president who was obvioulsy polarizing the next president will be on the fringe like Hillary even if she tries to bring herself back to the middle it's something she'll never accomplish in most voters minds. I honestly believe a moderate non white canidate or the right female canidate can make serious headway... maybe not win, but help open the door anyway. Then again that takes courage, neither major party in the US has much of that, they want safe protection of power it's much eaiser to pit people against each other than to bring them toegther so yeah, you're probably right sadly.

Right now, I can't think of anyone who will run, I really feel a desire to vote for.

All I can say is that I really hope it's a moderate whoever it is.

know1

The fact that the question even needs to be asked makes me sadly think they probably wouldn't.

I do resent the South stereotype, though. What the original poster is doing there is no less prejudiced than someone not voting for a president just due to race.

dg1979us

pushmepullme wrote:

If America had 2 guys standing for election, one white, one black, is America still too racist to vote in the black guy? Particularly in the southern states I think people would vote for the white guy, because he's white.

Wouldnt it kind of depend on the issues and candidates stances? Nobody should vote, or not vote, for a specific candidate based on race.

farfromglorified

I think there are certainly some Americans who would not vote for someone because they're black. That said, there are certainly some Americans who would vote for someone because they're black. Those groups are doubtfully of equal size, but I don't think America on the whole is racist enough to prevent a qualified black man.

It's really nothing but speculation, but I think some polls showed in 2000 that Colin Powell would have won the presidency by a landslide.

yield2me

Yes and I also believe that they wouldn't elect a woman either...which puts the Dems in a bad spot...because that takes out both of their top dogs for the coming election...let's hope they don't waste their nomination on one of them because neither have a snow balls chance in hell of getting elected in this country, sad but true.

Pacomc79

yield2me wrote:

Yes and I also believe that they wouldn't elect a woman either...which puts the Dems in a bad spot...because that takes out both of their top dogs for the coming election...let's hope they don't waste their nomination on one of them because neither have a snow balls chance in hell of getting elected in this country, sad but true.

wow doom and gloom, who the hell do the conservatives have that's electable...Montgomery Burns?

Geez, you guys are supposed to be the idealists....find an electable moderate with good speaking skills a decent campaign manager and you've got it. Bill Clinton got 8 years didn't he? Wasn't he the first black president?

Have a little fun why don't you. That's what America wants after 8 years of turmoil. That and a balanced budget, stable economy, control over their own retirement (ok the working crowd anyway I'm pushing it), and a lot less laws dealing with morality. I mean come on....why can we still not buy alcohol on Sunday in parts of the country?

thankyougrandma

I'm not saying there's no racism in America, but i'm sure that if he runs a nice campaign, he could be elected, plus i'd say there's more black america than racist american, but i don't have any stats on that, so if some part of the population don't vote for him cause he's black, i'd say he'll win votes in other part of the populations.

Anyway short answer, no i don't think America is too racist to elect a Black President, i think there will be a Black President before a woman President...

qtegirl

I think that the Tennessee senate race between Ford (black) and the other guy (white, who actually won) provides us a glimpse of what would happen nationally if Barack Obama runs for president.

And it ain't pretty.

RavennaSeattle1911

if american had indians here first then why shouldnt an indian be a president?why are you so worried about that?who cares

dg1979us

qtegirl wrote:

I think that the Tennessee senate race between Ford (black) and the other guy (white, who actually won) provides us a glimpse of what would happen nationally if Barack Obama runs for president.

And it ain't pretty.

That was a very close race, and even though I voted for Harold Ford, he wasnt an overly impressive candidate. So unless your advocating that we should vote for black candidates simply because they are black, then your post is ludicrous.

jeffbr

pushmepullme wrote:

If America had 2 guys standing for election, one white, one black, is America still too racist to vote in the black guy? Particularly in the southern states I think people would vote for the white guy, because he's white.

I bet we'll have a black president before you have a black PM or king.

mookie9999

RavennaSeattle1911 wrote:

if american had indians here first then why shouldnt an indian be a president?why are you so worried about that?who cares

Russell Means in '08!!! Not sure what else you were talking about.

qtegirl

dg1979us wrote:

That was a very close race, and even though I voted for Harold Ford, he wasnt an overly impressive candidate. So unless your advocating that we should vote for black candidates simply because they are black, then your post is ludicrous.

I'm not advocating anything. All I was pointing out was the fact of how ugly that race turned out... with all the negative adds and the racist innuendos. What I'm saying is, look how it went in just one state, prepare yourself for how it would be if it's a national race.

How did you read anything more than that?

dg1979us

qtegirl wrote:

I'm not advocating anything. All I was pointing out was the fact of how ugly that race turned out... with all the negative adds and the racist innuendos. What I'm saying is, look how it went in just one state, prepare yourself for how it would be if it's a national race.

How did you read anything more than that?

I thought you were talking about the results, my apologies. And yes it was an ugly campaign, but Ill be honest, the "racist" ad that made national news I didnt find racist at all. I thought it was more playing to the Christian crowd who wouldnt appreciate a senator who goes to playboy parties, but I didnt see the racism in it a bit. And aside from that, there were plenty of ugly campaigns between 2 white candidates. I dont think the Tenn. campaigns were so negative because of race, I think they were negative because it was an empty seat and a competitive race that could have gone either way.

qtegirl

dg1979us wrote:

I thought you were talking about the results, my apologies. And yes it was an ugly campaign, but Ill be honest, the "racist" ad that made national news I didnt find racist at all. I thought it was more playing to the Christian crowd who wouldnt appreciate a senator who goes to playboy parties, but I didnt see the racism in it a bit. And aside from that, there were plenty of ugly campaigns between 2 white candidates. I dont think the Tenn. campaigns were so negative because of race, I think they were negative because it was an empty seat and a competitive race that could have gone either way.

I can agree with that. It wasn't any better or worse than the Swift Boaters for Truth... or whatever they were called.

It's just that ideally, we want to look at it as one guy against another guy. But if one of them is black, then the media, the PR firms, the campaigners, are going to bring up the race issues no matter what.

Same thing if Hillary runs... gender will come up.
I don't think we're past that, as a country. As individuals, yeah... let the best person win.

Casey1

I think it depends on who is running. After the last eight years, I think Americans will be looking at the issues more closely because there seems to be a feeling of not wanting to get fooled again. I think Obama would have a tough time getting past the primaries simply because other candidates will play up on the fact the he hasn't even served one full term in the Senate. Someone like Joe Biden, who has lots of politcal experience and an extensive foreign affairs background, will eat Obama alive. Of course, Obama may play up on the fact that he hasn't been in Washington long enough to be corrupted by it. It can go either way. It's all about the spin.

Then again, I almost feel like I'm looking at this from an outside point of view because I haven't lived in the States for three years now, so take this for what you think it's worth.

YeahThatRocks.com

Yes, and a woman will not be elected either, especially Hillary Clinton.

sponger

I think I'm the only person on earth who didn't see anything wrong with Howard Dean's outburst. The man wanted to express himself. I don't see what the big deal was.

ThumbingMyWay32

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

Quick! Edit tool! You've no time to lose!

Btw, to the original poster, there's no point in speculating about these things if a black guy has never ran; when he does, and the deep South are shown to be remarkably unfavourable towards him, then we should talk about it. Until then, we're just stereotyping people and 'guessing' what they might do according to our prejudices.

I've voted for Bush twice and if a black candidate suits my fancy I'd vote for him. Do liberals seriously ponder this particular question? I'm also from the South...