News The leading factor in the U.S. presidential runoff: covert racism

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The discussion revolves around the impact of race on the U.S. presidential election, particularly in relation to Barack Obama. It highlights the perception that American conservatism is rallying white voters against a backdrop of fear and prejudice, suggesting that older conservatives may be particularly influenced by historical segregation and civil rights tensions. Participants debate whether it is possible to oppose Obama without being racist, emphasizing the complexity of racial biases in voting behavior. They discuss the phenomenon of covert racism, where individuals may not recognize their own prejudices, and how this influences their political choices. The conversation also touches on the motivations behind voting patterns among different racial groups, with some arguing that black voters may support Obama to promote racial equality, while others contend that many voters, regardless of race, may base their decisions on issues like economic policy rather than race. The dialogue reflects a broader struggle with racial identity and the implications of racism across the political spectrum, with participants expressing frustration over the oversimplification of these issues in public discourse.
  • #61
DaleSpam said:
Kerry did not win on the issues. Security is an issue and, as you mentioned, it happened to be the most important issue that election cycle. In this current election McCain is the more mainstream candidate, by far. So if people vote strictly on the issues then McCain wins.

The difference between this election and last is that on charisma Obama smashes McCain. Kerry didn't have any of that going for him against Bush. If Obama wins it will be an election of charisma over issues.

I completely disagree. I followed that election very close, and I think Kerry blew Bush out of the water on the issue of security. I don't get the charisma thing either, Obama just talks intelligently and expresses a more thought out deeper view. The same with John Kerry. It isn't that Bush isn't charismatic, it is just that he wasn't as talented, or he just didn't care as much about issues. I think McCain is the one trying to be charismatic, and that is partly why he is successful. Calling Obama charismatic is just a way to deny that his talent and blame his success on charisma which is moronic in my opinion.
 
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  • #62
Funny, Obama's personality has always been a turn off for me, I'm trying to get past him being such a chameleon. That has always been my impression of him, that he is a different person depending on the group he's pandering to and it turns me off. I have a "gift' for seeing through people that has always been right, he seems to be too focused on being elected and will do and say anything to get there. It seems a lot more people are noticing this, including his staff, from what I've read lately. I know, I was told that's what politicians do, but he's so transparent at it. I keep asking myself, "who is Obama, really?", what does he really believe in, because at times it's really hard to tell.

McCain has turned me off by coming out strongly against the things I believe in, but at least I know where he stands. So, I can't see me voting for him. Also, he has chipmunk cheeks, you can't have a president with chipmunk cheeks.

benzoate, I agree completely about people speaking of blacks like they are a colony of ants.
 
  • #63
sketchtrack said:
I think Kerry blew Bush out of the water on the issue of security.
It is kind of hard to take your political analysis seriously here.
 
  • #64
It seams funny to me that people say Obama is trying to hard to get elected. If two people were racing in the olympics, would you say one is trying to hard to win? I think the people who are trying too hard are the people who have to cheat, lie, and use sneaky cowardly tactics. It is a no brainer that the Republican party is king of that. I think talk radio propaganda may be the deciding factor.
 
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  • #65
Evo said:
Also, he has chipmunk cheeks, you can't have a president with chipmunk cheeks.
:smile: Hehe, I hadn't noticed, but you are right.
 
  • #66
DaleSpam said:
It is kind of hard to take your political analysis seriously here.

Do you remember the debate. Bush failed miserably after 911 by letting the Taliban get away in Afganistan and concentrating on Iraq. Bush clearly had personal interests he put before the interests of National Security. Kerry is a war vet and was an officer, Bush cheated his way out of the draft and got into the National Guard based on a bribe from his father.

Kerry was hammered for speaking out to end the war in vietnam, which shows he had the guts to speak up and do what was right. Kerry got hammered for telling the truth that people were offended by.

I can't see any way of looking at it that makes Bush look better on National Security than Kerry.
 
  • #67
Benzoate said:
I find it very insulting when committees are formed in congress like the black caucus, whose purpose is devoted to addressing and attempting to solved problems in the black community " as if black people are a one dimensional group ... She talks as if blacks act and think collectively, and therefore have no independent thoughts outside the black community!
I agree that this is insulting and sad. Unfortunately, since '64 the black community has voted >80% for Democrats, often more than 90%. That strong of a bias in any particular demographic makes this kind of one-dimensional treatment politically inevitable.
 
  • #68
The average american wants a president that they can have a beer with, someone who isn't all intellectual like, someone who isn't going to talk your ear off about things you don't understand.
 
  • #69
Look around your average bar. Do you see any presidents sitting there?*

*Joke stolen from Comedy Central.
 
  • #70
I'll certainly would never vote for a Yankees fan.