Column: Obama, McCain and race

Am I a racist if I don't vote for a man that has absolutely no concrete position on anything. Tell me, what does Obama stand for? Go ahead, you pick the topic/issue and I guarantee I'll show you many varied positions that he has taken on said issue.

You have hit the nail on the head. Thank you for the clearest articulation of this taboo subject. I believe race is the 1000 pound gorilla in the room. The only way to get around it is to deal with it right out in the open, like you have done.

So American apprehension towards Obama stems from our racism and not his socialist ideas and plans to fuel this country with wind and biofuel? Last time I checked both represented unviable sources of energy, given our demand.

Miss Mitchell,

If I were in a room with Reverend Wright, as a "rich white" man, should I be a tad uncomfortable with his OVERT racism?
I've heard his vile rhetoric. I've seen this "snake of the cloth" mime anal sex as he said "he was riding her dirty" (in reference to Bill and Monica.)
I guess I don't understand "Black Theology."
BT must be code for disgraceful behavior. I thought Sunday morning was family hour - or maybe that IS family hour at Trinity.
Obama is a LIAR. He relished in these displays of classism, sexism and racism for 17 years. But don't get me wrong here, I am not ACTIVELY campaigning against Obama because he is black. In fact I would campaign vehemently FOR Thomas Sowell - someone you probably revile and call nigra.
The problem with Obama is not blackness, it is that he is a Marxist. When Obama loses, and he will, I would temper your rabid frothing about him losing because of racism. Run an actual charismatic, young black man that
shares middle american values and we will see CHANGE.
The Virginia woman who said "I can't vote for a nigra" be DAMNED!
Until then, thank God for that wretched old fool because she unwittingly (emphasis on witless) saved America, for all the wrong reasons, but I'll take it.

I cant understand how Rev Wright keep coming up what about Mccain's pastor or is his racist remarks ok???

You are right, and I think we have enough time to address this issue up front. Unfortunately, for some Americans, this election will be a referendum on race. Forget about their own personal best interests, or putting someone in office who can actually help them and lots of other families too. Simply vote based on how you feel about the candidate's race.

Race has been used consistently in American politics from the very beginning of this country. Now in the 21st centry, given our history, the civil rights movement, the great society programs, progress over the years, and the like, Obama forces us to address the issue, up close and personal. Are we still there, or have we moved forward in our thinking? Will we continue to deny ourselves the best and brightest among us simply because they are black? Or have our problems reached a point that we can't afford to put someone there just because of their skin color, we need knowledge, skills, judgement and others things too, even if they come wraped up in dark skin.

There are lots of things we need that may come wraped in dark skin . . . the cure for cancer, new medications to deal with diseases, a way to make the world safer, new inventions that make our lives better, a way to bring hope to us and the world, and many more . . .

I often think of the world of sports, and how for years we denied ourselves the best athletic talent available, just because of race. Now we just want to win, and we don't care about someone's race, all we want is excellence and performance. Maybe the time has come for politics too . . .

If the dems (or the repubs) had nominated Colin Powell I would vote for him in a second. Colin Powell would make a great president. I'm sad he has decided not to go that route.

Obama on the other hand is the worst kind of snake oil salesman. He pulls the race card out whenever he can and try's to paint his opponent with it. He brought it up first. Not McCain, nor the Clintons.

I wanted Hillary because she is the most qualified to lead. Obama stole the nomination with underhanded tricks and lies. I am voting for McCain now.

I believe that the racism in this election isn't necessarily the big old mean whitey, as we are being led to believe. Miss Mitchell states that just because Obama has a 55 percent lead in the black and Hispanic vote polls, that doesn't mean a thing because black people typically vote Democratic.
BUT this is the wrong statistic to use in asking the question," Are black voters just voting for Obama because he is black?" Find a statistic showing how many black people voted in the primaries for the first and possibly only time in their lives because of Obama, and you would find the answer. I know he is charismatic, but I spoke with the staff of the voting booths during the primaries here in Chicago, and there were people showing up who couldn't even SPELL Obama just because he was a black man. Let's hope these voters who all of a sudden care about our country keep coming back in the following elections, but I doubt it.

I agree with Ms. Mitchell that not talking about race openly during this election cycle is wrong. Obama, however did dicuss race in his speech "On Race" in Philadelphia.

Obama should talk about his own personal experience with racism as a seque into talking about people like the woman in Virginia,instead of accusing people of being racists.

He also needs to talk about reverse racism as well.

See what you all don't realize (those lashing out on Obama) is that you can pin point all of the issues you strongly disagree with about Obama but where the issue of race comes in is none of you compare Mccain's history to Obama. Obama was never indicted on money scandals, Obama has never outwordly been racist as Mccain has. Obama also has never lashed on a temper on his fellow co-workers. You can pint out all of Obamas flip flops but Mccain has had far far more, ex. all the times he has agreed with Bush and now that Bush isn't popular you suddenly disagree with him. In the 26 years he has been a politician he has used the good 'ol politics that all of you said before you were tired of. If Obama were white I think many of you could compare the two fairly but becasue he is white you see out all the negatives and ignore any of his opponents.

The Obama platform is the Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, and Kerry platform rolled into one and shot up with steroids. Give me a substantive conservative black candidate and I'll paint his slogan on the front of my house. Then you can talk about the "snake in the room"...you know...the one that will be whispering "Uncle Tom".

Being that Obama and Hillary Clinton were from the same party with virtually the same platform, how do you explain the overwelming black support for Obama?

Being that Obama and Hillary Clinton were from the same party with virtually the same platform, how do you explain the overwelming black support for Obama?

Your whole article is playing the race card! How about let's all just vote for the best man for the job. And if my vote goes to McCain, I'm automatically racist?
If Obama wins will their be "unrest" in some major cities? If Obama loses will their be "unrest" in some major cities?
You've backed white people into a corner.
And, if you really research into Obama's heritage, he's 50% white, 47% ARAB, 3% black. And he's presenting himself as a black person. Lot's of confusion on all ends.
You can not dismiss a 20 year relationship with a racist Reverend!
And Obama is way to radical, liberal, left, Marxist, Socialist to be President in my eyes!
P.S. How can Obama be President when he says he'll meet with enemy leaders without pre-conditions when he won't even be interviewed on Fox News?

Ms/Mr WG

Apart from disagreeing with every single thing you just wrote, I'll say just one thing.

Obama is not Marxist. Far from. Waaay from. Read a history book, just this once. For the greater good.

McCain stands for 4 more years of the failed Bush policies that have sunk this country into the mud. McCain stands for 100 more years in Iraq, a war everyone concedes was waged for oil and nothing else, and waged based on lies to the American people. McCain stands for making the tax cuts for the top 1% wealthiest people in the United States permanent, while the rest of the citizens of this country suffer, while the middle class is destroyed. McCain's voting record for our troops and our veterans is atrocious. Do an internet search to find out. In light of the fact that McCain is a veteran himself, it's shameful how he's given the finger to our troops and our veterans. McCain's standing on women's issues is equally awful. McCain is in bed with the same whackjobs that brought this country George Bush. We know an awful lot about John McCain, and none of it is good. SO WE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT MCCAIN TO KNOW A MCCAIN PRESIDENCY WOULD PUT THE FINAL NAIL IN THIS COUNTRY'S COFFIN, THE COFFIN BUILT BY GEORGE BUSH. Vote for Obama if you love this country. If you love your bigotry more, and if you put political party before your country, then vote for McCain. But know this, anyone who votes for McCain will have only themselves to blame when this country goes down the toilet. A vote for McCain will mean the end of the United States.

Interesting that you speak of the drug addicted thief. And, please, let us not forget homewrecker.

John McCain left his wife while she was ill and disgifured due to an automoble accident.

John McCain accepted $58,000.00 disability payments, according to his income taxes, becasue he has been declared 100% disabled by the US government. Yet, less than a month after revealing his tax returns, he gave to us his medical records indicating that he is as fit as a fiddle.

If this man is fit as a fiddle, why is he getting 100% disability payment.

He denies any PTSD.

In addition, since when does being a prisoner war give one foreign experience.

Is race the issue or just stupidity.
Many people are not aware that Cyndi McCain is a drug addict and a theif. Many are not aware that she is a homewrecker or that John McCain left his wife when she was disfigured in an automobile accident.

John McCAin filed income tax returns showing that he received $58,000.00 in disability payments because he has been declared 100% disabled by the US government. He denies PTSD

In addition, a few weeks later, John McCain filed about 300 pages of medical documentation indicating that he was as fit as a fiddle

Which is it? Is he disabled or is he fit as a fiddle?

"Obama tries to avoid talking about race, as do his surrogates, staffers and supporters." This is BS- he's played the race card since day one and you must not read the blogs or live on this planet. I personally don't like him because he preaches and I don't like preachers. I'm a proud preachist. He's the sneaky snake if there is one.
He snaked his way into the Illinois senate and he's snaked his way to where he is now.
"the McCain camp might as well have called Obama an "uppity black."... No they might as well not because you just did. The only times I've heard that term it's from "uppity pundits" trying to stir up sh-t just as you're doing. Do you think that anything you say will change anyone's mind about who they will vote for? Shame on you for trying to shame people into voting for Barry- won't work- if anything, it makes me more determined to vote against him.

just a matter of time till this "writer" wrote this drivel.

how does it feel to be punding the wedge further into the chasm between whites and blacks?

job well done!

just a matter of time till this "writer" wrote this drivel.

how does it feel to be pounding the wedge further into the chasm between whites and blacks?

"Discussions Across the Racial Divide".?

job well done!

Dear Ms. Mitchell:

I have disagreed with you on many occasions, but today, you nailed it! I have listened to poor and (before the Regan and Bush revolutions)middle class whites who have given a host of reasons why they will continue to vote against their own interests and support McCain. As for the Reverend Wright "controversy", when you examine his comments in context, while harsh (as racism and sexism are harsh) he did not lie. This country's history of racism, and explotation cannot be denied, even by those of us who love America. Indeed, we have an obligation to tell the truth so that we can correct it, not lie and call it patriotism and label those who point out the truth as traitors.
There is no reason why 4% of the population owns the majority of this country's wealth except that the owners continue to encourage us to use race as a weapon of division. If McCain does win and the Republicans continue their reign of terror against the poor and middle classes, while starting wars to provide more ways to funnel our taxes to their rich and getting richer friends, GOD HELP AMERICA!

Henry Ford was once quoted as saying "the masses are asses", if Americans elect another Republican president they will have proven Henry correct.

Great article... I'm waiting for the first reporter with guts to ask Obama would he leave Michelle for Oprah if Michelle became paralyzed and couln't fund or accompany him alongside his political ambitions. Then in response to his "no" answer, ask him sincerely, then why would Americans embrace Mccain when he did so.

Let's keep this adultery topic in the news. It's a winner for Obama whenever the topic is fidelity in marriage. We don't need another aduterer in the white house.

"Voters there said Cindy McCain -- a former drug addict and thief -- better fits their idea of a first lady than Michelle Obama, someone who has not had a hint of scandal attached to her name."

It is not easy to be from the minority and this is true whether in Iraq, congress, Germany, or good old USA.

Obama will win, because this kind of article helps the snake-handlers. You are ahead of the game, yet you are not alone. Thanks for being realistic, Mary, but I believe there's some cause for optimism:

It's steadily sinking in with many whites that Obama is a much less frustrated and much more sensible, reasonable MAN than McCain; there are signs that every race in the country is hungry for truly envigorating and respectable MEN to return to the American public psyche--and this may in many cases actually outweigh the race factor come election-time. Once white males get it that he is on the side of THEIR dignity and respect (which many of them don't receive from anyone, including their wives/girlfriends), things could very quickly improve for the Illinois Senator.

Racist white women may be another story.

You have it partially correct. Racism is still alive and practiced by people like Obama, his wife Michelle, the Rev Wright, and you. As a white male, I'm only interested in the character and policy positions of the candidate. Obama is greatly lacking in both. I don't care about the color of his skin. Look in the mirror, the snake may look like you.

Everyone sees the snake in the room, only those that live with the snake refuse to see it. When the snake is a relative, they refuse to see it. When the snake is a friend, they refuse to see it. When the snake is a neighbor, they refuse to see it. When the snake is in the mirror, they just don't see it. If by chance someone else sees the snake, oh, like Rev. Wright then that person is called bad for seeing the snake. Since so many don't see the snake you have to wonder just how big the snake is!

Miss Mitchell,

It is quite obvious that you are an Obama supporter and you are entitled to support him. However, do yourself and black America a favor and stop pulling out the race card ALL the time. I am an African immigrant living in the U.S for about 8 years and I can tell you that I have received more racist comments from African Americans than whites by a mile.

Your argument that Obama's 55% point advantage amongst black voters is not due to his skin color, but due to the fact that blacks vote democrat historically is very weak. You need to come up with a better reason. Was Hillary Clinton not a democrat? By what margin did African-Americans vote for Obama during the democratic primaries? If white/latinos had voted for Hillary teh same way blacks voted for Obama during the primaries, then Hillary will most likely be the nominee, not Obama.

As an independent voter it is nothing short of interesting to hear speak of the non-accomplishments of Obama. Considering that his life has taken a page from the tenets of conservatism, self reliance, hard work & pulling yourself up by the bootstraps you would think that he would be applauded.

Dr. King once said that the most segregated time in America is on Sunday morning, you would be hard pressed to attend a predominately white congregation and not be privy to coded language be used in reference to people of color. But that reality is swept under the rug.

How about voting for the most intelligent person for the job, a novel idea isn’t it?
While speaking on the subject of experience our current President had a proven history of failing at everything that he put his hand to, leaning on his Dad and the family connections to bail him out each time.

Experience and the Presidency is an oxymoron it is all about the people that the POTUS surrounds themselves with. I’m inclined to believe that intelligent people will surround themselves with like minded people, including those who might not agree with them on every issue. We have seen the tragic effect of a administration filled with ‘yes’ men and women.

Why? Because intelligence and confidence often go hand in hand. I find the prospect of voting for someone who will be 72 upon taking office more frightening than someone who happens to be African-American.

We Americans have proven ourselves to be dumb enough to vote for the guy we would rather have a beer with... Are we willing to go 2 for 2?
The constitutional law professor or the old guy with a limited educational background... It would seem to be a no-brainer.

As an independent voter it is nothing short of interesting to hear speak of the non-accomplishments of Obama. Considering that his life has taken a page from the tenets of conservatism, self reliance, hard work & pulling yourself up by the bootstraps you would think that he would be applauded.

Dr. King once said that the most segregated time in America is on Sunday morning, you would be hard pressed to attend a predominately white congregation and not be privy to coded language be used in reference to people of color. But that reality is swept under the rug.

How about voting for the most intelligent person for the job, a novel idea isn’t it?
While speaking on the subject of experience our current President had a proven history of failing at everything that he put his hand to, leaning on his Dad and the family connections to bail him out each time.

Experience and the Presidency is an oxymoron it is all about the people that the POTUS surrounds themselves with. I’m inclined to believe that intelligent people will surround themselves with like minded people, including those who might not agree with them on every issue. We have seen the tragic effect of a administration filled with ‘yes’ men and women.

Why? Because intelligence and confidence often go hand in hand. I find the prospect of voting for someone who will be 72 upon taking office more frightening than someone who happens to be African-American.

We Americans have proven ourselves to be dumb enough to vote for the guy we would rather have a beer with... Are we willing to go 2 for 2?
The constitutional law professor or the old guy with a limited educational background... It would seem to be a no-brainer.

Once again Mary Mitchell you called it like you see it. This racist country isn't ready for a Black man regardless if it was a man or a woman.
People got to know that this is not their country, it is God's country. Everyone deserves a chance and not only a White person. I feel that Obama can and will make a change for everyone and not only help a selective few like other presidents have been doing.

Thank you Ms. Mitchell for telling the truth and not being afraid to do so and calling it what it is. If it quake like a duck it is a duck.

One big thing nobody seems to talk about is that black voters rarely vote for white guys running for office.
This helps explain why so many blacks have come to the polls. Can you imagine how many Irish Catholics signed up to vote for Kennedy? It's not that people are racists per se, it's just that they identify with their own and they want to vote for somebody who is like them, understands their problems and frustrations.
My parents were from Ireland and didn't bother to vote until Kennedy ran for office. That doesn't mean they were against every Presbyterian or Episcopal guy who ran for office. They just couldn't relate to them.

By WG on August 7, 2008 2:34 PM

WG, all I can say is WOW. I still can't believe my heart breaks when I read from your ilk, but it does. It's sad. I pray for you. God bless you and the U.S. Jesus is real. Obama 08

Your article regarding race slithering into the campaign hits the nail on the head! Though it makes us all uncomfortable to think our friends and relatives can be racist, it is a fact we must face and still work to overcome. We have 2 candidates, one over the hill, with old ideas that have brought this country close to ruins, with a wife that commits felony crimes and yet, some see this as an exemplary leader. The other candidate is a bright ivy league graduate, with new ideas, not yet proven, but progressive, with a successful, bright wife. It seems that this is a no brainer, but yet for some, they cannot get past their biases.

Obama is a two-faced, arrogant child. McCain is a corrupt, bitter old man.

Is this the best America has to offer? Seriously; Americans are sick of this bologna!

I know your articles tend to show a different view then mine. but WOW. This is a large distortion of facts if I ever read them. First off to say that African-Americans are not voting on race is completely inaccurate. Look at the voting polls from 2004 primaries and compair them to 2008. No canidadate received almost 90% of the African-American vote like Obama did this year in the primaries. So should I believe African-americans are not racist, but rather sexist? Why not look at the causes of the lack in surge in polls for Obama as other factors like his return from an imaginary world of political change to just another politician. You based your article on pure opinion without facts. Also thought your Cindy McCain comments were low blows, talk about her faults without all any mention of the good she has done.

If 97% of African-Americans are voting for Obama, are African-Americans racists? If the Certificate of Live Birth Obama's campaign says is legitimate has been found to be a forgery based on his sister's "scrubbed" certificate should Americans be told about it?

Ms. Mitchell,
If I don't ever consider voting for a Democrat-black or white, male or female, am I a racist, sexist, female, Christian, mother of 4 children and Republican voter from the great state of Florida whose ancestors come from all parts of Europe?

I am a white woman, and I would and do definitely support a black female doctor for Congress running in Georgia. But Obama does not share my values. He wants to eliminate the Bush tax cuts, which means he will increase the taxes for EVERY tax bracket, including the poorest of the poor. He thinks he can tax the big evil corporations and give that money away to all the poor, but this statement shows how ignorant he is of the economy. If he is allowed to tax our corporations even further, watch the continued mass exodus of our corporations and jobs. We are a capitalist country, not communist, and as such people are motivated to work so that they can make a profit. NO PROFIT? WHY WORK? When Bush cut the capital gains rate, the taxable income actually increased! Bush knew that when people sell their stocks, they like to keep most of that money, not give half or a third of it to the government. If they have to give so much to the government, they simply will not sell it; thus less taxes paid to the government. We need a wise man as president who understands how our economy works. We also need a president who doesn't think, as Obama does, that it is a good idea to stab babies in the back of the neck as they are being born in order to kill them (AKA partial birth abortion)

You know, I find it appalling that a man with such comparable likeness to Bush's old policies and belief's, is a front runner in this 08' campaign against a contender of Obama's stature... Has anyone seen Bush's approval rating lately ?! I mean come on - it's so obvious... This man does not belong in the same presidential race, nor at the same debate against Barack Obama - I mean has anyone listened to this man speak, or heard of his intentions as president ?!! Barack Obama is a great orator, he's well educated, he has a solid plan for our country, and a considerably better world plan for our nation as a superpower for the future years to come. Obama's perspective is so aligned with what is both needed and necessary for our country, and the world to thrive in peace while weakening the terrorists' infrastructure. And what's John McCain's plan again ? Oh yeah, to stay in Iraq... (scoff!)

You live and breath it in your words.

If racism didnt exist, you would invent it.

Once a gain poor writing. Take a refresher course.

The media that is you, keep the fires going.

I gotta say one thing, the heckler did a proud job of making OB say the pledge.

WG,
The problem with Obama is not his blackness, but that he is a Marxist?

Do you have a clue what it means to be a Marxist?

Marxists are anti-capitalism. Obama thinks free trade agreements need to be re-negotiated to further enhance their benefits for Americans!

Marxists think everyone should be paid the same, no matter what their job, whether you be a university professor or a taxi driver. Obama is for the same pay for the same job.

Marxists don't run for government office before they win a mass base among workers and the labour movement as a labour leader. Obama spent most of his time in the highest ivory towers of America, teaching the law, of all things!

Marxists want to overthrow the bourgeoisie--er, you know, the class that Obama belongs to...

But, of course, "Marxist" is a good label to hang on a man if you want to cover up your racist dislike of him. But it is a good way, given Marxist history, to indirectly conjure up images of Obama as other, as foreign, isn't it?

I can't help but think that if Barack Obama was darker skinned, say the complexion of an Alan Keyes, we wouldn't be having this discussion and Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic Presidential candidate.

Big Surprise...the Chicago Sun Times prints the opinion of another liberal columnist...

The interesting thing here is that whenever you, or someone you agree with, brings up race, you don't have a problem with it. If somebody brings up race and says something about it that you do not agree with, you call them racist (even though it probably is a perfectly valid point). How is anything going to get solved with that type of a lopsided conversation?
You don't have to be a racist to like somebody other than Barack obama!

Also, you said that Michelle Obama has not had a hint of scandal attached to her name- you forget that she said 'this is the first time in my life I'm proud of my country...' and your using Florida as an example; florida is a flag waving, american pride, armed forces supporting state! you don't say something like that and get away with it in florida.
However, if you did your reporters duty, you would also know how cindy McCain has openly talked about overcoming her past and what she now stands for. She has an American story of forgiveness and 2nd chances.
I think they people you are trying to pain as all racists, are more educated and well-rounded than you are. They sure can do better research. I don't thing your journalistic integrity could withstand scrutiny from a 5th grade english class.

I read your column most of the time except when you call the race card into it. I would like you to clarify your comment regarding Cindy McCain as being a thief. We all have read about her addiction to pain pills following surgery as many people have, but what makes you call her a thief?

I'm sure you were a very strong supporter of Bill Clinton when he was going through his Monica period, as so many people were. I feel that the media thinks there is only one person running for the presidency, and they are the ones always bringing in the race card. I for one never think about it until it is commented on in the papers.

I received a notice about Cindy McCain through e-mail, and it sounds like she is very involved in many things and her families business. She is also very involved with her children. As for John McCain dumping his first wife, do any of us really know the facts behind that split up? Perhaps it was a result of him being in a war prison camp for many years, none of us really know that much about every persons personal life.
Plus the info about Cindy McCain was sent to me by my very staunch democratic friend, who would never think to vote republican regardless of the candidate. I have to admit, I sometimes vote republican, but also vote for democratic candidates.

Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion.

Sincerely,

Pat

What saddens me more than the snake in the room is the silence we have heard on what George Bush, III has accomplished in the last eight years. His legacy of war, the highest inflation in 20 years, high unemployment, the real estate collapse, poor schools with the no child left behind, bank failures again, but, Obama is unqualified. Speak a little louder, I can't heard you...are you better off today than you were eight years ago?

White people would rather let this country go down in a flame of fire than to elect a Black man who may not have all the answers but who is willing to try to bring the country together.

What have you got to lose, Bush didn't have a plan when we went into Iraq.

Choose your snakes, wisely.

I think race plays a big part in this election. If John Edwards had won the primaries, white women and other Hillary supporters would not have been this angry. You would not here them talking about voting for Mccain. The attitude that I seen from some of these women were horrible. Had Obama lose, blacks would have gotten over it a lot quicker, because majority of blacks are true Democricks and blacks are more forgiven. Everyone talks about values. Cindy Mccains a drug addict and thief, John Mccain leaves his first wife and gets married 24hours later. Obama an elitist? The Mccains are worth millions and have several houses. Why do they need a tax cut. My wife and I makes about $80,000 a year with 2 children. Child care is $1200 a month, we pay $500 per month for gas, $1100 a month for rent. Where is my tax cut? If the Mccains were tax 50% they would not miss it. Mccain is agaist abortion so he can send your children to fight a 100 years in Iraq. He do not have a plan for anything, not even the two wars we are fighting. But yet we have poor white poeple who needs a tax cut, tax credit, health insurence, and jobs. But they are going to let skin color and a bunch of lies get in the way for what is most important for them and the country. I bet they regret not voting for John Kerry.

Mary, when Obama says "they will try to make you afraid of me because I dont look like other presidents on the dollar bills, that is playing the race card. How is this "transcending race". It is obvious McCain is not playing the race card, so Obama is playing it for him.

Cindy Mc Cain a former drug addict and thief? We all know the context of that statement, and I believe that is a real cheap shot. So it is ok to hurl cheap shots at the Mc Cain family, but anything sent the other way is racist.

BHO has been an absentee senator, a mediocre state senator and by his own admission, a failed community organizer. BHO is all about BHO.

Take a look at the two statements coming out today about Georgia and Russia and the erupting conflict. The respective responses by the two campaigns, in a nutshell, capture why I have switched my vote to Mc Cain from Hillary. It has nothing to do with racism, but it has to do with judgment and experience.

I am no racist. I have voted for BHO in the past, and have been deeply disappointed with his tepid, distracted leadership, and with his tainted associations with so many who he should have avoided.

Before I choose who to vote for I wish the press would interview the women who raised Barack and his sister too. He's in Hawaii maybe he could introduce them both to America.

Most people don't want to see themselves the way they are. I believe WG really believes he would vote for another black man. This way he can excuse himself for his bigotry. But you have called a spade a spade.

So American apprehension towards Obama stems from our racism and not his socialist ideas and plans to fuel this country with wind and biofuel? Last time I checked both represented unviable sources of energy, given our demand.

Hey, didn't you check out T.Boone Pickens' plan? What, don't believe him? You believed his Swiftboaters, didn't you?

The problem with Obama is not blackness, it is that he is a Marxist.

Oh ho! The last refuge of a scoundrel - throwing out the old "commie Pinko" rationale.

When Obama loses, and he will, I would temper your rabid frothing about him losing because of racism. Run an actual charismatic, young black man that
shares middle american values and we will see CHANGE.

The guy was raised by white folks from Kansas, for God's sake.

The country has been screwed by the BushCheney Corporation in concert with the GOP. You been had, taken, bamboozled and ya don't even realize it.

Folks like you give credence to the old H.L. Mencken observation that, "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

God bless ya.

As a regular listener to Wvon 1690 AM, the self-proclaimed "voice of Chicago" I can honestly say that the first time I heard the snake rear it's ugly head was when I heard the first of hundreds of callers say to any of the hosts that they were voting for "the brother" just because he's black and the particular host agreed and assured them that was quite alright! Imagine that?!? There's been at least three generations of blacks who have been taught by their so-called leaders that any setback in their life is the direct result of one thing and one thing only: racism. You didn't pass the class because you didn't study; the whole educational system is racist. You didn't miss out on the job opportunity because you came to the job interview talking like you have a mouth full of marbles and looking like you just walked out of the alley; you didn't get the job because the interviewer was a racist. You didn't get pulled over by the police because you had no headlights and you were driving down a one-way street the wrong way; you were a victim of racial profiling. And even worse than that: you're not in jail because you knocked some 70 year old lady in the head and robbed her purse; you're in jail because the racists must keep the prison industrial complex alive. All absurd. So anyone with any foresight could see this coming. If you listen to Wvon you will know that the seeds have already being planted for what the consequences will be should Obama lose. As Mary Mitchell says, if he loses it will certainly be because of racism. And of course, if he loses, the "cities will burn." Nice. Thanks for fanning those evil flames Mary Mitchell. As long as your paycheck cashes, that is the ONLY thing you care about!

Obama plays the race card constantly. Since McCain has refused to inject racial issues into the election, Senator Obama has been forced to do it himself and then has the nerve to blame the McCain campaign for his own(Obamas') remarks. I saw these same tactics used by Bill Clinton.

SO WHAT IF OBAMA HAS VARIED ISSUES ON SOME THINGS
AT LEAST HE IS HONEST ENOUGH TO TELL YOU HOW HE
FEELS!
THERE IS NO EXACT SCIENCE IN POLITICS, IF A
POLITICIAN ISN'T KISSING A BABY, HE IS TRYING TO
STEAL THE BABIES LOLLIPOP ANYWAY!
BARACK OBAMA WILL BRING FRESH IDEAS TO THE WHITE
HOUSE AND YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE KNOWS IT!
THE QUESTION IS WHAT DOES JOHN MCCAIN AND 26 YEARS
IN THE SENATE STAND FOR, WHY DON'T THE CONSERVA-
TIVES LIKE HIM?
I DON'T HEAR THE LIBERALS SAYING THEY DON'T LIKE
OBAMA!
OBAMA ALREADY WON BY BEATING THE CLINTON'S, AND
IF HE WINS THIS ONE, HE WILL SEND MR. MCCAIN INTO
RETIREMENT!

You choose the most radical examples to illustrate the opposition to an Obama presidency...

What I hear daily, at JustSayNoDeal(dot)com, is that Americans are simply scared of Barack Obama. Why is this fact so hard for MSM to digest -- we know so little about his record ... and the thinness of his resume (vs. the robustness his "True Hollywood" story) is breathtaking!!

Maybe if journalists revealed the true concerns of the voting public, they would stop relying on the tired old 'race card' to explain away Senator Obama's weakness.

You seem to be the only one trying to play the race card. Colin Powell is a highly respected man and could of ran for president on any party. The mere fact that President Bush was smart enough to have him on his staff doesn't make him a Republican or Democrat. It made Collin a highly respected leader around the world. That is something Obama still has to measure up to.

I'm tired of white americans comparing Obama to Rev. Wright. Please pay attention to the ugly history time period Rev Wright grew up in. Rev Wright isn't holding hostility either. He's reminding America of the racist and unequal time period he grew up in!! Does the truth hurt caucasian Americans about realistic, ugly, racist, tree-hanging America? I've debated this with white people all my life. The Irish have argued with me about how their people came to America for a better life. Yet I reminded them at a time, any European came to America in poverty yet they were priviledged because of their origin.However African-Americans like my great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents, still couldn't receive equality, and they were born here. From my childhood life to my adult life whites have told me as an African-American, I couldn't do, what they do. When, I asked them Why? Is it because of a priviledge, Is it because they've been led to believe they have priviledges because of their culture? They appear to be embarassed, and walk away. This is the racist country we live in. Instead of people being willing to elect an African-American into office who could bring pride,dignity and respect, back into this country, many are willing to elect an unqualified, below average, past retired age man into office.I guess it's true, Americans are getting dumber.

To: WG

You are so off the mark and you are a racist. Black churches are not monolithic and just because clips were shown of Rev. Wright's more incendiary remarks, does not mean that they represent the whole of Trinity United Church. They don't even come close to representing what the church has stood for, but those who selected and looped those snippets, knew the imact they would have on closed minded bigots like you. They were successful.

Yes, race is playing a factor in this election. But not as you see it, Mary.
Obama wouldn't have been given this much leeway if he were a white candidate.

As a Republican, I'd vote for Colin Powell in a heartbeat. I'm still upset that Condi Rice won't run. Both people are not only extremely qualified to hold the office of president, but they don't share the radical background that Obama has.

Can you imagine the Democrats nominating a white candidate who had been a member of a racist white church for 20 years?

Would the Democrats nominate a white candidate who had ties to Rezko?

A white candidate who had friends who were unrepetent 'Weathermen'?

If a white Democrat's wife was caught saying that she was proud of her country for the first time, would she get the same wide berth that Michelle has?

If ANY presidential candidate had proposed the type of tax and spend plans that Obama has, would he/she be accepted?

Would a white candidate - lauded for his speaking style - be given the same leeway that Obama had after his 'just words' speech? After it was discovered that he took much of his speech from his friend? (Which, ironically, was supposed to be a defense against the idea that Obama was nothing more then a good speaker!)

Can you picture any other candidate NOT BEING ASKED why they feel a need to give a speech in a Berlin square???

Would you have been surprised by a white candidate - who opposed the surge - dropping in the polls as quickly as Obama is?

Wouldn't you be making fun of his various speech gaffes if Obama wasn't... well, you know? Wouldn't you be treating him as you do George Bush? 10,000 died from a tornado? Him thanking the fallen veterans who were there? 57 states?

Obama is a good looking man who knows how to motivate a crowd of his faithful. But we're not voting for prom king. And like any prom king, the glow eventually wears off.

Yes, and Barack Obama still is addicted to
cigarettes.
I guess we each have our skeletons in the closet but I would not call them snakes.
Lighten up, Ms Mitchell, you did not have to play the 'drug addict" card. Be careful what you print as the snake can turn and bite you back. I would have been more inclined to take your article serious were it not for the drug addict reference. Too bad.

Mary Mitchell
I agree with you 100%, it dosen't matter what Barack Obama about does to try to appeal to White America he can tap dance until November, they will scream faster faster, because White America is and will always be afraid of an intelligent black man and woman. If truth be told Barack Obama is too good for America.

It's funny how jaded and one sided Mary Mitchell can be....

She fails to note that White people were voting for Obama by the droves in states such as Idaho where there are few Black people residing... Whites strongly supported Senator Obama until....

Rev. Jeremiah Wright opened his mouth...Here Obama was a member for 20yrs and he finds comfort in listening to such vile and divisive sermons... Imagine if a White person spoke or slightly suggested such about a Black people....He would have been disowned completely by today's leaders...

It is unfortunate that Obama first only disavowed his message and not the messenger until weeks later when Rev. Wright started up again... Then Obama finally cut off ties with Rev. Wright....In many peoples eyes that delayed response came across very poorly, a case of bad judgement....on the part of US presidential candidate....When someone finds comfort in attending a church where the minister exclaims God Damn America... something is wrong here....

Before you blame and tag this campaigns failure on White racism....Look no further than your own backyard... Racism is a two way street...

The candidacy of Barrack Obama is in trouble. Given the economic conditions of today, the price of fuel, food and the home forclosure mess....The candidate of the political party out of power should be 15 - 30 points ahead of the Republican challenger...as you can see, Obama's meager polling spells trouble in November for him.

Sometimes the Black Community is its own worse enemy as reflected in the tirades of Rev. Wright who helped greatly diminish Obama's chances of victory.

All this talk about recism is not the way to run a campagne for the president of the united state, no matter what the other guy say's. I really do think Mr. Obama would really make a great president. Everyone is talking about the exprience he doesn't have, what about all the other people who went to the white house, did they go to some sort of class to teach them on how to be the president of the united states, no they did not so what is wrong with these people in this country. I have never seen so many dume and ingrnit people in my life, black and white, most of these old heads need to grow up and know that they can't stop progress reather it's being the president or just being a person

Who are you trying to kid? obama doesnt have to play the race card, because, people like you do it for him.race isnt involved as much as lack
of experience, qualifications,and his politics.

As and African American Female I would love to tell Ms Mitchell to stuff it. She's right about one thing, Obama's historic race has everything to do with race, but not in the way she's talking about. Here is a man who is obviously out of his depth, who did nothing while he was in the state senate or the national senate and he's running for president. Lifted up as if he was some how competent to run for president. And unless anyone has been living under a rock for the last twenty years they would know that all First Ladies who speak there minds are criticized and berated.

Personally I don't understand how blacks can fall in behind a man who A. does not share our history and B. is a perfect combination of the the africans that sold us and the whites that enslaved us. I do not trust Mr obama for a multitude of reasons, all of them valid and intelligent. I'm sick of the little black people that cried racist every time they do not get what they want. yes whites are racist, but considering how bigoted African Americans have become lately, how can we point our fingers at anyone else.

Not one African American could give me a logical reason to vote for obama other than "blacks need to stick together",or my favorite bush sucked ,so how bad can he do? As if they have never heard of the great depression. martin Luther kings dream was that we would be judge by the content of our character and not the color of out skin, but that's not happening with mr obama. he has been given a free pass to lie about anything and every that he fancies from his family to his religion and beliefs. he has wrongfully accused the Clintons of Being racist, has has pretty much cursed anyone who supported him, he has disrespected and dismissed Trinity, Rev Wright, Louis Farrakhan, and the black community. He has taken money from people that allow his constituents to live in deplorable conditions, and just last week in Florida he told a group of black young black men that he would help them whenever and however he liked and if they didn't like it tough. No one mentions that all the projects that he claimed he participated in were things that others did but he took credit for. And yet this is the man you trust to lead this country? I think Mitchell needs to stop paying so much attention to the one finger she has pointing at others and see the three that are pointing back at herself. It is so evident that Barak Obama has used the african american community to further his own political gains, and when he takes office, he will not fail to kiss you goodbye and not so good luck just as he did Rev Wright. blacks need to stop looking at obama through brown color glasses and see the Snake standing there before it is too late. Obama is bush's third term. It doesn't matter how smart a person is, it's arrogance that caused bush's ineffectiveness not just his lack of brains, and arrogance is obamas major character flaw. that large phallic symbol of the victory tower was behind obama because obama wanted it there. *please pass this along to mr herbert* the German Prime Minister told Obama she was not comfortable of him speaking it in front of it. He went behind her back to the Foreign Minister *or Chief of State* and got his way.Obama lacks the ability to bring any type of unity. All these smug black pundits need to realize this. Obama leaves confusion in his wake, and does do not anything but what promotes Barak Obama. Nothing shows this better than him working out at the gym instead of going to see the American troops in Germany cause it wouldn't provide him with a photo opt.

Personally I"m glad America is waking up, and smelling the fraud. Obama stands and believes in nothing, and this cult like following of a No where man, is far more than I can stand. So Ms Mitchell Put you finger down. stop looking at racist white people and look at you own black delusions. Just like Obama dropped Rev Wright like a hot potato you and the rest of the moronic black community following behind him will be done the same way. Wright said not one thing that as not true or did not go along.the beliefs of most african americans. the bible does say that god does hate people who kill innocent people, and the average black person does think that the US government had something to do with AIDS. If he can drop someone who is supposedly like an uncle in a matter of minutes... if he can defame the white woman that nurtured him, and sent him to private school, and call her the typical white person when she was anything but, then what will he do to your johnny come lately supporting against all reason behind. Obama is a politician and inexperienced chosen one at that, and whites have caught on to that. I do not wish to get into the unfair way the Clintons were treated, but I would like to tell Ms Jackson to slap her disrespectful son. his father was wrong, but I would never disrespect my father the way he did at any age, he should have been picking himself up off the ground. Just because you engineer race baiting bather for a presidential candidate it does not mean you get to disrespect your father in public regardless of what he does. Noah was drunk but Ham should have respect his father and covered him up. Blacks need to wake the heck up and learn to identify charlatans when the see one.

If a black person ever runs for president on the Republican ticket I am sure that there will be many Democratic blacks voting for them on race alone. Racism isn't a one way street like you imply.

"So did the Rev. Jeremiah Wright"

Uhhh...WHAT?

At this point, I have NO idea what your point is given that reference. Wright is an unabashed racist and worse yet, considers himself a "man of the cloth".

God help him and his kool-aid drinking followers. Jim Jones got nuthin on Wright.

Watching the racists try to deny their racism is funny. "No, I'm not racist - Obama is the racist one! Wright is the racist one!" How could one who belongs to a minority be racist? You can't. You can't discriminate against a majority. That's not how racism is defined. Racism is when you look down on a minority - because he's a minority. You can't look down on a majority, especially a majority that fares socially and economically better than your minority. It makes no sense. There are racial tensions, yes, among both whites and blacks. And some blacks display hatred for other races simply based on their races, and they're wrong. But, that's not racism, and this foolish accusation, more than anything else, reveals your vilely racism.

Cameron:
Check again. Biofuel is not unviable, and wind certainly is not unviable. Obviously they alone cannot fuel the whole country, but, in saturation, they could easily (though expensively) make up nearly 7%-10% of our energy sources. And that's a lot - better than drilling offshore, which would increase about 1%-2% of our energy sources in twenty years. Optimistic estimate. I'm not really for either - I think there's much more potential in nuclear, which McCain supports rightly. I can't see how wind power is related to socialism, by the way, but last time I checked France is a socialist country and 90% of its energy comes from nuclear power. Which McCain supports, ironically.

Your article is on point and well written, thank you from a white grandma in Ohio.

The ignorance that prevails in this country is mind-boggling. Does anyone read anymore or are they 100% dependent upon the sound bites on TV that claim to be 'news' when in fact, are nothing more than commentary weaved around a piece of truth.

At this point, if a person doesn't know what Obama stands for, what his plans are, what his positions are - and they are not willing to go to his site to read them, what else can you do?

The McCain of 08 is not the McCain of 2000. Isn't it clear that our other 'choice' is a sell out, has always been a sell out, and will continue to be a sell out?

Obama must win. He's not getting a lot of support thus far from the democrats (I don't think) I truly believe that Bill & Hillary hurt him far more than McCain will ever do.

Can you imagine, for one minute, that Obama would be whining to Clinton if he'd been the one that lost? Would he expect anything from her? More importantly, does anyone think she would have given him the time of day? She lost. She needs to stop embarrassing the female race with her emotional garbage.

Ohio - and the country at large - needs a leader without strings. We get that with Obama.

I very much doubt Obama is a Marxist, his policy positions are almost identical to Clinton's or even a little bit more center right. And he does have policies and plans - though some people are determined to believe he doesn't. McCain has flipflop at least as much.

There are obviously racists in America. But even if Obama is not elected I think he, and those who have supported him, have helped take a big step towards bringing the snake into the open. If he is elected he might find a way to kill it for a lot of us.

Mary, I've enjoyed your column for years as basically fair, despite we disagree politically. But I'm afraid that you are contributing to the narrative developed by the mainstream media that if Sen Obama is not elected, it will be because the country is racist. This just continues the method used by liberals/leftists and mainstream media (mostly white I must say) to divide and conquer by race and class, and continues to keep, as Shelby Steele put it, "race extortionists" like Jesse Jackson in business. The problem with Sen Obama is that he is a classic, redistributionist liberal. I have traveled in enough countries to know that this has never worked, and (as usual)only hurts poor people while rich elites/socialists prosper.

Just from reading the comments above, you can't tell me that race doesn't play into their opinions. Regardless of what anybody says in response to this column, we all see color. Anybody says otherwise, and they're LYING!!! People are saying Obama's a flip-flopper, he doesn't stand for anything, no one knows him. Tell me something people, media etc., how many of you have broken bread with McCain?? How many of you really know him, other than what you've heard from afar?? How does being in the military and being shot down and captured make him a better candidate for president. I've asked plenty of people this, and no one can answer these questions honestly. I wonder why.

I think that you are ignoring the fact that a lot of people simply do not like the very liberal stands taken by Obama and his core supporters.
For example, Obama, like Daley and his former cohorts in the legislature favors pretty strict gun control. That may be popular among Chicago Democrats, but leave the city and it is like being pro abortion in the Republican party. The Democrats assume their San Francisco platform plays well in middle america but it does not. One of the reasons that the party was able to gain seats in 2006 was it ran centrist candidates. Many war veterans and nearly all pro gun rights. The last Democratic President was not considered a liberal. As long as the Democrats insist on runnning very left leaning candidates, the moderates that are the national majority will not be supportive. A lot of moderates like me,that generally support the democrats are fed up with the way the party elite is cramming a candidate too liberal for our tastes. If Dennis Kucinich was the nominee, I surely would not support him. Neither would most centrist democrats. Yet when we don't support the nearly (or perhaps as) leftist Obama. It is racist.

Mary Mitchell wrote, "Using code words and nasty attack ads, the McCain camp might as well have called Obama an "uppity black." Yet, they are the ones complaining that Obama has dragged race into the campaign."

That comment by Mary Mitchell is pure conjecture, but she presents it as if it were a fact. Her whole commentary consists mostly of conjecture and little solid evidence in support of her opinions. One Southern female uses the word "nigra" and Mary thinks it proves that white Americans who don't vote Obama are more than likely doing so because of race. Sorry but it's all too flimsy to hold water.

If Mary Mitchell's suspicions were true, Obama wouldn't even be the Democratic presidential nominee, since he clearly has a large base of support among white Democrats.

Another gem from Mary,

"I wouldn't label as racist every white Democrat who switched to McCain after Hillary Clinton was dispatched, but acting as though racial prejudice no longer exists in this country is also wrong."

Oh, yes, Mary, it exists alright, especially among the black and Hispanic populations - that's the OTHER 1000 pound gorilla in the room who few white people ever mention and even fewer blacks and Hispanics will admit to.

Good points, Mary----except your attempt to let black voters off the hook with the relatively lame "they always vote Democratic" doesn't quite cut it with me, and I suspect many others. When it comes to voting on things other than the issues, there's plenty of blame to go around...

When Obama looses the election he can thank you.
What is your agenda for bringing this up? Are you only interested in selling newspapers and advancing your career? You can now join the club of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and rapper, Ludacris, of people who are hurting Obama with their own selfish views.

I don't care if a candidate is black, white, red or purple....I vote based on the person's qualifications to do the job.

I will NOT vote for Obama because he doesn't have enough experience. Yes, my vote will be based on color -- compared to John McCain, Barack Obama is just a GREEN kid!

By the way, I'm a registered Democrat.

Nobody gives a rat's behind about Obama's race. He is TOTALLY UNQUALIFIED. Get it? Who is your state senator? Do you even know? Then put him at work in the US Senate for a couple of years. Ready for the White House? No, didn't think so.

I think your comparison of how whites in Flordia view Cindy McCain verses Michelle Obama pretty much gives a clear view of the "snake in the room." What amazes me is that there are whites in America such as those polled in Florida, who say that Cindy McCain "better fits their idea of a first lady than Michelle Obama" would die before admiting their reasoning had anything to do with race. I question, whether their deniel really runs that deep. Unfortunately, race will in too many instances always be an issue, and not a positive one. Americans have come a long way, but we have so much further to go. In order to get there we have to make some honest admissions.One being race has been an deep rooted ugly issue in America since slavery and still is with a great many Americans. Only then can we explore how to change that truth. Electing an African American president of Barack Obama's stature, would be a step in that direction

Wow!! The idiots posting on this article amazes me. No one ever said you're a racist for not voting Obama. Mitchell hit the nail on the head, in that race WILL be a big factor for SOME people. Many people won't vote for Obama for many different reasons, for some it will be race. This is not a post-racial America. And soner or later, it will be accepted that race is 'possibly' the invisible factor that keeps Obama from pulling away from McCain in the polls when all indicators say that he should. Not to say Obama hasn't made his share of mistakes, but not any more than McCain.....

Tom,

You've made a huge leap.

I am not suggesting that if Obama loses the election it will be because of race. Obviously, his huge numbers in states like Iowa prove that the majority of whites that support him have gotten past the race question. What I am suggesting is that race has been very much a part of the campaign.

Since I'm still struggling with links, I can only refer you The New York Times Op-Ed piece by Charles M. Blow that appeared on Sat,, Aug. 9 titled "Racism and Race." Bow looked at data from The New York Times/CBS News poll that showed 5 percent of those polled said they would not voe for a black presidential candidate; 24 percent said they don't think America is ready for a black president; 19 percent said race relations will get worse if Obama is elected; and 19 percent said that most of the people they know would not vote for a black presidential candidate.

To dumbastid:

Just a point of clarification. I did not say that I Obama loses the race "it will certainly be because of racism."

Obviously, black voters took pride in Obama's campaign, just as women took pride in Hillary Clinton's campaign. Black people have supported white candidates, including Bill Clinton, John Kerry and Al Gore by huge margins. They don't have to feel guilty about supporting a black man.

Herunar

Since you seem to be an expert on definitions, please help me out with this 21st century definition...is this racism or not?

- black people walk around freely in my nearly all white suburb; if a white person walked around on the west side, they would either be dead or sent to the ER

Please stop ignoring the problem of the nearly complete deterioration of the black societal structure in this country. Drugs, teenage pregnancies, gangs, shooting innocent kids in the city...I could go on.

Or is this the racist white mans' fault also?

If there is a "snake in the room" it has been joined by a pit viper in the form of Ms. Mitchell. I guess when she loads her article with such venom as casting Mrs. McCain as some down in the gutter addict and thief she has run out of anything to say that might be worth reading. I'll take Cindy any day over "first time I've been proud of my country" Michelle.

Mary, you've basically made my point for me with the Iowa primaries. Race will not matter for most average people. Yes there will always be extremists on both sides. The MSM is, perhaps unwittingly, creating an excuse in the event Sen Obama loses. But Sen Obama was exposed very badly with "Bittergate". I don't have the figures handy, but I don't think he won many primaries after this statement. If he loses, this will be the main reason. Elitist liberals such as Kerry, Dukakis and Obama just don't get elected here because they either forgot or don't have a clue about what makes the country go. A quick example-Sen Obama justified that raising capital gains taxes will not impact "average" people because their 401K's are tax deferred. Huh?? If Sen Obama cared to look around, he would see that they are plenty of us out there who don't fit into that picture. That breathtaking statement did not get much attention, but goes to the heart of socialist tactics--the attempt to break down the middle class, leaving masses of poor dependent on rich elites. The elites don't want their monopolies disrupted by an entrepenurial, self sufficient middle class, but will give just enough soma to keep the population at large off their back. It's worked to a distressing degree in many places. The Senator may dress it up, but it's no different.

John Mccain quilified? What are you people smoking? What makes a person qulified Just because he was locked in a box dose not mean he is qulified. Was the George W. or George H.W quilified? I don't think so. With the both of them combine=depression. John Mccain scares me with his so called foriegn policy agenda. He does not know the difference between a Shiit, Soonies, or a fruit cake. He did not even know Czechoslovakia was not a country any more. What else doesn't he know. People are talking about experience, what F---ing experience? The only people who have experience for the job is Jimmy Carter, Georger H.W Bush, Bill Clinton, and that other Bush. Bill Clinton is the only one with a high approval rating. Maybe he can be Vice-President under Obama.

Miss Mitchell, just what are you trying to prove here? Your replies to the people criticizing you on this board are as poorly thought out as your original commentary. Do you get paid for writing this stuff? I hope not, because somebody is wasting their money. Anyway, would you care to explain this sentence to everyone, Mary?

""""Women, minorities and young voters accounted for Obama's 6-point lead over McCain, according to the national poll."""""

OK... Does that mean "women" are a separate race along with "young voters" now? Can you explain why you left out the fact that many of these "women" and "young voters" are "white"?
Mary, did that make any sense whatsoever as a point supporting your suggestion that white voters are hesitant to vote for a black candidate?

THEN MARY MITCHELL REPLIED ON AUGUST 12TH:

""""I am not suggesting that if Obama loses the election it will be because of race. Obviously, his huge numbers in states like Iowa prove that the majority of whites that support him have gotten past the race question. What I am suggesting is that race has been very much a part of the campaign.""""

No, Mary, what you were "suggesting", is that white Americans with all their "racism" are the "snake in the room", but as your commentary and subsequent remarks demonstrate, YOUR racist delusions and prejudices toward white Americans are the real "snake in the room" being revealed.

AND MARY MITCHELL ALSO STATED:

"Obviously, black voters took pride in Obama's campaign, just as women took pride in Hillary Clinton's campaign. Black people have supported white candidates, including Bill Clinton, John Kerry and Al Gore by huge margins. They don't have to feel guilty about supporting a black man."

OH I LOVE THIS ONE! So, let me ask you the million dollar question then, Mary. Are you ready for this?

....If, as you imply, white voters are leaning toward voting for a white candidate simply because he's WHITE, then I suppose they don't have to feel guilty about it either, now, do they? Nice job, Mary, you can hold yourself up as a perfect example of the very thing you set out to criticize. Pathetic.

Ms. Mitchell, I'd say you owe the white community an apology. But I won't hold my breath. It's pretty clear you aren't the deepest thinker around. You are however, distinctly racist. How does it feel to have your own favorite label pinned on you? Congratulations, Mary, you earned it, unlike most of the people you branded racist in your article.

Why not take another subject on besides race,maybe wisdom,experience,political issues,etc You want to stay stuck in this subject and go backwards in time. Orbama's more than likely going to win but God forbid if he doesn't because what than we'll be back to the race issue, RIGHT!

Some of the comments I have glanced over in the last 20 minutes are just CRAZY!!!!

I am an 80's baby and the race thing is so DONE in my book and many of my friends also-

This is AMERICA, there are people here of all kinds of races and creeds. Yet every time we have an election, there has only been one point of view represented and that is the opinion of WHITE America. That's like walking in the grocery store and everytime you are there you buy apples! All this food in the store and you only buy apples!

Seriously we need change in America and someone that can represent America and Family~

I can't relate to McCain on either a personal level or a Political level. And since we are constantly focusing on who the candidates socialize and associate themselves with, to make them unqualified for the Presidency, didn't McCain & President GWB used to hang out? Didn't GWB and Osama use to have dealings with each other? Oh Okay- Just checking-

I have never done Cocaine, Drove Drunk, been to jail, cheated on my husband or any type of sideways dealings these two have done (GWB & Mccain) But like the saying goes, Birds of a feather flock together.

To Mary Mitchell: BRAVO! I so appreciate your candor and courageous truth-telling, as I frequently do. This is another in a long line of powerful, astute, and dangerous observations about the state of politics in general, and race relations in particular.

To many of the readers and comment-makers: Race is not a card. No one plays it. This is an invented concept in order to perpetuate systemic racism (as compared to, and distinct from, individual racial prejudice) by automatically silencing, ridiculing, and villifying anyone who dares to bring it up. And this is also a key point, folks. Systemic racism is the issue here, not individual prejudice. Individual racial (and other) prejudice is a terrible injustice in our society, and an abhorrent form of hate and ignorance. However, an even greater challenge facing our society is the insidious systems of oppression woven into every fabric of our society, from the laws to the culture.

The very power and ambiance of this force of injustice is immediately apparent in the difficulty with which we all - regardless of our race - read Mitchell's words. After all, one of the more recent vehicles of systemic racism has been the movement of "color-blindness", causing anyone who shows sufficient courage to confront these systems of oppression to inevitably be accused of "playing the race card."

Whether or not Obama is elected President, this is an issue that is not going away, despite the many progressive advances of the Civil Rights Movement. It's time for all of us, and those of us who are White in particular, to take a stand and address the deep divide of power, privilege, voice, and vote throughout all levels of our society.

After watching CNN this week, I am very upset with this agreement to let Hillary get her way. What did Rev. Phlager say? WHITE ENTITLEMENT!!!!
I king of regret allowing my kids to take a picture with Hillary. If for some reason Bill Clinton endorses his wife at the convention, I will never vote for a democrat again if Obama losses. I will be looking to vote independent. Democrats have taken the black vote for granted to long. Blacks have been treated like s--t by democrats since the civil rights movement. We have been loyal to this party for to long. I think it's time for us to look at diffrent options.

Maybe I've been wrong on race being an issue. But it is not conservatives bringing it up at all. Howard Dean's comments today 8/15 confirms yet again that it is the Democrats who divide and conquer by race.

On NPR today, here is Dr Dean at his best: "If you look at folks of color, even women, they're more successful in the Democratic Party than they are in the white, uh, excuse me, in the Republican Party because we just give more opportunity to folks who are hardworking people who are immigrants and come from members of minority groups,” Dean said at one point.

Any objective person with the tools handy to analyze the positions of Liberals and Conservatives will come to the conclusion that Conservatives champion the rights of the individual to succeed on their own. It is the individual excellence of 1 person multiplied millions of times, that produce prosperity--NOT a socialist system that results in a dependent populace.

All I can say is wow--good luck if these Dems control Congress and the Presidency.

The year was 1984, and the state was Iowa. A white man who had just voted walked out of his precinct caucus and saw the Rev. Jesse Jackson standing outside.

"I did all I could," the man told Jackson ruefully, "but I just couldn't bring myself to pull the lever and vote for you."

Now it's a quarter of a century later, and the man everyone's talking about is Barack Obama, the Illinois senator holding a slim lead in many polls. But can the polls be trusted? A central question about race and politics hasn't changed since 1984: Do white people lie — to pollsters or even to themselves — about their willingness to vote for black candidates?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26160834/

If people are lying about their views of electing a black man to President, what does it mean when the polls show a tie? Does that mean that McCain is ahead in real voting intentions; exponentially?

August 15, 2008
Candidates Tied In Tracking Poll

Barack Obama and John McCain have run even once again in the Gallup Daily Trackingpoll (August 12-14, 2690 RV, MoE +/- 2%) -- tied at 44% each for the third time in the last two weeks. According to Gallup, Obama has averaged a 3-point lead since securing the nomination in early June, and just two days ago Obama's advantage was at 6 points.

That is a large drop in two days, and Gallup suggests the narrowing of the numbers could be due to Obama's absence on the campaign trail this week. Another possibility -- which could be somewhat related to the first -- is the conflict between Russia and Georgia. McCain's admitted strength is his foreign policy experience, and he has been speaking up about the conflict on the trail since it was first reported a week ago. Obama has issued statements on it as well, though he has made no public appearances this week.

Obamas' mantra - "Yes We Can't"

Just once, I would like to read a column by Mary Mitchell, and have it NOT be about Race.

She spews racism (mainly reverse racism).

Very disappointed.

Randy

How Surprising - Mary Mitchell with yet another column on race.

Do you HAVE to always write about race? Every Time I read your column, seems that it is always about race.

Grow a little. Please.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You ! How can thinking rational Americans support a continuation of the current administration. An election of John McCain would signal to the world, yes we are still the ugly Americans. We want to tell the world, they should live up to our values and beliefs, yet we refuse to live up to them ourselves !

Mary why haven't you been fired yet?

Wg maybe you should have been sitting in Rev. Wrights church lessons you need to learn are being taught there. Then maybe you should sit in McCain's pastor's church lessons to be had some of which you know about the rich keep getting richer your taxs base is a prime example of that. Based on the things you say maybe you should go to a homeless shealter and help out get a feel for someone less fortune then you are and then maybe you'll have a better understanding. Hispy99 how many black american do you call friend, have you ever thought about what your feelings are about black American and how some of you treat and talk to black Americans, some of you are arrogant not saying the same isnt true of some Black Americans, but before you start pointing fingers look at the man in the mirror, we have enough to contin with we dont need you coming from the mother land going along with the programs, buying in the store that some of us have been shopping in for far to long. To the sister that said that Obama is/has taken credit for things others have done the white man has been doing that for years look at how many inventions that have been stolen from blacks before we could put our names on a patten, did the invention belong to the slave or his master because the slave was a slave, some of us still think and act like slaves, Free your minds people when will you learn to think for yourselves, vote for yourselves who care what the next man thinks or says about the person running. The important thing is that you register and that you vote base on your thoughts and needs, Ending this to the person who seems to think that black's are the people that dont vote Iam working on a campain for a state senate seat going door to door Ive found more whites some in there 70 who have never voted and wont vote arent register and wont register the poll do lie and people say what ever to get you out of there face.

Mary Mitchell you are a racist. Have you ever got anything good to say about anyone who is white? 90% of black are voting for Obama because he is half black isn't that racist??? You are supposed to vote on qualifications which Obama doesn't have ... unless the Bribe from Tony Rezko shows he knows how to take bribes and make them look like land deals!

You only post comments that are pro-white? I am done buying the Sun-Times and my next move - not even reading it.

I Mr obama should not villianize big business we should ask for thier help and ideas .When you work for these companies and your worried that they may move out of this country its hard to support the people who seem to be ripping them .Lets ask in a public forum why they leave and how we can help them to stay .Then if they are the greedy type, we can show the poeple we tried, and have the support of the poeple .Also I'm Irish and saw for the first time Mrs obama speak at the convention the other night .Before that she was just another black woman, whom my opinion of was molded by the media.I now respect and adore her and her family and would do anything to help or support them , Real communication works not what the media try,s to influence us to think .We need big business to support us, not try to destroy us .We need Mr obama to open clear lines of communication so we the american poeple can see and understeand ..Thank you Marti J McCaffrey

Mr obama should not villianize big business we should ask for thier help and ideas .When you work for these companies and your worried that they may move out of this country its hard to support the people who seem to be ripping them .Lets ask in a public forum why they leave and how we can help them to stay .Then if they are the greedy type, we can show the poeple we tried, and have the support of the poeple .Also I'm Irish and saw for the first time Mrs obama speak at the convention the other night .Before that she was just another black woman, whom my opinion of was molded by the media.I now respect and adore her and her family and would do anything to help or support them , Real communication works not what the media try,s to influence us to think .We need big business to support us, not try to destroy us .We need Mr obama to open clear lines of communication so we the american poeple can see and understeand ..Thank you Marti J McCaffrey

agree with Jeff. Your column on Palin and her daughter is way off. So sad that race is so much a part of this election. Why are African Americans (95%) all for Barak, this 1st year senator with almost no experience even in the Senate as he has been running for the pres for the bulk of the time...would it be because he is black? The Dem's were blasting Bush year's ago for not going Sadaam, they voted for the war...and then then they turned on him - country be damned!

I am responding to one of Ms. Mitchell's editorials wherein she says many whites will not vote for Obama because he is black. She may be right about that, but she fails to acknowledge that if anything, it is blacks who vote along perceived race lines (i.e. - they vote for Democrats over Republicans). Blacks such as Ms. Mitchell criticize people who they believe stereotype blacks for one reason or another. The fact is that blacks vote overwhelmingly for Democrats and then complain that we should not generalize about them.

The results of the 2004 presidential election for Washington, D.C. are indicative of this fact. In that election, 202,976 people voted for John Kerry while only 21,256 voted for George W. Bush. This represented 89.18% voted for Kerry and 9.34% for Bush. I have no doubt that Ms. Mitchell will dismiss these facts and continue to insist that whites are racists and generalize about blacks. The facts, however, indicate that blacks are the ones who generalize and instead of voting for the person, they vote for anyone who is a Democrat. That is very sad.