In a close contest, polling data interpreted by AP-Yahoo News suggest that Barack Obama could lose because of racial prejudice.
"There are a lot fewer bigots than there were 50 years ago, but that doesn't mean there's only a few bigots," said Stanford political scientist Paul Sniderman who helped analyze the survey.
The poll suggests that Obama's support would be as much as 6 percentage higher if there were not white racial prejudice.
Most blacks won't be surprised by the poll. Obama could wash the feet of lepers and some whites, like John Clouse, 57, who was quoted in the AP story, would still not vote for him. "We still don't like black people," Clouse told an AP reporter.
What's interesting is that Obama really isn't a black man. His mother was white. Apparently, no matter how often he talks about his white mother and white relatives, some whites aren't willing to look past his brown skin.
The number of whites who won't vote for Obama simply because he is black is probably a lot higher than the poll suggests because people have a difficult time owning up to their biases.
Mary Mitchell is a columnist for the 
Just goes to show how ignorant people really are....and how absolutely unequivocally important it is for the enlightened to step up and vote Obama into office....The voices of the people who are not bigots need to be heard and its time to start talking to start yelling... not because Obama is black or only half black but because he's the best man for the job and for this country right now. Because until people start standing up for themselves and for what's needed in this country right now, these bigots are still going to be heard cuz these are the ones who vote.
Lets see, African-Americans voted over 90% for Obama not v. the republicans, but v. other democrats in the primaries. And thats not biased. Gimme a break !
40% of African-Americans after the South Carolina Primary ADMITTED in an exit-poll after voting that they voted for Obama because and only because he was the black candidate. So why isn't this leftist professor at Stanford mentioning that? Or Ms. Mitchell? Or Sarah and others on this blog?
I wonder if the AP article has misstated the Stanford poll findings, as the "Bradly Effect" is that voters will actually vote lower for the candidate at election time than the polls state, not that the polls would be higher without racial bias.
I wonder if the AP article has misstated the Stanford poll findings, as the "Bradly Effect" is that voters will actually vote lower for the candidate at election time than the polls state, not that the polls would be higher without racial bias.
Maybe we are not all as racist as you make us out to be Mary. Maybe you should take a long look in the mirror.
Maybe you should stop making everything about race when somebody involved happens to not be white.
I'm voting Obama because I can see that he's the better choice. Not because he's the possible first black president. If he was white, brown, or purple I would still choose him because of what he believes in.
When will you move past race and stop ranting about how mistreated the monority is? You don't help stop racism. It's people like you that keep it going.
Counter racism is still racism.
who can tell if you are black or white, just put a black person and white person side by side and remove their skin and then tell me which one is the white person and the black person I don't think you can tell. If I am black and you are white , and you need a kidney, and mine is a match are you going to trun it down because I am black I don't think SO JUST STOP BEING SILLY Our kids a dating each other and marrying wheather we like it or no. GET WITH IT,I AM PAST 60
I HAVE.
White people need to stop it and get over themselves. They need to stop judging people by the color of their skin. IF they were smart, they'd know that civilation began in Africa, it has been documented. So what does that make them.
Anyway, I think white skin may be from disease (white as lepers, people with leprosy were white according to the Bible).
Also, many of the great inventions, things we use daily in this world, were invented by a Black man. Do your homework white folks and realize that you are a big part of the problems in America and around the globe.
I'm a child of the civil rights movement and luckily my parents didn't raise me to hate, they raised to show love. Some white folks make it very difficult to show them kindness.
Please lets look at both sides, how many are voting for Obama because he is black mary you are the most one sided writer in the Sun Times
This makes me sad for my country.
DUH!
Blacks are not surprised by those numbers but they are not defeated by them either! The lopsided news coverage that Obama is getting now...is also due to the unwillingness to own up to racial bias!
Englewood Botanic Garden Project is all the bais I need against Obama. He never passed one law and squanderd the peoples money on his friends.
The questions posed in the AP-Yahoo poll must be scrutinized. You can open their .pdf file to read all the questions posed.
First, the poll was meant to determine prejudices, not as an accurate predictor on the election.
18% of respondents said they are undecided voter, but it is very important to know that 14% said they were not registered to vote, and 10% said they had 100% certainty they were not going to vote in the presidential election. 65% said they were 100% sure they would vote, and the remaining 25% weren't even sure they were going to vote.
How then are the percentages of undecided "voters" accurate. The poll did not disqualify the non-voters from answering all the questions. If you have info to the contrary, I'd love to know.
give me a break.when have you ever heard obama mention his white heritage,not that it should matter anyway.the only people throwing race into this campaign are the blacks like you Miss Mitchell who undoubtedly are bias against whites. It is also a fact that the reason most blacks are supporting Obama is because he is black and not a thing he has done as a senator.
Like most polls, this is a joke and you didn't even address the other side of this story.
"The poll suggests that Obama's support would be as much as 6 percentage higher if there were not white racial prejudice"
You could also pose the opposing statement that his support is 6 percentage points higher because of a black racial prejudice.
If white voters can base their vote solely on the color of skin, then blacks can do the same thing. That said, if your argument implies that is not possible, then you may need a course in common sense. Despite a crude remark from the single white person quoted, you can't assume that all are jumping off the Obama Love Train for that reason.
The vast majority of human beings are not interested in reason or satisfied with what it teaches ~ Aldous Huxley
what about blacks voting for obama just cause he's black?
Right there's no black prejudice, I believe Page calls the white crackers "Bubba"..I have never seen so much divide in a political race in my life and your feeding into it. So if you don't vote for the inexperienced, corrupt anti-American candidate your a racist...ya, right good one.
Perhaps some day America can actually live up to the potential of the ideals of our Founding Fathers... self evident, all created equal, blah blah blah. In the meantime, white folks will always have the GOP to count on.
The topic of prejudice in the soul of white Americans needs to be addressed for a number of reasons beyond electing a half n half to the Presidency. I have lived, loved and worked in several Mid-West states and Los Angeles, California.
In Ohio, the 'north coast' is more liberal than the rest of the state. Dennis Kucinich is from Cleveland where a couple Mayors have been elected while being black. The entire rest of the state are conservatives typical of the Mid-West. When I worked on the docks in Macedonian, Ohio there were no blacks on the payroll with me. They simply did not live there. However, blacks were there in a spiritual sense, they were and remain "The Bogyman".
When I lived in Prague, CZ I quickly learned that Gypsies were the root of all social problems. In Moscow, Russia I learned "The Bogyman" are Chechnians. Not as a result of the Chechnian war, but from deep in the culture, lasting hundreds of years.
In Los Angeles, like major cities on both coasts, blacks, Latinos, whites, Jews and Asians live literally next to, or on top of each other. This helps the soul balance 'hatred' with positive or neutral experiences. Without the counter balance hatred is never mitigated or mollified.
The self perpetuating racism is handed down from parent to child. However, a few Mid-Western young adults get to break from this when faced with their equivalent at a University. This experience defines their 'race relations' for the rest of their lives and is taught to their children. At the University all are asking the exact same questions; Who am I, How do I succeed, ect. When face to face with one of another race who is asking, yearning and dreaming the exact same American Dream, hatred meets it's match. Racism is tempered.
It's said that Mid-Western young adults, with their fresh sheep skin don't go home again because the good jobs aren't there, but rather in big cities. This means they do not take their new approach to race relations home. As the Mid-West empties, the cities grow with the Idealistic graduates.
There will not be any change in rural Mid-Western racism because there is no chance to learn something different. Instead the handed down racism remains self perpetuating.
Beware the "The Bogyman".
To be fair, your news article may be biased in itself. Were Asian-Americans polled? Were Latino-Americans polled? How about Jewish-Americans or even African-Americans? And why not?
Did you consider the alternative view that John McCain may lose votes because he is "White"?
Polls also show that the majority of African-Americans are voting for Obama simply because he is "Black". Isn't that a racial prejudice?
I'm not voting for Obama because what has he done? Can you name one piece of legislation that he has accomplished? Obama is an empty suit.
Also, I'm bi-racial too.
People (no matter what color) won't vote for him because he is all talk -- no action. Look what's happened in the last couple of days. All talk; no action. He didn't invite himself to Washington or take it upon himself to show up on his own ... McCain did that for him.
Quit trying to find a race-baiting reason already for why Obama will lose in November. There may be a few thousand here or there for bigotry reasons ... but those won't be the people in the 8 contesting states that matter for the electoral college.
Another thing ... how many blacks will vote for Obama just because he is (1/2) black? I suspect that number is greater than 6%, don't you? Does that make them bigots too?
It's sad that in 2008 that Caucasions would rather suffer from the shenanigans of government rather than put a man in position to make the necessary required changed this country needs JUST because he's black. Clearly, the NAACP slogan is appropiate for this reason & this
reason alone: A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE.
It's a shame I have to call myself an American and be associated with people like this.
The topic of prejudice in the soul of white Americans needs to be addressed for a number of reasons beyond electing a half n half to the Presidency. I have lived, loved and worked in several Mid-West states and Los Angeles, California.
In Ohio, the 'north coast' is more liberal than the rest of the state. Dennis Kucinich is from Cleveland where a couple Mayors have been elected while being black. The entire rest of the state are conservatives typical of the Mid-West. When I worked on the docks in Macedonian, Ohio there were no blacks on the payroll with me. They simply did not live there. However, blacks were there in a spiritual sense, they were and remain "The Bogyman".
When I lived in Prague, CZ I quickly learned that Gypsies were the root of all social problems. In Moscow, Russia I learned "The Bogyman" are Chechnians. Not as a result of the Chechnian war, but from deep in the culture, lasting hundreds of years.
In Los Angeles, like major cities on both coasts, blacks, Latinos, whites, Jews and Asians live literally next to, or on top of each other. This helps the soul balance 'hatred' with positive or neutral experiences. Without the counter balance hatred is never mitigated or mollified.
The self perpetuating racism is handed down from parent the child. However, a few Mid-Western young adults get to break from this when faced with their equivalent at a University. This experience defines their 'race relations' for the rest of their lives and is taught to their children. At the University all are asking the exact same questions; Who am I, How do I succeed, ect. When face to face with one of another race who is asking, yearning and dreaming of the exact same American Dream, hatred meets it's match. Racism is tempered.
It's said that Mid-Western young adults, with their fresh sheep skin don't go home again because the good jobs aren't there, but rather in big cities. This means they do not take their new approach to race relations home. As the Mid-West empties, the cities grow with the Idealistic graduates.
There will not be any change in rural Mid-Western racism because there is no chance to learn something different. Instead the handed down racism remains self perpetuating.
Why should this surprise anyone with all of the racial, and other discrimintaing remarks Obama followers have slung into the direction of anyone who did and/or does not support Obama..... What's good for the goose is good for the gander....
Mary,
The Clintons should be ashamed of themselves. They are during everything to stop Obama from becoming President. How many times have both Bill and Hilary put praise on McCain? Last night, Bill praised both Palin and McCain on Larry King. He also has been praising McCain on energy and other issues on outlets such as Good Morning America and CNN. Please Google Clinton Praises McCain and you will find incident after incident of both Clintons Praising McCain and Palin. Bill even talked about Palin as some great leader with a lot of experience. I wonder how can anyone praise a man that once called his daughter ugly? Then said she looks like Hilary and Janet Reno love child. Black people and democrats should remember the way they are acting and hold them responsible. I Google Bush praises Obama and couldn’t find a single issue.
Kyle Griffin
Oak Lawn, Il
Indeed....and I suppose there will be blacks voting AGAINST McCain simply because he's white..what's your rediculous point Queen Mary?
You yourself are bigoted, Mary.
Funny how this little fact was left out of your comment. The poll was conducted on Democrats. Imagine that racist Democrats. I wonder if Mayor Daley was part of this poll. Seem he wants all the poor blacks out of Chicago but you don't comment on that. The suburbs have all seen a increase in gang activity and crime since the destruction of public housing in Chicago. That's how the Democrats work in "Crook County".
Obama is just another shameless machine polotician. Race has nothing to do with it.
"according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them "lazy," "violent" or responsible for their own troubles."
MM:
Mary are trying to say if whites don't vote for BO. they are racist??? Are you aware that blacks are reported to be voting for BO. by a 95% to 5% margin. Give me a break. A little objectivity by you would be refreshing.
Bolingbrook Mike
In my opinion i think it is unfair that Obama might lose because of racial prejudice. It's sad how some people in this country cannot get past these racial issues. What is the use of having only white presidents if they haven't even resolved these problems. What matters is Obama's intentions and plans to better this country not the color of his skin. If people could open their eyes to that then maybe we wouldnt have some of the issues we have in America today. How can America expect to better itself if it can't even get past the idea of having an african american president. What people need to realize is that what we need are solutions and answers and it does not matter if they come from white person or a black person.
This is America"s oldest and most shameful taboo. Obama's mother is white, he was raised by white grandparents, and hardly had any contact with his father (who is not African-American but Kenyan). Even if Obama was an African_American in the conventional sense, its still outrageous that so many middle class, white liberals would vote against thier own self interest.
McCain is a extension of Bush. Palin is the polar opposite of Hillary. For liberals to support the GOP ticket is disturbing.
As an African-American, I strongly supported Clinton, Gore, Kerry, Dean, and Edwards. They serve my liberal interest and were the Democratic nominees. Yet when a Obama secures the DNC nomination, many White liberals won't support him? This is a slap in the face to all the non-white supporters the DNC has enjoyed for 50 years.
If the DNC Party comes out and votes for Obama in Nov., the GOP will be blown out. If Obama loses because of lack of White support, I think non-whites must seriously reconsider the DNC. This is sad.
Bigotry has been around forever as the bible read in Matthew 7:3-5
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
We will never be able to change bigots opinion of us as a black race or any race if they don't think they are wrong for having that opinion. Bigotry is a generational sicknesss, spread by close-minded, self righteous individuals. The most anyone can do to ensure that their candidate win is to vote. If they get swayed by polls public opinion and media they are sure to feel defeated and forget that their 1 vote will make a difference. People should stop looking at this election as a black or white issue because blacks, whites, hispanics,italians and all other races are losing jobs and houses. Who can really fix this mess Bush is leaving them with should be the issue not color.
I am a white and I am NOT voting for Barack Obama. My reasons have nothing whatsoever to do with his color - they have to do with his Socialist (at best) policies and his wealth redistribution plans. And I am so sick and tired of this line about 'whites won't vote for Obama because he's black'. A question for you, Mary: how many blacks are voting for Obama simply because he's black? I wouldn't vote for Hillary, either, for the same reasons - even though I'm a woman.
Baloney. I stuffed envelopes, knocked on doors and voted for Shirley Chisholm. If Colin Powell or Ms. Rice or Mayor Nutter or Lt. Gov Steele were running, I would vote for them in a nanosecond. However, I will never vote for a Marxist tutored, sexist, corrupt politician from the Chicago political machine. What a wonderful moment in history wasted on such a venal person. Its sad.
"What's interesting is that Obama really isn't a black man."
To be clear, Obama considers himself to be a black man.
"[S]ome whites aren't willing to look past his brown skin."
But, then, neither is he. Unless, of course, he is attempting a 6% gain.
On the flip-side, it would be interesting to see how many votes Obama would lose if he were not black. How popular would a white Obama be? Much less, I'm afraid.
CHICAGO GOING HOME AFTER WORK. ON MY RADIO I HEAR A BLACK WOMAN. GO ON ABOUT NOT VOTING FOR OBAMA. NOW, MIND YOU WHEN ASK SHE OFFERD KNOW SOLID REASON. JUST CHECK RECORD AND SCRAMBLE CRAZY TALK REALLY. TO THE BLACKS AGAINST OBAMA. I SAY SHAME MUCH SHAME HERE IS WHY. 1- U TRUST WHITES SO FINE. I LIKE THEM, LOVE THEM,RESPECT THEM. THEY ARE TRUELY A REMARKABLE PEOPLE FACE IT. I DON'T TRUST THEM OR MY OWN. BUT MY PEOPLE I UNDERSTAND SO I CAN ASSESS KNOWINGLY. 2- YOU WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING A CRUST OF BREAD FROM YOUR OWN,THAN ANYOTHER. 3- WHITES HAVE BEEN TAKING YOUR VOTES AND TAXES AND GIVING YOU NOTHING FOREVER. SO LET A BLACK MAN DO IT FOR {CHANGE}. THOUGH I DOUGHT IT, WITH ALL I AM. WHITE PEOPLE DON'T WORRY AT ALL. LISTEN WE BLACKS ARE LIKE THIS. IT IS NOT GOOD UNLESS WE ALL ARE GOOD, ARE DNA. 4- PLEASE BLACKS DON'T BE AS IGNORANT AS THAT WOMAN. WE WILL NOT HAVE ARRIVED IN THIS COUNTRY TILL BLACK MAN BECOMES PRESIDENT. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WON'T TRUELY BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THIS DEMOCRACY UNTILL YOU HEAD IT UP. 5- THE SHAME IS ,SOME BLACKS. DON'T WANT TO LET THERE CHILDREN KNOW THAT SEE LOOK, LOOK AND SEE YOU. YOU TOO CAN GROW TO BE PRESIDENT SOMEDAY. SO WORK HARD IN SCHOOL. OH, WHITES DON'T WORRY RACISM MAY NOT DIE OUT. IT WILL GET FROWND DOWN APON. ONE MONEY,ONE PEOPLE SHAME. ONE GOD, ONE FATHER ONE PEOPLE. GOD'S SPEED TOO ALL. THANK YOU
Whatcha blaming Whitey for this time Mary Mitchell?
It's a two-way street, even more so when you compare black voting expectations vs whites. And yet, this part of the argument is never brought up.
About 90% of blacks are expected to vote for Obama. Considering the fact that blacks make up about 12% of the U.S population, the majority of Obama's supporters are nonetheless white.
There seems to be a real disparity here that the AP and Mary Mitchell (whose primary job seems to be rabble rousing and blaming white people for everything that goes wrong in the black community...and getting paid for it, no less).
The fact of the matter is that blacks will be voting for Obama simply because he's black. Period. So let's quite laying the guilt trip on whites
The story says blacks won't be surprised by this news. Sad to say, I'm not black and not surprised either. I just hope there are enough reasonable people to get past this hopefully ever diminishing group.
This story doesn't surprise me. I am African-American and 49 years old and remember the tubultous 60's. I don't think white America is going to support Obama the same way as they would if he where white. For examble, the 1983 mayoral election in Chicago, white democrats switch to republican just because Harold Washington won the democratic nomination. Now I know Chicago is just a microcosm of American, but this examble in history is a lesson in racial attitudes of white america's bigotry.
Interesting how you left out the part that the racists were DEMOCRATS in the poll.
And since when is Obama only "half white"? He's been screaming that he is black for a long time.
How badly would Obama lose if it weren't for BLACK racists like his pastor Jeremiah Wright?
Obama would lose a huge part of the African-American vote if it weren't for the fact that there are a significant number black racists out there who don't care about Obama's links to Tony Rezko (whose business used to be not maintaining the low-income housing on which he collected rent) and the millions he has taken by the corporate PACs of Wall Street.
Obama's bought and paid for by people who have gotten fat from exploiting people with low incomes, regardless of their color. That used to be something African-American voters cared about. How many people of color don't care what their man did before running for office, or whether he is a crook?
I don't care what color Barack Obama is - he lost me because he takes money to do things for people in the Senate, like the "Class Action Fairness Act," which will insulate his campaign donors on Wall Street from being sued in state and local courts for their irresponsibility with other folks' money.
I'm sure that "Say on Pay" is as ineffectual as it is becaue of Obama friends such as James A. Jackson, who bailed out of Fannie Mae under a multi-million dollar golden parachute. Johnson was chairman of Obama's vice-presidential selection committee before his sweetheart mortgage loan from Countrywide was uncovered (and we know how Johnson's good friend ran Countrywide into the ground, also probably to bail out under a canopy of gold).
Please tend the beam in your eye before writing a column about the mote in mine.
Please Mary! Obama represents both black and white - he is bi-racial.
Will you quit promoting racism and start writing some real un-biased articles?
You belong in a black journal/magazine that despises the white race. Face it, you are a bigot.
White people see more and more how you instigate and promote racism.
The day it will disappear is the day you quit talking about it.
Why don't you focus on other ethic groups that perhaps feel what you write about your own skin color. Fair is fair!
If you look at where the issues are, and what the priorities most Americans have for themselves, this race shouldn't even be close. If anything, Obama should be up 60-35, but he's not.
The x-factor in this one is race. There's no other logical explanation for it being this close, in this type of political environment.
One Love,
--Reverend Manny
Sorry....I think you`re wrong. Many whites would love to see a black president....just to show the rest of the world what can be accomplished in America....but it has to be a man who doesn`t have so many questionable characters in his background...just talk about his intentions and plans doesn`t hack it for me.....where is his past record of accomplishments that didn`t have some Chicago thug involved?
On September 28th Sunday, I was listening to your radio show on the way to church and was really disgusted with the black woman who called in to say she was voting for McCann. I understand everyone has the right to vote for the person of their choice but she really could not give a good reason why she disliked Obama. This lady talked on and on and would not let you or your partner get a word in edgewise. Where has this woman been for the last 8 years, asleep under a rock? I cannot believe that she thinks the Republicans have done a good job in this country. LOOK at the situation we are in, and anyone with any common sense can see how the Republicans have done an awful job to us all. I cannot believe that our ancestors died to have the right to vote and some of us take it so lightly, like it is not important. That woman is a prime example of us being our own WORST ENEMY. Mary give Obama a break, I feel he did excellent in the debate, how would you fair in a situation like that. Everyone wants to say what he should have said or did, STOP CRITICIZING. My blessings go out to him and his family, and I know he is going to make it to the White House. What God has for you no man can take away from you.
Just because I choose not to believe a bunch of empty rhetoric does not make me a racist. Look in the mirror Mary. Can you honestly like what you see. Hypocrasy at it's finest. This is why you will never be a legitimate journalist.
Black, White! White, Black!
What is the difference? He is a man, a man, that is not qualified, due to lack of experience in the Senate or any major office. He is an American Male not qualified until he gains experience, with a few years under his belt, to be running for president.
When we talk about race in this country, we must cover all areas. Being an African-American female I have seen some progress but have a long way to go. Racism is something that will always live in this country. When you still have nooses being hung, especially around the neck of a cardboard that resembles Senator Obama. Just by the color of your skin, you are look upon as a thief, baby moma and no educational background. I hate the fact that the media does not report on the positiveness of black americans especially the youth of this country. Working in the healthcare field, I've learned throughout the years of welfare the highest percentage of people who have lived on welfare are the white people of this country. Not just blacks and latinos. Regardless of what's been going on within recent years with this healthcare system under President Bush. There's a difference between welfare for the majority versus the minority.
Lets see here Obama gets 90% of the Black vote and McCain gets 60% of the White vote, so the whites are racist because they didn't agree with your pick. People have the right and freedom to choose they're own candidate for they're own reason's. My feeling is that the best candidate didn't run Colin Powell or is he in you estimation a Uncle Tom. I really don't care. abuse your white husband the shoe salesman Peg (Mary).....
Mary,
How convinient it must be to have a built in excuse for failure or for not getting whatever you want. Please enlighten us when you find the article that lists the precentage of voters that will vote for Obama because he is black, biracial actually. If I vote for a man or woman because he/she is hispanic that mean that I am not voting for the opposition because he/she is not of my race. That would make me a racist too. Believe it or not white people do not have a monopoly on being racist.
NEWS FLASH: MARY MITCHELL HATES WHITE PEOPLE.
That's all Mary is and does. I read her column just to keep up on the latest Black Hate topic.
Remember Chris Rock proclaiming "Bush doesn't care about Black People!" after Katrina?
Mary, you really should try and see some good in white people. You might feel better.
I'm a white man and I'm voting against Obama. This is a man that sat in a church for twenty years and allowed himself to be indoctrinated with anti-white lies by Jeremiah Wright. This is a man that marched in the streets of chicago using anti-american Saul Alinsky tactics to drum up hate against local government. This is a man that has allied himself with America hating domestic terrorists in Bill Ayers and his wife. His wife recently states that "for the first time in my adult life I'm proud of my country".
I'm not voting against Obama because he's black. I'm voting against him because of what he stands for.
You are a race baiter Miss Mitchell. When you look at the fact that 95% of blacks are going to vote for Obama you have to ask yourself "how many are voting FOR OBAMA simply because he's BLACK?
and who you crappin?
People, let's take a small detour.
White people if you don't think there is a BIAS, how come - though it didn't pass - a BAILOUT of RICH theives from WALL STREET is easily talked about and brought to the floor of House of Reps to be discussed and will eventually passed, but any time REPARATIONS IS BROUGHT UP, there is a HELL NO! And it cannot get out of the gutter for serious discussion?
The previous blog entry about White Privilege and this recent talk about Bailout has given me a new perspective on Reparations. I have stated in previous blogs I am willing to use the Nobel Prize Lauerates Economists from University of Chicago, and place Black American economists with Black American & African Historical Scholars in a room to hammer out a deal.
I am willing to accept the deal after first reviewing it to read if it is feasible. I already know Black American's ancestors will never be fully compensated for the lost of culutre, language and their history. But I can start talking about it in the positive once acknowledgement in a compensatory manner as other ethnic groups have received finally dispensed to Black Americans.
Observation 1: DAMN it is amazing how quick these smart people stepped up to the plate when it involved Wall Street and the Main Street's of Alabasterness! Please don't try to tell me it includes all Americans. Black male unemployment persistently whereby the Black woman is considered head of the household. Go ask any Black American woman does she likes being head of the household. And don't bring up the aspect of if not having so many children there would be less of a burden on her.
Obersevation 2: WE AIN'T GOING ANY WHERE SOON, SO WHY NOT DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM HEAD ON AS BEING DONE WITH THIS FINANCIAL CRISIS ON WALL STREET which keeps telling me it has concerns Main Street, also. America -the majority culture-PLEASE QUIT LYING and simply deal with this problem properly as the Wall Street Bailout is being handle.
Observation 3: It's nice to know some have a Main Street! So many Black Amerioans have not had the opportunity to move from Decaying Street therefore when viewing Main Street they actually think it is Wall Street.
Hey you on Main Street want to change places with the person on Decaying Street?
DON'T LET THIS POLL DISPEL YOU FROM VOTING FO
A MAN WHO WILL DO A GREAT JOB AS COMMANDER-IN-
CHIEF!
BARACK OBAMA HAS REVOLUTIONIZED THE WAY YOU
FUNDRAISE A CAMPAIGN, HE HAS PUT TOGETHER A VERY
GOOD TEAM AND HIS COMMUNICATION SKILLS ARE SECOND
TO NONE!
HIS SKIN COLOR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING A
GREAT HUMAN BEING!
BARACK OBAMA MUST BE JUDGED BY THE CONTENT OF HIS
CHARACTER NOT THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN!
VOTE AMERICA FOR BARACK OBAMA IT IS TIME FOR A
MIGHTY CHANGE, AND OBAMA IS THE CHANGE WE ARE
LOOKING FOR!
Let me get this straight, you say whites are bigots because they won't vote for Obama, but the fact is many are going to. The fact is that Obama sat in a bigoted black church for 12 years and listened without protest to a racist preacher rant negative comments about the white race and according to all polls over 90% of all blacks will vote for Obama because he is black. Mary, face it, you are the biggest bigot we have in America and you use the media to promote negative race relations and biggotry. Do you really thing anyone takes you seriously other than bigots like yourself? You should not be allowed to continue to spin your racism on this media source. If a person of another race did it, they would be thrown out immediately.
I would vote that way simply because she brings it up! She's a dope. BO's stinks because his views stink. He's a marXists. That's all. Plus he's not black he's just trying to be black. He's never had a real job in his life, he's a lawyer. Ask your self how many jobs lawyers create? Or how many jobs lawyers cost? Which number do you think is greater? Speaking of which - where were there more murders/killings in the past 6 months, Chicago or Iraq? Maybe BO should call for Chicago Police to move out of Chicago too! Highest taxes? Chicago. BO's certainly done Chicago well. Although Rahm Emmanuel has done well for himself taking a few million dollars from Fannie & Freddie.
I don't care if Obama ia black, white, red, brown, or purple, or if he is male, female, or in between. It's Obama's politics that I don't like. That said, there are a lot of African Americans out there who are supporting Obama simply because he is African American (at least half anyway). Do you mean to tell me that Woopi and Oprah would be stomping the yard for Biden if he was the candidate? Would there be any estimates of the record number of African American voters that will reach the polls if he were Hispanic, Asian, or White? Would there be stories every other day about how African Americans are pinning all their hope on Obama or how they will be utterly frustrated and dissappointed if he loses? Why is that everyone seems to think that the only reason he could lose is because of racism? Simply put, Obama is not the person I want in the White House...not that McCain is all that much better, but with McCain, I know we won't become a Socialist Republic. I know that I won't be spending anymore of my tax dollars (than I already do) for social programs (like paying for someone else's health care when I cannot afford to use mine that I pay for as well). Obama wants universal health care...who is going to foot the bill? I cannot afford to go to the doctor because of my co-pays and deductibles and I pay almost $500 a month for my families health insurance. I paid my own way through college at the age of 40 to get a better career (while raising a teenage boy as a single father) that would provide benefits like health care. I used student loans to foot most of the bill and am paying them back. I never once got government assistance though I was making an avg of $6500/year working as a substitute teacher while in school. Heck, I knew that if I even asked that as a single, white, male under the age of 60, I'd have been laughed out of the welfare office. They'd have told me to go out and get a job. So no, it's not about race with me. Heck, if Colin Powell were to run for president (he's 100% African American) I'd vote for him no matter what party he ran with!!! Race is only an issue when it's convenient. So stop whining and start campaigning.
Why is it that Whites always use the disclaimer that most blacks are voting for Obama because he is black. I guess it is to relieve their guilt trip. Why do you have such a low regard for blacks as to believe we can't be looking at the issues in making our selection. It was the same when Washington ran for mayor in Chicago Whites would rather vote for a man who had a history of mental illness, Bernard Epton (also a Republican)
So don't try to transfer and relieve your guilt by saying we are doing the same as you. I'm not saying that no blacks are voting for Obama because he is black but it is no where near the majority. Blacks have always votes vast majority Democratic party. I have no problem with anyone voting against Obama for any legitimate reason, that is what the election should be about. Mary Mitchell is no bigot friends she only wrote about a poll, she didn't administer the poll, so why all the anger. Look in the mirror and ask your inner self if what the real reason is you hate Obama. the truth will set you free.
Oh well, I'll try again since you censored me when I tried before. I have 1st Amendment rights, also.
Ok, here goes: Mary, 90% of African-Americans voted for Obama in the Democratic Primaries v. OTHER DEMOCRATS, not republicans, so I can't help but think there was a little 'black bias' there.....Mary, after the South Carolina Primary, they did an exit poll of voters as they left the polling places. 40% of African-Americans ADMITTED they voted for Obama because and ONLY because he was the black candidate. So why are the Paul Sniderman's and YOU quiet about that?
maybe Barack will lose because of all his crooked friends and anti american pastor that he didn't know after 20 years of anti american sermons.
This poll is ridiculuous. Racial bias is not going to be the most important factor in a vote. It's simply going to help a voter lean further in the direction they intend to go.
A white voter who believes in Big Fed govt overseeing what we do, think, play, work, buy, sell, & donate is not going to vote against Obama because he's 1/2 Kenyan.
Likewise a black voter who hates the idea of such a Big Fed govt is not going to vote for Obama for that same reason.
The current polls reflect American's loss of confidence in our free capitalistic markets. If that confidence is not restored prior to Nov, Obama will be our next president.
So you think that every white person who doesn't vote for Obama is prejudice? Did it ever occurr to you that maybe they think he is not a good candidate? Maybe they think McCain would be a better candidate? Isn't that why we have the freedom to vote? It's not about skin color.
Feed up with you.
Its October 3,2008 get another racial issue I'm sure you'll come up with one! This ones had it!!!!
Aw, come on Mary....click on "livelink" and find out the truth about why Obama is as crooked as can be and it's got nothing to do with his skin color.
The corruption he's involved with in Fannie and Freddy are of both skin colors. One guy even looks Eskimo to me.
You just judge by skin color. Do your homework. Neither are qualified in my eyes, but I have to go with the one of lesser evil, no matter what color his skin is...and unfortunately, that's McCain.
Why? He acts more professional of the two, even though we were dealt a raw hand at who we can vote for as President.
Obama is just as crooked as the rest of them. Especially coming from Chicago where Farrakhan said, "He has been groomed wisely...not to..etc."
I can't stand this racism crap. It's getting so old. You have got to quit dividing people. If I had thought like you, I would reject my bi-racial newphew and second cousin (a 4 year old kid from the hills) The nephew lives in the Marna Towers, so I don't think I'd love him more if he was plain old white or black. (Nor the 2nd cousin).
Just knock this racial baloney off. You need a new hobby.
If you really want to be known as a "blackbuster" journalist..start writing about all the black, corrupt politicians and religious leaders such as Rev. Wright, (had an affair, right?) Jesse Jackson (had a kid out of wedlock, right), Stroger and his corrupt hiring of relatives while crying poor, and derivng the very people their agency is to represent. Rev. Farrakhan who's son has been sued over an accident involving drugs (he's been on drugs since the '70s - I've worked with the Nation of Islams first editions of the newspaper), Bill Crosby (he fathered a kid, right?) oh, he's a comedian....Al Sharpton (do I have him mixed up with that "Goddam America Preacher, that I accused of having an affair?), the Detroit Mayor lying and comitting perjury after having an affair. The list goes on and on. Truth is, you never once point those guys out. Turn the tables on your own breed who so get discriminated each day.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated," Judge one not by the color of one's skin but by their character." Doesn't matter if one is white, black or biracial, look at the persons character, associations, strength and weaknesses and then judge that person. I won't vote for Obama because of his character, associates, lack of experience and strength. He has floated on the words, deeds, and coat tails of others throughout his entire political life. I still don't really know who he is!
Waa,Waa,Waa,keep up playing the race card. The only thing that will keep Obama from winning enough of the White voters is the behavior of under 40 year old Blacks and their rejection of basic Christian values in lieu of support for a fast life of drugs,crime,hate and killing of those too few Black students that make use of the 16,000 library branches and access to 13 years of free education,not to mention all the White led programs to jam them into the colleges and ranks of business thru affirmative action. The Black community will never have creds in this Country,as long as they keep playing the race card to cover their own self inflicted faults and are supported by people in your position. Man Up.
NAH...THIS IS NOT TRUE FOR ME. I AM CONSIDERING VOTING FOR OBAMA. I AM WHITE. BUT I DONT LIKE OBAMA'S LIBERAL POSITIONS AT ALL. I AM VERY CONSERVATIVE.
I WOULD VOTE FOR OBAMA BASED ON THE FACT THAT I WOULD WANT TO SEE A BROTHA WIN THE WHITE HOUSE.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR RACIAL TENSIONS.
SO...THAT WOULD MAKE ME WANT TO VOTE FOR HIM, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
To be fair Mary - and somewhat balanced- the poll is really pointing to Democrats and liberals who normally vote their party.
I'm conservative, non-white, and would not vote for a Chicago pol no matter who was running-esp wouldn't vote for the Daleys, Obamas, Blagos, or Strogers.
Just a little perspective for you.
Nobody is more prejudice than Mary. Boy , she hates all the white people for exercising their right to vote for the candidate they believe to best lead this country. Nope, doesn't matter that Obama's not qualified, has serious character flaws or all the rest of the garbage he brings. The only thing that matters is that Obama is black so if you don't vote for him you're a raging racist. Okay, include me with the racist group because I won't vote for Obama under any circunstances.
According to Mary you're a raging racist if you don't vote for Obama. Okay, include me in the racist group because I won't vote for Obama under any circumstances. We all know why -- there's no need to go through the long list -- but if you insist on calling everyone a racist because we won't vote for Obama that's fine with me.
I think (and hope) that it won't be true. Obama is one of the most dignified and intelligent people I have seen in a long time, whatever color he is. Both Obama and Biden have JD's.
On the other hand, McCain was 494th out of 499 in the military academy and Palin has a bachelor's in journalism (and can't name any papers or magazines she reads.)
Haven't we had enough dumb presidents in the White House? And look at the damage they've caused. Irreversible fascism.
Has Sarah Palin ever even taken an economics class? And both McShame and Palin are liars and after the pathological lying of George W, I can't take that any more.
Shame on the Sun Times and you, Mary, for promoting racism. I am so tired of hearing your racist comments. you are the biggest racist of them all.
Ms. Mitchell,
As much as I enjoy your informative and provocative articles, I would like to see a more positive theme before the election.
Many of us know the negative, yet I would like to see the people who are Voting or are in favor of Senator Obama.
Can you do an article on the other ethnic groups who like Senator Obama. I want the Nation to hear from them. "...Catch more flies with honey..."
Brian J.
Ms. Mitchell,
As much as I enjoy your informative and provocative articles, I would like to see a more positive theme before the election.
Many of us know the negative, yet I would like to see the people who are Voting for, or are in favor of, Senator Obama.
Can you do an article on the other ethnic groups who like Senator Obama. I want the Nation to hear from them. "...Catch more flies with honey..."
Brian J.
This is a big duh. Embittering people and encouraging people to confirm whites worst fears doesn't help anyone. I know some of these people who refuse to vote for Obama against their own interests and even though it's in nobody's best interest they hold on to past bad experiences. They can give you lots of good reasons for the way they feel the main one being that AA's don't help themselves - the 'I've fallen and I'm not getting up' until I get my 40 acres and a mule syndrome that plagues some people/ neighborhoods. Or the 'screw them like they screwed us attitude' that the likes of Todd Stroger seems to embody doesn't help anyone either. The problem with let's be as crooked as we see the white man is that 1) not all white people are crooked and 2) does helping the Stroger family really help the community at large. Does it help fund county health system when it's leader has no credibility? For the record I think Obama is brilliant and I will vote for him.
It is funny, whites are racist, but blacks are not. Wanna bet money on that one? How about Hispanics? Oh we can't talk about that because that would mean we have to own up to the things we cause as well.
Get over it, your black, your racist, and your a hate monger. Your stereotyping ALL whites, you are guilty. Keep it up as there is no money for you if you admit racism.
I cannot believe this un-story made it past the editor. it is such a sorry place to live right now.
I'm not voting for Barack Obama. It has nothing to do with the color of his skin or his ancestry. If Harold Ford, Jr. were to ever run for president, I'd quit my job and devote my life to campaigning for him. I'm not voting for Sen. Obama because I don't believe anything he says. He says he's an agent for change, but so far I see an ordinary politican just like nearly everyone else in Washington.
No one will ever get passed racism if people like you won't let us. Stop adding fuel to a dying fire.
-Sarah
Danville, IL
Let's see ... blacks are voting 95% for Obama, while whites are almost evenly split. Yet it's white racism that's the problem here? Are you joking?
This may come as a surprise to you, but many moderate white voters aren't interested in electing a man who is going to grow the welfare state and punish hard working Americans with higher taxes. And it isn't because we don't like black people, it's because we don't like lazy moochers. Take your community organizing self back to Chicago and get a real job!
I am a 38-year old black man, Mary, community college educated.
I have read you columns for years and have decided you must be the the Sun-Times' "Race Columnist".
It is not in your interest for blacks and whites to finally bridge the gap. In that case, you'd be out of a job.
I'd like to see you write three columns in a row where race is not an element. I'll bet you can't do it.
Robert Brown
I am a 38-year old black man, Mary, community college educated.
I have read your columns for years and have decided you must be the Sun-Times' "Race Columnist".
It is not in your interest for blacks and whites to finally bridge the gap. In that case, you'd be out of a job.
I'd like to see you write three columns in a row where race is not an element. I'll bet you can't do it.
And no, I do not plan to vote for Obama. I look deeper than the color of his skin and see nothing.
Robert Brown
OMG i just really wish this election was over with already!!!! I know who I am voting for and have known for quite sometime, it is not worth my time to continue to listen to all of this race s_ _ _! Everyone should really get over themselves and do what is right for the future of our youth- We as Americans seem to invest in the now and not in the future how can all children have a fair chance when politicians and such can't even divide money for education in an equal manner! BOTTOM LINE----there IS a problem with racism in America,we as a people need to get past our differences accept each other for who we are & are not and unite as one for change in how we are governed.People we need to realize we put these people in office that have made a mockery of our day to day lives for the average working American....I CAN'T do another 8 years of this "THIS CAN'T BE LIFE" we need to take back our most powerful tool against all of the BS that surrounds us that we don't like and that is .........OUR VOTE
My other comment was not approved because I could not see the letters in the box at the end of the comments. My comment was based on the racial concern that some people have. The fear of voting for a person because he is black. To bad some people cannot look beyond the color issue. Look at what the man talks about, his vision for our country. His advisers are sold on him and those of us who have been listening to him and his visions for America. We need a change and he can bring it about. I surely do not want more of the same failures that we have witnessed. Go Obama and God Bless You.
I am 68 years old and a life long Democrat. I will be voting for McCain, not because he is white, but because he is NOT A Marxist. I am NOT voting for Barack Hussein Obama because he IS A MARXIST, and I do not want to live the rest of the time I have on this earth living under a Marxist president. Life is too short to take a chance on this election, we must keep Barack Hussein Obama out of OUR White House.
Racial divide does need to be looked at from all sides. Race issues are not just a problem the African American community deals with.
I live on the south side of Chicago. I have had African Americans scream at me, call me names, etc just because I'm a white guy walking down the street. This is not just an isolated issue either. I have talked to several whites who have had the same experience. I know white teachers who teach in predominantly African American schools who face racism on a daily basis from African American administrators to the students themselves.
If EVERYONE is truthful, the main reason Hillary Clinton lost the Democratic nomination is because she's white.
You are not allowed to be racist just because you are African American. Two wrongs do not make a right. The one thing this campaign has done is bring the problem from the African American community out of the closet and shined a little light on the issue.
Mary Mitchell's columns show just how serious the "black racism toward white" problem is. How many white writers would be allowed to even suggest a column on "black privilege"? Go through the list of her stories and change the "black" to "white" and ask yourself if that would be allowed in any paper or other media outlet. The answer is no. Again "two wrongs do not make a right" or should I say "Wright"?
Who are they... and where are they now??? This will blow your mind!
RC
Subject: 3 Men Who Pulled Down Wall Street
This is government control at it's best. How much more can we stand????
Be sure to read the "where they are now" at the end !!
Here is a quick look into 3 former Fannie Mae executives who have brought down Wall Street.
Franklin Raines was a Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Fannie Mae. Raines was forced to retire from his position with Fannie Mae when auditing discovered severe irregularities in Fannie Mae's accounting activities. At the time of his departure The Wall Street Journal noted, " Raines, who long defended the company's accounting despite mounting evidence that it wasn't proper, issued a statement late Tuesday conceding that "mistakes were made" and saying he would assume responsibility as he had earlier promised. News reports indicate the company was under growing pressure from regulators to shake up its management in the wake of findings that the company's books ran afoul of generally accepted accounting principles for four years." Fannie Mae had to reduce its surplus by $9 billion.
Raines left with a "golden parachute valued at $240 Million in benefits. The Government filed suit against Raines when the depth of the accounting scandal became clear. http://housingdoom.com/2006/12/18/fannie-charges/ . The Government noted, "The 101 charges reveal how the individuals improperly manipulated earnings to maximize their bonuses, while knowingly neglecting accounting systems and internal controls, misapplying over twenty accounting principles and misleading the regulator and the public. The Notice explains how they submitted six years of misleading and inaccurate accounting statements and inaccurate capital reports that enabled them to grow Fannie Mae in an unsafe and unsound manner." These charges were made in 2006. The Court ordered Raines to return $50 Million Dollars he received in bonuses based on the miss-stated Fannie Mae profits.
Net windfall . . . $190 million!
Tim Howard - Was the Chief Financial Officer of Fannie Mae. Howard "was a strong internal proponent of using accounting strategies that would ensure a "stable pattern of earnings" at Fannie. In everyday English - he was cooking the books. The Government Investigation determined that, "Chief Financial Officer, Tim Howard, failed to provide adequate oversight to key control and reporting functions within Fannie Mae,"
On June 16, 2006, Rep. Richard Baker, R-La., asked the Justice Department to investigate his allegations that two former Fannie Mae executives lied to Congress in October 2004 when they denied manipulating the mortgage-finance giant's income statement to achieve management pay bonuses. Investigations by federal regulators and the company's board of directors since concluded that management did manipulate 1998 earnings to trigger bonuses. Raines and Howard resigned under pressure in late 2004.
Howard's Golden Parachute was estimated at $20 Million!
Jim Johnson - A former executive at Lehman Brothers and who was later forced from his position as Fannie Mae CEO. A look at the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight's May 2006 report on mismanagement and corruption inside Fannie Mae, and you'll see some interesting things about Johnson. Investigators found that Fannie Mae had hidden a substantial amount of Johnson's 1998 compensation from the public, reporting that it was between $6 million and $7 million when it fact it was $21 million." Johnson is currently under investigation for taking illegal loans from Countrywide while serving as CEO of Fannie Mae.
Johnson's Golden Parachute was estimated at $28 Million.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
FRANKLIN RAINES? Raines works for the Obama Campaign as Chief Economic Advisor
TIM HOWARD? Howard is also a Chief Economic Advisor to Obama
JIM JOHNSON? Johnson hired as a Senior Obama Finance Advisor and was selected to run Obama's Vice Presidential Search Committee
IF OBAMA PLANS ON CLEANING UP THE MESS - HIS ADVISORS HAVE THE EXPERTISE - THEY MADE THE MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. Would you trust the men who tore Wall Street down to build the New Wall Street ?
Mary Mitchell - seems and appears you are first in line to play the race card - no matter the situation. I am a white male and will not vote for Barack Obama. By yours and the AP-Yahoo polls, that makes me a racist. Wrong! I will not vote for Barack Obama as I will not support any candidate who is a PUPPET of the Chicago Democrat Machine and the likes of Tony Rezko! Public support in Illinois for Democrats like Obama buddies Emil Jones and Rob Blagojevich are at bottom of the barrel lows! That being said - my question is this: "If we don't like Chicago politicians running the State of Illinois - why would anybody in their right mind vote to put a Chicago politician in the White House?"!!
Jim
Wellington, Illinois
"what about blacks voting for obama just cause he's black?"
Is it wrong to vote for someone you believe to be capable, and, of your heritage?? Give people some respect, Obama isnt just black. Plus, why not vote for someone you can relate to better?
You are comparing apples to oranges. Voting for someone that represents your heritage, and is capable, is not the same as not voting for someone because you are prejudice.
it's a shame that in this period of either history or divide because of this presidential campaign, that we as america have come to denigrade and spew putrid remark's about race and gender. has any person ever considered that as long as can be remembered there has never been a presidential candidate other than caucasion that ever had a chance of securing the nomination. i.e jesse jackson. the fact that so many african amer.
shall cast their vote for obama, is this is the
only and maybe last chance in life this will happen. co-worker's and friends argue about these
issues, causing tension's where there were none
previously. some listen to limbaugh at lunch and
come back 30 minutes later sneering at you.
whatever the outcome,we have to live with each
other. i'm biracial and i want better for mine.
Needless to say,I am not surprised by the results.I always felt that would be the only reason Obama wouldn't win.I just hoped it wouldn't be the case.I'm from chicago so I still remember what happened in the Harold washington and Bernard epton election! How things change yet still remain the same!
Mr Obama's inexpirence has nothing to do with his color.
How can Obama improve education anywhere if the public schools in his own city are some of the worst in the nation?? I'm so over this whole race issue. I'm not voting for Obama because he's full of it... despite being black! Shut up Mary!
This entire racial divide is ridiculous. I think that many "blacks" are voting for Obama for several reasons.
First, he is definitely qualified to do the job. Secondly, he is someone we all can relate to. When I look at him and his family, I can easily see myself and my family. I can see all of us, Barack, Michelle, the kids and myself, sitting at the table having a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Many whites are intimidated by Barack because he has broken away from the stereotypes that has been planted in their heads since birth. In fact, Barack represents most intellectual blacks. If you're not afraid, do your research and then you'll understand how he represents a majority. Lastly, it really frightens me and many others to think that Sarah Palin has the opportunity to run for Vice President and may one day become President. There had to be a more qualified white woman than Sarah Palin.
Let's all be honest, McCain is as old as my grandparents, which simply means that he has old ideas. If I was to adapt to the ideas of "Senior Americans" I would hate white people, much like one of my grandmothers. Instead, I've developed different theories that corresponds with the changing times and we need a Commander-In-Chief that can bring about something new.
Finally, blacks did not support Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton when Jesse tried to run and Al doing whatever he thought he was doing. We knew that they were not the best people to represent this country. Therefore, most people are not voting for Obama only because he is black.
Mary, all you do is bring up a black and white issue on every topic you discuss. It’s ignorant how you can say white people are not voting for Obama because he's black. Get real, Obama has a good chance of winning and yet the white population accounts for over 60% - you do the math. The reason people, of all races, are not voting for Obama is because of other reasons than race. I am not voting for Obama for several reasons. First off, Obama talks about how he wants universal health care. This sounds nice unless you know what universal health care entails. In England, where universal health care exist, you have to wait several months before you can get certain procedure done. Also, they health care rationalize. For example, if a new drug comes out on the market and it will post pone your life for six months more than what the old drug does, but cost twice as much they (the government) will rationalize it is not cost effective. Many people think the insurance companies are hard to deal with, wait till the government steps in and starts paying. Also, with a universal health system, what medical doctor, pharmacist, or dentist is going to go to professional school? They will rack up 150K to 250K in student loans and only make half of what they would have because they work for the government. Many people this is good, but don’t realize surgeons will only make a portion of what they made before. This will force them to work other jobs to pay off their student loans. Hence, they will only perform one surgery a day. Good luck getting surgery done in a timely manner. Who is Obama to say that gasoline companies and the health field make too much money, but yet movie stars, politicians, and athletes can make all the money in the world. How can he pick and choose? Here you have health professionals that have to go through an intense college education so they can better the well being and quality of life for patients under their care and yet Obama thinks they make too much money. Get real what education do you need to become an athlete or actor. None so why doesn't Obama want to limit their annual salaries? It's funny how some people that complain about the cost of health care will have no problem spending $500.00 on a Bears game or $500.00 on a purse. Plus the fact, Obama has ties to some shady people - Bill Ayres and Tony Rezko. Come on when is the last time we have had a president that was acquainted with a person that has blown up things. Then people say McCain is targeting Obama, are you crazy every ad from Obama talks about McCain being like Bush. Also, a lot of people want Obama because of taxes. Come on think about it, right now with Bush if you make 40K per year you get most of your money back at the end of the year. If you make 265K, you pay 80K in taxes and then you pay another 10K at the end of the year. So why do people making less need more of a tax break - they get most of their money back. Last if he really cares about the people of America not having health insurance then why not have all the candidates just put their names and what they stand for on a ballot and just have one debate. Then let the people decide on their own without all the rallies, campaigns, and debates – what a waste of money. The 180 million dollars you wasted on your campaign could have been a great start point to getting the uninsured people health care. Between all of the potential candidates there was probably 300-500 million wasted, what a joke. If you want to do good why not start a trend that uses the campaign money towards the good of the people of America instead of wasting it on ads that bad mouth each other. Seriously you're probably going to be president start acting like an adult - what are you a child, "oh McCain is just like Bush". I think the Americans can figure everything on their own. Mary, as for you, all you do is turn everything into a white and black issue. Seriously it goes both ways and if McCain and Obama’s roles were reversed, I would vote for Obama. You label all whites as bigots or racists even the police when an African American kid gets shot. Think about it Mary, the hardest thing as a cop is to deal with an officer involved shooting of a child. You think these cops wake up one morning and say oh let’s child we can kill today.
The Document
I know the year was 1981. I don’t know where she got it from. What I do know, is my
mother showed it to me and I got very excited. I started to read it and my mom did the same. So out loud in cadence we read together. After our reading, I noticed the signatures. I touched the signatures of some famous Addams’, Morris’, a Franklin & Sherman. Jefferson, Hooper, even,
a Hancock. Now , for my age I was quite witty, so I wondered, or maybe it would be more safe to say I wished it was an original. Realistically I knew it wasn’t real but I hoped. I mean the paper was tattered and discolored, aged and old. Hence, at the age of 11, I prayed my mother did indeed have a piece of history.
As beautiful as this document was to me, I connected to it but strangely, I didn’t feel included. I mean the way it was worded ....there was a dignity to it that you just knew was an all inclusive missive. It had all the contents that merited inspiration, and I was moved, and proud of a sentiment such as this.
Now I am a proud American, and have been for 11 years (at this point in my life) and I am also Black. I am proud of both heritages, because I was raised that way. My mother a Pro-Black woman raised in the Altgeld Gardens projects in the 50's and the 60's, vowed to never to move my sister and I in any project while raising us. An avid reader, she passed this along to us. Reading upward to one hundred books per years, we’d compete at times but lose interest in the count and more in the content. This phenomenon started the discussions we would have. My mother read the likes of Ellison, Hughes, & Walker. She never put limits to our mental comprehension or expansion of words, so we didn’t. We thought it was normal to read like that. So , we read these, and other artists as Morrison, Malcolm X, Iceberg Slim and Shakespeare as young ladies. I added this documents to one of my very favorites to read.
One day, not long after my mother’s find, I returned home to a newly frame piece of artwork in my home. It truly looked like strange fruit hanging amongst the African art of paintings, sculptures, masks, spears, beads, and a massive amount of plants. Even more strange was the now infamous documents’ placement upside down in this mecca of beautiful African pieces. You must understand that my mother’s home was her own , so let’s just say I never changed her choice of decor, but I did question it. Over the years I would take the (now) piece of art hanging from the wall to read and connect to it. As our family grew larger, they to started to notice my mother’s placement of her art. Everyone would question her placement, and the answer was always the same. It was the same answer she gave me for the last twenty eight years. The same answer she’d give any questioning her, “Why is your picture upside down”. She looked you in the eye til she got your attention, and would simply reply “The principal is beautiful, and I truly believed inspired by GOD, but they lied . Until they include me in this document (pointing to it) it will remain upside down”. While her answer had various responses, she stood firm. Over time I started to understand her answer and figured out why I felt displumed as well.
Being Black at some point in history merited you less than a man. Now this wasn’t true in my generation literally, my mother expressed an urgent need for the Black Man to free himself from the mental chains that affected him, as a result of slavery. Yes, she believed they freed us, but without the proper tools, such as education, and opportunity. Our family was totally dismembered and deteriorated. And to add insult to injury, our most impoverished neighborhoods were filtered with illicit drugs, Jim Crow, and Willie Lynch laws. These elements were never going to allow Blacks to really feel included in these awe-inspiring words. My mother’s principal was simple... If you beat a drum, does it not reverberate? Didn’t the country recognize the ramifications of rising out of slavery into miseducation, equated poverty? And not ever receiving one apology, EVER, affected us as a people? This elixir of poverty, ignorance, and drug and alcohol addiction, created us non effectual, crime ridden societies all over this nation.
So this was my mother’s black fist of pride. A pride in a country that held back a dream. A dream that was for citizens and immigrants alike.
So Fellow Americans, I leave you with a proud day coming for me, and my family. January 20, 2009. Not only the day that we usher in the 44th President of the United States of America. This is not only the day we inaugurate our 1rst Black President. However, this is the day that my mother turns a document, that has been hanging in her various apartments, and now her home for more than 27years. That document reads as such.....
In Congress, July 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America.
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary....................
I hope you too, would celebrate with us this fateful day. My mother has waited long for a reason to do so, and Pres. Elect Barack H. Obama being elected has given her reason to do so. For that I am truly inspired and hopeful. As I close this invitation to celebrate with us, I would like to encourage your inclusion of this document with me. Our future in this country doesn’t just rely on the elected government alone, but with the people who elected the officials in the first place. We can be the true country of change. We can be the generation of country first, but not
alone. Do you want to know how? Start in yourself. Donate your time to a cause that needs your time. Donate your funding to a cause that will truly change lives. Fellowship with a partner and start that foundation or charity. Lend your talents to the youth in your community, when you see a need. Teach someone you know who doesn’t know how, to read. It’s time to take heed, the creed....Yes WE Can. We can reap the harvest of a more pro-active society than a re-active one. Yes, we came out and voted in record numbers....But we are not finished...We’ve just begun.
On a more personal note; I may not like the way my people arrived on these shores. I may not like the history I share with millions of other black citizens in this country. But like Stevie Wonder said “ God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed”. I love this country and I liken my feelings to Whoopi Goldberg “I now feel like I can put my suitcase down” with a smile, I might add. Barack Obama is n da house. I mean huh-uh (clearing my throat) President Elect Barack H. Obama is in the White House.
So I ask you ,is it so bad for a black to vote for a black, because he or she is black. One thing I can tell you about voting for a black,he or she
will be more than quafiled.Not like other candidates, they can be good-looking or rich.I'm sixty sixty years of age and have been voting ever sense I was ten,[ joke.]I've been voting for others all my life.Give me a break,just let me have this one little pleasure.I wonder what happen then we were told," vote for us and we will vote for you when it become your turn."It reminded me of a book I read,the slave master use to tell the slave "SERVE ME ON EARTH AND I'LL SERVE YOU IN HEAVEN".
I guess he would have won every state if he was white.