Blacks and Obama

[dancingalone]

They like him to the tune of 93% approval among those surveyed. Non-Hispanic whites are at 39% however.

So much for a post-racial America.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/139337/Obama-Weekly-Approval-Average-Dips-New-Low.aspx

 

[girlbug2]

Post-racial? I'd like to know who coined that. It's never been true before and it isn't true now. We humans just aren't wired for colorblindness.

 

[MBuzzy]

If I recall correctly, back in the Bush/Gore election, Gore got something like 90% of the African American vote.

I'd say that the survey doesn't carry much water unless you know what overall percentage of african americans are liberals.

 

[dancingalone]

If I recall correctly, back in the Bush/Gore election, Gore got something like 90% of the African American vote.

I'd say that the survey doesn't carry much water unless you know what overall percentage of african americans are liberals.

I'd say there's quite a bit more linkage to blacks for Obama than just the Democratic affiliation. Obama got record turnouts from black voters, even more so than Clinton, the nicknamed 'First Black President'.

It might be politically incorrect to say many (most?) blacks vote for Obama because he is black, but I think there's a lot of truth in that statement. Hope I won't get branded with the racist iron, now.

 

[MBuzzy]

Even without knowing sample size or population or the background of this study......the bottom line to me, is that he's the first black president. He has a lot to live up to, he has a lot of pressure, and there are probably plenty of people out there who are behind him simply because he is black and just as many against him simply because he is black. SAD.....VERY SAD, but true and it will be a great many years before the general public can get past that.

But then on that note, I would argue that a great many people feel the same way based on nothing more than political affiliation. Saw another "kill all the liberals" sticker today. Very professional.

 

[MA-Caver]

A number of blacks I've talked to (not in depth) about Obama say they DON'T like him ... they must be among the 7%. They're disappointed with him as a President... not as a BLACK President, just overall. I'm with them.

I think the hardwire can be re-routed to make us colorblind... we just got to choose to do so. It's that simple.

 

[geezer]

I think the hardwire can be re-routed to make us colorblind... we just got to choose to do so. It's that simple.

Yes we can be colorblind, Unfortunately, I'm not sure we can get over the instinct to be tribal! In other words, we can learn to accept Blacks, Browns, and Whites into our tribes, but we still cluster into exclusive groups and degrade and even demonize the other groups. Damned Liberals, Rednecks, Fatcats, Republicans, Elites... well you get the idea.

 

[tellner]

Turn it around. See if it fits better. Did people vote for Bush or McCain just because they're White? Do they represent only White interests? Why is it that White voters vote for their own kind? Are there too many Whites who get into office just because of their race?

Sound pretty vile, doesn't it?

 

[MA-Caver]

Turn it around. See if it fits better. Did people vote for Bush or McCain just because they're White? Do they represent only White interests? Why is it that White voters vote for their own kind? Are there too many Whites who get into office just because of their race?

Sound pretty vile, doesn't it?

No, whites dominated the political scene because for decades they had the lion's share of the nation's money. Only recently in the past two or three decades are we seeing non-whites achieving the type of incomes that were generally reserved for whites.... not only in entertainment and sports but in businesses and other ventures.
Yet Obama could have NEVER gotten into office had it been just blacks only voting for him... a very close race to be sure but whites were probably just sick and tired of the SOS and decided to give the smooth talking darker version of the politician a shot... he kept promising CHANGE and so he got the votes. Other races gave the man a shot as well.

Now... well as far as I see it... he's no different than any other politician... and why not... been involved with politics for a long time. So... basically what we need are MORE PARTIES not more candidates of the same two dominate parties.
Only way we're going to do that is put a cap on the amount of campaign spending or have the government equalize the amount across the board so the "little guy" has as much exposure to the polls as the big boys.

 

[dancingalone]

Turn it around. See if it fits better. Did people vote for Bush or McCain just because they're White? Do they represent only White interests? Why is it that White voters vote for their own kind? Are there too many Whites who get into office just because of their race?

Sound pretty vile, doesn't it?

You could turn it around this way, but it'd primarily be for shock-value, which I am beginning to think is true of many of your posts. Unless your world view is just so completely different from mine. As Ma-Carver says, the coalition which swept Obama into office surely included plenty of whites. Not sure the same could be said for blacks who voted for McCain.

 

[knuckleheader]

Even without knowing sample size or population or the background of this study......the bottom line to me, is that he's the first black president. He has a lot to live up to, he has a lot of pressure, and there are probably plenty of people out there who are behind him simply because he is black and just as many against him simply because he is black. SAD.....VERY SAD, but true and it will be a great many years before the general public can get past that.

But then on that note, I would argue that a great many people feel the same way based on nothing more than political affiliation. Saw another "kill all the liberals" sticker today. Very professional.

Unfortunately Obama is a Socialist/Democrat. He's never going to do anything that will improve the unemployment numbers for everbody. This administration hasn't done anything to promote a viable economy. The democrat/socialist congress will not limit federal spending or lower taxes. He'll continue to punish those who've been able to accumulate wealth. If anything, wealthy Black athletes, celebrities and individuals should balk at their ridiculously high tax rates. Pretty soon, they'll be no tax base to pay for all the entitlemment programs.

Remember the national debt is almost equal the GDP. A socialist solution doesn't exist to reverse this!

If Obama's political philosophy were a Conservative/Capitolist, we'd have a chance. And I would have voted for him..

This poll may be accurate. But history I feel will record this First Black Presidents legacy one of mediocrity.

 

[Tez3]

Isn't it a case though that people are always going to be disappointed whoever is elected to President. Party politics aside people have such hopes of a new administration, so much so that with the best will in the world the new people can't live up to what the people want. There's too much 'history' if you like, too many problems left over from the previous administratons that have to be sorted. The current laws often inhibit changes, so the laws have to be changed which takes time and people get fed up. It's as if when a new President/government etc is voted in many people think it starts from scratch like starting from 'go' in a game but in reality the new administration/government is actually starting half way through the game and has to cope with everything that went before.

Here people are complaining that the new government is bringing in austerity measures to cut the deficit and beat the recession. We got rid of the old government because we didn't like the way things were but did people voting for a change think the problems would just go away?
It's as if they expected the new government to start with a new pot of money just as if they were playing Monopoly.

Most people want an easy life or at least an uncomplicated one with enough of everything to make life comfortable for them and their families, nothing wrong with that dream but neither Obama or any head of any government can promise and deliver all that. All we can hope is that they do the best job they can under the circumstances. To a geat extent government's hands are tied by what went before.

Another question for you brought up by something I heard today, only they said Prime Minister. Do you want a popular President or an effective one? Are effectiveness and popularity mutually exclusive?

 

[chaos1551]

Another question for you brought up by something I heard today, only they said Prime Minister. Do you want a popular President or an effective one? Are effectiveness and popularity mutually exclusive?

In an age of austerity, effectiveness and popularity are mutually exclusive (in the short term).

 

[Bill Mattocks]

I ask only one question. Why is it important why someone else voted the way they voted?

 

[dancingalone]

I ask only one question. Why is it important why someone else voted the way they voted?

What use are the polls? As a predictor for the next set of elections, of course.

 

[MBuzzy]

I ask only one question. Why is it important why someone else voted the way they voted?

Seems pretty obvious to me....because it upsets people when others don't agree with them. In fact, for many people, they are not capable of conceiving how someone may not share their opinions. GASP!

That seems to be the definition of politics anymore. One side getting violently angry that everyone else can't just see it their way.

In this case, people are looking for an excuse as to why people don't agree with them. To so many, Obama is obviously evil and wrong....so there must be some OTHER reason (such as race) why someone could like or agree with him.

 

[MBuzzy]

Unfortunately Obama is a Socialist/Democrat. He's never going to do anything that will improve the unemployment numbers for everbody. This administration hasn't done anything to promote a viable economy. The democrat/socialist congress will not limit federal spending or lower taxes. He'll continue to punish those who've been able to accumulate wealth. If anything, wealthy Black athletes, celebrities and individuals should balk at their ridiculously high tax rates. Pretty soon, they'll be no tax base to pay for all the entitlemment programs.

Remember the national debt is almost equal the GDP. A socialist solution doesn't exist to reverse this!

If Obama's political philosophy were a Conservative/Capitolist, we'd have a chance. And I would have voted for him..

This poll may be accurate. But history I feel will record this First Black Presidents legacy one of mediocrity.

Actually, that seems to demonstrate my point exactly. In your OPINION, no "democrat" could ever do anything right or beneficial. Obama is one, therefore, he is by definition wrong.

By the way....two things, and unfortunately, it is almost impossible to say this without throwing the thread off track, but let's please attempt to keep on track. Democrat IS NOT equal to Socialist and Socialist IS NOT equal to evil.

 

[Archangel M]

Socialist sure seems equal to economic ruin in light of our national debt and the teetering Euro...IMO.

 

[dancingalone]

In this case, people are looking for an excuse as to why people don't agree with them. To so many, Obama is obviously evil and wrong....so there must be some OTHER reason (such as race) why someone could like or agree with him.

It can work both ways. As you said earlier, "..there are probably plenty of people out there who are behind him simply because he is black and just as many against him simply because he is black"

The people who would blindly follow Obama because of his skin color are just as ignorant as those who abhor because of it.

 

[Tez3]

I don't know if this is so, which is why I'm asking! Do people feel honour bound do you think to vote for someone from the same background as them, as in a sort of loyalty? Especially perhaps if like black people it's been hard getting to where they are. Would they feel too that someone regardless of their politics would understand them better if they came from the same type of background and therefore even if they were a different party actually be better for them?