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Keys to Obama's Keystone Loss
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Posted By:
rickd at 04/25/2008 4:17:41 PM
Comment:
Pennsyltucky? Because there's nothing but po' white crackers between Philly and Pittsburgh? That's easily the most racist and inflammatory (not to mention uninformed) comment I've read in months, and this is from someone who believe the media took Rev. Wright's comments completely out of context.
Your interpretation of the mid-state's voting patterns are as off-base as your characterizations. Obama is still viewed as an unknown, and his unwillingness to address specifics as to how he plans to implement changes to health care or withdraw from Iraq is what stunted broader approval, not redneck hate. There are diverse and thriving smaller cities in this area in Harrisburg, Lancaster, Reading, and my hometown of York.
Besides, his major endorsement came from Sen. Casey, who is beloved here in what you think of as KKK-central, and Clinton's came from Rendell...Philly's most beloved mayor. So, taking those factors into consideration and seeing as how Obama barely carried Philly, which he was supposed to own, how can you justify your characterizations of a middle-class, salt of the earth communites as backwater America? Complete ignorance. -
Posted By:
peachie49 at 04/25/2008 9:33:09 AM
Comment:
At the time of Senator Obama's announcement in Feb 2007, he seemed a "perfect" choice, a bi-racial man, raised by white mother and white grandparents, married with no hint of infidelity in his past, church going, intelligent, speaks "English", "benign", Negro! This man is no Jessie Jackson or Al Sharpton. After his introductory victory in Iowa, blacks, who at first were suspicious took a second look away from their "Beloved Clinton Co-Presidency" and saw that there might be a chance for a more "authentic" Negro to win the White House, of course with white approval. But alas, it was not meant to be, The old "rally the white folks" devil began to raise its head and this "son a a white Kansas mother" became a "Southern, pitch-black, nappy headed, gold tooth, no talking, ignorant, colored boy" right before our very eyes! Obama, who grew up in the multi-cultural haven of Hawaii, who probably had very minimal contact with black American until his arrival in Chicago around the age of 25 or 26 years old, has now officially become "ONE OF US". Not only is his shot at the White House lost, NC and Indiana will both be won by Hillary the "milky white" girl, but she must have the Democratic nomination, after all, only a "true white democrat" can take on McCain. Now what will the darkies do? Why they'll just line up behind "Miss Hillary" with Nutter, Juan Williams, Sandra Tubbs Jones, Maxine Waters and all the other grinning lawn pieces saying to Obama, "see what happens when you step out of line"? Obama, the benign, not only loses the democratic nomination, he is finished politically. You can best believe that those white folks in Illinois will not be sending him back to the Senate! Maybe he can write another book, or try to get him a teaching jobs or apply for one of those corporate law firms that he turned down and see if they'll accept him. -
Posted By:
hamilrob at 04/25/2008 9:13:38 AM
Comment:
Instead of over-analyzing why Barack Obama lost PA, ask why Hillary's margin of victory evaporated by as many points as it did. PA was always Hillary's to win, so asking why Obama lost is simply a masked effort to try to portray him as a potential loser in November. Hillary Clinton could do the Democratic Party a huge favor and just drop out of the race. She won't do that because she doesn't care if Obama loses in November as long as she gets another shot at the presidency in 2012. Staying in the race continues to defeat the Democrats before the general election begins. his is her selfish strategy and your next set of articles should ask why she iks doing everything in her power to sabotage the Democratic Party's chance to win the White House in November.
Robert W. Hamilton
Phoenix, AZ -
Posted By:
wbcjr17106 at 04/25/2008 7:43:49 AM
Comment:
Pittsburgh mayor's Ravenstahl's first name is Luke and not Ed. -
Posted By:
aria4567 at 04/25/2008 3:46:32 AM
Comment:
I'm white, female, middle aged and that absolute nonsense on ABC didn't fool me for a minute. That's when I switched my vote TO Obama. He handled rude, absurd queries from the smug G. Stephanopoulis with grace. My memory isn't so short that I don't remember that Stephanopoulis worked closely with Clinton. I knew what was going on.
In a more perfect world, no one would ever tune in to ABC again. Boycott! -
Posted By:
Th.Bosley at 04/25/2008 12:59:44 AM
Comment:
"[Obama's] inability to put Clinton away places his presidential run and the immediate future of the Democratic Party in serious peril."
How so? Does "immediate future" mean "viability as party" ?
The present conflict between Obama and Clinton exists in a meaningful way only to the extent people are participating in the democratic process, and that participation is a good thing which should probably be encouraged. Parties being a creature of and mechanism for the furtherance of that system, isn't this ongoing battle between two strong candidates a healthy and positive thing?
I mean, if that's the case, (1) would this really run the risk of damaging the Democratic Party in any meaningful way, and (2) if it would, what does that say about the party and to extent to which it warrants preservation? -
Posted By:
Th.Bosley at 04/25/2008 12:58:35 AM
Comment:
"[Obama's] inability to put Clinton away places his presidential run and the immediate future of the Democratic Party in serious peril."
How so? Does "immediate future" mean "viability as party" ?
The present conflict between Obama and Clinton only meaningfully exists to the extent people are participating in the democratic process, and that participation is a good thing which should probably be encouraged. Parties being a creature of and mechanism for the furtherance of that system, isn't this ongoing battle between two strong candidates a healthy and positive thing?
I mean, if that's the case, (1) would this really run the risk of damaging the Democratic Party in any meaningful way, and (2) if it would, what does that say about the party and to extent to which it warrants preservation? -
Posted By:
tsimpson3 at 04/25/2008 12:51:04 AM
Comment:
Like many upwardly mobile and successful African Americans, Obama prjects his intellectual assets as demonstration of his worthiness of respect and accomplishment independent of Afirmative Action. I believe he can connect with white voters if he lowers his intellectual amor and speaks to the pain of the common man while allowing them to share his own experience.
Obama will also need to confront the his attackers on the Rev. Wrigth, Farakan and Ayers issues by framing them as rightwing fearmongers and elitests. He has to provide evidence of how his public and private life provides the enemy with no foundation for their arguement other than deceptive motives. Hillary has to be constantly frammed as a political opportunist pandering to people: an imposter posing as a common gal and insulting the american publich. He must play these themes like a broken record through supporters.
Lastly, he needs to pick three to five common and critical issues important to voters and formulate a detailed solution that he repeats over and over and over while "preaching" his message of "Red, White and Blue...Not Republican or democrate". -
Posted By:
tsimpson3 at 04/25/2008 12:45:16 AM
Comment:
Like many upwardly mobile and successful African Americans, Obama prjects his intellectual assets as demonstration of his worthiness of respect and accomplishment independent of Afirmative Action. I believe he can connect with white voters if he lowers his intellectual amor and speaks to the pain of the common man while allowing them to share his own experience.
Obama will also need to confront the his attackers on the Rev. Wrigth, Farakan and Ayers issues by framing them as rightwing fearmongers and elitests. He must play this like a broken record through supports.
Lastly, he need to pick three to five common and critical issues important to voters and formulate a detailed solution that he repeats over and over and over while "preaching" his message of "Red, White and Blue...Not Republican or democrate".
TSimpson -
Posted By:
csfoster at 04/24/2008 11:48:59 PM
Comment:
An accurate objective assessment of Tuesday's outcome as has thus far been offered by anyone anywhere.
I would only add that Senator Obama's sad attempt to "bowl for voters" backfired as it clearly demonstrated a lack of ability to bowl thus leaving even less of a reason for "Pennsyltuckyans" to want to identify with him.
Hopefully, this hard lesson has been learned and henceforth he will stick to playing basketball (which he is quite good at) while seeking to identify with the great many basketball crazies residing throughout the lands of the Hoosiers and Tarheels. -
Posted By:
hendal at 04/24/2008 8:37:47 PM
Comment:
Whatever we may think that caused Obama the primary in the Keystone State, He is showing some lack of understanding the local political scene, and however well meaning his comments were he cannot afford to make political slip ups or even venture to let his guard down when he appears to be among friends.
His performances in the debate, along with his body language gave the impression of wanting to be somewhere else. It is politically naive of him not to expect every single white reporter in America will not want to push in in the direction of Rev. Wright, "bittergate" or the ex-weatherman story. Sometimes he gives the impression of not quite on message. He also needs to be much more forceful in telling journalists I am here to talk about a, b, or even d and will not answer questions on certain issues, referring them to his website.
In essence, Obama needs to understand the nature of the prize he is aiming for and cannot afford any further slip up. What perhaps is the more troubling for me is this, the lengths the Clintons are prepared to go to to wreck the party.Without the full participation of African Americans, the DEMS will struggle to win the next six presidential campaigns. So how can Hillary claim to love the party that she is so intent on destroying?
Hendal2 -
Posted By:
AprilLynn at 04/24/2008 6:46:15 PM
Comment:
I, as have other black political leaders, have been EXTREMELY HESITANT, in addressing Obama's canidacy in the realm of race BUT unfortunately, it's gotten to that point. I was so HOPEFUL that it wouldn't and i was even naive in believing and thinking that it wouldn't but here it is nonetheless.
The media and many voters just don't want to face the face that those so-called "blue-collar workers" that Obama supposedly is having a hard time appealing to, would never vote for Obama in the first place. If they had, he would have to be more like Alan Keyes or Collin Powell then himself. Those "blue-collar workers" are the same people saying blacks are taking away their jobs and getting free education and mexicans are crossing the borders and bringing drugs and crime into this country. Don't they get it? Those "blue-collar workers" are the people with the stereotypical views. They see Obama as "uppity" or he "can't relate" because, (SHOCKER) he's done better than them and he's smarter than them, which they don't like. That's how we've ended up with Dubyah for 8 years! These are the voters that put him into office! He's too smart and too black for them.
White folks weren't really shocked by what Wright said but they were more shocked that Obama actually associated with Black people. You see, the story of him having a white mother far more appeals to them than him having a black father. DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE POLLS OF WHITE VOTERS! THEY'RE LIARS! And trust me, I'm not being "racist" or "oversensitve" or "whining". These blue-collar workers have always voted against their own interests for numerous reasons. Obama gave them an easy one. He was born with the wrong complexion and grew up to associate and relate himself with black folks instead of whites. That's pretty apparent. They want so badly for him to be white that it's sickening. In some ways, they want him to shuck and jive himself all the way to the presidency. They'd be happier with that then him having integrity, values and morals. -
Posted By:
Pretty Lady at 04/24/2008 6:31:52 PM
Comment:
This does not put Obama's campaign in 'serious peril'; it was in the plan from the beginning. One of the things that makes Obama's campaign so spectacular is that he does not count on miracles, quick victories or easy solutions. He's in it for the long haul. Just like his supporters. OBAMA 2008! -
Posted By:
migentenegra at 04/24/2008 5:05:02 PM
Comment:
yep. I agree. No more Mr. Nice Guy. Do anything, everything to win -
Posted By:
Robin08 at 04/24/2008 3:54:58 PM
Comment:
Mr. Lamont -- While I appreciate your thoughts on why Obama lost working class whites in PA, I'm far more interested in your ideas on how he can win those voters. -
Posted By:
spiker at 04/24/2008 2:19:57 AM
Comment:
Obama's problem with whites is his past/current relaitonship with Jeremiah Wright and I don't know there is anything he can do to fix it. Honestly, had there been no Jeremiah Wright, in 2009 there would have been a President Obama. Obama shot the Democratic party in the foot. All that is left is to see if the party bleeds out or limps into office.-
Posted By:
lesbrown at 04/24/2008 7:26:01 AM
Comment:
No! Obama's problem has nothing to do with his past,nor his affliations with people with tainted backgrounds, or his world view. If that were the yardstick to be measured by Hillary wouldn't be in the race at all. The real problem is that he's Black. That worries alot of White people who because of their mental illness still believe that the color of a persons skin overides the content of their character. When this is all over. if he wins or loses, I'm sure he get a clearer understanding of what Rev Wright was talking about.
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Posted By:
tlonnie at 04/23/2008 9:55:00 PM
Comment:
what about being a Black man running for president! that is enough to run white people crazy!! Let's just face the fact, that racism is alive and well in America, always was, always will be!! -
Posted By:
kitty40 at 04/23/2008 9:42:46 PM
Comment:
You statement regarding Obama being naive regarding "street money" proves that many cannot or refuses to realize that he is trying to run a different kind of politics. He is trying to break the "political machines". I am from Chicago and I totally hate machines. -
Posted By:
blessinggirl at 04/23/2008 9:32:24 PM
Comment:
Thank you for your detailed analysis. I think the reason for the loss can be more simply explained. Sixteen percent of white voters admitted to exit pollsters (and think of the 83 percent who said race was not a factor) they would not vote for a black person. Racialist beliefs are the reason for the loss. Senator Obama is who he is--a thoughtful human being with a Renaissance Man elan. He's never going to be a cracker, or a greasy ethnic. Those who feel life has passed them by and have no clue of their white privilege will never vote for him. I say he could win anyway, but only if he does not go negative and become a traditional politician. Let's not forget that the so-called working class has been rejiggered by the huge paradigm shift from a producing to a consuming economy. Let's not also forget that the racism will only escalate from here on out. -
Posted By:
bshine at 04/23/2008 9:25:45 PM
Comment:
I feel Senator Obama lost in Pennsylvania because of the media. I guess you can say I???m very passionate as well as others about this election. What hurts me the most is to see how shrewd the Clintons are and how the media allows it. I look at people such as Tavis Smiley, Bob Johnson, Andy Young and other African Americans who support her and allow her to say that Barack is an elitist, or to pretend that you don???t understand what Rev. Wright was talking about and to allow Bill to play the race card in South Carolina (and still using it)... it disturbs me! We had Andy Young in the 60???s talking about ???we shall overcome??? - but when! Tavis Smiley has a TV show but not on a network channel (why?). Bob Johnson sold BET; so what kind of positive media coverage are we getting???thank God for ???our??? radio stations. How can they look their brothers and sisters in the face and see what the Clintons are saying about Barack and still support her? Tell me how? How about you guys stepping up to the plate and say, ???okay Hillary, we???re support you but talk about the issues???don???t call our brother an elitist and don???t say he???s unpatriotic or racist because of the comments Rev. Wright said; the same Rev. Wright that Clinton invited to the White House when he was President. We don???t have any black anchors on TV. Every anchor from Hannity, Beck, Lou Dobbs, Charlie Gibson and others just constantly bashing Obama...thank God for the CNN ???contributors???; Roland Martin, Jamaal Simmons and yes, Jack Cafferty. That???s the only time we can hear anything positive said about Obama on TV.
Then you have Judge Larry Elder naming a book ???Stupid Black Man??? Maybe this is his autobiography.
Not blaming Bob, Mr. Young or Tavis but I would not support any ???white??? candidate that is as manipulating and conniving as the Clintons are against Barack. Surely I the blame what the media is reporting on a hourly basis.-
Posted By:
Robin08 at 04/24/2008 4:51:27 PM
Comment:
bshine -- I agree that the media and their particular "slant" on the coverage of this race is a huge factor in how people perceive this race. Here's one potential note of hopefulness about the media coverage. Rev. Wright is going to be on Bill Moyer's Journal this Friday (4/25/08). In CA it aires on Friday's at 8pm on PBS. Here's a link to an excerpt from the interview http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/excerpts-from-rev-wright_b_98433.html
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Posted By:
RiffB at 04/23/2008 5:59:03 PM
Comment:
Marc, you comments about why Obama could'nt close the deal are true. But what does this say about the racist country and media? It is an indication that when times are harrowing-which, by the way-they are-for everyone, that a black man running for president is catch 22. White people distrust of blacks-has historical significance and vice versa. The question then-should be separatism. We need to continue to expose those areas and not feel intimidated when black leaders talk about doing for self. The world is watching and already know what this country is capable of. I believe that the white man is very capable of pushing his evil fingers on the H-Bomb destroying this whole earth before he can accept a black man for president in his country-barring assassination. This is what we are dealing with. No one wants to talk about it. He has proven he is very capable of doing this-because of his proven track record-which is the history of white civilazation. What makes black, brown, etc. think this is going to change? -
Posted By:
kid5rivers at 04/23/2008 5:56:16 PM
Comment:
Define for me "working class" of America and I'll show you how/why they will never vote for any but a white candidate. -
Posted By:
RiffB at 04/23/2008 5:46:28 PM
Comment:
test -
Posted By:
evets at 04/23/2008 5:04:34 PM
Comment:
" Such tactics will galvanize working class voters in Indiana and give the super-delegates a legitimate consideration for the future: Can Obama win the working class vote?"
How similar is Indiana to PA demographically? Are the smalltown duckhunting bowlers still Democrats, as they are in PA, or are they Republicans? I think the bitergate stuff and Hillary's shameless posturing cost Obama a couple of points at most ; I don't think he was going to beat her in Appalachian Pennsylvania under any circumstances. But Indiana might be a different story. Not sure there's an anlogous rustbelt Democratic population to put her over the top. -
Posted By:
dsquared at 04/23/2008 3:57:45 PM
Comment:
Why can't we have multiple presidents--one for each "racial" category? That way we have a committee of presidents (analagous to the Supreme Court) who vote on the best interests of the country. (Otherwise, as pro-Obama and enthusiastic as I am, I'm becoming more cynical by the day, and doubtful that whites will ever vote a black candidate to the highest office in the land. Power and privilege are simply too addictive.) -
Posted By:
jem1165 at 04/23/2008 2:29:18 PM
Comment:
Professor Marc Lamont Hill could not have said it better. The only thing I would add is that there were a lot of upset folks in Philadelphia regarding Obama's inability or unwillingness to visit the Philadelphia neighborhoods and felt he was taking us for granted. -
Posted By:
rsinger40 at 04/23/2008 2:21:16 PM
Comment:
Obama's choice not to engage the Democratic political machine -- or feed the machine as you call it is not "naive" -- clearly he had the money to pay -- choosing to not engage in politics as usual is partly why he is winning so many people over! -
Posted By:
puzzums at 04/23/2008 2:13:12 PM
Comment:
The words Obama could not speak, as to why Pennsyltucky people vote against their own economic best interests and "cling" to social wedge issues instead, are that no matter how bad off they are, they feel superior because: "at least I'm not black"! As the right Rev. Wright would say: they are "stuck on stupid"! -
Posted By:
danpadsr at 04/23/2008 1:35:01 PM
Comment:
The choice between Hillary and Obama was plain and simple. Would you rather vote for an honest black man or a lying white woman (Bosnia). I don't say this lightly, America is in the midst of a war in which President Bush lied to us. Leaving 4,000 plus killed, 30 thousand maimed and injured scores of psycologically damaged sons and daughters, 1 million plus Iraquis killed, 4 to 5 million Iraquis displaced, a debt that goes beyond 3 trillion dollars all based on lies. America will get more of the same.-
Posted By:
lesbrown at 04/24/2008 7:12:20 AM
Comment:
You know the answer to your own question. Millions of people all over this county would rather have a lying White person, than anyone with a different color or religion. It's kind of like when they began hiring Blacks as managers for professional sports teams. The team had to be in such bad shape that they didn't want to be embarrased by leading the organization. It will take a complete break down of this system before this country will seriously turn it over to a person of color to fix it. That's the way it is.
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Posted By:
ken at 04/23/2008 12:04:22 PM
Comment:
Nice analysis, I'll be using all of these points when discussing the PA race. -
Posted By:
Moxie_Nouveaux at 04/23/2008 11:17:16 AM
Comment:
"...neither of which propose adequate relief to the nation's laboring class..."
Thank you! Someone finally said it! John Edwards represents my home state (NC), and I really wish he didn't drop out of the race so soon. He was the only candidate that talked about, in great detail from day one, the job losses and homeless issues, as well as help for Hurricane Katrina victims.
This race has gotten so ugly now, it's disgusting. I hate to think this, but I have to wonder will it get to the point where if one voter disagrees with another, will it turn violent or worse? It has gotten this bad. Folks are so extremely emotional over this, it's terrifying.
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