Blame deep-seated racism if Obama loses

[Servonaut]

Crap like this is why I hate liberals. 

http://www.suntimes.com/news/douglas/1186919,CST-EDT-douglas26.article

Blame deep-seated racism if Obama loses

Recommend (49)

September 26, 2008

DEBORAH DOUGLAS ddouglas@suntimes.com

Pssst! I have a not-so-secret to tell you: America is no place for uppity black folks. At least that's what I've been finding out lately.

Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia actually used this dated word, which means a black person -- usually striving to get educated and live a better life -- who doesn't know her place: "Just from what little I've seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity."

Another Georgian, Rick Goddard, invoked it too: "Last night, Newt Gingrich disarmed a very uppity newscaster who tried to question him on the capabilities and leadership of Gov. Palin," the retired Air Force general said about a black journalist.

This sentiment isn't limited to grass-chewing Southerners, considering a recent AP-Stanford University poll that validates what I've suspected: If Barack Obama doesn't win in November, we can blame racism.

Now before you undecideds and independents go sucking your teeth, thinking, "Well, what do you expect a nappy-headed black woman to say?" hear me out: The issue is really about modern-day "racial misgivings" rather than the straight-up, hate-filled "racism" we associate with hanging nooses of bygone days. Many whites surveyed associated blacks with being "lazy," "violent" and responsible for their own troubles. Blame these deep-seated racial beliefs for Obama's inertia in the polls. He'd be way ahead if 40 percent of white Americans didn't have negative views of African Americans.

But c'mon, look at the economic crisis . . . the jobless rate . . . the war. If Obama were a white guy named Trevor Gustafson with half a brain, I suspect voters would be clamoring to vote for him just to try something different -- something that might work. It so happens Obama is pretty smart, pragmatic and down to earth. Far from an elite, he just finished paying his student loans. Strivers like him are what you might call, um, "uppity."

But the Great American Gut Check won't give Obama a break. Meanwhile, voters and the old white men (sounding crusty, yet adorable) who call me are inexplicably all too willing to support status quo Republican John McCain and give his running mate -- average American Good Ol' Girl Sarah Palin -- a pass.

I really can't blame white Americans for their misgivings. I want to, but I can't. It seems many of us are hard-wired to cling to our biases even in the face of new facts that overturn our beliefs, says Robert Burton, author of On Being Certain, in a piece at Salon. Burton cites a Cornell University study showing that incompetent people tend to overestimate their abilities, fail to recognize other people's skill and don't see the "extremity of their inadequacy." He links "unshakable self-confidence" to feelings of conviction or rightness -- what we might call the gut. Neurologically speaking, these feelings don't help us make better decisions.

The AP-Stanford poll really did a favor for those who consider themselves reasonable and fair. It coaxed out beliefs many hold but don't want to admit and forces us to challenge our thinking to make sure we're voting in our own best interests. That means it's not too late to avoid succumbing to our baser instincts -- the churn of the gut. But what do I know? I'm just an uppity black woman.

 

[Hawkgirl]

What a jackass...even Al Sharpton thinks race is not an issue and how Obama got the overwhelming white vote in IOWA to give him the win.

[DarkHalo]

Theyll be screaming racism before the vote is even tallied to try and sway late voters. But I think they would find that will backfire on them. In my case, well, maybe prejudice does play a large part. I am unabashedly prejudiced against socialists. Although there is no specific racial component to that prejudice as I dislike Hillary for being a socialist just as much as I do Obama. And I do like Palin so it isnt likely to be misogynistic tendencies on my part. No, I think it is just a prejudice against socialists.

[miskie]

indeed = I suspect the thinking is to make everyone who doesn't vote Obama fell like their decision is based on racial prejudice. Why not ? It worked pretty well in the primaries..

The problem with this theory is in the general election, there will be conservatives and independents voting. Conservatives wont vote Obama because a weak conservative such as McCain is better than any Socialist running under the Democrat banner. The independent voter is already unswayed by issues of race, otherwise they would be Democrats.   

[Jim]

couldn't possibly be that all of BHOs ideas are terrible could it ?

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

couldn't possibly be that all of BHOs ideas are terrible could it ?

Obama's ideas are peace, love and happiness.

So if you're against Obama then you're ipso facto against peace, love and happiness, so that makes you a hater-monger which obviously makes you a racist.

Get it?

[bijou]

I must google for Deborah's supportive articles about Black Republicans.    Oooh look, nothing.  

[MrsSmith]

couldn't possibly be that all of BHOs ideas are terrible could it ?

Obama's ideas are peace, love and happiness.

So if you're against Obama then you're ipso facto against peace, love and happiness, so that makes you a hater-monger which obviously makes you a racist.

Get it?

Just remember, all that peace, love and happiness does NOT apply to born alive infants for an undetermined length of time.  Other people groups will be singled out later, probably starting with those weird "rapture-cultist" fundies.

[Wretched Excess]

this spin started briefly during the palin bounce.  make no mistake about it, when the polls get close again, we will all be accused of being closet racists if we don't vote for The BarackStar!

[Ptarmigan]

Racism? Isn't Obama half-White, so racism don't apply here. 

[Lacarnut]

This uppity black author is trying to shame Democratic voters into voting for the Magic Negro. It is not going to work because I do believe there are quite a few moderate and even liberals in the Northeast that would never vote for a black man. So called racism works both ways because there are blacks that would never for a white man or woman. In a close election, that small percentage of Democratic voters will swing the election for McCain by either voting for him or staying home; he will win PA and NJ and it will be all over but the crying.

[Chris_]

. Burton cites a Cornell University study showing that incompetent people tend to overestimate their abilities, fail to recognize other people's skill and don't see the "extremity of their inadequacy."

That would be you, debbie-chile.

[CharlesD]

Sure, there are a few racists out there who will not vote for Obama because of his color, but there are probably just as many who will vote for him because of his color.  If he doesn't win, it will be because of his policies.  The left doesn't want to admit that there might be something wrong with their message.

[MrsSmith]

Sure, there are a few racists out there who will not vote for Obama because of his color, but there are probably just as many who will vote for him because of his color.  If he doesn't win, it will be because of his policies.  The left doesn't want to admit that there might be something wrong with their message.

I, personally, have no doubt that he will get more votes for his race than he will lose because of it.  That fact is one reason why the left is so infuriated about Palin.  Now the vote is either racist or sexist...either way, they're wrong, at least by their standards.  For most people, who vote on issues instead of appearance, this isn't a problem.    

[Chris_]

Sure, there are a few racists out there who will not vote for Obama because of his color, but there are probably just as many who will vote for him because of his color.  If he doesn't win, it will be because of his policies.  The left doesn't want to admit that there might be something wrong with their message.

There are only 2 reasons to vote for the manchild massi-uh:
1. Because of his skin color
2. Because he is a democrat

That's it.  He has no background in anything of substance.

So who is the racist here, folks?

[miskie]

There are only 2 reasons to vote for the manchild massi-uh:
1. Because of his skin color
2. Because he is a democrat

That's it.  He has no background in anything of substance.

So who is the racist here, folks?

There is a 3rd reason actually.

3. Because of his inexperience, he will fall for any pork project tied up in fancy ribbons and a pretty bow.

[rich_t]

I don't suffer from "white guilt", so falsely being accused of racism has never really bothered me.

I have voted for black candidates of various political positions in the past and I will continue to do so if I like the views of the candidate in question.

Skin color never enters into the equation.