# Anyone else NOT shocked that the US elected an African-American president? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 15, 2009, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393 "2009-01-15T05:28:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/101 "2009-01-18T09:28:30Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > In order to contest my assertion, do you have any examples? I can’t recall any president, governor, county commissioner or mayor that has sought to reach voters by telling them “vote for me, I am the father of your nation” Dwight Eisenhower rode into office on his WW2 laurels as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/102 "2009-01-18T09:47:06Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > Dwight Eisenhower rode into office on his WW2 laurels as Supreme Allied Commander in Europe. Good think he didn’t demean himself by some cheap portrayal of being likeable by the common man–I dunno, passing out buttons that say “I Like Ike”, or it something. Can you imagine? No, his actual campaign of “You owe your vote to the savior of the country” was much more appealing, and much better suited to Eisenhower’s well-known strongarming diva personality. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/103 "2009-01-18T10:32:35Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Good think he didn’t demean himself by some cheap portrayal of being likeable by the common man–I dunno, passing out buttons that say “I Like Ike”, or it something. . You seem to have a very superficial knowledge of his presidential campaign, limited to a slogan. Ike’s popularity rest _entirely_ on his savior of the free world persona. That _was_ his résumé, and that was what got him the presidency. Not a slogan. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2009, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/104 "2009-01-18T10:49:57Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > Yeah, I have the impression that Europeans were particularly convinced it was impossible. Makes you wonder what exactly they are taught about American society to make them so sure of this… Or \*who \*they were taught by. Most likely, journalists and Hollywood. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/105 "2009-01-19T00:51:45Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > When you challege someone **guin** you need to be sure of what you are challenging.You should go back and carefully read the segment of the statement by **Koxinga** I quoted identifying the people who can’t vote in France. > > How would your father feel being referred to as a non American minority ? > > Do you get it now? If I’ve been whooshed, I appologize. At the same time, here, as we were talking about race and relations, I assumed she was referring to those who were of non-French ETHNICITY, rather than CITIZENS. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/106 "2009-01-19T01:14:47Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > You seem to have a very superficial knowledge of his presidential campaign, limited to a slogan. Ike’s popularity rest _entirely_ on his savior of the free world persona. That _was_ his résumé, and that was what got him the presidency. Not a slogan. [Watching this campaign ad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5Btg4kkUE), I realize: gosh, you’re right. He’s portrayed like the freaking Kwizsatz Haderach. The heavy Wagnerian score particularly gives me pause. Did they bring Leni Riefenstahl out of retirement for this one? ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/107 "2009-01-19T01:25:34Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > [Watching this campaign ad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va5Btg4kkUE), I realize: gosh, you’re right. He’s portrayed like the freaking Kwizsatz Haderach. The heavy Wagnerian score particularly gives me pause. Did they bring Leni Riefenstahl out of retirement for this one? 😃 Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/108 "2009-01-19T01:30:52Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > If I’ve been whooshed, I appologize. You were not whooshed. I was quite serious. > [@](#): > > At the same time, here, as we were talking about race and relations, I assumed she was referring to those who were of non-French ETHNICITY, rather than CITIZENS. But she used the incorrect term in referring to “French minorities” as “non French minorities”. Only one of these terms can be correct. And I rightly called her on it. A non French person in France would clearly be an immigrant who hasn’t yet become a citizen and thus can’t vote. ---
**Author:** ![Suse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Suse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suse)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/109 "2009-01-19T01:44:42Z")
Not surprised, and it had nothing to do with his race. Obama’s supporters seemed to be very passionate about his candidacy, while McCain’s were lackluster. Even bringing Palin onto the Republican ticket wasn’t enough, although it did please the Religious Right. Personally, I didn’t feel that I was voting either for or against a black man but for or against a candidate. I don’t care about his race; I just want him to show up the first day and be competent in office. And if he can’t do that, I’ll vote against him next election just as I voted for him this election. ETA: **AudreyK** , great post! ---
**Author:** ![put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/put_down_the_sabre)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/110 "2009-01-19T08:26:01Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > You were not whooshed. I was quite serious. > > But she used the incorrect term in referring to “French minorities” as “non French minorities”. Only one of these terms can be correct. > And I rightly called her on it. > > A non French person in France would clearly be an immigrant who hasn’t yet become a citizen and thus can’t vote. Though, citizens of other EU states can vote in local and European elections. pdts ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/111 "2009-01-19T09:00:42Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > America would never be ready for a Jesse Jackson presidency, but not so much because of his color but because of his reputation. Funny you should mention this. Just last night I was watching a [video on Youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BbmbIoynZQ) of an appearance by Bill Buckley and Jesse Jackson on an old episode of _Nightline_ with Ted Koppel. The discussion comes to center around the fact that just because something is legal, that doesn’t necessarily make it reputable. As an example, Buckley states (around 55 seconds in) that “it’s perfectly legal to vote for Jesse Jackson, but that doesn’t make it reputable”. Jackson’s baleful glare is priceless. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/112 "2009-01-20T13:24:19Z")
A couple of people who would be shocked at the US electing an African-American president in 2008 would have been Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. On radio yesterday I heard a quote from Kennedy in 1961 saying that he thought an African-American could be elected within 40 years. In a BBC interview in 1964 King was asked about Kennedy’s statement and said that he thought the US would elect a “negro” within 25 years. So I guess they would be surprised that social change didn’t continue at the rate it was happening in the 60s and that’s why it took so long. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393/113 "2009-01-20T13:36:50Z")
Take so long? Bwuh? Kennedy was just about on the money. 2001 isn’t too far from 2008. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-not-shocked-that-the-us-elected-an-african-american-president/481393.md?page=5)