That would make the “other blacks” bigots, wouldn’t it?
Debatable. And irrelevant to the OP.
There’s a “depends on where you are” aspect to that statement. In some places, the Democrats became the party of blacks & various “reformers”, & the boll weevils fled to the GOP. In some other places, the GOP already existed as a pro-business, anti-FDR party, or just the traditional dominant party. In those places, the white supremacists may also vote GOP 'cos they have no choice, but they are seen as an embarrassing minority by the rest.
Well, no. Because there currently aren’t any. At least, I don’t think so. But I still say that, for better or for worse, any black governor would have a better chance at winning than any black senator. If, of course, we had someone to make the comparison with.
The point is, in neither kind of state would a black candidate have much chance of winning the Pub presidential primary; though he/she could expect to make a better showing in the latter.
Then debate it. After all, you brought it up. Oreos indeed.
In the Philadelphia area, I have heard Condi and Powell called ‘oreos’ and ‘uncle toms’ by black politicians (local black politicians). For my part I do believe that to be intollearant (at the least) and/or bigoted, saying any group of people must act one way or another because of the color of their skin (even if your skin is the same color) is silly (IMHO).
Arguable, but what does it have to do with an African-American’s chances of getting elected POTUS? I.e., would black voters who despise “oreos” vote for one anyway, just to break down that wall?
I don’t know, would you vote for someone who you disliked, just to see someone with the same color skin as you in office? I don’t fall into many ‘minority’ catergories, but the few I do; I certainly wouldn’t vote for someone simply because we shared that. But then I can’t assume I’m the ‘norm’.
No, but I would not blame any African-American for doing so. Not until after the first black president is elected. I would not want Condi Rice for president because of her politics and I’m sure most black voters feel the same way; but the desire to break down the last and greatest color barrier in American politics might trump that consideration, and not unreasonably.
I don’t think Condi is an oreo (a term only the most uneducated, uncouth person would use seriously), but I wouldn’t vote for her just because she’s a black woman. I rate her as evil as as Bush, Cheney, and all the rest of 'em, if not more evil.
Zora Neale Hurston once said (paraphrased): “Not all my skinfolk are my kinfolk”. Most politically aware black people, IMHO, wouldn’t be fooled into voting for any candidate as long as they were black.
I respectfully disagree. I think it would be in black people’s best interest to vote for a black candidate that would be a shining star. Not just settle for the first viable candidate that ambles along. Even just a lacklustrous first black prez would do enough PR damage to have the skeptics rolling their eyes.
Plus, while it may be understandable to well-intentioned liberals why minority voters would want a minority candidate, regardless of their politics, plenty of conservatives would cite such a behavior as proof of “reverse discrimination”. And you know what? That would be a reasonable conclusion.
I think you underestimate the level of suspicion among a lot of black voters when it comes to the political process. From my experience observing local elections, once a lot of white people (especially conservatives) start backing a black candidate, the popularity of that candidate among black voters becomes more fragile. Especially if the opposing candidate is also black and doesn’t have a whole lot of white support.
But this kind of suspicion probably wouldn’t have much of an impact on anything on a presidential election unless the both parties decided to go balls out and nominate black candidates.
Honestly I think that is exactly what happened with Obama/Keyes; Keyes had much more of a history, and not bad credientals (verses almost unknown Obama), and had a lot of ‘white’ support. In philadelphia Street (the mayor) got re-elected (IMHO) because he was able to point at a federal probe and say ‘look they are out to get me, because i’m black’ (paraphased, but no too much). Since then 4 of his closest advisors have been indicted (and are in the process of being tried).
However, he is also batshit insane.
At last, a point of agreement between us. Keyes is the poster boy for religious fascism.
LOL, that could be debated (not by me, but); then again so are some ‘liberal’ counterparts, that DO get elected. Alan Keyes is a very well known politician (sometimes what you are known for is less important that simply being known); Obama was a virtual unknown (not a bad guy, not completely outside the realm of politics; but for most of the general public, they didn’t now much about him).
Has he ever held a political office?
I don’t believe so
He has also run at least 6 times for various offices.
I don’t believe holding office is a requirement for being a politician (is it?).
To answer the OP: yes, I think so, but that candidate would probably be held to a much higher standard than a white candidate of equal experience, temperament, stature, etc.
He or she would also start at a disadvantage, as there are still some voters who will never, no way, no how, vote for a black candidate…but won’t necessarily 'fess up to pollsters. When Andy Young ran for governor of Georgia (and lost), and when Doug Wilder ran for governor of Virginia (and won), I remember a Newsweek article in which strategists for both said that they wanted at least an 8-10% winning margin (IIRC) in polling, to account for voters who’d say they supported the black candidate but wouldn’t actually do so when alone in the voting booth.
As to Colin Powell… he’s described himself as a pro-choice, pro-affirmative action Republican - not too appealing to a substantial chunk of the GOP primary electorate. And it has long been rumored that his wife, Alma, begged him not to run in '96 or '00 because she was sure he would be assassinated if he did. His UN Security Council speech did him no favors among Democrats, nor did his prominent role in “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
What Exit?, I really admire Theodore Roosevelt, too, but “our greatest president”? George, Abraham and Harry might take issue with that… and so would I. 
(Relatively) old joke:
Jesse Jackson arrives at the Pearly Gates.
ST. PETER: And what did you accomplish in your time on Earth?
JACKSON: I was the first African-American ever elected president of the United States!
ST. PETER: Really?! Wow! When did that happen?
JACKSON: About 10 minutes ago.
Should we start a thread on this in GD or switch to Email?
Jim