# Race Factor in Democratic Primaries. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 7, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648 "2008-02-07T04:23:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [February 7, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/1 "2008-02-07T04:23:35Z")
To the best of my recollection, never before has racial demographics played such a significant role in Democratic primaries. Understandable, given that for the first time a viable black person is running who appears inclusive and not devisive. This has led to some interesting observations and tentative conclusions on my part. Blacks are overwhelmingly voting for Obama as evidenced in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and California. Three to one or thereabouts. Should be no surprise. Whites are favouring Obama, especially men. Why ? Given that he and Clinton are so close on the issues I suspect there is a degree of its now time to make things right as far as past racial attitudes and discrimination by whites and hopefully put the issue behind them forever. YMMV. Browns are favouring Clinton 2 to 1. Why? Like the majority of Democrats they looked forward to Clintons nomination, but they haven’t really responded like whites to Obama’s campaigning and newly demstrated viability. I suspect that the guilt factor (for lack of a better word) is absent. I also suspect, that given the lower education level, and the lack of being targeted for discriminatory practice a small degree of racism is present. What prompted me to bring all this up is the situation in Calfornia where the yellows went for Clinton 3 to 1. This is just plain incredible. I’m stumped on this one, unless I accept that they are racist without remorse. What else could it be. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/2 "2008-02-07T21:09:23Z")
White guy here. I like Obama. I’d like him if his skin was blue. I don’t like Hillary. I still wouldn’t like her if she were black and/or if she had a penis. That being an Obama supporter allows me to claim anti-bigot points is just a bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/3 "2008-02-07T21:17:17Z")
Browns? What race are they, again? And what about the Yellows, Tans, and Chocolates? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/4 "2008-02-07T21:18:49Z")
I think McCain’s got the yellow-puddle-around-their-shoes vote locked up with the war on terror rhetoric. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/5 "2008-02-07T23:06:55Z")
I worked for a terrible nonprofit about a decade ago, dedicated to nothing so much as offering perks to its board of directors. It did, however, alert me to an issue I knew very little about before: a strong animosity between many African Americans and Latinos. (It was interesting to find out about racial problems that white folks weren’t involved in). As I’ve watched the returns come in, I’ve wondered whether this animosity may account for Obama’s low performance among Latinos; I honestly don’t know. Animosity between metropolitan Asian Americans and metropolitan African Americans is pretty well-known as well, isn’t it? I also wonder if that’s playing into things. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/6 "2008-02-08T01:32:41Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] Browns? What race are they, again? And what about the Yellows, Tans, and Chocolates? [/QUOTE] Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get a craving for beer. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/7 "2008-02-08T04:50:32Z")
Yep, it’s White Guilt. We got all our Male Guilt worked out back in '88. ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/8 "2008-02-08T05:04:33Z")
As a white man I don’t know what to do this time around. If I vote for Clinton, I am a racist and can’t stomach voting for a black. If I vote for Obama, then I am sexist and couldn’t imagine a woman in power. All of this guilt is building up inside of me. What do I do? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/9 "2008-02-08T05:06:40Z")
[QUOTE=dgrdfd] As a white man I don’t know what to do this time around. If I vote for Clinton, I am a racist and can’t stomach voting for a black. If I vote for Obama, then I am sexist and couldn’t imagine a woman in power. All of this guilt is building up inside of me. What do I do? [/QUOTE] Go into the voting booth, vote the way you think you should, and if asked how you voted…tell them it’s none of their damn business. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2008, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/race-factor-in-democratic-primaries/436648/10 "2008-02-08T05:08:40Z")
[QUOTE=dgrdfd] As a white man I don’t know what to do this time around. If I vote for Clinton, I am a racist and can’t stomach voting for a black. If I vote for Obama, then I am sexist and couldn’t imagine a woman in power. [/QUOTE] Vote for McCain, obviously! That way you can hedge your bets and be racist _and_ sexist!