# Racism ,how big a factor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 11, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107 "2008-09-11T15:49:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/41 "2008-09-14T02:38:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Next you are assuming that only Black people would vote for a black candidate becuase of his race. I know a number of white dudes who are pleased that we finally have a minorit candidate for Prez= “it’s about time”. Reread my post. I gave him one million “white guilt making a statement” votes. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/42 "2008-09-14T02:58:20Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Not what happens. I give a booklet and ask if you are supporting Obama. I then ask what you find to be the most important issues in the country. I go to homes of people who are most likely dem voters. Nobody, nobody tells any one how to vote. Where did you get that.? If you knocked on my door and spoke in the same style in which you post on this board, I’d probably react to you the same way as I do on this board. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/43 "2008-09-14T05:47:23Z")
> [@Mr.Svinlesha](#): > > Hey hey hey, dude! Long time no see! Glad to be back, **Mr S**. Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Honesty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f04885/32.png) [@Honesty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honesty)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/44 "2008-09-14T14:37:38Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > You claim that they are likely Democratic voters. Are you supposing that all the Hilary supporters are racists? That’s almost half the Democratic primary voters. > > Regards, > Shodan No, just in [West Virginia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODaxZSz3Awg). - Honesty ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/45 "2008-09-14T17:35:35Z")
> [@Honesty](#): > > No, just in [West Virginia](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODaxZSz3Awg). > > - Honesty I’m afraid I am going to need a better cite than that before I believe that all the Hilary supporters in West Virginia are racist. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/46 "2008-09-14T20:51:49Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > If you knocked on my door and spoke in the same style in which you post on this board, I’d probably react to you the same way as I do on this board. I don’t instigate. i just respond in kind , eventually. I try to be polite. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/47 "2008-09-14T21:46:22Z")
> [@BrainFireBob](#): > > This is ridiculous. > > Your gedanken requires _one in five_ white voters to vote against Obama purely on the basis of race. Net negative my left butt cheek, that’s a ridiculously large number. I call absolute disingenuous shenanigans on that one. I’m pretty sure the suggestion was not that these voters would base purely on race, by a straightforward reading of the quotation you provided. ---
**Author:** ![BrainFireBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@BrainFireBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainFireBob)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/48 "2008-09-14T23:46:58Z")
To come up with his total of a “net negative,” he counted all of those as racist votes against Obama. Which is why I called him on it. Apparently, he arranged his numbers to match the 12%- not realizing that the pro-Obama racial vote is included in that 12, which is what we’ve all been calling gonzo on. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/49 "2008-09-16T00:53:06Z")
Nobody really knows how strong racism is in the vote. that is why I asked the question. I have encountered voters and acquaintances who have made it clear they will not vote for a black. My experience can not be related to the country. i do believe there are places in the south where racism is strong. There are northern cities that are the same. That is a problem Obama has to overcome. If some body says it does not exist ,they are dreaming. ---
**Author:** ![blackcatrun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@blackcatrun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackcatrun)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/50 "2008-09-16T01:08:55Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/27964489.html](http://www.philly.com/inquirer/currents/27964489.html) > Heres a column in the Enquirer discussing the factor of race in the election. pollsters in Penn. were told by 12 percent of the exiting voters hat race mattered. How many more wont say it? > Bush has screwed everything up. The repubs should be easily beatable. I have felt race was the reason it stays close all along. > I have been doing selective door to door election campaigning. The doors I knock on are likely dem voters. I have been greeted with some hostility . One old woman said she would never vote for Barack because he is an asshole. Some just refuse to talk at all. It has been rare to actually have a person say it. > Why do we pretend it does not matter that he is black. ? It does. President Bush has finished his terms. He has done his job. Congress and the senate have not. Love that slight of blame. To the articals writer. Black this, Black that. IT does matter to YOU not me. Not most of the folks I know. SO grow up. The mans a looser and empty freeking suit. Close affilations with some very, very sick and dishonest people. It is catching up with him. All of you are going to be some shocked when the truth hit the air waves. The media dont want it out. It wil come out none the less. I am voting for a woman to be VP. I like her. Think she is going to be a fine VP then a GREAT President. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/51 "2008-09-16T01:26:25Z")
Another factor, of course, is that there are at least some people out there who would refuse to vote for a woman for vice-president. How many, I don’t know, but it’s sure to be one of the many factors in the election. And you also have to remember, that there are three different options, not two. Some people will choose to vote for McCain/Palin, some people will choose to vote for Obama/Biden, and some people will choose to vote for neither (either going with a third-party candidate, or staying home). There’s a difference between someone choosing not to vote for Obama, and someone choosing to vote for McCain, and I suspect (admittedly without evidence) that most of the people for whom race is the deciding factor will just stay home on election day. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/52 "2008-09-16T02:05:34Z")
> [@blackcatrun](#): > > The mans a looser and empty freeking suit. Close affilations with some very, very sick and dishonest people. It is catching up with him. All of you are going to be some shocked when the truth hit the air waves. The media dont want it out. It wil come out none the less. I hope you are not talking about any of the shameless and shameful and long-debunked lies discussed [here,](http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071112/hayes) or [here,](http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=obama&sp-a=00062d45-sp00000000&sp-advanced=1&sp-p=all&sp-w-control=1&sp-w=alike&sp-date-range=-1&sp-x=any&sp-c=100&sp-m=1&sp-s=0) or [here,](http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome/) or [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=474495) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107/53 "2008-09-16T02:07:32Z")
Few will not vote for Palin because she is a female. I suppose such neanderthals exist. Few will refuse to vote for McCain because he is old and sick. I suppose more will not vote for a black. Many,many, more. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/racism-how-big-a-factor/463107.md?page=2)