Though I voted for Obama and don’t agree with any other aspect of the quotes I do think this factored heavily into Obamas win. I do think there was a sizable portion of the voting public, both black and white, who registered just to vote for the black guy, regardless of his views on anything. I do think there was a non-negligible amount of “white guilt” at play in this election, though I think he would have won regardless.
Yeah, each of those were tailored to meet the end he desired.
As I said, I voted for Obama, but I think alot of people who voted for him didn’t know anything about him or his actual stances on any issues.
And exactly how is this different from any other election, anywhere, at any time, on any candidate or issue? For that matter, how familiar were you with all of the down ballot candidates and referendums you voted on this past week? I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that MOST people knew a LOT more about Barack Obama than they knew about the candidates in their own local elections.
eta: I also think Obama won because the electorate knew quite a bit about McCain and Palin.
The same holds for a lot of the people who voted against him.
I’d lay a wager that the people who voted for him are a little more accurate than the people who voted against him.
I’m disgusted by all the Obama hate I see from places like the Freeper board. That said, I need to say a few things on behalf of the others who have said, “Rise above it.”
There is a lot of good will from Republicans right now. I work a Democratic party voter registration booth each week and have for several years. I’ve seen the ebb and flow of public opinion in my red little corner of a blue state*. Last night, I got a lot of well-wishing from Republicans. There was no feeling from them that the country had lost, only their candidate. A lot of Republicans are ready to be the loyal opposition, which is all I asked of any of them.
This won’t last. Sunshine and lollipops will give way to the meathook realities of governing and new fights will break out. But if we reach out in a spirit of good will I think we will find a receptive audience. Obama’s acceptance speech was a step in that direction. If we keep this up I think there really is a chance that Republicans will rediscover the meaning of Loyal Opposition and that is a healthy thing for us.
That said, pillory the nuts, but make it clear that your comments are limited to the nuts. Even some of the harder conservatives around here have been ready to discuss things without a lot of the rancor of recent years. If we fail to reciprocate right now we are pissing away the best chance for working government we’ve had in a long, long time.
*It goes without saying that the plural of anecdote isn’t data, but my experience corroborates a lot of what I’ve seen and read all over.
One thing that was mentioned on Free Republic, and that stunned me-apparently, ANN COULTER said, “Well, he IS our president, even if we didn’t want him to win.” Or something to that effect, in the “he’s not MY president” threads. Can anyone verify this?
This has a lot more to do with the electorate than it does to do with Obama. I doubt there’s been any major candidate in recent memory who didn’t have a significant (even majority) group of supporters that didn’t know or care about their full platform.
I saw and heard so many idiotic rumors and comments during the campaign that I’m not surprised at the ones I encounter now, but yes, some SERIOUSLY, scarily STUPID people out there.
Even on a few “mainstream”, not politically focused sites I visit, things like:
“Heaven help this country!” (to which I replied, “It just did.”)
“I went out and bought a rifle and some ammo for home/self protection. I WILL protect my family!” (from WHAT, I wondered? The hoards of Blacks you expect to be running wild now? From the socialist government coming to seize and redistribute your property and kill your children? WTH?)
“I don’t know for sure, but what IF he IS the antichrist? WHAT IF? God help us!”
“Well, I hope all you libs are happy…this country is done now. Will you still be happy when Obama takes away all your money and your rights?”
On and on and on, just the most over-the-top, astoundingly ignorant, hateful, reactionary tripe. As if we needed more evidence that the American electorate made the correct choice.
My favorite from a administrator on a rightwingnut board…
(referencing Obama’s clear early successes)
And 2 from the biggest bed wetter, and sorest loser of all.
…and…
To which I say…suck it up guys. The better man (and America) won.
I only voted for POTUS. I’m military and voted absentee to CO, of which I claim residency but has never really been home but for a couple of years. I didn’t vote on any other issue/race because I had no dog in the fight.
She’s about as subtle as a three-fingered prostate exam.
From a right-wing blog:
This in response on another message board:
So… If Obama does not produce his original birth certificate (as opposed to the form we’ve all seen and which is perfectly valid proof of birth for anyone else who uses such a state-issued document), then obviously he is not a naturally-born American and must be disqualified from the presidency. If he does produce the original BC, then it’s obviously a forgery and any ‘expert’ who says differently is lying and Obama is not qualified for the presidency.
Am I the only one wondering if he took four semesters of document analysis because he failed it the first three times?
Elsewhere in the world, someone has come up with a great test for witches. They float!
I thought exactly the same thing! 
Well, actually he failed four times, but then he quit trying.
Don’t forget McCain’s assuring us that Obama was the biggest celebrity in the world.
So what if he is the Antichrist? Why do people have a problem with that?
Seriously – if you’re an Evangelical Christian (Southern Conference Insane), and truly believe in that stuff, then Antichrist is a necessary element of the Last Days. It’s God’s plan, which will end with you up in Heaven while I’m in a lake of fire. So, what’s the problem? Chill.
Just because you welcome the Antichrist doesn’t mean you have to support him. Christians can’t do that! Next thing you know you’ll be getting the forehead tattoo!
Hmm, you read a message board dedicated to something that the next administration has stated they intend to eradicate and you’re surprised they don’t like the guy?
“Your lifestyle (that’s really just a hobby and you have no right to continue with it) is disgusting to us and we will do everything in our power to destroy your ability to practice this abomination of a lifestyle. Do we have your vote?”
I hope you’re not too shocked by this, but I suspect the bible-thumping anti-abortion crowd is saying nasty things about him as well.