# Voting for someone because he's black is just as bad as NOT voting for someone because he's black. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001 "2012-11-05T20:46:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/21 "2012-11-06T00:28:27Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Voting against Romney because he’s a Mormon (a minority) is far more bigoted than voting for him because he (and you) are Mormon. Not voting for him because he’s a Mormon is as bigoted as not voting for him because he’s a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/22 "2012-11-06T00:47:11Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Not voting for him because he’s a Mormon is as bigoted as not voting for him because he’s a Republican. No. You are not born a Mormon, or any other religion. People are not responsible for their color, but they are responsible for their religion. I would never vote for a Mormon, because of some of their ideas, especially their homophobia and their child abuse and their insistence on conformity. To the OP: If you support either candidate because of his ethnicity, you are a racist. ---
**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/23 "2012-11-06T00:49:05Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > The point is, they aren’t _equally_ bad. > > Scenario #1: “I’m black. Obama is black. That’s awesome. I’m voting for him.” > > Scenario #2: “I ain’t votin’ for Obama 'cuz he’s a nigger.” > > Equal? I can think of reasons why voting for Obama because he is black is not racist, but the way you portrayed your scenarios so differently is laughable. Why put one in offensive language but not the other? Why not say for #1: “I’m black. Obama is black. Fuck whiteys. I hate whiteys. I’m votin’ for Obama.” You have plenty of ways to make your case without doing what you did. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/24 "2012-11-06T00:53:20Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > No. You are not born a Mormon, or any other religion. People are not responsible for their color, but they are responsible for their religion. Did you read what she wrote? People aren’t born Republican either. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/25 "2012-11-06T00:55:56Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Completely false, of course. And yet I know one person who brings it up on a regular basis, and I’m sure among certain groups it’s a common sentiment. > > The thing is, I’m sure this person (and many of those who would espouse this view) wouldn’t consider themselves ractists. But is there any way in which that statement _isn’t_ racist? > > It’s a matter of inclusion vs. exclusion. Saying ‘Even if he’s not the man for the job, he’s like me’ is light years away from saying ‘Even if he IS the man for the job, he’s not like me’. > > What sucks is that I usually enjoy this person and I’m really close to them, and yet I’m going to start a confrontation. I just want to be prepared before I go in to a potentially relationship-harming discussion. Your argument posits a false dichotomy. Therefore, be prepared to lose the respect of a friend unless, of course, he/she is no more thoughtful than you. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/26 "2012-11-06T01:14:23Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > No. You are not born a Mormon, or any other religion. People are not responsible for their color, but they are responsible for their religion. I would never vote for a Mormon, because of some of their ideas, especially their homophobia and their child abuse and their insistence on conformity. Yeah, man, I’d never vote for a Republican or a Mormon and I don’t think that’s bigoted. That was my point. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/27 "2012-11-06T01:17:27Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Oh yes, I’m clearly in hysterics over here. Typing “u mad bro?” would have taken less characters. > > Yeah. There’s obviously historical significance to Obama’s election, and people are excited about that, but the nonstop injection of race into Obama’s presidency that my ears have been talked off about for years insinuating at times, and often stating outright, that there are large swaths of people voting for Obama because he’s black is the most tiresome thing there is. I can’t wait til Obama finishes his second term so we can go back to electing rich white guys, and we’ll never have to hear about who’s voting for who based on skin color ever again. Guys, the Obama voters were never going to vote for McCain/Palin or Mittens and that one guy anyway. So not only is this talk about the Obama race voters largely made up, even if it weren’t, big whoop. The five black people who voted going for the guy who looks like them isn’t going to send us into the inverse of Jim Crow. You need to adjust your antennae. The only race baiting I’ve seen so far in this election cycle is from Obama supporters trying to “guilt” white people into voting for their candidate. Your posts in this thread are obvious examples of this. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/28 "2012-11-06T01:20:37Z")
> [@gms453](#): > > You need to adjust your antennae. The only race baiting I’ve seen so far in this election cycle is from Obama supporters trying to “guilt” white people into voting for their candidate. Your posts in this thread are obvious examples of this. This is the stupidest thing I’ve read all day, and I’ve been surfing [vice.com](http://vice.com). ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/29 "2012-11-06T01:24:59Z")
> [@misterW](#): > > I can think of reasons why voting for Obama because he is black is not racist, but the way you portrayed your scenarios so differently is laughable. Why put one in offensive language but not the other? Why not say for #1: “I’m black. Obama is black. Fuck whiteys. I hate whiteys. I’m votin’ for Obama.” > > You have plenty of ways to make your case without doing what you did. Because they’re two different trains of thought. One, ‘I’m voting for Obama because he is also black’ is, as I have said, completely different from ‘I’m not voting for Obama because he’s black.’ Other have backed me up on this. I have a feeling that there were many white people who voted for Obama at least partially because he’s black. I’m just a sure that there are those who wouldn’t vote for a black guy. Ever. > [@gms453](#): > > Your argument posits a false dichotomy. Therefore, be prepared to lose the respect of a friend unless, of course, he/she is no more thoughtful than you. It’s not a false dichotomy. Black people voting for Obama because he’s black do so because of a different motivation than white people who won’t vote for him because he’s black. > [@Ludovic](#): > > Scenario #2: “I’m not voting for Obama cause I don’t think he’s from my culture.” Still as racist as your Scenario #1. Which is worse? Between those two, they actually _are_ equal. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/30 "2012-11-06T01:36:07Z")
It might not be just as bad as not voting for someone because he’s black, but that doesn’t make it right. Also, I question the characterization of black Obama voters as being all teary-eyed with inspiration as they cast a ballot for their fellow African-American. Many will feel that way but many others will do it because they think they’re “sticking it to the man.” That kind of simple-mindedness is by no means confined to white racists. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/31 "2012-11-06T01:40:26Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > Also, I question the characterization of black Obama voters as being all teary-eyed with inspiration as they cast a ballot for their fellow African-American. Many will feel that way but many others will do it because they think they’re “sticking it to the man.” Well then. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/32 "2012-11-06T01:54:04Z")
> [@Hyperelastic](#): > > It might not be just as bad as not voting for someone because he’s black, but that doesn’t make it right. > > Also, I question the characterization of black Obama voters as being all teary-eyed with inspiration as they cast a ballot for their fellow African-American. Many will feel that way but many others will do it because they think they’re “sticking it to the man.” That kind of simple-mindedness is by no means confined to white racists. but… he IS the man… Four years ago, sure, but now? ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/33 "2012-11-06T02:00:37Z")
There are some excellent arguments for Affirmative Action. ---
**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/34 "2012-11-06T02:03:23Z")
[quote=“Sicks\_Ate, post:29, topic:640001”] Because they’re two different trains of thought. One, ‘I’m voting for Obama because he is also black’ is, as I have said, completely different from ‘I’m not voting for Obama because he’s black.’ Other have backed me up on this. It all depends what you read into those two statements. You are reading into the first one: We share a common culture; I shall vote for him. You are reading into the second one: I hate black people. So, yes, that is different. But you could just as easily read it as: I share a common culture with the black man; I shall vote for him. Versus: I share a common culture with the white man, I shall vote for him. How are those completely different? ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/35 "2012-11-06T02:12:11Z")
> [@misterW](#): > > But you could just as easily read it as: I share a common culture with the black man; I shall vote for him. Versus: I share a common culture with the white man, I shall vote for him. > > How are those completely different? Because American society has never not catered to white men. Until the current term, Presidents have never not been white men. It’s so different my head almost explodes every time someone suggests it might be the same. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/36 "2012-11-06T02:18:03Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Not voting for him because he’s a Mormon is as bigoted as not voting for him because he’s a Republican. Hm… No, because the Republicans have a platform, and I disagree with nearly every plank in it. It isn’t “bigotry” to vote against them on the basis of honest disagreement. (Do the Mormons have a political “platform?” The Catholics sort of do…and I disagree with it. Is it bigotry if I vote against a candidate who says he will follow Catholic teachings on, say, abortion? I’m not voting against him for his religion, but for that religion’s teachings. Is it quite the same thing?) ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/37 "2012-11-06T02:26:47Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Do the Mormons have a political “platform?” They super super do. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/38 "2012-11-06T02:27:53Z")
[quote=“Sicks\_Ate, post:29, topic:640001”] Because they’re two different trains of thought. One, ‘I’m voting for Obama because he is also black’ is, as I have said, completely different from ‘I’m not voting for Obama because he’s black.’ Other have backed me up on this. I have a feeling that there were many white people who voted for Obama at least partially because he’s black. I’m just a sure that there are those who wouldn’t vote for a black guy. Ever. It’s not a false dichotomy. Black people voting for Obama because he’s black do so because of a different motivation than white people who won’t vote for him because he’s black. You can’t possibly know that this is true. How could you? Do you actually believe you know what motivates millions of votere to vote the way they do? Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound making such a claim? Why did the millions of voters who voted for Obama in 2008 and happened to be white vote for him? Must white voters who disagree with Obama’s political ideology vote for him just to prove to the likes of you that they’re not “racist”? You ought to be ashamed of yourself for engaging in this kind of race baiting. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/39 "2012-11-06T02:40:25Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > This is the stupidest thing I’ve read all day, and I’ve been surfing [vice.com](http://vice.com). Playing the “it’s stupid because I say so” card is not only juvenile, it’s ineffective. Frankly, I’m somewhat surprised: I thought you would do better. ---
**Author:** ![misterW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2012, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001/40 "2012-11-06T02:41:39Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Because American society has never not catered to white men. Until the current term, Presidents have never not been white men. It’s so different my head almost explodes every time someone suggests it might be the same. The experience of being black in America is different than the experience of being white. I don’t think anybody was suggesting otherwise. Now that that is settled, why does that make it racist to vote for a candidate of your culture if you are white but not if you are black? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voting-for-someone-because-hes-black-is-just-as-bad-as-not-voting-for-someone-because-hes-black/640001.md?page=3)