Anecdotally, the people who post such comments are all* secret Republicans on a mission from Karl Rove to screw over the Dems nomination process.
*Well, maybe 95%. ‘Hillary hating’ supplies a nice storyline to the news industry. Like that pretty white girl who was kidnapped by sharks. The media can never get enough of it.
I believe this speaks to the general consensus among the friends of my wife and myself. However, we’ve gone a little further, and are campaigning for the man here in CT.
Even among racists, maybe.
As I often do, I turned to an elderly lady I know in north Georgia for her thoughts on the campaign. This lady is a solid Democrat, who sees the Republicans as the party of the rich. She is also a racist, not afraid to let fly with an offensive epithet.
I asked her today how she planned to vote in the primary. Said she, “I like that black fella. What’s his name?”
“Obama,” I said.
“I reckon he’s pretty sharp. I’m votin’ for him.”
Then she went into a racist non-sequitur: “Black people have more rights than we do these days.” (Hey, at least she didn’t use the n-word.)
“What about Edwards?” I asked, innocently.
“He don’t have a chance of doin’ nothin’.”
“What about Hillary?”
(A dark look passed across her face at this point.) “She can’t get nowhere. I tell you, I sorta like that John McCain; I might vote for him if it come to that.” (Meaning if Hillary gets nominated.)
Then she asked me “What do you think about that Obama?”
I finally told her that’s who I was voting for. She nodded vigorously, as if this cemented her own position.
So, for what it’s worth, a peek inside a racist voter’s mind.
I think it has been true of racism for some time that people will simultaneously hold animosity toward a whole group, but hold no such animosity when they get to know individuals. Obviously there is a percentage whose animosity does not fade with familiarity (say, StormFronters), but for the majority of American racists, I would think the familiarity principle holds true. YMMV.
That has almost always been my experience with racists. Most of them are racist only in the abstract, but not when dealing with particular individuals.
H.P. Lovecraft was famously racist and anti-semitic, and married a Jew. (The marriage ultimately failed, but not, I think, because of his bigotry.)
hence the common phrase “why some of my best friends are…”
The thing that I think is somewhat funny is that everyone everywhere keeps talking about how Obama has no chance, because people aren’t ready for a black president. If you then turn around and ask those people who they plan to vote for, they all say Obama. It’s like. . .the Twilight Zone. heh
The other thing that I’ve noticed is that if you ask people who they think will win, they all say Hillary is unstoppable. But then, if you ask if they are voting for her, they all say no.
People are strange.
People seem to understand that politics is a field where perception is reality. One thing it has in common with the stock market.
Here’s an interesting twist which threw me for a loop.
Talking politics with my Dad and brother. Both are lifelong blue collar, Union Democrats who are at least slightly sexist and racist/racially prejudiced. I was sure they would choose Obama over Hillary, and either over any Republican, in a least of evils sort of process.
However, they seemed enthusiastic about Hillary, admitting that she was smart and qualified. But the kicker was, to quote, “Plus, if anything bad would happen, you *know * who’s really going to be making the decisions”. A vote for Hillary is just a way to get Bill back in charge.
When asked about Obama, they mumbled something quietly, and then said “You know, that McCain is a pretty good choice too!”. I think they like the whole gruff war veteran thing. So they might jump ship and vote Republican (maybe for the 1st times in their lives) before they voted Obama.
Something to keep in mind for everyone who dismisses the race issue by saying anyone who wouldn’t vote for a black man is probably already a Republican.
Overall, though, I have to think that Obama is more electable. He seems able to rally the troops and bring in more troops that Hillary. And it’s hard to imagine the Republican base being more fired up than they would be in trying to stop Hillary.
The impact of bigotry is a big unknown. We have never had a black or woman running for prez. How many complaints about Hillary and Obama are actually hiding bias. If Obama got elected I would be very relieved. Until a woman or minority actually win. I am unconvinced they actually can. I wish we were above this but I do not think we are.
If Obama won ,the secret service would have to be very vigilant. We do have skin heads and Natzis running about. There are goofy posse organization in our back woods too. Keeping him safe would be a tough job.
My sense in these parts is that misogyny trumps racism - i.e., that the bigots in the crowd would rather vote for a black man than a white woman.
But I suppose we’ll find out Tuesday whether that’s so.
I believe Obama has a much better chance in the general election in my state. Hillary is anathema to Republicans, and will motivate them to come out and vote against her. Obama has reached out to Republicans, and I think that will stand him in good stead in the fall.
I think both Hillary and Obama would have a good chance of beating any Republican comer. Remember that the turnout has increased on the Democratic side no matter who’s running, so it’s pretty much a wash if we’re comparing the two of them on turnout.
Hillary has the disadvantage of possibly energizing the Republican base but that’s something that might also happen with an Obama run. At least we already know what to expect. With Obama, we don’t know what’s coming. He really hasn’t been vetted to the extent that Hillary was. Also, from an experience standpoint, McCain can lord it over Obama to an extent that he wouldn’t be able to do with Hillary. It’s really hard to say because it is too early.
I don’t put to much stock on head to head polls right now. The whole dynamic changes when it’s one-on-one and the election really begins. So we’re really basing this on our impression. And right now, it looks like Obama has the slight advantage being the new guy and relatively immaculate from Republican muck.
Interesting article in The American Conservative, Pat Buchanan’s mag. The point is that Obama has not had much experience fighting a really vicious campaign against well funded opponents with few scruples. His Senate seat was won in a virtually uncontested contest against Alan Keyes. The article gives a preview of the kind of campaign the Repulican nominee will run against Obama, and the smears you can expect to hear. Basically, if Obama is the nominee, expect to hear this a lot: “Barack Hussein Obama. Right for America?”
It’s worth a read.
I think you made an insightful point.
Hillary and Obama are at least somewhat handicapped by being female and black, respectively. But at least Hillary can offset her handicap by falling back on her husband. In the eyes of the sexist, it might be okay to vote for her because they think a man’s going to be at the wheel anyway.
Who does Obama have to offset being black (other than his white mother)? Makes me think he needs to get a strong white male as his VP. And when I say strong, I mean strong in the same kind of way that Cheney is strong. The type that will make the racists feel assured that despite the window dressing, a white man really is in charge.
It’s depressing typing that out, but there it is.
I think Obama by far is more electable. The only person on earth that can unite the Republican Party, save the reincarnation of Reagan, is Hillary. If Obama v McCain, many Republicans stay home or cross over. If Hillary v McCain, many Democrats will stay home or cross over. Either would smack Romney but good.
VPs are only marginally useful in my opinion. I can’t recall the last election which outcome was changed by a VP, and rightfully so. VPs do not have a mandate to advise the president, in fact, they have motive to kill or disable him! DUM DUM DUM!
But silliness aside, Hillary got the women (half the population) and Bill supporters who believe, not surprisingly, that his usefulness as a first gentleman/ambassador/advisor would be a huge boost to the presidency. Clinton was charismatic and likeable. When smart diplomat King Hassan II of Morocco died, Clinton was at the funeral, I remember feeling appreciation for the gesture, though the person he was honoring was a somewhat disliked and feared dictator. Still, I remember interpreting it as a mark of respect towards the country’s people. And I know I wasn’t the only one. The guy had undeniable charisma, he’s just the kinda guy you’ll cut slack to.
It’s uncomfortable to read, as well, but I think you’re completely on point. But who can fill that role for Obama, if anyone?
Wesley Clark? He’s a general.
That’s all I got.
Only he’s endorsed HRC.