I mean, we all love welfare right? We wouldn't bite the hand that feeds us... right? Black people will vote for the Democrat no matter what right? I mean... even if it's a woman who has insulted the black church and used racist dog whistles in her campaign...right? I mean, even if she's pitted poor blacks against poor whites in a culture war in parts of PA by hyping up the "bitter" comments... right?
Even if she ends up as the nominee, despite the fact that the numbers are in favor of a black man-- and if this happens because she convinces the supers that America isn't "ready" for a black president... we'll forgive her, right... we need those welfare checks! Blacks loooove democrats and we know where our bread gets buttered. Yesiree.
Yeah, black folks will still line up on election day and vote for democrats because democrats take such good care of us. It's all about the social welfare. Right?
NEWSFLASH!
The reason that many black people are democrats has nothing to do with social welfare programs. It's about respect. Being a republican would mean being a member of a party that has not done enough to purge itself of racists-- a party that has held black voters in contempt and characterized us as a legion of welfare moms who steal tax dollars from "real hard working Americans." No self-respecting person would put up with that. This is why even wealthy black people remain democrats. Republicans run campaigns like Hillary's campaign all the time. They use racist dog whistles and question our patriotism. The mock black leadership, and whip poor white people up in to a racist frenzy. This is not only insulting: it's dangerous.
Democrats are supposed to have a message of unity. Hillary has broken away from that to try to win the vote of poor white people by making Obama in to a scary black man. Hillary knows he's a Christian, she knows Rev. Wright is harmless and a good person in his community, she knows Obama loves this country, but she is willing to sow doubt just to win. I don't think enough people truly understand how bad this is or how angry many black people are about it.
And of course it's not just black people, it's young people white people who care about anti-racism, and many others.
But, I'm talking about black people because I've had to listen to a month of hand wringing and worry about "Can Obama win over poor white voters?" --even as Clinton's support in the black community has fallen from low to ought-right embarrassing. Only a few people have bothered to ask why-- and there's this assumption that's is because we're excited to vote for a black guy.
No. That's not the whole story.
It has everything to do with the way Clinton has run her campaign. She is not even sending people to black neighborhoods. She has given up on the black vote. And in media it's almost like Obama's support among black people counts AGAINST him-- it's like when I vote for him I'm a liability because I make him "too black." --Black people need to start lying in these exit polls! I'm serious!
Listen. If Obama has more delegates and Hillary is picked by the supers I'm done with this party. DONE. And don't you dare call me ungrateful. I don't need to be grateful for the fact that my grandma' who lives in PA is feeling scared of her white neighbors because she has put an Obama sign on her lawn. I don't need to be grateful for the fact that I heard an old white woman on the train back to NYC talking about how "those people will get way too happy and out of control if he wins."
That hatred would be there, no matter what, but Clinton could have calmed it, she could have helped people to vote on issues and experience and leadership rather than fear of TEH BLACKNESS. But, her comments have emboldened this racism and I can see it and feel it.
It's a big deal and I will not vote for that. I know McCain is bad, but I still will not vote for that.
And I'm not alone.