More reports of racism in PA primary

I know this is exceptionally discouraging to many, but I believe that Ed Rindell's comment about the people of his state can possibly be extrapolated to many states in the GE: "This country isn't ready for a black president." That people would use THAT excuse to vote against a great candidate is stunning to me, but I think Obama will have to talk about it more as the campaign stretches on...

Here's a link with more anecdotal stories from Obama volunteers

Tales from the trenches

Most disturbing to me was this tale:

As I watched the Pennsylvania primary unfold I began to see something about Pennsylvania, and the north as a whole that was extremely disheartening. It is the belief held by many whites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that America is not ready for a black president. To me,  this reeks of racial bias and ignorance. A year ago, I was talking to a friend of mine at lunch who has lived in the south all his life. He mentioned to me that he thought the north was more racist than the south. His reasoning was that in the south, white and black folks have been forced to live together and work together for years now. It's nothing new anymore. Sure there are bigots out there, but most have had to confront their racial biases at some point or another. Basically, it's been forced out into the open. He continued that in the north, people quickly moved out into the suburbs away from blacks in the city and basically have avoided the issue entirely. As a result, many have not had to confront their biases towards a particular race of people. I feel like if Obama had been a white man, people would vote for him with the rationale of, "We aren't ready for a woman president."

We have had black mayors, governors, senators, representatives, and even Secretaries of State. Why is president "off limits"? When does a race of people become 'ready' for America? How is that judged exactly?

So, yeah, there's sexism, too, but I just wonder if this is a generational thing (is that why Obama can't seem to win over the elderly?) or is it a socio-economic thing? Plain ignorance from people who see AAs as only criminals or gang members?

Will this be a final determinant in the GE?

•  tip jar

  For a better America....

  by Wisteacher on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 07:18:23 AM PDT

•  enter billy

  Bill Clinton's role in this campaign has been to stir up racial prejudice.  

  by stillonline on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 07:21:47 AM PDT

•  The feeling has all ways been that "in the

  south, blacks can assimilate, but they can't achieve", and in the north "blacks can achieve, but they can't assimilate".  In many ways, the NE U.S. is less progressive than the "old Conferderacy".

  by lordcopper on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 07:42:08 AM PDT

•  Obama "can't seem to win over the elderly" ?

  huh?

  don't elderly people whose skin color happens to black count as "elderly"?

  Obama won 38 percent of the older votes in PA, compared to only 28 percent of the older votes in OH, another primary where Clinton won. That's a significant improvement. It's an insult to older white women in PA and elsewhere, happy to cast their vote for the first serious woman candidate for President in their lifetime, to assume that because they preferred to vote for Clinton, they can't or won't be "won over" by Obama in the fall.

  Yes, there will be some racist Dems who won't vote for Obama in the fall -- just as there are some Dems who won't vote for a woman. We had a great white man candidate, John Edwards, and he lost -- so we're already facing issues of "electability" due to our Dem candidate not being a white man, and it's too late to change that now.

  It's not just old people who won;t be voting for a woman, either: you want anecdotal? Here's just one story: last fall at the county fair, sitting at the Dem table, we met a very nice, handsome young man who was going to spend the summer working for Clinton. His friend (girlfriend?), on the other hand, a cheerleader, said she wouldn't be voting for Sen. Clinton because, thanks to what she'd learned in her biology class, she didn't think it was a good idea to have a woman be President.

  by jennifer poole on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 07:47:59 AM PDT

  •  Obama said he needs to do more to appeal...

    ... to the elderly in a post-PA primary interview. Elderly white women gave Hillary a big boost.

    by Wisteacher on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 07:52:38 AM PDT

    •  "needing to do more" does not equal "can't

      seem to win over". To say that Obama "can't seem to win over the elderly" is buying the spin more than the facts support.

      by jennifer poole on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 08:00:50 AM PDT

•  Confused

  Can someone please explain to me why white people dislike black people,what exactly did they do to them,I have wanted to know this for a very long time,did i miss something.What is their crime was it something like 9-11,did they work for hitler did they invade and start a war.I did not see it in any of the history books i study at school.Please explain

  by adama on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 08:01:04 AM PDT

•  There is no phrase I hate more

  than: "America is not ready for a Black president." Why don't we call this sentiment what really is which is: "Some Americans are so backwards ass stupid that they'd rather condemn themselves and their children to a dismal, impoverished future than vote for someone whose skin is darker than theirs."

  We as a nation have been held hostage for far too long to the worst elements of our society, to the greedy, the ignorant and the hateful. I have no problem with those who want to stew in the filth of their own racism. However, when such people pose a threat to my children's future, they better get out of the way bacuse I'll fight them with everything I've got even if it means resorting to ridicule and politically incorrect name calling.

  by beltane on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 08:06:03 AM PDT

  •  It's just lazy thinking. Most people like to

    spout the same old tired mantras. It's too much work to delve below the surface of cliches.

    by Earl3 on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 08:26:28 AM PDT

•  There is racism in the north, but I think that

  Obama and his supporters are making a very bad mistake if they think that "racism" is why he lost the primary. Even if he does dismiss all PA voters outside of SE PA as "racist" he is going to have to do better in that part of the state if he is to carry it in November.

  What Obama really needs to do is go into those parts of the country and basically convince enough of those voters that he isn't Jesse Jackson and isn't going to do nothing for them while expecting them to enable urban poverty through more welfare.

  by oceanstar17 on Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 08:35:30 AM PDT