Will blacks support Obama? Will whites?

I don't care if you are Black White Green Blue if you can show you can run this Country .You deserve the Job.

Hate to go Bruce on this, but does Obama have pix with Frank and/or Mark in compromising positions with parrots and/or other fauna? This dude gets more coverage than Da Bearss.

I'm much more interested in the substantive issues of the day than I am in microanalyzing tea leaves about Obama's chances a year or two from now. Can we suspend the Obama PR machine for a couple months?

Why even bring up this question? What relevance does it really have? Let's move beyond this dialogue PLEASE.

This is the most absolute, well thought out article I have read on the Barack Obama. I am an African American and you hit the nail on the head. You did it without the easy and sleazy provocative writing that is so plentiful today.

You are absolutely correct. More whites are drinking the Obama flavored kool-aid than Blacks. We are more complex in our thinking and voting than given credit for. I will tell you this, we have put our needs and concerns on the back burner many (maybe too many times.)if we thought it was for the good of the country. Too many times I have heard older Blacks say " he doesn't have us in mind, but he can hold it (the country) together until we can find somebody who will do both"
Now more than ever with other minorities out populating us and having their needs in some cases placed before us, Blacks are even more sensitive to who the candidate and possible winner is. We are in for interesting times. I hope than the quality of reporting is as thoughtful as yours.

Responsible voters should listen to ideas. Only racists and other scum would think race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital status, or gender is reason to be for or against someone.

I am a Republican...well, actually I would consider myself a Green Party guy. It does not matter to me what color a canidate is or what gender a canidate is. What matters is where that canidate stands on issues that effect all Americans. I personally like Mr. Obama and would even cross political lines and vote for him. I like his political style and I am glad he is not like other politicians who play the party lines.

STOP the madness, PLEASE. Give Obama a chance to prove himself. We'll talk about whether blacks voted for him or not when it's all done and over with and he's sworn in.

I have one question for Mr. Zorn and Mr James. Have either one of you ever been paid or worked for in any capacity either the democratic party or Mr Obama. You are starting to give the impression that you can not think objectivley in regards to Mr Obama. Maybe the 2 of you should excuse yourselves from covering him. I wonder if you would completely ignore the dealings with Mr Rezko or the fact that his wife'e salary doubled almost immediatley after his election, if it happened to Mr McCain or Giuliani.

Let me start by saying that I am a black female voter, age 33 and I am so underwhelmed by the thought of Obama for President. I don't understand why everyone is jumping on his bandwagon. What has this guy done that has made him the media darling he is today? He won by a landslide, not because of his politcal prowess in my opinion, but because people hated Alan Keyes. I think he is biting off more than he can chew with this thing and I for one have absolutely no intention of voting for him. I'm voting for Hilary!

Why does everything have to go the race route?! Who freaking cares if you are black, white, yellow or brown!! The race card should not even be discussed. Judge the person by his charactor and what he can do for our country. Do not judge the person because of the color of his skin! PEOPLE STOP BEING SO IGNORANT!!

Melissa V. Harris-Lacewell, a Princeton University professor who has followed Obama's political ascent, said that he may be forced to choose: "You can be elected president as a black person only if you signal at some level that you are independent from black people"

I'd love to hear her explain this comment more.

Some people said that Colin POwell would've gotten elected because black Dems would've switched, but this article disproves that theory.

I'm a huge Obama supporter, but I'm going to have to jump on the bandwagon here. One post a day seems reasonable enough, but 6 of the 20 posts (nearly one out of every 3) has Obama's name in the headline.

I hope he becomes president, and it would be interesting to see the print Tribune endorse a Democratic presidential candidate for once, but the incessant onslaught is getting tiring even to this supporter.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OBAMA. ANYONE WILLING TO GET OUT THERE TO RUN FOR ANY OFFICE,ALL FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY, WHETHER WE LIKE THEM OR NOT, DESERVES A PAT ON THE BACK AND MORE WIN OR
LOSE. IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB FOR THEM OR THEIR FAMILY. WE FOUGHT FOR THESE RIGHTS, SO WATCH WHAT YOU ASK FOR, YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT!

As an African American, I believe that Obama does infact have the support of blacks. Not because he is a person of color, but because he has displayed confidence that voters (black or white) need to see in order to conclude that he is worth their vote. You definitely have to be a confident and courageous individual to want to assume the position of President of the U.S. (keeping in mind the current condition of our country).

Although his lack of experience will be a major drawback for many voters, we all have seen first hand that more experienced politics does not conclude that our country will benefit. A fresh and less brainwashed approach may be just what America needs.

First, maybe people should learn about how Obama has to make race less of a factor, because this is a racist country....yes it is. I am black man adopted by a white family. I know how Obama feels, but I know that his pain is the same as mine, people were and are not treated fairly, because of their race. He has experienced racism as I have and I had to learn about it the hard way. Growing under an umbrella of protection from my white parents, but when I found some white people and some black people are racist, I was shocked. He most likely experienced this too.

Will Obama mobilize the black vote? Would a Latino candidate mobilize the Latino vote? It's funny how we think minorities might vote for someone becasue they happen to share the same race. It's insulting to discuss this as if they wouldn't weigh the candidate's merits like any other responsible voter. I'm white, and there are lots of white people I have voted against. If anything, this shows that the sooner we get more minorities running for office, the better: we won't have to listen to this non-news...

Is anyone asking if women would blindly vote for Hillary, simply because she's a woman?

Any candidate delivering a fresh perspective on the many complex and critical issues demanded of a U.S. President has my attention.

I am a 40 year old white professional male that would embrace such a candidate being any form of "minority" so that we as a nation can once and for all remove all 'marble ceilings' and concentrate on the issues.

Additionally, the first of any type demonstrates to our children that they can achieve their own goals without restriction as to their race, gender or religion.

a blinkin and Bill,

I've gotta agree with you. Obama is admittedly bright and erudite and telegenic and a bona fide celebrity; and based soley on that (I guess)* we're getting nothing but fawning puff pieces from the Swamp's writers. (GOD, remember the Africa trip?!)

C'mon, James, Zorn et al, have some self respect! If you don't have it in you to be objective about Obama, then at least give it a rest for a while.

*I'm giving you all the benefit of the doubt that this is only celebrity worship and that you're not on his or the DNC's payroll.

I wish one day, poeple could be recognized for what they do, and stop being qualified by "black this" ... you are a politician, that happens to be black. Lovie Smith is a great football coach going to the superbowl, and he happens to be black. I understand this is a big deal and a first, but constantly reminding people of race like this leads to more division I think. It feels like we are going backwards..... It's like saying " so and so is very articulate, for a black guy" I think it's wrong. Either you are articulate, or not. Either you are a good person, or good at what you do or not. Race should not (I know it still does but it really shouldn't) matter....

Nice article, but I think you are missing what is the most poignant source of racism in modern America. It is a small minority of people who actively attempt to subdue blacks in this country. What is more important, and what has proven more damaging, is the small majority who still hold latent doubts about whether or not people of especially African decent fully share the cognitive capacity of Europeans. We need to be honest here, we need to stare the elephant in the face; there is no reason to fear it. The fact of the matter is, the average voting American is not a geneticist, not an anthropologist and has no basis to understand the biological irrelevance of race in determining inherent intelligence. What we do have are simplified, and sometimes politically manipulated, media reports outlining scientific conclusions. These reports are often written or delivered by journalists who have little to no more understanding of the subject than their audience -- leaving the public chronically misinformed and confused. This is especially amplified by equally nonscientific editors erroneously assuming pseudo-science pulled out of some refined klansman’s a** deserves equal coverage. After all, the cliché they all seemed to have retained and sophomorically misinterpreted, “there are two sides to every story,” is the rule of the land these days (even if one side is represented by a man or woman who has devoted her or his life to understanding a specific natural phenomena and the other side represented by some guy tripping over beer cans in his apartment searching under his “research” for the last slice of cold pizza). It is the silent majority, reluctant to put their lives in the hands of “unproven” people, and weary, if polite, in every interaction in every well dressed restaurant, international physics society meeting, and downtown office building in America, who stamp “approve” or “reject” on every theory, law or idea proposed every day. It is not malevolence that continues to stifle black progress in our cities and towns, it is genuine uncertainty. There are two ways to alleviate that uncertainty. Either fight HARD to assure black education and intelligence is seen in action, by the entire world, again and again, or convince every American to head back to college for coursework in cognitive genetics and anthropology.

Simply having someone not of exclusive European decent in the Oval Office would go a long long way towards alleviating racism in this country. America needs to see it. And black America needs to start supporting wholeheartedly as many well educated candidates for every available office as are willing to give it a try. Some will fail, all men fail; blacks are not inherently super human. This is reality, and the key here is not waiting for the perfect child, it is to give every child a chance.

Disclaimer: I have nothing against cold pizza, and I am “black”, slave trade derived and all

“And what do African Americans get out of the deal? Far less than nothing.”
Barack Obama: The Mania and the Mirage
by GLEN FORD

“Mirage” is the best metaphor for Barack Obama. He shimmers on the horizon, a promise of…something. But as one draws closer, Obama dissipates into nothingness – which is his purpose.

Like a mirage, Obama floats as an illusion in the political intersections between hot and cool air. It is the place he seeks: the deliberately chosen – yet ever-shifting – layer between other forces that are themselves constantly moving across the landscape. As the Illinois Senator this weekend announced his intention to create a presidential “exploratory committee,” corporate pundits pegged him as nestled in the Democratic niche between Hillary Clinton, to his right – based her relatively “hot” air on Iraq – and the much cooler, if not frigid, temperatures at the base of the party. That’s Obama’s intermediary comfort zone – a place of ever-interpretable impressions.

"I've been struck by how hungry we all are for a different kind of politics,” said Obama in a video posted on his website. “So I spent some time thinking about how I could best advance the cause of change and progress we so desperately need.” Ahh, so that’s what the period between now and February 10, when he will make his presidential intentions official, is all about: thinking time.

Obama is known for choosing his words very carefully. His admirers say that’s a sign of his conscientious nature, that he doesn't want to inadvertently say the wrong thing, to speak irresponsibly. The truth is, Obama is determined to say next to nothing substantive at all, unless it is designed to position himself in some mellow region between opposing forces. Obama claims, "I didn't expect to find myself in this position a year ago.” Amazing. I suppose that’s why he has been so careful to navigate to the right of his fellow Democratic senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin; why he spent 2005 and 2006 mouthing “mush” on the Iraq war, and still continues to do so; why he told me point-blank, three weeks before being sworn in as U.S. senator, that he would not push for universal health care – the very issue that had made him a darling of progressives as a state senator, but which had burned Hillary Clinton when she was First Lady. Obama runs from even the flicker of a flame.

"The decisions that have been made in the past six years have put our country in a precarious place," he said. What the hell does that mean? Exactly what it is supposed to: next to nothing. By February 10, Obama will have crafted a catch-phrase that captures some vague mood of distress among the electorate. But he needs the time to measure the barometer, temperature and wind flow, and situate himself accordingly – the perfect mirage.

Barack Obama is a lawyer by training, but could easily have made a career on Madison Avenue, where “impressions” are the holy grail. The most effective commercials are those that provoke consumers to provide their own impressions of the product, through word and image association. Obama’s special genius is to elicit self-generated positive impressions from a wide range of consumers/observers – most dramatically, from consumers across the color line – while saying nothing of substance.

Corporate media, an extension of Madison Avenue, eat this crap up. Barack Obama has “wide appeal” and is, therefore, a “saleable” product. But what are they selling, and to whom? They (and Obama) are certainly not selling an end to U.S. wars of aggression, or universal health care, or the right to housing, education, and a minimal standard of income. Most insidiously, Obama-mania does not even market substantive measures toward racial justice. Quite the opposite: it presents an Obama presidential candidacy as a palliative – a soothing potion – that on its face serves as an historical benchmark showing how far “America” – meaning white America – has come.

Such is Obama’s carefully orchestrated message: Vote for me, and I'll set you free – free like me! – from any obligation to reverse centuries of past wrongs or current crimes against African Americans; free to abandon universal health care as a national priority; free to warn Iraqis that there will be “no more coddling” of them, as if 600,000 Iraqis have died from excess coddling; free to threaten “surgical missile strikes” against Iran in early 2006, and free to later back away from the warmongers’ bully pulpit when the political winds changed. Free!
Commercialization is the great diversion in U.S. society: the creation of false realities that are “sold” far beyond conventional points-of-purchase. For decades corporations (and their two political parties) have been marketing an empty package labeled “new, improved America,” a product that miraculously cures the nation’s ills without the trauma of relinquishing white privilege and forging a real social compact among Americans, or of abandoning an imperial foreign policy. Barack Obama has cynically signed on as the beaming face on the package of that product.

In Obama’s mind, the game is all about “impressions” – ephemeral things that are very much like mirages. Having no substance – poof! – in a minute, they are gone, leaving us to anxiously await the appearance of the next illusions of light and temperature, or messages that seem to solve ancient ills, but actually promise…nothing.

Barack Obama has methodically created the impression that he feels no special obligation to African Americans (“There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America.”) – the source of his meteoric rise. It matters not what he feels inside, or what he wrote in a decade-old biography. Obama has eagerly signed on as a candidate of the center-right of the Democratic Party – a hair’s-breadth from Hillary Clinton, with whom I suspect he will eventually team-up.

And what do African Americans get out of the deal? Far less than nothing. By assisting white Americans to believe that painless absolution of collective responsibility for the past and current national sins can be achieved by looking kindly on an ingratiating Black man’s presidential candidacy, Obama has become an active participant in the Great Diversion. He repeatedly reinforces the notion that noisy “partisan politics” is what’s wrong with America, rather than rapacious corporations, structural and overt racism, and rampaging militarism.
As BAR Managing Editor Bruce Dixon has written, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), the announced presidential contender whose name is seldom uttered in the corporate media, is the “blackest candidate in the ring.” Kucinich’s voting record “matches the best of the Congressional Black Caucus across the board” and is far more in tune with the historical Black Consensus on issues of peace and social justice than Sen. Obama’s over the past two years.

However, African Americans will certainly flock to Obama’s candidacy, both emotionally and – if he doesn't shift his weight to the Clintons before the primaries – with their votes. Despite the passage of four decades since the Black Freedom Movement defeated official apartheid, a Jim Crow mentality continues to haunt Black politics, one that celebrates every prospect of a Black face in a high place. The presidency is, of course, the ultimate brass ring. African Americans yearn to vicariously grasp it – even if the candidate has labored mightily to distance himself from them.

In many ways, the Black aspect of Obama-mania is as caught up in historical contradictions as is the white side of the phenomenon. We will have to wrestle with both.
Glen Ford, Black Agenda Report Executive Editor can be contacted at

Glen.Ford@BlackAgendaReport.com. This article was made available by Black Agenda Report where other great features can be found.

Why does everything have to go the race route?! Who freaking cares if you are black, white, yellow or brown!! The race card should not even be discussed. Judge the person by his charactor and what he can do for our country. Do not judge the person because of the color of his skin! PEOPLE STOP BEING SO IGNORANT!!

Posted by: Maria | Jan 25, 2007 11:29:40 AM

Times are a changin Maria, but unfortunately race "is" still a factor, as much as you and I wish it were not. It is a valid question.

I am defined as an African-American.....I have never been to Africa. By many I am considered "Black", my skin is brown. My ancestry likk many, is mixed. I also have Native-American ancestry as well and some Irish. Who will vote for me if I ran for office? Could I bring all the groups together to vote for mme, the conservative Republican?

I will launch my write in campaign and surely win the Afro-Irish-native American and brown skinned vote, the tanned skin may also join me.....except for Obama.

When will everybody realize Liberals are obsessed with race? And that's why they keep bringing it up?

Obama is not the problem; rather, it is the Black Leadership. Because of the strength of the Civil Rights movement inpart led by Dr.Rev.,MLK,Jr., the "voice" of the American Black population has came from Black Clergy. Black Clergy have filled a vaccum created by the exclusion from anyother means for blacks denied constitutional rights had to fight for freedoms. After King died, the Rev., Jessie Jackson was very instrumental in giving this group a purpose by creating a insidious powerful group almost like a nation in a nation. Since King died, these minister's have courted politicians in both parties and have had the support of the people to resolve grievances and let the government know what we as a people wanted.

In steps Obama, and he is symbolic in that he represents the type of Authentic Leaderships African-Americans would have had and engendered and perhaps "preferred" had there not been a anti-black agenda in this nation for so long that discourage by any means necessary our leadership to grow. The Black Clergy want Barrack Obama to come to them for support and if they give it, they want it to be on [their]terms. Jackson, Sharpton and all the rest of these leaders will never give up the Right to be known a Black leaders even though fundementally, in this country there is a separation of Church and State.

So far, Obama has not really been the typical black leader. He's not a preacher. He is the type of leader that is emerging as America's and Americans soften on discrimination and accept Blacks American as equal partners in the continued development of our nation. And the grass roots blacks are still caught up in the tradition of trusting only Black Clergy to lead them.

If Obama win despite them, they would encourage their "flock's" not to support him. What is wrong with supporting him in the primaries? If Hillary or Edwards win despite that then the winner gets the "lion share" of the votes. However, Black Clergy are forming the picture that Black's should stick with Clinton even though her husband Bill, did more "window dressing" and had no substance in dictating policy that benefited minorities. The massess do not seem to recognize this. Jackson and Sharpton and the many more so called Bishops and Top preachers will get their subtle under the cover, tax breaks on land to build mega churches and pick a few folks for jobs; but, the need to "move over" and let, real educated Black men and women with passions for Politic's and Leadership to take over. They want say this but this is the hidden reason they are waffling about Obama.

Blacks are politically more complex than they are often given credit for? Please! There is nothing complex or sophisticated about the Black electorate. You simply need to examine when and how we vote. Blacks vote in the smallest percentage of any voting block in this country. I would challenge Frank James to find more than 1 in 4 Black Democrats that immediately knows the names of their congressional represenatives, senators or even their school superintendent. Blacks typically vote for any White Democrat the Party props up without knowing more than the candidate's last name, but suddently we want to apply a litmus test to Senator Obama. If this was merely a question of experience, the answer would be easy: Obama has more elected office experience than George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. The dirty secret Frank James is trying to black-wash is that Blacks are fearful of losing their perpetual victim status. When Blacks say that America isn't ready for a Black President, what they are really saying is that Black America isn't ready for a Blaack President. The biggest problem facing the Black community is not racism, but self-defeatism and self-imposed limitations. There are many within our community that feel Senator Obama has no right to have aspirations beyond what our society, which most Blacks still deem is overwhelmingly racist, will allow. And they wonder why our kids only apsire to be athletes and entertainers. The only complex thing about Black voters is that they need BOTH a White Savior to lead them and a White Boogeyman to blame for their lack of progress.

Whether Senator Obama is "black" enough for African American voters seems to be comentators' "flavor of the week."

One of the most controversial articles was written by an African American woman and published Monday on Salon.com. ("Colorblind:
Barack Obama would be the great black hope in the next presidential race -- if he were actually black" by Debra J. Dickerson.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/01/22/obama/)

This article struck such a nerve that it has already attracted 433 posted comments and 90 blog reactions.

In reading this discussion, I see no references to Sen. Obama's work as a community organizer on the South side of Chicago. Obama gave up a high-powered, high-paying corporate job in New York City to try to help indigent African Americans in urban America.

I find that much more significant than whether his ancestors were slaves.

How many middle class, educated "black" commentators have done as much to help "the community"?

Well, to answer the question as it's put, from what I've read of Obama's record, his writings, and having heard him speak, I think he'd keep EVERYONE'S interest in mind to the best of his ability in leading the country. All things being equal between now and November, 2008 (quite a stretch), I'd certainly be willing to support him, theoretically.

But, as other writers have pointed out, the 2008 election is quite a chunk of time ahead of us and an awful lot of things can happen between now and then. Although I haven't jumped on the "our leaders must have had MILITARY experience" bandwagon, I do wonder how well Obama would do in charge of troops and planning a war, since it seems pretty obvious we'll still be needing to fight terrorists long after Bush's departure/jettison. I'd also like to see who the other potential candidates are closer to the primaries and the final election.

I have to say I DON'T like Hillary. She has the charm of a gila monster, and I wasn't impressed by how well she didn't handle the Health Care reform thing when it was put in her lap during her husband's administration. But that's just me.

AND, depending on the strength of the Democratic majority in Congress, I might decide to vote Republican, as I'm finding I really, really like the push and pull we're getting from having TWO parties in power as opposed to just one.

Wait. I'm confused. Is he "black" or "African-American"? And is he looking for the support of "black" or "African-American" community leaders? And will they rally their base of "black" or "African-American" voters? It appeared that when the author felt like he needed to cast a tone of complexity people were "African-American", but when he needed to express some notion more quickly these same people suddenly became "black". For the record, I'm neither. I'm just a crumudgeon against lazy writing. I'm not even railing against PC writing here, but lazy writing.

Obama and Hillary still have alot to overcome.

As I have seen time and again from posters Paulo and JohnJD,there are still plenty of people out there who hate black people and think that women are second class citizens.

The good news for us is that a Democrat will win in 08 because America is tired of the swiftboat ride they've been on under President Rambo and the lockstep Republicans.

Goodluck to both of them,I think it's great for our country that we have a minority man of color and a female who are both QUALIFIED to be our next President.

If W. can do it,"anyone" can and I have no doubt that "anyone" could do it better than W. has.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OBAMA. ANYONE WILLING TO GET OUT THERE TO RUN FOR ANY OFFICE,ALL FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY, WHETHER WE LIKE THEM OR NOT, DESERVES A PAT ON THE BACK AND MORE WIN OR
LOSE. IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB FOR THEM OR THEIR FAMILY. WE FOUGHT FOR THESE RIGHTS, SO WATCH WHAT YOU ASK FOR, YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT!

How sad ... Mr. Obama is an intelligent, accomplished public servant with grass-roots ties to the South Side of Chicago where I was born some forty years ago and yet folks are (already) choking on the fact that he is biracial? He attempts to strike a tone that is progressive and that addresses the greater good, but yet a lot of common folk still are talking from their gut that "he's not black enough"? What in the world do people want??? Someone that can eradicate unemployment, ease pressures on health care, and improve graduation rates from troubled high schools ... AND sound and talk exactly like them? AND win a national election? If the Obama candidacy degenerates into an argument on black racial purity (which would be ironic) and the country winds up with an inferior alternative, America will deserve the misfortunes that will follow. America has got to get beyond the race thing, and that includes the black community and Im a college-educated African-American professional working in the I-T industry. Its been over 230 years and the country hasnt gotten the race thing right yet.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OBAMA. ANYONE WILLING TO GET OUT THERE TO RUN FOR ANY OFFICE,ALL FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY, WHETHER WE LIKE THEM OR NOT, DESERVES A PAT ON THE BACK AND MORE WIN OR
LOSE. IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB FOR THEM OR THEIR FAMILY. WE FOUGHT FOR THESE RIGHTS, SO WATCH WHAT YOU ASK FOR, YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT!

those leaders know what they think and how they feel. they have no idea what I think or how I feel since leader have no want to talk to folk on the street.

The only reason race is still in issue is because people make it an issue, with such articles and posts.

One simply cannot deny the race factor in America, to do so is foolish. The racist Harold Ford ad in Tenessee is an example of the "elephant in the room." I'm from Chicago, but I've lived in various parts of the country for almost 9 years. There is racism in Chicago, but nothing on the level of the South and even some parts of the West. You Chicagoans on this board are seemingly forgetting that Chicago is a different world than the South. Polls are showing that Obama will have to win at least 43% of the white vote in some red states in order to win the Presidential election. Yes, this is going to be a tough task, and yes Barack will have to overcome racism in certain parts of this country, and lastly, yes attempting to overcome all of these obstacles is worth it. If he has a shot, and he's willing, capable, and potentially competent enough to do the job then he should run. Someone above mentioned that Obama is a different kind of black politician, and I agree that he is and as an African-American man that is refreshing. Our black religious/political leaders have helped us but I believe they can only take us so far. African-Americans need someone that comes from our perspective and is still appealing to the rest of America. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton types will never ever be able to fill that role. Hopefully Barack will be that guy.

Are you serious? Slavish? Blacks? Mindless?

I like how you tried to take no stance on it, and bring up other articles, but you still used every offensive word you can find. Is this the state of our current reporters? Trying to get famous off controversy instead of reporting the NEWS.

Who gave you the official sterotype anyway? And no, I have never heard the old Klansman saying that when whites catch a cold, blacks get pneumonia.

You should be ashamed that you HAD to write this to get readers to know your name.. Don't worry.. we will forget it when the next guy picks up the baton on this media rampage of stupidity. We are almost numb to it at this point.

Im 24, and I watch the news, vote, and am very politically aware. I can see (and a lot of political analysts) that Obama is a good man, before a good senator or good presidential cantidate. Its people like you who show us how stupid Americans can be.. you make it easy for us (Americans) to vote for him.

By the way, were did you verify that blacks mainly vote democratic?

I agree with Dale Peters,I don't care if he's black,white,green or blue.
But,Barack "Hussein" Obama is a gun grabbing lefty lib and he won't make it very far because of that issue.
Oh...and he's an admitted illegal drug user.
Paulo

A Chicago southsider is perhaps on the road to becoming the US President, and some on here want to know why the local Chicago media is covering the story?

Good lord, folks. Can't you put aside your petty partisanship for once in your lives and recognize that this is not only a great story for the local media, but also good for Illinois and Chicago, no matter what your party affiliation?

Blackwarvet:
The ratio of support for Democrats over Republicans in national election contests among black voters runs roughly 9:1. This is verfied in exit-polling conducted each year. 85 percent is about as low as it runs. It's a fact, and my good colleague Frank James covers a lot of facts. He's plenty smart, too.

It is unfortunate that some so called black people are not supporting Obama in his bid to win the democratic party's presidential nomination. I think it is high time we blacks should embrace ourselves. It further proves the fact that we blacks don't like ourselves. How can someone who graduated from college decides he wants to work on the south side of Chicago( 99% black neigborhood) helping those in need after the steel industry had collapsed in the early eighties, be doubted as a true African American.? I think a lot of African American brothers are overwelmed in disbelief by the kind of support and turn-outs this gentleman has commanded in the past few weeks/months. I think a lot of blacks are not comfortable with his African origin. When Rev Al Sharpton contested for the primaries two years ago, there were no single doubts about the kind of support he would get from black people.
what we as blacks should realize is the fact that Obama has to appeal to both whites and black people in other for him to win the race. LET US ALL GIVE HIM THE NEEDED SUPPORT AT THIS TIME, EVEN IF HE WOULD NOT BE ELECTED. THIS MIGHT BE THE CLOSEST SHOT AT THE WHITE HOUSE WE MAY EVER GET IN A LONG TIME TO COME.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THIER SKIN but by the content of their character."
MLK

Pretty much says it all, eh?

He does not have my vote. Its not because of something as trite as the color of his skin, either. He wants to turn doctors into employees of the government. He is a law man. The law doesnt ever do anything for me but hold me down, and make me double geuss every move. Politicians have never helped me and the less government in my life the better. You wanna see your personal freedoms and your quality of healthcare go down, vote for obama. I mean, whats next, subsidized programs for people to become artists and musicians?! More taxes for me! yaye! America is supposed to be a hard place to live. Thats what makes us strong. I dont want more government. I dont want handouts. Im an american damnit. Im not Chinese. These law men are all the same. Only reason Obama's got a shot in hell is cause Bush is a weak communicator. The bar is low these days.

Use Maryland blacks as an example. Let the Democrats spread enough money around and the blacks will do what they are told. If you want to see how much the Democrats value blacks as serious contenders for public office, ask Hillary if she will run for Vice President instead. And if Hillary loses, ask if the blacks will support Condi Rice against the Democrats.

I agree with Dale Peters,I don't care if he's black,white,green or blue.
But,Barack "Hussein" Obama is a gun grabbing lefty lib and he won't make it very far because of that issue.
Oh...and he's an admitted illegal drug user.
Paulo

Posted by: Paulo | Jan 25, 2007 2:44:18 PM

You forgot to metion you wouldn't vote for him because he has big ears and an unAmerican sounding name.....That pretty much discounts your comments.

Once we break the color-line in presidential politics, then color will not matter.

Until we do, it will regardless of how many words are written in outrage or protest about the race "issue."

For all you folks suffering from Obama-itis, here's my suggestion: DON'T READ ANY ARTICLES ABOUT HIM. There's a reason why Larry King et al made a concious decision to interview Obama--first--after the Shrub's State of the Union Babble; BO is sharp, political savvy beyond his years, and offers viable alternatives. I trust that as this campaignathon plays out, we'll hear/learn more about his ideas, solutions and resolve in dealing with the gutter-style politics which has become the hallmark of American campaigns.

Further, it's probably a plus if BO does not have wholesale support from the black community, a la Run-Jesse-Run; as he'd surely be labeled and/or viewed as the black candidate, which would be perceived as pushing--first and foremost--a black issues agenda. Not the yellow-brick road to 1600 Penn ave. And rightfully so. If elected, he'll be representing a highly diverse gumbo of competing interests, groups, and causes; and they'll all want and need to be heard.

Obama's meteoric ascendence is especially inspiring to me (a man of African-American heritage), because this situation transcends the individual. This bespeaks to the impressive evolution of a people that's been unduly suppressed, persecuted, caricaturized and marginalized for far too many years. And will--no doubt--send a powerful message to ALL americans that we're inching closer to MLK's Dream...Though some insecure types (Insecurity and/or greed is the true root of racism/bigotry.) would prefer to maintain our present course of the rich geting richer and the poor getting mo' poor..

Our country--for a multitude of reasons--only benefits from diverse leadership that's more reflective of our broad socio-economic and cultural diversity. Who knows how many young Obamas will now be inspired to become academicians rather than juvenile deliquentians. Sure, it will create more competition for university slots, and the subsequent better-paying jobs(security), but wouldn't that just make our country stronger, more competitive? Thus a better place to live and raise a healthy family. GOBAMA!

It's not about jumping in the bandwagon or about skin color, people are supporting Ms Barack (including myself) because he represents what today's politicians do not.It is not about a fresh face, is about fresh ideas, is about going back to believing in our politicians, knowing that they really care about our country, is about voting for somebody who earned his credentials with hard work and intelligence not with a last name, he has earned this chance to run as a serious candidate the same way he earned our votes: by working hard and being the best on what he does. Someone like that i want as president, PLEASE DO AMERICA A FAVOR AND VOTE FOR OBAMA BARACK IN OUR NEXT ELECTION.

I wish there was this much momemtum behind Jessie Jackson when he ran for president. The only person on American soil that went over and talked to enemy leadership and got hostages released. The only person who could actually get to the Katrina victums and give out food. The only person who had the ideas peace between nations through talking. Not peace through force. Remember???
Hopefully - but I expect it to happen - the power hungry American won't kill Obama . . . .
Maybe that is the real issue -

So Stop The Barack Obama Itis! Enough BO Already!
I agree with the one Black female that Barack
Obama don't have it and as an Independent White
Female I will Vote for Either John Edwards or
Hillary Clinton and especikally so now that I see
Barack Obama is into another of his phony idiotic
charisma nonsense by him buying right into both
War Criminal George W Bush Distraction Health Care
BS And Mental Midget Speaker Nancy Pelosi Endless
Minor Issue Parlor Games & Card Tricks Society
Ladies Tea Party,Rather Then Deal With the War
in Iraq and Impeachment of Both George W Bush
And draft Dodger Dick Cheney! And that alone
proves BO (Barack Obama) is too inexperienced
to be President and just a young naive immature
phony people pleaser! So can we stop the Free
Obama PR Campaign Now? As maybe the real question
is not whether the Black Community will vote
for People Pleaser Barack Obama or Not But Will
The White Community Vote For Him?

WILL THIS PAPER PLEASE STOP OBSESSING ON THIS 2 YEAR US SENATOR??

I don't care if he is pink, green and orange.

I do very much care that all he has ever done was play in the kindergarten sandbox of a state legislature and then, less than 2 years after taking a seat in the US Senate, he proclaims himself worthy to be the President!!!

YIKES - from elementary school to post-doctoral studies without a stop in between???

What has he created (not joined in but CREATED) in the way of major public policy? Not one thing. Nothing. NADA.

Reas his Senate website. Lots of good platitudes about concepts and the way things 'should be' and not one single word about how those ideas should come into being and be put into effect.

Having beliefs is one thing. Putting them into effect is a whole other ballgame.

So far he is solely the product of the media and the 'image makers.' They have done a good job - he looks and sounds the part and would be perfectly cast in a TV show as the "honorable" newcomer to politics out to right the wrongs. How about a remake of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington?

It appears that those falling into Obama-mania are enamourded of him because of (1) his looks (2) his speech patterns and deliveries (3) his ability to utter platitudes and (4) the fact he hasn't done anything in policy matters of which they disapprove because he hasn't done anything!!

So, how well could he create a policy, draft the legislation and lead the fight to get it through a hostile Congress???

A whole lot less talk and a whole lot more conduct is in order before I will be persuaded that he is something other than an overly ambitious and woefully inexperienced government offical.

The man has never won a tough election in his life and he thinks he can run the country having spent sometime in Springfield and having been in the US Senate long enough to finally be able to find the elevators and about 3/4s of the washrooms in the Senate Buildings?

(And no, I don't think much of Hillary either - the one who never opens her mouth without having been pre-programmed more than my computer.)

Obama's not Black enough? Ridiculous! Unfortunately, any person growing up in the United States of America with a drop of Black blood is considered to be Black.

Lived and served on the South Side of chicago for years, is married to an African-American woman, attends probably the "blackest" Church in Chicago (Trinity). On the cover of Ebony, Jet, etc. He has within his repertoire an element of the traditional Black preacher style of MLK, Jesse. But he has all of that backed up by being one of the top Harvard Law School grads.

In any event Obama has the 2 key elements that appeal to blacks and whites: Charisma with a certain quality of commonness or being for "the people". Others that have had these qualities and became beloved by the Black community were Clinton and JFK. Whether or not Black "leaders" embrace Obama or not Black people will as they see more and more of him.

It is funny to watch white reporters write about black voters as if -- 'oh my god, they are human' -- this discussion is a waste of time. The reporters are only trying to sound smart by puffing about what they think will be a unique angle on barack, or they are listening too closely to what Clinton and other pols are whispering in their ears. Bottom line is: Barack is black. Barack has been discriminated against as a black person in his life. Barack has lived the experience of a minority on many levels. And no one can deny that the overwhelming majority of blacks and minorities will vote for him, hands down. To assume or think you sound smart by theorizing otherwise is a waste of everyone's time and energy. To qoute one of your own references: find me the big chunk of Irish Catholics that didn't vote for Kennedy. Or the big jewish block that cost Lieberman his VP election.

I'm no English major or prig, but there should be some limit to the grammatical butchery practiced by some bloggers. Fortunately, most of these pre-school quality posts appear to be HOHs (Hardcore Obama-Haters), which--if true--means he'll be a shoo-in... :)

Why is the media so lazy and gullible? It's a Hillary plant story.
She has said she is going to make the blacks question if Obama is black enough? and to make them want her instead.
duh.
I wish they would quit giving this woman a pass and start looking very hard at her.
There were people in the know who said, when asked, about this story and they said it was a plant.

people who think this country has moved away from judging people based on their race are living in a fairy tale world with the blue, green, purple and polka dot people and maybe they should go there to live because they aren't helping anything by stating the obvious about how america "should" be. they are in fact making matters worse with their uninformed, ignorant remarks. obama knows exactly what he's doing or not doing and that is acknowledge racial inequalities on any level. but he also can't win without appealing to black americans. see the thing is if whites are really excited about obama, then black people are going to be suspicious. call it, american history...

There will be people in this country that won't vote for Senator Obama because he is black, but there will also will be people that will vote for him because he is black.

I personally (and I believe the vast majority of Americans) don't care if he is pink with purple polka dots, if his policies are sound. From what I have seen, I don't think they are.

I AM A BLACK CANADIAN AND WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTED TO KNOW THAT TODAY, IN THE 21ST CENTURY, AMERICANS ARE STILL CAUGHT UP WITH RACE. IT IS ABOUT TIME WE RISE ABOVE THAT. AMERICA WILL NEVER BE READY FOR A BLACK OR FEMALE PRESIDENT, IT WILL HAVE TO BE IMPOSED ON AMERICA. WERE AMERICANS READY FOR GEORGE W? PLEASE STOP DISECTING SENATOR OBAMA. NOT JUST AMERICA NEEDS A CHANGE, THE WORLD DOES.IN MY HEART I TRULY BELIEVE THAT SENATOR OBAMA WILL GET THE RESPECT OF THE WORLD. SENATOR OBAMA IS A HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, EDUCATED, CHARISMATIC AND PASSIONATELY WANTS TO SEE CHANGE IN THE POLITICS FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY AND ITS CITIZENS. GOD BLESS SENATOR OBAMA FOR HIS COURAGE.

Hey, fellas: The title is "President of the United States of America"; not representative of this lobby or that. You Americans are entitled to consider your candidates as you see fit, but it is very much in your interests to apply the concept of democracy (review the Gettysburg Address for the correct version) and, as an associated exercise in wisdom, listen to your long-time ally-neighbours on this planet, rather than be manipulated by partisan and invariably ignorant journalists. The salient truth is, your neighbours have just about had enough of presidents who preside over the now-numbering 41 aggressive invasions of sovereign nations, and the interference in the governments of the remainder. Obama is the first candidate since 1946, other than Al Gore, who seems to comprehend that the only thing standing between the US and the eventual collapse of the American economy; is the good will of your neighbours. If you consider the downward flow of quality of life since 1970, you will understand what I allude to. Clinton, like her husband, is globalist to the core and will expedite the process of socio-economic collapse. And what of your allies now? In Australia, we are about to rid ourselves of a dispised White House-owned government, and to retaliate against an imposed and rapacious FTA and an unwelcome and invasive US military presence. On a more emotional level, we will be letting Americans know how we feel about your government's 5 year imprisonment and torture in Guantanamo, of an innocent Australian citizen; David Hicks. In concert with the anger of other nations, you will then discover what it is like to become a pariah state, actively unwelcome outside your own unguarded borders. Alternatively, you could take your eyes off the colour of your fellow American's skin for long enough to consider the real foreign policy issues. This will be too late to save you from unfriendly economic activity by Japan and China, but it just may win you forgiveness by some of your former allies and, as a consequence, support in the hard times to come. Think on it. Your other leaders have sold you out. For independent perceptions on America's true position in the world, coming from a friend, by all means contact tonyryan28@gmail.com

I agree with Dale Peters,I don't care if he's black,white,green or blue.
But,Barack "Hussein" Obama is a gun grabbing lefty lib and he won't make it very far because of that issue.
Oh...and he's an admitted illegal drug user.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | Jan 25, 2007 2:44:18 PM

So is Bush, but that didn't stop over 50 million people from voting for HIM!

It is amazing to me to see the baby boomer, combined with the media, addressing such an issue. We do not live in 1965, there are no race riots and we are thankful for both of these things. The baby boomers continue to perpetuate the race issue and anyone older than them will assist in blowing a non issue up to a major issue. All this does is assist the dumb in getting dumber and voting in elections based on race. Thankfully, this will be changing in the next 30-40 years with an influx of the latino population (Did anyone ask if Bill Richardson was Latino enough, seeing that Latino's command more of the vote than any other minority?). Articles like the one above and many of the posts above only perpetuate what some of us in the younger generation would like to get rid of - ignorance.

Good, common-sense points by JasonP! I hope you're right abt the younger gen...I yearn for the day that the word "race" will become irrelevant. Moot. A fossilized relic of the american lexicon.

It is a sad day in this country that this man's character can not be the deciding factor in his validity to be president. He can not, and must not present himself as all for the black community, nor all for the white community, or any other race. His father was Kenyan, his mother was from Kansas and white. What right does anyone have to judge him as being "enough" of anything? Yes, he is black by America's arbitrary definition.

What the heck does that term mean exactly? That both parents are black? Most "African Americans" have mixed ancestry and have NO right to comment on Obama's ancestry, some "African Americans" with two "black" parents are lighter skinned than Obama. Or to be black in America, must you be a descendent of slaves brought over, and part of a "shared cultural heritage of experience", even though none of us were around back then?

If Barack Obama is not black, then no one in Africa can be considered black, because the ones who remained behind obviously were not slaves in America.

Barack Obama is black, but may not get support from members of the "black community" (listen to that statement, it implies a unitary single minded entity encompassing the entire country).

I, for one will vote for the man. I don't care that his ancestors weren't slaves here. (Half of my ancestors were not slaves here). I will vote for him based on his character, and the hope that I believe he represents for all ethnic groups in this country, and the unity he represents. He is exactly what this country needs to move forward. Those who chose not to embrace him because he's not "black enough", or because he's black probably aren't worth a damn.

i am not american, neither white as most people may say(im just human, colour blind that is lol)

if we are gonna talk about race let me add in my piece, i really think that we black people around the world are the ones who are still enslaved by this racial seperation by the human population. this is the reason why the forbes magazine does not have black men or women in the billionaire list, simply because we see blacks and dont support them, we just dont support each other, only the white man whom we see as the enemy supports our race in any form, if we overlook the racial side of life and support each other by who we are and not what we look like, maybe this world and society would be different.

obamais young, so was kennedy and many other leaders world wide, age has nothing to do with how you can lead a country, if it does then look at how bush has the usa, if its experience look at the entire bush administration.

people need to overlook this belief of we all are from different races, god said let us create man in our own image, he never said let us create back men, white men, green men or blue men, he said let us create man.

if i was an american citizen, i would vote for obama simply because of who he is, this man can influence anyone who listen to him, other candidates just talk and u hear and forget, obama leaves something in you that just dont go away, i have listened to him online and trust me, he gives me those feelings like when a song touches you and send those chills tru you.

i think we people especially black people need to overlook this race issue. slavery was never started by whites, it started long before the days of moses.

let us move on and make a change for those who can.

vote obama 2008

the only reason obama bothers me as a candidate is that, i keep getting this feeling he will be assassinated or someone will try to kill him when he does win this election, but god be with him.

if he does win and he makes a change, i know those black people who never voted will, well they should feel bad to know they were never there, give the man a chance to prove himself.

its sickening to see we still behave like immature fools by discrediting a fellow man because we fail to accept that we just hate to support our own.

GO OBAMA 2008