Black voters prefer Clinton to Obama, slightly

As Michelle Obama said in a speech recently in Sow Calina, that will change when those who are enamored with Hillary/Bill wake up.

This finding should hardly be a surprise to anyone who was born and raised in such a racially infused society as America. For years and years and years the only thing seen in America was bathed in white. If it's white, it's alright is still ingrained in the psyche of most Americans. Psychologists used to hold a white doll and a black doll before a Black child as a measure of preference. The White doll had flowing blond hair and blue eyes and was chosen every time. That may have changed somewhat these days, but it illustrates the depth to which the picture of all that is good, beautiful, correct, acceptable is tied into the notion that white is right.

A lot of this love for the Clinton can be attributed to the excellent sales job that Bill Clinton did and does to lure Black people into thinking that he is one of them, that he is just like them. That would follow, it seems, from his having been viewed as trailer trash, scorned by the White elite for being lowly born, and treated with contempt.

He could go into Black churches to supposedly get spiritual sustenance and dazzle Black people with his "I'm good peopleness." But there was no great big benefit for Black people stemming from his presidency. Ok, he apologized for slavery, he awarded some long overdue pardons and hero medals, and appointed a few minorities to his cabinet, and, and, and, wow he moved his office to the middle of the ghetto. Gee whiz! But there was nothing substantial of the magnitude of Truman's integration order or Johnson's Civil Rights programs.

In some ways the Black people who are enamored by the Bill Clinton mystique idolize gangstas, pimps, drug thugs, and can embrace someone like Marion Barry, who's sexual dalliances, like Big Bill were legendary and considered cool. (I haven't yet figured out where representatives Sheila Jackson Lee, John Lewis, and Kendrick Meek, high profile Black Caucus members fit into the mix. Maybe they have raised the bar of acceptability for Barack Obama. For many more Blacks the Bill Clinton legacy does not pass the smell test.

So, here comes, Hillary/Bill. The Barbie doll incarnate, heir to the Bill Clinton legacy and all rights pursuant thereto, and a lot of Blacks are reaching out for her.

Like Michelle Obama said in a recent speech in Sow Calina, they'll wake up.

Hmmmmmmmm...I wonder if the feeling is mutual?!

Okay, we're waiting. Where's the story about the Zogby poll yesterday showing Clinton would lose in the general election to any of the five top Republican candidates? All the news that's fit to print? It must not fit.

Or, GW, it could simply be that many blacks such as myself find Hillary to be the more appealing candidate. She is smart, tough and experienced -- like it or not. She's run circles around Obama on virtually every policy issue they've debated, because he seems to think he can get by on charm alone and doesn't do the heavy lifting that she does and that we expect our leaders to do. And much more than Obama she is consistly viewed by Americans as having what it takes to lead this country.

All that could explain why blacks favor Hillary over Obama long before you get to ridiculous and insulting white/black doll experiment explanations. That sort of nonsense really won't engender anything other than greater disdain for Obama and his supporters and solidify Hillary's black support.

Unfortunately for Obama, we're smarter, less monolithic, and more engaged as American citizens than he and Michelle obviously ever dreamed. It's as if they assumed they had a lock on our votes from day one, without having to do anything other than show up and be photogenic. Sorry, but contrary to popular belief we don't just look at the black face and vote for it accordingly anymore. That was so so 60's and 70's, and man have we been burned a few times.

This primary election presents the perfect opportunity to study the various and numerous schools of thought prevalent among Black folks in America. What mainstream America will discover is that Black people are no more inclined to think alike as if we're some kind of monolithic group than are white, Asian, hispanic or any other ethnic group. What that infers is that Black people are intelligent enough to make decisions based on their own best interest as opposed to reacting to an emotional stimulus. Black Americans have always known that if there were ten of us in a room, nine or ten different views would be expressed on a given subject, in fact, we tend to not be able to agree on very much at all, beginning with religion and politics, just like every other group of people. I only wonder whether mainstream America will ever acknowledge that Black people are not all alike and don't move and think in lockstep.

Amen, Biggdawg! You took the words right of my mouth!

If you Dem's think your going to win back the White House with the likes of Hillary or Osama Obama your living in some kind of fantasy land. This great country just isn't ready to turn socialist.

Biggdawg, pardon me thou bleeding piece of Earth, but you have described Hillary/Bill to the tee when you say: "It's as if they assumed they had a lock on our votes from day one, without having to do anything other than show up and be photogenic." Your smart, tough, experienced Hillary/Bill helped to wreck Iraq, send almost 4,000 brave American men and women to early graves, put 30,000 more into casualty wards all over the country, send the U.S. treasury into a tailspin, and emboldened the Taliban, Iran, and Al Qaeda. She's smart alright - smart enough to try to cover her ass when she's caught like a deer in the headlights. Heavy lifting, indeed!

Oh I know you believe that Blacks have solidified their support for Hillary/Bill, but so, have a lot solidified their support for Obama, along with scores of Whites, Asians, and Hispanics.

I believe, Biggdawg, that you equate being in the news headlines for the last 20 years, often for all the wrong reasons, makes Hillary/Bill the better choice. She is the better known candidate, but not the better choice. I see, the infatuation that you have for her is tied to the infatuation that you have for her Bill, who charmed us, oiled his way around us, convinced us that he was smart, but outside of the dynamic economy that he takes credit for in the 90's, his administration was very underwhelming.

But it begs the question, if charm in Bill Clinton, who showed up an was photogenic dazzled you, why can't the charm and photogenic qualities of Barack Obama charm you. Huh? Huh? You are choosy about who you allow yourself to be charmed by? As for Hillary/Bill, she ain't the charmer, she's just smart(?), tough(?) and experienced(?) Step back, take a deep breath, and think for a minute. It should worry you that she has demonstrably bad judgment, Biggdawg.

I love how Michelle Obama insults African Americans who don't like and support her husband by saying they will "wake up," as the first poster puts it here, as if something is wrong with us. The arrogance of the Obama's continues to astound. I'm from Chicago and can tell you that Obama has done nothing for the people here other than smirk, flirt and cut political deals for himself. I, like a seemingly growing number of other blacks, won't support Obama simply because he is half black --we want a real leader. Michelle Obama needs to "wake up" to that fact.

Derrick, in her speeches, Michelle Obama speaks about having lived a life as a Black woman and being told all her life that she can't do something, can't do this, can't do that because you are Black. That is an attitude that has been a sink hole for far too many African Americans. Her message was that if you hear it enough times, long enough, you will believe it. The same attitude has surfaced ever since Obama entered the campaign. "A Black person can't be elected president" is something that I've heard quite a bit myself. If that expression is repeated enough, then it will be believed. I don't think Obama is running as a half black or half white person. I listen to his issues, and try to find out where he stands, and I like his stance. I like the sense of history that surrounds his campaign. You state that you will not vote for him because he is half Black. Be reminded that for over 200 years it was not possible to even have that choice.

The American Museum of Art in Washington DC has portraits of all the presidents, some of whom were arrogant, some were slave owners, some were poor, some were wealthy, and all of them were White and middle aged. Would you begrudge Barack Obama the opportunity to lead this country out of 16 years of a downward spiral, so that one day his portrait will hang there? I can tell you that a whole lot of people, Black and White won't support Obama without knowing anything about his beliefs, the issues he supports, and the vision that expresses. Maybe, just maybe the reason that Obama hasn't done, as you put it, more for the people of Chicago is because there are so many other excellent, committed, down to earth, intelligent leaders running things in the city that he is excessive and needs to go on to bigger and better things, that will make Chicagoans truly proud. Won't it make you proud to see a Chicagoan in the White House? One from the South Side? Never happened before. In more than 200 years.

Why is it mandatory that a black person support a black person. Isn't that antithetical to the multicultural melting pot that the Democrats have been selling. Should whites not vote for Obama because he is black? Or should maybe half of the white population vote Obama (as he is half white) and the other half of the white population vote for some white dude? What about Hispanics. Do they have to vote for Richardson. What is you are a white Latino (as many are). How do you vote - for a white guy or for Richardson (who is white too.) Anyways, all this parsing is a little ridiculous. I don't think Obama and Michelle are the open-minded tolerant people they would have us believe.

"[C]hoosing between filet mignon and lobster tails" you say? I fear it is more of a choice between kitten scallopini and rack of rat, and they just don't know it yet.

Fantasy land? You mean like strolling through Baghdad's market in the middle of a war and telling everyone it's safe. How fortunate that soldiers, helicopters, snipers, all happened to run out of milk at the same time. It was chilly so he had to wear a bullet proof vest..

Here's what I call fantasy land.

NOVAK: Do you think that war can be won without sending in ground troops?

MCCAIN: I am very skeptical because all three of us, being students of history, know that the last time, I think, that air power won was when Zeus used to have an unlimited supply of thunderbolts.

NOVAK: I think the atom bomb on Japan might have...

MCCAIN: True, true

I have two major knocks on Obama:

1. Really, before he became Senator, Obama did what?
As Senator he did what?

2. He is an Illinois Politician and lets be real, except for Louisiana, what state has more corrupt politicians. Do we really want King Richard to have a direct line to the Whitehouse? And the ability to hand pick the U.S. Attorney?

Black voters do not prefer Hilary Clinton! As an African-American, I can tell you the only so-called "Black People" that would vote for her are the 'Wannabe White Types'. Any black person with any self-respect would never vote for a liar like Hilary Clinton. Do we really need another cold, unfeeling, LIAR in the White House? We've already got that with George W. Bush. It would be a tragedy if this country puts another one of these people in the White House. Does anyone know where the author is getting her information? What she's saying is simply "NOT TRUE"! Black People do not prefer Hilary Clinton to Barack Obama. And that's a FACT!!!

Bigg, I noticed in your attacks against Senator Barack Obama, you failed to mentioned the issues that you disagree on. This campaign isn't about color per se, it should be about the judgment of Senator Hillary Clinton voting to give George Bush the authority to invade Iraq, and Clinton's vote to define Iran as a terrorist nation - settting the stage for George Bush to attack that country.

I support Senator Obama because he has shown better judgment on the Iraq War issue. And he has worked effectively to win a Democratic majority in the Senate with his campaigning in the 2006 races. last, but not least - Senator Obama has the talent and vision to lead America in a better direction than Hillary & Co.

Derrick, I am a New Yorker - and I am here to tell you that Hillary Clinton ignored my request that she not vote to invade Iraq. Mrs Clinton failed to respond to community requests for help with city/state projects. The only time Senator Clinton shows up in the Black community is doing an election year, at some jacklegged preachers church, talking loud and saying nothing of substance - with the ill-informed kneegrows clapping their hands and stomping their feet because the broad showed up. I am insulted by that lame jive the Clinton's have become famous for - it is time to grow up and become informed citizens.

"I love how Michelle Obama insults African Americans who don't like and support her husband by saying they will "wake up," as the first poster puts it here, as if something is wrong with us."

- Posted by Derrick

Please link to a report of Michelle Obama saying anything like this about African Americans. I suspect this was taken ridiculously out of context.

I understand you want to feed your own misconceptions, but you can't believe everything you read in a blog,

GW,

You insult, sell short and undermine me and many other African-Americans on so many levels it's ridiculous -- not to mention the childish name-calling. I am a Clinton supporter not because I've heard of her, but because I've taken the time to listen to her, to observe her and to research her -- and her Iraq vote. Believe it or not us black folk do that all the time.

And guess what. I've observed Obama even more closely because he represents me and resides here in Chicago where I live. I've observed him and his ilk for a long time. I know which wizards man the curtain.

But you're right, I do admire Bill Clinton. That doesn't mean I and other blacks who support Hillary are dull enough that we can't judge Hillary independently though. Face it. She's the complete package and ready to lead.

You and others can keep harping on her Iraq vote if you want but it seems abundantly clear that the rest of the country has moved on and wants to focus on more pressing matters like an exit strategy, not the blame game. After all, it isn't as if you all really know and believe in your heart of hearts that if Obama really had to vote on the war, he would have voted against it. On the other hand, if history tells us anything, he probably wouldn't have summoned up the courage to vote at all.

"Bleeding piece of Earth" you attribute me to be, the most telling thing about your reply is you offered so little of substance and so much of the same old Hillary and Bill are polarizing devils crap and rambling "it's only because they've been around longer" passages" --much as you always do.

I'm done. My fellow Democrat (or whatever you are) you condescendingly denigrate and insult independent minded black people and are for that reason beneath me. Neither you, Jesse, Al or any one else will "pimp" us into supporting a candidate just because he's black and advances your personal objectives.

Hillary '08!!

God help this guy if this character represents the 20 or so percent of democrats behind him...

Some people see the world through one prism and regardless what the issue is. General rule of logic says that the simplest answer is usually the correct one. Hillary has been campaigning to be President since 1992, similar to how George W was on a presidential campaign since he bacame Governor of Texas. It only makes sense Obama would have a lot of ground to make up for a guy who was literally unknown to everyone when he ran for Senate in Illinois a couple years ago. A fortuitous confluence of events led to him being elected Senator. You cant expect a newcomer because he is Black to have all the Black voters automatically give them their votes, that is an insult to all of us. I will be voting for him because I think he is a better candidate and with time hopefully the majority of people will figure that out as well. With time I think he will convince enough PEOPLE of all backrounds to win not only the primary but the presidency.

Still waiting for many of my fellow back folks to pull their collective heads out of the sand. I say this for a couple of reasons.

First, please realize that we as a whole did not make great gains during Clinton's Presidency. Sure, many of us did well, but so many young black folks who are at risk today came up during that time where the gap between the haves and have nots continued to widen. The basis of our good feelings regarding Bill Clinton has more to with his dazzling displays to ingratiate himself with us rather than actual policy. (Maybe we're just glad he didn't pull a Willie Horton on us.)

Second, I've heard from some black folks saying that they wouldn't vote for Obama because white folks either won't allow him to become president or if he did make it there, some white racist would assassinate him. Please, let's stop living our lives in fear of what white folks will or won't due. Vote for whomever you wish, but not by using such ridiculous logic. Also, statistically, Obama is already at a far greater risk of being killed by another black person than by someone white, so why live in fear of some white spectre out there?

Clinton. Obama. Even Romney or Giuliani. Vote for whomever you choose, but while what we feel in our hearts definitely figures into how we vote, let's also let our heads get in on the decision.

Like whites, African Americans need to evaluate the candidates for president based upon who will do the best job. The fact that Obama is an African American is no reason for Blacks to vote for him any more than women should vote for Hilary or White men should all be for John Edwards. We need to evaluate the record and vision of each candidate and see whom we feel most confident in serving as the leader of our country. If people feel more trust and confidence in Obama, then vote for him. Otherwise vote for the person you feel is the best candidate. Too many times Blacks have been burned by voting for the Black candidate. Sometimes it is great -Harold Washington- sometimes not so great- Todd Stroger.