by TexasDarlin
It’s all over the blogosphere, the cable TV shows, the newspapers, it’s tonight’s top talking point from Obama surrogates.
It’s Obama’s rationale: Defeats in West Virginia (and Kentucky next week) are because those white folks got a problem voting for a black man.
But, sorry, that’s wrong. Not only is it wrong, it’s hugely offensive to fair-minded white people. That’s right, most “hillbillies” and southern folk do not discriminate. Imagine how all those white people who voted for Hillary Clinton today feel having their votes explained away due to racism. It’s not going to help in November if Obama is the nominee, that much is for sure.
I just saw a FOX News exit poll statistic that 77% of the people in West Virginia said race was NOT a factor in their vote. I absolutely believe them. I believe that a different African American candidate could be much more successful than Obama among some of the white segments where he’s struggled. I have been trying to shout this point from the rooftops: It is not Obama’s skin color that gives voters pause. It is a collection of other issues, mixed together. It’s Rev. Wright damning America, plus “bitter small-towners clinging,” plus friendships with guys like Rezko and Ayres, plus Michelle’s patriotism gaffe, plus the flag pin problem — all of that combined with the experience gap, the weak name recognition — all together, there’s the answer.
It’s not race, so please stop. If Obama becomes the nominee, I’d suggest that a more effective way to win votes in November is to deal head-on with the liabilities listed in that last paragraph. Playing the race card may have had some limited use in the primary season, but it will be the kiss of death for Democrats as a general-election strategy.
Obama lost West Virginia today by whopping double digits. Convenient as it may be to blame it on racism, that’s a costly error.
UPDATE: In the comments to this diary, twinmom makes a great point:
I’d take it a step further (2.00 / 4)
I don’t even think this victory has anything to do with Obama. It isn’t a rejection of him… these people LOVE HILLARY! These people believe with all their hearts and minds that Hillary should be our next President. She connects with them, she speaks to them, she gets their enthusiastic support and votes.
Personally, I’ve never lived in a state that went for Obama. I’ve lived in RI, NY, MA, NH, CA, NM, PA. Racism doesn’t explain why those votes went for Hillary. I don’t know a single person that I’d ever in a million years call racist. I know literally hundreds of loyal Clinton supporters and their motivation is exactly like my own: Pro-pro-pro-pro-HILLARY!
Not everything is about Obama.
7 responses so far ↓
katmandu1 // May 14, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Popular Vote (w/FL & MI)**
Obama 16,679,433 47.6%
Clinton 16,706,049 47.7%
Clinton +26,616 +0.08%
What a nice morning.
This multi-racial family head salutes Hillary this morning.
Ben // May 14, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Surprise, an Asian that won’t vote for a black man. Count up another bigot.
texasdarlin // May 15, 2008 at 12:15 am
Ben, what are you talking about?
Gob Bluth // May 16, 2008 at 4:22 pm
The exit polls can’t be given much weight on the question of race. Few would admit to a complete stranger that race was a factor in their vote. These poll results are only as good as the veracity of the respondents, which, on sensitive topics such as race, should be suspect.
Leisa // May 17, 2008 at 3:13 am
Hey TD,
Did these exit polls indicate the race of the person they asked?
Race is a determining factor for one population, and I do not need a poll the to tell me that… when 90% of one race goes out for a person of their race, I would say that race does matter to that group… In light of the thin record of that candidate doing anything for that group other than register them to vote, I do not see the rationale other than bamboozling by Obama. Yeah, that Malcolm X channeling in SC did the work for him.
I am really sad about that race baiting Obama did. He really took advantage of people that he does not even share a heritage with. What manipulation.
Elliot Lake // May 17, 2008 at 11:06 pm
I’m particularly offended by carpetbaggers (people who moved here from cities in other states, to live out their fantasy life in Idaho) telling me I am racist and uneducated (”you locals”
and that I must expiate the sins of the nation (slavery) by voting for Obama.
My Swedish immigrant grandparents were railroad workers, not privileged landowners. My mother was the first person in our family to go to college. I’m a farmer (with a master’s degree in fine arts, take that, creative classists).
I don’t feel it is my responsibility to give up Social Security, Roe V Wade and universal health care so these “wish I had been a hippie” guys with 401k’s can deal with white guilt, or feel hip and young. If Obama were a strong fighter for labor, healthcare, equal rights for all, a true safety net for the elderly and sick, or if he had a stronger track record than being a friend of Oprah’s, I would give him a 2nd look.
But that he’s not, that he has this weird obsession with religion (we should make nice with Evangelicals—No, wait! religion is the opiate of the bitter!–no, wait, God called me to be president!), and that he is friends with a guy who thinks it’s great publicity to be photographed stomping on the flag—-I think Obama’s an opportunist who would sell out Democratic ideals in a heartbeat.
So even if he gets the nomination, I don’t think he will be good for the country.
texasdarlin // May 18, 2008 at 12:44 am
Elliot, I agree with you 100%, well said.
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