The Gray Area Of Race And Politics

Were The Candidates Speaking To The NAACP, Or To White Voters?

(CBS)  On the presidential campaign trail: Republican John McCain addressed the NAACP today. Meanwhile, Americans remain deeply divided on the issue of race. In the latest CBS News/New York Times poll, 55 percent of whites believe race relations are good. But only 29 percent of blacks feel that way. CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield has the story.

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John McCain spoke to the most venerable black organization in America today - with words of praise for the candidate he'll be tying to defeat.

Today at the NAACP Convention, McCain said: "Sen. Obama has achieved a great thing, for himself and his country, and I thank him for it."

But, when he talked about school choice and economic opportunity and conservative alternatives to liberal policies, was McCain really talking to black voters? Or was he talking to white voters who might be uneasy about voting against a black candidate?

Professor Michael Fauntroy of George Mason University shared his views: "Most of the moderate Republicans do not want to be associated or rather do not feel comfortable being associated with a party that is being known as hard right, so McCain in speaking to the NAACP helps to take off some of the edge."

And who was Barack Obama speaking to on Monday when he once again hit the theme of black responsibility?

"I know that nine little children didn't walk through a schoolhouse door in Little Rock so that we could stand by and let our children drop out of school and turn to gangs for the support they are not getting elsewhere in the community," Obama said.

Fauntroy says, "In speaking and using the tone that he, has I think what he's really doing is trying to reach out to independent white voters, whom he has been leaking recently to say, 'listen, I'm not this scary black guy that you have to worry about.'”

The idea that both candidates at an African-American event may be aiming at white voters; and our new poll shows sharp divisions between whites and blacks about the state of race relations and is more evidence of how incredibly tangled this whole area of race and politics is.

[steeepe]

Why don''t they just target Americans and forget about race? Why is Obama considered black anyway? His mother was white and his father was black. Doesn''t that make him half white and half black? It seems that if you have any black blood at all, you''re considered black. Should we use a color scale and anyone to one side of the center is black and everyone on the other half of the scale is white? And whites with dark tans become blacks? Let''s just forget about it and think of ourselves as Americans.

[hotrod2008-2009]

test

[hotrod2008-2009]

Though I only see one comment thus far about this article, I have been seeing very little other than bickering, name calling and nastiness in the content of most blogs on most articles. It appears to me that neither McCain nor Obama are inspiring the people nor showing true leadership. If you are in any way feeling like you will be choosing "the lesser of two evils," please see the following video,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE06O7lZuPo&NR=1

and also check out what Nader has to say in general. The more I see both major party candidates flip flopping and waffling, the better Nader looks. He''s the only candidate who is going to look out for the American people. Isn''t that what we want in a president??? And if you don''t want to vote for him because he might not win, ask yourself, "why?" Why shouldn''t he win? He''s the only one who has consistently, all his adult life, shown any concern for the American people. Just give it some thought, and open up your minds long enough to look at Nader''s platform. And his history and resume.

[rushlimpdrug]

"The Gray Area Of Race And Politics"

Why does it have to be gray?

why not some other color?

Are you picking on the gray community?

[wardoglrs]

I cant understand why anyone would think that these two Idiots can lead this nation..Obama voted for the FISA bill and McCain would of to. This is or I should say WAS
your 4th Amendment soon you can kiss the rest goodbye thanks to the Dumb downed voters.

[megamanx1-2009]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[hotrod2008-2009]

vote NADER

[paris1969]

McCain=Commander in Chief
Obama=Idealist Pacifist

[wogerwabbit]

Republicans today = the politics of hate and division. More of the same. Nothing could be worse than that.

[deacon20081]

Are you picking on the gray community?

Now wait a Second Here......No picking on the Gray community...............

I RESEMBLE THAT !

[ubrew12]

They were speaking to white voters.

I was surprised to hear Obama tell blacks to ''be more responsible''. Think he would be caught telling that to white voters? LOL. He can afford to lose a few black votes considering how many white votes he just picked up. I plan to vote for Obama, but that was pretty calculating of him. If I were Jesse Jackson I''d be p*****ssed. Talk about talking down to blacks!

McCain''s speech was just ''aww shucks, I admire Barack BECAUSE he''s black'': obviously calculated to impress a black audience.

[johnmcsame]

Obama=baby killer. Obama wants taxpayers to funds his genocide against innocent lives.

[stevex47]

How HYPOCRITCAL of the nutjobs to try to tie Obama with the muslims, when it is BOOSH''s family who has 50 years of ties to the BIN LADENS. Boosh even kisses the BIN LADENS.

How is that for a tie to muslims you hypocrit wide stance nutjobs?

[jedi080808]

Republicans today = the politics of hate and division. More of the same. Nothing could be worse than that.


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Posted by WogerWabbit at

Actually that was the CLinton campaign. The Republicans have not done one new attack that the Clintons didn''t do first. If you want to see racism, look no farther then Hill and Bill

[rudy654-2009]

If you want to see racism, look no farther then Hill and Bill
Posted by jedi080808 at 09:39 PM

Oh? So I guess I didn''t hear Limbaugh say: "A woman or black man as President? This is still the United States isn''t it?"

That must have been Bill doing a Limbaugh voice over.

[southerngul]

Why does someone discriminate black? I don''t think love is just belongs to white. I''m a black and but my hubby is white. We met at ~~~~Mixedmate.com which tell us love is color blind. Our love proved this. I hope each one will not discriminate blacks.

[rowdywicca]

Strange isn''t it...where was the uproar when all the Hillary Clinton cartoons came out...the one with the "B***ch" word on it, the one with the "C" word on it...where was your outrage when the bigoted media said ***** LIKE THIS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcdnlNZg2iM

And NOT ONE OF YOU OBJECTED!

And you''re whining over a satirical cartoon...that basically tells it like it is with these Chicago goons!

Whatta bunch of hypocrites!!!

[jumkey]

Posted by RowdyWicca

Listen you conservative fascist.

You don''t speak for liberals. You only speak for the animals and morons that comprise the Republican Party, OK?

Given that hypocrisy is considered an attribute in conservative circles and the the truth is a joke to you people you should probably stop embarrassing yourself with lectures on virtue - which you clearly know nothing a about.

[irliberal]

Republicans today = the politics of hate and division. More of the same. Nothing could be worse than that.

Posted by WogerWabbit at 09:02 PM

Exactly. At the core of every republican is a hatred of minorities, other races (besides their own) and most of all - gay people.

The party that wouldn''t even exist at all anymore except for their platform of hating gay people and anyone who doesn''t subscribe to their particular brand of religion. These days, being a "conservative" has nothing to do with being conservative fiscally, it just means you hate minorities, love war, fetuses (until they are born) and have no sense of fiscal responsibility whatsoever. The last eight years have proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

[tiredofthebs]

Media STILL tryin to make this election about race. This election aint about RACE, its about MONEY!

[element51]

This has been an interesting journey for me. I know the country is in deep trouble and I sincerely wanted to see someone in the White House that could deal with some of our problems. So I started to search the internet to learn all I could about the candidates. And I have read blog after blog to try to determine the mindset of the voters. I have spent way to much time in this persuit but I felt it was that important. I''m sad to say that at this point I don''t give a ***** who wins. There is so much hate and division in the country that no one will be able to pull us together. I will say that in almost 50 years of following politics I have never seen a candidate trashed like Obama has been. McCain has taken his share of it too but I''ve never seen anything to compare to what Obama has had come at him. It seems to come down to this. If McCain is elected we will be at war with who knows who and the economy will continue to tank. If Obama wins he will turn the country over to the Muslims and kill all the babies. Now I know that sounds silly but that''s what you all sound like out there. At a time when we need to be unified more than ever before it seems that we are further apart than we have ever been. I''ve always heard that "united we stand, divided we fall" and if that''s true we are in a world of trouble.

[vancouverboo]

How little black blood do you have to have before you can pass for white? Apparently, being 1/2 black makes you black, not white, not mixed, but black. Obama is our first black presidential candidate, right, not our first mixed candidate, but our first black candidate. This is what the media says. So if someone is 1/4 black are they still black? How about 1/16? Still black, or just high yeller?

[cbville70]

Let''s all vote for Obama so we can....

Not drill for oil offshore

Not drill for oil in ANWR

Have no new nuclear plants

Continue to rely on middle eastern and central
american oil

Bail out everybody that can''t pay their mortgage with govt assistance for all.

Enact govt mandated healthcare for everybody.

Posted by jumkey at 10:11 PM : Jul 16, 2008


Oh wait.....we live in AMERICA and it''s a democracy and not a Republic or Dictatorship. Sorry.
Vote for McCain if you gotta Brain.

[jedi080808]

dont think race was a factor until obama''''s connection to a racist doctrine church was discovered.... seems to me that up to that point we were doing just fine.... then we had this division.

the discovery
obma refusing to address it
obama being hounded to respond
finally he did
but he never apologized

and the RACE (pun intended) was on.


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Posted by fenner at

Race became a factory in South Carlina when Bill opened his big mouth. The Clintons started every bad rumor about Obama their is right now. Not the right~!~

[piotrek21]

Actually america is a republic, cbville70. But I agree with the whole vote for McCain part.

[cbville70]

How little black blood do you have to have before you can pass for white? Apparently, being 1/2 black makes you black, not white, not mixed, but black. Obama is our first black presidential candidate, right, not our first mixed candidate, but our first black candidate. This is what the media says. So if someone is 1/4 black are they still black? How about 1/16? Still black, or just high yeller?


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Posted by vancouverboo at 10:57 PM : Jul 16, 2008

It all depends on the rims they put on their car. That is typically a good barometer. I actually applaud Obama for telling the black race in this country what they need to hear. Until they start stressing a tighter knit family unit, education instead of materialistic ideals (gold, chains, shiny rims etc.) and until they aspire to be police officers, doctors and other upstanding people instead of athletes or rap stars they will reside in urban slums at the bottom of society.

[jedi080808]

How little black blood do you have to have before you can pass for white? Apparently, being 1/2 black makes you black, not white, not mixed, but black. Obama is our first black presidential candidate, right, not our first mixed candidate, but our first black candidate. This is what the media says. So if someone is 1/4 black are they still black? How about 1/16? Still black, or just high yeller?


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Posted by vancouverboo

Obama adressed this issue before. He said he has always considered himself black because that is how everyone sees him. He doesn''t look white, he looks black.

[ragnar30066]

Hey, where are all the Obama groupies going? Has someone told them that they look like foolish being so easy?

[jedi080808]

Element51: Your posts are intelligent and well-reasoned. I too have been quite concerned over the division. Yes Obama has been trashed because his skin pigmentation is Black. I wonder what would happen if every one started to complain about McCain''''s skin being ultra-white; and how the absence of color is actually quite ugly.


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Posted by BajaJohn1

Im sorry, but McCain gets it way worse then Obama does. I''m for Obama but the media is in love with him because he is black and a dem. Its major reverse racism. The late night shows rip on McCain every night for lots of things including his age. Obama gets off with little or no negative press.

Everyone is soooooooo sensative because he is black. People need to lighten up, also The drive by media is more in the tank for Obama then any polotician I have ever seen. Its crazy!!

[ariel133]

Elememt 51- Your post was very sobering and sincere and noble and I applaud you for being honest and direct.

True- it is a hard call to know the future- but from what I have gathered from all sources- it is that the future depends on experiance- at the bottom line -that education does count- and that people have to understand that qualifcations do matter when it comes to leading a country- if nothing else.

Either you have it or you don''t- saying you do- is not "getting it" Change is real when it comes from experiance in life. MAC has it.

[jedi080808]

In case you''''re wondering - I''''m a middle aged white dude from the prodominently redneck state of Tennessee and I''''m going to do my best to make Tennessee doesn''''t go to a republican this time!!!!


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Posted by rp44_63

If you can turn Tenn blue you should be Obama''s campaign chair. Don''t think that will happen though. Don''t worry though, the Dem''s don''t need Tenn. this year. Obama will win this thing in a landslide

[cbville70]

Actually america is a republic, cbville70. But I agree with the whole vote for McCain part.


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Posted by piotrek21 at 11:03 PM : Jul 16, 2008

It started out as a republic but over the course of the last 2 centuries has slowly moved to becoming a Representative Democracy. Semantics to be sure, but I guess when I say "Republic", I think and mean China or Russia. They are much different than us and it''s amazing to me that all the liberal posters on this site haven''t moved there as it is absolute utopia for their insane ideals.

When i hear Barrack Hussein Obama,
I SAY NO.

[cold777]

Im sorry, but McCain gets it way worse then Obama does. I''''m for Obama but the media is in love with him because he is black and a dem. Its major reverse racism. The late night shows rip on McCain every night for lots of things including his age. Obama gets off with little or no negative press.

Everyone is soooooooo sensative because he is black. People need to lighten up, also The drive by media is more in the tank for Obama then any polotician I have ever seen. Its crazy!!


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Posted by jedi080808
======================================================
Couldn''t disagree more....the media gives mccain a pass on every single mistake he makes, but blows everything out of proportion when it comes to Obama.

[cbville70]

Winston Churchill said it best:

If your in your twenties and not a liberal you have no heart. If your in your 40''s and your not yet a Conservative, YOU HAVE NO BRAIN.

Truer words were never spoken.

[cold777]

Maybe the media gives Mccain a free pass cuz of his age.

[irliberal]

Posted by S_Temper at 11:17 PM

Ah, another true republican posts.

It''s important to see Republicans for what they are.

[cold777]

Obama''''s mother (Ann Dunham) was a white wh0re who was addicted to black ****. Do you want the ****** of a dirty, wanton, nggr-lover to be President of the United States??


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Posted by S_Temper
======================================================
Isn''t your cousin waiting to go out on a date with you hillbillie?

[cbville70]

Couldn''''t disagree more....
Posted by cold777 at 11:13 PM

Thats because you get your news from CBS and MSNBC and think that people like Keith Olberman are reporters. Olberman is a joke and is not a reporter, but a campaign/pollster for the democratic party. Obama has until recently gotten a free pass. He won''t win the election so there''s really nothing to worry about.
He has no policies and never gets to issues, but tells stories that parse well. He won''t be president ...sorry.

[cbville70]

Winston Churchill said it best:

If your in your twenties and not a liberal you have no heart. If your in your 40''''s and your not yet a Conservative, YOU HAVE NO BRAIN.

Truer words were never spoken.

[cold777]

Couldn''''''''t disagree more....
Posted by cold777 at 11:13 PM

Thats because you get your news from CBS and MSNBC and think that people like Keith Olberman are reporters. Olberman is a joke and is not a reporter, but a campaign/pollster for the democratic party. Obama has until recently gotten a free pass. He won''''t win the election so there''''s really nothing to worry about.
He has no policies and never gets to issues, but tells stories that parse well. He won''''t be president ...sorry.


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Posted by cbville70
======================================================
Shhhh.....if you get too agitated, your mommy will make you go to bed early today.

[cbville70]

Shhhh.....I''m getting mad at cbville70 for not saying good things about my idol BHO, now mommy is making me go to bed early today.


Posted by cold777 at 11:20 PM : Jul 16, 2008

[rudy654-2009]

If your in your 40''''''''s and your not yet a Conservative, YOU HAVE NO BRAIN.

Truer words were never spoken.


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Posted by cbville70 at 11:20 PM

Interestingly enough it was the so-called liberals of the 30s who stood up to the likes of Hitler and his people. Excerpt from the Holocaust Memorial Museum regarding liberal opposition to the Olympics in Berlin:

Many of the liberal and left-wing political groups that denounced Hitler''s fascist dictatorship linked their opposition to the Berlin Olympics with the wider economic boycott of Germany.

[cold777]

Shhhh.....I''''m getting mad at cbville70 for not saying good things about my idol BHO, now mommy is making me go to bed early today.


Posted by cold777 at 11:20 PM : Jul 16, 2008


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Posted by cbville70
======================================================
So original.....

[element51]

S_Temper....I have never seen anything so vile on the internet before this post. I almost threw up. You must be lower than ignorant trailer trash to post such a thing. You are a perfect example of what is the worst element in this country. You are totally disgusting and the bad part is that there others out there that think (?) the way you do. Now go wash your sheet and make sure the eye holes are in the right place in your little pointed hood. You punk!

S-Temper: Get your dirty stinking racist thoughts off this blog or I will get you thrown off. You embarrass the United States moron. The people of the entire world read this blog.

Posted by BajaJohn1
--------------------------
It''s your call of course, but I have no problem letting the entire world know what a typical republican is...

[cbville70]

Posted by cbville70
======================================
================
So original.....


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Posted by cold777 at 11:23 PM : Jul 16, 2008

Thanks now go to bed like mommy said!
Vote for McCain, because he doesn''t go to racist churches for 20 years.

[cold777]

Posted by cbville70
======================================

================
So original.....


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Posted by cold777 at 11:23 PM : Jul 16, 2008

Thanks now go to bed like mommy said!
Vote for McCain, because he doesn''''t go to racist churches for 20 years.



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Posted by cbville70
======================================================
cbville70=fascist toe-tapper

[kansas1946]

It shouldn''t make any difference. These candidates should be speaking to Americans. Inless something is terribly wrong, I think black Americans want the same things that white, or any other color, Americans want. They want to be able to work, have a good job, make a decent wage, have good health insurance, have a decent place to live, have a good education provided for their children, and live in peace. I think there has been a lot of dividing going on by some leaders, black and white, to further their own agendas, not black and white Americans. I think we are much less divided than many people would like to think.

[cbville70]

cbville70

You ARE blind or stupid or perhaps BOTH!!!!

Opening up drilling sites - WILL TAKE AT LEAST 10 YRS

Uh sorry there but it would take considerably less than 10 years my friend.
BHO is on the record as being against nuclear power.
I apologize for your lack of inteligence.
It looks like you figured out which button turns the CAPS ON THOUGH! Good job.

[cold777]

cbville70 is a prime example of how our education system is failing.