Obama can't sway white working class: Clinton

[Leafless]

Former first lady stokes the fires as rival enjoys glad-handing through Capitol Hill

Democrats were jolted as Hillary Clinton made an explicit appeal for support along racial lines, saying Mr. Obama didn't have the support of "hard-working ... white Americans."

"You know, there was just an (Associated Press) article posted that found how Senator Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans -- white Americans -- is weakening again, and how the whites in both states (Indiana and North Carolina), who had not completed college were supporting me," Mrs. Clinton said. "These are the people you have to win, if you're a Democrat, in sufficient numbers to actually win the election. Everybody knows that."

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...f3-dcc07e351ad9

Looks like Hillary is capitalizing on the fact the Democrats should never have chosen a Black man America is not ready for.

[guyser]

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...f3-dcc07e351ad9

Looks like Hillary is capitalizing on the fact the Democrats should never have chosen a Black man America is not ready for.

Only if capitalizing equals losing.

Desperate words from a desperate woman.

[gc1765]

Looks like Hillary is capitalizing on the fact the Democrats should never have chosen a Black man America is not ready for.

America is ready for a black president...seems they are more ready for a black President than they are for McCain as President...Question is, are you ready?

[Guest American Woman]

America is ready for a president that can effectively deal with the problems the Bush administration brought upon us. Male, Female, Black, White ... whoever can get the job done.

It's looking more and more like Obama is going to be the Democratic candidate. I just wonder if America will perceive him as having enough experience to effectively deal with all that will be put before him. I do think there will be a lot of 'middle of the road' voters going for McCain because they won't see Obama that way.

Edited May 9, 2008 by American Woman

[bush_cheney2004]

....It's looking more and more like Obama is going to be the Democratic candidate. I just wonder if America will perceive him as having enough experience to effectively deal with all that will be put before him. I do think there will be a lot of 'middle of the road' voters going for McCain because they won't see Obama that way.

I think it's great that Obama will be the Democrat nominee...but he is still just a candidate, with no pre-ordained outcome just because he is "black". Hell, he is not even the first black candidate.

[Leafless]

America is ready for a president that can effectively deal with the problems the Bush administration brought upon us. Male, Female, Black, White ... whoever can get the job done.

We will need a citation for that one.

It's looking more and more like Obama is going to be the Democratic candidate. I just wonder if America will perceive him as having enough experience to effectively deal with all that will be put before him. I do think there will be a lot of 'middle of the road' voters going for McCain because they won't see Obama that way.

I still don't know how you can discount the race factor which IMO, in the end, if Obama is the chosen candidate, will put McCain in the drivers seat and who will be your next president. This is a prediction and not a fact.

[sharkman]

America is ready for a black president...seems they are more ready for a black President than they are for McCain as President...Question is, are you ready?

Are you really sure America is ready? 90% of blacks may be voting for him in the primaries, but Hilary has significantly higher numbers against McCain than Obama. That's because Obama is hard left in policies, and has no experience.

Hilary has been leading in declared Super Delegate support the whole time, but now that Obama is catching up, the MSM has this on it's radar.

[Shady]

Looks like Hillary is capitalizing on the fact the Democrats should never have chosen a Black man America is not ready for.

Everyone's assuming that if a white person doesn't vote for Obama, it's because he's black. In my opinion, that says more about those of you who automatically assume that, than it does about the voters themselves.

And Clinton is right. Obama has trouble with white working class voters. Probably for a whole host of reasons. She has better name recognition. She has more of a political resume. She has a more populist message (at least over the last couple of months). And she is the wife of a popular former President.

Obama is a former law professor. He's further to the left politically than she is. He's not as well known, and he's just gone through a 6 - 8 week period of having to clarify his association with Rev. Wright and former domestic terrorist Bill Ayres. Not to mention, that not long ago, Obama was caught describing white working class people as bitter, clinging to religion and guns. Gee, I wonder why he might be having a bit of a problem. But that's alright, let's just keep pretending it's because he's black. I guess that's a lot easier for some people.

[Guest American Woman]

We will need a citation for that one.

Will do. Right after you provide a citation for your statment that "America is not ready for" a Black man.

I still don't know how you can discount the race factor which IMO, in the end, if Obama is the chosen candidate, will put McCain in the drivers seat and who will be your next president. This is a prediction and not a fact.

I realize one cannot completely discount the race factor, any more than one can completely discount the gender factor. As for McCain, the age factor may come into play. All of these things are factors, some more than others depending on who you talk to. But to say "America isn't ready for a Black president" is just plain wrong.

[Shady]

But to say "America isn't ready for a Black president" is just plain wrong.

I agree 100%. In fact, America will have a Black President before Canada ever will.

[Oleg Bach]

I agree 100%. In fact, America will have a Black President before Canada ever will.

What's there to be ready for? To say America is not "ready" for a black president is like saying Americans are to stupid at this point in time and we will have to let them mature and become more intelligent so they can be ready - not going to happen! May as well have a black president now...just for fun...it will be amuzing - if they can handle Bush and be "ready" for that disaster in human form - then a black president will be a cake walk!

[Guest American Woman]

I agree 100%. In fact, America will have a Black President before Canada ever will.

And I agree with all that you said, too. It's very annoying that so many are making this about race; competency and shared views should be the deciding factors. Americans don't have anything to prove to the world regarding "readiness for a Black president;" it's not about that.

[gc1765]

Are you really sure America is ready? 90% of blacks may be voting for him in the primaries, but Hilary has significantly higher numbers against McCain than Obama.

Both Hillary and Obama have significantly higher numbers than McCain. Like I said, Americans are more ready for Obama than they are for McCain.

[BubberMiley]

The flap over Jeremiah Wright indicates that some Americans aren't ready for a Black president, but that controversy's inability to put a dent in Obama's polling numbers indicates those Americans are becoming increasingly a minority.

[Guest American Woman]

The "flap" over Wright has to do with Obama's judgement, not race.

[jdobbin]

The "flap" over Wright has to do with Obama's judgement, not race.

I agree. Obama gave a good speech after the first remarks. However, he should have gone further. He should have said that he doesn't always agree with every sermon but that he has faith in God and his religion in general. It would have given him the distance he needs from his minister but re-enforced his religious ties.

[August1991]

Everyone's assuming that if a white person doesn't vote for Obama, it's because he's black. In my opinion, that says more about those of you who automatically assume that, than it does about the voters themselves.

And Clinton is right. Obama has trouble with white working class voters. Probably for a whole host of reasons. She has better name recognition. She has more of a political resume. She has a more populist message (at least over the last couple of months). And she is the wife of a popular former President.

Obama is a former law professor. He's further to the left politically than she is. He's not as well known, and he's just gone through a 6 - 8 week period of having to clarify his association with Rev. Wright and former domestic terrorist Bill Ayres. Not to mention, that not long ago, Obama was caught describing white working class people as bitter, clinging to religion and guns. Gee, I wonder why he might be having a bit of a problem. But that's alright, let's just keep pretending it's because he's black. I guess that's a lot easier for some people.

Well said, Shady. I agree completely.

The Democrats have gone for identity politics but the American people haven't. They will judge the candidates on their merits regardless of gender or colour. IMV, Obama is simply too left wing, too radical and too inexperienced to be elected President. He will get about 40% of the vote or the Democratic voters who would never vote Republican under any circumstances.

To understand the racial issue, consider the scenario of Colin Powell as the Republican candidate. First of all, he would refer to his origin in the same way that any candidate does. Identity politics would not play a central role. Second, American voters would have no problem with him being president - assuming they agreed with his policies, political abilities and general outlook.

[BubberMiley]

The Democrats have gone for identity politics but the American people haven't.

You keep saying that but you never provide a rationale for your position. Are they going for identity politics just by having a Black nominee? Otherwise, it's the Republicans who are centring their campaign around race by bringing up every scary Black boogeyman Obama ever shared a room with.

[M.Dancer]

The "flap" over Wright has to do with Obama's judgement, not race.

Indeed..similiar in my mind to Bush visiting the racist Bob Jones U. I don't believe4 Bush is racist in the least, but what bad judgement...

[bush_cheney2004]

Indeed..similiar in my mind to Bush visiting the racist Bob Jones U. I don't believe4 Bush is racist in the least, but what bad judgement...

Not if it gains more votes than it loses.....

[M.Dancer]

Not if it gains more votes than it loses.....

Did it? I hear that the vote was very very close.....

[Rue]

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/s...f3-dcc07e351ad9

Looks like Hillary is capitalizing on the fact the Democrats should never have chosen a Black man America is not ready for.

You surprised she would play the race card? Lol.

[Rue]

Indeed..similiar in my mind to Bush visiting the racist Bob Jones U. I don't believe4 Bush is racist in the least, but what bad judgement...

I think its both. I think some of it is genuien questioning of judgement and the rest is in fact really a pretext to justify being racist. Where one begins and the other ends you and I will never know. I suspect even you would concede its both but what you are really saying is we should not be too quick to dismiss criticism of Obama as simply being motivated by racism. Its a tough one. The race card goes both ways doesn't it-it can be used to try give him unfair advantage or be used against him like it is by Hilary.

I think its naive for anyone to believe race wasn't or will not continue to be an issue. It has been there from day one. So does the potential for his being shot dead because of it before this is over.

Your analogy to Bob Jones U. is a good one. I do think though he was taken out of context as to what he originally said about Wright but I also agree he showed some bad judgement until he came out strongly against what he said.

Then again we certainly can not suggest Hilary has shown good judgement and quite frankly McCain to has had some big lapses in judgement. They'z all gonna blow it big time on the public stage sooner or later.

I hate the way though politics gets dirt nasty. I am absolutely disgusted with people spreading shit about McCain accepting favours in Vietnam and being a phony hero, Obama being a closet radical leftist intent with a secret Islamic agenda.As for Hilary who flings more sheeyit then an upset chimpanzee at a zoo, being called a dyke is pretty light compared to what she's thrown at others. I myself call her a lying murderer.

[bush_cheney2004]

.... The race card goes both ways doesn't it-it can be used to try give him unfair advantage or be used against him like it is by Hilary.

I think its naive for anyone to believe race wasn't or will not continue to be an issue. It has been there from day one. So does the potential for his being shot dead because of it before this is over.

It's all part of the mix....no big deal. Obama's race is an issue in Japan and Canada too! For the record, the American presidents and candidate shot dead to date have been "white". One of the assassins was a Palestinian, no?

[Leafless]

You surprised she would play the race card? Lol.

It goes to show you the tricks an old dog can pick up off a young pup like Obama.