Black voters: A giant push

Minneapolis StarTribune (aka The Red Star) ^ | 10/10/08 | Kevin Diaz - Staff Reporter

[MplsSteve]

The first vote Tracy Hatfield ever casts in Minnesota will belong to Barack Obama.

Here in the heart of north Minneapolis' black community, on a block dotted with board-ups and Section 8 subsidized rentals, this once homeless mother answers the door with her 3-year-old grandson, Travonte, clinging to her leg.

"I can't wait to vote," Hatfield, 44, tells Veronica Andrews, an area church member who is out on her first door-knocking drive for Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate.

"It's not a black thing, it's not a white thing," Hatfield says. "It's just different. Everyone around here is going to vote. I wish the kids could vote."

This year's presidential campaign is expected to generate record voter turnout in black communities across the nation -- partly through the efforts of young, new volunteers such as Andrews, joining a black political mobilization that hasn't been seen in decades.

[MplsSteve]

All in all, I guess there's nothing too surprising about this article. I suspect that this is happening in many cities where there's a significant minority population.

But truth be told, it is worrisome and it is a major reason why McCain might not win Minnesota this year. I was a Bush-Cheney volunteer on Election Day '04 and was driving people to the polls. Several times, I drove thru north Minneapolis and the Democrats were out in full force, going door to door and trying to roust out as many voters as possible.

And you know what? It worked.

The numbers coming out of the core cities of Minneapolis/St Paul (as well as the first-ring suburbs) swamped Bush's numbers in the suburb and exurbs.

And I'd like to dispell Tracy Hatfield's comments that it's not a black or white thing. Ms Hatfield, if you're 44 and have never bothered to vote before and now all of the sudden you are...well, it's definitely a black thing for you.

Comments or opinions - anyone?

[MplsSteve]

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[Recovering_Democrat]

I wonder why no one thinks it is racist to just vote for Obama because he is black.

[rjsimmon]

Concur.

This entire election cycle is nothing more than skin deep.

[Mr. Mojo]

"Everyone around here is going to vote. I wish the kids could vote."

Don't worry, Veronica. ACORN's on the job.

[renosathug]

She says, “I wish the kids could vote.”

Don’t worry, ACORN has already taken care of that little problem.

[Thank You Rush]

“”And I’d like to dispell Tracy Hatfield’s comments that it’s not a black or white thing. Ms Hatfield, if you’re 44 and have never bothered to vote before and now all of the sudden you are...well, it’s definitely a black thing for you.””

Could anyone get anything BUT that from the article? Why do some people assume that others are just as gullible/stupid/ignorant/uninformed as they?

[renosathug]

Get out of my head! :-)

[Gaffer]

"It's not a black thing, it's not a white thing,Hatfield says.

My ass!

"It's just different. Everyone around here is going to vote. I wish the kids could vote."

Be willing to bet Hatfield her next welfare check that she's already registered her children (with help from ACORN).

[Edgar3]

I have a 67 year old dear friend. He is a black man who has NEVER voted before. He’s going to vote this year for the first time ever because, as he says, “I’ve never had a brother to vote for before”. This from a very thoughtful, and otherwise rational person. It is no deeper than skin color. I suppose that this line of reason and shallow thinking is being repeated all over America.

[tflabo]

"Judge not by the color of skin but by content of character"...MLK, Jr.

His own people disregard the wisdom of those words. Unfortunately racism and ignorance reign supreme with the majority of blacks thanks to liberals, victimization theology and race card baiting leaders.

[Antoninus]

This from a very thoughtful, and otherwise rational person.

Frankly, such racist statements from dear friends would cause me to immediately reevaluate my friendship with them.

[Puppage]

"It's not a black thing, it's not a white thing," Hatfield says. "It's just different. Everyone around here is going to vote. I wish the kids could vote."

No substance whatsoever.

100% purely emotional.

Ladies & gentlemen, I give you the American voter.

[Philo-Junius]

He’s right in that it’s not a black thing OR a white thing.

There’s a large number of blacks AND whites who will reflexively vote for the first black man put on the ballot.

It’s a black AND white thing. More blacks than whites as a percentage, granted, but probably about equal numbers of both in absolute terms.

Having said that, it’s still racist response to a legacy of racism.

[NetSurfer]

I’m sure her 3 y.o. grandson has already voted by absentee ballot.

[rjsimmon]

You are absolutely correct. MLK jr. would be ashamed of his legacy.

[Mr. Mojo]

There’s a large number of blacks AND whites who will reflexively vote for the first black man put on the ballot.

Put on the Democrat ballot. These people would never vote for a black Republican conservative.

[Edgar3]

Frankly, such racist statements from dear friends would cause me to immediately reevaluate my friendship with them.

LOL! If I were a racist, or had a chip on my shoulder I probably would. I don't hold it against him. He's like family to me.

[Philo-Junius]

Well, most of these people would also believe that a black Republican was not authentically black the way, say, Bill Clinton was...

[sheik yerbouty]

The minions of the Obamination are going for a gigantic putsch..

[TNCMAXQ]

“Everyone around here is going to vote?” This is the opposite of what we read from the Ohio paper just a few hours ago. They talked to a 21 yo guy who was eager to vote for 0bama just because he was black. But he did not know when the election was, or where to vote! His neighbor said “no one around here is interested in voting.” Hmm, can there be that much difference between OH and MN? One of these articles is not accurate, I think.

[Sig Sauer P220]

Fortunately, a lot of these dumbasses voting for the first time probably can’t read and will accidently vote for whitey.

[adgirl]

I don't know about being 44 and never voting before . . . one of my sister is 50 and has never voted before. She says she is going to vote for Obama. My mom is horrified. I told my mom not to worry. My sister will first have to register, go to the polls, wait in line—it will be too much trouble. All we have to do is to keep our mouths shut and not bug her and she will forget about it. She lives in CO so we really don't want her to vote.

[CE2949BB]

one of my sister is 50 and has never voted before. She says she is going to vote for Obama. My mom is horrified. I told my mom not to worry. My sister will first have to register, go to the polls, wait in line—it will be too much trouble.

Make sure she understands that she has to pick the one she doesn't want to win. So, since she's a 0bama supporter, make sure she understands that she has to vote against McCain by selecting / circling / punching out / shading the arrow next to / whatever his name.

We've got to make sure people know the rules! :)

[rjsimmon]

Very interesting read. Thank you for posting the link. I will admit I know only a cursory bit of Dr. King but was aware of his socialist leaning, though not to the extent you present.

My comment was based upon the thread of the “I had a dream” speech he gave in Washington D.C.

[jeffc]

"It's not a black thing, it's not a white thing," Hatfield says.

That's what I keep saying! But the lame-stream media keeps calling me a racist for wanting to vote for McCain.

[patriot08]

Everyone who stays home in protest, votes third party or write in is putting this monster into the White House. Every black church and organization, every Muslim mosque and organization in every town and city across this country will get their people to the polls to vote for Obama- even busing them in. You can take that to the bank. There will be voter fraud and cheating and intimidation. We MUST stand behind McCain, spread the word and get out the vote. He is the only thing standing between Obama and the White House. .

[adgirl]

Make sure she understands that she has to pick the one she doesn’t want to win. So, since she’s a 0bama supporter, make sure she understands that she has to vote against McCain by selecting / circling / punching out / shading the arrow next to / whatever his name.

We’ve got to make sure people know the rules! :)

I think we need to spread this to the ACORN offices. I bet that’s how George Bush stole the election last time ; )