Posted on 02/12/2008 5:27:28 PM PST by familyop
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton's most visible supporters, said some white Pennsylvanians are likely to vote against her rival Barack Obama because he is black.
"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in Tuesday's paper.
To buttress his point, Rendell cited his 2006 re-election campaign, in which he defeated Republican challenger Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star, by a margin of more than 60 percent to less than 40 percent.
"I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann been the identical candidate that he was — well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking — but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so," he said. "And that (attitude) exists. But on the other hand, that is counterbalanced by Obama's ability to bring new voters into the electoral pool."
Rendell, chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 2000 and previously Philadelphia's mayor, endorsed Clinton on Jan. 23.
Pennsylvania holds its primary April 22.
Several figures in Clinton's campaign, including her husband, the former president, have been criticized in recent weeks for raising Obama's race. In response, Bill Clinton has said he will stick to promoting his wife, rather than defending her.
Later Tuesday, Rendell's spokesman said the governor did not mean to offend anyone.
"He was simply making an observation about the unfortunate nature of some parts of American society," said spokesman Chuck Ardo. "He wasn't being critical, he wasn't making accusations, but just being realistic."
Congrats, Ed. You probably just ended the last chance for your candidate and handed it to the black man you are trying to vilify with the voters.
They're all being outed for exactly what they are. It's cool!
Hard day at the office for you Chuck Ardo? Get used to it.
“Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s most visible supporters, said some white Pennsylvanians are likely to vote against her rival Barack Obama because he is black.”
Not NEARLY as many as those who will vote for him because he is black.
Does this mean that Philadelphia won’t have their usual 104% voter turnout with 103% voting for the dem candidate and the other 1% puking on their ballot rendering it unreadable?
What a piece of cr*p my Governor is. He won thanks to a huge democratic machine and massive voter fraud in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. This was the first time run for Lynn Swann, but it may not be the last. Race had nothing to do with his loss; not even the few points he suggested.
Why does anyone not believe this?
Is everyone so bent on being so politically correct that they refuse to see the truth of the remark?
I think Fast Eddie is an idiot, but he hit the nail on the head on this.
There are vast numbers of white men, in Georgia, Alabama, South and North Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, etc, that will not vote for a black man.
And don't think I'm saying it's just a "southern" thing.
Those same white men live in Illinois, New York, Michigan, Delaware, etc.
I've said this from the start, since Obama appeared on the scene.
If he is not elected, it will be only because the racist white voter outnumbered the racist black voter.
And before anyone jumps me and accuses me of racism for that remark, just keep in mind that a great number of blacks will vote for Obama for the single reason that he is black. And is that not the ultimate racism?
So those that have climbed on a PC horse, excoriating Fast Eddie...those folks are a bit full of it.
In this case, he's absolutely right.
Whether you like it or not.
Your notions of people’s bigotry are outdated and obsolete for the most part. Sure there are some exceptions, but we are not the racist pockets the media likes to shout about and the democrat party does it’s best to keep sorted into the right sale barn.
I’m one of “those” whites who decisively and proudly pulled the lever for Swannie and I’d do it again if he was the GOP nominee. He’s a good man and had good policies, but you can’t fight the Rendell and Casey machines in PA. Just ask Santorum about the Casey machine.
Rendell has just called the people of PA racists. I resent it and I hope enough other people resent it to give the state overwhelmingly to Obama, just to stick it to Rendell.
With supporters like Rendell, Clinton doesn’t need enemies.
Why is no one ever mentioning that there are millions of blacks who would vote for a black, but not a white, which is the OJ Jury Effect, in my book?
Fast Eddie didn’t mind getting the “racist vote” when he beat Swann
Ed is getting old and confused. "Conservative whites", at least those with an IQ above room temperature, are typically Republicans who won't be voting Democrat no matter who they run.
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