The Big 'What If' (How will Black Americans react if Obama is defeated?)

WaPo ^ | 9/14/2008 | Randall Kennedy

[mojito]

....Never before have my emotions been so exercised by a political campaign. For one thing, never before has a candidate so fully challenged the many inhibitions that have prevented people of all races, including African Americans, from seriously envisioning presidential power in the hands of someone other than a white American. With intelligence, verve and elegance, Obama has opened the public mind to the idea of a black president and made that idea broadly attractive.

The senator's progressive politics, cosmopolitan ethos and pragmatic style have turned me into an enthusiastic supporter, and I savor the prospect of his triumph. But I'm watching this election very closely as I teach a course about it this semester. And I know that the conclusion to this electoral drama is far from determined. Yes, political gravity would seem to favor the Democratic candidate after two terms of Republican control of the White House. Yet the possibility is very real: Barack Obama could lose.

[TheClintons-STILLAnti-American]

"Even if Barack Obama loses in November, he will have bequeathed to all America something that should bring comfort and pride to even the most disappointed of his followers. He has reached the edge of the pinnacle. And shown that we can stand atop it."

This is as mature an attitude as I've seen from a who-cares-if-he's-smoke-and-mirrors-and-cheated-to-get-here-HE'S BLACK supporter as I've seen.

Just as Sarah Palin gives a rational, likable face to the womens' movement and would likely not have the opportunity she does without much of the outlandishness that characterizes the NOW approach to womens' liberation, Obama can do the same for people of color.

Now someone of color who actually DOES have the character and qualifications he and his supporters only pretend he possesses--the fact that he is grossly unqualified is readily evident to anyone who takes the trouble to find the information the media refuses to make available the way they would if he were not their candidate--will have to give him credit for having blazed the trail for them.

Let's just pray that the phenomenon that is Barrack Obama is nothing more than a stepping stone for others more worthy, the way his cronies have been for him as he used them in his rapid ascent to power.

[Vince Ferrer]

I don’t think there will be riots or such, but the Democrat party has always been a coalition of special interests which really didn’t have much to do with each other. By default, an generic vanilla white male won out as a natural compromise of the interests.

In this election, women and blacks factions fought it out, and blacks won this one. This is really the first time coalition groups members have seriously fought it out against each other, and I think it will leave lasting damage to the coalition. This may begin the crack up of the Democrat party.

[Noumenon]

I don’t have enough ammunition to start a war.

But I do have enough to finish one.

[LukeL]

If Obama loses people in the inner city will demand justice, Plasma TVS, and Escaldes.

[Windflier]

Randall Kennedy is eloquent and flowery, but he’s using the same flawed argument that is setting blacks up for the worst letdown in political history.

Like all liberals, he fails to ask the most important question about Obama, which is, “Where’s the beef?”

If he, and every other “enlightened” (and not-so-enlightened) liberal were to examine Obama half as closely as they’re examining Sarah Palin, they’d know that he’s not qualified to hold the office of US Senator, much less, president of the US.

[Gemsbok]

‘’half-white? Why not ask how white Americans will react?’

Buy stock in pharmaceuticals, there will be a rush on Prozac and Valium.

[NavyCanDo]

I have always said the first Woman President and the First Black President would come from the Republican Party. It looks like half of my Prediction has an excellent chance of happening.
What I would like to see happen after Obama looses is for the blacks not to protest and riot - but to think about joining the winning team, the team that freed them from slavery in 1865, and from bondage in 2008

[dennisw]

Blacks still haven’t figured out that Hispanics are the new largest minoty. They are moving forward where blacks are mired in the past with slavery accusations, you whiteys owe me accusations and a quest for reparations

Obama being elected would boost Blacks over the Hispanics and give them more pull. More affirmative action too

But still does not negate the trend in Hispanic birthrates. They are ahead of Blacks and pulling away

[Prole]

If Obama loses, I anticipate a lot of violence from the black community.

Many (not all) blacks loudly celebrated during the OJ Simpson verdict.

Many (not all) blacks were violent and destructive after the Rodney King police verdict.

Many (not all) blacks looted and destroyed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Many (not all) blacks believe that Jeremiah Wright is correct in his venomous and racist remarks toward white Americans.

Many (not all) believe and follow the words of hostile black racist muslims like Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan.

There are other notable examples of their terrible behavior in America, which is what points to the distinct chance that many (not all) of them will continue more of the same behavior.

I just hope that I am wrong on my prediction, and that the vast majority of black folks prove that they are Americans and not Palestinians.

Just my $.02.

[Windflier]

I would honestly like to see a black or a woman in the Oval Office. So would most Americans, for varying reasons. But not Obama, and not Hillary. More temperate representatives of their gender and race must be found.

I've told every member of my liberal black family the same thing, and they look at me like I'm speaking gibberish.

It has never occurred to them, nor to Randall Kennedy, that Obama looks entirely different to middle America than he does to most blacks and the hard-core left. Their echo chamber doesn't admit facts, data, or any competing analysis of their candidate.

Sadly, that mindset has hobbled their ability to chose winning candidates and has contributed greatly to the destruction of their party.

[dennisw]

Hispanics are the new largest minority

[B-Chan]

But deep in their bones, [American blacks] will believe -- and probably rightly -- that race was a key element... This conclusion will be accompanied by bitter disappointment, and in some quarters, stark rage.

Not in my "quarters", it won't. Any "stark rage" appearing in the neighborhood in which I live is going to find itself facing anger management therapy, Koreatown '92 style.

[Windflier]

If it is a close race and Obama loses I think there will be quite a bit of violence although not on the scale of LA.

You're being too optimistic about the sanity and propensity for violence among the Obamanation, in my opinion.

If McCain beats him by a wide margin I think we will have a lot of animosity and maybe a few scattered acts of violence.

Agree with you there, and I'm beginning to think that'll be the more likely scenario.

[dennisw]

I've told every member of my liberal black family the same thing, and they look at me like I'm speaking gibberish.

Obama is a fake Black America. No slave blood and his father was a Kenyan student who spent a few years here and split

He should have been denied any affirmative action he got for Columbia and Harvard because he has no slave ancestors. Affirmative action was originally intended to redress past crimes/slavery/discrimination against Blacks and American Indians

[Windflier]

“How will Black Americans react if Obama is defeated?”

I will celebrate.

Same here. Don't know about my family, though...

[BIGLOOK]

Obama claims to have come from Hawaii. He has personally stated that he's 'Hawaii's third Senator'.

But here in Hawaii. folks say 'Obama.....who?'

[VeniVidiVici]

Correct! Why is this man considered black when he is bi-racial? He sees himself as black even though he is equally white.

Cause having a Native African father that abandoned him gives him street cred.

Actually, I think when Barack Hussein first announced, Democrat Blacks DIDN'T like him because he was half-white. It was only after the stuff about his racist preacher started coming out that they started warming up to him.

[South40]

Yeah, the family. They’ll cry if Barry loses and blame me for every ill in the nation that they’ll swear he could have cured.
Oh well.

[Windflier]

Isn’t it an insult to the vast majority of African-American people to hint that there could be violence if Obama doesn’t win this election?

I don't think it was suggested in the title that blacks would riot, though I can understand why that would be most people's first assumption. Unfortunately, there's historical precedent for it, so it's far from an insult.

Black folks are going to have to grow beyond being the monolithic block of tools for the left, for there to be a true diversity of opinion and political alignment in that community.

Until then, they'll continue to support frauds and charlatans for public office simply because they're black and can get on a ballot.

[ottbmare]

I've told every member of my liberal black family the same thing, and they look at me like I'm speaking gibberish. It has never occurred to them, nor to Randall Kennedy, that Obama looks entirely different to middle America than he does to most blacks and the hard-core left. Their echo chamber doesn't admit facts, data, or any competing analysis of their candidate.

My best girlfriend, a black professional woman, says the same thing about her family. She tries to explain to them that Barack Obama would simply be bad for America, but their minds are closed; all they see is that the color of his skin is a little bit like theirs.

Middle Americans do not want someone in the White House, of any color, who seems to do nothing except criticize this country. They cringe when they think of Michelle Obama and her baseless resentments bringing every whiner, every Marxist, every past and present revolutionary into the house that belongs to the people.

But how happily would Middle America vote for a Michael Steele or someone else who behaved with dignity and patriotism.