NOW WE KNOW WHAT A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER DOES
Posted on 09/27/2008 4:49:04 PM PDT by Chet 99
-snip-
Though Canton is 80 percent black and was once a battleground of the civil rights movement, there is considerable ambivalence here about the chance to elect the nation's first African American president. There's a hardened sense among many in this town of 13,000 that Obama does not know about and could not understand their daily problems. Others know a black man is running but can't quite remember his name. Some are excited by Obama's candidacy but have never voted, cannot recall the last time they went to the polls, or have no idea how or where to register.
Even those who vote consistently get where their neighbors are coming from. "They feel like the message down here isn't being delivered to the top," said Robert C.O. Chinn Jr., a lifelong Canton resident, chair of the Madison County Democratic Party and the only person in town to put up an Obama campaign sign. "They feel like the people at the top are game players. They aren't taking care of the needs."
Early on, the Obama campaign held up Mississippi as an example of a state where a huge black turnout -- 37 percent of the population is African American -- could drive an unexpected victory. But those hopes faded quickly, and the deep-rooted doubt that some here have suggests the challenge for Obama in other states, such as Virginia and North Carolina, where the Democrat is counting on a swell of African American support to put him over the top.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
It looks like Obama is no Messiah to the blacks in MS.
These people have other things to worry about...always have like keeping their phone on, their lights on etc.
This may mean that obamania is starting to fade and reality is setting in.
The idea that Mr. Obama as president could substantially change the lives of African American voters for the better is losing currency- as well it should.
The reality that Obama is just an ordinary politician is seaping into people’s brains. The Democrats may still win, but the cult of personality seems just about dead.
Most of America (regardless of race) can’t relate to this guy. That’s because he’s not real.
It sounds like these voters want politicians to put their money where their mouths are - something most of them are incapable of doing.
...And it is abundantly clear the bloom is off the Obama rose.
So who is this “African American” that’s running for president? I thought it was McCain vs. Obama.
Totally understandable. I'm surprised Barry has not done some sort of bus tour of the South trying to energize Black voters. Obviously he does not care.
They would be right and he is not black.
Can’t people see past skin color?
“You will notice that I have told them they may smoke. I’ve allowed my people to have a little fun in the selection of bizarre tobacco substitutes... Are you enjoying your cigarette, Ed?” - The Manchurian Candidate
I think it has, too. IF McCain just keeps up the pressure, he can win. This is largely because the O-man is an incredibly weak candidate. The general tendency of this election--in fact the last couple years--is towards the dems. If Obama is allowed to drift with the current, he could win. McCain made a terrible mistake in suspending his campaign last week. A noble act, no doubt, but very ineffective.
McCain can still win, but he's got to keep up the pressure and be relentless. In spite of the general drift of things, Obama's inherent weakness as a candidate makes him very beatable. I hope that campaign director of his retakes the initiative. He's good.
The problem with Obama and blacks is that he is using and exploiting them. If they can see that I think it will hurt his vote. The average middle-class white has far more in common with the average middle-class black than an elitist like Obama ever could have. I hope they will not allow themselves to be used to further an agenda that won’t benefit them anymore than it will me.
The blacks and whites in Mississippi are good, honest, hard working people. They can spot a phoney like Obama and they don’t like what they see. A phony communist is a phony communist no matter what color his skin is.
From a strictly practical point of view McCain has to assume that 95% of AA will vote for obama regardless.
Voters vote their basic nature. Unfortunately the basic nature of AA voters is to vote Democrat. They will also vote pride in having an AA on the ballot. Hence, the vast majority will vote for O “probably.” To the extent they do not it is a gift to McCain, but cannot be assumed.
Getting too clever in concocting scenarios in which vast numbers of the other candidate’s supporters will turn to you is just asking to be disappointed. It usually does not happen.
Blacks are not going to vote for McCain. The issue is to what extent they turn out in greater than usual numbers because a black guy is on the ticket. If they turn out in historic numbers, McCain will likely lose.
I suspect a lot of these folks will sit out the vote, they view Obama as a half & half, not a true african american like themselves, they probably see him as the “phony” that he is and know all he wants is there vote. Not ALL blacks will vote or vote for Obama.
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