Minority Du'ers: Which candidate speaks to you most?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

I request that people not just vote in the poll but also list what minority you most closely identify with, i.e. some women may identify more with women's issues than race issues.

Please post and vote. After watching the debates, I am proud of most candidates and am thankful they are ALL speaking. The real war in America is a war on average Americans and I felt almost all candidates performed well.

I'm not just interested in your choices but your reasoning. BTW, I am not copping out on making a choice..I am TRULY not there yet...I like Dean, Edwards, Braun, Graham and Kerry mostly for different reasons.

BTW, I am responding as a gay female.

[lcordero]

1. I'm a Latino. Kucinich speaks to me the most.

Social and Economic Justice.

[Dob Bole]

2. I'm an Indian, Cherokee to be exact...

Edwards is from humble roots, wants to help rural people, wants to guarantee a year of college to every American who earns it. He's also the only candidate currently supporting the NAACP boycott in South Carolina.

[lcordero]

18. Humble roots

Kucinich has had to live in a car when he was growing up. I don't see anything anymore humble than that.
I don't have anything against Edwards, I just think that he is a little too conservative for my tastes.

[Il_Coniglietto]

46. Same here!

I'm Latina and I support Kucinich.

[tjdee]

3. (I'm black) Edwards. Why?

I've outlined my reasons for supporting Edwards so many times, LOL.

None of my reasons really have to do with my being black--though I do believe that he seems to be one of the more 'in tune with black folks' candidates (his national co-chair is black, the boycott was a big thing for me personally, etc.). And also, I think his college for everyone plan would literally be a godsend for many black kids in inner cities (and many non black kids too).

The humble roots thing helps a lot, but I think it helps with any voter who isn't ultra-rich. And quite silly, I think his accent helps--the civil rights movement took place in the south....

Oh I dunno. I can see any of the candidates getting the 'black' vote--but there are obstacles to be overcome when you employ few black/latino/'other' staff, come from very non-diverse places, etc. Not insurmountable, surely.

I'm also a woman--I think soccer moms would fall for Edwards in a big way.

[redeye]

4. I'm an atheist...

...and thus Dean speaks to me much more than any other candidate.

[JanMichael]

56. Really? Why?

I haven't heard anything from any of the candidates on this issue. Other than Congress playing for the cameras with the Pledge that's about it.

Sure Holy Joe's off my list but even if he was a card carrying member of AA I'd still dismiss him.

DK is a rather religious guy but I dig his platform so his beliefs don't bother me.

Other than the same sex unions, which has implications for Dean's future defense of the Separation Clause, what has Dean said?

The rest are anonymous to me regarding Lefty Atheists like myself.

[Randi_Listener]

5. Dean

Why?

2 words: Kinte cloth

[poskonig]

6. I can't help it; Dean

I'm in his core demographic, 24 yr-old blond haired/blue eyed suburban male.

As a doctor Dean is trained to make decisions based on facts, and this seems to carry over to his thoughts on foreign policy. Fiscal conservatism also resonates with me; I don't want to be saddled with babyboomer debt 20 years from now. Lastly, I'm extremely libertarian on social issues and appreciate Dean's support on issues from guns to gays.

[redeye]

8. The question was directed to minorities...

...but your post highlights an important point: everyone is part of some ethnic, gender, or religious minority.

[opstachuck]

55. although we may be in a different demographic...

i'm a 26 yr old blonde haired/blue eyed urban male, it's amazing, somehow we see things the same way despite our differences...

i think his medical background is very evident in his style of politics as he seems to approach problems with more of a scientific mindset, pragmatically evaluating the cause and reasonably assessing the effects. in his better interviews he gets that across incredibly well, especially when they're in-depth and allow him to speak his mind.

[newyorican]

7. Name says it all...

and I am truely undecided...sorry. :shrug:

[Sweetpea]

9. I like Kerry for electable reasons

but Sharpton for the fire, passion and his straight to the point style. He makes you get it and feel it.

[tpub]

57. same here

Sharpton was great last night

on edit: I'm female. Kerry speaks to me as the best person to unseat Bush, and then there's his voting record: he's gotten 100% from Planned Parenthood and NARAL for the past 3 years.

[Pastiche423]

10. Disabled

Disability Rights Platform

[loyalsister]

49. me too

People with disabilities are the largest minority in the country. Universal healthcare would make all the difference in the world to us. That and the initiatives in the disability platform could release many of us from some very frustrating constraints.

[ewagner]

11. Older than dirt

white male...actually a '60s era activist.

Graham because he isn't too excitable but gives me the calm rational voice of dissent I have come to appreciate.

BTW: I LOVE Al Sharpton, a part of me wishes he was electable.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

12. I'm asian

and I would vote for howard dean

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Thanks I love the responses so far..and YES I do believe

athiests and liberal or even moderate slightly to the left white males as well are a minority in terms of voting.

When it comes to FIRE IN THE HOLE, thank GOODNESS Sharpton is up there. To all the naysayers, all I have to say is Al Sharpton is serving the party by speaking out.

I haven't had much exposure to Edwards but really liked everything he said tonight and COMPLETELY appreciated his GENUINE persona. I think he can charm the southern and northern vote. I do have concerns with his lack of experience but I could overcome it if he were on the ticket.

I have always admired Carol Mosely Braun and believe she is a fabulous organizer.

In terms of foriegn policy and experience, Kerry and Graham are most attractive to me.

I like Dean's plans and his certainty but am not entirely enrolled yet.

[ButterflyBlood]

15. wouldn't that make everyone on this board a minority?

I didn't vote because I'm a white male but I suppose being a socialist white male makes me a minority then.

*edit* actually maybe I could include myself on age, only 19...

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

25. I think what keeps it honest is if you acknowledge that you voted

and state what you say makes you a minority. I am interested more in which candidate appealed to various races, ethnicities, orietation etc but this isn't scientific or anything.

I did the poll part just for fun. I'm more interested in which candidate speaks to people's specific concerns according to their stated minority status and why.

A comment on another threead inspired my curiosity when I went to post a response and said "wait" I'm not "that" ...what do THEY think. That's why i asked for the written response as well.


on edit: hope this makes sense..I just had a bucket full of wine :D

[lcordero]

32. You being under 25 years of age makes you a persecuted

minority

[Terwilliger]

23. does that make us a voting bloc?

athiests and liberal or even moderate slightly to the left white males as well are a minority in terms of voting.

Maybe we can wield some power at the conventions :)

[diamondsoul]

14. female/Native American

Kucinich, and has been since before the Iraq "war".
Why? Just about everything he says could have come from my own head and heart where the issues are concerned. I'm sick of picking the "lesser of two evils", I'm sick of a country I love being torn apart from the inside, and I'm sick of being over-run by big business. I'm sick of living paycheck to paycheck and not being able to find daycare, even IF there was a job available, I'm sick of watching Military personnel sent off to die while their pockets are picked to pay for it and I'm sick of our answer to conflict being drop a bomb on some tiny little hole of a country just to show how big and bad we are.

I could go on, but I suppose the bottom line is dammit I want better for humanity, and for my country, and it's LONG overdue!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. Thanks and welcome to DU...love your handle

:hi:

[fabius]

16. I'm a middle class white boy so...

I didn't vote. I'm glad we have each and every one of our candidates because this is the richest politicial discourse we've had in the Party since about forever. (I first voted in 1972). I hope they all stay in as long as possible.

Politically incorrect question: women are a minority? Gays, yes, but women?

[ButterflyBlood]

17. that is a valid point

since the amount of women is about equal to men in the country.

[redeye]

21. Actually, women are about 50.1% of the USA...

...which makes men a minority *L*.

However, women are generally considered a minority in the sense that they are as marginalized as blacks and Hispanics. Like racial minorities and atheists, women have never had one of their own as president, and they are more underrepresented in Congress than most "real" minorities. When the average American thinks of a person, he usually thinks of a white heterosexual Christian male, and therefore it's fair to assume that everyone who's not white, heterosexual, Christian, and male can be considered a political minority.

[ButterflyBlood]

24. last paragraph is true but

you couldn't call blacks in apartheid-era South Africa a minority for example.

[fabius]

41. We could redefine "minority" as...

..."economically or socially marginalized populations". Which could include the white women group as well as the "rural white Bubba's" group. If we give Bubba affirmative action to qualify for hunting license tax credits, he'll vote Democratic as he should have been doing all along.

The Repugs have cleverly manipulated the racism of the former Dixiecrats ever since 1964. We can rise above that by giving opportunity to ALL Americans, not just specific groups.

P.S., in the public works and government procurement business, there are "set-aside" programs for "historically underutilized businesses" which includes woman-owned and minority-owned businesses. I'm not against these programs, but they have a tendency to be abused. Here in Portland OR, I've seen very few black-owned businesses get these contracts, they tend more to Asians, Armenians, white women, and other already-prosperous people. Not sure the program is doing what it's supposed to.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

29. In terms of economic power yes but as I noted above

and in fact, maybe I should have asked people who they wanted and what their demographic happened to be. I don't want to exclude anyone really...I just wondered based on ones perception of the demographic one sees oneself in WHO speaks to them...that as well as a question about Sharpton not polling well among African Americans on another thread, had me wonder how the candidates stack up amongst various groups and why.

Anyway...disclaimer number 2...sorry if my grammar is really crappy. It's hot tonight and the glass of wine I drank was a bit too big for me ;-)

[Tinoire]

19. Kucinich -and mixed of so fo many minorities I don't even know

what I really am half the time ;)

But definitely Kucinich because I've been watching him for a long time.

My main reasons are

Laborer rights & Health Care- because this is the area where minorites get raped and bled dry. It's been getting steadily worse under both Dems and Republicans. NAFTA, GATT, WTO, Taft-Hardley were huge blows to minorities in this country because we are the hardest hit when those jobs go away. Middle-class internet posters have no idea what it's like to be the father of 4 children breaking your back picking strawberries all day praying none of your children get sick because you have no health-care for them- wondering how you'll survive if you have an accident because you have no security, no pension, no nothing.

Environment- Also an area where the poor are the hardest hit. No one cares about the levels of toxins dumped in those communities- you know the toxins that make sick children with no health care get sick and sicker. These are the neighborhoods where the water is literally poisoned by the run-off from industrial farming or big agribusiness (the products of which weaken everyone's health). Kucinich is the only one who's been fighting GMOs and that's also important to me.

And finally, Israel Palestine. As a woman of color, I see that conflict as nothing more than a project of Anglo-colonialization to, in the 20th century, deprive the brown-skinned indigenous people of their ancestral lands and destabilize an entire region of brown people. I want someone who will take an even-handed approach and has already made a stand I can verify on this issue. Just can't accept the same old, same old anymore. This is one issue where Democrats have been little better than Republicans so I want someone who has already made his/her stand.


No, here's the real finally. The real finally is that minorities in this country have been lied to, manipulated and exploited for so long, that I will accept no candidate who does not care for little people as much as he cares for the big people and their corporations.

I'm not certain now much those issues are affected by my being a minority because I have been a very privileged minority from a very solid family. I think my religious upbringing and the fact that most of my family are raging liberal intellectuals has a lot more to do with it than anything else. I didn't even realize I was a minority until I was 18 years old.

On edit: Taking the entire minority issue out of this, my number 1 issue is peace- real peace where peace is more than the absence of armed conflict and Kucinich has 100% captured me on that one.

Thanks for the poll!

[JohnKleeb]

20. Check your PM box

I would vote Kucinich but I am not a minority. But could I be? does your religion make you a minority no I am not athiest but Catholic and Catholics only make up 25% of the populace, so am I eligible.

[redeye]

22. Catholics

I'm not sure you can call Catholics a minority. While most Americans consider Protestants more Christian than Catholics, you mustn't forget that Catholics are more numerous than any Protestant denomination or other religious group. Besides, I don't know how underrepresented Catholics are in Congress if at all (I do know that Jews are way overrepresented and that atheists are not represented at all, but that's it).

[JohnKleeb]

27. neither am I

I didnt vote so. Athiests are a minority by far I agree. I was confused so I didnt vote.

[opstachuck]

61. most catholics i know are atheists...

but consider themselves catholic as kind of a cultural marker. it's like our badge of courage - when i was an alterboy, my pastor was caught having sex with his dog. it makes you question things, like is it okay for me to have sex with dogs? and what types of dogs? things got really confusing there for a while.

[Terwilliger]

26. Voted Braun

she's the most normal and trustworthy person running, IMO (Kucinich is very trustworthy also)

As for why they appeal to those things that make me a minority? Well, they're "far left" :-) I think they're both interested in the government serving the people and cutting the crap out of the budget.

[Tinoire]

28. ROFLMAO! And you're WHICH minority????

Long-haired white guy with a pony-tail and a wicked sense of humor!

:hi:

[Terwilliger]

31. atheist, pot-smoker, charlatain, socialist, androgyne, condescending prick

handyman


take your pick :)

[JohnKleeb]

35. lol I

I will go with socialist.

[Tinoire]

37. What? !

Baby-killing, heathen communist isn't up there?!

I'll take pot-smoker for $200. See you later... Time to go catch up on the news in LBN. Peace :)

[Dob Bole]

33. This poll is hopelessly lost in the wilderness....

Quoting Lieberman, just for kicks.

Seriously, though, everybody is going to come on here and vote for their candidate, so you're not going to get the opinion of minority voters. Every DUer has an inferiority complex, and will find some way to be considered a minority.

It was a good idea, though.

[Terwilliger]

36. hmmmm

very condescending of you...

you wouldn't consider yourself a lab~rat, would you?

[Dob Bole]

40. Re:hmmm

Didn't mean to be condescending, except with the Lieberman joke. Not that I think Lieberman is beneath me or any such crap, he just doesn't excite me at all.

And I'm not sure what you meant by your final question.

[Terwilliger]

42. never mind

you just sounded like someone I've chatted with now and again

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

38. As I said...one had to expect with all the Dean threads on DU

that there would be a lot of Dean clicks. All Du polls are lost in the wilderness. Freeps that register and never post can click on them. I was more interested in who people are and why theylike who they like.

The poll is more pretty colors than anything. IMHO, the polls in the lounge are probably ten times more honest and accurate than the GD polls.

[TheDonkey]

34. Sharpton, Braun & Kucinich speak to minority issues

Because those 3 canidates are far left they really speak the most for minority issues and equality.

Howard Dean though did a great job of energizing a largely black audience I was in. It was very good to see a canidate talking with us, not at us.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. Was that your sense of Lieberman, Kerry and Gep?

I'm asking because I thought they were long on platitudes, short on specifics and bankrupt on inspiration.

[Tinoire]

43. FYI Kucinich #1 in Gainesville Poll (after AFL-CIO tonight)

I know these are mostly White mMjority People in Gainesville but still..

Presidential Forum
8/5/2003

<snip>

The Gainesville viewers also held a straw poll. Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich led the way with about a third of the vote, followed by Vermont Governor Howard Dean and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Tonight's straw poll is believed to be the earliest in our area.

http://www.wcjb.com/news.asp?id=7753

:bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: and now I can :smoke: and go to bed :)

On edit: What are the demographics of Gaineswille? The elderly?

[JohnKleeb]

47. Gainsville is where the university of Florida is

This does suprise me though because the young have taken a liking to Dean supposely but this is good news. Dennis told who he was tonite and what he is fighting for, I hope and expect a rise in the polls/

[Shanty Oilish]

44. I'm a mutt

Descending from people who couldn't sit still, though I surely can. Part Latina, female (the major minority). What do I see in that list? Aside from Tawana Brawley's mouthpiece, I see a bunch of privileged white men. One looks like he could make president (Kerry) but none of them look likely to lift a finger on behalf of women.

[proud patriot]

45. Female/ Housewife/ Mom/ Irish Scottish Native American

That's me .

[Chovexani]

48. Black, Pagan, Queer Woman here

Personally? I'm a Dean kind of woman. I just think he's the most qualified candidate for the job. While I don't agree with him on every position (I'm as anti-death penalty as they come), on every one of the issues I holds dear (civil rights, health care, the war, the economy), he just makes the most sense. And I think he's got a real shot if the momentum continues to build.

I don't feel one way or the other about Kerry. Edwards? Too young, not enough experience. Graham? He impressed me on Real Time w/ Bill Maher the other week, but I see him more as VP material. Braun totally does not need to be running, I think she's sort of an embarrassment--she couldn't get re-elected to the Senate and now she wants to be President? Sorry, it doesn't work like that.

I love the good Rev. Al (his lawyer helped my family out big time once years ago), and even if I thought he was running because he really wanted to be president (and he's not--he's doing so to increase black turnout and help other blacks and Dems on the tickets), I feel Al is most useful as the "911" guy. You know, some bad shit goes down, Al is the guy you call. He works best at the activist level, applying pressure from the outside.

I'll admit the thought of a Dean/Clark ticket really gets me salivating. Clark needs to be in the next cabinet, in some capacity. Dean/Graham I would like too.

[Terwilliger]

50. kicking for the morning

[CWebster]

51. As a woman

Kucinich will never speak for me.

[Terwilliger]

52. ...

:wow:

[CWebster]

59. Heh-heh

;-)

[Rich Hunt]

63. as a working-class woman

...whose mother was a cashier, I can say that he most certainly speaks for me.

[Northwind]

53. Does...

...being an atheist count?

[Terwilliger]

54. climb on in, brother (sister)

atheists are NOT exactly acceptable to most of the society

[opstachuck]

58. that's cause we eat babies (nt)

[Terwilliger]

60. yes, but they're so tasty with a little hollandaise sauce

and cilantro

[opstachuck]

62. if kids can have their school prayer

we should be able to eat our babies!! and with whatever sauce we desire! whichever candidate can stand up for that has got my vote. Dean? Kerry? where's the love?