NPR: Talk of the Nation (1-30-2008) (Racism is still alive folks!)

[aein]

(Lake City, Florida) Caller: "I'm a long time southern white democrat, and I voted for Hillary Clinton, and I've talked to a lot of friends, and we're just not...you know...if it comes down to Obama being the candidate, and that...We won't vote for him. For a number a reasons, and we think that McCain is probably more palatable to us as a Republican candidate than it would to be for Obama being a democrat."

Host: "You said you won't vote for Obama for a number of reasons, what might they be?"

Caller: "Number #1 is one that he's an eloquent speaker, but I don't see any substance there. Number 2 is race. It plays a factor, whether you say it does or doesn't. You just want to have a good feeling him about him but you don't."

Host: "So the people you're talking to, you're not ready to vote for an African-American president?"

Caller: "No. To be honest with you, no. They're a lot of us that feel that way, to be honest with you."


As an Obama supporter, I was honestly shocked. We need to bury this stuff in the past.

[redqueen]

1. You must not get around TX much outside of Austin.

I'm shocked this would shock anyone.

[aein]

2. I think I knew it intellectually, but when racism is stark and honest...it's kind of shocking.

[redqueen]

8. Yeah... if one stays around urban areas it's less 'in-your-face'. (nt)

[REDFISHBLUEFISH]

4. Obama doesn't need to play the race card himself, his supporters do.

There are people who will not vote for a female either.

Its a wash.

[goodgd_yall]

15. This is what I say

to my friend who thinks Hillary is SO unelectable---not so much because of gender, but because she is who she is. I think she has as good a chance as Obama. Gender AND race are both going to play a part in this election.

But it is interesting, isn't it, that the stereotyping and bigotry toward women is given so little credibility when it's brought up as a reason Hillary may have a tough time winning.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. I'm not surprised at all.

If you look at the SC vote, Obama had a 50% vote of whites under thirty. It then dropped almost linearly with age.

You can find the same sort of trends on race issues with white persons and age.

[redqueen]

6. "It then dropped almost linearly with age."

Yup... good point.

[democrat2thecore]

5. Could have been a planted phone call. Not too many racist men listen to NPR - (I am guessing) -nt

[Bluerthanblue]

9. I don't think so- I heard it yesterday, the guy seemed quite

genuine.- and somewhat ashamed as the host got him to admit his bigotry.

Racism is kind of like incest. It happens in all kinds of families. (from my own experience)


peace~

[democrat2thecore]

10. Could have been. God knows they're still around. -nt

[Bluerthanblue]

7. I heard that too- the callers that followed were a good

contrast.

I thought the host did a good job of getting him to put his ugly feelings into uncomfortable words.


Wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not.
This will only be healed, addressed, fixed, if it is brought out into the light.

Denial kills.

:hi:

peace~

[FrenchieCat]

11. That's OK....Obama brings in their replacement 2 to 1.

We lose one, he brings 2. No problem.

[Alexander]

12. That C-Span caller has a lot in common with some DU Shillbots.

[BenDavid]

13. More on the theme of this thread:

Without a doubt, Obama is getting votes from semi-bigots who say, "Obama's one of the good ones - you don't see him running to Louisiana to help The Jena Six, you don't see him commenting on the Duke rape case. Obama stays out of all that race nonsense, which means he's got my vote."

From the semi-bigot's point of view, is Obama "one of the good ones?" Does Obama avoid taking positions on black issues to preserve his political viability?

I know, I know, I'm a racist for asking the question.

[goodgd_yall]

16. You bring up a good point

But, it' true, anyone who speaks about the elephant in the living room tends to get dissed here.

[goodgd_yall]

14. I heard part of this show

Anyone who thinks Clinton is a sure loser to the Republicans, but Obama is not (and I don't subscribe to the "sure loser" doctrine, but I do think gender AND race will be components in how tight the race is going to be) is not aware of how much we have NOT evolved.