What really irritates me the most about this election is...

[butterfly77]

that some think that just because I am black it is my duty to vote for Obama... Before all of these issues came up I never saw Obama as my candidate and it had nothing to do with race. I also have a problem with whites would get excited if Obama says anything that seems as though he will help the black community as though he would be a black president and only do for blacks. Blacks and others have been voting for whites for years/ So when they jump to that conclusion I take it that they believe that a white president is suppose to do more for whites than blacks.

This is the main problem with the republiCONS they like Bush because he only the president for a certain segment of the country and not all. I also don't agree with some of the things that have been said during this campaign but,some of these things are not racist remarks, In my opinion,. I think that a lot of blacks don't really watch what is going on in politics until there is a major election so they are easily swayed by the media, The media has the dems right where they want them they have gotten rid of some of the best candidates and they are playing these sound bites over and over to so that blacks will become outraged. I for one am not falling for it.Bob Johnson needs to shut up he has caused
a lot of problems with the younger generation and he is not helping..

[psychmommy]

1. i agree

i won't vote based on race or gender. did that w/christie whitman. boy, was i naive. i don't like how we get lumped together. because a black person calls out someone on their shit (ex. hill and the mlk remarks) then we are angry obamites. no she was inappropriate. bob johnson is an ass but, he is a rich black one.

[mac2]

2. Afro American direction and agenda is being hijacked

by the Neo Cons.

-If Obama cares so much about his fellow race and "their issues" where was he during Katrina? Oh on break just like the rest of Congress. Did he care they were drowning, without food, shelter, etc.?

I am not Afro-American but I was outraged and called everyone I could demanding action on that horrible weekend after Katrina. The Afro-America groups have legal staff who could have gotten court orders, etc. Nothing!!! What are those puffed up egos for anyway? They take the money but do little.

-Why are politicians such as Obama ruining the power of your churches to remain free of government intervention and power by politicking and giving clergy Faith Based tax dollars with little accountability? They are buying their vote and silencing their voices.

-Many Afro-America clergy fat with funding and power decide for you who you should vote for and run for public office.

-Do you think it is OK to destroy the Constitution in order to have more power and wealth under them? What about those years of struggle for the vote and free speech...education, etc.? Isn't their aim to ruin your future by destroying good jobs and public education?

-It may have occurred to many in your race that the Afro-American clergy in no way resemble the ones during Martin Luther King years. They are flush with power and wealth. Their goals political and not god's.

What can you do?

-Insist the politicians meet in public halls and stop Faith Based funding cronyism.

-Demand any politician give you your Constitutional and voting rights back. They've had eight years to solve the problems but have not. That says, they don't want to. Instead they give Bush even more powers to remove them.

-Demand jobs and education for your community. Get out of the WTO which is bad for America and unconstitutional.

-Don't listen to those "Martin Luther King pretenders". They are full of "DC swamp gas". Look I made good...why can't you. They've "got theirs" but don't want anyone else to have the same.

You are right...Obama does not deserve any Americans support let along Afro-Americans. Conyers has betrayed the people by stonewalling on impeachment. Need I say much about Condi Rice, Colin Powell, etc. They act like they are one of you but in reality they aren't.

You can expect to see all kinds of groups supporting Obama and Hillary as the primaries go forward. They are grabbing onto the shirt tails. I already let go and am going to ask more questions and demand action.

[NOLALady]

3. Obama is not my first choice, but

"If Obama cares so much about his fellow race and "their issues" where was he during Katrina? Oh on break just like the rest of Congress. Did he care they were drowning, without food, shelter, etc.?"

You can substitute Hillary, etc. for "Obama". It seems to me that Obama has been trying to address the issues of his fellow race, which includes his Father's as well as his Mother's race. Do we expect only black politician to be concerned about black issues and give white politicians a pass?



"The Afro-America groups have legal staff who could have gotten court orders, etc. Nothing!!! What are those puffed up egos for anyway? They take the money but do little"

Which Groups are you talking about, who take what money and did nothing.



"Why are politicians such as Obama ruining the power of your churches to remain free of government intervention and power by politicking and giving clergy Faith Based tax dollars with little accountability? They are buying their vote and silencing their voices.

-Many Afro-America clergy fat with funding and power decide for you who you should vote for and run for public office. "

Here you can substitute almost any politicians name for Obama. It seems to me they are trying to ruin the power of all churches, yours as well as theirs.
You can also substitute "white clergy" for afro clergy.




"Isn't their aim to ruin your future by destroying good jobs and public education"

Destroying good jobs and public education will destroy everyones future.



"It may have occurred to many in your race that the Afro-American clergy in no way resemble the ones during Martin Luther King years. They are flush with power and wealth. Their goals political and not god's."

Here also, you can substitute "white clergy" for AA clergy. Whites used to gather in their churches during MLK years to discuss their political strategies to keep their power concentrated and their neighborhoods pure.


What can you do?

You can do all of the above that you suggested for African Americans. You can also take your suggestions to whites with a few word substitutions.

Maybe you can consider that telling black folks what they should do could be a problem.

Here's a news flash...Some blacks support Edwards, some support HRC, some support Obama, some support others. They are quite capable of making up their own minds.

[mac2]

4. Go ahead and destroy all the progress

Yes...you could substitute any white politican for these. But Obama is considered a shoe in from Afro-Americans and their cause.

-I said Congress (which included Hillary) went on break.

-Groups I called was the NAACP, Black Caucus, ACLU, etc. I went down the list.

-White churches over the years have not used them for their political meeting halls. Now it is mainly the Evengelicals who are using their churches but soon the majority religious group will silence them.

Just a suggestion if you want to keep on the right path. Do as you please after all it is you who are losing your votes and rights faster than others. I am aware that not all blacks vote the same way. DA!! Sorry I bothered to bring it up or even stick up for another race. If you won't help yourselves or listen to me (when I thought I was being helpful) that's your problem. Refuse to do action and your power is taken away.

The Constitution is a responsibility all races in America must protect.

[NOLALady]

5. And how much different is our cause

from your cause?

I was trying to point out to you that we all (most of us anyway... poor as well as middle class) want the same thing. We are all losing rights. I'm sure you are losing yours as fast as I'm losing mine.

Maybe people could start with recognizing the citizens of this country as Americans of one nationality with the responsibility to protect the Constitution.

If I offended you, I'm sorry. That was not my intention.

But, I really think it would be helpful if you shared your wonderful ideas with other Americans. Spread the word.

[mac2]

6. Isn't this sharing it with other Americans?

I give up since you refuse to understand my concern for Afro-Americans in our democracy. I have shared my views about voting, the Constitution, etc. before.

[butterfly77]

8. So are you trying to tell me that...

If I don't vote for Obama that, I won't be helping the black race? I don't think just because he is black that he things will get any better any faster than it has. If anything there will be a lot more roadblocks put in his way because he is black. Like I said, I am not voting for him just because he is black...If he does win he will not only be the president of blacks but of all people and you can be sure that any whites who help put him in there will be sure to remind him of that and also of the fact that he is not only black but white also...

[mac2]

7. The polls reveal it ain't the same support for all.

"Whites backed Clinton 49%-39%, while blacks backed Obama 63%-25%. Both racial gaps were higher than two weeks ago."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008...

[Chovexani]

9. Funny you should mention that.

I was actually with Obama the weekend after Katrina, when Rita was threatening. It was at the Congressional Black Caucus' Legislative Conference, and he spoke as part of a panel with Harry Belafonte among other folks, including Hillary Clinton. It's funny thinking back on it now, the way they were smiling and laughing with each other like BFFs, considering what's happened since then.

Of course, as usual, he talked a good game but didn't really say anything substantive. Hell, I was far more impressed with Belafonte.

[Brewman_Jax]

10. No thanks

We don't need any more non-black people telling black people what they should and shouldn't do.

[bliss_eternal]

11. *whew*

Thought I was the only one that caught that, and was bothered by it.
Thanks for catching and commenting. :thumbsup:

[Brewman_Jax]

12. Yesterday's speech

It was inevitable--Obama had to speak and assure the nation that he isn't the ANGRY black man that they are so afraid of. :(

[psychmommy]

13. i thought it was a great speech.

it has sparked some good convo's here on du. i think it changed the atmosphere a little bit. it is starting to change the convo in the msm.