Is race a really a factor for Obama? or gender for Hillary?

[Rockstone]

I am fearing the prejudice of people. Especially older ones, given they way the greatest military failure was given blessings by a primative American populace.

But, figure - Obama got elected to where he is today, and so did Mrs. Rodham-Clinton, so are my fears of voter prejudice unfounded?

Was Harold Ford tanked by the race smear ad?

Is the office of President - being the highest in the land - enough to give enough prejudiced whites the willies about not voting for a white man?

I feel like the south would have trouble being diminuitive to a black man or a female as their highest leader. Am I paranoid, or are they trying to foist Hillary vs. Obama so that we lose no matter what?

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Absolutely

I hate Obama because she is a woman and Clinton because he is black. Or maybe I've freaking had it with these threads.

[Rockstone]

2. Then why did you reply?

[madmusic]

3. Of course they are factors...

But fear of the unknown, of the first for something when it is so important, will probably be the biggest factor. That's not the same as racism or misogyny, I don't think, though for some race and misogyny will play a role. That coupled with fear will make the fight all the more difficult and uphill. Not impossible for either of them though.

[Rockstone]

8. Right!

the horribleness of the republican nominee is a big factor. Think Frist, Or Rudy. Or Newt! Oh My!

[cynatnite]

4. It is for my RW mother

Sad but true. She doesn't think a woman should be president. I'm also ashamed to say she still holds to many prejudices which include color.

This is the south, but with the very close race Ford had here in TN there is still hope. Obama could carry this state if he got the nomination. Obama has a lot more charisma and is a better speaker than Ford.

[Telly Savalas]

6. When's the last time your RW mother voted for a Democrat for prez?

[cynatnite]

9. Let's see...umm...never.

Good point.

Love your name, BTW. :)

[Telly Savalas]

5. No.

Because the sorts of dumbfuck losers who would withhold their vote for such pathetic reasons wouldn't vote Democratic anyway.

[Rockstone]

11. They might just stay home

but if you play it as an attack on them - make it out to be a war on their so-called "values" - that motivates people to fight.

The fact tha Barak is from Illinois is encouraging. I expect NY to be progressive, but Illinois is not near the top of my natural expectations of progressive states.

[Telly Savalas]

15. So we need to nominate a white male to make sure that Klan

members who weren't going to vote don't change their mind and show up?

Even in the unlikely event that this would actually play a factor in the results of an election, it's the zenith of moral cowardice to make it a factor in choosing a candidate. I think it's disgusting that we keep having this discussion at DU.

[savemefromdumbya]

7. Clinton\Obama 08?

I don't think any of these issues will be a big problem for Democratic voters but for indies and GOP I don't know.

[smalll]

10. Race will be a factor that I think Obama can successfully overcome -

the name factor will actually be worse for him. Barak "the-H-name" Obama. :banghead:

[LisaL]

17. Yea, not only Obama rimes with Osama, his middle name

is Hussein.
Not a very good combination.

[Bitwit1234]

12. I'm coming up to my 74 birthday

and I have no problem with Obama or Hillary. BUT I know that neither of them will probably get the nomination because one is a woman and one is black.

This country has too many bigots. They won't accept a woman much less a black. Look at the way the republicans and a lot of democrats talk about women this and women that. Look at the way the men are up in arms about abortion. The main reason men are so against abortion is because it takes away one more control they have on women.

And look at the way the people in Tennessee voted against Harold Ford due to the ad run against him, where it was made to seem as if he DARED to talk to a white woman.

No this country won't vote for a woman or a black,and I think Hillary and Obama do not have a chance. Too bad, because either one of them would make a damn good president.

[SnoopDog]

13. No, Obama is inexperience and Mrs. Clinton is not Presidential material

[silverojo]

14. A black man will get elected sooner than a woman

When it comes between racism and sexism, sexism is always a top priority in this country. :mad:

[marmar]

19. I'm not so sure about that....

Women if nothing else are a statistical majority in this country, so they can overwhelm sexists in sheer numbers. That's not the case for African Americans - one out of 50 U.S. senators is African American. And until Deval Patrick's victory in November, there wasn't one black governor.

[tom_paine]

16. Yes, I think race is still a factor, sadly

On this Election Day past, I helped a congressional candidate do "drag & drop", where I was the driver and they hired a college student to hand out the lit, knock on doors and talk to people.

About a half-hour in, she got called a N****r. On two other occasions, she received rude, generic threats like "Get the fuck off of my porch or I'll sic my dog on you."

Mind you that I, a white dude & a vet, hve been doorknocking for three elections now and have yet to hear a harsh word from these same neighborhoods.

Does race matter? Less than it did, and hopefully more than it will in the future. But now?

Not yet, and the Democrats dare not waste our chance to regain the White House by trying it out now.

Of course, who wins the primaries, wins the primaries...

[Wiley50]

18. I'm sorry but, neither could carry the south as things are

It's not the race,so much, although Harold ford can tell you
that it becomes a factor when it is waved in the face
with negative advertising, which is a fact of life these days.

It's more the name, really
the folks down here just would think
that the sound of President Obama'
just don't sound american.
I know.
but, nevertheless, it's a fact.

also

Unfortunately, the name Hillary
has become a pejorative
also due to negative direct mail
and Rush, o'Lielly,ect

i didn't make it that way
so don't flame me
just sayin

I really hope that the national party has more sense
than to run an unelectable candidate against the Repubs in '08
We can't afford to take the chance of handing it to them at this point
I've lived here long enough to know