News Item Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause

julia · 05-13-2008, 12:25 PM

There is no point in pretending this is not happening.

Am not trying to stir things up but we have to recognize what's out there in this country.

Quote:

Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause

By Kevin Merida
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, May 13, 2008; A01

Danielle Ross was alone in an empty room at the Obama campaign headquarters in Kokomo, Ind., a cellphone in one hand, a voter call list in the other. She was stretched out on the carpeted floor wearing laceless sky-blue Converses, stories from the trail on her mind. It was the day before Indiana's primary, and she had just been chased by dogs while canvassing in a Kokomo suburb. But that was not the worst thing to occur since she postponed her sophomore year at Middle Tennessee State University, in part to hopscotch America stumping for Barack Obama.

Here's the worst: In Muncie, a factory town in the east-central part of Indiana, Ross and her cohorts were soliciting support for Obama at malls, on street corners and in a Wal-Mart parking lot, and they ran into "a horrible response," as Ross put it, a level of anti-black sentiment that none of them had anticipated.

"The first person I encountered was like, 'I'll never vote for a black person,' " recalled Ross, who is white and just turned 20. "People just weren't receptive."

For all the hope and excitement Obama's candidacy is generating, some of his field workers, phone-bank volunteers and campaign surrogates are encountering a raw racism and hostility that have gone largely unnoticed -- and unreported -- this election season. Doors have been slammed in their faces. They've been called racially derogatory names (including the white volunteers). And they've endured malicious rants and ugly stereotyping from people who can't fathom that the senator from Illinois could become the first African American president.

The contrast between the large, adoring crowds Obama draws at public events and the gritty street-level work to win votes is stark. The candidate is largely insulated from the mean-spiritedness that some of his foot soldiers deal with away from the media spotlight.

Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause

Kanadesaga · 05-13-2008, 12:33 PM

Gotta have a thick skin to canvas. This is an undeniable part of this campaign and America, it's going to come out sooner or later. That one speech in Philadelphia didn't put this issue to rest.

infoseek · 05-13-2008, 12:48 PM

Everybody who wants to vindicate and be politically correct should vote for Obama.

OBAMA 08

julia · 05-13-2008, 01:19 PM

Most ppl are supporting Obama for his positions (American out of Iraq, etc) and not for platitudes.

Kanadesaga · 05-13-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infoseek

Everybody who wants to vindicate and be politically correct should vote for Obama.

OBAMA 08

Political correctness has nothing to do with it. He is the best candidate left.

aloysious · 05-13-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

Most ppl are supporting Obama for his positions (American out of Iraq, etc) and not for platitudes.

B.S. More people would've voted for Kucinich (sic?) or Paul if that were the case.

julia · 05-13-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infoseek

Everybody who wants to vindicate and be politically correct should vote for Obama.

OBAMA 08

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

Most ppl are supporting Obama for his positions (American out of Iraq, etc) and not for platitudes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aloysious

B.S. More people would've voted for Kucinich (sic?) or Paul if that were the case.

Oh, so by your reasoning voters are supporting Obama for platitudes and not his positions.
Riiiiiiiiiiight.

aloysious · 05-13-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

Oh, so by your reasoning voters are supporting Obama for platitudes and not his positions.
Riiiiiiiiiiight.

He has no real position on Iraq, IMO. I've heard him say he will withdraw, and in the next breath , only after it's "safe" and there's a democracy there. As you would say, "Riiiiiiiiight."
Only Kucinich and Paul actually, unequivocally stated they'd get out ASAP, stop funding, whatever it took.
I suppose voters support Obama because they like him, they do like his economic position of income redistribution, or in my case, because he's the lesser of a bad choice. (I still may vote Libertarian, again.)

julia · 05-13-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aloysious

He has no real position on Iraq, IMO. I've heard him say he will withdraw, and in the next breath , only after it's "safe" and there's a democracy there. As you would say, "Riiiiiiiiight."
Only Kucinich and Paul actually, unequivocally stated they'd get out ASAP, stop funding, whatever it took.
I suppose voters support Obama because they like him, they do like his economic position of income redistribution, or in my case, because he's the lesser of a bad choice. (I still my vote Libertarian, again.)

John Edwards's platform was against the war in iraq, his position was no more troops, no bases and no advisors nor rapid action force in iraq.

Don't agree with what you are saying about Obama's position on Iraq.

aloysious · 05-13-2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

John Edwards's platform was against the war in iraq, his position was no more troops, no bases and no advisors nor rapid action force in iraq..

I guess. I didn't pay much attention to Edwards other than him apologizing for his vote on the IWR. At least he did that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

Don't agree with what you are saying about Obama's position on Iraq.

Which is what? What "position" is:
I've heard him say he will withdraw, and in the next breath , only after it's "safe" and there's a democracy there. ??!!?!?

05-13-2008, 12:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kanadesaga Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NYS - Devil's country Posts: 6,706 My Mood: Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 220 Thanked 79 Times in 55 Posts	Gotta have a thick skin to canvas. This is an undeniable part of this campaign and America, it's going to come out sooner or later. That one speech in Philadelphia didn't put this issue to rest.
	Top

05-13-2008, 12:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
infoseek Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Watts Posts: 604 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Everybody who wants to vindicate and be politically correct should vote for Obama. OBAMA 08
	Top

05-13-2008, 01:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
julia Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,753 Blog Entries: 7 Thanks: 257 Thanked 266 Times in 159 Posts	Most ppl are supporting Obama for his positions (American out of Iraq, etc) and not for platitudes. __________________ The candidate does not speak for the campaign.
	Top

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