The Race Factor

The media has double standards about race issues.If a candidate that is white can't even speak a blacks name without it turning into an issue of race how are you going to run aginist them if you can not even say his name.look at Michelle obama saying blacks better open there eyes,what would the media do it Bill or Hillary or John Edwards said whites better open there eyes?I AM DISPOINTED WITH HOW THE MEDIA IS HANDLING THE RACE ISSUE,but i expected it.

No black is going to win as president as long as people know they will have to deal with 4 years of being branded as a 'racist' every time they oppose the black president. You call his opposition to the war as 'fairy tale' and that's a racially incendiary comment? No-one is going to put up with someone (or someone's supporters) who are so thin-skinned, regardless of the color of that thin skin.

The media is the only one who cares anything about this election. There are no outstanding candidates from either party. AND WHY DID WE HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO ALL THIS ELECTION B******* SO FAR AHEAD OF THE ELECTION!!?? I've always hated election year because nobody focuses on anything but that but this time we've had an extra 6 months plus of all the posturing. We need to throw everyone out of Washington and start over. They're all alike under the skin.

The fact that the black vote was almost identical in Nevada and South Carolina discredits what most of the media has been talking about for the past few days. If you compare the Nevada and South Carolina stats, Hillary gained black votes in South Carolina.

I wouldn't say Hillary didn't care about the SC primary. She knew Obama would win it. The black vote was almost identical in Nevada and South Carolina. She decided to campaign intead in the Feb 5 stats where she's ahead. On Super Tueday Hillary is ahead in 20 out of the 22 states that will vote that day. You can see why Hillary decided to campaign in those states and leave South Carolina for Obama. Even before Iowa the media knew that if Obama won Iowa that blacks would flock to Obama. Everyone knew that Obama would in South Carolina, unfortunately you can't mention this because if you do you're labeled a racist.

The Bill Clinton Jessie Jackson comment was a slap in the face to the black voters who did support Hillary. It was like he was saying Obama was going to win any way, weather you voted for Hillary or not,so it was like your vote was wasted.She did not care enough to even rally her supporters after the SC Primary!

I don't understand you people who are saying everything that Clinton says is racist, have you all lost your mind. If
you think the remark about Jessie Jackson was racist, then you all are quilty liberals, who pretend that racism
is no longer an issue, because Obama doesn't face the fact that racism does exist, whether he has had to endure it or not. Most likely he hasn't personally been faced with the lynching or crosses burned in front of his home, or today a Jena like incident, which Obama ignored, until pressed to say how horrible the incident was. Obama doesn't represent both races, he doesn't represent any race, he is a non-person, saying nothing, addressing nothing and imitating others. I am sorry you people here see him as some savior of the US. But he is not, and only time will tell, if he gets to the White House, all I can say is think of GW Bush, is comparing Obama to Bush better, same personality or maybe Reagan, who lied to the country to get people to vote for him.
Obama, says change, the change is him, no real change, he votes to fund the war over and over but says he is against war. Isn't he against people dying? He's just another greedy corporate elist leading the people by the nose, he will accomplish nothing. I will not vote for him in the primary or general election, period. Hopefully
all those black votes in SC will be wasted along with the quilty bleeding heart white liberals and uninformed hispanics and every other minority, who
have no idea what a mess they are putting this country in when they go into the voting booth.

The American public is so weary of the Clintons and their negative politics. It is incredibly heartening to see the South Carolina results. It's remarkable that Obama got so much of the white vote in light of the fact that Edwards was born in South Carolina and the Clintons have southern roots and the support of the Democratic establishment. Americans of all races, gender, ethnicity, economic class are hungering for a political leader who can change Washington. As a white 44 year old female, I'm supporting Obama!

Please folks, quit with the "black" vote in S. C, . I'm sure all those who went to obama, are aware of his white mother.

This was a rejection of the b,s of the clintons and the sad efforts of the hair boy.

The people who went with Obama were of multiple shades and mind.

Knowing that whoever wins, will have to do what necessity demands regardless.....

I would much rather wake up to see any proclamations emerge from an attractive warm personality, than the cold and vacant eyes , and totally self serving personages of the " ####" creature.

As an independent thinker....and Romney and McCain on the horizon...I hope only for someone who brings unity to our hearts and minds on a national and global basis.

The ecomomy wil ultimately take care of itself...and remember folks,,,if the big boys lose...everybody loses.

Besides we surely need to be grateful ...it could truly be a whole lot worse....think Europe/ America in the very early days.

Thank you, Pityman

I can't believe that Bill Clinton made the comment in regards to comparing Obama to Jesse Jackson. Comparing the fact of reminding the black people to remember "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina, and still failed to win" I'm a Hillary Clinton fan, but I'm trying to be open on both sides for the best of our country. I want to be fair, and hear what both have to say. I'm African American, and I know this country need a huge change. But throwing race cards, and inmature comments..is really making me see where the truth lies.

I am a retired engineer and a non partisan senior citizen and I think that both, President Clinton and the media should back off from mentioning race or gender in this election. This election is much more important than previous elections because we are in a mess due to the Iraq war and a looming recession. Senator Obama is much above this business as usual dirty polits. After a very long time, we are witnessing the rise of a truly inspiring statesman, an honest and decent person, whom we badly need as our president to lead us out of this mess and move us towards peace and prosperity. In my own humble way I will do what I can to help Senator Obama win the primary and the general election.

Comparing Barack Obama's victory to Jesse Jackson's victory in the 80s is the most naked race baiting from the Clintons. He will pay dearly for this insane stupidity. He fails to realize that Clinton FATIGUE is REAL.
We are tired of BUSH-CLINTON-BUSH-CLINTON merry go round dynasties. If we don't correct it the Independents will do it for by staying or voting for the GOP nominee.
Obama is no Jackson!

Jake,
I am a middle aged, white, midwestern, working mother that will be working night and day to help Obama become President. Not because he is black but because he is what this country needs. He know what hard work is, can identify with the working class and can deliver a speech that inspires everyone to look at what they need to do to contribute rather than take from our country. I teach high school students in a small rural town. When I posed the question of, "Who do you want to be President?" 95% of these teenagers coming from prodominetly Republican homes responded, "Obama". Now, for someone to get high school students excited about politics that takes inspiration. By the way, they do not know that I support Obama. Being a democrat here is not a very popular position! So to answer your question, people are ready for change and looking to Obama to provide the opportunity even in Republican Midwest America they really do not care what color he is!

Your pal is absolutely right. The media really needs to stop talking about race (or identity politics as a whole for that matter) and start focusing on important things like fact-checking candidates' claims rather than reporting he-said-she-said horse race stuff and blathering about demographics. Your job is to give voters an accurate picture of the candidates, and to shine the spotlight on anyone who tries to cheat in the shadows.

Jake: I am a 50 year old white democrat who has never been so moved, and so hopeful as I was tonight at Senator Obama's victory speech.

To your black friend who worried: "I think the real question is whether white people will backlash against Obama simply because he won so many black votes..."

I say to him, please have some faith. What Clinton has done with that Jesse Jackson remark is despicable. It indeed is worse than his previous attacks.

Senator Obama appeals to our better angels. He's would be the President that I want my children to know.

It isn't a surprise - or even relevant - that he took 80% of the black vote. For what's much more heartening is way so many voters in Iowa and New Hampshire and Nevada looked past race, and voted for the man.

I sincerely believe Bill Clinton will have precisely the opposite effect that you fear.

I have never been so proud to be an American as I was tonight, watching that speech.

Your friend is 100% right. You should have heard the angry outbursts among Democrats in the room I was in -- a mixed crowd, some even Clinton people -- when Clinton's Jesse Jackson line was announced. I think a lot of people who were sort of sitting this one out, are coming off the bench now, to make sure Obama, and not the Clintons, goes to the White House.

I am glad that Ms Kennedy endorsed Senator Obama. He represents hope and compassion in the best tradition of JFK. We are in dire need of leaders who will embrace the light and curse the darkness, instead of the reverse.

I am glad that Ms Kennedy endorsed Senator Obama. He represents hope and compassion in the best tradition of JFK. We are in dire need of leaders who will embrace the light and curse the darkness, instead of the reverse.

I'll be convening my precinct caucus Feb. 5th and hope to again be a state delegate. I continue to be one of those "they're all good candidates and I'll work for whomever is nominated" people, but Bill's making it difficult. All his recent huffing and puffing has got me thinking about what it'll be like having him back in the spotlight for four more years, and I decided I really don't want to go back there. In two Saturday political meetings I attended I had conversations with Dem women who raised the same point--they were basically "All Dem Candidates Good" people, they favored Hillary because of feminist solidarity if nothing else, but Bill had now caused them second thoughts. I suspect the results in SC will prompt more voters to realize the dis-ease they've been feeling is Clinton fatigue.