[Tom]

I'm not clued up on the election that much so in terms of the policies etc I'm not sure what I'm on about ... and I'm sure Obama deserved to win.

But, a lot of news coverage is showing black people who are happy there is a black president and it seems that they only voted for him because he is black. Now if you turn the tables and white people vote for white people then celebrate that its a white president, there would be uproar.

So has it been racist voting, just to an extent or not at all?

[Princess]

It's not racist. It's historic that a black President has been elected,people are just so glad that it's time for change.

I didn't word that very well...

[Chri$]

African American's have been focused on because it a Moment in History for them.

But its not just African American's who voted for him.

[\PJ/]

Im glad people voted for Obama because mckain couldn't run a chippy.

[Lauren]

Would a black person vote a fundamentally racist party, though? No.

Iowa, which is 91% white population voted Obama in too.

What would the numbers look like if we looked for the % of people who voted for McCain were white?

[Wildcat!]

Historically, African americans votes in numbers for the democratic candidate. BIll Clinton had about 80% of them vote for him, so does most democratic candidate! In 1996, when Colin Powell was a possible candidate against Bill Clinton for the Repulican party, he got less than 50% support from the african american community. SO as obviously there will be some people that vote with race, due to the fact that its the 1st black candidate with a realistic chance, the fact is, its a victory of the democratic party over the republicans. If it was Hillary clinton, she wouldve gotten about the same support form the african american commuity!

[MarkWaldorf]

I don't know if that's the case. He got 95% of the African-American vote (I think?). I would only go as far as saying that he did gain some attention from the colour of his skin though.

[Scarlett.]

Obama won, simply because he is President material, NEW President material, gone are the days of which President who you will like to have a drink with, America has realised they need an intelligent man in charge

[bananarama]

Would he have won had he been a Republican!!!!!!!!!I think the answer to that is a resounding..Yes>>>>>>>

[Wildcat!]

Originally posted by bananarama
Would he have won had he been a Republican!!!!!!!!!I think the answer to that is a resounding..Yes>>>>>>>

Ermm, I think the answer to that is a resounding NO!!!

[Locke.]

America wanted a change, that is why they voted for him.

If anything white people voted McCain because they didn't want a black President, as proven by some videos on the net.

[Spike]

Yeah it is racist no matter how you dress it up. It seems its wrong for white people to not vote for Obama because he is black but its acceptable for black people to vote for him for that exact same reason
Both white and black people voted for him but there is no denying that a large percentage of those black voters did vote on race or let it swing them.
If he had of been white, my bet would have been on McCain winning.

[Ruth]

Originally posted by Tom
I'm not clued up on the election that much so in terms of the policies etc I'm not sure what I'm on about ... and I'm sure Obama deserved to win.

But, a lot of news coverage is showing black people who are happy there is a black president and it seems that they only voted for him because he is black. Now if you turn the tables and white people vote for white people then celebrate that its a white president, there would be uproar.

So has it been racist voting, just to an extent or not at all?

Maybe, but not exclusively. Obama, after all, took most of the white vote as well. Now, I'm sure that some black people voted for Obama purely because he is black. But I'm also sure that plenty of white people did not vote for Obama, purely because he is black.

Many African Americans are happy because Obama becoming president proves that your colour does not have to be a barrier. Remember, up until the 1960s, black people were not even allowed to ride on buses with white people. That's really very very recent. He has proven that your colour does not have to hold you back.

[bananarama]

Originally posted by Aint_mad_atcha

Ermm, I think the answer to that is a resounding NO!!!

Dream on and search for the real world......The land of fantacy is old hat......

[Ruth]

Originally posted by Spike
Yeah it is racist no matter how you dress it up. It seems its wrong for white people to not vote for Obama because he is black but its acceptable for black people to vote for him for that exact same reason
Both white and black people voted for him but there is no denying that a large percentage of those black voters did vote on race or let it swing them.
If he had of been white, my bet would have been on McCain winning.

Spike - it's time to let it go! Obama won both the popular vote and the electoral vote, and not by a narrow margin either. There are more white people who voted for him than black. Are they all racist? John McCain certainly isn't a racist, and I doubt he would respect your opinions.

As I said before, I'm sure there were black people who voted for him because of his colour, but my goodness, there are a hell of a lot of white people who refused to vote for him because of his colour. You only need to look at some of the very ugly stuff that has been posted on the internet.

McCain himself was angry about the Republican campaign making the point about Obama's middle name. He himself adopted a black child, so he certainly doesn't have issues with race.

You can look for as many excuses as you like for McCain losing - but he had the good grace to say that it was his fault. Coming up with excuse after excuse just makes you look bitter, and a bad loser.

[Ruth]

Originally posted by bananarama
Would he have won had he been a Republican!!!!!!!!!I think the answer to that is a resounding..Yes>>>>>>>

Don't insult my intelligence like you insulted the intelligence of the last person who responded to your post. The Americans wanted a change from the Republican party, and no wonder! A Republican was not going to win this election, no way, no how.

[Jen]

Not racist at all..

Spike, black people did not vote for Obama because Mc Cain was white.
They voted for Obama because they finally realised that 8 years of idiocy was enough.. 4 more years of republican crap would have been torture for every American citizen...

[Ruth]

Obama never made an issue out of his colour. He was not running as The First Black President. He was running as The Next President (who happens to be black). He is an inspirational figure, and all this bitterness, and people claiming that the voting was racist (not you Tom - you asked a legitimate question) need to bone up on the facts before making ridiculous claims.

[Spike]

Originally posted by Ruth

Spike - it's time to let it go! Obama won both the popular vote and the electoral vote, and not by a narrow margin either. There are more white people who voted for him than black. Are they all racist? John McCain certainly isn't a racist, and I doubt he would respect your opinions.

As I said before, I'm sure there were black people who voted for him because of his colour, but my goodness, there are a hell of a lot of white people who refused to vote for him because of his colour. You only need to look at some of the very ugly stuff that has been posted on the internet.

McCain himself was angry about the Republican campaign making the point about Obama's middle name. He himself adopted a black child, so he certainly doesn't have issues with race.

You can look for as many excuses as you like for McCain losing - but he had the good grace to say that it was his fault. Coming up with excuse after excuse just makes you look bitter, and a bad loser.

I'm not looking for excuses, Obama got the votes so he deserves it. I don't know what you are getting at because I know there was racist voting going on both sides
but I still think Obama wouldn't of won the election and maybe not even the better of Hillary if he had of been white

[Ruth]

Originally posted by Spike

I'm not looking for excuses, Obama got the votes so he deserves it. I don't know what you are getting at because I know there was racist voting going on both sides
but I still think Obama wouldn't of won the election and maybe not even the better of Hillary if he had of been white

Or you could argue that he would have won by an even bigger margin if he had been white.

As for Hillary - well, I like her. But I had a feeling that she wouldn't get the Democratic ticket. She is very unpopular amongst certain segment of the US population - even amongst some of those who loved Bill Clinton. That wasn't about colour. If she had have got the nomination, no doubt people would have been bleating about her only getting it because she is female.

I don't know why sometimes people can't accept that the best person won, because they are the best person. As I said before, some black people may well have voted on colour. But believe me, I'm sure that Obama's colour won John McCain several votes. If anything, Obama's colour put him at a disadvantage. But you know what? He won anyway, and I for one, couldn't be happier.

[bananarama]

Originally posted by Ruth

Don't insult my intelligence like you insulted the intelligence of the last person who responded to your post. The Americans wanted a change from the Republican party, and no wonder! A Republican was not going to win this election, no way, no how.

You insult your own intelligence by such a rude reply. However i will be generous and suggest it's not your intelligence that is the problem (Although your rudeness is) it's your perception of the real world that is the problem......As i said to another dream on just dream on and enjoy your fantacy......

[Wildcat!]

Originally posted by bananarama

You insult your own intelligence by such a rude reply. However i will be generous and suggest it's not your intelligence that is the problem (Although your rudeness is) it's your perception of the real world that is the problem......As i said to another dream on just dream on and enjoy your fantacy......

its Fantasy dude! Thought it was a typo but twice!?
How can you come on here and make a stupid claim,without any logical explanation? Would Barack Obama have won if he was a republican? Any logic with how this election went, would tell you no way! BUt somehow you make the statement without any explanation!
I tell you what, If 90% of African americans, voted for a republican Obama, he still wouldnt have the votes to win these elections! Go think about it, instead of just making yourself sound really idiotic!

[bananarama]

Originally posted by Aint_mad_atcha

its Fantasy dude! Thought it was a typo but twice!?
How can you come on here and make a stupid claim,without any logical explanation? Would Barack Obama have won if he was a republican? Any logic with how this election went, would tell you no way! BUt somehow you make the statement without any explanation!
I tell you what, If 90% of African americans, voted for a republican Obama, he still wouldnt have the votes to win these elections! Go think about it, instead of just making yourself sound really idiotic!

Why are some so wound up at such a suggestion.......Terrified of the truth me thinks.....Cannot will not face reality.....

[Rory]

Originally posted by Ruth
Obama never made an issue out of his colour. He was not running as The First Black President. He was running as The Next President (who happens to be black). He is an inspirational figure, and all this bitterness, and people claiming that the voting was racist (not you Tom - you asked a legitimate question) need to bone up on the facts before making ridiculous claims.

..but everyone else did.

I'm not saying John McCain's plan was superior, because he would've been the last candidate I would have chosen for the republican party.

What I am saying, is that he has become a celebrity BASED ON his skin color.

My local radio stations did polls, asking people on their way out who they voted for and why. Some said Obama, simply because he's the first black president.

Blacks voting for blacks only because they're black couldn't be deemed racist by the public because of the society we live in today. Racism is not always portrayed as equal among others: blacks can be racist and get away with it, while whites have to tiptoe around any subject involving race.

Originally posted by Ruth
Spike - it's time to let it go! Obama won both the popular vote and the electoral vote, and not by a narrow margin either. There are more white people who voted for him than black. Are they all racist? John McCain certainly isn't a racist, and I doubt he would respect your opinions.

Does that make a difference? The issue at hand is: did black people only vote for Obama because he is black.

He didn't win just because he was black, but he recieved some votes based on skin color because it's a radical change.

To be honest, I didn't want either to win.

[bananarama]

Originally posted by Rory

..but everyone else did.

I'm not saying John McCain's plan was superior, because he would've been the last candidate I would have chosen for the republican party.

What I am saying, is that he has become a celebrity BASED ON his skin color.

My local radio stations did polls, asking people on their way out who they voted for and why. Some said Obama, simply because he's the first black president.

Blacks voting for blacks only because they're black couldn't be deemed racist by the public because of the society we live in today. Racism is not always portrayed as equal among others: blacks can be racist and get away with it, while whites have to tiptoe around any subject involving race.

Does that make a difference? The issue at hand is: did black people only vote for Obama because he is black.

He didn't win just because he was black, but he recieved some votes based on skin color because it's a radical change.

To be honest, I didn't want either to win.

Excellent rationalised post.