“Default” racism

January 17, 2007 By

Barack Obama looks like he’s going to annouce that he’s running for President (Beet.TV has a link to the news, along with news about how Barack is using online video). Already most of the press (and most political bloggers) have decided that the race for Democratic nominee is between three people: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards.

I’m getting pissed off about something I’ve noticed in my conversations. No, not when people tell me they either don’t know enough about Barack, or think he’s not experienced enough. That’s quite acceptable at this stage in the game.

But I’m throwing a little test into the conversation. I then follow up a comment like that with this: “I think he isn’t going to get elected because of the color of his skin.”

What follows my statement is what really pisses me off: I haven’t had many people disagree with me. Admittedly small sample size, but now more than 100 people.

That’s what I call “default” racism. You might call it “invisible” racism. Or something else. But it still is racism. If someone says something racist to you, and you don’t disagree, aren’t you also racist by default?

It’s also interesting that I haven’t seen the major political blogs, or Web sites, take on the issue of race and the 2008 candidacy.

Oh, and what does this have to do with technology? Not much until I start remembering my Silicon Valley childhood when I was my son’s age. I remember a neighborhood family coming around to my parents asking “we’re thinking of selling our home to a black family and wanted to let you know about it.”

I’m sick of the default. What about you?

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  • http://solostudio.blogspot.com/ Solo

    I think the lack of answer is not automatically racism, it depends on the context.

    2 liberals who like candidate “A” might share the same sentiment, “Yeah, I would love A to be president, but I am voting for B in the primary because A is too liberal.”

    If you, Scoble, said something like “too bad Obama won’t make it” I would not impugn racist motive, I would take it as a possibly pragmatic statement given the reactionary nature of so much of the electorate. Though I might say, “hey, if he were a right-wing nutjob, maybe he would have a chance.”

  • http://solostudio.blogspot.com/ Solo

    I think the lack of answer is not automatically racism, it depends on the context.

    2 liberals who like candidate “A” might share the same sentiment, “Yeah, I would love A to be president, but I am voting for B in the primary because A is too liberal.”

    If you, Scoble, said something like “too bad Obama won’t make it” I would not impugn racist motive, I would take it as a possibly pragmatic statement given the reactionary nature of so much of the electorate. Though I might say, “hey, if he were a right-wing nutjob, maybe he would have a chance.”

  • http://www.greghughes.net/rant Greg

    “I think he isn’t going to get elected because of the color of his skin.”

    Your comment makes a statement and assumes a conversational position. It’s not a question. Might you be unintentionally forcing a point? Try asking a question that encourages people to express their own opinion without stating your own, rather than making a statement; I think possibly people tend to follow your lead, because you are vocal thought leader of sorts. It would be interesting to see if the question-based approach would change the “stats.”

    For my part, I disagree. His personality is strong, and I seriously think core personality will define the game the next time around.

  • http://www.greghughes.net/rant Greg

    “I think he isn’t going to get elected because of the color of his skin.”

    Your comment makes a statement and assumes a conversational position. It’s not a question. Might you be unintentionally forcing a point? Try asking a question that encourages people to express their own opinion without stating your own, rather than making a statement; I think possibly people tend to follow your lead, because you are vocal thought leader of sorts. It would be interesting to see if the question-based approach would change the “stats.”

    For my part, I disagree. His personality is strong, and I seriously think core personality will define the game the next time around.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Solo: true, but that’s not what I’ve been saying. I keep bringing up race as an issue that’s going to keep him out, and most people don’t disagree. Of course, no one agrees that THEY are racist, just that other people’s racism is going to play a factor. Of course, if anyone actually is racist themselves they’ve learned to keep it quiet and hide it under excuses like “he’s not experienced enough.”

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Solo: true, but that’s not what I’ve been saying. I keep bringing up race as an issue that’s going to keep him out, and most people don’t disagree. Of course, no one agrees that THEY are racist, just that other people’s racism is going to play a factor. Of course, if anyone actually is racist themselves they’ve learned to keep it quiet and hide it under excuses like “he’s not experienced enough.”

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Greg: I usually bring this up after asking a half-dozen other questions to find out what people believe. Like I said, no one offers up a racist position up front. They just agree with it, when offered. One guy even said “you think Tennessee is going to elect a black guy? No way.”

    Racism in this country is “someone else’s doing.” I find that very interesting. Yes, it’s an improvement over the kind of outward racism this country faced in the 1950s, but we still have a long way to go to be colorblind.

    By the way, not a single person has told me that they like Hillary. Including three self-avowed feminists. Most use very visceral words to describe Hillary. Hate. Dislike. Distrust. Etc.

    It’ll be really interesting to see how my little focus group matches up with polls.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Greg: I usually bring this up after asking a half-dozen other questions to find out what people believe. Like I said, no one offers up a racist position up front. They just agree with it, when offered. One guy even said “you think Tennessee is going to elect a black guy? No way.”

    Racism in this country is “someone else’s doing.” I find that very interesting. Yes, it’s an improvement over the kind of outward racism this country faced in the 1950s, but we still have a long way to go to be colorblind.

    By the way, not a single person has told me that they like Hillary. Including three self-avowed feminists. Most use very visceral words to describe Hillary. Hate. Dislike. Distrust. Etc.

    It’ll be really interesting to see how my little focus group matches up with polls.

  • http://infernus.org/ James Shiell

    On the other hand, their response may not be racist but realist.

    One may think he’s a smashing chap, cast a vote for him perhaps, but still acknowledge that large parts of the electorate will not vote for him purely due to the colour of his skin.

    However, I do hope they’d express regret that your statement may be true…

  • http://infernus.org/ James Shiell

    On the other hand, their response may not be racist but realist.

    One may think he’s a smashing chap, cast a vote for him perhaps, but still acknowledge that large parts of the electorate will not vote for him purely due to the colour of his skin.

    However, I do hope they’d express regret that your statement may be true…

  • http://wielink.wordpress.com/ Ronald Wielink

    Perhaps people agree with you not because they are racists but because they assume that the “other” US voters will not phone for Mr. Obama because of the color of his skin. I suppose you could call that implicit racism.
    Things are off course completely different when you say to people: “I think he should not be elected because of the color of his skin”. That’s racism, 100%.

  • http://wielink.wordpress.com Ronald Wielink

    Perhaps people agree with you not because they are racists but because they assume that the “other” US voters will not phone for Mr. Obama because of the color of his skin. I suppose you could call that implicit racism.
    Things are off course completely different when you say to people: “I think he should not be elected because of the color of his skin”. That’s racism, 100%.

  • http://www.religionism.net/ Gideon

    I think there is a substansive difference between “I don’t think he’ll be elected because the color of his skin” and “I wouldn’t vote for him because of the color of his skin.”

    One is racist. One isn’t necessarily. For instance, I am by no means racist, but I also don’t believe he would win because he is black. Why? Because a huge part of this country is still staggaringly backward and has all sorts of ‘passive racism.’ I don’t know much about you or where you come from, Robert, but I’ve spent the vast majority of my life in the midwest – and it’s still pretty bad here in ‘red state land.’

    Of those three – Obama or Edwards would have my vote. But I don’t think we’ll see a black president for a long time, still. Not for another generation or so. Too many old racists have to die first.

  • http://www.religionism.net Gideon

    I think there is a substansive difference between “I don’t think he’ll be elected because the color of his skin” and “I wouldn’t vote for him because of the color of his skin.”

    One is racist. One isn’t necessarily. For instance, I am by no means racist, but I also don’t believe he would win because he is black. Why? Because a huge part of this country is still staggaringly backward and has all sorts of ‘passive racism.’ I don’t know much about you or where you come from, Robert, but I’ve spent the vast majority of my life in the midwest – and it’s still pretty bad here in ‘red state land.’

    Of those three – Obama or Edwards would have my vote. But I don’t think we’ll see a black president for a long time, still. Not for another generation or so. Too many old racists have to die first.

  • Jack W

    Robert I value you, but you have made a terrible mistake in judgment here. It is not racist or more properly “racism” to believe that one person by the color of their skin, hair, beauty, breast size or any other such “outward characteristic” is at an advantage or disadvantage to someone else. These are social concerns you may have and may be legitimate, but they are not racist.

    Racism is believing that a “race” is inherently better or worse than another based on a genetic predisposition. When we act upon those beliefs by limiting others toward employment or the use of public facilities and so on we act illegally. It however, is still not necessarily racism. It is about underlying assumptions that determine if something is racist. Which you do not know, if you do not ask. In fact, your little test at others expense is more ethically challenging then their belief that someone may have a cultural, psychological or social advantage to another based on how they look.

    It is naive and even perhaps disingenuous to “label” them as being “default” or “invisible” racists for such a belief. Your actions and assumptions about the true nature of your test group’s underlying beliefs without having them
    “qualified” is far more troubling in the end. I would go so far as to say, that you have a bias (not racism) toward a particular view. If we do not move the debate beyond what amounts here to “name calling” the problems only intensify, but most importantly never move into the substantive debate that they need to.

    As an explosive example: when the American public believes statements such as “Islam is a peaceful religion.” Do you believe that? On what basis? Is that Robert “invisible” or “default” racism. What if the facts were not true? What if basic beliefs of Islam viewed others who were not muslim as sub-human and unfit as they? You see, I do not know your view on Islam. What I do know is that many have a cultural predisposition to defend it as peaceful when it may be explicitly something other than that for sake of argument. But “culturaly” many of us are predisposed to think otherwise. It is what makes our nation great and at times ignorant beyond measure. Labeling people red state/blue state; right wing/left wing wakos; black/white; Jew/Muslim/Christian and really having little understanding of their motives is what is terribly wrong here. That is not racist either. It is ignorant and stupid. How many people believe they know Pres. Bush’s motives are corrupt in his actions? How do we know this? How do you know that Islam is peaceful? Or that homosexuals are all pedophiles? Are these statements based in some empirical truth? Of course not, they are rants by people who espouse them out of their own cultural influences and choices–rarely on fact.

    I think the best place to look for invisible racism as you call it is at our own front door not others unless you to be judged.

  • Jack W

    Robert I value you, but you have made a terrible mistake in judgment here. It is not racist or more properly “racism” to believe that one person by the color of their skin, hair, beauty, breast size or any other such “outward characteristic” is at an advantage or disadvantage to someone else. These are social concerns you may have and may be legitimate, but they are not racist.

    Racism is believing that a “race” is inherently better or worse than another based on a genetic predisposition. When we act upon those beliefs by limiting others toward employment or the use of public facilities and so on we act illegally. It however, is still not necessarily racism. It is about underlying assumptions that determine if something is racist. Which you do not know, if you do not ask. In fact, your little test at others expense is more ethically challenging then their belief that someone may have a cultural, psychological or social advantage to another based on how they look.

    It is naive and even perhaps disingenuous to “label” them as being “default” or “invisible” racists for such a belief. Your actions and assumptions about the true nature of your test group’s underlying beliefs without having them
    “qualified” is far more troubling in the end. I would go so far as to say, that you have a bias (not racism) toward a particular view. If we do not move the debate beyond what amounts here to “name calling” the problems only intensify, but most importantly never move into the substantive debate that they need to.

    As an explosive example: when the American public believes statements such as “Islam is a peaceful religion.” Do you believe that? On what basis? Is that Robert “invisible” or “default” racism. What if the facts were not true? What if basic beliefs of Islam viewed others who were not muslim as sub-human and unfit as they? You see, I do not know your view on Islam. What I do know is that many have a cultural predisposition to defend it as peaceful when it may be explicitly something other than that for sake of argument. But “culturaly” many of us are predisposed to think otherwise. It is what makes our nation great and at times ignorant beyond measure. Labeling people red state/blue state; right wing/left wing wakos; black/white; Jew/Muslim/Christian and really having little understanding of their motives is what is terribly wrong here. That is not racist either. It is ignorant and stupid. How many people believe they know Pres. Bush’s motives are corrupt in his actions? How do we know this? How do you know that Islam is peaceful? Or that homosexuals are all pedophiles? Are these statements based in some empirical truth? Of course not, they are rants by people who espouse them out of their own cultural influences and choices–rarely on fact.

    I think the best place to look for invisible racism as you call it is at our own front door not others unless you to be judged.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Jack: I appreciate what you’re saying. I don’t agree with it all, but that’s OK.

    If this starts a conversation that helps us get to a better place (and that means me) then it won’t have been a terrible misjudgment at all.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Jack: I appreciate what you’re saying. I don’t agree with it all, but that’s OK.

    If this starts a conversation that helps us get to a better place (and that means me) then it won’t have been a terrible misjudgment at all.

  • http://www.ewanspence.com/ Ewan Spence

    “America will not vote for a Black President.”

    “America will not vote for a female President.”

    From what I see, and talking to my froends across the water, one of these statements is politically incorrect, has inherent racism, and at least people acknowledge it for what it is (even though it is ‘other people’ who think it), The other is flatly accepted across the board.

    I wonder what would happen if (theoretically) a candidate declared his sexuality? Would you be comfortable or not comfortable hearing “America will not vote for a Gay President?”

  • http://www.ewanspence.com Ewan Spence

    “America will not vote for a Black President.”

    “America will not vote for a female President.”

    From what I see, and talking to my froends across the water, one of these statements is politically incorrect, has inherent racism, and at least people acknowledge it for what it is (even though it is ‘other people’ who think it), The other is flatly accepted across the board.

    I wonder what would happen if (theoretically) a candidate declared his sexuality? Would you be comfortable or not comfortable hearing “America will not vote for a Gay President?”

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Ewan: good point.

    It sure will be interesting to see how this plays out.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Ewan: good point.

    It sure will be interesting to see how this plays out.

  • M

    Robert, if you said that to me, I wouldn’t argue, I would tightly smile and back away from you slowly, even though I disagree with the premise. It’s very difficult to argue the racism out of people. When you make a leading statement like that, it’s more civil to just leave the conversation and privately think you’re an asshole than call you out publicly. Your method of market research could be improved.

  • M

    Robert, if you said that to me, I wouldn’t argue, I would tightly smile and back away from you slowly, even though I disagree with the premise. It’s very difficult to argue the racism out of people. When you make a leading statement like that, it’s more civil to just leave the conversation and privately think you’re an asshole than call you out publicly. Your method of market research could be improved.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    M. here’s a place where ASCII text isn’t doing my methods justice. But, not a single person did what you say you’d do. They all actively stayed engaged in the conversation. Some, even, engaged more after racism was on the table. Others listened and said “you’re right.”

    I wasn’t doing it for market research. I was trying to learn about what the hot points are in politics just in case PodTech decides to fund a political site.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    M. here’s a place where ASCII text isn’t doing my methods justice. But, not a single person did what you say you’d do. They all actively stayed engaged in the conversation. Some, even, engaged more after racism was on the table. Others listened and said “you’re right.”

    I wasn’t doing it for market research. I was trying to learn about what the hot points are in politics just in case PodTech decides to fund a political site.

  • http://derottetomaat.wordpress.com/ Tomaat

    I think that when racism is not turning into discrimination there is no problem. Racism is about peoples “inside” feelings and know body else can control them. To be honest I’m sick of leftist shit trying to be political correct. Let us be free to be racist and distinguish the beauties of difference!

  • http://derottetomaat.wordpress.com Tomaat

    I think that when racism is not turning into discrimination there is no problem. Racism is about peoples “inside” feelings and know body else can control them. To be honest I’m sick of leftist shit trying to be political correct. Let us be free to be racist and distinguish the beauties of difference!

  • http://www.beginningwithi.com/ Deirdré Straughan

    Sounds to me as if what you’re eliciting is elitism: your respondents are implying “*I’m* cool, I’ll vote regardless of skin color or sex, but I don’t think the majority is as cool as I am.”

    “I wonder what would happen if (theoretically) a candidate declared his sexuality? Would you be comfortable or not comfortable hearing “America will not vote for a Gay President?” ”

    What we already know is that more Americans would vote for a gay president than an atheist: http://tinyurl.com/p6npl

  • http://www.beginningwithi.com/ Deirdré Straughan

    Sounds to me as if what you’re eliciting is elitism: your respondents are implying “*I’m* cool, I’ll vote regardless of skin color or sex, but I don’t think the majority is as cool as I am.”

    “I wonder what would happen if (theoretically) a candidate declared his sexuality? Would you be comfortable or not comfortable hearing “America will not vote for a Gay President?” ”

    What we already know is that more Americans would vote for a gay president than an atheist: http://tinyurl.com/p6npl

  • http://peteremcc.wordpress.com/ peteremcc

    As previous commenters have mentioned, simply stating that you think someone won’t win because of the colour of their skin isn’t being racist. Thats just commenting on what you think will happen, infact it doesn’t include any personal opinion at all.

    Personally, I think he WILL win, because of his skin colour. I think he will have braoder appeal and encourage black voters.

    However, I also think it’s a shame that it has to even be mentioned. Clearly the man is black but will that really have ANY effect on how good a job he could do as Presiednt?

  • http://peteremcc.wordpress.com/ peteremcc

    As previous commenters have mentioned, simply stating that you think someone won’t win because of the colour of their skin isn’t being racist. Thats just commenting on what you think will happen, infact it doesn’t include any personal opinion at all.

    Personally, I think he WILL win, because of his skin colour. I think he will have braoder appeal and encourage black voters.

    However, I also think it’s a shame that it has to even be mentioned. Clearly the man is black but will that really have ANY effect on how good a job he could do as Presiednt?

  • James Barry

    I think you guys have your arguments applied like strings following the wrong proc. Call whichever variable you want, and apply the right algorithm. Your present code won’t run; it’s crashing. That’s why no sense can be made between the rhetoric and the logic. Fuzzy logic never did apply to variables. If person “A” supplies Answer “B” when Person “B” asks Question “A”, what does that have to do with race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, handicap, party affiliation, or anything else?
    The conversation HAS been started; but, the technical protocols aren’t being followed. Nice work, Robert, of eliciting the “meat-bots” reactions.

  • James Barry

    I think you guys have your arguments applied like strings following the wrong proc. Call whichever variable you want, and apply the right algorithm. Your present code won’t run; it’s crashing. That’s why no sense can be made between the rhetoric and the logic. Fuzzy logic never did apply to variables. If person “A” supplies Answer “B” when Person “B” asks Question “A”, what does that have to do with race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, handicap, party affiliation, or anything else?
    The conversation HAS been started; but, the technical protocols aren’t being followed. Nice work, Robert, of eliciting the “meat-bots” reactions.

  • http://sebmos.at/ Sebastian

    I agree 100% with you. In Austria, we call this “day-to-day racism”, and it’s a very very bad thing, because most people think it’s OK.
    In reality, it’s a danger for our societies.

    But the commenters are right: It’s not so easy for many people to publicly disagree on that sentence, especially since a lot of people have a great respect for you.
    But you’re right with that day-to-day racism is something to be hated. ;)

  • http://www.looocal.com/ Sebastian

    I agree 100% with you. In Austria, we call this “day-to-day racism”, and it’s a very very bad thing, because most people think it’s OK.
    In reality, it’s a danger for our societies.

    But the commenters are right: It’s not so easy for many people to publicly disagree on that sentence, especially since a lot of people have a great respect for you.
    But you’re right with that day-to-day racism is something to be hated. ;)

  • http://blogs.opm.org Amyloo

    The cable news networks and the news magazines have been speaking about this quite frankly. Usually what’s said boils down to either:

    - “Americans are more prepared for a Black president than a woman president”; or

    - “Sure one of them could get nominated, but can they win the general election? People might be too embarrassed to tell a pollster they wouldn’t vote for an AA or a woman, but once they get in the booth the truth comes out.”

    But I heard a different take on this just last night that rang true to me. (Might have been on Hardball? Not sure.) A pundit said people will vote for Obama to make themselves feel virtuous.

  • http://blogs.opm.org/ Amyloo

    The cable news networks and the news magazines have been speaking about this quite frankly. Usually what’s said boils down to either:

    - “Americans are more prepared for a Black president than a woman president”; or

    - “Sure one of them could get nominated, but can they win the general election? People might be too embarrassed to tell a pollster they wouldn’t vote for an AA or a woman, but once they get in the booth the truth comes out.”

    But I heard a different take on this just last night that rang true to me. (Might have been on Hardball? Not sure.) A pundit said people will vote for Obama to make themselves feel virtuous.

  • http://www.dotnetjunkies.com/weblog/kevdaly/ Kevin Daly

    It’s deeply, deeply disturbing that the colour of his skin is even an issue…voting rights have not truly been won if you can’t be the person who gets voted for. That’s not a democracy.
    I’ve also read some of the bigoted nonsense that is being raised about his middle name – that’s just sick.
    I’m glad that you’re raising this issue though…prejudices can persist for a long time even among reasonable and well-meaning people if they are never examined (it’s amazing what vileness gets excused as what “everybody knows”). People can accept appalling ideas if they never think about them.

  • http://www.dotnetjunkies.com/weblog/kevdaly/ Kevin Daly

    It’s deeply, deeply disturbing that the colour of his skin is even an issue…voting rights have not truly been won if you can’t be the person who gets voted for. That’s not a democracy.
    I’ve also read some of the bigoted nonsense that is being raised about his middle name – that’s just sick.
    I’m glad that you’re raising this issue though…prejudices can persist for a long time even among reasonable and well-meaning people if they are never examined (it’s amazing what vileness gets excused as what “everybody knows”). People can accept appalling ideas if they never think about them.

  • http://act2.spaces.live.com/ Alfred Thompson

    I have heard some people say they think race may hurt Obama. I hear a lot of others say it might help him. (is that also racism?) But a lot of people I talk to don’t think it will be a serious factor compared to his positions on the issues. Of course I talk to a lot of Republicans for one thing. And for another I live near Massachusetts where race seemed to lagely be a none issue in the recent election. As was gender BTW. There wasn’t much of don’t vote for them because they are a woman or a minority. In my travels I see more racism in California than I do in most of the rest of the country.

  • http://act2.spaces.live.com Alfred Thompson

    I have heard some people say they think race may hurt Obama. I hear a lot of others say it might help him. (is that also racism?) But a lot of people I talk to don’t think it will be a serious factor compared to his positions on the issues. Of course I talk to a lot of Republicans for one thing. And for another I live near Massachusetts where race seemed to lagely be a none issue in the recent election. As was gender BTW. There wasn’t much of don’t vote for them because they are a woman or a minority. In my travels I see more racism in California than I do in most of the rest of the country.

  • http://comicstripblog.com/ Comic Strip Blogger

    Wow, I salute you Robert on courage to take on these issue and sadly I agree with you that Obama has no chances due to racism of people. Maybe you could ask Obama for video interview before elections, Robert?

  • http://comicstripblog.com Comic Strip Blogger

    Wow, I salute you Robert on courage to take on these issue and sadly I agree with you that Obama has no chances due to racism of people. Maybe you could ask Obama for video interview before elections, Robert?

  • http://blog.stealthmode.com/ francine

    I am one of the 100. I had a BIG DISCUSSION about this today with my daughter in the Bay Area, who thought Obama could win. In Arizona, with a 1% black population, I don’t see it.
    These are perspectives. They don’t necessarily imply that I am a racist, but they acknowledge the reality that much of America is not only still racist right now but xenophobic.

    Nevertheless, I publicly acknowledge that I WANT HIM TO WIN.

    And I think that not talking to bloggers yet, when you have announced by putting video online direct-to-viewers, might be more authentic. Bloggers, after all, are also intermediaries :-)

  • http://blog.stealthmode.com francine

    I am one of the 100. I had a BIG DISCUSSION about this today with my daughter in the Bay Area, who thought Obama could win. In Arizona, with a 1% black population, I don’t see it.
    These are perspectives. They don’t necessarily imply that I am a racist, but they acknowledge the reality that much of America is not only still racist right now but xenophobic.

    Nevertheless, I publicly acknowledge that I WANT HIM TO WIN.

    And I think that not talking to bloggers yet, when you have announced by putting video online direct-to-viewers, might be more authentic. Bloggers, after all, are also intermediaries :-)

  • Brian

    I feel that Obama’s race will really be a non-factor in the election because America is finally becoming less racist – but obviously not enough because people still do hold onto that “default reacism”. I would almost say that the “default” racism is the remnants of the racism that has occured in past decades and is just getting to the point where it is something that people don’t talk about or affirm in public, but they still won’t deny it exists.

    What I would be more concerned about is Obama’s religion. If he does become a serious contender in the Presidential race, I’m hoping the truth will come out about the rumors that he was raised by radical Muslims. If he was… I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable with him as President.

  • Brian

    I feel that Obama’s race will really be a non-factor in the election because America is finally becoming less racist – but obviously not enough because people still do hold onto that “default reacism”. I would almost say that the “default” racism is the remnants of the racism that has occured in past decades and is just getting to the point where it is something that people don’t talk about or affirm in public, but they still won’t deny it exists.

    What I would be more concerned about is Obama’s religion. If he does become a serious contender in the Presidential race, I’m hoping the truth will come out about the rumors that he was raised by radical Muslims. If he was… I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable with him as President.

  • http://hauntingthunder.wordpress.com/ Maurice

    Id sadly agree with “I think he isn’t going to get elected because of the color of his skin.”

    That’s a political judgment not racism.

    And given the structure of the US political system where the more un reconstructed states have more power than they should on a purely population level.

    I think Religion might have more of an issue here and also I doubt he can raise enough cash.

    I must push my friend (again) who’s the election agent for the local; MP to get the sitting MP’s site back up and to get a Blog going!

    As the constituency is one of the key swing ones and the opponent is an guy whose been a VC in the states for a long time (he has dual nationality). It will be interesting to see if the Opposition do Blogs/Web etc more in the American style or not – as David Cameron has.

  • http://hauntingthunder.wordpress.com/ Maurice

    Id sadly agree with “I think he isn’t going to get elected because of the color of his skin.”

    That’s a political judgment not racism.

    And given the structure of the US political system where the more un reconstructed states have more power than they should on a purely population level.

    I think Religion might have more of an issue here and also I doubt he can raise enough cash.

    I must push my friend (again) who’s the election agent for the local; MP to get the sitting MP’s site back up and to get a Blog going!

    As the constituency is one of the key swing ones and the opponent is an guy whose been a VC in the states for a long time (he has dual nationality). It will be interesting to see if the Opposition do Blogs/Web etc more in the American style or not – as David Cameron has.

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