Latinos and the election: The racial X Factor becomes a turning point
By David Neiwert Friday Oct 31, 2008 6:02pm
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MSNBC's Chuck Todd had on Amy Walter of Hotline to talk about the nation's racial demographics and the internal dynamic affecting the outcome of Election 2008, and Walter had this to say:
Todd: Amy, on Election Day and we look at these returns coming in on the South, and if it is no longer a solid Republican South, then isn't the story: Race benefited Barack Obama? Race is the reason why he won a state in the South, be it North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Louisiana -- it's popped into single digits, South Carolina has popped into single digits. Georgia. There's only one reason --
Walter: We always assumed that race was going to be a negative. That that was the issue coming into this. Well, you say, well, race is a negative as in the "Bradley effect," as in turning off white voters. But -- and I think you've pointed this out too -- I think there are two issues: One is, yes, in a place like -- let's not say Georgia or Mississippi, I still think those states are tough calls for Barack Obama, but certainly can be helpful to the Senate candidates -- but a place like North Carolina, certainly, are very important.
But it's Latino vote too. When all is said and done, and we've spent a lot of time talking about white working class voters, we've spent a lot of time talking about the African American vote, what we haven't spent a lot of time talking about is how dramatically Latino voters are breaking against John McCain and breaking for Barack Obama in the states that could decide this election: Colorado, Virginia (another one of those), Nevada, New Mexico.
This trend has been building for awhile now. I guess McCain's "I heart Latinos but just don't tell anyone" strategy hasn't worked out so well. As Politico's Jonathan Martin goes on to note:
Chuck, I think the McCain folks spent so much time focusing on the trends in the Democratic primary [when Latino voters trended heavily toward Hillary Clinton] and taking lessons from that contest, but it seems like that wasn't necessarily a smart thing to do. I think they picked their running mate based in large part on this primary, and talking about these demographic factors. It was based on the primary.
Chuck, the thought was, Jewish Americans, Latinos, blue collar [whites] wouldn't go for Obama based on the trends in the Democratic primary. A funny thing happened. McCain is cleaning up among Latinos.
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is still a racist comment, isn't that obvious? He's implying it's a more important factor than his policies, his temperment, who he is as a person.
I find it surprising John that you didn't notice that. Is racism the water most of us still swim in? Disappointing.
is still a racist comment, isn't that obvious? He's implying it's a more important factor than his policies, his temperment, who he is as a person.
I find it surprising John that you didn't notice that. Is racism the water most of us still swim in? Disappointing.
Obama has done such a wonderful job negating the divisiveness in this campaign.
“There is not a Black-America and a White-America. There is not a Pro-America and Anti-America. There is not a Left-America and Right-America. There is only the UNITED States of America.”
It has worked well for him.
stoke the racial fire.
It is ludicrous to suggest that Obama benefits from being black. People who vote for Obama are voting for his progressive sensibilities and intelligent policies and not Because he is black. That is in itself a racist argument.
In fact, how many millions of Americans are gonna vote for McCain because they could never vote for a black man for President?
The overt Racism is largely ignored by the MSM as it is bad for business.
If Barack was the equivalent of Sarah Palin in possesing a vacuous mind would he stand a chance in hell of winning. Of course not.
If he were a WASP this election would be the biggest landslide in history.
CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents
It is sad really. I live in Pa. Sure, in my area, their are plenty of white folks who blame immigrants for everything. (Although, they don't blame themselves or their politicians, how typical.) But down South, they make up a huge percent of the population. I think Karma will kick some ass. The Latinos will go for Obama. Everyone knows that in a few decades, whites will be the minority. And it scares the shit out of the Repugs.
Si. Es la verdad. Somos gente tambien.
Si, es!!!!!!!!!!!
Zorro. I don't want to play a race card, but--it's hard to viscerally understand racism until you've been the object of it, or been with your loved one while he/she is. It would behoove every white American to meditate on that, or better yet go to a country where whites are discriminated against (hard to find, but they're out there--try Japan, it's a good one!).
I also spent some time in a village in India where I was an untouchable; the inhabitants wouldn't go near, much less touch me, even change from a purchase was tossed from a distance (they didn't mind taking my money, of course). It took less than a week for me to start internalizing that, and it's not a good feeling.
Until the white majority in the US gets a real dose of empathy for that they'll continue swimming in the racist water, breathing it like fish.
And I apologize for posting twice earlier
is in our genes. Fear of those 'different from us' is taught. It's worldwide. It sucks. BUT it defines Humans.
culture on Earth has an inherent fear of 'different'. The USA COULD have shown the way away from That. We failed. Time to pick up and start again.
This week U.S. forces have started to strike both in Syria and Pakistan.
There's not enough declassified information at this point in time, but what do you all make of this?
that The Thugs want to piss enough people(aother nations) off be fore the election. It's pretty fucking easy to see. The Thugs will always act like Thugs.
That I knew.
I sincerely wanted to think there was something more substantive.
I have been pondering your comment for awhile and I fail to see the connection you are trying to make between the negative of the Bradley effect and the positive I see in the Latinos breaking for a candidate (Obama) who is offering more to them, as a group.
How is Obama offering ANYTHING to Latinos as a group?
Well, maybe I am being naive, but I feel like Latinos (as a group) probably fall into the 90% of Americans who need a tax break, better health care insurance etc. etc. Just like the rest of us.
made My point. 'Just like the rest of us'. Well,then WE are US. My point was, stop thinking as latinos and start thinking as all of us. Simple.
I don't think about latino,or african,or puertorican,or italian or jew or german orscotsorenglid=sj or spanish or russian or lthuanian or NOTHING. So forget 'GROUPS'
Are You 'latino' OR I am an AMERICAN ? Hmmm? 'Groups' devide US OUR Citizenship UNITES US.
bringing up race either way is focusing on the color of his skin rather than everything else. How else can I say it?
And isn't it telling that he's a considered a "black" rather than mixed-race American (just ignoring his skin color is too much to hope for) when he's 50/50? It's the old miscegenation thing, as long as you're even 1% black, you're "tainted," no longer white. Notice the racism inherent in that (and so many other words). It goes on and on.....
And not to be bashing whites. As Chris Rock has said (and since he's African-American, it's alright--right? Right?): "the most racist people in the world?--Old black men!" Of course his point is to shock us into realizing how pervasive racism is. My take is, as a poster above hinted at, it's a natural fear-based reaction to the "other," and we have to grow out of it. Sadly, all too few do.
Without question the rabid anti immigrant rhetoric of the right wing is thinly veiled racial hatred of Hispanics.
Curious that the right the focuses only on illiegal Hispanic immigrants, but seldom the Irish or Russians that flood into the country.
I hope Hispanic voters realize the Republican party is a white power group.
Listen to Michael Savage go off on immigrants- he calls Mexicans and Mexican Americans sub human- he ridicules all Hispanics and mocks their accents.
lets all be One as Americans. forget latinos. Be an american. simple.
Until you admit you are an alcoholic you have no chance or recovery!
The first step in solving a problem is admitting the problem!
Latinos will vote for Obama two to one over Mccain, compared to an almost 50/50 split in 2004. So yes they are a big factor in a Democratic victory this year.
perhaps 'latinos' will stop being 'latinos' and. just. Americans.
Tell that to the media who insist on dividing Americans into white, evangelical, suburban, black, old, etc. No one ever calls them on it, so expect to hear this crap into the future.
South American, Central American.
You sound lik Rush!
Republicans treat non-whites like shit. Non-whites then vote against republicans and its considered racial?!?! WTF?
In the Southeast, Latinos were hired in agricultural and manufacturing jobs because racists wanted to get rid of blacks, disenfranchise blacks, and if at all possible, run them out of town. As a result, major hostilities exist between blacks and Latinos. A secondary rivalry exists in crack cocaine dealers-African-Americans--and Mexican methamphetamine dealers.
I personally suspect McCain family involvement in illegal immigration, but can't get any proof except that they have an immigration-friendly attorney in this 30% illegal town and a major presence in Arizona, where illegals hop the border and steal cars and anything else from retirees.
I am multiracial, descended from the first Mexican family in the county, refugees from Santa Anna, from slaves, from Cherokees, but I have white skin and white privilege. Just remember that illegal immigration by Whites caused the Trail of Tears! We don't hate illegals, we just don't want them here...
a must see for this election day... because this could be you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGF-HEd6XnA
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