It should have become abundantly clear to anyone watching tonight's debate that Senator Barack Obama should be and needs to be the person that will serve as President of the United States from 2009-2017.
I am a man who has worked for more female bosses in my adult life than male bosses. As a white male, since childhood, I have heard occasional sexist and racist comments about working with/for women and/or minorities. Everything negative I was told turned out to be false. With the exception of my father-in-law, I have respected my female bosses much more than my male bosses - respect in terms of intelligence, ability, attentiveness, and leadership, among other characteristics.
In the 2008 presidential election, I support Barack Obama and feel that he has enough support to win the election. However, I still believe that many white, Christian voters will change their mind, in the poll booth at the last minute, thinking of Obama as a minority and/or as a Muslim.
Ultimately, I want Barack Obama to be elected the 44th President of the United States. Why do you agree or disagree with the preceding sentence?
Best regards,
Jay
Jay Allen
MovieVoice
jay@movievoice.net
Jay, I'm trying to disagree with your preceding sentence but I can't come up with anything. I'm still thinking.....
Jay,
You stated you want to back Obama.. ok thats fine.. But do me a favor and answer your own question you purposed. Why him? What has he said that made you choose him? What is it about McCain that you don't like? I know surely your not judging him based on Bush.. right?
Just asking thats all.
Umm...you must be new to these groups. This isn't Jay's first post in favor of Obama. I suggest a search in AR for his blogs.
I would vote for Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder, or Walter Williams in a second. They are all black so I guess race has nothing to with it for me.
I don't like big government. I don't like more taxes,. I don't like redistribution of wealth, I don't think government has all the answers, I don't want universal healthcare, I LOVE my second amendment rights, and I don't trust Obama as far as I could throw him.
I do want someone who understands economics, free markets, sound currency, and that entitlement programs don't work, have the opposite effect as intended and need to be eliminated over time.
The three black gentlemen I mentioned above all have a better grasp on my important issues than any of the front runners. Thomas Sowell rocks.
So will I vote my heart and write in Ron Paul, or will I vote for Sarah Palin. I'm in Illinois so Obama pretty much has it made anyway. I'm not sure what I will do yet.
Ron Paul is great, but a vote for Paul in 2008 is like a vote for Perot in 1992 - there is simply not enough support for Paul to defeat McCain or Obama.
Carl, you have written several strong, well-worded comments and I respect your opinion and intelligence, but are you serious about voting for Palin?
Yep. I like her. She's far from perfect, but I wish she was running instead of McCain.
After watching tonight's Debate Twice I can not for the life of me understand how anyone could vote for the McCain/Palin ticket. They have to be staunch Republican pro-life, I hate Obama for whatever reason people to vote for what by all outward appearances are Dumb and Dumber. I don't mean to be insulting BUT what is wrong with this picture? Is this the best Commander and Chief the Red team could come up with?
Dear God, they would be better off to all go to the polls and write Romney on the Ballot.
You guys REALLY want to watch this Smirk faced Clown run our country the next four years.
Yes he is a War Hero. That is Honorable and he is Respected for his Service to our Country and it is terrible that he spent 5+ years as a POW.
My Dad was a WWII hero and has three Purple Hearts two Bronze Stars 5 Oak Leaf Clusters and the SILVER STAR but I would never have voted for him to be President.
I am all for your cause to stop Abortions. I am all for no tax increases. BUT this is NOT the guy to get this Country back on it's feet. Heck he can barely stand up on his own two feet let alone pull the whole Country back up with him.
Jay - I'll have to say I disagree with the sentence before your question at the end of your post above for essentially the same reasons Carl gave in his second paragraph.
I don't like big government. I don't like more taxes,. I don't like redistribution of wealth, I don't think government has all the answers, I don't want universal healthcare, I LOVE my second amendment rights, and I don't trust Obama as far as I could throw him.
Despite your belief (which only echos Obama's ongoing claim) that "white, Christian voters" will vote against Obama because of racism - that has nothing to do with my stance against him. The color of his skin means nothing to me. His declared positions, and even more so, his past history in "leadership", organizing, and politics mean a LOT. And what he says, and what he's done, are, most often, in conflict with the way I would like to see this country led. (For example, when a woman has been relieved of the "burden" of a pregnancy in the last stage, I would like to see the Doctor(s) do everything in their power to try to save the life of the baby and the mother, not follow Obama's plan to assure that the baby is killed or left to die.)
Ironic, isn't it, that of the two leading candidates, the only one who's talking about race as a reason to vote for or against a candidate is the one crying "RACISM!" and pointing the finger at his opponent and his opponent's supporters - the vast majority of whom list valid issue-related reasons for their stance. Yet the many (most?) of his own supporters struggle to identify anything about him other than the color of his skin. Does that not indicate racial bigotry on many of his own supporters' part?
Ironic also, isn't it, that those who claim to be "tolerant" and "fair" and "sensitive" are the very one's who mock, insult, jeer, and stoop to name-calling on very frequent basis.
Jay,
I can't say it much better than David and Carl already have. And there is Linda again calling McCain names. "Smirk faced Clown, Heck he can barely stand up on his own two feet" Can't just state your point without name calling and put downs I guess.
As far as race goes, I have a real problem that it is OK for voters to vote for Obama only because he is CONSIDERED a minority but it is NOT OK to vote against him for the same reason. They are both racist. Most black voters will vote for Obama because of the color of his skin, period. That is sad. They are so excited to have him as President and make history and on and on that they do not care about the issues.
Hi John:
racism, sexism, and all of the other "ism's" should not exist, but, sadly, they do. Electing or not electing a person will not change the existence of racism, sexism, or whatever discrimination, and will not absolve our ancestors responsibilty for the attrocities that occurred as a result of the same. In other words, more discrimination is not the answer to our ancestor's past sins. I believe in God, and my faith tells me that God will judge all appropriately.
We have an election to elect the leaders to help lead our country in the way we hope leads to better days. You have your opinion about Obama's qualifications, and I respectfully disagree. However, I hope you and those who support Obama because he is the better leader: not because you feel guilty for the sins of our ancestors. Those sins (sadly) will still have occurred, and the election of Obama will not change the past - only the future. I would suggest Obama's election will change the future for the worst, but I'm sure you'll disagree (and that's okay of course).
Jay, you seem like a nice guy , just a little misguided,you should take a moment and reread the comment of most of those who agree with you posts and rethink if this is the kind of hatred you would like to be associated with.
Tom,
Not sure where you were going with all of that especially when I got to this part...
I would suggest Obama's election will change the future for the worst, but I'm sure you'll disagree (and that's okay of course).
I do agree with that but not because of his skin color. Carl and David already said the things I would have said. You really confused me with your comment!
Nice democratic talking point try. Trying to get ahead of something by labeling people racist if they don't vote for Obama is intellectually dishonest. Plain and simple, he's not qualified, despite how eloquently he can speak.
Jay - I will answer your question. I disagree (no shock I know) for numerous reasons, but let's just stay with tax and spend. I watched closely last night, his solution to every problem was to spend. The Government has got to stop spending our money. I don't agree with McCain's position either. I don't think a spending freeze goes anywhere near far enough. I'd like to see a 15% cut in every department except Defence and Veterans' Affairs. Then once that is done I'd like to go line by line. I would abolish numerous programs and I might increase funding on others - but any increase would still be a net decrease. Taxes. You simply cannot tax business in the way Obama wishes to. It destroys jobs. Period. We already have some of the highest corporation taxes in the world. When you tax the wealth makers the knee jerk reaction is to hang on to the wealth. You know what that means? It means that you start firing people. And if you can't do that, then you certainly stop hiring people. Obama also confirmed last night (without a number) that he will indeed fine companies - big business he said although he didn't define it - for not providing health insurance. The easiest way out of that is to not have as many people working for you. So he is a tax and spend politician. It has been proven over and over again that not only does this not work, it creates far more problems than what you started with. Finally he is the unluckiest man alive. I will be blogging about that later. I think it was Churchill (I could be wrong and I didn't check) who said he would rather have a lucky General than a skillful one.
Jay ~
Congratulations this post is now featured in the Blatant Politics Group of Active Rain.
Hi John:
Sorry if I wasn't clear in my post (I was working on my first cup of coffee). I was writing in response to Jay's comment: " I am a man who has worked for more female bosses in my adult life than male bosses. As a white male, since childhood, I have heard occasional sexist and racist comments about working with/for women and/or minorities. Everything negative I was told turned out to be false. With the exception of my father-in-law, I have respected my female bosses much more than my male bosses - respect in terms of intelligence, ability, attentiveness, and leadership, among other characteristics In the 2008 presidential election, I support Barack Obama and feel that he has enough support to win the election. However, I still believe that many white, Christian voters will change their mind, in the poll booth at the last minute, thinking of Obama as a minority and/or as a Muslim."
You would have to ask Jay what he meant, but I interpreted the comment to mean that Jay's history has been such that he will support Obama more for his desire to avoid discrimination, than the beliefs and statements of Obama or Mccain. I am voting for Mccain, not because he is white, but because his beliefs coincide more with mine. I do not believe racism has any place for the determination of the Presidency, and that goes both ways. Do not support Mccain because he is white, nor support Obama because he is black. Support the candidate you believe to be most qualified. I hope that clarifies my statements.
John H. Thank you. I am honored that you pay such close attention to ALL my comments and spend so much time repeting them. A Lot of people may have missed them on the first go around so it is always great to have them repeted a second or third time. You and Nicolas are becomming more and more alike. Not sure that is a compliment to you. But each to his own. I will continue my right to express my OPINIONS freely. Please by all means continue to repete them.
Tom, very simply, I support Obama because he will be a better president than McCain and Biden will be a better vice president than Palin. The issues of religion and ethnicity are important because of misconceptions/beliefs among McCain voters.
There is nothing wrong with disagreeing, but I do not support Obama simply because of race. I support him because he will put our "Country First".
There are LOTS of white people AND CHristian people who WILL vote for Obama. That a few will, when push comest o shove, vote for McCain just says that many people can't overcome their predjudices.
Linda Mae,
You are welcome. It just amazes me that if I or Nick or whoever you don't like on here would talk about Obama like that it would not be left alone. I know, it makes people feel better to do that kind of thing but that does not mean I need to let it go. If you have a problem with McCain's plans, history, etc..., fine but why all the name calling?
Jay, In a word. Socialism. I'm not ready for socialism. Simple as that.
Jay, TRUE Christians love people regardless of color. Fly by night "christians" who are prejudiced won't vote for any man that is other than caucasion.
There are still some old school idealisms out there from the 50 plus generation and that generation taught those ideas to their children. Luckily though it is not the majority that feel that way but the minority. But let it be said that for every bigoted white there is a bigoted black. This is not the 60s it's 2008.
There are blacks that are voting for Obama just because he is black just as there are whites that won't vote for him because he's black and BOTH are wrong in doing so and you know it.
This feels redunant on my part but I can't vote for Obama because of his stance on abortion, his belief that everyone has the right to the same things in life even if it means they get it off the sweat of someone else and not on their own merit, his affiliations with very very questionable characters, his disdain for what he considers to be the wealthy, his views on the Iraqi pull out, his plans which mirror socialism rather than capitalism.
Personally, I believe it won't matter who's in the white house if we still have a democrat congress. Congress is the problem in this country. They are the ones I would prefer to concentrate my effort on. I believe they have failed this country.
It's really just too bad that we can't combine some of Obama's idea with some of McCains and come up with a good country.
Jay - I thought this blog was about endorsing Obama, not McCain. To mirror your McCain comments and get back on track with your endorsement for Obama, lets put it back to you:
The Obama campaign claims to be the most tolerant, fair, sensitive, etc. Yet his supporters have conducted themselves, and continue to speak in the most vile manner. (All one has to do is look to his supporters' comments at sites like this and this and this, not to mention comments from your choir right here.) If there was a reasonable amount of consistency on the Left in terms of tolerance, sensitivity, fairness, and a demonstration of really listening, hearing, and understanding those who's ideas and values are different from their own, I might be inclined to take them a bit more seriously.
Cheri - While I understand the premise of what you're saying (and agree with most), I'd like to point out the following that you wrote: "But let it be said that for every bigoted white there is a bigoted black"
Given that whites significantly outnumber blacks, this statement would mean that blacks are proportionately 3 or so time more bigoted than whites.
I'd also like to point to everyone else who looks at racism in black/white that as Cheri said, this is 2008 not the 60's. So please recognize that there are many other Americans who fall in all sorts of shades in-between. They have their good people and their bigots as well and they are part of the equation.
Lastly (and this goes to many, not just Cheri)......there are those who counter the argument of whites voting for McCain base on race with blacks voting for Obama because of race. Most here have read my piece on 'Voting for a White...' so you have an idea on my thoughts on this. While I certainly do not condone anyone voting simply based on race, I feel the need to point out that if Obama were 100% white or if his name was John Edwards (sans affair) or Hillary Clinton, he would still get a very high percentage of the black vote. The only difference is that he's now going to get an even higher percentage of the vote.
David - I don't think anyone with any sense about them disputes that Obama will win votes due to racial (not sure about religious) bigotry. But he will lose even more votes because of racial and religious bigotry.
Hey Jay;
Your statement about white Christian voters is absolutely astounding. That has to be the most bigoted statement I've heard in a long time but I guess that's what you call "liberal guilt."
This is what I know from the experience of my life thus far - nothing more and certainly not "liberal guilt".
Jonathan, see for yourself on a different blog - "What many are Really Saying about Obama"
Jay - I am neither white in the true sense of the word nor Christian. But you know what you just suggested is indeed a highly biggoted comment and I am shocked and surprised.
Jay... here you go. This was actually a comment I made on my own blog in answer to a comment... But this is why I won't vote for Barack Obama.
I think I have the rundown so far...
And he is the one saying that McCain has poor judgement... At least with McCain the story doesn't change every time a new detail emerges. What will we find out when the next shoe drops?