Why does Barack Obama’s rising popularity threaten the Republicans so much?

Answer 1

he's a charismatic African American that is well educated and generally respected in the country.

So Republicans are afraid of him for his liberalism (being black and a Democrat), his intellect (he's a bright fellow, I've heard him speak at my university a few years back) and he'd be a great candidate for the white house.

If you look at it on purely racial lines, some people would vote for him because he was black. Others would vote against him for the same reason. However the largely democratic, urban areas will probably rally for him and gain him the election if he were to run.

Answer 2

Assuming Republicans feel threatened, which I for one do not, it is probably because he is one of the most well liked and popular Democratic candidates since Bill Clinton.

The fact that people who like him are already screaming "Obama for president 2008" is a little concerning, as the man just recently came on the scene and very few people know anything about him or his policies, they just hear that others like him.

That's not to say that he isn't a strong and capable candidate, just that many people are blindly jumping onto the Barack bandwagon.

Answer 3

It doesn't.

There is an old trick in politics to put out the rumor of that one side fears the side they REALLY would love to run.

The reality is there is no way Obama would win in 08 and they know this.

There are a few reasons for this:
1. Racism is still ramp-id in this country. And yes many democrats are still racist. States like Michigan for example have a lot of democrats based on labor/unions. I met one just last summer and he had a confederate flag tattoo.. What does that tell you? Point is that those blue states like that would probably be lost.
2. He is too young to politics. To put it frankly, the Republicans will chew him up and spit him back out. It's going to take a savvy politician to beat them.
3. It will anger some feminists that see 08 as a long overdue chance to have a woman president. I met a woman last month that said she would not vote if he was on the ticket. When I ask her reasons because I know she is a far left liberal, she went into a long explanation about S.B. Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton getting shafted by black men in their battle to win the right for women to vote. You see, they ended up cutting a deal after joining Stanton and Anthony to get the right for black men to vote before women.

That's just a few reasons.

Answer 4

Any opponent is considered a threat.....I just don't see Obama as a threat to anybody. He might be a good contender for vice-president but not a presidential candidate. He is pretty much a nobody and very young. After the 8 years of uncertainty this country will have been through there is no way someone who doesn't have enough credentials will make it.

PS the one they really fear hasn't decided yet but we will see.

Answer 5

He has broad appeal, he's very smooth, very charismatic and well spoken, they can't label him as being anti-Christian, and he looks and sounds great on camera.

He's very middle of the road, as well, and goes out of his way to be positive, inclusive and upbeat in his message.

For voters of all types, but particularly ones who are sick of the negativity and overscripted, empty-content platitudes, there's a lot to like there.

His rising popularity threatens the Republicans for the same reason why a very popular, charismatic Repubican with broad appeal would threaten the Democrats - that appeal makes him a potential threat to beat a candidate from their side.

I'm not sure that instructing the Fox News network to use his middle name "Hussein" as often as possible will do much to blunt that appeal.

Answer 6

What makes you incorrectly think that it does, Michelle? Are you glued to your TV again? Gosh, girl, go outside, take a walk, get fresh air, will ya?

Mr Obama does not threaten Republicans at all. If anything, his or Hillary's presidential Nomination would be the very best thing for the GOP. Because (let me draw you a picture, I know that you like pictures....), so much of the country will reject either of these Demmo candidates out of hand, since they each represent letting America fall in its stature.

No Nebraskan, no Oklahoman, no Coloradan, no Alaskan, no Mississippian, no Georgian, no Tennessian, no Kansan, no Dakotan, no Ute, no Idahoan, no Montanan, no Texan, no Arkansan, no Floridian, no Arizonian, no Carolinian, no Alabamian and no Wyominger of American Red Blood would ever vote for Hillary, or someone

whose middle name is "Hussein".
Yeah, he is Barak Hussein Obama.

Answer 7

Please send Obama to the polls in '08, it'll be the biggest landslide victory for Republicans we've ever seen. Look, I for one like Obama, but he's not ready for the office. He doesn't have anything like the resume or pedigree yet, 10 years maybe. If you run him now, it will set back Blacks progress in the political arena 30 years. It will scare the wrong people, if he gets that close to the office and wheels will be set in motion that will be hard to reverse.

Answer 8

Does it? I think it should probably bother the Democrats more because it will cause a divide amongst those who were jumping behind Hilary and those who weren't sure. Hilary is probably the most bothered. As far as Republicans go, I don't see it as a huge bother, it's not like he's going to take away black voters, because they don't have any to begin with.

Answer 9

I don't see that threat. Not yet anyway. If he is a treat at this point it would be to Hillary. But I'd Like to see Condi in 08.

Answer 10

I don't think it does if anything it makes a divide in the Democratic party which could potentially be a net positive for the Republicans. Why do you think it is a threat?

Answer 11

Because he's an intelligent and capable man who happens to be black.
The gop is founded on the principles that such a man does not exist, and operates on principles that are intended to try and make sure that such a man cannot exist.