Are black voters in denial about Obama?

Question

Hillary Clinton is leading the polls among black voters. I think that black people are skeptical about Obama because they believe he has no chance at winning because the fact that he is black. It also appears that Hillary has much more support from the African American community than Obama. What are your thoughts?

Note: I know we shouldn't determine who we will support based on their gender or ethnicity.
http://skepticalbrotha.wordpress.com/2007/01/25/hillary-leads-obama-among-black-voters/

Mike can I ask you how your answer is relevant towards my question. This isn't a place to rant.

Answer 1

I think some of the reasons previously stated are true, i.e., that most black folks adore Bill Clinton and are loyal to the Clintons for that reason. Perhaps many also expect or hope that Hillary WILL be "more of the same."

But we are only at the primary stage, and I believe at this point we should stand up for, work for and vote for the candidate who we truly agree with and admire. I will vote for Barack, and I hope others do, too. If he doesn't become the candidate, then of course I will support whoever the candidate is.

I also think it is still early. One person said that a lot of voters don't know Barack very well yet, and that is true. So things could change over the next few months.

My choir is singing at an Obama fundraiser tomorrow night, and it will be interesting to observe what kind of reception he gets in the Bay Area from a predominantly black group. I know HIllary is popular in this area, but I don't really agree with her DLC centrist policies. (Isn't it ironic that the neocons keep calling her a socialist when she is the most conservative by far of all the Democratic candidates?)

Answer 2

I think they see what everyone sees, that obama doesn't have strong views right now and honestly, i think most people black or white , only support hillary based on her husband. I am a John Edwards guy myself, but hillary is my number 2 and its because of Bill, hoping he can give her some good advice on how to run the office.

Answer 3

I asked a Black lady that I worked with about this subject earlier this year. She said that she would be supporting Hillary because of all the good things Bill Clinton did for the Black community when He was President. I thought to myself, "He's not running."

Anyways, She then told me that Obama would never get elected because America was not ready for a Black President. I personally disagree with that.

I would vote for anyone no matter what race or gender if they were the right person for the job.

Sadly, I think a lot of Black voters are delusional about Hillary because of their love of her husband and not because she is the best candidate.

I think Obama is stronger on the issues and I honestly trust him more than her.

Answer 4

I think the big strike against Obama is his relative inexperience: one term in the Senate vs 8 years as de facto co-president in the White House.

America has never elected a black president, true, but it's also never elected a female president. OTOH, many Americans are excited about both possibilities. Non-white-male-ness doesn't strike me as an important issue, but to the extent that it is an issue, it's a similar issue for both of them.

If race does come into it, it might actually be the reverse - that Obama isn't viewed as 'really African American' because he is not the decendent of slaves, but the son of a Kenyan and a rich white chick.

Answer 5

A few thoughts. I read in Newsweek I believe community leaders in black communities are often loyal to the Clintons for things they did in the past and they have a lot of influence. One of my most intelligent African American friends told me very early on she doesn't believe Obama.

Answer 6

I’m one of the African Americans who support Hillary over Obama and for the reason you mentioned. I don’t think Obama has a chance of winning a national election and I also don’t think that a few more years of experience in national politics before becoming president would hurt him.

I would love to see a woman or an African American as president as long as I support that individual’s political viewpoint. No one votes for anyone solely on the basis of race or gender. For instance, most African American feminists would never support someone like Condi Rice for president. It is not wrong to want to see representation at higher levels of government where such representation has never been seen before but it has to be based, of course, on basic shared political outlooks.

Answer 7

Yes, I could not stand it listening to all of that last night. Moreover there is no real proof on the % of race who voted. It's a prediction on the percent by registered voters where they get their "claim." The claim is false. What they need to focus on is the president not race.

Answer 8

I think it is a shame for ANY voter to support Hillary over any other candidate. Hillary is just another version of more of the same.

I also applaud black voters for NOT being racists in their decisions. Not basing decisions on race speaks volumes considering the history of this nation. Hopefully as people get to know more about Obama, they will peel away from Hillary war mongering Clinton.

Answer 9

No clue, but one thing is for sure. If he has no chance, and Hillary is going to win the primary anyway, what would it hurt to support him until then?
Its like everyone acts like a politicial race is a horse race.

Answer 10

I do not know why she is so popular. I know she is smart though. I think any president will be blamed for Bush's mistake on going into Iraq when it all collapses. It is all going to fall apart, it is just a question on when we leave. Obama needs more experience.