Print This Post
Mar
19
Ugh. I can’t believe I’m reading this:
Minutes after the speech, two brothers from Cleveland, sitting in a food court in North Olmsted, said they will pass up the election rather than vote for a black man, a woman or a Republican.
“I won’t vote for a woman or a black man,” said one brother, a 29-year old construction worker. “That’s not racist. It’s just a fact. I’m not even going to vote.”
The men, who are white and asked to remain anonymous, speculated that the majority of voters share their view.
“I just can’t imagine George Washington thinking a black man or a woman would be president. I know things are changing. But, what’s next. Isn’t he Muslim? Just his middle name is scary.”
The man acknowledged that reports about Obama’s Muslim heritage have been discredited, but added, “There must be something there.”
Added his brother, 23: “Maybe it is a racist thing . . . but I want a white guy.”
Such comments don’t surprise John Russo, co-director of the Department of Labor Studies at Youngstown State University.
“I think there has been incredible changes in America, but race is still there underneath the surface,” he said.
Yeah, except that doesn’t sound too superficial to me, Mr. Russo.
Sigh. The most positive thing I can say about what the two brothers said? I absolutely, positively do not believe that the marjority of voters share their view. I sincerely, honestly do not.
I guess I at least have to give them points for watching the speech. But to say they won’t vote for a black, a woman or a Republican?
I bet they didn’t give a dime or time to anyone that they would think they might vote for. Maybe we’re better off for them to not vote?
Feh. When I read stuff like what those two brothers said, I want to use the “s” word.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:34 am March 19th, 2008 in 'Roots News, Barack Obama, Campaigning, Civil Rights, Elections, Hillary Clinton, Ohio, Politics, Religion, Voting, WH2008
Comments
17 Responses to “Barack Obama speech highlights The Problem With People”
Leave a Reply
2010 WE Magazine 101 Women Bloggers to Watch
Category Specific RSS
Pepper Pike Cleveland+ Politics Women Ohio Elections Law Jewish
by Tips and TricksNews Now
[...] Continue Reading [...]
I thought McCain’s speech yesterday was amazing. I completely agree with John McCain’s repudiation of Glenn Beck for torturing and killing all those dogs (pit bulls). Of course, some pundits are bound to say McCain didn’t go far enough, or that he really didn’t distance himself from Beck. But I disagree: it was an excellent speech.
There’s nothing objectionable in your comment, Shimmy, but it’s not on topic and WLST isn’t really the kind of blog that attracts people that can make sense of your sense of humor.
I hope the next time you take the time to comment, you will engage in a more productive way.
Thanks for reading.
It never ceases to amaze me at the number of people who make the choice as to who runs, a city, a state or a country.
I am living proof. In a city that boasts a population of >70,000 people only 10,000 (roughly) voted for the Mayor of their town. But 15,000 came out for the Primary for Presi.
Apathy? Too Busy? Don’t Care? Don’t Know?
Jill,
I thought what the social worker said in the post you are citing was very insightful:
“America’s response to Obama’s speech today will reveal what kind of country we live in. It can either start the process of healing racism in this country, or it can expose the deep-down prejudice, ugliness and hatefulness that will tear us apart even further.”
While I also feel that the majority of voters don’t share the brothers’ views on politics, racism/sexism will be exploited as much as possible by McCain’s handlers and the MSM will do its very best to help him.
I also feel that the brothers’ views are not shared by the majority of people, but I am sure that the racism/sexism factor will be exploited to the fullest by McCain’s handlers and the MSM will help him in any possible.
I am not surprised by these comments, many people that never vote talk about politics at this level, I cringe when I see the get out and vote campaigns. I take it serious sometimes I think I do not have enough information to make an intelligent choice. I’m not going to vote based on the way person parts their hair, but some do.
Paula-
A perfect example of that was the Ward 6 Cleveland City Council race that was held yesterday. Only 892 votes were cast in a ward that has 17,000 registered voters.
Shalom Jill,
There are 20 percent of Americans who believe that Saddam Hussein masterminded the attack on 11 September and that we captured extraterrestrials at Roswell, New Mexico.
Ignorance is ignorance. Most can be educated, some can’t.
B’shalom,
Jeff
[...] Barack Obama speech highlights The Problem With People digg_url=”http://havecoffeewillwrite.com/?p=7072″; digg_skin = [...]
Jill, I had worked and gone to college in Columbus over the course of about 15 years, and hadn’t a clue anyone felt the way these two brothers did. Not even the Republicans I bumped elbows with felt that way, as evidenced by our strong support for Jeannette Bradley on the Republican ticket for Columbus City Council for several years running (for a while, she was the only Republican who could get elected in Columbus).
But, when I arrived at work in Sandusky, Ohio, (my birthplace) to work for Ford Motor Company as a new member of the UAW (where my dad had worked during his whole career), my eyes were popped wide open! My ears couldn’t believe all the expressions of racist, sexist sentiments. And I thought to myself, “This just boggles my mind that these (UAW members) are the staunchest of Democrats. That just blows the lid off the notion that Democrats are tolerant of diversity and that Republicans are, in stark contrast to the Democrats, racist and sexist bigots.”
And even though I ran for state rep in 2002 as a UAW member, my own union refused to endorse me because I was a Republican.
I got another eye-opener when I lived in Oberlin and helped an African-American woman circulate petitions for school board. Retired Oberlin College professors, assuming that I was circulating petitions for someone who was white, said that they were pleased that another white was running in a race that already had blacks who had announced their candidacy. The sentiments they shared with me indicated that they blamed the black community for anything that went wrong in Oberlin, particularly issues of crime and student achievement.
I am amazed that more African-Americans aren’t Republicans, given the fact that their voting bloc, in my opinion, is taken totally for granted by the Democrat Party.
Though, for years, many have pointed fingers at the Republicans for their intolerant attitudes towards women and people of color (and I acknowledge that there are problems in our party, the party of Lincoln, that have, sadly, contributed to that perception, especially in the Northwest–like Washington, Oregon, and Idaho–and in the South), I, personally, (and this is just my humble opinion) believe that there is a HUGE problem of bigotry in the Democrat Party–right here in Northern Ohio–that has been a quietly kept secret, largely ignored until now.
Sheesh – someone say something cheery, would you? Go back to the post about how Jennifer Brunner won an award.
lol
I would be surprised if what Craig predicts actually comes true. I don’t think that McCain’s handlers are hatching any plots to exploit racism or sexism. But, if I’m proven wrong, and the McCain campaign does engage in any disparagement of race or gender, I’ll be disgusted.
It wont matter if it is a majority of people that do or dont feel that way, Jill. If 1% of the population of who would have voted for the Democrat thinks that way, it could swing a few states and swing the election..
I will have to admit that one of the reasons I supported Edward’s over Obama at the begining because I expected more of the attitude of “the two brothers.” I have even heard a number of black Americans say they knew Obama had no chance because he was black.
When Barack won Iowa and South Carolina I was frankly floored. I thought wow maybe this country has come further on racial issues then I thought. Then about a week before the Ohio primary, I sat in the barber shop and heard words expressed very similar to those of the two brothers. My heart sunk.
I learned back in 1980 when going door to door for Carter about the level of ignorance of many. The reasons and the absolute false facts some believed and were basing their vote on discourgaged me a great deal.
The information age hasn’t helped. Those people don’t read blogs, nor do they spend much time actually listening to the candidates. They are susceptable to sound bites and following the lead of certain commentators and radio hosts that I won’t name cause Jill hates that. (chuckles) I know this because those are the things I hear repeated in the barber shop and at the lunch counter over and over again.
The good news is a lot of them don’t vote. The bad news is,too many do.
I have a continuing problem with the PD and their nasty habit of quoting anonymously. If these two racist slimeballs don’t have the guts to put a name next to their comments they don’t deserve to be in the paper. But the PD on an almost daily basis, published the unattributed anonymous blatherings of some of Cleveland’s most profound knuckle-draggers. And I think its a shame because the anonymity only encourages more hate speech to be broadcast publicly and gives a patina of mainstream acceptance to such idiocy.
I wrote a post about race and Obama’s speech.