Is Pennsylvania ready for a Black President?

Hell no, they’re still in favor of the imbecilic, incompetent, fable and fiction-worshiping dolt who stole the last two elections. ‘Cause they’re ‘True ‘Mericans’, undereducated, undereducable, in love with the ‘It’s Us or Them’, ‘Our Country Right or Wrong’, ‘Our Way or the Highway’ mentality that boobs like Bush espouse, to further the NeoConZionist warped view of politics and international elations and thus serve their masters.

But maybe they’ll come to their (or someone else’s senses) in time to do the right thing this November.

Even if it means considering a Black. Especially since the alternatives are Bush-like, and seem determined to chance dooming the Earth.

Nukes are not ‘Green’, and would have an adverse effect on Global Warming...and Global Living.

Then there is Zbignu at Obama’s shoulder urging him to fund the next orange revolutions on the peripheries of Russia and China.  Then there are the rest of elitist pirates left over from Clinton, Carter and Bush ready to advise Obama. Nevermind about change, can I just get my money back?

Dream Ticket, my a**.

Let’s all bow our heads in prayer, fellow American Christians of the Faith, that Obama, in a moment of Christian (or Muslim) compassion, doesn’t offer Hillary the post of VP.

For with her penchant for skullduggery and nefariosity, giving her the opportunity to snoop the White House, and have access to Obama’s itinerary, menu, and kitchen, the London bookies would post his chance of assassination at 100%.

Instead of limiting our presidential choices to Black, Female, and Decrepit Old Fart, we need a Transvestite, Transsexual, WASP Hooker on the slate, so the republicans would have someone they could wholeheartedly support.

DD, you’re right. Isn’t it staggering to consider that in a nation of 300-odd million, the ‘world’s remaining superpower’, the ‘bastion of democracy in the world’, with the proud history and reputed talents ( a ‘can do’ attitude, ‘American ingenuity’, et.al.), we have degenerated to the point where the best we can do as presidential candidates is this trio of doofusses, this group of a**-kissers to the ‘powers that be’, and ‘f**k the citizenry’ elitists.

OK, there’s an outside chance that BO might save us, if the NeoConZionists don’t threaten his financial and mortal doom if/when he questions our inane support of ‘Israel Uber Alles’, and he doesn’t get condemned to ‘hell’ by hypocritical advocates of the ‘Devil’ like Hagee and his ilk, the Enrons, Arthur Andersons, and WorldComs of the religious industry.

We have no choice, he’s a chance we should have to take. But our uneducated, unknowledgeable, unaware voting public will probably stick with the ‘tried and false’ system advocates that dooms them to a life of self-abuse, instead of a true pursuit of meaningful happiness.

DD, you’re right. Isn’t it staggering to consider that in a nation of 300-odd million, the ‘world’s remaining superpower’, the ‘bastion of democracy in the world’, with the proud history and reputed talents ( a ‘can do’ attitude, ‘American ingenuity’, et.al.), we have degenerated to the point where the best we can do as presidential candidates is this trio of doofusses, this group of a**-kissers to the ‘powers that be’, and ‘f**k the citizenry’ elitists.

OK, there’s an outside chance that BO might save us, if the NeoConZionists don’t threaten his financial and mortal doom if/when he questions our inane support of ‘Israel Uber Alles’, and he doesn’t get condemned to ‘hell’ by hypocritical advocates of the ‘Devil’ like Hagee and his ilk, the Enrons, Arthur Andersons, and WorldComs of the religious industry. But if he is elected, and does do ,or try to do, what he says, the job as his vice-president will be the most coveted in the nation, for his VP will be as certain as JM’s would have been to gain the presidency as the result of the death of a president.

We have no choice, he’s a chance we should have to take. But our uneducated, unknowledgeable, unaware voting public will probably stick with the ‘tried and false’ system advocates that dooms them to a life of self-abuse, instead of a true pursuit of meaningful happiness.

The question PA may have asked themselves is not whether they were ready for a black President, but why they would be ready for a black President.

Without a logical reason to have one, why make it a big deal?

If blacks had shown they had more vision, were better educated than whites, or more political skill than whites, there might be a reason to have a black President.

But if those things are not the basis of choosing a President, and if race doesn’t matter, why have one?

The Presidency doesn’t yet run by affirmative action, or by lottery, to make it an office of fortune, good or bad, though it may be by the history of performance.

In theory, there is more at stake than voting because of race, minority status, or even gender, which is why Presidential elections are long and drawn out - to reach the entire country.

Selection by a few states cannot justify the process of all states voting their conscience, their vision, and their insight, necessarily tied to their geography from their own perspectives of what is important in America.

Rejection of race is neither an indictment of the black race, or any minority. Rejection of gender is less clear since women make up half of the world in any race or ethnic group.

When Presidential elections get reduced to the dynamics of race or ethnicity, the entire country has lost unity of principles that are supposed to be operative through the desire for national objectives of national welfare among the nations of the world.

Little evidence exists that by choosing race or gender, those values are strengthened or made more secure on the basis of race or gender by themselves.

If the accomplishments of the persons running consist solely of physical characteristics, the public is right to reject such reason to elect them - as trivial, inconsequential, and undeserving.

cyrena writes:  “...‘older white Catholics’ are decidedly MORE RESISTANT TO REALITY, and live in perpetual denial? Couldn’t that be the same reason why prolific sexual abuse by Catholic priests could take place for OVER 3 DECADES all across the US, and never ever be acknowledged?”

Only you could conflate those two completely totally different issues. Maybe older folks in general have more experience on which to judge a candidate. Maybe they truly don’t think Obama would make a good President. Maybe race never entered into the equation. Neither you nor I know. And the pundits, guess by the very imperfect science of exit polling. And they probably are as outraged at the priest scandal as the rest of us. And like the rest of us they did not know. It was a well kept secret. That’s right cyrena, blame the victims.

cyrena also writes:  “Should the old folks who have less time to be around, and who’ve basically done little to preserve or otherwise pass on a democracy to the younger generation be the ones to decide the future?”

First of all I take issue with you saying that old folks did “...little to preserve or otherwise pass on a democracy....”

That is pure B.S. Many in this generation fought WWII and saved the world from Hitler and Nazism. How dare you denigrate this generation who fought and died preserving freedoms for us all, including evidently an ungrateful person like yourself.

How dare you denigrate the men and women who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor. Many of these folks who fought WWII still carry wounds both physical and mental preserving the benefits you enjoy today, including free speech, which today you use to put them down.

Many more in this same ‘older white Catholics’ group fought in Vietnam. And even though I was against this war, I NEVER denigrate the service and sacrifice these men and women made for the defense of America. All of them did their part and played their role in preserving America.

And what of those who did not serve in war?

Are you saying that PA firefighters did not “preserve or otherwise pass on a democracy?”

Did the steel workers who made America strong by helping to build a country of unparalleled wealth with cars and refrigerators and stoves did not “preserve or otherwise pass on a democracy.”

Did PA teachers not “preserve or otherwise pass on a democracy.”

Did PA doctors and nurses not “preserve or otherwise pass on a democracy.”

Did PA mothers and fathers who saved and scrimped money to send their children to college so they could have a better life not “preserve or otherwise pass on a democracy.”

If this is truly what you believe then you have a warped sense of what makes America great, you have a warped sense of values.

Then last of all you write:  “Should the old folks who have less time to be around, ……be the ones to decide the future?”

What are you trying to say here? Are you saying that old people should be disenfranchised because they may not live long? Are you saying that only young people should have a right to vote? First it is FL and MI. Now it is old folks. Will the list of folks whose votes don’t matter or shouldn’t count ever end?

To date it is not “...the overwhelming WHITE MAJORITY of the US, that has put Obama so far ahead in the election.”

It is only people who actually vote in the Democratic primary, ehich is a very small percentage of Americans. See jackpinesavage’s excelelnt post on this above. You cannot extrapolate from Obama’s wins in the Dem primary in some states that “...it is the overwhelming WHITE MAJORITY of the US...”

And I would also disagree that Obama is so far ahead of Clinton. Even if you do not count FL and MI the numbers are so close as to be statistically insignificant. They are in a virtual tie. They each have garnered about 50% of those who have voted in primaries so far.

Great point. Yes. I wonder. How did that little over sight occur? Maybe they will deal with that issue in a different editorial. Don’t hold your breath.

PG writes:  “There must be a law which requires if you change your party affliation in the Primary season- You MUST vote that Party in the General!”

Spoken like a true democrat and American. You can ONLY vote the way PG tells you to vote. PG rules supercede the Constitution. There shall be no secret ballot and PG will tell you who you must vote for. Drown the Constitution.

So much for secret ballots. So much for democracy.  Flush it down the toilet along with all my other rights that PG does not like.

But I do agree with you regarding paper ballots.

So 6% will defect from Clinton to McCain.  Big deal.  They could just be Republican spoilers who registered Democrat in order to vote in Pennsylvania’s closed Democratic Primary.  It does happen, you know.  It’s a pretty well-known fact that many favor a match-up with Clinton because they believe she’s easier to beat.

As for the older folks preferring Clinton:  What does that have to do with race?  Might it not just be that those folks are not so ready to “fall in love” with a charming but insubstantial guy, whatever his race?

As for the Wright ads:  It doesn’t matter what race he is if he spouts anti-American garbage.  The perfectly legitimate question Obama’s association with him raises is what kind of judgement and common sense does a political comer have in sitting for 20 years and listening to that stuff?  Didn’t it dawn on him that could be problematic?  That is congruent with his Rezko association, which he himself admits was “dumb,” at least insofar as his really questionable real estate transaction was concerned.  We haven’t heard the last of that, either, as the Rezko trial is just getting started, and at the worst possible time!

As for outspending Republicans, what good did that do Obama in Pennsylvania?  Zilch!  Unless, of course, one posits that those fistfuls of cash kept him from losing by 20 points, or even more.

Obama is an attractive, smart, articulate person.  I emphasize person.  That’s whom people are voting for, or not.  Is there racism in this country?  Sure.  Will it determine who wins in November?  Maybe, if the vote is otherwise close in the states where that is likely to matter.  But I think that this is the first presidential election where people are not primarily considering whether to vote for an “attractive, smart, articulate Black man.”

Jacob,

Help us understand how Barack Obama overwhelming won IOWA, VERMONT, and WYOMING...ALL of which have a LESS THAN 5% Black population, and THEN we’ll talk about all of the race hate hype that was stirred up in PA.

Because, the way I see it..even if 1000% of Pennsylvania’s black population voted for Barack Obama, or even if every single black person in American voted for Barack Obama, it wouldn’t be enough (13%) to piss in a bucket, let alone win the nomination in ANY state!

So check that out Jacob, since I guess ALL of the journalists have somehow ‘forgotten’ to mention that it is the overwhelming WHITE MAJORITY of the US, that has put Obama so far ahead in the election.

How do you explain that Jacob?

I’m sure you’ll get right back to me on that.

There must be a law which requires if you change your party affliation in the Primary season- You MUST vote that Party in the General! If you have always been of a Party -then you are free to change for the General- but if you change then change Back, it should be a criminal act of Election Fraud.
Any person who suggests such scams should be chraged with such crimes- Rush et al should be arrested and tried NOW for even suggesting such covert actions against Our Democratic Process.
We ahve already seen the effects of others who are trying to undermine our national Rights- MI Primary was Rigged and is now being used as a ace in Clintons Pocket.She DID NOT WIN MI!!! they are using th esame tricks they pulled in the last 2 elections- funny how the machines in the Blacka areas of PA had problems. We had some ‘scrambled’ ballots fed into Pre programmed SCAMtrons in My small MI town Too.
It is time we return to the method which reduces the ability to skew results- pen & paper works for me.
Hillary works for the Corps - Just like Mac (their 2 horses in the race- a win/win for them) I will not believe the election results of this cycle again- I’ve already personally witnessed the tampering by the Media, the “public Servants’ and the Corps who have hired them (along with their Foreign sponsors). Michigan has been under the ME Oil regimes oppression now for nearly 40 yrs- We are the Canary in the National Coalmine- the Belt Buckle of the Rust Belt, and Both Hill & Mac are their Covert operatives- true Blue Corporationists!

is in the NEW generation!

• “There is certainly a danger of exaggerating the impact of race in Pennsylvania, since Clinton also beat Obama by about 3-2 among whites who said race played no role in their decision.”

EJ, you believe that these people were telling the truth when they said that race played no role in their decision? And, you’re worried about a ‘danger’ of exaggerating the impact of race in PA?

So, maybe it’s not all about race in PA, since it obviously wasn’t about race in Iowa, (97% white, and NOT affluent) or in VT, or about more than a dozen other primaries that Barack Obama has won in mostly white (NON-affluent) states. Maybe race hype got ‘created’ there.

In fact, I would say that there IS a very major danger of exaggerating the impact of RACE in ANY state, because we’ve seen the results that have resulted from exactly this, on behalf of Clinton, and her husband, and her Karl Rove campaign techniques. In short….INCITING race divisions where they may not have existed before, at least to the degree of dredging up hostilities. Isn’t that why the MSM literally plastered sound bytes from speeches made by Jeremiah Wright years ago, and out of context?
Wasn’t that the POINT? To exaggerate or induce any negativity that could possibly be induced? And when those ‘sound bytes’ were initially dismissed as nothing particularly sensational, (haven’t hundreds of others made similar comments – YES) then the MSM, and the alternative media, and All of Hillary’s Trolls just kept at it, and kept at it, and kept at it.

And yes, that’s exactly what we’ve seen for months now. We’ve seen a determined ‘never-give-up” effort to blow up those comments into the hype and lynch mob mentality that one could possibly hope for.

• “Of course Wright’s comments were offensive, but to pretend that the ad does not have racial undertones would be to deny the obvious. After all, why didn’t North Carolina Republicans focus instead on attacking Obama’s alleged “elitism” or his foreign policy views?”

See what I mean? How is it that ‘of course’ Wright’s comments were offensive? We didn’t even hear them all. We only heard sound bytes from 6 years ago. And, they were comments that most Americans, (outside of those who happened to be members of Trinity church or the community) would NEVER HAVE EVEN BEEN AWARE OF, if they hadn’t been carefully mined, and intentionally presented out of context, and then hyped into mass hysteria!

How would I, a non-religious/non-church attending resident of CA have ever even KNOWN what Jeremiah Wright said in a sermon (in Chicago, IL) 6 years ago? I’ve heard similar comments from hundreds of OTHERS, and agreed, but not from Wright.

Good question on the ‘attacking’ of his foreign policy views. Why not that? Maybe because there’s nothing to ATTACK?  Maybe because his very different views are BETTER? How about the elitism? Good question there too. Why not ‘attack’ on a myth that was generated by the same crowd to begin with? Nothing there, because he’s not an ‘elitist’.

On Catholics..(I used to be one)

• “…older white Catholics were decidedly more resistant to Obama than other older whites.”

Could this be because ‘older white Catholics’ are decidedly MORE RESISTANT TO REALITY, and live in perpetual denial? Couldn’t that be the same reason why prolific sexual abuse by Catholic priests could take place for OVER 3 DECADES all across the US, and never ever be acknowledged?

And finally..

• “Will younger voters or older voters set the tone of the campaign?”

What the hell makes more common sense to ANYBODY? Should the old folks who have less time to be around, and who’ve basically done little to preserve or otherwise pass on a democracy to the younger generation be the ones to decide the future?

Well, as one of those old folks, I’m putting ALL of my ‘hope’ in the younger set. Have we not pretty much proven that we can’t even keep our democracy alive or safe from fascists?

E.J.,

There is really not much more I can add beyond my comment title (if it actually appears), “don’t forget the Limbaugh Effect.”

160,000 or so Republicans registering as Democrats for the PA primary, and most of those going for Hillary Clinton, does not point to Obama’s negatives—it points to something that is on blatant display:

Republicans, almost to a person, vastly prefer running against Hillary in the fall over Barack. I have heard too many of them admit it out loud to think this is just some cool-aid talking point.

It is real.

Rush Limbaugh would not have wasted time (over and over and over again) starting before the mini-me Tuesday of Texas/Ohio/Rhode Island exhorting his followers to do just exactly what was seen with the 50,000 that crossed over in Texas and now the 160K in PA.

Why else would the Heart of Darkness Scaife give Hillary a single column inch that did not contain expletives? Why would Fox news fan the Obama flames (and the Clinton camp praise them) in a manner of complete triangulation with Clinton ads? Why would Mr. Own the Media Universe Rupert Murdoch contribute to her campaign?

Has the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy now fallen in love with Clintons? You can bet your press pass they have not.

What you can do, however (and in it is a very rare thing indeed) is to take them at their oft-repeated words: 1) There is no other thing that would unify the Republican party better than running against HRC and 2) even though the Clintons have now supplied a fair bit of ammo, it is still problematic for John McCain to run against Obama.

Somebody who can out-organize and out-spend Republicans by itself is one thing that gives them night sweats.