"I told blacks not to vote for blacks, just before I told blacks to vote for blacks."
 

Hypocrisy, Anyone?

"Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois today urged hundreds of blacks not to vote along racial lines next week in Maryland's Senate race. Obama, the only black U.S. senator, came to the state to rally support for Democratic Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, who is white. Cardin's Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele, is the first black candidate ever elected statewide and has been courting black Democrats."--Associated Press, Nov. 3

"The nation's only black senator, Barack Obama, D-Ill., asked voters at two black churches and at a Nashville rally to elect [Harold] Ford, a Democrat who is trying to become the first black senator from the South in more than 100 years. 'I know that all of you are going to work the next couple of days to make sure it happens, because I'm feeling lonely in Washington,' Obama said at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. 'I need my dear friend to join me.' "--Associated Press, Nov. 5

Save these quotes for upcoming elections.

It sounds like "I told blacks not to vote for blacks, just before I told blacks to vote for blacks."

Barack Obama is hot. He can say whatever he wants to say. :p

No.

But I guess you missed the "I need my dear friend to join me" part in reference to Ford. Ford's potential to be the first black Senator in the South in over 100 years has huge social implications--that's a fact. But having a sound platform and campaign are the foundations for many voters and Obama never asked black voters to ignore that.

Maybe Ford can get a job working for Senator Bob Corker.

Where did it say elect Ford because he's black?

Pot, meet kettle...

The way I figure it, Senator Obama is asking for people to vote for the person he feels is best qualified and race be damned.

Not "race be damned" but "race not be the main reason or only reason for your vote."

That's fair.

Michael Steele is a great candidate and would be a wonderful addition to the Senate. Living near the District, we are subjected to political ads from VA, MD, and DC. He is the only one who hasn't resorted (much) to negative attack ads unlike his opponent or EITHER Senate candidate on our side of the Potomac.

Like a$$holes...
 

I'm sorry...

But I saw Micheal Steele on "Meet the Press" a month ago and I found him to be a "tap dancer"...

Of course other dude seem to have Alzheimer's.

So it seems no matter who Maryland elects as governor it ain't gonna make a difference...

BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION!!! ;)

Of course, it might be interesting to note that the last Senators from the South who were Black were in fact Republicans.

Southerners - albeit in one border state - have an opportunity to elect another Black candidate to the Senate - and he's a Republican. So, if it's about "huge social implications" why not support Steele AND Ford???? Then there would be three Senators who were Americans with an African heritage, correct?

Being a Republican in 1877, when the last Black Senators were in office, is a completely different thing than being a Republican in 2007. Hell, being a Democrat in 1948 was completely different from being a Democrat today.

I'm really over this two-party BS. I've been registered as Independent as long as I've voted.

I didn't read that - I read please choose the best Demorcat for the position and in MD he believed it was Ben Cardin a white Democrat and in TN it was Harold Ford a black Democrat

I agree w/Munchkin03 - this is party line stuff and I too am registered Independent. Show me WHY you deserve my vote!

Wait, doesn't it ADD credibility that he's willing to decide on black senatorial candidates based on comparative merits (even if those are suspiciously along party lines)?

OH SHIT totally forgot whose thread this is, my bad.

Well DUH it's about social implications within the confines of bipartisanism.

Don't preach to the choir--I don't like Democrats or Republicans. I would focus on the platform of whatever blacks were in/had the potential to be in the Senate. However, this thread isn't about me.