SC goes to Obama, Clinton loses black supporters...

[alum]

To include yesterday's results and this week's withdrawals:

For the Republicans:

Magic Number 1,191

Romney 73
McCain 38
Huckabee 29
Paul 6
Giuliani 2
x-Hunter 0
x-Thompson 0


For the Democrats:

Magic Number 2,025

Clinton 230
Obama 152
Edwards 61
x-Biden 0
x-Dodd 0
Gravel 0
x-Kucinich 0
x-Richardson 0

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I'm black-I didn't vote for Obama
I'm a woman-I didn't vote for Clinton
I'm young-I didn't vote for Obama

I voted for Edwards in the primary-I am the rare glitch in the system as the news would have you believe.

I'm tired of the race issue, I'm tired of the pathetic bickering and frankly, I think Obama has lost his point for me (although originally I liked all three candidates).

Edwards for me, has been the only one making sense the entire time and I feel like everyone has ignored him because "Oh we can vote for a woman!" "Oh we can vote for a black! (Which makes me sad because his mom is white and obviously even though physically he's black it makes me so sad they he lost his non-descript "race" along the way because I know for me that my mother is so important in my life and I identify with her over my father primarily.)

I have lost so much hope for anything getting achieved during these next for years because people are being spoon-fed the hype. And now I'm REALLY afraid that Clinton may not win and we'll be stuck with Obama...and I REALLY do not want him leading my country (just me personally cos I know everyone else is apparently on the Obama train).

[LeslieAGD]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Obama has lost his point for me (although originally I liked all three candidates).

And now I'm REALLY afraid that Clinton may not win and we'll be stuck with Obama...and I REALLY do not want him leading my country (just me personally cos I know everyone else is apparently on the Obama train).

Ditto...I am NOT on the Obama train, and I don't understand why so many people are. I originally liked him, but I like him less and less the more he speaks. He's become the Democratic version of Giuliani...the media says Giuliani trys to use 9/11 in every sentence and doesn't say much else; for me, Obama says the word "change" in every sentence but never talks about how to accomplish anything.

[skylark]

Originally Posted by LeslieAGD

Obama says the word "change" in every sentence but never talks about how to accomplish anything.

See I blame the media for the fact that it is virtually impossible to communicate a complex idea in this day and age on a news program or in a debate. It's all about spin and getting the sound byte.

I try not to rely on the media clips and often meaningless "debates" to educate myself on a candidates ability to have a plan, and I don't expect a candidate to find a way to give me a dumbed down version of it in the news. I read Barack's last book when it came out and prior to that I read (okay listened to the audio-version of) Hillary's book. I primarily judge them on the ideas they expressed there than from any media clip, so maybe that is why I'm less concerned as to why I haven't audibly heard Barack's plans for change. I've read about how he's changed Illinois politics and what large and small steps he'd like to see the country take. I hear his speeches in that context... not in the context of wanting him to explain himself.

However, I do think there is something to be said for the power to inspire. If you can inspire the american people, that is a huge momentum for accomplishing change. We've had many capable leaders (Dubya excluded) that have been uninspired. I honestly think that America needs someone who stands for principles and that is why I stand behind Barack so strongly. I honestly don't think Hillary stands for anything but the unbridled thirst for power and the willingness to do anything to get it.

[scbelle]

Originally Posted by skylark

See I blame the media for the fact that it is virtually impossible to communicate a complex idea in this day and age on a news program or in a debate. It's all about spin and getting the sound byte.

I try not to rely on the media clips and often meaningless "debates" to educate myself on a candidates ability to have a plan, and I don't expect a candidate to find a way to give me a dumbed down version of it in the news. I read Barack's last book when it came out and prior to that I read (okay listened to the audio-version of) Hillary's book. I primarily judge them on the ideas they expressed there than from any media clip, so maybe that is why I'm less concerned as to why I haven't audibly heard Barack's plans for change. I've read about how he's changed Illinois politics and what large and small steps he'd like to see the country take. I hear his speeches in that context... not in the context of wanting him to explain himself.

However, I do think there is something to be said for the power to inspire. If you can inspire the american people, that is a huge momentum for accomplishing change. We've had many capable leaders (Dubya excluded) that have been uninspired. I honestly think that America needs someone who stands for principles and that is why I stand behind Barack so strongly. I honestly don't think Hillary stands for anything but the unbridled thirst for power and the willingness to do anything to get it.

I completely agree with you re: the media and debates and sound bytes. It is very hard to distill what ANY of the candidates plan for the country based on what's shown or printed in the news. Also, I would add that generally speaking, inspirational, creative, more poetic people, like Barack clearly is, have a harder time expressing ideas in the concrete. Abstractions are more comfortable.

Based on what I've read on his website and blogs concerning him, his lack of definitive plans don't really scare me. It makes me think that he is the real deal and will be able to work across the aisle, building coalitions and really get things done in Washington. A Clinton presidency guarantees more gridlock. But I really do believe that if she's the nominee, that we will have another Republican president. She's THAT offensive to quite a few Repubs, independents, and yes, even people in her own party.

I think now that Caroline Kennedy and her uncle Ted are coming out for Obama, people who will be voting in coming days will give Obama another look.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

I'm tired of the pathetic bickering

Yep. They said much the same on Meet the Press yesterday. Which will end up with Edwards getting the nomination and losing.

See: 1968

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Boy...it looks like all the Democrats here are already down and out! I want Edwards but he'll lose to the Rep. I want Clinton, but she'll lose to the Rep. I want Obama, but he'll lose to the Rep. Damn! Why don't we all just start voting for McCain! LOL! I honestly feel (or at least hope with all my might) that we will have a Dem. president.
I just think that it is going to be a fight to the death to figure out who that will be.
At least we can feel thankful that even while we're debating which candidates, many Rep. are still between at least three as well. It's not completely all one way. Let's take some solace in that.

[alum]

I think it will be a Clinton-Edwards ticket in the fall.

[skylark]

Originally Posted by alum

I think it will be a Clinton-Edwards ticket in the fall.

See I'm not so sure Edwards will be so quick to do the VP-run, although I'd love to see him in it. As a VP, I could see him taking on a single issue (namely, health care) and doing great things for reform.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Edwards says he's still going for the gold so I don't see him bowing out just yet. I feel so bad for him because people usually act as if he's not a contendor!
I remember watching a clip from (what I believe is either an interview with all three or the debate) and Obama says we have a woman, a black, and John. WTF!? Well at least people can refer to him by his name and not by a category!
Have we not reached beyond this point? Apparently not...as a woman, you're a vajayjay and breasts and as a black person you're a big 'ol pile of brown skin. I was so excited that I would have a 3 great choices, then I was confused because yes, there was the whole gender race issue for me as a young black woman, but now I just want someone who can see beyond right now and I feel like Edwards and Clinton have overall been doing a better job, although I think the media is doing a lot to affect perceptions with Obama. I'm also very concerned regarding the media and the black community with this election.

[LeslieAGD]

Originally Posted by alum

I think it will be a Clinton-Edwards ticket in the fall.

I don't know about that...maybe Clinton-Richardson?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by a.e.B.O.T.

Obama dominated the black vote but likewise diminished among white voters greatly. This is being covered everywhere, but it is sort of annoying that there is such a focus on this.

Didn't take a psychic to see this coming.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Didn't take a psychic to see this coming.

There's something more going on here. The Obama candidacy is shaping up to change the African American political landscape. In South Carolina (and other states) the Clinton's used the traditional strategy of machine politics, "buying" the endorsements of black ministers and using black surrogates like Bob Johnson, believing that African Americans would fall in lock step like a pack of lemmings. In contrast, the Obama campaign was truly an innovative grassroots operation, utilizing the existent political and social networks in the African American community--it was a real movement!This is what I heard from someone with deep roots in SC politics, right there in the Low Country, who was really impressed with the Obama campaign there.

As a commentator said on a Black public affairs radio show last night in NYC, this has the potential of dethroning the old guard civil rights "leaders" who operate under the patronage system to white politicians in the Democratic Party by circumventing any sway they may have as influential political arbiters. This portends the end of "plantation politics."

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

As a commentator said on a Black public affairs radio show last night in NYC, this has the potential of dethroning the old guard civil rights "leaders" who operate under the patronage system to white politicians in the Democratic Party by circumventing any sway they may have as influential political arbiters. This portends the end of "plantation politics."

Interesting you should say that... Because some of my "seasoned sorors" who only obtain news from the newspaper, television and radio were discussing how worried they were with the "real or implied threats" that Obama was getting from the old guard racists, such as the KKK and other white supremacists. They were remarking how Obama needed Secret Service protection early in his campaign.

What piqued my interest was that my "seasoned sorors" were very concerned for Obama's overall safety and maybe the US says their ready, but is really not...

You have at least 4-5 generations voting here and each generation saw great differences in the world overtime - as evidenced by Andy Rooney's comments about what is a Recession vs. a Depression... I think that is how sly comments are made.

My point is in regards to your "grassroots" statement: The young and "enlightened young", are realizing (or reinvigorated) to see how they can "move mountains" again and accomplish the true heritage of the United States. I don't think US racism/bigotry will die if Obama wins, but it will be removed from active government sanctioning to into psychological problems where it should rightfully be.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

There's something more going on here.

OK...but I'm truly disinterested.