Hi Gang:
Here's the Black Woman's Dilemma;

Does she vote for Hillary because she's a woman...
or does she vote for Obama because he's Black???

I'll bet Hillary would love to have the answer to that one.

What think you ???

hippolips

It appears that Oprah is going for the black thing rather than the woman thing. Who knows?

Hi Hippo. Do you vote for your candidate because of race, ethnicity, or gender? Or against the other fellow because he's black or she's a woman ?? Or is it only black women who vote that way?

quote:

Hi Hippo. Do you vote for your candidate because of race, ethnicity, or gender? Or against the other fellow because he's black or she's a woman ?? Or is it only black women who vote that way?

Unless a person is completely naive, or has his/her head buried in the sand, you have to realize that many people will vote that very way.
I have heard educated women say that they will vote for Hillary because it is about time
for a woman to be President. The same holds true for many blacks. This may be an ignorant way to do things, but it is a fact that we have to live with, unfortunately.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by frankvan:
Hi Hippo. Do you vote for your candidate because of race, ethnicity, or gender?
_______________________________________________
Hi Frank:

I can't ever recall voting for any candidate on the basis of race,ethnicity or gender.

I've always voted for the best qualified candidate for the job.

hippolips

Obama has got Oprah. Hillary has got Barbra Streisand.So that's settled.Obama wants the living black vote and Hillary wants the geriatric Jewish vote. If anyone pays attention to such endorsements, isn't Oprah the winning choice?

(Happy to learn that Ms Streisand is still alive, I see her only brush with death has been to appear in the latest Fockers film )

quote:

Unless a person is completely naive, or has his/her head buried in the sand, you have to realize that many people will vote that very way.
I have heard educated women say that they will vote for Hillary because it is about time
for a woman to be President. The same holds true for many blacks. This may be an ignorant way to do things, but it is a fact that we have to live with, unfortunately.

I don't think it's only blacks and women who say things like that. Nor do I think it means what the above seems to imply, that blacks and women vote on such a superficial basis - to a greater degree than white males. I would like to see either a black or woman president in this country, provided that they supported pro choice, universal health care, and other issues I consider important, because it is long overdue that we ended the white males only tradition. Race, gender, and religious beliefs shouldn't disqualify anyone. IMHO.

quote:

Race, gender, and religious beliefs shouldn't disqualify anyone. IMHO.

I agree, Frank, I am with you on this one, all I said was some people are going to vote for people because of their race or gender.
I think that is wrong, and I also think that ending the all white male tradition is wrong too, if he happens to be the right person for the job.

quote:

(Happy to learn that Ms Streisand is still alive, I see her only brush with death has been to appear in the latest Fockers film )

I thought she was very funny in that movie. It was better than the first one, anyway. An inspired bit of casting to have Streisand and Hoffman play the parents of Ben Stiller. That's my opinion, anyway.

And guys, don't underestimate the power of Oprah

quote:

Here's the Black Woman's Dilemma;

Does she vote for Hillary because she's a woman...
or does she vote for Obama because he's Black???

I don't see it as a dilemma, because she should vote for who she thinks is better qualified.

too bad race and gender really does matter in elections. If I was Hillary and Obama. I would get together personally and say look you back me, and I'll back you. Obviously one of us is the next POTUS. If I win you be my Vice President, if you win you'll be mine.

Personally I think Oprah backed Barrack because she's black. Look at her school in Africa, all black. Look at Katrina, mostly black.

What happened to the power of woman Oprah?
What happened to this sisterhood you preach.

Oprahs support is going to hurt Obama, Oprah though a very charitable person has no business
in politics. Oprah's main audience with all due respect is a bunch of housewives who watch her in between ironing, eating Bon Bon's and trying to get that butt groove just right in that couch cushon...

And thats my word!

quote:

Originally posted by SeattleRon:
Oprah's main audience with all due respect is a bunch of housewives who watch her in between ironing, eating Bon Bon's and trying to get that butt groove just right in that couch cushon...

This is very funny, Ron However, there's an awful lot of those housewives that love her!

quote:

Look at her school in Africa, all black. Look at Katrina, mostly black.

Ron, do you think that it might be because of the higher needs of the people?

I also think a person should be able to support their choice without being scrutinized. But, I guess that's the American way. Are you gonna support your choice or whoever your homies want you to support? Be careful because you might be faced with scrutiny.

I guess I don't see the dilema here. Seems to me it all boils down to which candidate the lady likes best. And who says the black woman has to settle on Hillary or Barack??? She still has plenty more to choose from.

If Obama is elected President, the people will blame the problems of the US on him because the President will be black.

If Hillary is elected President, the people will blame the problems of the US on her because the President will be a woman.

I think many people will forget all the white men leaders who had plenty problems of their own. Whoever gets elected is going to have a HUGE mess to sort out. I don't see a black woman's dilemma. Archie Bunker might find some humor in it.

I doubt that Condoleeza Rice, a black woman, will support either one. Thus frank's idea of voting based on the issues rings true.

Honestly, I don't think either one stands a chance. And, unless the Dems can come up with a better candidate before next year, they're very likely to lose their chance to win back the White House, and end this stupid war.

However, going back to your original question, I think that people tend to vote for whomever they believe best represent their interests. And there are a great many factors which can play a part in that, such as: appearance, personality, experience, political party, issues, religion, marital status, age, place of origin, and now gender and skin color are factors, as well. People will vote for who they like best, in the end. The reasons which determine that are numerous.

I remember prior to the election of '88, when I was supporting Michael Dukakis- a woman said to me, "Why would you vote for a big pair of eyebrows like that?" Now, will somebody please tell me what having big eyebrows has to do with anything? But, this just goes to show how truly shallow and ridiculous people are in the way that they think. And, I doubt whether that's changed much.

quote:

Honestly, I don't think either one stands a chance. And, unless the Dems can come up with a better candidate before next year, they're very likely to lose their chance to win back the White House, and end this stupid war.

.

I hope you're no more accurate than you were when you backed Dukakis.

As Dennis Kucinich has repeatedly pointed out, the Democrats have the power to end the war now. It's the big issue they ran on in 2006. They simply have disappointed their supporters.

quote:

Originally posted by coldfuse:
As Dennis Kucinich has repeatedly pointed out, the Democrats have the power to end the war now. It's the big issue they ran on in 2006. They simply have disappointed their supporters.

And what do you think Kucinich's chancees are of getting the nomination and/or being elected president? Could that be a reason that republicans keep challenging democrats to do just that?