Surprise! We live in a racist country
Right now the yammering lunkheads on CNN are wondering why Clinton defeated Obama in New Hampshire even though the polls showed a wide lead for Obama going into the primary as a result of his caucus victory in Iowa. There's a lot of nonsense about some contrived crying jag that Clinton did the other day which the media covered in detail, but which no normal person cared about in the slightest. Others say that Bill Clinton pulled through for his wife.
Whatever. The real explanation is simpler, even though it doesn't reflect well on the white voters of New Hampshire. There is a well-established phenomenon that there is a certain percentage of white US voters who will tell pollsters that they're voting for a black candidate, but then behave otherwise in the voting booth. This pattern couldn't work in Iowa, since it's a caucus system and everyone's vote is known to others. It has obviously worked out this way in New Hampshire. White Democrats are less racist than whites in general, especially white Republicans, but they are still racist, so it seems likely that that's what we're seeing here.
On another note, and while the issues had nothing to do with how people voted, it seems to me that Obama has said very next to nothing over the past week, and yet has left a lot of people "inspired." I don't quite understand why. On a substantive level there really is little difference between him and Hillary Clinton; if anyone spots a real difference, do let me know.
Edwards, by contrast, has sounded very different indeed, and has made a distinct appeal to the left. Unfortunately there's little mass movement or constituency left to support that, and the labor movement -- which could have -- was divided on his candidacy.
So we're left with pretty much the same old shit. And very likely a President McCain.
Comments
I think you make some good points but I wonder if Obama's Muslim background has more to do with it than his race? I also agree with you that I'm not sure what he stands for, but he was against the war, though he didn't have to vote on it, and he was a community organizer. That's part of why I support him over Clinton. If he win's, and I know you prophesize that he can't, maybe he'll actually be decent since he's not as tied to the establishment as Hillary; or he could be worse -- who knows? We're basically voting on personalities.
While Edwards was my first choice, it doesn't look good. Also I wonder if it would have been better for him to be a liberal lefty in the Senate? Now he's just a former one time Senator.
Democrats are racists. Republicans are racists.
Hmmm...true, but they are pretty glib comments, and your entire tone depresses me ... "See, I'm right the world sucks, and we live in a racist country."
I know.
Posted by: paul | January 8, 2008 11:42 PM
Paul -- Obama WAS against the war before it started, but what about now? What's the difference between his position and Clinton's position now? People are voting on personalities, yes. If you want some reassurance, you at least have that reason not to be too depressed about this outcome: there's really not that much difference between Obama and Clinton.
The Edwards campaign was different, but we are simply not in a position to make something like that work right now. The movements are too weak. Like it or not, there are no shortcuts in social change, and it is worth remembering that, no matter how painful it may be.
Posted by: John Lacny | January 9, 2008 08:12 AM
I heard someone say the other day that they predicted Obama would win everywhere EXCEPT for New England, where liberal democrats would justify their own racism by saying things like, "Well, I like Obama but he'll never win in the South because they're all racist - so I'm voting for Hillary."
I don't think Obama's said much of anything the whole campaign. My assumption is he knows he has to sound as little like Jesse Jackson as possible if he wants any real chance of winning. So you get issue positions that are almost entirely devoid of race and class.
I'm pretty pissed that UNITE HERE is backing off their endorsement of Obama. Hell, I'm pissed that they didn't endorse Edwards months ago. This whole "lets just wait until a winner emerges and then endorse them even if they're going to screw us" thing is ridiculous.
Posted by: David Grenier | January 9, 2008 10:24 AM