Clinton/obama - 75% White Majority/17% black minority - Why is anyone worried about the race card?

Obama playing the race card is being debated it seems everywhere. If you break down the demographics of the population in the US, the blacks make up 17% of the country and whites 75%. Why does anyone really pay so much attention to this Race Card issue? 17% of the population should not be that big of a factor in this election. Why are so many people in such a fuss over Obama reaching out to black voters...he is part black...it would be ridicuolous to think he would not reach out to them... he is part black...hello!


What are your thoughts?

Clinton/obama - 75% White Majority/17% black minority - Why is anyone worried about the race card?
Research clearly shows most people are not that concerned about race, however in states such as South Carolina that has a large black population, race did have a deciding factor when blacks showed up to vote...the recent primary recently proved this point.





After playing a muted role in the earlier contests, the issue of race dominated an incendiary week that included a shift in strategy for Obama, a remarkably bitter debate and fresh scrutiny of former President Clinton's role in his wife's campaign.





Each side accused the other of playing the race card, sparking a controversy that frequently involved Bill Clinton.





"They are getting votes, to be sure, because of their race or gender. That's why people tell me Hillary doesn't have a chance of winning here," the former president said at one stop as he campaigned for his wife, strongly suggesting that blacks would not support a white alternative to Obama.





Clinton campaign strategists denied any intentional effort to stir the racial debate. But they said they believe the fallout has had the effect of branding Obama as "the black candidate," a tag that could hurt him outside the South.





Nearly six in 10 voters said the former president's efforts for his wife was important to their choice, and among them, slightly more favored Obama than the former first lady.





Overall, Obama defeated Clinton among both men and women.





The exit polls showed the economy was the most important issue in the race. About one quarter picked health care. And only one in five said it was the war in Iraq, underscoring the extent to which the once-dominant issue has faded in the face of financial concerns.





The exit poll was conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International for The Associated Press and the networks.





After reading the above info from Yahoo News...I believe that Americans are more concerned with issues such as the economy and health care rather than race. 17% or 75% means nothing in the grand scheme of things...whites and blacks alike will vote for the candidate that most closely matches and communicates a message that strikes a cord within them on whatever topic is of the utmost importnace to them. I have read of many black voters who WILL NOT be voting for obama purely beacause they know not only is it a long shot, but America is just not ready for a black president


( that is not my opinion I read that in a Yahoo News Article that was a direct quote from a black preacher in the south.)
Reply:Race should be such a non-issue. Our country is at war. Remember 911, we were all Americans then.
Reply:No one is, only you.
Reply:Obama didn't play the race card, Bill Clinton did to get the whites rilled up to vote for Billary, Obama is just to stupid to know this and is playing right into Bill and Bit*h's hand..........####
Reply:the reason it is an issue is because black people are voting as a block for a "black" candidate and if you looked through congressional races in districts with significant black populations, you will see that the black votes went overwhelmingly to black candidates whereas white votes crossed over- you will see no white congressmen from predominantly black districts but you will see black congressmen from predominantly white districts- that is an issue





If whites have to and DO put race aside then it should be ok to expect that other races do as well
Reply:As far as racial issues in America goes, it is a slap in the face of all voters considering what Americans have accomplished in the age of equal rights. To assume that one candidate is better than another because of race or sex is a farce and both candidates are throwing the cards. Shame on both of them.


Let's see, we will undoubtedly have a democratic candidate running for the Presidency who is either a female, or black...50, 40, or even 20 years ago, that would be unheard of.
Reply:The reason the race issue is important is that if Hillary wins the nomination a lot of angry black voters who support the dems may stay home in Nov.
Reply:Couldn't agree with you more.
Reply:I think every candidate has a built in voter base. Clinton has woman, Obama has blacks, Repubs have the 'religious' etc. To play to your base is fine and expected. They all do this. It would be silly not to. I think the problem that comes up is that people should not vote solely on race or gender and to ask people to vote based on race or gender undermines the whole process. If blacks vote for Obama purely because hes black they face the lashback of being seen as not taking voting seriously and attaching themselves to one man based solely on race, something non blacks are often accused and (socially)persecuted for doing. This could hurt them in the future. The thing is this is gonna happen with whites, blacks, latinos etc to some degree and we will never really know the truth/motivation behind most peoples votes so the point becomes moot eventualy. I dont see reaching out to your base as a bad thing. I see asking people to vote for you because of your race as a bad thing.
Reply:Unfortunately, In our society race is always going to be the issue even when it shouldn't. It does not matter if anyone is racist or not, there are always going to be factors that come in to play one way or another. For example, history has been made. We have a black candidate for president. Why should this be a historical moment? Why hasn't there been a black president? Reason is because some would believe that a black president would cater to the needs of mainly black people and it would seem as if blacks would have more opportunities of being treated as equal, no longer being called the minority. Another example is, blacks, latinos are called minorities, but white people are the majority. I feel that this is offensive, because it's saying that blacks and anyone with some color are less than other people.





I truly believe that if Obama were in fact to become our president, I would fear for his life. I truly believe that some ignorant, racist and narrow minded individual would try or succeed to assassinate him. Yes, Obama is bi-racial, but of course because his skin is brown he is seen as simply a black man. The fact that he is half white is ignored.





Since when is it that black voters are being singled out simply because there is a non-white man running for presidency? It shouldn't matter. What people should be focusing on are the plans, ideas that the candidates have set forth to do, and promise to the people that will better our country. I am glad that Bush cannot ever run for president again. I am voting for Obama, not because he is black, but because I believe that he can better this country and undo the controversy and mess Bush has caused.





I hope all those Republican voters, who voted for Bush now regret it for those whose children, parents and family were killed and murdered in Iraq.





P.S


If Obama wins, Hilary should be Vice President, or vice versa. If Hilary wins, Obama should be Vice President as oppose to being at each other's throats. They both are the best candidates, and that is why there is so much tension going on.