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Those obvious questions so seldom asked


I read many political blogs on a daily basis and watch a lot of CNN. I am utterly amazed that some perfectly obvious(to me) questions are rarely asked.  For example, when Senator Clinton makes the assertion that she would be a stronger candidate in the GE because she would carry the "white working class vote," why doesn't someone in the media ask, "Since only one out of nine African Americans is currently supporting you, what argument would you make to this group to change their ways and back you in the GE?"I think her answer would be tortured in the extreme and very revealing of the devious campaign she is waging.  When a McCain surrogate makes a statement casting doubt on Obama's patriotism (and this will be happening more and more frequently), why doesn't someone ask McCain the simple question, "Do you think it is fair and honorable for your supporters to impugn the patriotism of your opponent?  If you agree that it is not, what moral persuasion can you use to stop these attacks?" To the argument that there are some whites who would never vote for Obama because he is black, why doesn't someone ask, "Well, you know, Obama is black AND white.  He is a part of both worlds.  His father was African but he was raised by WHITE people: his mother and his maternal grandparents." By always referring to him as the "black candidate," this very, very important fact is never put out there for voters to ponder.  To those pundits who insist on bringing up Rev. Wright's offensive remarks, why doesn't someone ask, "Do you think the Reverend is worthy of your forgiveness?  As a Christian, would you consider condemning the sins but not the sinner?"What I am suggesting with these questions is that the current political discourse could be framed in a way that would actually help voters appreciate complexity and become skeptical of biased labels and slogans.  Don't we deserve more?

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Oh, that the bottom feeders that present the news and political chit chat could think beyond their make-up and hair.

The only time I ever see any attempt at challenging the public to actually think, it's on Countdown with Keith Olbermann. He demands more then a soundbite.

This is a really great post...

Personally, I think all of the ridiculous microtargeting of slivers of the electorate is silly. How I wish we didn't have exit polls. "White voters who make less than $50K who didn't go to college." Please.

I would love it if the media could take a collective deep breath and stop this polarization. It is their focus on these silly "narratives" that is driving this stuff. "Barack can't win the white vote"... Really - Utah anyone, Washington State, Idaho?

Oh and by the way... the whole "big state" myth should be over. If the CA primary were held today, between Obama and Clinton, Obama would win by 6 points. (He lost by 10 if you'll recall). (New SUSA poll. There are interesting cross-tabs, but since I'm lambasting microtargeting, I'll let you find them yourself) So, that should also kill the "voter's remorse" myth.

Now - can we move on please? I want to hear how the two nominees will deal with truly patriotic issues - how to deal with healthcare, how to fix the economy, how to improve our image with the rest of the world, how to bring our troops home and restore our readiness, how to reduce our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, how to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions so our children will actually have a future... I could go on and on.

I feel confident that if and when Barack is allowed to make his case to the American people on those topics - not merely contrasting his positions on them with Senator Clinton's (since they are different only by the tiniest bit) - but rather able to contrast them against McCain (e.g. Bush's third term), he will have no trouble winning over the Democratic base.

"White voters who make less than $50K who didn't go to college."

You're forgetting other specifications of the Hillary demographic:

Don't live in Nevada, Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, the Potomac states, any state with a large African American population, Iowa, Winsconsin, Idaho, Utah, who live in a state that could go to the Republicans in November but are somehow solidly in the Democratic base, and who voted for Hillary.

Being "half black" in America is like being a little bit pregnant. I'm surprised we've gotten this far in campaign season and this obvious koan hasn't been thoroughly digested.

You're starting to come awfully close to illegal hate speech Desidero.

Keep it up.

True, in Jim Crow America.

No, in the real America that people who don't wear rose-colored glasses see every day. Now if you're Tiger Woods and well-paid and people will listen to you, you can explain your ethnic background. But for 99% of the people out there, if you look black, you're black, if you look Asian, you're Asian, if you look Hispanic, you're Hispanic, if you look white, you're white, no matter what the exact percentage of your genetic makeup.

What does "look hispanic" mean? Hispanics are of all colors. Argentina has a higher proportion of Euro descendents than the US. Not everyone shares such oversimplified concepts. Americans are learning and quite eagerly.

All questions are obvious.

When you get down to brass tacks, the half-white/half-black perception of Obama is little more than a lingering vestige of Ol' Jim Crow. What was the rule-of-thumb for encoded "race" laws"? Was it 10% of 'negroid' blood earned you a ticket to the back of the bus?

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