Race should not be a factor in election
Kevin Curwin
Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: Opinion
Amid all of the talk of Obama's ties with terrorists, socialism and Tupac Shakur, no smear has worked better than the one that no politician has mentioned: Barack Obama is black.
Well, actually, Barack Obama is white.
The truth is that Obama's mother is white, and his father is black. Saying one without the other is incorrect, so it's probably best to say that he is "mixed." You know, sort of like we all are. America is a melting pot and we're all products of that, right? For most people, that means you're of "mixed heritage." But it seems like Americans today still prescribe to that ancient and very outdated "one-drop rule" in regards to people with any African heritage at all.
So to many Americans, Obama is simply black. And that's where it ends.
The election has certainly brought race into the spotlight in America over the past year.
It's clearly shown that black does not equal white - and many people have said that they will not vote for Obama because of his skin. This may have been expected - there has never been a major party presidential candidate that has been black. Obama wasn't the first black to go for a nomination, but he was the first to receive it.
This problem brings an alarming revelation to some: racism is still alive and well in the United States today.
Should his race be a factor in the election? Absolutely not. We should decide how we vote based on how we believe a candidate will perform as President, not on whether his skin is white or brown.
Those who refuse to vote for Obama based on his skin color tend to have little education and make little money. Unfortunately for them, an Obama administration would be more beneficial for them than a McCain administration would.
Lower class support of Republican candidates is confusing. As discussed in the book Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen, the biggest difference between Republicans and Democrats is a simple one. When surveyed, 55 percent of Republicans blamed the poor for their poverty, and 13 percent blamed the system for it. 68 percent of Democrats blamed the system while only 5 percent blamed the poor.
The policies of both parties reflect these beliefs.
This means that the same people who would benefit most from a Democratic administration are more likely to not vote for Obama because he is black.
It seems rather contradictory.
If we really want to bring change to Washington, if we really want to help people get health care or get out of poverty, if we really want to redeem America in the eyes of the world, we will look beyond the skin color of our candidates.
Well, actually, Barack Obama is white.
The truth is that Obama's mother is white, and his father is black. Saying one without the other is incorrect, so it's probably best to say that he is "mixed." You know, sort of like we all are. America is a melting pot and we're all products of that, right? For most people, that means you're of "mixed heritage." But it seems like Americans today still prescribe to that ancient and very outdated "one-drop rule" in regards to people with any African heritage at all.
So to many Americans, Obama is simply black. And that's where it ends.
The election has certainly brought race into the spotlight in America over the past year.
It's clearly shown that black does not equal white - and many people have said that they will not vote for Obama because of his skin. This may have been expected - there has never been a major party presidential candidate that has been black. Obama wasn't the first black to go for a nomination, but he was the first to receive it.
This problem brings an alarming revelation to some: racism is still alive and well in the United States today.
Should his race be a factor in the election? Absolutely not. We should decide how we vote based on how we believe a candidate will perform as President, not on whether his skin is white or brown.
Those who refuse to vote for Obama based on his skin color tend to have little education and make little money. Unfortunately for them, an Obama administration would be more beneficial for them than a McCain administration would.
Lower class support of Republican candidates is confusing. As discussed in the book Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen, the biggest difference between Republicans and Democrats is a simple one. When surveyed, 55 percent of Republicans blamed the poor for their poverty, and 13 percent blamed the system for it. 68 percent of Democrats blamed the system while only 5 percent blamed the poor.
The policies of both parties reflect these beliefs.
This means that the same people who would benefit most from a Democratic administration are more likely to not vote for Obama because he is black.
It seems rather contradictory.
If we really want to bring change to Washington, if we really want to help people get health care or get out of poverty, if we really want to redeem America in the eyes of the world, we will look beyond the skin color of our candidates.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Zack
posted 10/23/08 @ 10:59 AM EST
The writer is right that race should not be a factor in the election, and he is also right that racism is still alive today in America. However, what some people seem to forget is the amount of votes that Obama will receive just for being black, excuse me, 1/2 black. (Continued…)
Matt
posted 10/23/08 @ 11:47 AM EST
The votes won't cancel out, however, because of the 90% of blacks that will vote for Obama. Is that racist?
I'd also like to note that it's consistently been democrats that have brought up race in this election. (Continued…)
James
posted 10/23/08 @ 6:24 PM EST
I agre with matt, but I think zack was being humerous by saying that the votes will cancel out. Obviously not all blacks that are voting for obama because he's black, but i do believe a lot will. (Continued…)
Joel
posted 10/24/08 @ 9:27 AM EST
You point out that "no smear has worked better than the one no politician has mentioned: Barack Obama is black." If no one has mentioned it, then how is it a smear? McCain and Republicans have gone out of their way to stay away from any kind of mention of Obama's race. (Continued…)
Peg
posted 10/24/08 @ 5:31 PM EST
One again, a no-brainer from the idiotic Buchtelite.
Wimp
posted 10/25/08 @ 4:42 PM EST
Your little ditty in the last edition about people on the internet "attacking" your writers for their opinions was uncalled for. Why? Because, you should be above such childish reactions. (Continued…)
Aaron Helmick
posted 10/27/08 @ 2:40 PM EST
I totally agree with Matt. I'm sick of people assuming the only racists are the ones not voting for Obama because he's black; don't bother to mention the LEGIONS of black voters out there that are voting for him ONLY because he's black. (Continued…)
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