Are Republicans so angry because Barack Obama is black?

[Terran]

Poll question: Are Republicans so angry because Barack Obama is black?

And yes, I know he is mixed-race, but 'black' is how he is perceived, certainly by Republicans.

I'm 49, so I've seen several presidential races in my life. And I don't ever recall their side being so downright pissed off over the prospect of losing. My feeling has been for a long time now that all the labels--Communist, Socialist, Arab, Muslim--are just 'acceptable' substitutes for "uppity n*gg*r". Very few of them feel they can go there in public, but a lot of them feel that way...and it's driving them nuts that he's winning. So, just asking for opinions here:

If Barack Obama were perceived as 'white', would Republicans be less upset at the prospect of losing this year?

[Stagecoach]

1. It's part that and part something else

And that something else is power. I think they're afraid the Obama administration, while working on the main issues at hand, will launch investigations into the dealings of the last 8 years in the Bush administration. And I think that sends shivers through their bodies.

[Terran]

3. I think that worries people in power

but does it worry ordinary people? I wonder...interesting.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

2. I don't think it's all due to BHO being black...

.. but unfortunately, those 'good' Republicans who just would NOT vote for a Democrat due to their social conservative beliefs are in league with the devout racists. Not all votes against Obama are Racist, but all votes against BHO are not purely Republican either.

[Terran]

7. Your answer begs for another poll...

"What percentage of voters will vote against Obama because of his ethnicity?"

[BlooInBloo]

21. I don't think anybody has ever claimed that it was ALL 100% due to his being black...

Unless you can show me a post to the contrary.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

22. I was just responding to THIS poll..... yes / no... I did other

[gravity]

4. Depends on which republicans

I don't think there should be a blanket statement like that, although many republicans are angry because he is black

[Terran]

5. I guess I'm trying to focus on the people we've seen on video

who have expressed such bizarre levels of anger about him. Certainly not all repubs are behaving that way.

[4lbs]

6. A lot of the arguments and attacks lobbed against Obama wouldn't have been done if he were 'white'.

They couldn't use the "Arab" angle.

Nor the "Muslin" one.

Nor the "he's got a funny sounding name"

Nor "'That One' wants to give America to 'those people'."

A black media cameraman likely wouldn't have been told to "sit down, boy."

The N-word wouldn't have been uttered from racist mouths.

They wouldn't try to claim he wasn't born in the U.S.

An idiot wouldn't have gone to a rally with a stuffed toy monkey with an Obama sticker on it, implying a certain stereotype reserved for those with dark skin.

[Mad_Dem_X]

8. I think that's what it all comes down to

- for most of them, anyway. He's Black. That's the real reason they "don't trust him" or are afraid of him. They are afraid of Black people.

[stillcool]

9. Republicans hate Democrats..

they come up with a zillion excuses to hate, and pick some that they repeat over, and over, and over. Obama gives them more ammunition, but it doesn't matter what they feed the little zealots. Whatever is shoved down their throats is regurgitated whole.

[Overseas]

10. If our candidate was a woman the Republican hate machinery would be running sexist

dog whistle politics.

The kitchen sink strategy means TRUTH BE DAMNED. Whatever doubts and hate you can stir up against whatever opponent is just fine.

For modern Republicans-- THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS. That is why so many traditional Republicans are abandoning their party.

[Jamastiene]

11. Republicans think they are entitled...

There may be quite a bit of racism involved as well, but the Republicans have been in charge for so long now that just about any major loss like this is going to piss them off. They were awfully pissed off when Clinton won back in '92. I remember that. Like I said though, racism is definitely one of their main problems, but I'd say there is also that sense of entitlement that Republicans seem to have at play here too.

[Terran]

15. I agree, the sense of entitlement plays a big part.

I think Reagan started that. Or rather, the clay saint they've made him into, that is the foothold on which their sense of entitlement rests.

[RoadRage]

12. Yup... they were elated when he beat Hillary.. they thought he'd be

a piece of cake to beat. Then when he didn't pick Hillary to put on the ticket, they were elated.. they thought he'd be a really big piece of cake to beat.

Now it's suddenly dawning on them that they're getting beat just like Hillary did.. because they underestimated Obama, and voters ability to comprehend brilliance when they see it.. even if it comes wrapped in black skin.

They're mad at their own biggotry and lack of ability to see the frieght train coming down the track.

[Terran]

17. I feel differently about that.

I think they would have preferred to run against Hilary because:

1) She voted for the Iraq invasion, basically defusing that issue;

2) It's much easier to be openly sexist than openly racist;

3) There is a ready-made base of people who spent eight years referring to her as "Hitlery" that would have risen to every bait the repubs offered; and

4) She is very much a known quantity, politically.

Barack has none of the above liabilities. I think they've had a much harder time running against him because they can't pin him down easily.

[treestar]

13. Yes, for the base, it's why they are more hysterical than usual

They didn't like Bill Clinton winning, but they weren't nearly as vicious about it.

[Inspired]

14. I believe this is true, although there would still be some anger no matter who our nominee was.

[TheKentuckian]

16. I think its honest to say yes like you said within the poll

They would be less upset about losing to a white person and even less so to a white guy.

They would still be fit to be tied but not quite the foaming at the mouth that many are displaying.

I don't want to make a blanket statement about every Republican but let's not pretend that the Republicans don't attract the klan element and even more so the closed minded that range from at least Archie Bunkers to hesitant about equality and raise the bar for minorities.

[RagAss]

18. Yup !

[sandnsea]

19. Bill Maher had it, it's the "exceptionalism"

And their belief that they are better than everybody. Better than all minorities, better than women, just better. They're not only pissed that their being shown to be morally and economically and philosophically bankrupt, but they're being shown that by the son of an African Muslim goatherder.

[Terran]

20. I just have to correct

your "African Muslim goatherder" reference (though maybe that was Maher trying to be funny). According to the Wikipedia article about Barack Obama, Sr., he worked as an economist for the Kenyan government, and he became an atheist before he ever met Barack's mother. Just fyi! I do agree with Maher, though.

[sandnsea]

31. Obama says

his father grew up herding goats, and grew up Muslim. You just quoted the right wing smear that Obama lies about his father.

[vaberella]

23. I think it's a multitude of things.

I think the fact that even if he's biracial but "looks" Black is the main issue. This is undoubtably an issue. Racism is alive and well in this society. I live in NYC and regularly I brace myself for someone to say something stupid to me and no ever lets me down.

Bearing that in mind all the other factors of who he is plays a role. The fact that he's liberal/Dem is another issue. Republican v. Democrat is like an endless battle much like Shiite v. Sunni (that has been created). I actually that Republicans have far more resentment and hatred for Democrats than the other way round...maybe it's the pledge to be tolerant. Whatever it is...they have it.

Then comes the issue of his name and 9/11. This is directly intertwined with another racism but rather than Blacks but towards the Islam religion and Arab people. So these people are seen as the enemy and they have to keep them out because these old White Repubs are now Spartans fighting the coming Islam. It's nonsensical. Rev. Wright is a Christian and if he was black listed well then Obama was known to be a Christian but that means nothing because his name is Islamic. :eyes:

So it's more a marriage of old style racism and fear with just overal partisan resentment.

[DFLforever]

24. I think they'd be angry at any Dem winning this year

but Obama being part black gives it a special sting.

[northernlights]

25. they're just plain nasty thugs

They were piss-poor winners for the last 8 years. They will be even worse losers. The fact that they're beaten by a "black?" Worst yet.

This morning on Steph, one of the pundits said he's *very* worried about Nov. 5 and the potential level of violence after the election. These people are truly dangerous.

I know I'm afraid of my neighbors now. I'll be in hiding after the 4th.

[Bullet1987]

26. A large factor is definently xenophobia-related

Which is why they call him Muslim/Arab/Hussein. They've all but openly admitted to not liking him because he's not White.

I don't think it's all that, but certainly 70/30 why some don't like him.

[No Elephants]

27. Well, he's black and he's a Democrat and Palin has convinced them he is in sync with terrorists.

[baldguy]

28. They use racism as a excuse not to vote for him.

It's less embarrassing than admitting they're conservatives

[kenny blankenship]

29. He's black, AND they're losing SO badly

they just can't understand it. They feel the ground turning to sand and slipping away underneath their feet.

He's a Democrat=they're unhappy
He's black=they're bewildered
He's the son of an immigrant and probably a "muslin"=they're angry. His middle name is Hussein for chrissakes, we don't elect Husseins we put them in Gitmo, don't we?
He's beating their candidate into the ground= ok, NOW they're terrified. Disoriented. Enraged but helpless. It's one thing to lose but a wipeout? What does it mean? What's happening to America they wonder. It's not that Obama's beating McCain so much as the majority of America is siding with this black, immigrant, Muslin, Democrat! What's at the center of Red, White, and Blue? If white's not at the center anymore, what about the rest of it? They don't recognize this possibility as part of the America they thought they knew. He's not just winning he's on course to a total triumph-and in their minds his blackness is a repudiation of their whiteness. They assumed that the majority of white people were like them and the election would be decided by race. It doesn't occur in their minds that the election could be about ideas, not racial identity. Can this really be happening? That's what you hear them asking over and over. How can this be happening?

Put that together with the Reagan Revolution economy dragging the world into a grave of debt and you can see why these people are literally shaking with fear. They feel their own identity dissolving into air. It's not just that they don't have an explanation for what's happening, they can't even recognize the shape of what is happening. Like people struck with sudden blindness, they can't see and are terrified of what unimaginable things will come next.

They can be pitied, they can be ridiculed, and they can also be dangerous.

[chiefofclarinet]

30. If they were facing a white male, they would be less angry

But, after Edwards dropped out, they would be angry no matter what.

[TexasObserver]

32. about 35% of Americans are GOP, and about 2/3 of those are racists

Do 25% of American voters vote Republican because they are racist? YES.

[Quixote1818]

33. I think a lot of them are angry at themselves because their policies didn't work

and they are taking the anger out on Obama. The fact that he is Black and McCain has pushed the "Terrorism" thing have fanned the flames. Watching the country reject their message in such big numbers makes them feel rejected. So, just like a jealous boyfriend they take their insecurities and self hate out on someone who is beating them.

[Essene]

34. and so it begins... DU starts to get swept into the race bait

[asdjrocky]

35. Needs to be a both. They are upset because he's winning-

and he's black.

[Raschel]

36. They're skeered. I've seen them tell McCain this. Skeered of the Negro.