I want you to consider something. Who wins if race is an issue? Hillary

[wndycty]

THE CLINTON AND OBAMA CAMPS ARE BOTH AWARE OF THAT AND THAT IS WHY THE CLINTON CAMP IS PUSHING THIS ISSUE.

And, as is evidenced by many of DUers posters, if Obama's supporters or campaign responds, Clinton supporters turn around and accused Obama of race baiting. Hillary accuses him of distorting the facts.

The Clintons are now using the George W. Bush tactics of propping up Black folks (Bob Johnson being the latest) to attack Obama.

I don't expect one Clinton supporter to believe me but I'm appealing to folks who are undecided in this race.

Again, who wins if race is an issue? Hillary and remember that when you evaluate what is going on.

[MADem]

1. Who wins if gender is an issue? Who wins if religion is an issue?

Who wins if 'experience in the Vietnam theater of war' is an issue?

Vote for your candidate, work for your candidate, and don't stir up racial or gender or religious hatred with "some people say" type assertions. This sort of speculative post is 'baiting' at best.

That is probably the best tack to take--don't fan the flames that a few arsonists have lit off up in here.

[wndycty]

6. Well actually Hillary has used gender a lot. Hillary has talked about how. . .

. . .its time for a woman, how she is "your girl" etc. Obama has never EVER said its time for a Black man. He avoids race, Hillary embraces gender. I don't criticize her for it, I think its a great thing. But I think its messed up that Hillary can celebrate being the first woman, yet Barack has to avoid acknowledging the racial significance of his candidacy.

[MADem]

18. You're being idiotic. If you want Clinton to pretend she's a man, that isn't going to happen.

If you want Obama to pretend he's Chinese, that isn't going to happen either.

News Flash: Clinton is female, Obama has African ancestry. This isn't a secret, and the only one who seems to be running away from it is .... you. And I missed the memoe that said "Barack has to avoid acknowledging the racial significance of his candidacy." So did ALL of the media, as well.

There's nothing "wrong" with these conditions, you know--they are common, celebrated, and occur throughout society. In fact, there are WOMEN in America who have African ancestry--they're veritable two-fers!

Maya Anjelou for President!!!

Perhaps you might want to focus on the candidates' platforms, and stop "fretting" about "what IF" someone tosses an insult or says something untoward. That's on the insult tossers, not the candidates.

[Uben]

2. Most of your posts are about race issues

Lets listen to what the candidates have to say, and not to people trying to divide us by using it as an issue.

[wndycty]

5. As a Black man race if very important to me. I always try to make comments that further . . .

. . .the discussion. I'm not sure why you think we need to avoid talking about race. Its a real issue. Have you ever wondered way Barack Obama has a Secret Service detail larger than Clintons and almost as large as Bush's? When traditionally candidates don't get Secret Service protection until they are the nominee?

Discussions of race do not need to divide, BUT there are used to divide us.

[Uben]

16. Do you really think race is an issue

between Barack and Hillary? I would say these are the least two candidates to be concerned about. I really do like Obama, and I would be proud to vote for him if he gets the nomination. I also respect your position and understand your plight. I just want to give us the best chance to enact change in America and I personally think Clinton has the best chance of doing that. Obama getting elected would do more cosmetically for us worldwide, but I am not convinced he can put together the support we need to pass legislation to pull us out of this mess we're in. I'm not always right, but that is where my heart and mind are.

[wndycty]

19. Hillary needs and wants it to be an issue. . .she wins

It is her campaign who has consistently touched on things that are racial. The Obama camp has never introduced race, yet the Clinton camp is the one using code words, the Clinton camp is the one putting Black folks out there to attack Obama, etc.

[goldcanyonaz]

3. Neither win, they both cancel each other out.

Neither can win without the others support.

[rodeodance]

4. Silly explosive spectulation on your part.

[wndycty]

9. You can make a a drive by comment like that but I'm willing to defend my position

The racial issue is being stoked and stoked hard. There are WAY more white folks in this country than there are Black folks, Obama does not win if race is an issue. We (Black folks and some white folks) will rally behind him when we see him being attacked, however when race becomes an issue the overwhelming majority of whites will be turned off and turned off of him.

[Bullet1987]

11. I don't think Hillary wins either...I DO believe though that

all she's doing is bringing down the Party and making it more divisive than it ever has been. She's going to turn off so many voters to the point that they won't come out and vote for her IF she even makes it to the GE. I believe the Clinton's feel they can get away with this because of their standing in the Black community. Hillary probably already has Black politicians and celebrities in her pocket to use during the General Election to "make up" with the Black community. I'm hoping people aren't that dumb though...I've already concluded that if she gets the nomination...I'm not voting for her. She's already lost my vote and won't be getting it back.

[wndycty]

She has not lost my vote, however Edwards is now my number 2 and if she gets the nomination. . .

. . .I will be voting against the Republicans but not for her. I wanted to vote for her, but I will be voting against the GOP and while she gets my vote either way, she won't have my passion which in a close election is very important.

[vi5]

15. Ditto

On all counts.

[Adelante]

7. I agree

And it's time for us to ratchet down on this, too, and present a policy debate for undecideds on DU, wndy :hi:

[wndycty]

12. I agree to a point but this is what happens and I think it now needs to be discussed

Old wounds get opened whenever we talk about race in such a volatile manner, we get uncomfortable, change the discussion and even though we "move on" the wounds go untreated and get worse.

I want to talk policy, but the wounds have now been opened and need treating. . .

[Adelante]

17. It's a trap

It's certainly been discussed here and discussed and discussed. Most of those keeping it alive now are some Clinton supporters and a handful of Edwards supporters. This is because it works for them and not for us. Alcibiades_mystery is right, in my opinion, it's about turning the primaries ugly. Who does that work for? You and I agree on the smart answer.

[Vinca]

8. Actually, the winner is the Republicans. They can't wait to run against Hillary. nt

[goldcanyonaz]

10. Same is said in regards to Obama, nt.

[alcibiades_mystery]

13. It's not even about race

The Clinton campaign is pushing the issue in order to make the campaign ugly, thereby depressing turnout among young voters, new voters, and independents. The race issue is just particularly effective at making it really ugly.

The Obama campaign is stuck in a Catch 22. If they respond, they're charged with political correctness and "race-carding," a charge that still holds water for some reason among even liberal constituencies. If they don't respond, they look weak for the general. It's brilliant Clintonism. The main purpose is to sap any positivity in the process, since that positivity and optimism fuels Obama's strength among young voters, new voters, and independents.

[vi5]

14. You don't have to convince me...

I don't even particularly like Obama, and I dont plan on voting in the primary because I'm honestly not that enthusiastic about any of the candidates. So I guess I'm not technically undecided since I already know what I'm doing.

But the way Clinton's surrogates and her have run this campaign against Obama and used race has completely soured me, and I know my wife feels the same way. So I hope she enjoys her short term gain because it's really all she's going to get out of this deal she seems to have made.

[ellacott]

20. Hillary wins

I've read it on this board many times and heard commentators say that this race discussion could make white people mad and turn away from Obama.

Discussions of race usually devolve into a very controversial subject. Some don't want to talk about it or even consider things from another perspective. People are saying that the Obama campaign is calling the Clintons racists when this is not the case. The Clintons say the Obama camp is purposely distorting this and making an issue about this. Most of the reactions that I've seen have been comining from people independant of any prompting for the Obama campaign.

Many people don't like to talk about this issue, it's a very uncomfortable subject for many.

As a result I think this will benefit Hillary but will do damage for the Party.

[wndycty]

21. Yes, actually Hillary's camp wants to be able to accuse Obama of race baiting. . .

. . .to his credit he has not really taken the bait but they want to accuse him of having injected race and he hasn't.

[ellacott]

22. No he hasn't

I'm pretty disappointed in the way this has been handled by the Clintons. They are trying to play the victims by claiming that people are calling them racists. People are not saying they are racists but the things they've said are insensitive. Bill Clinton had his chance to explain his comments and I take him at his word. Hillary has explained her comments and they don't make sense. It was an awkward statement abd she should just admit that.

This is being played out the way they want it.

[wndycty]

23. Yes, I have seen DUers warn that Obama had better not bring up race. . .

. . .and this was not advice it was an out right threat. I'm sure the folks in the Clinton camp share this view.

[ellacott]

25. Yes

Of all people that should know better are Clintons. The fact that they've chosen this path is very revealing.

[wndycty]

26. And disappointing, I don't hate them am I still fond of them and majorly disappointed

:kick:

[Inuca]

24. I think you are right n/t

[robbedvoter]

27. We all lose. Neither gender, nor race should be issues. It'll come back in GE to bite us

in the ass, no matter who the candidate is. It demeans us all.
I wish they all stop and get back to attacking Bush&comp.

[Maribelle]

28. If race is an issue we all lose.

It would be beyond misfortunate. Obama supporters should stop this nonsense.

[Evergreen Emerald]

29. It makes no sense for Clinton to be using race when she wants to

gain support from black voters. That is nonsensical. The only way it makes sense is that Obama wants to gain the support of black voters so he and his crew are shouting "racism!" from the rootops in an attempt to cast Clinton in negative light going into SC.

It makes no sense for Clinton to be doing that. And, having seen the way the statments are distorted and twisted and then called racist, I see that it is indeed Obama pushing that wagon.

[wndycty]

30. She is appealing to the Reagan Democrats because she knows Obama is making. . .

. . .traction with African Americans.