Rendell: Some Whites Won't Support Obama Because Of Race

The racial components of the 2008 Democratic Primary refuse to go away. On Tuesday, Gov. Ed Rendell, a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter, told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette that he believed some Pennsylvania voters would not support Barack Obama simply because of his race.

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," the Governor said, ironically, to a black reporter. "I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann [2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate] been the identical candidate that he was -- well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking -- but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so."

This is the second time in as many days that the topic of Obama's racial appeal (or, in Rendell's case, lack of biracial appeal) has been brought up by the Clinton campaign. Yesterday, the Senator herself suggested that Obama's weekend win in the Louisiana primary was the product of, primarily, the black vote.

"In the case of Louisiana," she said, "you know, a very strong and very proud African-American electorate, which I totally respect and understand."

Obama has, in his primary victories, picked up a vast majority of the black vote. But his margins among the white electorate have increased as well. In California, according to exit polls, he and Clinton were virtually tied among the later.

Comments

[CalculatedRiskTaker]

Democrats are a little slow on the up take. It will be to late before they figue out what a mistake they made. Rove must be peeing his pants by now.

[jcwtts1]

uh, yeah, is that because he thinks he can beat obama because he's black or because a high schooler at choate whipped his ass?

J

[GJP2006]

This is the coordinated racial profiling campaign by the Clinton forces rearing its head once again and being aided by MSNBC, even bloggers on HuffPost and other members of the MSM. We have seen it before and I imagine more of the same will appear as Clinton loses her grasp on the nomination.

[Plowboy]

Yes, Virginia, there is a Racist Bastard around. He is not in Obama's camp, however. So I feel more comfortable there. I donn't like racist bastards -- or those who feel like using them. Good bye, the camp that keeps stirring the stench.

[drblack]

They are called Republicans. Why mention it Rendell? Some may not want to vote for a woman, some may not vote at all.
This should not keep any sane and decent person from supporting Obama.
It is all about the actions.

[antaeus]

"Any sane and decent person." Do you see where you're getting tripped up? A bigot is neither sane nor decent, or is that too logical?

Who was the last pro-slave Democratic president? Buchanan of Pennsylvania (the state's only president). Even today many Pennsylvania Dems retain party affiliation out of ancient loyalty, when they are, in reality, Repubs. It's swell to be enthusiastic about your candidate, but this cognitive dissonance is what gives rise to charges of cultism.

[Hopalongpoppyseed]

I think most people belong to the party that mommy and daddy belonged to, until there is something like a great depression. They don't think it through until they get kicked in the head by history.

[VOTER]

The Dem Party Leadership should demand this Ass

apologize immediately and then put tape over

his vile mouth.

THIS CREEP IS A SUPER DELEGATE?

IS HE GOING TO WEAR HIS WHITE HOODED ROBE TO

THE CONVENTION?

[Wanod]

The Govenor is right, in those open states where you can vote both way's, that's what the Republican's do. They will vote for a Democrat they want to win, and then in the General election vote for the Republican. And they will do it again in Nov. MCCain will be the next President.

[frosty6731]

That is absolutely asinine

[dfwchaz]

http://thelasttaboo.blogspot.com/

[l0gansprings]

So, anyone who dares speak against B. Hussein Obama is a pathetic racist or a bigot according to some of the more thoughtful posts. How comforting to see that free speech is still appreciated here in the states...

So, what about the pathetic racists who came out in droves to vote for the black candidate simply because he was the black candidate?

And, what about the pathetic hypocrites who fail to address the indiscretions of Hussein Obama while they blast similar behavior in other candidates?

If Hussein Obama does manage to wiggle his way into the Democratic nomination, he will need a lot more than black caucus votes to get into the White House.

The silent majority is content at this point to sit back and watch the circus unfold to see just how far 14% of the population will go to attempt to install a black candidate.

Imagine the whining and crying that will take place when registered Democrats join Republicans, not to vote for John McCain, but to vote against B. Hussein Obama.

The storm is coming, and it doesn't "have a dream."

[dfwchaz]

Well said. I won't vote for him for at least 8 more years, and won't ever if he is largely elected by people specifically because of his race. If he wins the nomination, I'll either stay home or vote for McCain, and THAT is shocking considering I am a gay, white, man in Texas.

[VOTER]

Another new Troll has arrived and like all of the

others this one has nothing worthwhile to post.

Please don't stay home on Election Day. Vote for

John McWar. You have a great deal in common.

[brooklyncitizen]

LISTEN UP: NO ONE CARES WHO YOU VOTE FOR.

[shamanbart]

True twisted Texas logic if I've ever seen it. Are you Bush's gay brother?

It never fails to amaze me how people will vote against their own interests due to bigotry.

The Obama campaign isn't asking this to be about race -- they want improved conditions for everyone. If you think it's about race, it's your racism talking.

[combatveteran]

there is only one thing thats worse than a gay white man from texas, a negro.

[combatveteran]

there is no one that ever lost money underestimating the intelligence of white men from texas

[VOTER]

Still laughing after reading your comments.

Like you, your words have taken up a great deal

of space for NOTHING.

[brooklyncitizen]

LOL

This is why AMerica is in deep doo doo...you didn't get an education did you?

"pathetic hypocrites " that's all you got?

[buddhistMonkey]

Obama has been winning in states all over the country, from the northeast, to the south, to the midwest, to the northwest. Is Pennsylvania so different from the rest of the country? Is there a particularly high percentage of racist Pennsylvanians? Their governor sure thinks so. I don't. I think the people of Pennsylvania are fine; it's Governor Rendell who seems to have a problem with race.

[dfwchaz]

Horseshit. If you think for one second, that Obama hasn't happily accepted votes merely because he is black, admittedly by black voters interviewed on CNN, then you are crazy. It's easy to point a racist finger at anyone white when you are pushing a minority, but you are perpetuating the stereotype that only white discriminate, when in fact, the bigot door swings both ways.

[brooklyncitizen]

how does one get to be so ignorant?
let me guess...white supremacist?

[CalculatedRiskTaker]

dfwchaz,

The problem the Democrats are going to have with the race issue in the fall is going to be huge. Only the democrats could turn a win into a loss. A lot like how a salesman talks himself out of a sale. I respect you for just trying to be honest. I know of a lot of democrats who will just not vote for Obama.

[M3Man]

Let me get this straight. Blacks, for the 1st time ever, offered a chance to vote for a black, are bigots because they do? By that logic, what were they every other time they voted for president and chose a white? And what are whites who only vote for whites?

Get a dictionary, Chaz.
big·ot
–noun a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion

racist - noun
1. a person with a prejudiced belief that one race is superior to others

These words do not apply to a person who positivly chooses to support a person of their own race, only to those who choose to demean people of another race, by, say, implying they are not smart enough to intellegently choose who to vote for. Didn't white people elect Bush because he'd be more fun to have a beer with?

Now if I was really racist, I'd assume you are the product of an almost all white suburban DFW "good" school district that your parents fled to to escape people of color. But if that is true... looks like it wasn't a very good school after all.

[sarainitaly]

dfwchaz - you might like to read this article.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23122137/

"Aides to Mr. Obama, who asked not to be identified because the campaign would not authorize them to speak to the press, said he stayed away from a civil rights demonstration and did not publicize visits to black churches when he was struggling to win over white voters in Iowa. Then, a month after Representative John Lewis of Georgia endorsed Mrs. Clinton, setting off concerns about black voters’ ambivalence toward Mr. Obama, the campaign deployed his wife, Michelle, whose upbringing on the South Side of Chicago was more familiar to many blacks than Mr. Obama’s biracial background."

[SeekerOne]

I believe the state of Virginia has proven the Governor to be FOS.

We'd better do whatever we can to make sure that voters aren't disenfranchised in TX, OH and PA.

[antaeus]

If you think the only difference between VA and PA is a consonant, then you're FOS (not actually, I'm just picking up on your phrase). Seriously, have you ever been there? Look, if Obama carries on like tonight , then he'll do it without all of our prognostications. But if he wins PA, then, as I wrote below, I'm moving back there, cause it will have become a better state than the one I left.

[antaeus]

"Is Pennsylvania so different from the rest of the country? Is there a particularly high percentage of racist Pennsylvanians?" Dude, they don't joke that between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh lies Alabama for nothing! Have you ever been to rural central PA? Hell, have you ever been to suburban Pittsburgh? (Ground zero, by the way, of the Whitewater Investigation, funded by local billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife, as well as home to the anti-gay wing of the Episcopal Church). Yeah, Pennsylvania is a little wacky.

[combatveteran]

i lived there,they are conservative, overall not particularly overeducated, and i would expect them to vote for clinton or mccain. i said it i hope i am wrong, but i will bet anyone out there i am not.
this is a gambling site no?
or are you just a bunch of pussy mooslum progressives.

[mommadona]

WELL, TAKE THAT AMPLE HOOF

OUT OF YOUR MOUTH THERE,

GOVERNOR

AND TELL US WHAT

YOU REALLY THINK!

A truly DLC "SHRUMMY" MOMENT.......

(Anyone truly embarrassed that they've donated to this shill's candidate of choice...anyone?)

[antaeus]

And because Rendell rolled out of bed, put his glasses on, and looked out the window and said, "Wow, there are a lot of bigots in my state!" you want to shoot him for telling the truth? I fled that state because of those bigots, and if Obama carries PA, then I'm moving back there, cause it's damn expensive here in Henry Waxman's district.

[Airborne2]

Late breaking news for this shit head, go stright to your bunker and set the Fxxx down, don't leave til; the election is over. Fucking idiot, couple of baselines for you to look at......................

[HGalal]

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate,"

Spoken like a true Clinton surrogate. Here comes the sleaze, just in time for Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.

[antaeus]

So what exactly is your complaint? You imagine there are all these white, redneck Obama voters in those states who will hear Rendell's comments and suddenly think, "Wait! I'm a conservative white . . . maybe I should be against Obama, too." In other words, what is the actual concrete fallout from these remarks? Some of you are reacting like narcissists who just got told the tag was sticking up on the back of your shirt. So what? It was.

[combatveteran]

just makes it easier. hey i'm not so bad this governor even said there are alot of people out there that are not going to vote for him because he is black. no of course it doesn't change the conservative white guy who ain't gonna vote for a nigger, it affects the white moderate who may or may not vote for a black man. A good man.

[BigLib]

Translation: White Democrats are bigots.

[riverhouse]

Yeah, well, decent people marginalize racists, not pander to them. The racist worms need to slink back into the dark corners of America and let the rest of us move forward. The idea that we would pander to the lowest common denominator is disgusting to decent people.

[antaeus]

Whoa . . . you're saying racism is a "lowest common denominator"? Better think that metaphor through again.

[dfwchaz]

I quite frankly resent him being elected even just partly because he is black, and resent voters who vote for him for that reason. Him being black will not stop the way, turn around our economy, provide healthcare for ALL of us and restore our position in the world.

[dfwchaz]

and black people aren't bigots? Almost every black voter interviewed on CNN after voting says that one specific reason why they voted for him is because he is black. That is NO reason to make someone president and is just as racist as a any whitey you point a finger at for all of the misfortunes of black American of which we have never owned, nor discriminated against.

How many white, teen americans try and emulate black rap, ganster thugs, and identify with black males merely because of race and fashion. Unfortunately, until Obama has more experience, he is a trend and simply hype.

[brooklyncitizen]

post is comical and pathetic really.

thanks for the entertainment.

[frosty6731]

Mabye those kids will finally think they can grow up to be president.

[NicoleAnonymous]

Why is everyone shocked at this? Of course some people won't vote for him because of his race.

Did you really think there aren't racist people left in the country? So he really didn't say something that wasn't accurate.

I'm concerned that if Obama were President then everyone would have to be worried about people getting upset about every little thing someone says and being told "you have to be very, very, very, very, very careful how you talk about that era and don't ever suggest LBJ was responsible for passing legislation" and then the media would have to spend lots of time talking about it and it would be a distraction from important issues.

But that's not Obama's fault. It's other people who are hypersensitive about race.