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

[UppityNegress]

Well-spoken?????

That alone tells me who Hillary is by association.

[SeekerOne]

Yes, racism is alive and well. So is sexism. Very well.

People like the good Governor are using race as a political tool. People like he, and Bob Novak in his recent column, want to ignite smoldering fires that most Americans would prefer to put out. Obama has widespread support across all demographics. If Clinton and Co. are not careful, they will permanently alienate those they will need to win, if she's the nominee. More than African-Americans were offended by the Clintons behavior in South Carolina.

You're in good company, Governor. You and Bob Novak.

[SkyPilot126]

Then these people are NOT true Americans. Maybe they should go to Europe, Nope, they have had females lead countries, OK then to Asia, nope Females have been leaders there too, well it must be that backward Mid East area -- oh oh they've had females PM's and such, heck even in those anti-female Muslim countries. Maybe Africa, I' m not sure about there, but they will probably before this great? country does. Sometimes ya gotta ask: Why are we so great? Statements like his, true or not, only cheapen our country.
It is time for the USA to wake up and Fix its problems.
Be Right Vote Left

[karmafriend]

sure, ed, they're called republicans.

[ICUP]

This from a man who was caught throwing snowballs at an Eagles game. Rendell, a former DA, broke the law and shrugged it off with a smile.

[msmaggie]

Hey if I were an Eagles fan I'd be throwing more than snowballs.....food products, stadium seats, small children. I mean enough is enough.

[Phaedrusnyc]

And, as usual, acknowledging racism is the same as being a racist on the Huffington Post. I give up. I suppose if we just close our eyes real hard and pretend it isn't out there, racism is going to magically disappear? You know, by NOT talking about it?

By the way, Ed Rendell is HARDLY a racist- he was one of the first white mayoral candidates in years that black people in Philadelphia were comfortable voting for, and he has been a strong governor. Plus, when I was a kid, he sold me hot dogs. Really. It's a long story.

[Independent007]

I probably agree with the fact that Rendell is not a racist.
He states a fact that is true.
No disagreement here.
However, on election day he decides to paint Obama into a corner by that statement.
The Clinton whisper campaign has begun and unfortunately for them, it will alienate more and more Americans from them, and those who support them.
Why didn't he talk about all of the white Americans that DID vote for Obama.
Why did Bill try to pigeon hole Obama into the Jesse Jackson camp?
These people have no ethics. Thank god for Obama.

[joiedavivre1969]

well stated.

[msmaggie]

Hey, Rendell is a Clinton supporter. He doesn't want Obama to win.

Is this thing on?

Good grief, politics is dirty. Alert the media.

[ClaudiaJean]

Today is not Election Day; buy yourself a calendar. He painted no one into any corner. You didn't believe this story on another thread until a rabid ObamaLoony (YESWECAN) directed you to this link, and now you're running off half-cocked calling the DNC to demand action be taken and insist that you are disturbed by this type of comment.

So stop pretending for a second that you bring an rational logic and point of view to this discussion. You know nothing of ethics. Obama is not your savior.

[sarainitaly]

he made this statement a week ago. huff po reported it today.

[riverhouse]

Well, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck ...

[union79]

Not much news here despite the big. bold headlines!

"Some" is the operative word here ..... nothing very startling about that ..... it's a fact of life and politics. Everyone, even the most unbiased are predisposed to vote in certain ways ......

I'll take a candidate who supports the environment anytime unless she is also pro-life and pro-Scalia ~ then I have to balance my pre-dispositions!

As to Rendell's win over the Afro-American, could there be other factors at work ..... that was the year the incumbent Senator Santorum lost his re-election bid.

Finally, there must be a few white people who voted for Obama in Idaho!

[msmaggie]

Rendell beat Swann because Swann had no relevant experience. He is a fairly successfuly businessman but the fact is he had name recognition based on being a former football star. He never a chance.

[Micaanab]

Can we not see what's going on here. Clinton, once again is trying to bring race into the issue. She feels if we look at Obama as if he were another Jessie Jackson the white vote might vote for her. She is also trying to guilt the black vote to vote for her. She uses all these little tactics. Like her problems with MSNBC. They called her daughter a name. Playing that one to the front page. If she can't handle that, then what are we to expect of her as president?

[msmaggie]

Oh please. I will likely vote for Obama, but there is no way in hell you can watch MSNBC and not be startled at how incredibly biased against Hillary they are. With the exception of Dan Abrams.

Let me see how this goes, Clinton or anyone remotely associated with her points out how race will and is playing into the primaries. Racist scum-suckers!!

That goofball on MSNBC calls Hillary a pimp, and it's hey, that's just good old fashioned politics.

Please.

[goodsnservices]

SOME people won't vote for him because he's black, that's a fact. So maybe he'll win by 17% in PA instead of 22%...

;)

[AnninCA]

Clinton? Good god, if she has the power to make everyone say this or that, why the heck aren't you voting for her?

She could bring about world peace with that power! :)

[sarainitaly]

hahaha no kidding!

[moodyring]

Wow. In one statement, he managed to fit Bill Clinton/MSM "black people/white people" hype, arrogance (really, Ed - 17%?), and attempts at influencing white voters. That's efficient classlessness. I wonder if he was so charming during his own campaign.

[iPolitics]

"Former GOP congressman Joe Scarborough, who anchors MSNBC's "Morning Joe," says many conservative friends—including Bush officials and evangelical Christians—sent him enthusiastic e-mails after seeing Obama's post-election speeches in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. "He doesn't attack Republicans, he doesn't attack whites and he never seems to draw these dividing lines that Bill Clinton [does]," Scarborough told NEWSWEEK."

[Marrob]

And since when should a democrat listen to Joe Scarborough? Don't be a sucker!!!

[iPolitics]

It supports what I believe. It also supports the results from the election. Obama has won a lot of states with white, conservative voters. In fact, it hasn't even been close in places like Kansas, Nebraska, and Utah

[Irizzee]

He may be a Republican, but he is also quite honest.

[NABNYC]

Republicans keep saying that only black people vote for Obama, because he's black.

But how come Obama is black? How come he isn't white? If he's 50% white, and 50% black, then maybe he should be called blite. Maybe we need some new name. Or whack. That would work too.

But when people say he's black, I think "Well, only kind of."

It's like some kind of critical issue that must be resolved about a person before we can go on and evaluate them, associate with them, decide if we like them or if they are smart. Everything follows the determination of whether they are white or black.

With white being better, of course.

But just think of the people who are white: George W. Bush, Dick Cheney. Wolfowitz. Don Rumsfeld. John Ashcroft. All just as white as white can be. Like white on rice. Ted Bundy. Adolph Hitler. Charlie Manson, a white man. Barbara Bush is white.

So the question is this: if someone is half white, and half black, why would people say "he's black?"

And the second question is: if there are so many psychotics among the white folks, why do people have to prove they are white in order to be accepted?

Maybe if we reversed things, if we said "Look, white man coming, cross the street to avoid him," or if we said "I'm not going to send my kids to bible studies run by some white man -- he's probably a pedophile" -- or maybe if we had laws that said no white man can own a gun, for example, things would be a lot better off.

Then when someone like John McCain ran for office, the TV people would be saying "Well, yeah, but who's going to vote for the guy except other white men? He doesn't really have a national fan base, other than white men."

That would be good.

[msmaggie]

People say someone who is half white and half black (in this country anyway) is black because at one time this was the definition--the one drop of blood idea. Old ideas die slowly. Old bad ideas especially so.

A less depressing view is that when you are in a society that is dominantly X and you are half X and half Y, the Y part is the more distinguishing characteristic as it distinguishes you from the majority. I don't knoww.

[WESLEYA17]

WELL,HERE WE GO AGAIN THINKING ABOUT THE WRONG THINGS. FIRST OF ALL WE ALL MUST WORK TOGETHER FOR THIS COUNTRY TO GO FORWARD FOR THE FUTURE IS NOW. IF SENATOR CLINTON GETS WIN AND IS PRESIDENT HAS ANYONE THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE HATE THE REPUBLICANS WILL FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO BLOCK ALL THE PROGRAMS SHE SENDS TO CONGRESS? NEXT WITH THE FEAR OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW DON'T WE WANT TO TRY AND GET SOMEONE WHO WILL LOOK FOR SOME HELP ON BOTH SIDES OF CONGRESS TO MOVE THIS COUNTRY AHEAD? IF THE PERSON WAS GREEN AND COULD LEAD US OUT OF THE MESS WE AS AMERICANS ARE IN WE NEED A COMPLETE CHANGE BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE NOW HAS NOT WORKED OUT CAN'T YOU SEE. AND FOR THAT MATTER OBAMA WILL BE JUST ONE MAN TRYING TO GET THIS COUNTRY THROUGH THE STORM OF OUR PRESENT HISTORY, AND THE OTHER FACT IS THERE WILL NOT BE A ALL BLACK CONGRESS THAT PASSES THE BILLS SO GOV.RENDELL GET YOUR OUT OF THE SAND AND LOOK PAST THE NOSE ON YOUR FACE AND SEE A BETTER FUTURE FOR AMERICA.

[Tankan]

Racism is alive and well in the USA!

Some display it openly, others don't let it show thru!

America is being measured and tested whilst the world watches!
Will the reputation of the USA be further tarnished and sullied, or, be changed for the better?

[AnninCA]

Sexism is worse. It's so bad, it's applauded and defended by people.

[Sumocat]

There are also black people who won't vote for Obama because he's black. No surprise there are white people who won't vote for a black man. I'm sure there are men who won't vote for a woman too. Our solid history of white male Presidents is a pretty good indicator that a slight bias exists.

[jason10006]

Let's see, Obama HIMSELF has said numerous times that SOME people won't vote for him because he is black. Michelle has said the same. Many news stories have been written on polls showing the same. Many Barack supporters openly accuse non-BO supporters of being racists - and this includes Hilary-voting Asians and Latinos.

So why is this man pointing out the obvious any diferent? You cannot even say its because its "race baiting", because MANY news pundits and politicos have ALSO said that many voters, male and female, won't vote for a woman.

So since Obama supporters, and indeed the Obama's themselves agree with what this man said, why is this an issue?

[Independent007]

You make a great point Jason.
And it is true.
In an ideal world without any of our built in prejudices I would agree with that.
Unfortunately I find that his comment on election day is suspicious. Why didn't he say this earlier? And if he said it earlier, why is he repeating this? Why did Bill talk about Jesse Jackson winning SC when he could have mentioned Edwards winning SC, Gore winning SC and himself winning SC?
Why didn't Rendell mention that predominately white states like Utah, Washington, Nebraska, and Idaho all voted for Obama?
And, does it surprise you that a few days after Maggie Williams(who is black) is now the chair of Clinton's campaign that we see such comments appearing? (To give the Clintons cover perhaps)?

Even if I were to take Rendells comments at face value(he asserted a true fact), I find the timing of these statements intriguing. Don't you?

[ClaudiaJean]

Because it's convenient for the knee-jerk, hot-button, trigger-happy zeal some people are prone to...

The "gotcha!" vein of "news" these days...

The viciousness with which some people choose to spew their hatred of all things Clinton...

The myopic cult of personality worship felt by some towards their Lord and personal savoir, Mr. Obama...

The tendency for the media to make a story out of nothing by intentionally baiting people by claiming it might mean something else...

The choice of people to manufacture mock outrage over bullshit...

Take your pick. Really what is coming to the surface is the nasty underbelly of the Obama campaign and supporters. While it isn't all of them by any stretch of the imagination, all to many of those squatting on this site are detrimental to the campaign and an embarassment to their candidate. They will bring about a backlash.