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

[AdLib]

I accept the view of PA residents here that there is a section of the electorate out there that are racists. I don't think Rendell wanted to broadcast this to the world to diss PA (though he has!), the only rational reason for speaking out like this is in coordination with the campaign he is a part of and to promote race as an issue. He and the Clintons are disgusting for doing this.

A reminder, word has it that there are racists in southern states too...and Obama won many of those states.

There are racists in every state, more concentrated in some states than others but they do not usually constitute a majority of Democratic voters. I think Obama can win PA, he just won't capture the Neanderthal vote.

[DrumMajorforJustice]

My opinion of the Clinton campaign was, sadly, formed in SC. They want this election to be about race, because they know that race baiting has always worked in the US. George Wallace (he won Wisconsin; later, his wife Lurlene(sp?)became governor of AL) won 10% of the national vote employing this technique. Nixon had a Southern stategy that used code words giving race baiting some accepiance in polite society. Reagan went to Philadelphia, MS where three civil rights volunteers were murdered to announce his campaign for the presidency and his support for "states rights". GHW Bush used the Willie Horton ad to make his race baiting point.

Clinton surrogates such as Gov. Rendell understand this racial dynamic in US politics. They will use race baiting to win. My hope is that at least this one time they are misreading the American people.

[guntotinganglion]

There's a name for people who won't vote for someone based on race. They're called racists...and the Republicans don't have a monopoly on racism.

[gtt]

A wise woman once told me, "Not all republicans are racists but all racists are republicans." Too bad that is not abolsutely true. There are plenty of racists that are not associated with the republican party. However, those are not voters that any democrat can expect to have as supporters. Unfortunately the DLC wing of the party is willing to scare the party with talk of racism.

Senator Obama is just the man to hold the mirror to the electorate and win the general election.

Go Senator Obama. Let's change the world!

[pollster08]

As an AA I love to keep hearing them make these types of comments. It's only hurting them and helping Barack!

Barack Obama IS getting the white vote. He can't win anything with the black vote alone. Also, how on earth do they explain the fact that Obama has won 10 primaries and 9 caucuses ALL over the country in all demographics and he SURELY DID NOT win all of those with the black vote alone! Also Obama has landslided her in nearly every race they've been in together where he has won.

Hillary has won 7 primaries and 2 caucuses....and 5 of those primaries were CLOSE... She has only won significantly in 2-3 states so far...one was Arkansas and the other Tennessee I believe.

Anyone with eyes can see that Obama is beating Hillary and beating her badly all over the place. Even in California..HILLARY only won 43% of the white vote! Obama wan 47% of the white vote there. She only had an edge because of the Latina vote.

Also, Obama is doing better and better with the Latina vote and white vote and the black vote too...each and every time there is a primary. When people get to know him...they vote for him.

Frankly, Obama is doing GREAT.......be realisti c here. He's running as a virtual unknown against the so called 'Clinton-Machine' and he's out doing her all over the place. This is a white woman and a former first lady. She REALLY is not doing that well at all in this race.

[pollster08]

Also, Hillary had an advantage in California because a lot of people had already voted PRIOR to the election.....absentee ballots...over 40% were already done 2 months before the election. If Obama had more time to campaign there..he would have blown her away there. There is no doubt that he will take that state completely in the general.

Barack is beating Hillary in places where no one ever thought a black man could ever win ---Iowa, Idaho, Utah, North Dakota, Maine, Nebraska,Kansas....he received a good bit of the white vote also in Georgia and South Carolina..two of the most backward states in the union??? Explain those please!!! It doesn't matter if it's a caucus or a primary. This man is appealing to everyone ALL over the country. A true president of the UNITED STATES. Not the president of "the few states that I win"---Like Hillary seems to be implying by discounting Obamas HUGE WINS against her. They can downplay it all they want but the facts are there. Hillary can't even really win the white vote in nearly 100% white states.

[lostonechampion]

Pay attention to my left hand while my right hand picks your pocket.

Cheap parlor trick. The American People are smarter than this.

This is non-news. News is the fact that Obama has led in earned/pledged delegates since Iowa. Clinton has never been in the lead. Obama has won 20 out of 31 races thus far. That's 2-to-1, people. Obama has wiped the floor with Clinton over the weekend by winning 5 straight races by overwhelming margins.

And I have one last comment. There are some that make a big deal about Obama winning 70+% of the "black vote" in LA. Ok. John Kerry won 80% of the black vote in LA back in 2004. Was it a bad thing that Kerry received such overwhelming black support? If not, then why is it a bad thing for Obama to win that support?

Again, pay attention to my left hand while my right hand is picking your pocket.

[lostonechampion]

Oh yeah. I forgot. I want to define the 2 types of delegates.

1. Pledged Delegates. These delegates are EARNED by the candidates and they represent the American people. In terms of a race, these delegates acurately depict who is winning.

2. Super-Delegates. This is a social club. There votes are not earned but rather bought by favors and/or schmoozed. It's more of a popularity contest. The super-delegate count does not provide an accurate depiction of who is winning the race for the support of the American People.

[leahlex]

PAT ATTENTION TO MY LEFT HAND WHILE MY RIGHT CHOPS OFF YOUR RIGHT HAND FOE PICKING MY POCKET.

[lostonechampion]

LOL. You might want to check your CAPS key and use a spell-checker.

[Bushgirlsgonewild]

.

Well, we don't need the republican vote anyway.

.

[joselopez]

THE CLINTONS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ARE GOING BACK TO THE RACE ISSUE. I HOPE THE PRESS DOES NOT FALL FOR IT AGAIN. THE WINS OBAMA HAS HAD IN MAINLY WHITE STATES SHOULD PUT THAT ISSUE TO REST ALREADY.

[Marrob]

These are white democrats in RED STATES that we will not win in the general election.

[Nommo]

Why, that would be 'purt near like living next to one...

[TheSchul]

Maybe we should make Dick Cheney the Democratic nominee for President. After all, there are people out there that won't vote for a Democrat. In fact, had Ed Rendell's opponent, Lynn Swan, been a Democrat, Rendell only would have won by 2%.

[ladygreenslippers]

It's nice to hear that the governor feels that he's the voice for the small number of overt racists - he just feels the need to speak up for that minority of folks, and that's his right.

I'm not sure that's why the majority of PA residents elected him though.

This kind of talk just makes me sick, and more than a little sad.

[msmaggie]

The majority of PA residents voted for Rendell because he's a good governor. Next.

[m4me08]

And an old racist fuck.

[kidtrio]

He is not a good. His is a Joke and a stupid racist. I would tell him that in his face.

[ladygreenslippers]

Obviously he was elected because they thought he would be a good governor. What i meant was: i don't think he was elected to make ridiculous statements like this that DO NOT represent the majority of PA residents who elected him.

[JUSTME]

What is fascinating is the undercurrent of overt racism that runs through the ranks of Hillary supporters. No wonder she and Bill use race-baiting anytime they need to make a point. They know who they're playing to.

That's right,Hillary. Just being black is the reason this 56 year-old female Georgia Democrat voted for Obama over you. NOT.

I've got news for you, Texas and Ohio are going to be your firewalls just like Florida was Rudy's firewall.

[bmora]

Obama is black? When did this happen?

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Only half. The other half is white. Just like I always tell my sons, when they brag about being Italian, (their Dad is) that they are only half Italian.

[ladygreenslippers]

like my poor husband who says he's italian - his father- never mentions his mother who carried him is hungarian!

[teahead]

Hmmm...Nebraska, Minnesota, Idaho, Maine, Kansas, South Dakota, Utah...

Think there are some whiteys in those states THAT OBAMA WON that won't vote for a black dude?

yes, but nonethless, he won them.

Again, another Clingon surrogate trying to make race an issue.

[msmaggie]

Well it's kinda moot because other than Minnesota, these are states that will likely swing Republican.

We have become such politically correct pussies. Brace yourself: there are people who won't vote for Obama because of his race, just as there are people, and not just blacks, who will vote for him because he's black.

This is news? Hell look at what happened to Romney because of his non mainstream faith. We will never make serious headway on the issue of race in this country is we are scared to death to look at it and see it for what it is.

[sandiegoconservative]

Hey now! Don't say something LOGICAL and CORRECT on here. You may confuse most of the dolts that will read it.

[detriangulation]

It's news when yet another Clinton surrogate brings up the issue once again to Obama's detriment. Of course there are racist Blue Collar Pennsylvanians; I know one in my own family. Most racists, even females ones, are also sexist. They may sit it out altogether rather than favor the woman over the African American. It's nice that Governor Rendall is so confident that Hillary has the advantage based on bigotry and racial polarization. That's a wonderful reason to vote for her.

[JUSTME]

You are correct, MSMAGGIE. There are people who will not vote for Obama because he is black. The problem is that these people are, ostensibly, Democrats and are voting in the Democratic primaries. Moreover, the problem is that the Clintons are exploiting the racism that exists within the Democratic Party and using it to achieve their own ends.

We're not naive. We are not pussies. What we are is absolutely disgusted.

[leahlex]

OH THIS IS A RACE ISSUE. OBOMINATION WILL NEVER GET MY VOTE

[DrumMajorforJustice]

I applaud you for acknowledging that you are a racist. At least you're not a hypocrit, that would be worse!

[Marrob]

He won't win those states in a general election.

[JimmyCrackcorn]

thanks gov rendell - I'm sure you have done more to help Obama in PA than hurt him.

I'm white and I'm in Philly and I'm voting for Obama.

http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=acqzl

[lovethesinner]

When Hillary's biggest supporter in Pennsylvania sounds EXACTLY like the former Republican speech writer for Richard Nixon (and resident xenophobe at MSNBC) Pat Buchanan, is it fair to wonder whether Hillary is a little LESS Democrat than Republican?

Think about it.

The only people who are exploiting this racial non-issue is Pat Buchanan (who is laughed at consistently now, by his peers on both McGlauglin and MSNBC) and Hillary, (both herself, and her surrogates.)

It's appears that Clinton must be more than desperate at this point, since to drag this out after the outrage of Bill's behavior in South Carolina is still the topic du jour of opinion columns, in most of the nation's leading editorial columns. (Frank Rich's latest follows)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/opinion/10rich.html

With a title like "Next Up for Democrats: Civil War", the meaning of the controversy is pretty clear. I just can't imagine that Rendell's or Hillary's comments can help her, or the Democratic party, even in the short term. But, the damage it could do long term is PROFOUND.

I don't know how the delagates feel, but I can't see this as a sign of sober leadership. It reminds me of a statement made by one of my heros:

"The maintenance of my self-esteem is a duty I cannot DELEGATE." -Nero Wolfe

Obama in '08

[msmaggie]

Jesus H Christ, talk about shooting the messenger. I live in Pennsylvania, and what Rendell is saying is the truth. Sorry, it's ugly, it's demoralizing, yada yada yads. But it's true.

That's not to say Obama can't win. But this tiptoeing around any mention of race only serves to validate the right wing view that our side is comically politically correct. And oh yeah, there are lots of people who won't vote for a woman either.

[Bagger]

Some of the most racist people come out of Pennsylvania. In particular, Pittsburgh. I live in the south and the racial tension isn't near as bad as it is in Pittsburgh. I've been there and people really hate each other based on race. Sad but true. Either way each candidate will have sides that hate them no matter what. We have to continue fighting it.

[teahead]

NO S**T Sherlock that it's true; but as a representative of the whole state, do you have to say it and spread it?

You can say that there are people who won't vote a woman.

You can say that there are people who won't vote for a bald guy.

You can say that there are people who won't vote for a Baptist Minister who do not believe in Evolution.

yadda yadda ya.

Get my point?

[jaywh1]

I have a hard time believing that a voter that is unready to vote for an African American is ready to vote for Hillary.

But if such voters exist, is Hillary courting that microtrend? Perhaps that explains some of her campaign.

[123xyz]

White racists don't like blacks? Hillary sure has some sharp supporters.