Obama Fails To Assuage White Indiana Voters With Speech On Race

Bloomberg:

Andrea Helmer was interested in Barack Obama until she heard sound bites of his fiery pastor's sermons. Last week, she volunteered for Hillary Clinton's campaign in Indiana.

"As things came out regarding some of the things his pastor has said, I got concerned," said Helmer, a 36-year-old respiratory therapist and mother of two in Evansville, Indiana.

Interviews with dozens of Democrats in this overwhelmingly white region -- where voters will go to the polls in the May 20 primary -- suggest residual concerns over the controversy involving Obama's former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Read the whole story: Bloomberg

Comments

[AnninCA]

Wright was/is Obama's mentor. That is why he can't disavow him. Michelle expressed the real deal. It was so explicable once we heard Wright.

Can't wash this away. No wonder he threw his grandmother under the bus.

And Ferarro.

And he will throw a lot of other really good folks under the bus in the future. The best predictor of future behavior is......past behavior.

[GoLeftGoDeep]

-- The best predictor of future behavior is......past behavior. --

where does "we came in under fire, landed and had to run to our cars under sniper fire" fit in with that convenient scenario?

but you may be right, which is why I'm voting for Obama ... he's amazing and just what this country needs after 8 years of conservative Repubican rule and 20 some years of Bush/Clinton/Bush and now Clinton? rule ... sorry but that dynasty ends now!

[northeast73]

But wait, Obamanation, didnt all the media elites say his speech was magical and transcendant???

What happened! :O

[research]

a whole "dozen" white conservative dems weren't convinced.

Obviously, some people will never change.

[Seattlelite]

The sooner these "few" remaining racists have to deal with having a African American President the better I say! And if they can't -- pack your bags and get the hell out!

[pupbayer]

Why is it that if you are not a supporter of Obama, you have to be racist. Isn't that racist?

[AgathaX]

Oh please. Haven't you noticed that in most states there has been a noticeable corelation between race and votes in this race? It's statistically significant and cannot be explained away by policy differences--of which there are few. It works both ways of course. But I find it a bit easier to forgive the black folks who have never had the opportunity to vote for a viable presidential candidate who looks like them, than the whites who have never done anything but vote for people who look like them.

That said, flinging the term "racist" about is unproductive at best. We've come a long way in fifty years and there is every reason to believe that will continue. We don't need to send people packing, we need to win them over. And we can.

[Bushgirlsgonewild]

.

Even though I am an Obama supporter, I still can't help but find it sad that Hillary is roasted over telling small lies about her resume...


...while McCain tells HUGE lies about important issues, like Iraq...


...and the media doesn't say a handful of crap about them.

.

[robXdion]

Hillary's lies aren't small. They go to the heart of her candidacy and WHY she is running. McCain's lies are bigger, but he's not going anywhere. Hillary's lies are more urgent. That's the difference.

[ChimpmasterDJ]

Hillary's lies about opposing NAFTA cannot go unchallenged. That's a HUGE lie, and unlike her "Most Excellent Bosnia Adventure" lie, it isn't in the least bit funny to people whose jobs were outsourced forever.

[armadillious2002]

Remember that time when Hillary was pinned down in that fox hole in Bosnia? A bunker mounted machine gun was ripping them to shreds. The Lt. asked for a volunteer to take out the gun - Hillary was first to speak up. "I'll go," she bravely announced. She donned her rifle and flame thrower, waved goodbye and began the grueling crawl toward the bunker. Bullets were flying and zinging everywhere but undaunted she kept going. Finally, when she felt she was in range, she tossed a granade into the bunker. Immediately after she heard the explosion she valiantly sprang to her feet and began spewing the fires of hell into the bunker. Well, as everyone knows - the rest is history - in her dillusional mind that is.

[newshawk14]

Great post, be sure to read the short story by Al Franken in "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat
Idiot" where Ollie North leading a number of conservatives on a combat mission, and Al's
short story in the book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced
Look at the Right", where John Kerry leads a Swift Boat rescue operation for the afore
mentioned with a dubious crew of right wingers. They are wickedly funny.

[dragonfly142]

People ought to know a bit more about Obama http://obama-status-quo.blogspot.com. The Illinois senate has been a cesspool of corruption for decades. He knew when coming to Chicacgo of all places that that was true.Obama tapped financial services firms, real estate developers, healthcare providers, oil companies, and many other corporate interests, the records show, and behind Obama's campaign. This activity, along with Obama's past contributions from lobbyists and PACs, has drawn fire from opposing campaigns. Some political analysts say Obama, by casting himself as an uncorrupted good-government crusader, has set himself up for charges of hypocrisy. The corporate press wants Chelsea to answer personal questions about her fathers sex life, and yet not one iota of information is asked of Obama's past. The press is ignoring Obama's ties to Rezko and the trial like they avoided Downing Street Memo, I think liberals who hated the press and longed for the truth to come out all during the Bush years is seeing the press act the same way towards Mr Obama......is the corporate press now on theh side of democrats...I don't think so!...Use your heads liberals.

[pupbayer]

And as Obama airs ads against the oil companies, he has accepted $213,884 from the oil and gas industry (as of Feb. 29). No one notices it. No one reports it. He just continues to spew propaganda and if you take issue with his remarks you are branded a racist. But, hey, it's working well for him!

[research]

no one notices it, because it's FALSE!

Obama received some money from people

who are employed by the oil companies.

Not the same thing, if you had bothered to check.

[LAJonathan]

"Interviews with dozens of Democrats in this overwhelmingly white region -- where voters will go to the polls in the May 20 primary -- suggest residual concerns over the controversy involving Obama's former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright."

Do you know what's really sad about this? If these same people stepped up to the plate and acknowledged their own fears, the issue wouldn't be an issue at all. HRC has planted the seeds of doubt and continues to do so - I guess we'll see sooner or later if it worked. I guess her laundry list of indiscretions don't frighten them, but you better believe a screaming black man does.

[LAJonathan]

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4/1/85359/24244/36/488126

Well there you go. Hillary gets fired at 27

[research]

"Interviews with dozens of Democrats in this overwhelmingly white region..."


Wow, Dozens, must be true.

[snowcat]

lies on Nafta from Jedreport

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=0BrPZYbCdJ4

sniper fire lies from TMPtv

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Z9o37FQI4

[campgranata]

'Another reason for Clinton's appeal among the Pennsylvania political class speaks to the heart of her strength as a candidate and potential president. Such professionals know that she will keep an eye on specific projects and make sure of their implementation.'

What about the promises she made in NY State. NIagara Falls, which houses one of the world's wonders is in danger, due to the exodus caused by a dearth of jobs, to lose its status as a city. She is good at making promises but appears to have no ability to deliver them. When questioned about her poor job performance in bringing jobs into the area she said she thought Al Gore would be president.
promises, promises

[ColdSteel3]

Well I AM an Indiana voter, a white middle aged male and here is my position. No Hillary please. Anyone who gets so confused from sleep deprivation or fatigue that they have false recollections of snipers is NOT the individual that I would trust to handle a National Security Issue at 3 am. McCain interested me more in his previous campaigns. Now I cannot help but think he wishes to be President so badly he has pretty much sold out every value I had ever respected him for. As for Obama, One screaming clergyman is not going scare anyone here in Indiana, we have them in droves. Hell we have schools that train them. Yes we have a KKK history in the state but most all of those characters are dead or dying. Many also carry felony records so they won't be voting anytime soon. People here are concerned about jobs and the economy, our Indiana National Guard and local Reservists in Iraq and restoring the prestige of our Country. Here's a little insight for you, When Obama opened campaign offices here last week literally thousands of volunteers flooded the venues, they could not handle the crowds and Obama was not even there. When Hillary visited within the same 10 day period, well lets just say I have seen longer lines to get license plates renewed.

Indiana is not a done deal - people here are mad as hell and refuse to condone business as usual. WE WANT CHANGE!!!

[tea in the harbor]

I hope you are the norm in Indiana, a good thumpin' there and even Hillary might be forced into the real world! Her advisors will fight it, they can't get that kind of money anywhere else, but she is delusional, not stupid.

[slow2]

ColdSteel3, that was a terrific statement. Thank you. It is a real help when someone on the ground contradicts 'conventional wisdom.'

[victoriajubilee]

Coldsteel3 , I salute your post ,one of the best I have seen ,you articulated everything . Please keep posting ,we need you .Senator Obama needs you.

[meemaw]

Thank you coldsteel. I, too, am a hoosier and I can tell you that everyone I know is voting Obama.

[NightRider]

You gave me a good laugh. Nice spy report. I trust you not the MSM.

[thehand]

As a white guy I can't understand how anybody ,unless you were promised something in return, could still support Hillary. These people are as dumb as the the people who still support Bush. I just hope Obama will get up a real investigation into 911.

[DGregory]

take it easy man... im a obama supporter but you gotta realize where all democrats in the end... ill just say these voters of hers have strong convictions.

[tea in the harbor]

I'm not a democrat, don't give a damn about your party. I agree with a fella named Washington who warned us in his last speach as President how damaging political parties can be to a Democracy. That said, Barack Obama is the best chance We the People have had since to get a fair shake since Bobby got shot, and if Hillary's supporters cost us this chance thehand will be proven right!

[Witchitalineman]

As a white older voter, I cannot understand how race got to be an issue with whites. Reverend Wright is really a non-issue.Bigots need to look into their souls for understanding and forgiveness. I look forward to the opportunity of voting for Barack Obama in November!

[iPolitics]

Obama wouldn't be the Democratic nominee is it wasn't for white voters. Let's not focus everything on one segment of whites who haven't moved on from the past. Like Rev. Wright there are whites who are still angry; however, the majority of Americans are ready for an African American president or a women if it wasn't someone with Hillary's past.

[NightRider]

Bingo!

[cyndeewi]

As a African American woman, I was ready to vote for Hillary until I did some research. My problem is the media, when they are talking about people voting for Obama, they always say African American vote. Hell,whites have helped Obama get where he is today.

Michelle Obama said: For the first time in my adult life, I am proud to be an American.

Most African Americans understood exactly what she meant. Do you know that we have never had anyone like Obama run for POTUS. Yea, we had Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, but they were doing it to make a statement, they received only the black vote, and blacks voted for them out of duty.

When Obama ran, I realized that the Majority of whites are not prejudice. They really didn't care what color Obama was, as long as they could identify with the issues. Obama could have been an American Indian for all whites cared. So I realized what Obama must have realized, but Rev. Wright has not.

That there may be some racism people, but on a whole, whites are not prejudice and they really don't give a damn what job you are running for or who the hell you are. If they are in charge, they just want the job done. PERIOD.

I am so proud to be an American because now I realized and know the truth. If Obama does not win this election, it has sent a message to all African Americans.

[Binea]

Which is exactly why the Clintons their surrogates and Hannity targeted the white male vote that the media was pointing out Obama had a lead over Clinton with.And they are now pushing it on the superdelegates saying he's unelectable because of Rev wright and the commercials they will make about it.This after they planted seeds of doubt and encouraged racism.