Why Barack Obama is Losing Black Voters: Too Little, Too Late ... Too Boring?

If you're wondering why the Barack Obama campaign is losing traction among black voters--and make no mistake, it is, the latest Washington Post/ABC News Poll show he trails Hillary Clinton by at least 13 percent among blacks nationally--look no further than the meta-messaging presented in the New York Times interview with Adam Nagourney and Jeff Zeleny.

The senator rehashed his all-too-familiar "change" rhetoric and says "now is the time" to distinguish himself from the Democratic front runner and accused her of trying to ... obfuscate ... and avoid the big issues.

Blah, blah, blah. It's like going to the club on a Saturday night and watching another guy publicly announce that "now is the time" to put his arm around the neck of a hot babe standing nearby--or, in our case, a hot man--and ask for a kiss. Geez, just grow a pair and just do it.

After almost a decade of languishing under the "compassionate conservatism" of the George W. Bush Administration, the roll-back in civil rights by the Supreme Court, and, the horrors of Katrina, black voters are looking for strong, decisive leadership from the White House. The fact that it could come from the first ever elected black president is definitely a plus. Platitudes on awareness, strategy and messaging just won't cut it senator.

That delicate racial balancing act has consistently been Obama's strongest suit with white voters and the intelligentsia--he is non-confrontational and does not address unpleasant subjects such as institutional racism--and his Achilles heel with black voters. That triangulation on race relations is precisely the reason why Hillary Clinton (so far) polls stronger among blacks--she and Bill are too smart to take black voters for granted.

We just saw this played out to disastrous results over the weekend with the "Embrace the Change" gospel revival concerts headlined by "ex-gay" pastor and gospel singer Donnie McClurkin. Instead of Obama using the opportunity to campaign on "change" and "transformation" within the black community, the campaign allowed ex-gay Rev. Donnie McClurkin to take the microphone and sermonize his brand of "change" and "transformation." It's still unclear who was asleep at the wheel--one of Obama's top LGBT advisors is black, and, the campaign's religious affairs director is black and, like McClurkin, a Pentecostal minister--but the poor choice and Obama's non-response demonstrated a lack of sophistication on the black church. Maybe these black "advisors" actually have little input? Wouldn't be the first time.

Is Barack Obama looking for directions for the road to Des Moines? Or Damascus? If the senator wants "change" or "transformation" in his traction with black voters, it has to happen fast. And now.

Comments

[JaseAllen]

Obama went from being energetic and engaging to guarded and safe. Like all Democrat "front runner" presidential candidates for the last 2 elections, he's trying to not offend "undecided" voters rather than energize his supporters. History shows that it's a losing strategy. Just ask Gore and Kerry (and Hillary next November).

[dannyS]

I don't see how skin color affects one's choice, unless they're a racist.
Obviously people of the same skin color vote for different candidates for various reasons, so why try to lump people together on something so meaningless?

[onlythetruthcounts]

If Barack gained black voters over the weekend, it's at the expense of gay voters. I personally have officially shunned Barack even though I supported him in the past. I thought he was different, but he'll do anything to get money and votes. Just more of the same. I just hope when Hillary is elected that she will at least attempt to take on social issues that have been ignored by the current administration. Peace

[Dantheman99]

Here is an opinion piece in today's LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein31oct31,0,4417577.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail

It's written by a gay African-American about Obama trying to have it both ways. Whether or not you agree, I found it to be interesting reading.

[Jonni Rae]

Obama has said that he does not want to run a "symbolic campaign because that has been done." He means Jackson and Sharpton. I worked on 2 jackson campaigns. Yes, he had 95% of the black vote, but he didn't win. Bill disavowed him for his defense of Sistah Soujah, a female rapper Barack, while senator in Ill., got the first racial profiling bill passed. He got the law passed which requires all interrogations of suspects to be videotaped, after 13 people on death row were found to be innocent. He was the only US Senator to oppose the blatantly racist elections official that Bush wanted to put in to oversee the elections. Bill Clinton's policies: 1. Welfare to Workfare, throwing millions of women with kids into minimum wage jobs, leaving children to the streets , cradle to the jail syndrome. 2. NAFTA, which took away more manufacturing jobs from black communities. 3. Establishment of the private, prison industry.( More blacks imprisoned during his admin than any other. 5. Mandatory Sentencing. Supported it. 6. War on Drugs. Expanded it. His administration helped to destroy the black family, the black community and make jail or death the choice of so many young black men. You should be ashamed of yourself. Obama is the best candidate of color to come along ever; He is trying to represent everyone; he's not taking anyone for granted. I think most African Americans know what it would mean to have Barack, Michelle and their two little girls living in the White House. You would have someone who considers black people HIS people. You would give hope to every boy and girl of color in this country. It is easy to sit back and throw spitballs. It takes real courage to do what he is doing. You, I am sorry to say, are "hating." Unwilling to do your homework. Go ahead, vote for Hilary; maybe she will give you a hand-out.

[LandPro]

I find it nothing more than politically inspired media hype that Barack has lost Black voters or is steadily falling behind the polls to Hillary Clinton. It is further more shortsighted to believe that his association with Donnie McClurkin was anything less than ingenius. Although Donnie McClurkin is a Black Pentecostal church, he is widely accepted by American Christians nationally through his exposure on TBN. The acceptance is unequivocally all inclusive racially. One can never undermine the power of the Christian vote in this country and Barack just may be the Democrat who gets it!

[itmaybetoolate]

Too homophobic? Too pandering?

[Pdubya]

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/press-releases/15/ron-paul-is-highest-polling-republican-among-black-voters

[rpence]

Hey, that's mighty impressive! Paul persuaded both black Republicans to support him!

[Jackyd]

I hear no mention of Dennis Kucinich, who is the most outstanding progressive . He is far ahead of the others in intellect and vision. Too bad he doesnt get the press---he is so far ahead of them What about his idea of a Dept of Oeace in the Cabinet? Isn.t that what makes sense?

[Dantheman99]

Yes, it makes colossal sense. However, he is not controllable by corporate campaign contributions, therefore the corporate controlled media has no incentive or reason to give him a fair amount of coverage.

[Jonni Rae]

He also sees UFO's and could never pay for half the things he suggests. He is unelectable. Stop looking around. Obama is the one.

[Star2000dancer]

I wish Dennis could get some good backing. He is what we need.

[stroud00]

I wish you knew what you were talking about. Barack Obama is not losing black voters and your saying it will never make it so. He is gaining black voters and after last night, even you will not be able to deny it.

Why do you continue to bash Obama? Could it possibly be that you too are suffering from the
Sharpton Syndrome?

[LoriAnn]

I have never made a political monetary donation before, until this year and for this candidate!! I believe Barack Obama when he speaks and I understand his vision and know he has what it takes to get this country on that track... to healing and rebuilding from the foundation. He is brilliant, with a truthful heart and clear direction... he, just like the majority of us want a better life for our kids, what better catalyst for change is there. I dont agree with the pandering for religious voters but I know he will need a broad cross section of the country to get elected...if anything would sway me from voting for him it would be if he starts drinking the mythological koolaid from the religious community....Im not saying they are all corrupt but the majority of organized religion is a crock and I dont want a myth shaping policy that affects me or my families lives...just give me some honesty and uphold constitutional law, you'll get my vote and my support....

[bushlies]

At this point I am trying to decide whether to support Obama or Edwards. As a woman, I'd like to support Hillary if she were a TRULY independent candidate, but I feel she's basically just a front for another term for Bill.

We need REAL change in this country, but (sigh) Al Gore isn't running and neither is anyone else who really inspires me.

[LoriAnn]

Just because Bill had a personal problem didnt negate his effectiveness as a President. It wasnt until the Republican machine began churning that made it everyones business and showed Bill to be a flawed human being, although many of the Tighty Righties were doing the same if not worse. I may not support Hillary because I am for Obama but if she is nominated, one thing that comforts me is knowing that Bill will be having some input if asked to do so. He is one of the most intelligent presidents we have ever had and I would think that his life experiences have helped him to evolve into a man of much loftier goals than getting a blow job once in a while...

[Brujos1]

Barack Obama is my candidate, the first since JFK/LBJ to inspire me. It will take another half-century to become as inspired again. By then none of us will be here.

Obama's magic is his Colin Powell-like reach to the majority of disaffected voters, including aging white middle class people like me, not just blacks. That's true progress, and it's high time.

Many more traditional Democrats, including blacks, feel beholden to Bill Clinton who squandered his presidency by losing Congress and health care and by the Lewinsky scandal. He wasn't even censured! His "bridge to the 21st Century" like Bush's in Alaska, ended there.

Bill Richardson disappointed us last night by defending Hillary before Obama's and Edwards' legitimate challenges of inconsistency and non-responsiveness. This only proves that he has always been a stalking horse for the Clintons.

Now it is up to Obama to demonstrate that he can represent "We the People". Moreover, it's up to us to provide him with equal opportunity.

[KarenZipdrive]

I like Obama just fine but the thing is, with Hillary we get Bill and as we all know, Bill was America's first Black president.
Bill wears the pants in that family, which explains why Hillary didn't kick him to the curb after the Lewinsky thing...or all the other things.
Obama flat turned me off with the ex gay preacher thing, and combine that with his relative nerdiness and we have a mess.
I want to vote for the candidate with the biggest balls-and I think Hillary fits the bill.

[Arleang]

Well, this little old white lady has decided to vote for Obama and has been donating to his campaign. I'm tired of hearing about why Obama hasn't captured 100% of the black vote. What's the deal here, are we supposed to choose by matching skin color?

My choice is based on respect for Obama's ideals and intellect. My choice is based on his personal history and the work he has done to this point. I also happen to like his wife and kids.

My choice is also based on the fact that I'm tired of this royal family succession we seem to have going on . . . Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton . . . the Washington insiders. I think Bill Clinton was great as president and I traveled to Washington DC on my own dime to rally against his impeachment.

BUT it is time for change and I choose an inspired intellect over the extremely well-connected and well-packaged Clinton. I refuse to vote based on race or gender.

[Pdubya]

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/press-releases/15/ron-paul-is-highest-polling-republican-among-black-voters

[Brujos1]

Barack Obama is my candidate, the first since JFK/LBJ to inspire me. It will take another half-century to become as inspired again. By then none of us will be here.

Obama's magic is his Colin Powell-like reach to the majority of disaffected voters, including aging white middle class people like me, not just blacks. That's true progress, and it's high time.

Many more traditional Democrats, including blacks, feel beholden to Bill Clinton who squandered his presidency by losing Congress and health care and by the Lewinsky scandal. He wasn't even censured! His "bridge to the 21st Century" like Bush's in Alaska, ended there.

Bill Richardson disappointed us last night by defending Hillary before Obama's and Edwards' legitimate challenges of inconsistency and non-responsiveness. This only proves that he has always been a stalking horse for the Clintons.

Now it is up to Obama to demonstrate that he can represent "We the People". Moreover, it's up to us to provide him with equal opportunity.

[gjoh]

Maybe I'm just overly sensitive about this but everytime I hear somebody talk about how Barack Obama is somehow not "black" enough or how he is dull or boring I flash back to my High School years when I was put down and made fun of by blacks who said I talked like white people. My advanced placement classes made me "boring" to some Blacks in High School. Most of them are either dead, on drugs or in prison. I don't know about you but I am sick and tired of people voting for president based on how they look or whether they are "cool". Some of us are looking for a competent, caring and intelligent leader. I think Obama fits that description and so do many other "boring" Black voters.