Discuss "Obama and the 'Bradley effect'"

I don't think Obama's race/ethnicity is what holds people back from embracing him. I think his views on the U.N., the constitution (he's backed the U.N. on issues that would undercut our first and second amendments), and his close ties to America-basher George Soros and bully and anti-constitution vigilante Michael Bloomberg are some of the big issues. Healthcare is important, but without our constitution, we don't have a country.

Claire @ 2:29 PM PDT, Oct 10, 2008

Mayor Bradley did not have Obama's combination of youthful energy and charisma so there is really no sound basis for comparison. That being said, there are some people in this country who will never vote for a black, a jew or perhaps even a catholic (among others). Their existence simply proves some people can be fooled all of the time.

sloreader @ 11:24 AM PDT, Oct 10, 2008

Race becomes less an issue when people and losing their homes and their jobs. Further, Obama doesn't reflect the african american culture as much, being that his mother was white, he's articulate, a Harvard graduate and very cool under fire. He is more like a republican Collan Powel than a typical avaerage african american. It's only the exteem racist that will opose Obama. A black president from either party is good for america.

Fred @ 9:29 AM PDT, Oct 10, 2008

I live in this solid 'Red State' of SC. And, of course, most people here would never, ever vote for a black man. It's not said openly but if you read in between the lines of opinions in local papers, racism is alive and well, here and in many other states. The sheriff from Lee County, Florida said it so well at one of the Palin/McCain rallies: "Senator Obama is going to wonder what happened on Nov. 5th.!

Nick, in SC @ 7:03 AM PDT, Oct 10, 2008

Kareem, Nice HST quote!

killerville @ 6:06 AM PDT, Oct 10, 2008

After recent stumps by Gov. Palin and McCain desperately trying to link Obama with former Weather Underground and now University of Chicago prof. William Ayers, they have basically called Obama a terrorist. At one stump by Palin, a spectator yelled out "terrorist" and one said "kill him (Obama) and Palin never flinched. She did not call out and stop such hate speak. She is taking a play right out of Hitler and Goebbels' Nazi propaganda playbook. And the white trash of America are cheering along. THIS is what really threatens every American.

David Toyoshima @ 12:32 AM PDT, Oct 10, 2008

I believe Obama will win a landslide victory for one reason: he will win the youth vote. My son is a twenty year old college student who says that race "does not exist" for his generation. I think our generation is vastly underestimating the power of our young people; they are enthusiastically engaged in this process and they WILL vote for a black man named Barack Hussein Obama on November 4th. If it is true that "race doesn't exist" for the next generation of Americans, then we have at last overcome our treacherous past. An Obama presidency will bring absolution to a country that desperately needs it.

lisa @ 8:46 PM PDT, Oct 9, 2008

Americans have come a long way since the Bradley fiasco. I think that the current crisis facing the country is more important than racial bias - though one cannot discount that race will play some part in some people's voting behaviour. America does not however exist in isolation - the current economic crisis confirmed this. The rest of the world is watching and I am sure that common sense will prevail in this election.

John Egbuniwe @ 5:30 PM PDT, Oct 9, 2008

I want a gay, half-Hispanic, half-black, atheist female president...who admits to smoking pot and isn't ridiculously wealthy.

JLE @ 4:56 PM PDT, Oct 9, 2008

A person's race does affect how some people vote. Best and clearest proof we have is over 90% of the black voters say they are voting for Obama. Statically speaking a much higher percent than 10% should share and benefit from the Republican point of view.

Lee @ 3:57 PM PDT, Oct 9, 2008

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