Barack Obama is a presidential candidate of African descent. He's not the first.
- Shirley Chisholm in 1972 ran as the "unbought and unbossed" candidate.
- Rev. Jesse Jackson sought the Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988
- Rev. Al Sharpton sought it in 2004.
- Lenora Fulani ran as an independent in 1988 and 1992.
- Alan Keyes is seeking the Republican nomination in 2008 as he did in 1996 and in 2000.
The difference is that Obama has the funding and the intangibles to win and become our next US president. What he doesn't have is unqualified support of the African American voters. The Black vote is split between Obama and Clinton at this point.
As such, I found the recent study done by Theodore Cross, editor of The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education very enlightening. Cross' comparisons are directed solely at the domestic initiatives of special concern to African Americans from both Clinton and Obama.
Click here to read the full study.Cross concludes that Barack Obama has a far superior program for the vast majority of African American voters than does Senator Clinton.
Obama offers a concrete plan to deal with the most serious problems of Black America. Senator Clinton, on the other hand, totally sidesteps all racial issues and concerns. She directs her campaign program solidly toward attracting votes of America's predominantly white middle class.
Cross also notes that existing poll results suggest that large numbers of Black voters may not be giving sufficient consideration to the import of an Obama presidency as a role model that might change the lives and expectations of millions of young Black Americans.
Villagers, are you leaning towards a vote for Clinton or Obama at this point?
23 comments:
But is he better than Edwards? That's the more important comparison even though Clinton is the front-runner (poll-wise).
I am definitely supporting Obama. I wholeheartedly agree with the points in the post. Barack Obama represents the change that all Americans need for this country.
Off-topic: I'm loving the new blog design. :)
Lester - I'm just not feeling John Edwards. I guess that I've had my fill of southern white men in the White House. I simply want a chance to see a brother in charge of the country.
Vanessa - We agree! btw, thank you for the compliments on the new blog design here on the Electronic Village.
peace, Villager
As an independent, I'm not endorseing Obama over Clinton, but I agree with Lenora Fulani that we need a real New York debate on this issue, and we better not leave it to the Dem clubhouse! For video, see The Hankster...
The Hankster - Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm amazed to see Lenora Fulani in print twice in the same day! (smile)
peace, Villager
100% Obama. The Hillary is way too political and her views are tied directly to poll results... even though she's a good leader, I tend to worry whether she has ANY unwavering convictions.
As such, speaking as a Black man, I wonder if a vote for Hillary will be respected or if she will continue the trend (by Democrats of the past - and yes, Bill Clinton, too) of taking our Black votes for granted.
With Barack Obama, he speaks from the heart and doesn't appear to be a slave to poll results. I like how he thinks and how appears to be a man of convictions that will not buckle to public opinion (like his views on the War on Iraq, etc.).
plez - Thanx for sharing your thoughts. Personally, I was leaning towards Clinton based on my knowledge of her husband. However, after reading Obama's first book I learned more about how he was raised and his work in Chicago as a community organizer and I realized that he has a world view that is much closer to mine than Clinton or Edwards. As such, I moved into the Obama camp. I'm hopeful that other Black folks will have a similiar change of heart before the primaries.
peace, Villager
I've been leaning towards Obama for a long time. Not because of who's a better choice for black America, I just think he'd be a much better president overall. Hillary's lobbyist ties aren't very impressive.
Woozie - Thanx for sharing your thoughts. It should be an interesting election cycle!
peace, Villager
You know I'm a Kucinich gal, but anyone, would be better than Clinton.
Danielle - Do you have autographed photo of Mr. Kucinich yet? (smile). Do you agree that there isn't a Republican candidate that would be better than Hilary?
peace, Villager
Hey Villager, you know it goes without saying that I think of old "Hill-monger" the same way I think of a bug on the bottom of my shoe.
I'm leaning towards Obama for reasons of character, conviction and historical precedent/example that you mentioned earlier.
I just need to hear more about his ideas on defense. I hate cowards who want to cut and run at the first signs of difficulty on the battlefield. We had enough of that crap during the Vietnam era. Enough of the ostrich routine damn it. I sincerely hope my guy isn't that type.
Are there any sites or blogs out there that have more info on his proposed initiatives for international diplomacy, deployment of troops, battlefield priorities or strategies etc?
Martin - Obama's position on ending the war on Iraq is contained on his website. That is the location that I use to get information on his position on the issues. Frankly, I do the same thing for learning about positions held by Hilary and other candidates.
To answer your second question;}
Yes, since I think Hillary would be almost exactly the same as the republicans with a democratic label.
I don't know how this primary will play out but I may be going third party, if I must. The horror of breaking out of the mainstream.
As always....
Danielle - Thanx for your candor and insights. At some point, I'm hopeful that America will see Hilary and you see her. I don't think that she represents change in Washington DC ... and this election is one where we need to see CHANGE in a big way. No doubt Kucinich would be CHANGE, however, for a number of reasons I prefer the Democratic candidate to be Barack Obama. Anyhow, thanx again for your insights.
peace, Villager
At Sunday's African American Day parade, a 150 person contingent led by Dr. Lenora Fulani marched up Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. chanting "Hillary and Obama Should Debate...Let the People Decide" while handing out invitations to join the call for a Harlem debate and conducting a survey among parade-goers lining the route. Check out the “You Tube” video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpk4MYZPLKE&sdig=1
More information about the Committee for a Harlem Debate Between Clinton and Obama, check out www.independentvoting.org
Gwenmand - I appreciate your visit to the Electronic Village. You are the second to refer me to the march led by Fulani. Is she an elected or honorary mayor of Harlem?
peace, Villager
Villager I want you to do me a favor. Figure out what your POLICY PREFERENCES ARE, and then after you figure those out....figure out which candidate fits you.
I like Obama well enough. If he gets over the hump I'll support him.
But I'm done basing my support on either fear, or on sentiment. None of us should use that criteria. we know where that route leads us.
Lester - There are not many policy differences between the candidates in the Democratic Party. Therefore, the deciding factor for me are things like character and leadership. A president deals with issues that were not in the party platform or the policy statements ... therefore, we need a (wo)man that has character and leadership abilities to do well. George Bush was a failure at thise (IMHO).
Anyhow, I want Obama to win, however, I wish that he would be more forceful in getting his points across.
I'm not black nor a Republican but so far Obama is offering more substance and integrity than any of the candidates of either party.
I couldn't claim to understand black issues, but for America as a whole, the big collage of colors and flavors that we are, he offers more hope for better politics than anyone on the horizon.
Clinton is as sincere as Edwards. Edwards is as plastic as any action figure ever was. His hair might even be painted on. At least though his accent is real. Hillary only sounds southern when she is speaking to a black audience. Doesn't that offend you? It offends me.
One more thing, and not such a little thing either, Michele would make a superb First Lady that /all/ Americans could be proud of.
There you have the two cents worth of a white Republican on the issue of Obama.
Deborah - Thank you for sharing your insights on Barack Obama. I figure that there are alot of white republican women ~lurking~ in the jungles surrounding the Electronic Village. I'm glad you decided to come take a seat by the fire and join in the discussions!
Your insights are valued. I especially liked your description of John Edwards (smile)!
peace, Villager
There are significant policy differences between the candidates. I haven't checked in a while but as of six months ago the words "poverty" and "inequality" were not in the Obama platform. As of a few weeks ago they weren't in the Clinton platform. Bush's platform while he was running (huge tax decreases, an overhaul of social security) represented the things he fought for when he won.
I don't see you as conservative. I appreciate what you do and what you write. But character is NOT something that can be measured or even felt unless you know the candidate personally. A policy platform is something you can see and agree with or disagree with. Clinton can have all the character in the world--I bet she does in fact. I do not support her policies and would not vote for her.
Take a look again.
Lester - I found two links that provide insights on Obama's views and plans to fight poverty. The first is from an outside group that is reviewing the issues on all candidates. They wrote on Obama and poverty.
Obama has a specific issue paper on his plans to fight poverty on his website.
Obviously, I don't know Obama on a personal level. However, as stated earlier, I feel much more confortable about him after reading about how he was raised in his first book.
peace, Villager
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