The reality of voting - expectations, not facts
We've gotten into fuss-ups here about electoral candidates and argued facts and quotes and given links to sites....
But last night at work I listened to a discussion of three black men at my table (casino) and realized that for many this election isn't about facts or economy or war - it's about dreams and expectations.
Throughout the conversation two of the men repeatedly would say "excuse me, ma'am, I don't mean you" to me (white) when one of them made an anti-white comment.
And they DIDN'T mean "me" - two of these men have been playing cards with me for years and we've become friends. One of them was a civil rights activist in the 60's and none of them are poor - they are middle class, blue collar people. They are friendly, well spoken, tell great jokes and I did not expect an entitlement attitude from them. They are from different parts of the country and one said he knew of Obama when he was a State Senator in Illinois.
All three support Obama because they believe the "redistribution of wealth" comments that he made years ago and has now made again.
They fully expect that when elected Obama will take from whites and give to blacks, will support payment of reparations for slavery and will provide more social programs for the black population. They don't like Joe the Plumber because they think he was trying to trick Obama with questions and didn't mention other candidates (including Biden) at all. One of them said "we know if we can get Obama elected, he'll take care of us".
In fact, Obama did mention "reparation" (though not "for slavery") in a 2001 interview, but the third time it was referenced he started to say it but then changed the word to "change". (that is from listening to the audio of the interview).
He has repeatedly said he supports reparation in the form of better schools and more social programs - but these men are convinced he means more than that. In Chicago, he was associated politically with some who are leaders in the reparations movement but never publicly supported those views. I have to wonder what these men will think if Obama works only for the good of the country as a whole - which is what I would expect him to do.
This same attitude might be shared by many who went through the Civil Rights movement as young adults or teens. During that time, equality was FINALLY recognized and what followed were several years of social programs intended to correct past errors. Wonder if entitlement programs that were necessary at that time created a sense of entitlement in that generation?
Just as likely, there are others who won't vote for Obama because they were on the other side of that same movement and resented the same social programs.
I don't recall another election where the deciding votes may be made by people who are looking back, not forward, on both sides. I don't think the facts or speeches of either candidate affects these views at all.
I've thought all along the avoidance of racial issues by the media was aimed at whites who might be discriminatory - and I was wrong. The divide is clearly larger than I realized and from both sides.
Sorry for rambling and I may not be explaining this well - but it was a light bulb moment for me of how deep the racial issues can divide us. The difference seems to be that it is "us vs them" instead of "you vs me" .
What an interesting year!
kay
But last night at work I listened to a discussion of three black men at my table (casino) and realized that for many this election isn't about facts or economy or war - it's about dreams and expectations.
Throughout the conversation two of the men repeatedly would say "excuse me, ma'am, I don't mean you" to me (white) when one of them made an anti-white comment.
And they DIDN'T mean "me" - two of these men have been playing cards with me for years and we've become friends. One of them was a civil rights activist in the 60's and none of them are poor - they are middle class, blue collar people. They are friendly, well spoken, tell great jokes and I did not expect an entitlement attitude from them. They are from different parts of the country and one said he knew of Obama when he was a State Senator in Illinois.
All three support Obama because they believe the "redistribution of wealth" comments that he made years ago and has now made again.
They fully expect that when elected Obama will take from whites and give to blacks, will support payment of reparations for slavery and will provide more social programs for the black population. They don't like Joe the Plumber because they think he was trying to trick Obama with questions and didn't mention other candidates (including Biden) at all. One of them said "we know if we can get Obama elected, he'll take care of us".
In fact, Obama did mention "reparation" (though not "for slavery") in a 2001 interview, but the third time it was referenced he started to say it but then changed the word to "change". (that is from listening to the audio of the interview).
He has repeatedly said he supports reparation in the form of better schools and more social programs - but these men are convinced he means more than that. In Chicago, he was associated politically with some who are leaders in the reparations movement but never publicly supported those views. I have to wonder what these men will think if Obama works only for the good of the country as a whole - which is what I would expect him to do.
This same attitude might be shared by many who went through the Civil Rights movement as young adults or teens. During that time, equality was FINALLY recognized and what followed were several years of social programs intended to correct past errors. Wonder if entitlement programs that were necessary at that time created a sense of entitlement in that generation?
Just as likely, there are others who won't vote for Obama because they were on the other side of that same movement and resented the same social programs.
I don't recall another election where the deciding votes may be made by people who are looking back, not forward, on both sides. I don't think the facts or speeches of either candidate affects these views at all.
I've thought all along the avoidance of racial issues by the media was aimed at whites who might be discriminatory - and I was wrong. The divide is clearly larger than I realized and from both sides.
Sorry for rambling and I may not be explaining this well - but it was a light bulb moment for me of how deep the racial issues can divide us. The difference seems to be that it is "us vs them" instead of "you vs me" .
What an interesting year!
kay
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