Mississippi Primary Vote Shows How Polarizing Barack Obama Really Is

Posted on March 11, 2008
Filed Under commentary |

The great historic irony about Barack Obama is, he is running as a candidate who claims to be able to bring people together, yet the facts clearly show he is one of the most polarizing presidential candidates in a long time.

First, let’s look at the results of today’s Mississippi primary, which Obama won.

The Associated Press headline sums it up best: Whites back Clinton, blacks Obama

According to the A.P., nine in 10 blacks backed Obama, while seven in 10 whites cast their vote for Hillary Clinton!

What’s more, we see a similiar pattern in at least two other states, the A.P. points out, Alabama and Arkansas. This sort of puts a lie to Obama’s pronouncements that he can bridge the gap between white and black voters and bring them all in under the same Democratic party tent. Maybe. But, not in the deep south apparently.

The A.P. figures also show that in today’s primary, four in 10 blacks said race was important in their decision; a quarter of whites said the same thing.

Geraldine Ferraro Controversy: A Matter Of Black And White

The one time Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate brewed up a tempest when she was quoted as saying in an interview that : “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And, the country is caught up in the concept.”

Her point being that, considering his lack of experience, Obama, if he were white, would probably not be taken seriously as a presidential candidate, but because he is black, there is a reverse sort of racism at play where people fear pointing out his weaknesses, which are many.

Of course, the Obama campaign quickly called for Ferraro to be removed from her position with the Clinton campaign, in an effort to clamp down on a very important point Ferraro was trying to make.

But, she punched back quickly, making that point herself : “Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let’s address reality and the problems we’re facing in the world, you’re accused of being racist, so you have to shut up. Racism works in two different directions. I really think they’re (the Obama people) attacking me because I’m white. How’s that?”

“Every time that campaign is upset about something, they call it racist. I will not be discriminated against because I’m white. If they think they’re going to shut up Geraldine Ferraro with that kind of stuff, they don’t know me.”

Clinton Puts Distance

As for Clinton, she put distance between herself and Ferraro saying she did not agree with Ferraro’s comments.

But, Ferraro makes a very strong point: Is Obama trying to win the presidency by blocking anything negative about him by indicating, or having his people indicate, that one has to be a racist to challenge Obama’s credentials and proposals?

Seems like it.

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