Is race a factor when it comes to voting?

Theres a new poll that states that race wouldnt be a big factor when it comes to voting. For Obama to be the first African American president would be a symbolic change. But many people feel that many people is voting for Obama because of his race. Many Republicans say that race influences their votes where they wouldnt be voting Democrats this year claimed by CNN polling director,Holland. He also states that the amount of votes Obama may be loosing due to his race will be equal to the amount of votes he is getting, where race would work with and against Obama. The poll will also show that age will also be a factor too. McCain would be the oldest president, so for many voters his votes would also impact McCain's standing as well.
When deciding on a candidate there are many factors that will either make or break each candidate. Both McCain and Obama has potential down falls that can be seen through polls. So to point out that race is the reason why some people are supporting Obama is contradictory because some people is voting for McCain may be for the same reason. Theres so much to consider, but the main focus on voting has a lot to do with what each candidate would do to office.

Biden vs. Palin

In terms of how each candidate should act towards this debate is evident especially since they both have some kind of weakness, such as Palin inexperience. The way each candidate approach each other has been counted for such as how Palin asked Biden if she may call him Joe which also shows similarity towards the young and old distinction is being played with Obama and McCain as well. Palin has also taken the approach to applaud Biden for his opinions instead of "bashing" his claims. This was a smart role for Palin since her inexperience would be questioned if he was to cynical towards Biden when her accountablity is constantly questioned.On the issue of same sex, both Palin and Biden both were opposed. How ever, Biden claim that he want to give same sex couples the same crediablity as heterosexual couples. But Palin says that she supports the "traditional family values." Before being direct about where she stood, she made sure that Biden also agreed. This action made me question if she did this for understanding or to not make her self look like the "bad guy."On the issue of deregulation, Palin avoided the question that was asked of her and replied that she will answer the question the way she feels that she need to. Thus, instead of answering the question, Palin just talked about her credentials which had nothing to do with what was really asked. Biden says that the reason she is avoiding this question is because show that her "team" support deregulation.Palin says that it is not patriotic to raise taxes for Big Business when it would decrease the "growing economy."( This means that she want Big Business to prosper for sake of the economy-not mentioning the American people that she is so "passionate" about).I noticed that Biden emphasizing on important difference he share with Palin really had an affect on the audience and the way one would think about the positon they are placed in. When Biden broke down the health plan it is evident that the audience did have an affect to that. His ability to emphasize on his points than to really ridicule Palin, seems to make him more attracting to watch and listen. How ever, Palin has occasionally been playing the "mom card" where she feels that she can relate to everyone "since her family is so diverse" and her connection to the kitchen table. Biden has also shared his experience of being a parent to make his point of experience actually noticed since Palin obviously gave her self the image of being a "mom."

What did he just say?

A recent post on Politico yesterday highlights elitism and its relativity to the campaign and its voters. In the interview between Brian Williams and Palin/ McCain, the Republican ticket gives interesting insight into their definition of the American elite.

Sarah Palin describes the elite as those "who think they are better than everyone else", apparently without regard to education, political power, or wealth, terms which are the characteristics of ALL American social elites. So, according to Palin, you don't have to be wealthy or educated, or politicians, to be part of the elite network of American culture, a notion completely untrue and manipulative in that it positions the Republican ticket as serving the interests of the middle class. She has clearly been taught how to be ignorantly vague in hypocritical subjects. These remarks further lead to the candidates using the media to denounce elitist "outsiders",  surely of which they aren't a part. 

Later, they directly contradict each other, Palin defining the term itself instead of its application, while John McCain claiming those arrogant elites (who?) have fundamental centralized locations in DC and NYC. What might that imply, Mr. McCain? I find it hard to understand how McCain claims not to be part of the elite if he has friends among them, and runs a campaign that spends 150K at Neiman Markus and Saks for the VP. Yes, those scummy elitist snobs who "think that they can dictate what they believe to America rather than let Americans decide for themselves". 

McCains Brain

On top of discouraging polls, McCain is now becoming the object of mockery like his vp, Sarah Palin. The presidential hopeful is now part of a video series called McCains Brain, a skit of what does through his head during the debates. All of these are carefully thought out and perfectly positioned to tear McCain down. 

The videos are part of mainstream media, being on youtube. They are part of a five part series, personally i think that the fifth one is the funniest. Check them out!

number one!

number two!

number three!

number four!

number five!

White Privilege and the '08 Campaign

The following link is to a blog post which purports to give examples of white privilege from the presidential campaign, which I thought the rest of you might find interesting since it bridges class topics. Warning: contains liberal content.

http://www.siasaduni.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-is-white-privilege.html

An excerpt:

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because “every family has challenges,” even as black and Latino families with similar “challenges” are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay.

What do you all think of this?

John Kerry's Joke?

John Kerry took a jab at John McCain at a summit concerning about energy issues. Kerry joked, "Barack got asked the famous boxers or briefs question...then they asked McCain and McCain said, 'Depends'." Depends referring to the adult sized diaper used mainly be geriatrics. Is this joke a reflection of this elections personal attacks and ill humor, or a harmless jab?

Muslims in America

One of the attacks that many Republican surrogates have been making against Obama is that he's secretly a Muslim - and that's somehow something bad, and scary.  Well, he's not, he is a Christian and has been one his whole life.  But it begs the question - what if he were a Muslim?

In an OP - ED article today in The New York Times, Maureen Dowd brought up the same point.  Sure, there are Islamic Extremists in the Middle East, and they hate us and want to destroy America, but that does NOT, in any way, reflect on American Muslims.  It's disturbing that the Republicans want us to think that all Muslims are evil, and want to kill us, but Obama should show some respect for his roots (his father was a Muslim), and refute the attacks on Muslims.  

It's just as bad as racism, or sexism, to discriminate based on religion.  So far, in class,we've mainly been talking about racism, and how it appears in society.  But religion hatred is just as bad, maybe worse, because it isn't hidden - it's right out there, plain for everyone to see.  In the 21st century, we should be recognize the difference between an extremist and someone who is given solace and purpose by a little religion in their life.  JFK was the first Roman Catholic president, Obama may become the first African-American president, but will we ever be able to elect a Muslim president?

The "real" America

Recently, Palin and other Republican surrogates have begun declaring that the "real" America is the one that supports John McCain.  Ridiculous!  And John Stewart tells us why.  Check out the video.

And they say McCain's methods are bad...

Now more than ever McCain has been highly criticized for his method of getting voters to support him: negative attack ads, associating Obama with Ayers, and allowing pundits to slander Obama's race and religious preferences. But why are they criticized? Well, they are offensive to most, conveyed only partially truthfully, but most importantly, they stray from the key political issues. Now I don't condone McCain's tactics, but I think people too easily accept some of Obama's more suspicious campaign methods, while fuming at McCain. Obama has been using/abusing his celebrity-like popularity to his advantage.  For example, I was talking to my boyfriend who told me at his college, Obama campaign officials had set up a booth offering free shirts in exchange for participation in an Obama march. Now is bribing college students a good way to get their vote? Absolutely, hordes of people flocked to get a shirt. But again, it ignores the substance of what this election should be about, the issues. So as much as we would all like to believe Obama doesn't use any questionable methods to gain support, at times he can campaign just as dirty as McCain.  

The Bradley Effect

As of October 20, 2008, according to pollster.com, the current polling percentages between the two major party candidates are Barack Obama with 49.3% and John McCain with 43.7%. As Barack Obama’s polling numbers grow, I have heard a growing use of the term “the Bradley Effect” being used by pundits and political analysts in the media. This term “Bradley Effect” is used to describe the discrepancy between the projected polling numbers and the actual outcome of election results for non-white candidates.
This effect is believed to be caused by people giving inaccurate polling responses to pollsters saying they would vote for the non-white candidate in order to not be perceived as racist instead of stating their true preference. This originated from the 1982 gubernatorial election in California in which Tom Bradley, an African-American democrat ran against a white, Republican candidate George Deukmejian and lost. In the last days before the election, polls showed that Bradley had a significant lead over Deukmejian, yet on election day, Bradley had a worse turnout with white voters then formerly received and narrowly lost the election.
This effect is not always relevant to all elections between a white and non-white candidate as there are still non-white politicians. But in this historical election, the media appears to be becoming more skeptical of Barack Obama’s advantage in the polls and the term Bradley Effect has been making its way into the vernacular of the media. We will only know if this phenomenon had any impact on this election on November 4.

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

This morning on NBC's Meet the Press, Retired General and Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell formally endorsed Barack Obama after many months of observation through the conventions and the recent Presidential Debates. Powell's decision was based upon the financial crisis plaguing the nation and the attack ads McCain has been airing over the last two weeks. Powell said when he mentioned McCain's running mate, Governor Palin:

“She’s a very distinguished woman, and she’s to be admired, but at the same time, now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don’t believe she’s ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president."

Following that, he explained why Obama was a better choice:

And I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities – and we have to take that into account – as well as his substance. He has both style and substance. He has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president. I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming in to the world, on to the world stage, on to the American stage. And for that reason, I’ll be voting for Senator Barack Obama.

With appoximately 2 weeks until Election Day, Powell's endorsement is the highest Republican endorsement since the beginning of the General Election campaigning season for Obama. McCain later on this afternoon dismissed the endorsement: "Well, I’ve always admired and respected General Powell,” he said. “We’re longtime friends. This doesn’t come as a surprise. But I’m also very pleased to have the endorsement of four former secretaries of state” - Henry A. Kissenger, James A. Baker III, Lawrence Eagleburger and Alexander M. Haig — “and I’m proud to have the endorsement of well over 200 retired army generals and admirals. I respect and continue to respect and admire Secretary Powell.”

As many would think, this is just another nail in McCain's campaign and just further's the Democrats chances of winning the election. Obama called Powell ten minutes after his interview on Meet the Press and thanked him for his endorsement. He confirmed that he would not be campaigning with Mr. Obama in the last weeks of the campaign but he did not rule out the possibility of a cabinet appointment.

Below is the video footage of his interview on Meet the Press: