Stephanopoulos: Those Against Obama Because He's Black Won't Vote for Any Democrat | NewsBusters.org

Stephanopoulos: Those Against Obama Because He's Black Won't Vote for Any Democrat NewsBusters.org:

"Reminiscent of Bryant Gumbel's 1989 charge on the Today show that you're either
“a racist or a liberal,” on Sunday's This Week, ABC's George Stephanopoulos
presumed only Republicans are racists who will not vote for Democratic candidate
Barack Obama, who had an African father. During the roundtable, Sam Donaldson
proposed that the country is ready for an African-American President, but noted
how “he said he thinks he'll lose some votes because of that, and so the
question is what does the word 'some' mean? In critical elections, not just in
the South, it may mean something.” Moderator Stephanopoulos then jumped in: “I
guess I think that anyone who's not going to vote for Barack Obama because he is
black isn't going to vote for a Democrat anyway.” "

Is anyone really so blind that they think that all the racists live in the Republican party. There are a number of concerns in this belief.

One is that are all racists even honest about being racist. How many claim to be tolerant, but live in gated communities where their encounters with those who are different from themselves is very limited. It is easy to say you are tolerant, when that tolerance is never put to a real test. How many of them would feel as tolerant if a member of their family were harmed by a minority.

Two is the idea that left and right are solid groups. One might vote for the democrats for environmental reasons, but hold ideas similar to the Republicans on all other issues. I know in my life I have met people who are liberal on some issues, and surprisingly conservative on others.

Three is that the practice of many left wing ideas have racist and classist effects. I live in a town that bars fast food chains from operating. It is against the liberal image of the town, but it limits the options for those who have less money to spend on food. Environmental actions also have similar effect on low income families, many of which are minorities. I am not suggesting that these policies are racist, but that when all groups are not considered in taking action - it dis-empowers those groups left out.