"Race" hasn't been without its partner "card" much this election and the reason the subject has been taboo and arguable could be this: according to a new poll conducted by Stanford University, the percentage of voters who may reject Obama because of his race could easily outnumber the final difference between the candidates during the last election.
And the negative responders aren't all McCain Republicans, either. More than a third of white Democrats have negative views towards blacks calling them “lazy," “violent," and responsible for their own problems. The negative views could mean Obama's trouble with race is hurting his chances within his own party. Only 7 in 10 people who identify themselves as Democrats support an Obama presidency compared to the 85 percent of Republicans who support McCain.
The poll also found a trove of stark statistics in regard to opinions about race — to see what they are, read more.
- Given a choice between several adjectives, 20 percent of all whites thought the word “violent” strongly applied.
- Among other words, 22 percent agreed with “boastful"; 29 percent, “complaining”; 13 percent “lazy”; 11 percent “irresponsible."
- Among Democrats, one-third used a negative adjective and of those, 58 percent planned to back Obama.
- Among Independents, more than one-third used “complaining” and 24 percent used “violent”.
- Nearly 40 percent white independents said that blacks should “try harder."
- And the most upsetting news for Democrats: Just 59 percent of Hillary Clinton’s white Democratic followers said they wanted Obama to be president.
If you’re an Obama supporter, this information is rather bleak — but if you’re someone who is more interested in racial harmony there is a silver lining – sort of. One Stanford political scientist said of the survey: “There are a lot fewer bigots than there were 50 years ago, but that doesn’t mean there’s only a few bigots.” Is the presidential race motivating issues of race — or merely bringing those that already exist to the forefront?
Marshall Ward
Vivienne Westwood
Miu Miu
Oh dear.
1So did they only study the opinions of white people about black people? Or are we only reporting these results?
"and responsible for their own problems" Is that a negative view? That's sort of a view I hold about most people...
2To answer your question citizen - I think this election is bringing already existing issues to the forefront. Sad to read the above.
3whats wrong with saying "responsible for thier own problems"?
4To be fair Mich- I also hold a similar view that many people should be responsible for their own problems HOWEVER we have to consider that certain economically disadvantaged groups could have the drive and means but not the tools necessary to solve their problems or get out of their situation. I believe we need to have a support system for them in place. I do not agree that it should be a race issue because I think the issue is really about poverty. However I acknowledge that it is mostly black areas that are poor and need assistance. There should be some help for people in these areas. I don't think it is fair to just expect them to be responsible for themselves if they desperately need resources.
5I just hate polls like this. They give you no indication of how they really conducted the survey, so you're just supposed to swallow the results without being able to point out the problems in the methodology.
6From what I can tell, the problem is that they're asking people who might not hold racial stereotypes to make racial stereotypes.
Geebers, I think we have a different idea of what 'responsible' means in this case. I don't necessarily think that they caused their problems, but I think they should be responsible for dealing with them.
7There's one more problem! The statement can be interpreted different ways. Some people might think of it how I do (which is not really a negative racial view) and some people might think of it another way.
8100% of white people forced to make broad sweeping generalizations about race make broad sweeping generalizations about race.
9I think this is upsetting, but this election is just highlighting an existing issue. In some areas of the country racism I feel is becoming more acceptable. The thing that is also disturbing to me is that a lot of people will not vote for Barack Obama because he has a Muslim name. This post focused on the black/white issue, which is definitely relevant, but what really upsets me about Americans today is their acceptance and tolerance for anti-Muslim rhetoric. I can't tell you how many times on other blogs I've seen anti-Obama republicans post Barack HUSSIEN Obama like that should mean something to me.
10Just FYI, there is some interesting info on how they conducted this poll here: http://www. breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93AIV882&show_article=1
11i agree with you mich. id like to read the actual survey, and hear the methodology before i take this as gospel.
12Mich - well we DO have different political views haha. But I was trying to say that it could be seen as negative for the reasons I stated. At the same time- I do think different circumstances for different cases. People that put themselves into a bad situation should be responsible to get themselves out of it. But there are people that were born into it or may feel stuck with no way out- those are the people I feel should not be blamed. I have a problem with placing everyone of one race into a box - we need to start focusing on economic status.
13Ooh pop you just beat me. There's this about their methodology too.
14Wow, Citizen, after reading that I think even less of this study. The methodology is pretty ridiculous.
15cool thanks for posting citizen.
16That methodology seems pretty interesting and I think it looks pretty sound.
17"In addition, random groups of subjects were presented lists with varying numbers of subjects, such as increased federal gasoline taxes, corporations polluting the environment and a black president. They were then asked how many of those items — not which ones — were upsetting. By comparing each group's answers, researchers were able to estimate how many people were upset by the items relating to blacks."
That seems "sound" to you?
18yeah i don't think that's good methodology either. unless i misunderstand, that's like saying
"please tell me if any of the following words make you feel bad:
cancer
death
violence
kittens"
not sound.
19From what I've read of the methodology, even if it's off some, the numbers still are high enough to be worrisome.
I hope the importance of this election makes us seriously examine our bigoted tendencies and how they hold us back as a society. Frankly, looking at the mess our country's in, I'm surprised white people have the nerve to criticize anyone else.
20"Frankly, looking at the mess our country's in, I'm surprised white people have the nerve to criticize anyone else."
haha! brilliant point!
21"Frankly, looking at the mess our country's in, I'm surprised white people have the nerve to criticize anyone else."
What does that mean? Do you really think white people alone are to blame for the problems of this nation? That would be a pretty racist attitude.
22"Frankly, looking at the mess our country's in, I'm surprised white people have the nerve to criticize anyone else."
Last time I pointed out stephley's pointed bigotry, my comment got deleted. Breathtaking.
23I've seen this take place within my own family. My paternal side are all democrats. However, most of them are choosing not to vote. Why? Because Barack Obama is black. I've heard ignorant comments such as "If Obama gets the nomination, blacks will feel like they can do whatever they want to" or "If Obama wins, he'll just get shot anyway."
Excuse me?
I tried (futilely) to point out the ignorance in their comments, but it didn't do much.
So, yes, I'm voting for Obama in November, and no, I'm not going to bother with my families ignorance anymore. It's all stereotypes, and it's disgusting.
24This is definitely worrisome, but then again, 95% of all statistics are BS, so I'll take it with a grain of salt and continue looking forward to a good outcome on November 4th.
25We're not to blame alone, but we've undeniably held the most power for the longest time -- and therefore, we have our nerve criticizing other races for 'making their own problems' or anything else.
26Stephley,
Was your last comment supposed to be taken seriously? Because to be quite honest, it's very hypocritical.
27i took it as a really funny joke, myself.
28It's pretty sad when you can only see the world in groups (blacks, white, liberals, conservatives, men, women) and not as individuals.
29Good for you omilawd! If my grandparents were still alive I am afraid they might say the same thing!
30how is what stephley said bigoted or hypocritical??
31Take it as you wish.
32YY, if I were to say "Frankly, looking at the mess our ghettos are in, I'm surprised black people have the nerve to criticize anyone else," would you think that was bigoted?
33I think you will get a better idea of the poll methodology from the link that pop posted instead of the one from citizen. But I do agree that polling is generally more 'applied' science than true science. Also I thought this article gave interesting insight into other aspects of the same poll.
34Mydia, I read both links and I'm still thoroughly unimpressed. And I wouldn't call polling a 'science' at all.
35Michelin, very interesting statement. "Frankly, looking at the mess our ghettos are in, I'm surprised black people have the nerve to criticize anyone else," would you think that was bigoted?
I would then like to know why are the ghetto's in ruin with guns and drugs and how did they get into the neighborhoods. Who is controlling that market. Just a question.
36ghettos, not 's
37Frankly Michelin, I can't believe you need to ask someone about that statement.
38Bella, my example simply meant that you can't blame each individual black person for the actions of a few other black people. Just like you shouldn't blame the actions of a few white people on all white people.
Even beyond that, surely our problems aren't so simple that they can be blamed on a few white people.
39I think the folks at Stanford would disagree with you, but regardless, I know from personal experience that racism is alive and well and in country and is being applied to many people's decisions to vote for Obama. And I still think this is more than a black/white issue, I know a lot of people that wouldn't vote for John Kerry because he was Catholic, and I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't vote for Barack if he were in fact a Muslim.
40Yes, Stephley, I can't believe that statement isn't obviously racist. Just as I can't believe that it wasn't obvious to YY why I felt your statement was bigoted.
41Michelin , I was trying to create dialog. I wasn't saying you meant what you wrote. I was simply asking a question.
42"racism is alive and well and in country and is being applied to many people's decisions to vote for Obama"
You're right about that. There are certainly a lot of people who are voting for Obama just because he's black. And some who won't vote for him for the same reason. I'm not denying racism, I'm just denying this poll's accuracy.
43Nothing in your statement stands out to you?
44Bella, I just don't want to try and defend a statement that I obviously don't agree with.
45I hear you, but I'd rather discuss if American's racism is going to affect this election instead of the validity of polling. The media isn't doing enough to discuss this issue openly, and I think that is just one dropped ball by the MSM over this election. If it takes a potentially crack pot poll to get a discussion going then I think it serves its purpose.
46That's fine but it wasn't just for you. It was a question to be answered by anyone. There may be people who believe the statement regardless if you don't.
47i prefer to spell the plural "Ghettoes", myself. but that's just me.
48Excuse me and thank you for the correction YY.
49The idea that only white people are responsible for the state of this country is false, just as the idea that only black people are responsible for the state of the ghettos is false.
The idea that all white people should be held responsible for the actions of a few individual white people is wrong, just like the idea that all black people should be held responsible for the actions of a few black individuals is wrong.
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