I did NOT SAY HE WON BECAUSE HE IS BLACK, i SAID blacks voted for him because he is black.

I don't think there is any denying that race was a contributing factor in electing Obama; for some because of his race, for some in spiteof his race.

What's missing in the discussion is the underlying theme now that he has been elected and for some was a subconcious force born of the desire to see a black president.

That was the belief/feeling/hope that his election would somehow show that we, as a nation, had moved on from our racial past and were ready to embrace the color-blind society that so many have wanted and desired as far back as MLK if not further.

But the truth is that symbolism doesn't change the racial overtones and categorizations that we as Americans are bombarded with and more to the point indoctrinated with throughout our lives.

From Government mandates to Media to Business and, to some extent, even to Parents and Teachers, we are constantly reminded of the divisions of race in all areas from designating to which racial category one belongs on an employment/credit application or census form to which jobs, loans, or educational opportunities are to be alloted to each particular race and how many of each a particular school or employer may accept.

It is, IMO, due to this indoctrination that 40 some odd years after the recognition that all people should be 'treated according to the content of their character rather than the color of their skin' the election of Obama can only still be seen as a 'start'.

Only when we can get to a point where racial categorization is not a political and social way of life can we look at a media report the day after a Black President is elected and see the headline 'Best Man Won!' instead of 'Black Man Won!'.

Damn it Mason how many times have I asked you not to confuse LIBERALS with the truth?

I see once again we agree, Imagine that?

let me say, when I came to the US from israel I had a very different view of what constituted a race...

It took five years of every government form asking if I am "white, asian, latino, or african" for me to see a person and think "he is black"... I did a double take the first time I thought that... it did not make sense, since black skin is just a characteristic, just like blue eyes or blond hair... sure some ethnic groups are more likely to have them, but overall it is a very poor way of seperating the MANY strains of humanity.

Overall the first step should be to end the brainwashing and remove the multiple choice race selection from government documents. At least ones given to people under 18.

"Who said he won based on race? I didn't see a single person post that. If you honestly believe that a great many people didn't vote for him solely because he is black you have your head in the sand.  No, that isn't why he won, but it is a fact just the same. I've heard far too many people say it, and know it to be true. I've seen people being interviewed who plainly stated that's why they voted for him.

Jackson is a bad example as there are a great many blacks who despise the man and are embarassed by him. But it is true that Obama wouldn't have won based solely upon the minority vote."

That's exactly why he is the perfect example. People say a lot of things when being polled that are inaccurate about what they really believe. eg. They say they don't like violent TV being allowed, but it rates very well.

The fact is that they didn't vote for Obama just because he was black, and I know that shatters your cries of victimhood, but it simply doesn't wash. What they were inspired by was that a black man could be so inspiring, intelligent and competent sounding and be running for President. Jackson is the perfect example and proof that black people do not vote for just any idiot who fronts up with black skin. They waited for one who had a lot of great qualities. And while you may not feel he was the best candidate for the job, in most people's eyes in the US and around the world, we can say the following without any reference to race: Obama was the best person for the job.

I still don't agree with your economic arguments, and have heard Right wing economist after Right wing economist put far more convincing arguments than yours to disprove your idea. But that's not really the point. The whole economic crisis could be 100% Bill Clinton's fault and the point is that most Americans blame Bush for the current crisis (and while we're on the topic, we who are affected by the global economy feel much the same) and that was the number one factor in why they didn't vote for another Republican administrtion. Again, "change" sounds silly and like a jingle, but people wanted change from a set of policies that they disagree with. The slogan "No more Neo-Conservativism" doesn't have the same ring to it as "Chnge We Can Believe In"

I watched the race fairly closely until I had my little break from reality, the only time the race card was played was from the Obama camp, he never got Jackson's and sharpton's support because they felt their power as race dividers slipping away.

You are most welcome

Who said he won because of the minority vote? where did you read this here? he won because he bled off enough WHITE votes to put him over the top, combined with an overwhelming turnout by minorities Blacks and Hispanics both. The good thing about it was enough Blacks voted in California to pass prop. 8 once again restoring and defining marriage as one man to one woman.

the difference is that i have an argument. you have a feeling. You have a feeling that it was "bush's fails policies". Some abstract unnamed thing, no specific policies are named though.

I have a list of laws and legislators performing specific actions and counter actions that contributed or tried to prevent it.

NO Oboma did not have to His proxies did, time and time and time again. Although he did call his white grandmother a closet racist.

If a breath of air that vaguely sounded like Black came out of the rights mouth the MSM would have constructed gallows for the perpetrator. That's a fact.