I just read an editorial with the following statements:

"Obama has courted new voters, and there were plenty who turned out. One in five new voters were black .

It is troublesome that so many first-time voters were black. It appears they could not be bothered to vote when there were two white guys running, but as soon as a black guy runs, they decide to vote."

One in fives is black but 4 IN 5 ARE NOT BLACK.....what does that tell you? What were those other 4 and why not question WHY THEY chose to register.

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"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

Wouldn't that mean that 4 out of 5 new voters weren't black? That's not too far off from the population as a whole, is it?

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

As I said in another post, on The View this morning, Sherri stated that this was the first time she had voted and Whoopi stated this was the first time her daughter and granddaughter had voted.

Why is it this election was more important than the others from years past??

And Sherri was sitting there crying her eyes out on TV this morning about this being a defining moment for her son and that he could do anything he set his mind to --- well, duh, Sherri, why didn't you get off your butt for the other elections and show your son that voting is important even if it isn't a black person running?

Wow! So 1 out of 5 new voters was black. Big Deal. Was there a big deal made in the last election for G. W. Bush that probably more then 1 out of 5 new voters were white. SO WHAT? It's amazing that this stuff is being brought up. I had 2 NEW voters in MY house this year, both my DH and DS registered for the FIRST time. We are a white family. So what does that mean really?? My DH never felt the need to vote before this year. He is really impressed with Obama and really wanted to vote for him. Had absolutely NOTHING to do with his skin color. This was the first time EVER he said he was inspired to vote.

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Mom to Jake, Zach & Meghan
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That's sad that people think this election is the only important one ever. Why is it amazing that this stuff is being brought up? (Your question) Because all over the news this morning (even though race wasn't supposed to be an issue BEFORE the election, or so we were told), this morning all that's on the headlines is "Obama Becomes First Black President", Obama Makes History," "Obama Breaks Barriers". If race isn't an issue, then why is it being made an issue on all the news stories??

Must we bring bigotry to the boards?

.

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~~~MsMiser

We all know race was a big part of this election (for some people) I know 2 well-educated people that told me they were not embarassed to ommit they voted for Obama because he is black. I am pretty sure many more voted the same way. I don't care what color the President is, just try to get this country back on track.

You know, whether you believe it or not it is history. You may not like it but it is. And just say McCain was elected you realize what the headlines there would have been right???? First FEMALE VP in History. Women break through the barrier. Would you have been as upset about that? What if he were elected and 1 in 5 new voters were white women? that would HAVE to mean they were only voting because of the woman on the ticket right?I suppose that would be a bad thing? Geez! I honestly don't care why people register to vote. It is a persons right to vote and it is their conscience they are voting. Why try to read other peoples minds about why they voted the way they did? I so want this country to come together and be united but boy oh boy it sure don;t look like others want that to happen. Sad.

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Mom to Jake, Zach & Meghan
SJCC STREAKS FOOTBALL!!
CLEVELAND BROWNS FOOTBALL!

mom2twins i believe you have so much hatred in your heart that Barack Obama won and while you hide behind and do not admit it, your posts speaks volumns loud and clear, it totally all about the race issue, if not why would you say the things you do, why would you talk about Sherri and Whoppi whom are African Americans, its their choice to decide when they feel its the right time to vote for the first time..Truly sad , Again If I was a African American you me damn straight I would be voting, its soooooooo way over due to have had a African American elected as our president.Also let me make this clear, while he is a African American to me was part of my decision, the more important decision to vote for him was because he is a Democrat and has the same beliefs as I do, so if you did get a chance to view the crowds in Chicago last nite, there were plenty and I mean plenty of white people there as well. Stop playing the race card, its 2008 soon to be 2009, its not 1965 again...Catherine

No, because that's different. Didn't you get the talking points memo?? Palin is a maverick, so that's different. She wasn't picked for her gender, but because she's a maverick.

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Reading is Fundamental.

It's already been lving here.

dl

Amen.

Those who are now worried about people who are black who voted (the 1 in 5 new voters who are black) speak volumes about what they believe is the reason their candidate lost. Sad, isn't it?

It is as though they believe that something nefarious was going on. Perhaps they didn't feel like voting, perhaps they didn't believe in the previous candidates, perhaps they didn't think their vote counted, maybe they didn't want to vote before. Who cares? They now felt like they had someone to believe in and they voted and the candidate they voted for won.

The fact that someone has a thread to post about this and is "troubled" about it says volumes about those posters. Yesterday someone said that now we won't have to talk about race again or something of that nature. Obviously, we still have a long way to go. When we start to question why someone would register to vote for someone and pin it on the candidates color sounds a lot like sour grapes.

Interesting observation today, it's not about race, and yet in the paper it's all about the black voters rejoicing, crying, etc over P.E. Obama. There are no less than five articles and many, many photos.

Racism and bigotry go both ways. While it is unrealistic for either to be abolished, I would have hoped we could continue to tone it down.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Racism and bigotry go both ways. The next four years will be more interesting than necessary.

dl

I think that's sad. Not that they are first time black voters, but, that they are first time voters given their age. I'm more concerned with the uneducated voters, than I am the ones who are black. I think the uneducated voters (black, white, and purple) on both sides , hurt the election.

It's amazing to me how many people don't even know WTH their candidate stands for, or their record.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Be careful...that is true on both sides. There are plenty of people on both sides that vote based on only one or two issues.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

I usually read the online verison of the "local" newspaper almost everyday. This article is on the front page. Some interesting quotes from young first time voters.

Obama is at center of classes at William Fleming HS on day after elections - Roanoke.com

That's what I said, both sides.

"I think the uneducated voters (black, white, and purple) on both sides , hurt the election.

It's amazing to me how many people don't even know WTH their candidate stands for, or their record."


Here's a good one: A friend of mine called one his friends, the night before the election......did she know who she was voting for??? no, I don't know. The next morning she called the Dem. headquarters for her area, looking for a ride to the polls. They didn't call her back, so my friend said she called him and asked for a ride. Sure, no problem, I'll be right over. In the car she asked him who she should vote for.....on the way to the polls. Kind of scary, really.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I had someone tell me today that they were undecided on who to vote for right up until the last minute. They ended up voting for Obama.

Now, after watching the news following the election, and reading the papers they are wishing they hadn't. One thing that stayed in this persons mine is the mantra about how this was not about race, but that is all that has been talked about since. What a wonderful, historic thing for the blacks. The scenes of blacks falling to the floor crying and saying finally. Most the people the news are interviewing are black, etc. They said they now feel lied to.

Everyone needs to forget about his race and focus on the MAN who is now the P.E.

How many people voted for McCain because of Palin, or because he was a veteran or because he was pro life? It is easy to vote for a candidate because of one issue.

It doesn't bother me of course that black people (and I am glad to see that you, Maddie, now use black rather than "colored") are happy to see a black man in the White House. If you cannot see why (general you) they would be thrilled then I am afraid that you just haven't been paying attention.

I don't see that it is all about race now. It is historic and unthought of 50 years ago that a black man would be voted by the majority of Americans to lead the country. This is historic and to ignore it is to ignore how far we have come as a nation.
The anecdotes about people feeling lied to do not ring true to me. We shouldn't ignore that as a nation, the color of ones skin didn't (or didn't to most people) make a difference. The majority of the voters looked beyond his skin color and voted him as President. You can't ignore that. That isn't making this about race at all. It is making it about history and about progress. He is the first AA President. That is a fact.

I was wondering the same thing. 1 out of 5 would be 20% and I found that according to the 2006 US Census the black population is 13.4%, white 74%, Hispanic 14.8%, Asian 4.4%, and the remaining made up of various other groups and mixes of groups.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

That's pretty sad on their part. That they would be bragging about that on National TV. I would be embarrassed.

We are given the privilage of voting. How many people in other countries die just to vote?

Just shows you what morons they are. I have that show and haven't watched it since Star started hawking her wedding. They are just full of hot air. I also have lost a lot of respect for Barbra Walters with that show. She has sunk to a new low with this group of women.

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Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

If it had been a woman, the papers would have been filled with that today....pics of women rejoicing, crying, etc. Why? Because it would be a milestone for that group. We would have seen articles recapping women's sufferage and maybe even the more recent feminist movement. It's an important event not only for AAs but for all minorities - women included. The glass ceiling has been shatterd....and it opens opportunity for others as well.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

I have to say this. Those people who are posting about those who just now voted and this is the first time they have voted and that they should have voted even it there was not a black man on the ballot. YOU are making this about race. There are just as many if not more white people who have never voted in any election. At any time. For any person, regardless of color. (population of white people is larger so the percentage is more than likely larger who have never registered to vote).

It should be applauded that they are NOW in the process and will more than likely vote in the next elections now that they have felt that they have a voice. They should NOT be denigrated because they have not voted before this. They voted the other day. YAY!! They voted for the Democratic Ticket. If they had voted for McCain, we would more than likely hear a lot of awesome and great that you join the population that has a voice.

This presidential race was not about race. It ended up being about history. The tears of the people, Colin Powell, Jesse Jackson, those black women on the TV was not because of Obama...they were tears for the journey the civil rights movement has made, the tears are for the people, white and black who were lynched 50 years ago for suggesting that black people have the right to vote and for entire communities who never thought that they would see a US president who looks like they do. The tears are for the struggle for equality that has plagued this nation. The tears acknowledge that our country has grown so much since those lynchings. The tears celebrate those who have fallen and are no longer with us and those that remember them, for Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy.


I didn't vote for Obama because he was black but because the color of his skin did not make him less credible a candidate and others who were not my color saw this in him as well. This is why I shed tears. Not because Obama won but because it was about time that we didn't see color before we heard the message. But not everyone can say that.

I simply voted for Barack Obama not for his color, which should never be issue, while it may be for some. I voted for him because like I said I wanted a Democrat and more important I voted for him because of the content of his character, for his beliefs, his thoughts, his values, his ideas, what his dreams are for this country. They are the same ideas, dreams, hopes and beliefs I want plain and simple... Peace to all... Catherine

I agree, and it is historical, just as it would have been if McCain/Palin had won... to have a woman be the vice president would also have been historical.

I wonder if the same people complaining that it's racist to celebrate the first African-American president would also have thought it sexist to celebrate the first female VP?

I know what I think the answer is.

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Reading is Fundamental.

If the press and media are playing up the pictures and interviews with AA voters that is THEIR choice and decision. It is not P.E. Obama doing the interviews, laying out the front page headlines and pics, etc. But, I will say you all are jumping on President Obama much sooner than I thought you would. But, not surprised, really, just disappointed.

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"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

Usnamom05, I simply loved you entire above post. I felt you words in my heart, mind body and soul. I too watched all those faces that has tears coming from their eyes. I also loved all the people you mentioned who suffered so much during the civil rights ... As I have always said the speech that the late Dr. Martin Luther King wrote... " I have a dream"" while it was 1968 on the steps in front of the huge statue of another great president Abraham Lincoln,,, those words his spoke bring me to tears.. Of course the best line for me is always I have a dream that one day let a man not be judged by the color of his skin, but rather by the content of character... So thanks so much for your heartfelt post, I most truly appreciate it extremely... Peace to all mankind .... Catherine