Obama faces doubts among S.C. blacks

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer Fri Jul 27, 6:09 PM ET

TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. - Presidential hopeful Barack Obama faces two major obstacles in South Carolina, the first Democratic testing ground for black support: the popularity of the Clinton name and doubts among blacks that white America is ready for a minority president.
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The candidacy of the 45-year-old Obama elicits genuine excitement in a state where blacks comprise about half of the primary electorate. Yet coupled with that emotion is a strong degree of skepticism about the freshman senator's experience and whether he can win.

Obama also is up against the formidable Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic front-runner who enjoys strong support in the black community and is married to former President Clinton, who is wildly popular in the community.

The Associated Press interviewed Democratic voters across the state, including about a dozen blacks, and found evidence of excitement and doubts.

Ashley Torrence, a 27-year-old college instructor in Greenville, S.C., is torn between voting for Obama and Clinton, and considers her vote crucial because either candidate could smash barriers. Torrence has talked to Clinton and was disappointed when all she got from her encounter with Obama was a handshake.

"I wanted to ask him how he had planned to combat the feeling that unfortunately a lot of people have about just not being ready for a black male to be president and particularly a lot of people with old South mentality," she said. "How is he going to deal with that? Because you can't campaign as though it doesn't exist."

It was an issue Obama confronted on his first trip to South Carolina in February, telling those who doubted he could win because he's black: "Don't tell me I can't do something. ... I don't believe in this can't do, won't do, won't even try, style of leadership. Yes we can. Don't believe in that."

Obama's plea was directed not only at voters, who will participate in the Jan. 29 primary, but Democratic state Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston. Ford garnered headlines when he said he was backing Clinton in part because he was skeptical that Obama could win the presidency and feared that his nomination could hurt other Democratic candidates.

"Every Democrat running on that ticket next year would lose — because he's black and he's top of the ticket. We'd lose the House and the Senate and the governors and everything," said Ford, who is black.

He drew widespread criticism for his comment and later apologized.

But the AP interviews suggested the view is prevalent among blacks, along with concerns across racial lines about whether Obama has enough experience to be president. Greenville County Democratic Party chairman Andy Arnold hears it frequently among blacks, who are supporting Clinton in greater numbers in recent polls.

"A lot of the African-Americans are with Hillary because I think they don't believe white America is ready for a black president," said Arnold, who is white and uncommitted in the race. "They want to win and so in a way, I think it is a barrier to him. And it may be more so in the South where the remnants of the old South are still in the older folks mind. They just can't believe in their right mind that white folks will elect a black man president, so let's not put ourselves through that agony."

Clinton is a favorite of black women in current polls, due largely from goodwill for her husband and her lifelong focus on issues affecting families and children. Much of her lead comes from women and blacks, and it's strongest among black women. According to Associated Press-Ipsos polls taken this summer, 59 percent of black women said they support Clinton and 27 percent Obama.

The South Carolina primary, coming after heavily white Iowa and New Hampshire vote, and Nevada casts its ballots, is crucial for Obama. In 1984 and 1988, Jesse Jackson won the state's primary.

The Obama campaign argues that doubts about whether a black man can be elected is not widespread. They cite a Winthrop Poll of South Carolinians in May in which 79 percent of respondents said they think the country will be ready for a black president in the next 12 years. However, the poll did not ask whether they would be ready in 2008.

The Obama campaign launched radio ads this week with a direct appeal to black voters and has embarked on a labor-intensive effort to reach voters in their homes. Obama has about 40 staffers in the state, more than double any of his rivals. His top-ranked fundraising — he has raised nearly $60 million — allows him to invest in advertising and staff through the primary race.

Part of the campaign's strategy is to host small meetings in voter's homes, in the style of a Mary Kay or Tupperware party but where the pitch is for a candidate instead of cosmetics or plastic containers.

Iris Gladden was one of nine to attend a party this week in Timmonsville, a rural community not far from Interstate 95. Obama field organizer Ryan Cooper, 22, talked about the candidate's appeal across racial lines and showed the group a video about the candidate that focused on Obama's modest background and accomplishments, then asked to hear their concerns.

The group discussed their worries about health care costs, the quality of education, the difficulty to earn a living wage, opportunities for their young people and ending the war in Iraq. At Cooper's encouragement, they also talked about what they liked about Obama after seeing the video. Gladden mentioned that as a single mother who raised four children, she was proud to see someone from a single-parent home achieve great things.

But as she left the gathering, she was still undecided about whether to vote for Obama or Clinton. Gladden said one of her sons was in the Naval Reserves and came close to being sent to Iraq. She said her top priority is a president who will end the war, and although both Obama and Clinton are running solid campaigns, she's not convinced they could win.

"I see problems with both," she said. "Obama because he's black and Hillary because she's a woman. Are we ready? Is America ready to go there?"

Rep. Jim Clyburn, the only black member of South Carolina's congressional delegation, said he thinks concerns about the war are more prominent in voters' minds than issues of candidates' race or gender. But he said if anything, Clinton's gender might help her in that regard.

"When it comes to issues of war and peace, women hold out hope for peace more than men do," said Clyburn, who hasn't endorsed a candidate but hasn't ruled out doing so later. "If the election were held today, Clinton would carry the state. It's not going to be held today."

Another candidate, 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards, has been arguing that he will be more electable in the South. He denies that's because of Obama's race or Clinton's gender but says it's because they have never run in the South while he won the primary in 2004 and was elected senator in North Carolina.

___ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070727/...r/obama_blacks

This is going to be very interesting indeed we soon would find out how the average American mindset works today since they never had a female or Black President.
Personally speaking Black people should rally around Obama he is the future it says a lot and is a huge psychological boost for the black man and woman for AAs and Blacks all over the world i can see the impact its huge considering this is the most prejudiced powerful country.We need to get over our insecurities and about what we might lose every revolutionary process requires sacrifices and its time to get behind the man it really is a tasking time for Americans especially AAs.
That talk of inexperience this really baffles me what experience did JF Kennedy have?
And why is Bill Clinton popular with AAs? they obviously haven't digested Michael Moore's 'Stupid White Man' even though Mr Moore's leaning can be dubious so can someone please explain
Of course black people shouldn't expect and get complacent like what happened in SA when Mandela got elected the struggle still goes on and people forget that.
Its a shame seeing black women placing their femininity first which goes back to what incognito once said that they would put their rights first before black consciousness .

Asmartins, I take exception to your last sentence.

An article which quotes one or two Black women shouldn't "confirm" or "refute" any theory anybody has about black women.

If you already think something, say so...but don't be so transparent in your views towards black women that you'd latch on to one part of this article.

Article is part propaganda anyway...




========================

Politics is about gettng elected and getting re-elected. I respect Obama's accomplishments, but all politicians will serve the hand that feeds them........LOBBIES.


Let's look at politics for what it is......and not pin "hopes" into symbolism...If/When Obama wins...he'll be beholden to the big money that put him in office...not necessarily to the black community or our interests. If/when Hillary wins....it will be the same scenario. Nature of the game.

so yes.....members from a certain party are less oppressive in their views than another party......but let's not delude ourselves into thinking that politicians are anything other than what they are.

@DtotheJ
I'm only stating the obvious agreed stats can be dubious depending from what locality the stats are taken from.Having said that this is becoming more and more apparent black women today feel at odds fighting on the same platform as black men its like our agenda is different from theirs forgetting its all our struggle end of the day they enjoying this unprecedented status since YT does not see them as a threat since women can be easily assimilated into their world through marriage,relationships e.t.c and then manipulated how do you think they have stopped their own women from holding real power?
Yes politics is politics but skin colour is very symbolic especially in the US its an obsession bothering on paranoia something embedded guess its part of their historical makeup. I still believe It would speak volumes to see a black president yes hes allegiance is to the party and those that backed him however hes still not right wing as say Ms Rice or Clarence Thomas.

Aside from being an AA and young what is his platform/politics/policy?

If I was an American regardless of race, why should I vote for him?

Gmahogany
At least you agree with me to an extent and you made some valid points about where the black male had failed when placed in positions of leadership this was also eloquently put together in the thread 'can you be pro black and have a white partner?'how enough black organizations fell apart due to this very issue.
But for every failure there also have been Stirling leaders that not only positively impacted the lives of AAs but oppressed people all over the world
All in All in what you have highlighted is at this point in time black men and Black women are poles apart in regards to what should be our agenda thats if we have one at this rate.Yes YT women have certain rights and enjoy more privileges from their partner but the real power is still consolidated with YT man for example i'm yet to see a female actually perpetuate or try to stop a war all the noise the women made still the army is in Iraq

@Tahliba
you know for a fact thats hes more than that try doing some background research i would first recommend reading one if his books then consulting the democratic party its all on the Internet anyways when the party nominations start we surely would see the stuff hes made of.

If the polls are right he probably wont get the nomination because hes been down 15pts behind Hillary for quite some time now. Unless theres some last minute black power awaking or somthin. SC was suppose to be the easy one.

A poster from another site I was on made a prediction awhile back that black bulldykes would likely cost us our first black President. I didnt believe him but now everything he said is coming to fruition. There are black women who HATE black men and whos life mission is to systematically feminize them, when they see Obama they see thier "babys daddy"and thats something they cant handle..Black women are suppose to support thier black men as Michelle would do and hold power together, not become sexless bulldyke rulers.

Its a shame the fate of Obama is in the hands of a bunch of misguided negros in SC. The way thier talking, Id rather a predominatly white state make the vote. At least if he dosent get it it makes it that much more easier to vote for the republican.

@impactplayer
I'm glad you can testify to this we have 2 civil wars within our race one between those who are proud to be black and those that are disrespecting of our race with their nonsense such as randomly killing each other amongst other low level stupidness then we have the black man vs the black woman.
It takes 2 to tango if the black woman wasn't taking sh*t this men would have been more responsible
Their aim is to get a female president that would understand female issues look at how they idolize Condy Rice as a strong black woman despite her right wing leanings compared to the disdain we have for Clarence Thomas

[quote=astmartins;1427949]Gmahogany
At least you agree with me to an extent and you made some valid points about where the black male had failed when placed in positions of leadership this was also eloquently put together in the thread 'can you be pro black and have a white partner?'how enough black organizations fell apart due to this very issue.
But for every failure there also have been Stirling leaders that not only positively impacted the lives of AAs but oppressed people all over the world
All in All in what you have highlighted is at this point in time black men and Black women are poles apart in regards to what should be our agenda thats if we have one at this rate.Yes YT women have certain rights and enjoy more privileges from their partner but the real power is still consolidated with YT man for example i'm yet to see a female actually perpetuate or try to stop a war all the noise the women made still the army is in Iraq.

I did agree with you about that, and that was my point in this thread. In spite of MYRIAD examples, where Black men have been successfully co-opted and manipulated by white men and women, to our detriment as a COLLECTIVE, SOME bros still have this smug attitude that any Black man that shows up to represent/lead/advocate for us is worthy of being trusted and cosigned(just by virtue of being a man), while Black women should automatically be viewed with supsicion, or doubted as weak,dumb,manipulateble(strictly by virtue of being women). I'm sorry, but that's some white man bullshit, some "i wanna be like Mr. Charlie" ******s done got a hold of, and they need to let it go;PRONTO.

As to white men and their women. I didn't say that white men completely share power with their women. Of course they don't. They have a need to SUBJUGATE any and everybody, INCLUDING their women, they have only done what they were forced to do, and will only do what they are forced to do. However, they were smart enough to figure out that they NEEDED their women to further their agenda. During the 60's when you had ******s raising hell, the Cold War, Vietnam raging, white men in AMerica couldn't AFFORD to also have their own women pulling in the opposite direction from them. THeir house had to be UNITED to have a prayer of dealing with what was coming at them EXTERNALLY. They got hip to that, decided to kill 2 birds with one stone. Since the ******s were hollering about Affirmative action, they decided to give the lion's share of it to THEIR WOMEN, thereby appeasing them and getting them back on board, and comply with whatever equal opportunity mandates, they were required to observe.

Your comment about white women not liking the War,proves my point. THey don't like it, but they for the most part are going to back their white men, ANYWAY, because they are content with their own position. During Vietnam, they WEREN'T content with the way they were being treated by their men and they raised hell, about that war. Not only that, children often go, the way the momma goes, so not only were white women "rebelling" against white men, white YOUNG PEOPLE, were, TOO. THe whole hippie/drug /draft dodging-/college campus unrest/youth counter culture thing, was a manifestation of that. That would have never happened at other times in White folks history, here. White men came up off that bullshit they were on,in sufficient amounts to appease Ms. Ann, and Voila, The white woman went right back to cosigning and backing Mr. CHarlie, in all his dirt doing, and all was again right, with the white world.

When women are content(being treated well), and TRUST in their man/men to have their best interests/well being at heart, and trust in his ability to actually be smart enough/competent enough/have character enough, get shit done, most of the time we WILL go along/support men, EVEN when we may not agree with the course of action. When women DON'T feel that way, they will challenge that man on all kinds of trivial shit, cause they don't trust/respect him. THat's something very few men understand, but i heard Farrakhan give an excellent speech about it one time, and he was on the money.

Again, when you are in a struggle/under threat from outside forces, the LAST thing you want to do if you are smart, is turn your NATURAL ally into your enemy, by trying to take out the fact that you can't do nothing with/are scared shitless of your REAL ENEMY, on those closest to you, by trying to subjugate them. That's the time to be making sure everything is straight on the home front and that everyone is happy and content to the best of your ability, otherwise. your external enemies won't have to do you, your shit will INTERNALLY implode, before they even lay a glove on you, and that is as it should be, because you are apparently too dumb and pompous, to be winning anything,lol.