Since you claim to be a brother you know that this comment is mostly bullshit.

We all have family, friends and love ones who is and are only voting for Obama because he is black. Howard Stern proved it just a week ago when he interviewed some black people that said they supported Obama for issues that were more closely to how McCain would lead compared to Obama.

I have some family members that have never voted that are going to this year because of Obama is black. I know young men who have never been into the political scene at the barber shop that are now giving money and claiming they are voting for the first time even though some have been within voting age for the last two election cycles.

This is the case with at least 75% of all black people. Obama will get 90% of the black vote. Out of 90% 4/5ths will be voting for one reason and one reason only, race.

Yes, some black people are only voting because of race. Just as some white people are only voting because of race. But the implication that black people would vote for ANY black candidate is demonstrably false. Obama proved that when he beat Alan Keys for his Senate seat in Illinois. I don't think a black Republican would do very well against Hillary Clinton this year, because black people do not tend to support conservatives, by and large.

Also, why is it less valid for black people to vote for Obama than it is for Christians to vote for Bush just because he opposes same-sex marriage or abortion? Those issues seem very silly to me, but I don't begrudge people's right to choose for those reasons.

Last Colin Powell is not some ignorant hick. He is one of the most intelligent folks out there, period. His reasons are valid and that he's being lumped in with the idiots in Howard Stern's piece is EXACTLY the thing that makes racism so sucky.

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Yesterday, John McCain actually said that if he’s president he’ll take on, and I quote, 'the old boys’ network in Washington.' I’m not making this up. This is somebody been in Congress for 26 years, who put seven of the most powerful Washington lobbyists in charge of his campaign. And now he tells us that he’s the one who’s gonna take on the old boys' network,” he said. “In the McCain campaign that’s called a staff meeting!- Obama, 9/17/2008

There may be some few black people (and maybe non-black people) who are voting for Obama only because he's black. I don't know. I do know that for a time, he was generally regarded by black activists as "not black enough." (Maybe because he's successful and Ivy-League educated, maybe because he's not a descendant of slaves, maybe because his mother's white, maybe a combination of these.)

The maximum possible support for Obama in the black community that comes from his race may be measured by comparing his support to the usual support for Democrats among blacks. It is a few percentage points higher. But we shouldn't assume that all of this difference is because he's black, since he's also in many ways a superior candidate to Democrats who have run in the past few elections and will make a better president, certainly than Kerry or Gore.

Powell's support? Powell gave sound and completely believable reasons. I think he should be taken at his word. If race also plays a factor in his decision, that doesn't mean he wasn't speaking honestly about his reasons, which also are in play and surely matter more to Powell than Obama's race.

Some people will vote for Obama because he's black. Some will vote against him because he's black. The good news is that he won't be elected or defeated because he's black.

Racism exists in this country and complaining it hasn't disappeared is the reaction of a child. Deal with it. But in doing so remember that the situation has improved from where it was 25, 50 or 100 years ago. At some point in the future, long after we're dead, it won't be an issue at all. Satchel Paige said it best; "Lord knows we ain't what we want to be, Lord knows we ain't what we ought to be, but thank God we ain't what we was".

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"You don't have to practice being miserable. Everything else we're gonna work on." - A wise Platoon Sgt.

This thread is one epic fail.

Powell voted Obama because of the shameful tactics of the McCaign campaign and the direction of the GOP. He hadn't made a decision until now and if it was about race he would've made the decision a long time ago. The GOP has gone too far to the right.

His words.

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I want to change the world but they won't give me the source code.

The truth hurts sometimes.

I wonder why Powell decided to be a traitor. No, I don't wonder but I'm not really surprised. Obama made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Wasn't he "the guy" who testified in front of Congress and convinced them that Saddam had WMDs?

Wasn't he the same Secretary of State that was at war with the Bush Administration. So this really doesn't surprise me at all.

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It's hard to stay mad at someone who makes you laugh - Jay Leno

I'm still a bit confused about this offer BHO made to Powell that you mention. What offer is that?

You don't believe it's the truth.

You don't believe Powell is a traitor.

You don't believe this.

No; in any case, you don't believe this has any relevance.

Finally, a statement you believe, sort of, although you know perfectly well that "at war" is hyperbolic bullshit. He had his problems with the Bush administration and that's why he's not part of it now.

The way to put that which isn't misleading is that Powell is a moderate Republican, so it's not surprising that he would believe, as he said, that the GOP has drifted too far to the right for him. In that sense, no, it's not surprising that he might, given sufficient cause, support a Democrat.

Edit: In anticipation of sarcastic response about mind-reading re what you don't believe, it's easy to explain. As I said before, I don't think you're stupid. And you would have to be a world-class idiot to believe any of that garbage I quoted.

It's not a matter of the GOP going too far to the right. It's a matter of not adhering to their principles. I know it. Powell knows it. The American people know it.

But that isn't why Powell endorsed Obama. It's only part of it. Payback is part of it. Being a Republican as long as it suited his career is part of it. Becoming progressively more race conscious since his early days in the Army in the deep south is part of it. Powell has a lot of reasons for what he did, all valid.

But the biggest reason is because he's a politician. He knows which way the wind is blowing and he doesn't need to be a Weatherman to see it.

And with all that, the race is still close enough for McCain to pull it out.

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Andy
Cynical Optimist

Funny, how people say "I don't think you're stupid"......

...when in fact they do.



I know you love to forget historical facts so that your memory of what really happened isn't made all fuzzy with little details that are beyond dispute.

Must I bring up links that prove what I just said?

Colin Powell testified in front of the UN. His testimony included the belief that mobile weapons manufacturing vehicles were being used in Iraq.

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It's hard to stay mad at someone who makes you laugh - Jay Leno

Why do you think people endorse political candidates?

You pay them cash or give them a sweet deal and they support you.

I remember back when Hillary was in a dispute with Obama about a North Carolina pastor who was extremely influential in the state.

Obama offered him thousands of dollars to support him and then Hillary just doubled the offer and got the endorsement instead.

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It's hard to stay mad at someone who makes you laugh - Jay Leno

I am aware that politics very much involves quid pro quo (one of the main reasons BHO's and JSM's associates concern me). I'm just wondering what the offer was exactly, if you know.

Obama offered him somewhere around $30,000 to maybe $60,000 dollars. I can't remember the exact amount. It might have been $50,000.

I do remember Hillary doubled it to get his endorsement.

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It's hard to stay mad at someone who makes you laugh - Jay Leno

Do you have any evidence or citations for your claims? I'd love a source.

Want to call me a liar?

OKay. I'll see if I can find it.

List of Barack Obama presidential campaign endorsements, 2008 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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It's hard to stay mad at someone who makes you laugh - Jay Leno