Did Obarma win, more because of his colour, rather than his policies?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....merican-politics.html

/// Angered by the Republican candidate’s hardline stance on immigration, Hispanics supported Mr Obama by an overwhelming 70 per cent to 30 per cent margin.

/// There was no surprise that black voters backed the president by a massive majority, ///

The Divided Nation chart, makes for interesting reading, 94% blacks voted for Obama, but a respectable 40% of whites also did, would one ever see 40% blacks vote for a white candidate no matter how supportive his policies were?

[LazyGun]

If the republicans wish to remain relevant, they must recognise the changing demographic of the US population. To do otherwise would be the equivalent of Canute attempting to order back the tides - an exercise in futility.

http://www.dailykos.c...Is-Why-You-Lost-Again

Take a look at the link above. This is the reality, and it becomes more relevant with each passing year.

Obama and what he and his policies represent reached out to a wider electoral demographic. He was more relevant. The republicans were, in large part, architects of their own downfall. Their insistence on bringing religion into politics, with heated and sometimes offensive objections to equality and gay marriage, womens reproductive rights and abortion - these were the politics of the tea party far right christian fundamentalists, and it alienated large numbers of voters.
Romneys gaffes about the undeserving 47%, his signing of a commitment to never, regardless of circumstances, raise taxes, his refusal to allow minorities born of illegal immigrants to apply for citizenship, his hardline stance on hispanics "self deporting" -All of these measures alienated many centrist republicans and registered indepedent voters - these all contributed to a reluctance of moderates to vote for him. Thats why he lost the popular vote. Thats why he lost the electoral college, and thats why the republicans failed.

Look at the pictures from the respective election night parties and read the commentary. The republican party in Boston was almost exclusively white and male. Until they reach out to the wider electoral demographic, they will fail to gain the top position.

I think some voters will be influenced by the colour of a candidates skin, or their gender, or their sexual orientation, or their religious belief or lack of it, come to that. I think given the history of discrimination that blacks have experienced over the centuries, a positive bias in favour of a candidate from the same ethnicity is understandable, but until we get a black republican presidential candidate espousing fundamentalist social views vs a white democratic presidential candidate promoting liberal social views, we will never know for sure :)

[youngmafbog]

More likely because Romney had the backing of a load of racists and religious nutters putting them off. Put me off and I am white.

[Baldric]

Is it cos he's Black?
Where've we heard this before?
:o(

[anotheoldgit]

triggerhippy

/// well yes, there have been lots of white presidents AOG. ///

That's not what I asked, given a similar situation a white candidate and a black candidate....... well surely you can now figure it out for yourself?

[jackthehat]

But you don't like us to make inferences about your questions, AOG, you regularly tell us off for doing so.

You like us to answer the direct questions asked.

So, if you tell us what you are *really* asking.....we'll tell you what we really think.

Deal?

[jake-the-peg]

Clinton drew strong support from the African American community and made improving race relations a major theme of his presidency.[148] In 1998, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison called Clinton "the first Black president


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton

I think it's more that black voters are not big on Republicans

Nor Latino voters

I think white middle aged male republicans represent vested interest, preserve the status quo to mant minority voters

Perhaps if Colin Powell had been persuaded to stand he might have broken that trend but the republicans will need to find someone who can appeal to these groups

[Zeuhl]

<...... well surely you can now figure it out for yourself? >

Well we might when you ask clearer, less muddled questions

[Zeuhl]

To answer the 'revised' question

A white candidate with Obamas policies would probably win more black and hispanic votes than a black candidate with Romney's policies

Based on the shift in US demographics, I'd be planning for a Hispanic candidate

[Ellipsis]

> Did Obama win, more because of his colour, rather than his policies?

Let's take colour out of it and see ...

If Romney had been black too - exactly the same candidate in every other way, but black - who would have won that black vs black contest?

[anotheoldgit]

Baldric

/// Is it cos he's Black? ///

/// Where've we heard this before? ///

Now come on no need for that, this is a reasonable debatable question to ask LazyGun came up with an excellent answer, why don't you similar respond?

Incidentally on the vast TV news coverage of the election, quite a few blacks admitted that they were a little disappointed with Obama but would still vote for him.

So I refer you to LazyGun's post's last words:

/// but until we get a black republican presidential candidate espousing fundamentalist social views vs a white democratic presidential candidate promoting liberal social views, we will never know for sure ///

[friedgreentomato]

There are more whites than there are blacks in america, Obama won because of his political policies not because of his colour!

[Baldric]

Race,
Religion,
Sexuality!
Just can't leave it alone, can you?

[jd_1984]

This may have been a more legitimate argument the first time round. Although there will be an eliment of truth in it, he has 4 years to demonstrate he is the right man to lead America and you hope the majority black or white would base thier vote on his leadership so far...... Obviously a percentage will have supported him for his colour as well as or perhaps over his policies but its hard to judge

[Duncer]

Even if some did vote for him because of his colour, I'm sure some didn't, for the very same reason?

[Bazile]

It just shows , you should never count your chickens before they are hatchd .

Remember , Romney saying that he had done his acceptance speech , but had not done a losing speech ?

[LazyGun]

Again bazile, more evidence of Romneys inadequacy as a candidate. It was obviously a lumbering, cack handed attempt to convey an air of confidence - instead it displayed arrogance - a characteristic of his campaign all the way through, in my opinion.

[Bazile]

LazyGun
Indeed