Obama Again

[BertiWooster]

A black man running for Presedent - Surely an Historic era in American political history - would you agree ?

How succesful is he likely to be though - can he win over the large sections of americans , who probably still have the ' slave plantation mentality ' ?

[whiffey]

Your username is a shame, I mean, BertiWooster, it is missing something, like an essential "e"

When I did odd user names I mad sure I spel them properly, but as to your question, I don't think America can possibly elect a Black president (p.s. he has a White mother, which is cheating)

[Booldawg]

e not propa black though iz it?

[Postdog]

I guess he'll be running from the rednecks soon!

Mind you, not much of a choice for some people was it tho - either a woman or a black man, and there are bound to be some who wouldn't have wanted either.

[BertiWooster]

I was mortified , when i realised that you can only have a maximum of 12 digits in your user name - forcing me to leave the 'e' at home .

As to Obama - ok 1/2 black then

By the way - what a Dilema for him - not being ' propa' black or 'propa white'

[carolegif]

I can't see the US voting in a black president at this time. I don't think he will have Hilary as his deputy. However, McCain is seen as being of the 'old generation'.

I think it depends on the younger voters. They seem to be the ones that support him, so it will be a question of who will get the majority. The older whites or the younger whites and blacks.

[Kromovaracun]

How succesful is he likely to be though - can he win over the large sections of americans , who probably still have the ' slave plantation mentality ' ?

This has traditionally only been prevalent in the South. And even then racism has severely declined in the USA. Even if far, far, far from dead.

Obama is the first African American to win a nomination. There have been several in the past who have ran for nomination or come second. McCain's age actually serve as a slight disadvantage (link).

Obama is also a gifted speaker and seems genuinely liked by the population, so he certainly has an excellent chance.

[stokemaveric]

another question..........will we ever have a black man or woman as prime minister???

[Booldawg]

tbh USA is such a big country whoever gets voted in is unlikely to affect the lives and culture the countrywide over. I've travelled through pretty much all the states in the confederacy and Southerners live life according to their own way. TBH the fact he's a democrat is likely to be more unsavoury to them.

[terambulan]

If he can sing "Unforgetable" he'll win everyone over!

Seriously, why shouldn't he have full support. Condo Rice is respected for her role.

Plenty of black PMs and presidents in their own countries, ie India, Pakistan, Middle East, Far East, African states etc. Ideally, we should swap. All blacks in cold countries and others in hot countries.

[bazwillrun]

They'll wake up and see the light soon

' slave plantation mentality '

If it wasnt for slavery theyd still all be in Africa, so they shot themselves in the foot there big time !

[BertiWooster]

Actually , as to whether he is black or not - I suspect that if he was an ordinary joe , in the street who came knocking on your front door - little johnny opening the door, would more than likely shout - ' dad , there is a ' black ' man at the door ' .

I have to agree that he is an excellent speaker , who has a persona which comes over well on the telly - afterall image plays a big part in these contests .

I hope there isn't some nutter out there on a grassy noll

[jno]

I doubt little Johnny would notice. Black people in America have far greater 'visibility' than those in the UK; there are lots of them on TV, against, what, Trevor McDonald here; there is a large middle class; they hold down all sorts of jobs - in short, there aren't many places where black faces would be any sort of novelty at all. This isn't really true in the UK.

[sp1814]

I think most Americans on seeing a picture of Obama will say "That's an African American". They won't say "Oh, he's bi-racial" because his features are more black than white.

On looking at a picture of (say) Leona Lewis, most people would say, "She's bi-racial' because she looks neither black nor white (just beautiful - lucky girl).

Anyway, that's all semantics - and as for the Southern states of America - well, if you look at the polical map of America, they're traditionally Republican states, so whether the Democrats put up a black man, a white woman or a large suet pudding, it won't really make that much difference to the way the electoral colleges vote.

[sp1814]

By the way - I'm no expert. My knowledge of American politics comes mainly from watching all seven series of The West Wing on DVD over a three week period.

[jno]

sp1814, as I recall the southern states were traditionally Democrat not long ago - until Nixon's time, at least.

[BertiWooster]

sp1814

I'm sure this is not the first time you've mentioned this feat of watching all seven series of the west wing over three weeks

Do you want a prize , or something :-) ?

[Booldawg]

I have the box-set of HBO's 'Band of Brothers' to watch yet. I bought it well over a year ago. Maybe it will also give me an insight into American politics in a WW2 setting.