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McCain vs. Obama on AZ Proposition 104

Submitted by Matt Moon on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 13:58
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Once again, Barack Obama is trying to defend himself against attacks that don't exist. Many, including myself, documented this back in late June. Yes, Barack, we know that you don't look "like all those other presidents on the dollar bills," but you're trying to play both sides of the race card. Chales Hurt of the New York Post put it best today:

This racial calumny is completely unfair, diminishes his own campaign, and certainly is the worst possible way to win over those blue-collar white Democrats in Ohio and Pennsylvania who picked Hillary Rodham Clinton over him in the primary. Barack Obama should ... quit this whining and fantasizing about Republicans making fun of him because he doesn't look like George Washington.

So it's no surprise that Barack Obama has publicly stated his opposition to Arizona Proposition 104, the Arizona Civil Rights Inititiave. (See my previous post on Ending Racial Preferences This November.) Ward Connerly of the American Civil Rights Institute has been sponsoring similar campaigns for initiatives in Colorado and Nebraska. They have been successful in California and Michigan, but came under fire in Missouri this year. Connerly responds to Obama's opposition in the National Review today:

What he fails to say is that it is not only “communities of color” that experience hardships and difficulties. Nor does he say how, as president, he can achieve his stated goal of uniting the American people while asking those not “of color” to look the other way when discriminated against. If Obama is truly concerned about divisiveness, why didn’t he speak out when his foot soldiers at ACORN were taking pride in blocking our petition circulators from gathering signatures in Missouri? Their despicable tactics of harassment give new meaning to the term “divisive.”

In a response to my previous post, Jeff Roberts wanted to see Obama take a position on this. Jon Sandor lamented that McCain probably woulnd't take a position. Not to fear! John McCain has come out in support of this initiative, and should go to Nebraska, Colorado and Missouri to support their causes.

When building a farm team, it's not only important to identify potential leaders; it's important to identify issues that can create sustainable majorites in critical states. This issue, along with bread-and-butter economic issues at the local and state level, have to be well-analyzed. And making the presidential candidates take positions on these issues that have a more direct impact with folks on Main Street, instead of focusing solely on national issues, is important to do.

Thoughts?

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Comments

McCain Has A Golden Opportunity Here

Submitted by Jeff Roberts on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 15:03.

I was really impressed McCain came out in support of the AZ proposition, that took a lot of courage.  I can guarantee you Bush would not have come out in support of it.  Republicans need to stop being scared of the Jesse Jackson's and Al Sharpton's of the world.  Public opinion is solidly behind ending all racial preferences.

If McCain can make this an effective issue, he'll win in a landslide.  Even in liberal states these propositions pass with large margins.

I understand he has to be careful, but McCain needs to realize he's going to be called a racist in this campaign no matter what because:

A) He's a Republican

B) He's Running Against A Black Man

Obama has already tried to set the ground rules for McCain by playing the race card.  If Obama continues to play this card, he'll create a massive backlash.  Obama's appeal to many is he's a "post-racial" figure.  If he runs as a "black victim" he's finished.

Obama is not who you want to defend racial preferences and quotas.  McCain should stress a "colorblind America" and seize the moral high ground on this issue.  Make Obama explain why we shouldn't have a colorblind society. 

If some third-party groups not associated with the McCain campaign want to question whether Obama and his wife were unfairly rewarded and promoted because of the color of their skin, the affirmative-action "gravy train" if you will, even better.

McCain has nothing to lose going after this issue.  Obama is going to get 97% of the black vote no matter what.  That's really the only constituency that wants racial prefrences.  McCain should not be intimidated over this issue.

 

 

 

Ah yes, spoken by a

Submitted by Our Paul on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 16:50.

Ah yes, spoken by a non-racist, ignoring readily available background facts, and certainly unwilling to recognize accomplishment. To wit:

"If some third-party groups not associated with the McCain campaign want to question whether Obama and his wife were unfairly rewarded and promoted because of the color of their skin, the affirmative-action "gravy train" if you will, even better."

Love it, at this late date, when the electorate has overwhelmingly voiced displeasure over slimy poletics, McCain and his minions have decided it just the thing needed to shine up the Republican brand!!!

 

Then I Guess You Have Nothing To Worry About

Submitted by Jeff Roberts on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 16:57.

Then you have nothing to fear if this issue is raised, the electorate will overwhelmingly side with Obama and he'll win in a landslide.

Keep dreaming.

You missed the point Mr.

Submitted by Our Paul on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 10:51.

You missed the point Mr. Roberts. Both Barak and Michelle Obama had demonstrated scholarship and ability to independently think before they were accepted to institutions of higher learning (Columbia and Yale). They both succeeded at this level, and subsequently were outstanding students while in law school.

Your comment denigrated significant accomplishment, and clearly implied racial preference. That sir, is racism.

The question that neither the original post, nor your comments addressed is obvious: Is this how you unite a country and is this how you attract the young, the life blood of the future of the conservative movement?

Judging from the polls and the mood of the country, the populace is tired of racial politics. And this will come as a great shock to you, the young are not standing up and saluting when mud and slime, rather than issues, are presented to them by American Patriots.
 

Typical Liberal Attack

Submitted by BradleyTank on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 13:33.

If you're against racial preferences, you must be a racist. I hope Obama also takes up this line of attack.

You can make a very convincing case that both Michelle and Barack were given special treatment because of the color of their skin. That's why Americans are so opposed to racial preferences, often times people are promoted at the expense of other, more qualified people, simply because of the color of their skin.

Michelle Obama has stated she had really low SAT scores. How did she get into a school like Princeton with low SAT scores. Easy, she's black, and some other student, who had higher SAT scores, didn't get in because they weren't black. You don't get into Ivy League Schools with low SAT scores, at least not if you're white.

Why doesn't Michelle Obama release to the public her SAT scores and application, and clear this matter up? She never will because of the enormous backlash at how she got into an Ivy League school with her mediocre academic achievements.