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Originally Posted by illdefined
I honestly don't think the majority of this country would elect [Colin Powell] president because of his race. just the way i feel.
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Ill,
With all due respect that is a statement based in racism. (Please note, I am not saying you ARE a racist, merely that your comment has significant racist undertones).
My assertion is based on an assumption about your statement. The assumption being that it is your position that the majority of whites voters would not vote for an otherwise qualified candidate who fairly represented their views on the sole basis that the candidate was black. IF that is not your intent, I apologize for the misunderstanding and you may stop reading now.
IF, however, that was the intent of your statement (or reasonably close to it), then it is your FEELING that whites are so prejudiced against blacks that it would prevent them from voting in their own interests. ("prejudice" being a negative opinion of someone or something without a factual basis for the opinion as opposed to "bias" which is a positive opinion of someone or something without a factual basis for the opinion).
As I stated, and I believe evidence from the time showed, a majority of americans preferred Colin Powell for president in 2000 over any other candidate. Additionally, given that african-americans have been elected senators, governors and representatives and been appointed and approved for national level executive positions, I do not believe there is a rational basis for your assertion (This is not to assert that racial prejudice does not exist; it does - on both sides of the black/white divide. My point, though, is that it is simply no longer strong enough to override a white or black person from voting for candidates who support their personal agenda).
To my knowledge, when black candidates have represented the majority view of their targeted electorate, they have gotten elected. Can you cite instances in the last 20 years where a black candidate, who supported the economic and social policies held by the majority of an electorate, was bypassed for a white candidate who's views were not supported by the same electorate?
To me, your statement is based in unsubstantiated opinion, and assumes that the majority of whites are prejudiced. I suggest to you that that is a negative belief about a race that is not substantiated by the facts and is, in fact, racist. It is for all intents and purposes, the same as someone saying "blacks in america vote for black candidates because they hate whites".
I would not make such an assumption about an entire race (or even the majority of one). I would be thankful if you would reexamine "your feelings" about mine. True understanding cannot be reached unless we are willing and able to believe the best about each other and to accept that we are more alike than different.