Go Read It: Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause

You seldom--almost never--hear about racist incidents targeting the various Obama state or local headquarters. But they happen. And it's been a real education for the hard-working and dedicated volunteers of all races who do the on-the-ground work of ringing doorbells and making calls to voters on behalf of the Obama campaign.

For those local and regional campaign staffers, it's been an eye-opening experience to see and hear just what your fellow Americans feel emboldened to say about our possible first president who happens to be biracial African/European American. And of course, what won't get said, but just hangs in the air as "a funny feeling."

For all the hope and excitement Obama's candidacy is generating, some of his field workers, phone-bank volunteers and campaign surrogates are encountering a raw racism and hostility that have gone largely unnoticed -- and unreported -- this election season. Doors have been slammed in their faces. They've been called racially derogatory names (including the white volunteers). And they've endured malicious rants and ugly stereotyping from people who can't fathom that the senator from Illinois could become the first African American president.

While it can be depressing to realize that many have closed their minds to what Obama offers before even hearing what it is, what I take away from his campaign and from every supporter/voter/donor is that there are many more people for whom race is NOT an issue. Over and over Obama supporters have said that they like the only things that really matter: Obama's legislative record, his policies, his judgment, and proposed platform. That's what the candidate himself has urged us to judge him on.

Can we get there, America, to that place where the content of our character overrides what skin color we are? Yes, we can. If enough of us join together, we can make a new reality. We can seize the opportunity to vote for an extraordinarily gifted leader who has earned every vote, every state, every superdelegate that's currently in his corner. We can turn this country around, and make it great again.

Cynematic blogs at P i l l o w b o o k.

Comments

[Lawyer Mama]

I can't say that I'm surprised. I'm actually surprised that racism has been *less* of an issue than I expected. Being from the South and being white (meaning many people think it's OK to make comments in front of me) I've heard it a lot. Unfortunate, but true.

However, if Hillary were the nominee I think she'd also face the same issue and door slams, just because she's a woman. Sigh....

[Caroline]

Call me ignorant - happily carrying on in my own, white, idealistic and liberal void - but I guess I AM surprised whenever I hear this sort of reaction. HOW can it possibly matter when the person (not his race) has so much to offer. How how how??? I guess I have assumed that we - as a country - have somehow evolved and ARE ready for this change. But when a republican aquaintance said to me recently "I don't think this country is ready for a (whisper) black president." - I just about passed out on the spot. People think like that? PEOPLE REALLY THINK LIKE THAT? STILL?!?!!!! Yup, its official, I'm ignorant. But - I too - hold fast to my optimism about this race. You're so right. For those that it does, there are so many where race DOESN'T matter. And knowing that - I can find comfort, stay confident that Obama can win this thing and sigh a big fat *phew* of relief...

[cynematic]

@LawyerMama: I'm sure Clinton supporters face the same thing from people who just can't imagine a woman as president. But I chose to focus on Obama in this post because 1) he consistently downplays this resistance, 2) his campaign largely depends on a vast army of volunteers and part of the unintended education they're receiving is how entrenched racist attitudes are, 3) just trying to keep it to the presumptive nominee! :)

@Caroline: that's the thing about racist or sexist comments--they leave us gobsmacked because who in their right mind walks around *wanting* to hear that? So it's shocking when you do hear it. Even worse when someone goes out of their way to vandalize a campaign headquarters or what have you.

I think it's powerful that the Obama campaign has consistently side-stepped "who's a bigot and why" and instead has taken the approach of asking people "What is it *you* need, and how can government help?" Because even people with bigoted attitudes need to send their kids to good schools, need health care, need to be paid a decent wage, and so on. And hopefully those attitudes and behaviors can fall by the wayside of their own accord as Obama shows he not only listens, but delivers.

[Gunfighter]

From the other side of that coin, I am shocked that other people find these behaviors surprising.

[JayMonster]

I am not shocked that this is happening.

I AM shocked that it has happened quite as much in primary season.

I will be more shocked when people finally realize or discover that this is going to be an even BIGGER issue when it gets out of primary season and you are now trying to court independents and {{gasp}} conservatives.

Why is it little talked about and unreported now? Because that would have stoked fears that Obama could possibly be "unelectable"? (I don't agree and thus the quotes, I am simply asking "why" people are so reluctant to report/discuss the issue)

There has been so much pandering and game playing about the "other candidate" being racist, or "pockets" of "unenlightened" people cause Obama to lose in places like WV, but surprisingly little about what this could potentially mean come November.