Lisa Borders is back in the 2009 Race for Mayor of Atlanta! (Dallas: crime, to live in)

[grindin]

Originally Posted by afonega1

In Georgia especially outside of the metro Atlanta area,white voters did not vote for Obama.In every majority white county in Georgia,whites voted for Mcain.The South although I still love it for how far it has come in racial relations still has a long way to go.It will be a long time before there is a black governor in this state.Many people in the Mountain areas are especially anti Obama and anti -black.I know I will get flack for saying this but its true.Obama won because of whites in the north,midwest and west.

No flack from me. It is mostly true.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by afonega1

In Georgia especially outside of the metro Atlanta area,white voters did not vote for Obama.In every majority white county in Georgia,whites voted for Mcain.The South although I still love it for how far it has come in racial relations still has a long way to go.It will be a long time before there is a black governor in this state.Many people in the Mountain areas are especially anti Obama and anti -black.I know I will get flack for saying this but its true.Obama won because of whites in the north,midwest and west.

So is it to be inferred that McCain's victory in these precincts was all about race? I am sure that mentality is still out there in Georgia, but this had to do with political philosophy to a large degree, not skin color. I would bet that a black conservative would do substantially better than did Obama in these areas of the state.

[vsmoove]

Originally Posted by lilmusket

What Obama's election showed is that white voters were willing to vote for a black candidate, even when up against a white candidate, in fact white voters split fairly evenly (though a slight majority did vote for McCain) but Obama received well over 90% of the black vote. And in how many instances where a white candidate faces a black candidate, do black voters go against voting along racial lines? Look at the New Orleans mayoral race, where Ray Nagan was reelected. There is a wealthj of voting history that shows that black voters are the most inclined to vote along racial lines.

White voters voted overwhelmingly for McCain/Palin -- if you look at the whitest counties in Georgia, they voted for that ticket at well over a 75-80% clip. It was worse in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. All voters tend to vote for those who are familiar... whether it's Evangelicals going crazy over Palin, veterans flocking towards McCain, Mormons in Utah voting for Romney or African-Americans for Obama. It's wrong to pin this issue on one group. Still, the point is that Obama was able to make headway in more moderate states like NC, VA, IN, etc. where nobody would have predicted that a Black man would do well. It takes vision, timing and a great organization to overcome the natural inclination to favor one's group.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

So is it to be inferred that McCain's victory in these precincts was all about race? I am sure that mentality is still out there in Georgia, but this had to do with political philosophy to a large degree, not skin color. I would bet that a black conservative would do substantially better than did Obama in these areas of the state.

I agree but in large part this is true for black voters too.If you are black and you vote for a black person,it is mainly because you feel they have and understanding of your problems and situation.Its philosophical as well.Its both.Not saying that these politicians always care about their constituents in their districts more than just getting rich and powerful,but people want to believe they do.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

So is it to be inferred that McCain's victory in these precincts was all about race? I am sure that mentality is still out there in Georgia, but this had to do with political philosophy to a large degree, not skin color. I would bet that a black conservative would do substantially better than did Obama in these areas of the state.

When Alan Keyes(a black conservative) ran a few years ago,he did not fair well in the south either.He would not do well over a more leftist white candidate if they were running in a majority black area.Remember also that Hilary Clinton received very large support from blacks.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by afonega1

When Alan Keyes(a black conservative) ran a few years ago,he did not fair well in the south either.He would not do well over a more leftist white candidate if they were running in a majority black area.Remember also that Hilary Clinton received very large support from blacks.

I think a lot of that is due to Keyes' (and the Libertarian Party's) poor public image.

[vsmoove]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

I think a lot of that is due to Keyes' (and the Libertarian Party's) poor public image.

He has a terrible image now (mainly because he's gone crazy at the thought that Obama destroyed him and then won the Presidency) but he was by far the best communicator of the conservative philosophy back in 2000 as compared to Bush and McCain... but he never got a hearing. There is not ONE Black Republican nationally or state-wide elected official. The highest ranking Black Republican in the entire country is the head of the Texas Railroad Commission.

[Midtownatl]

People have such short memories. Atlanta elected a white person (Cathy Woolard) citywide to serve as City Council president nearly ten years ago, a candidate who also happened to be a lesbian. The city overwhelming voted for (white) Jim Martin over (black) CEO Vernon Jones. If Woolard had opted to run for mayor this time, she would have done very well. I think Clark Howard would win in a landslide.

The fact of the matter is, it has been a long time since a talented qualified white person has run for mayor. This year, Mary Norwood is giving it a go and doing quite well. Just drive through South Atlanta neighborhoods and you'd be suprised how many black Atlantans have her signs in their yard.

If Norwood does not win, it'd be myopic to assume it's because she's white. Sen. Reed is perhaps the most qualified person seeking a first term since Congressman/UN Ambassador Andrew Young. Note that this year, the MARTA and transportation bills we needed actually passed the State Senate, where Sen. Reed authored them and shepherded them through. (It was the state house where they failed). Also, Jesse Spikes is brilliant: Rhode Scholar, magna degrees from Dartmouth and Harvard Law. I have no idea who I'm voting for, in large part because there are a number of solid candidates.

But again, the question whether a white person can be elected citywide here was answered in 2001. The answer: absolutely.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by vsmoove

He has a terrible image now (mainly because he's gone crazy at the thought that Obama destroyed him and then won the Presidency) but he was by far the best communicator of the conservative philosophy back in 2000 as compared to Bush and McCain... but he never got a hearing. There is not ONE Black Republican nationally or state-wide elected official. The highest ranking Black Republican in the entire country is the head of the Texas Railroad Commission.

One of many problems that the Republican Party has to deal with right now.

[KevK]

Who cares about any of these people? They are all council people and all of them had a hand in turning the city from a fairly decent places into a craphole. The city has not had a decent Mayor since Andrew Young and probably won't this time either.