Community organiser in chief finding it hard to get by without dog in his life

[Aeson]

If 98 percent of white folks voted for Romney would you consider that racist?

Depends on many other factors. If Romney was running against Hitler ... it probably wouldn't suggest anything about racism. If Romney was running against Obama (and Obama didn't say, turn into Hitler) and got 98 percent of the white vote, it would have suggested that a lot of white Democrats are racist since that would be the most likely reason they would abandon their party candidate and vote for the enemy.

It would be meaningless as to whether Republicans are racist or not.

[Aeson]

Look at the primary numbers and how many black people voted for Obama over Clinton in the primaries. If you're voting for one candidate because he's black then you're voting against the other because he's (or in this case she's) not black.

Again, the basic premise of your argument is based on racism. You assume that the discrepancy is because of racism on the part of black voters rather than other factors. Surely there were people both white and black voting due at least in part to their own racial bigotries. How much of that discrepancy can be attributed to racism by black voters (or white voters, or women voters, or misogynist voters) is very murky at best.

That's before even getting to the real issues like what the candidates were saying, and how they were saying it.

[regexcellent]

The only substantive difference in policy between Clinton and Obama was that Clinton supported individual mandate universal health care and Obama supported public health care. And differences in policy positions couldn't possibly explain the overwhelming support Obama got from black people versus the relatively even split among white people.

It's the same reason Washington, D.C. won't ever elect a white mayor. Actually there was an op-ed in the Washington Post last year by one of their columnists, I think Courtland Milloy, with the headline "Is Washington ready for a white mayor?" and his conclusion was "No."

[Aeson]

The only substantive difference in policy between Clinton and Obama was that Clinton supported individual mandate universal health care and Obama supported public health care. And differences in policy positions couldn't possibly explain the overwhelming support Obama got from black people versus the relatively even split among white people.

It's not just the policy differences that matter, but how they are framed and presented. There were other significant factors involved as well. The gender of the candidates. Charisma. Racism (against a black candidate). All of those things contribute to a very murky pool where picking out just how much of the discrepancy was due to black voters' racism, and how much wasn't.

You're starting from the assumption that the race actually was close based on all those other factors, and so come to the conclusion that the discrepancy among black voters was thus due to racism. That is why your position is racist. You ignore everything but possible racism by blacks so you can be derogatory of a group of voters based on your ignorance.

[regexcellent]

Racism for a black candidate was obviously a way bigger factor than racism against him. And I'm not assuming that racism was a decisive factor; in fact, it probably wasn't, so don't put words in my mouth. You're starting from the assumption that I'm racist and working from there, so **** off.

[Aeson]

Racism for a black candidate was obviously a way bigger factor than racism against him.

No, it definitely wasn't obvious. It's your racism that is making you assume that was the case.

And I'm not assuming that racism was a decisive factor; in fact, it probably wasn't, so don't put words in my mouth. You're starting from the assumption that I'm racist and working from there, so **** off.

You need to learn to read and comprehend what you are reading. I never claimed you said it was a decisive factor. (Though I will now point out that you are claiming racism by black voters makes at least one political office impossible for whites to be elected to. That seems rather "decisive" ... )

I claimed (quite rightly) that you were attributing the discrepancy with black voters in regards to the Democratic primaries to racism ... which you obviously were, and still are.

[Ben Kenobi]

If Romney was running against Obama and got 98 percent of the white vote, it would have suggested that a lot of white Democrats are racist

Thank you Aeson.

I rest my case. If 98 percent of white voters choosing Romney over Obama proves that white people in general are racist, 98 percent of black voters choosing Obama over Romney proves that black people are equally racist.

Only 59 percent of white folks voted for Romney, clearly white people, in general, are much more willing to vote for a black man, than black folks are willing to vote for a white man when given the choice between a black man or a white man.

It's about time that the thesis that 'only white people can be racist' got tossed in the dumpster along with all the other shibboleths. Perhaps one day you we can move on to such advanced concepts that, "black people aren't synonymous with minority", and examine the relationships between races other than white folks being the enemy to everyone.

[giblets]

lol Ben suddenly doesn't care about controlling for variables

[Aeson]

Thank you Aeson.

You're welcome Ben.

I rest my case.

May it rest in peace.

If 98 percent of white voters choosing Romney over Obama proves that white people in general are racist, 98 percent of black voters choosing Obama over Romney proves that black people are equally racist.

Only 59 percent of white folks voted for Romney, clearly white people, in general, are much more willing to vote for a black man, than black folks are willing to vote for a white man when given the choice between a black man or a white man.

I think you must be trolling Reg here, by wantonly taking things into hyperbole territory to highlight the absurdities of the position.

It's about time that the thesis that 'only white people can be racist' got tossed in the dumpster along with all the other shibboleths. Perhaps one day you we can move on to such advanced concepts that, "black people aren't synonymous with minority", and examine the relationships between races other than white folks being the enemy to everyone.

Don't bite off more than you can chew. I think first you should tackle the literacy problem, once you get that solved move on to (very, very) basic logic and statistics.

[Ben Kenobi]

I think you must be trolling Reg here, by wantonly taking things into hyperbole territory to highlight the absurdities of the position.

What, the position that if 98 percent of whites voted against Obama that they would so out of racism? Either it's racist or it's not you can't have it both ways. You can't excuse it on the part of black people and then turn around and say, "well if White folks did the exact same thing as black folks are doing they'd be racist". This is in fact a racist statement as you have one standard for black people and another for white people.

I think first you should tackle the literacy problem, once you get that solved move on to (very, very) basic logic and statistics.

So your explanation as to why Kentucky and West Virginia, areas that were largely democrat have migrated to the republicans because they hate the black folks? Or could it have something to do with Obama attacking their livelihood?

In any case, I'm not sure you've got much to speak about on this issue. We established previously that you believe in the 'white man's burden' in bringing civilization to the natives.

[Aeson]

What, the position that if 98 percent of whites voted against Obama that they would so out of racism? Either it's racist or it's not you can't have it both ways. You can't excuse it on the part of black people and then turn around and say, "well if White folks did the exact same thing as black folks are doing they'd be racist". This is in fact a racist statement as you have one standard for black people and another for white people.

I appreciate how you're just running Reg's position into the ground here, please continue

So your explanation as to why Kentucky and West Virginia, areas that were largely democrat have migrated to the republicans because they hate the black folks? Or could it have something to do with Obama attacking their livelihood?

I haven't addressed Kentucky or West Virginia at all.

If Kentucky or West Virginia fit the hypothetical (eg, a Democrat state moves to 98% to 2% in favor of Republicans if and only if a black candidate is running D) then of course my statements would apply. Perhaps in your alternate reality this is the case, but for the rest of us it's nothing like that.

In any case, I'm not sure you've got much to speak about on this issue. We established previously that you believe in the 'white man's burden' in bringing civilization to the natives.

I believe in my own desire to help other people who were born into less fortunate situations. I'm very glad that a horrible human being such as yourself is not in agreement with me about how I live my life in that regard.

[Egbert]

We should have elected Romney. Sure he'd have given us the same crappy healthcare, but he would have just strapped his dog to the top of Air Force One and saved some money on the trip.

Elect somebody who does not own a dog.

[Ben Kenobi]

I believe in my own desire to help other people who were born into less fortunate situations. I'm very glad that a horrible human being such as yourself is not in agreement with me about how I live my life in that regard.

Right, I'm a horrible person for stating that Filipino culture is important and that the Catholic church and remaining true to the Catholic church is a fundamental part of Filipino culture. Something, you yourself, do not value.

It is a good thing some of what you are doing - but the other stuff, undoes the good that you are doing. Which is unfortunate. But go ahead, full sail. Teach them to leave superstition behind!

I haven't addressed Kentucky or West Virginia at all.

Kentucky and West Virginia is evidence contrary to your position that declining white support for Obama is related to racism at all. There are plenty of good reasons to oppose the Obama regime.

[giblets]

Kentucky and West Virginia is evidence contrary to your position that declining white support for Obama is related to racism at all. There are plenty of good reasons to oppose the Obama regime.

On what planet is West Virginia free of racism...?

[Aeson]

Elect somebody who does not own a dog.

I myself have never voted for anyone who owns a dog. It is an uphill battle and the movement isn't gaining any traction it seems ...

I however would vote in an instant for a dog who ran for office. At least then I could trust them to keep their campaign promises.