Wednesday, February 13, 2008
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Ed Rendell And The Race Card
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Posted by:
Hugh Hewitt at
7:40 AM
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Bob Donaldson/Post-Gazette
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is a Clinton guy through and through. And he's doing his best to help reverse the slow collapse of Hillary's campaign, even to the point of playing the race card against Barack Obama with a warning that some whites won't vote for the Illinois senator:
"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in yesterday's edition.
Rendell cited his 2006 reelection campaign, in which he defeated Republican challenger Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star, winning about 60 percent of the vote.
"I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann been the identical candidate that he was - well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking - but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so," he said. "And that [attitude] exists. But on the other hand, that is counterbalanced by Obama's ability to bring new voters into the electoral pool."
These sorts of observations, when made at all by elected officials, used to be routinely coupled with the appropriate denunciation of the racist attitude implicit in such a decision-making process. Leaders were expected to exercise leadership by rejecting the very idea of race-based voting, not to accomodate it through suggesting strategic voting against minority candidates who might be more vulnerable in general elections. If Rendell made the traditional denunciation to the Post-Gazette, it is unrecorded. Asserting that 5% of the Pennsylvania electorate of 2006 was racist is a way for Rendell to scare Democratic primary voters in the big contests remaining, and such appeals to fear used to be out-of-bounds as a naked play to voters' worst instincts.
But when push comes to shove, the Clintons and their allies don't hesitate to break all the rules as often as is necessary to win --a characteristic that has to be contributing to her accelerating slide downhill both in tactics and results.
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Gov. Ed Rendell (Pennsylvania), one of Hillary Rodham Clinton's most visible supporters, said some white Pennsylvanians are likely to vote against her rival Barack Obama because he is black.
"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in Tuesday's paper.
Once again the Clinton Campaign sends out one of their Lackeys to Race-bait the electorate.
Gov. Rendell is a Lying, Racist Bigot! He should resign immediately!
1. True "Conservatives" regardless of color do not vote for Liberals. (Senor Juan McCain will find this out soon)
2. It is Racist White Liberals that will not vote for Obama. This should make the Clintons happy….They are winning 100% of the White Racist votes!
3. The truth is that the Democratic Party is full of Racist and the reason they set up there nomination process the way it is, was to keep Blacks from ever winning the nomination!
What will Black Voters do after the Clintons and the Democratic Party steals the Nomination from Mr. Obama???
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Quit being such a rabble-rouser, Hugh. There is nothing offensive in Rendell's remarks--unless the truth is now offensive. There is such a thing as "the Bradley effect," and when Barack becomes the nominee, we Dems will have to take it into account. It is a price to pay, but Barack will adapt and overcome. |
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After the rank bigotry demonstrated by southern evangelicals against Mitt (lies about his faith, demonizing Mormons, personal attacks on Mitt - all under the sheep-skin of righteousness) it should be no surprise that they won't vote for an African American either.
The thinking of old south is alive and well in many self-professed "Southern Christians.” These bigots and haters are the ancestors of the people that hated and beat blacks while carrying the cross and wearing their white robes of the false priesthood.
It was startling for the Mormons to see this time around, but I guess every new generation has to see it afresh to believe it. The strand of DNA that gave us 100 years of hatred and oppression after the civil war is apparently alive and well in the south.
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Democrats, the rainbow party as long as it's a primarily white rainbow. |
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Ed, you brought it up.
Last I heard, Barack Osama had a caucasian mother. How does this square in referring to him as "African-American".
I simply mean, if you are going to bring attention to his race, his color, let us all be honest about it.
More accurate would be him being, "Half-rican American".
I did not want to spend time on this, however, given that you brought it up Ed, old buddy, old pal, you should be accurate about these references. |
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won't vote for Clinton, McCain, or any other candidate who received money from George Soros...
I know one. And I know "people of color" who feel that way, too...
Anyone who votes for or against a candidate based on **ANYTHING** except how qualified that candidate is to do the job based on how closely that candidate matches the voter's point of view is an idiot anyway--and should be barred from voting until they get their head out of, um, uh, well, you know what I mean ... |
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If I am going to be assessed on my voting on issue of race, I would want it on record that I look forward to Condi Rice one day running.
Now there's an African-American, Mr. Rendell.
And, if you are going to make this an issue of race, I will withold my "African-American" vote until at which time she decides to run. Whether she runs as POTUS, or, VPOTUS.
I'll reserve my "race-choice" vote for a full-fledged, African-American, woman.
C'mon Condi. Please put your name in and get on the ticket. |
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I agree with Patriotic Liberal, and we all should think about this truth.
If you believe that prejudice does not exist, then be happy for you are among the many that voice that opinion, but when the time comes to vote, that which is a very personal thing and most of all private, do you think this country is ready to elect a black president? I doubt it. The reason being that there are believes ingrained too deep inside the American culture that cannot be dismissed, that is how Americans have been brought up and it is going to take many generations to change.
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did you ask Peter and Hanson if it was ok to use the age card against McCain in the primaries - i cant think of who it was but some irrational Romney supporter on this blog kept brining McCain's age as an issue.
Do you know who that was? And does that fall under the "will do anything to get your guy elected" motto?
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the question, dearie. You Libs just can't hep yerselves, can'ya? It's White-Libs which Big Eddie & HH were discussin'.
Only problemo Neo has with the Very Likable Mister Bazama(Well, besides his crazy-a** 1960's Saul Alinsky socialist French Junkyard views..)is trying to imagine January 20, 2009, and Chief Justice Roberts asking "Barack HUSSEIN Obama" to place his hand on the Family Bible. Hey, I can't hepp'it: "I, Barack HUSSEIN Obama, do solumnly swear..." Oh well, I'll get over that tinny sound to my ear. The Retreating from Iraq and fighting Dark Age Islamist Butchers(Many named Hussein)with spit-wads and stern, "Now see here.." language & scowly looks will take me a bit longer!
Me & my Pal, Clarity, are on the same page with Condi Rice. What a candidate for Veep! She's got a resume that Hillary + Obama x 20 couldn't Equal. In their DREAMS! Toss in little "personal-plus" tidbits like: Beautiful, Brilliant, Birmingham, Alabama daughter of a preacher, personal close childhood friend of Denise Nichols(one of the kids killed in the Birmingham Church bombing..), Concert level pianist, Pro-level ice skater(with GREAT Legs) and Entirely Warm & Hugely Likable.
Unfortunately, Johnny Little sees himself as a Foreign Policy Genius and undoubtedly will seek somebody who gives a s**t about domestics & is good at schmoozing politicians in the Beltway for Veep. Too bad. Condi could be an enormous PLUS in the Campaign. |
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when he exploited anti-Mormon sentiment as "out-of-bounds as a naked play to voters' worst instincts."
You repeatedly call Huck a nice guy and all that. But he's NOT a nice guy, and successfully divided the social conservative vote in the south with his ignoble campaign strategy.
It would have been nice to see you stand against Huck's disgusting and divisive bigotry. Why didn't you, or anyone for that matter, call him out on it? Very disapointing.
It is also disheartening the way you allow vile anti-Mormon comments on this blog. If these kind of comments were against ANY OTHER GROUP, they would be promptly removed. Apparently, Anti-Mormonism is the last allowable bias.
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And, if you don't think the Dems are going to play it in a dozen subtle(and maybe unsubtle, as well..)ways, you must be happy out there on Planet Lollipop!
The Pressies will play the difference constantly IF Barack is the nominee. Split screens on TV will be the order du jour. If it's Clinton, they'll play it sleazier & Clintonesque. Can't use split-screens with the Thighness, but age ways, anyway! |
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McCain will be the oldest pres if he's elected. He is already showing signs of forgetfulness. It is entirely fair for the electorate to expect a president to be healthy and vibrant. |
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Did you see the side-by-side photos of Barack and McCain at CNN.com last night? Picture an old wrinkly-necked McCain sporting yellow teeth (can someone please buy this man some white strips) right up next to Obama flashing his winning smile. The contrast is actually startling. |
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No matter how much Barack Obama panders to Illegal Alien supporters, the Inherently Racist Mexican Clinton followers will NOT vote for The Black Candidate. That's the REAL truth!!!! |
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Pal, you are entitled to your own opinion.
And THAT is one of the great things about this country.
Every one of my friends who happen to be conservative, don't give a rat's a$$ whether the candidate is black-white-yellow or green. Perhaps it is where you've lived all your existence, in that little cloistered cave which brings you to say:
"...but when the time comes to vote, that which is a very personal thing and most of all private, do you think this country is ready to elect a black president? I doubt it."
Personally, I doubt YOU will-----WHY? Because you could not even bring yourself to admit otherwise. You choose to put words and voter-choice in other people's mouths and minds.
Speak for yourself there, ALL-CAPITALIZATION-MONIKER-GIRLY-GIRL. I love that right-up-front, all-caps stuff, in your "handle". It speaks with such, er, well, not conviction, uhhh, how about------oh yeah........"look-at-me" panache.
I can readily and honestly make reserved declarations----RIGHT NOW (You can't even do that).
Here you go:
If a rational, stable, conservative black person wants to run as president----bring it on. You got my vote. As for some mamby-pamby "Half-rican American" who has zero experience on the national and international arena---and is about as Leftist a presidential front-runner candidate this country has ever seen-----NOPE----I'll pass.
C'mon, Condi Rice. I do not care that you replaced all of the upper-level conservative staffers in your department with more Liberal ones. You walk-the-walk. You have a great understanding of the threats we live under in this world. You are not going to go have tea and crumpets with Hugo CHAvez-types in the world. You're not going to go negotiate with AchMADwackjob in Iran like Barack Obama declared he would.
Condi For President. Or, Condi for Vice President. I'll even volunteer for your campaign.
There you go, PUFFY, BIG-LETTERED, "AMERICAN-FOR-CHOICE", chew on that one. |
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So, the governor who, with the help of an apparently weak and lame state legislature,helped bring the virus of state-sponsored gambling casinos into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania without giving us the opportunity to vote on the matter, has apparently concluded that people like me don't exist. I am an evangelical Christian conservative who just happens to be black, and I want it known to Governor Rendell and all his wealthy liberal buddies that I vote VALUES, not RACE. |
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No one can quite decide (the polls favor Obama) whether Clinton or Obama is the tougher opponent for McCain. Contrary to popular wisdom, I think Obama is the weaker candidate in the general election for a number of reasons:
One, there is less chance that Hillary would accept the VP and unify the party (Obama just might accept a VP to get the requisite experience and stature for the next run);
Two, so far his repertoire is limited to the brilliant set "change" speech and repartee in debates, but we have no idea how he will sound when asked for specifics in ex tempore occasions;
Three, his high-profile wife Michelle, being bright, educated, confident, but completely without experience in reacting to criticism or counter-argument, is a loose cannon, and so are some of his staunchest supporters (who wants a Moveon.org ("General Betray Us") endorsement? or the support of his "black value system" church?);
Four, moderates and independents are surprised that the non-race candidate has been winning overwhelming block racial support. One might have expected Obama, in a race against the liberal wife of the first 'black' President to garner 50 percent or 60 percent of the African-American vote, but not 80 percent. That disparity might in itself prompt a like counter-reaction among whites, Latinos, and Asians that legitimizes voters taking into consideration race — as Hillary's surrogate Gov. Rendell, in perfect Clintonian fashion, has just "suggested."
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTg3NGYzZWM5ZDc0MW Q1MDMyYmVlZjVmMTY4MDhjNDQ=
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both the nomination and the presidency.
in virgina, the capitol of the old confederacy, obama won close to 50% of white men and women.
he also got an even share of the latino vote.
his momentumn is building by the day, and if you watched fox switch from obama to maccain last night the contrast was utterly shocking.
mccain looked and sounded flat, while obama looked and sounded like a statesman and orator. |
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I used to work with Rendell on projects in Philadelphia. He was a great mayor and a good (OK) governor.
Discretion is not one of his strong suits. He tends to say what it on his mind with little vetting. I don't want to defend Clinton who has been throwing out ridiculous race bombs, but I think in this case it is Ed being Ed. That is Ed saying something truthful but stupid.
Who cares if 5% of people in PA are bigots. An overhwhelming number will vote for Obama in PA for the opposite reason. The Lynn Swann criticism holds no water either. Swann was sacrificed by the party. He was projected to lose by 18% and lost by 22%. Does that 4% mean racial bigotry. I think that the 4% were repubs who just didn't go to the polls because theire candidate was getting shellaked. Also blacks siad they would vote for Swann in bigger numbers than they did.
In other words the whole argument is meaningless.
Obama is not Lynn Swann running in a general election. He is running in a democratic primary. The number of people who will be voting for Obama because he is black will far outnumber bigots. |
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General. No one wants Hilary, she's toast. Obama will be toast also as soon as he is subjected to reality! |
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You are correst in that I am entitled to my own opinion and THAT is one of the great things about this country. Also, I did readily and honestly made a reserved declaration. My moniker expresses only my great pride of being an American Citizen by Choice, you are free to read into it whatever you want, and yes, I am a girly girl, thank you!
I speak mainly from my own experiences, I am a minority and regardless of my education, my right to live in this wonderful country and the best of intentions, I am reminded constantly of my not being "white". It is a fact of life, specially in the mid-west and the south, the south-west has a little bit more tolerance, but prejudice exists, it is real wheather you like it or not, stereotypes are difficult to overcome.
If you are indeed a "clarityseeker" lets talk about this in a rational way, without insults that don't really accomplish a thing. |
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Excuse me? When was the last time that a Democratic candidate of any color calculated white conservatives as an indispensable element of victory? The Great Coalition party has never in its history pitched itself toward white conservatives, whom it usually demonizes as the "haves" standing in the way of all of the "have-nots." Neither Hillary nor Obama is seeking their support, and the absence of same is assumed by all strategists. Rendell does not fear the loss of the white conservative vote for Obama any more than he fears the loss of white males for Hillary. Neither group is part of the Democratic equation. |
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You want a civil discourse?
Then please do not tell me how I was brought up.
YOU SAID,
"...The reason being that there are believes ingrained too deep inside the American culture that cannot be dismissed, that is how Americans have been brought up and it is going to take many generations to change."
I was brought up in the northeast. New York. My graduating class in high school had 800 students; entire high school about 4 times that. There were about 2-3 dozen blacks in our high school. I cannot remember exact. There were several Asians and some others you might enjoy labelling as "minorities".
It happens that my best friend, Jim, in high school----he just happened to be black. He never referred to himself as black. And he never once laid claim to being African-American. I had deep respect for his dad, a man who worked tirelessly at bringing about a cure for, Sickle cell anemia (affects 1:500 blacks). None of my other friends ever spoke a single word which Jim took racial offense to. Did we see evidence of prejudice? Yep. Does it exist? Yes.
I do not appreciate your sweeping narrative. I grew up in American culture, and I don't give a crap what color you are. Are you a liberal, leftist, victicrat, progressive, communist, socialist? If you are, be judged by me as such.
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...is one thoroughly putrid individual....
It amuses me no end all these pols who have hitched their wagons to a sinking ship (how's that for a mixed metaphor?).
They've all gotta be thinking CYA about now..... |
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FINAL OBSERVATION. You still never made a "personal" declaration about how YOU would vote on the issue of color. YOU DID project your opinion about our entire culture and your feelings about whether America was "ready" to vote a black person to president. That you did not declare for yourself speaks volumes to me.
On a venue such as were on, it's not as if there's risk you'll be forever "damaged".
Again, a Liberal? different issue...LOL ;)
By the way, one of my favorite black writers, Shelbey Steele put it rather well in, "White Guilt"; you are not going to guilt me into treating you "special". Nor am I going to apologize to you, nor my friend, Jim, for white transgressions committed well before I was born. Don't give me your crap-platitudes. |
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Obama has played the "race card" since day one of his candidacy. Who would look twice at him if he were white? He's even less qualified than Edwards. Oh he'll pretend that race doesn't matter when talking to white liberals, but look at him in front of a black audience. Notice how he adopts a southern accent? He's a lot like Mike Huckabee, who decries "religious bigotry" in his speaches, then goes preaching in a local evangelical church just before the primary. In both cases there are two messages: To the general public it's "judge me without regard to my 'identity'", but "I'm one of you" when speaking his group. Why is anyone surprised that Identity Politics turns out to be a two-edged sword? |
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and you are a "rational" McCain supporter.... You're simply a jerk who has shown no depth of knowledge or any understanding of issues.... You are simply a Mormon basher and that is apparently how you feed your sick ego.... I'm not a Mormon but even to me... you are the epitomy of "classless"... |
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I have commented on this in spite of how some pundits like Hanson, or Rush or others keep thinking old campaigns, Obama will win. The Dems, DNC, cannot afford to turn off nearly 90%+ black votes by letting the Clintons steal the nomination. If race holds as it always does in the Dem primaries, Hispanics will also have to be encouraged since they hold the issue in the SW. Most times, the coalition that keeps Dems in fairly good shape nationally, usually comes back to vote for the nominee. But, if Clinton disses Obama, then what? That still may keep McCain from winning since he is just an old white coot with little love from many Pubconservs. Still, there would be an opening if Hil wins the Dem nomination. If Obama wins, as I think he will, McCain is a dead duck unless he can actually challenge this Empty Suit on whatever issues Obama seems to evade, smooth over, or fudge. Obama is after all another charismatic socialist pacifist who really has very weak national stands unless one thinks Berkeley is really the standard of all states. The media will help him that we all know. But, the nation will really be on trial if they do not elect the black guy with no clothes as far as issues go. PC material is becoming so powerful in this nation, that one wonders where common sense, understanding of historical foundations, democracy, free enterprise have gone. Gone the way of the dodo my guess is. |
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I know illiteracy can be severely damaging to one's self-esteem ..but don't fret...I suggest you go get someone literate ASAP so he/she can read posts on this and other blogs, comprehend and explain it to you s..l..o..w..l..y. Else, even at your advanced age to start on hooked on phonics may not be a bad thing..
(have your reading helper read the paragraph below)
anyone who bashes Romney is not anti-mormon - there are several of us who recognized he was a phoney who will say anything to get elected. He could be a mormon or a shmorman..who cares..a phoney is a phoney..I was pointing to people like Hugh who raised McCain's age and said snide things about that..no complaints then..say anything to get Romney elected..ofcourse, it was dreamboy Romney...so no rules apply there |
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FINAL OBSERVATON: If Condoliza Rice was running I would vote for her and work on her campaign. I value a person's integrity and achievements regardless of the color of their skin or their religion.
Here goes another one of my crap-platitudes: Prejudice is not reserved for whites only, but I am sure you know that. I do not "guilt you" or ask you to apologize for a thing, my premise was that it will take several generations to overcome the race stereotypes.
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I would love to have Thomas Sowell or Michael Steele be VP for McCain....and he does need to get a lot of botox and his teeth whitened for the fall. His wife looks like she might know someone, who can handle that....:-) |
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Hey, playing the religion card worked for Huckabee (sorta). So why shouldn't Clinton give the race card a try?
Hey, all is fair in love and politics, um, right? |
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What a child.... you have no clue about anything political... it's obvious in your posts.... I have 5th grade neighbor that reads your crap and starts laughing.... You have one agaenda itema dn one agenda item only, and that is to bash Mormons... and I would guarantee you that the worst of those are ten times the person that you are...
If you want to talk issues, try and talk issues.... if you want to bash Mormons go to their website or go to utube, but leave the adults alone... we have grown up things to talk about....
Maybe you could read a book on Politics or talk with one of your teachers at school and they may be able to help you.... If you decide to go the Book route, make sure you look under the "P's" chump....
And, as for my advanced age... I guarantee you that I could whoop you either verbally or physically chump. |
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Rendell is a fool. the public hardly have to remind the public that Obama is a black man - it is pretty darn obvious.
I think that many Americans believe that a black man cannot be elected President. In an election where Democrats should win in a walk, it is risky enough to attempt to elect a female - but a black man is something else again. Why, the argument goes, would we take a chance on what should be a sure thing?
Frankly, it appears that a Biden or a Dodd would have been a shoe-in.
Here’s the Dem’s problem. If Obama wins the nomination you lose votes for two reasons - the color of his skin and the fact that the Republicans will offer an acceptable alternative in the moderate John McCain. Remember this is not just a Rep/Dem race, you also need to figure in the Independents.
If Clinton pulls this out with Super Delegates, Florida and Michigan then the Obama supporters will have a fit. She has relatively high negatives to begin with, Clinton would be would now be risking the loss a significant part of the Democrat base-the black vote. She would be accused of stealing the nomination away from their candidate whether it is true or not.
This is the elephant in the living room for the Left.
For those who constantly accuse Republicans in general and conservatives in particular of being racist, let me say this. Republicans vote for Republicans, not Democrats - we wouldn’t care if Obama were chartreuse, he doesn’t get our vote.
But, it would be the moderate middle - you know, the reasonable guys who are tired of all the hate - that will pull the lever for McCain instead of Obama.
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Pistol down...Gooood. Now, step away from that piece....Gooood. Breathe...Breathe...Breathe.
Gooooooood.
AMERICAN-BY-CHOICE: Now, scat! We'll take Clarity from here. |
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