Apparently America IS ready for a black president...

[bkadoctaj]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/...ent/index.html

Poll: 76 percent say U.S. ready for black president

From Paul Steinhauser
CNN Deputy Political Director

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The number of Americans who believe the country is ready for a black president is rising, a poll out Thursday suggested.


More than three quarters, 76 percent, of respondents in a CNN/Essence Magazine/Opinion Research Corp. poll said the country is ready to be led by an African-American, up 14 points since December 2006.

Some of the rise can be attributed to the success of Sen. Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primaries, said Keating Holland, CNN's polling director.

"We're not asking this question in a vacuum. In many cases, respondents must have had Obama in mind when giving their answer, even though he is not mentioned anywhere in the questionnaire," Holland said.

The Senator from Illinois is locked in a battle with Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama leads Clinton in states won, delegates pledged and in the overall popular vote in the primaries and caucuses held so far.

The poll also indicates more whites than blacks think the country is ready for a black president. Of the white Americans surveyed, 78 percent said the country is ready, as opposed to 69 percent of African-Americans polled. Both numbers are up substantially from December 2006.

"Drawing on their own life experience, blacks are a little more skeptical than whites. But blacks, too, have come around, particularly after the Iowa caucuses demonstrated that Obama could win in an overwhelmingly white electorate," said Bill Schneider, CNN senior political analyst.

"Among blacks, the belief that the country is ready for an African-American president is highest among blacks who share traits with Obama. Optimism about the country's acceptance of a black president is higher among black men than among black women, higher among college-educated blacks than among those with no college degree, and higher among younger blacks than older blacks," Holland said.

The poll also suggested more Americans think the country is ready for a black president than a female president. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed say the country is ready for a female president, 13 points lower than those who say the country is ready for a black president.

"Do Americans see more prejudice against a woman than an African-American? More likely, they see more negative feelings about this woman than about this African-American. Because it's true. More people have an unfavorable opinion of Hillary Clinton than of Barack Obama," Schneider said.

The poll asked whether the country is ready for a black or female president, not whether respondents would vote for a black or female president.

"Few people will acknowledge their own prejudices, but they will answer whether they think the country is ready to elect a black or woman president," Schneider said.

The survey is being released on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The poll was conducted by telephone from March 26 to April 2, with 2,184 Americans questioned, including 1,014 blacks and 1,001 white.

The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points for the overall sample and plus or minus 3 percentage points for the questions asked just to blacks or whites.

[scoobydooby67]

apparently it doesnt matter what america is ready for.

the question is:

is the electoral college ready for a black president?

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by scoobydooby67

apparently it doesnt matter what america is ready for.

the question is:

is the electoral college ready for a black president?

The electoral college is a fundamental part of U.S. government... yes, you're right to say that's American. Yet, apparently around 76% of Americans believe that it's possible. Guess the "hope rhetoric" is doing something.

[BurnOutYeah!]

Originally Posted by scoobydooby67

apparently it doesnt matter what america is ready for.

the question is:

is the electoral college ready for a black president?

Thats one sexy comment.

[stoned budda]

Black president, sure why not, just not him. At least not now, besides him and hillary gotta duke it out for another month or too and the election ain't till November a lot of opinion can change in that amount of time.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by stoned budda

Black president, sure why not, just not him. At least not now, besides him and hillary gotta duke it out for another month or too and the election ain't till November a lot of opinion can change in that amount of time.

It's possible it could go more in his favor too, isn't it? Could be quite the sweeping victory in November. That's my expectation. Just my view, again.

[stoned budda]

Originally Posted by bkadoctaj

It's possible it could go more in his favor too, isn't it? Could be quite the sweeping victory in November. That's my expectation. Just my view, again.

I cant see it happening, he's got nothing and they haven't even begun to attack yet. This country is still way to prejudice, hes already alienated the Jewish vote.

Hes having a hard time pulling off his own primary, hows he going to pull off the general election.

But anything can happen........i know if he wins I'm going to cry and move to Canada, lol.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by stoned budda

I cant see it happening, he's got nothing and they haven't even begun to attack yet. This country is still way to prejudice, hes already alienated the Jewish vote.

Hes having a hard time pulling off his own primary, hows he going to pull off the general election.

But anything can happen........i know if he wins I'm going to cry and move to Canada, lol.

That's the American democratic spirit. The winner of a democratic election is the real winner... unless it's the candidate I don't want. I'll protest the win so much that I'll move up north. Well, at least Canada would take immigrants. They admit they need them.

[jcmartin86]

*phew*

now I can sleep tonight

[scoobydooby67]

Originally Posted by bkadoctaj

That's the American democratic spirit. The winner of a democratic election is the real winner... unless it's the candidate I don't want. I'll protest the win so much that I'll move up north. Well, at least Canada would take immigrants. They admit they need them.

i might offer, that the percentage of people who bitch and complain about moving to canada,

and the percentage of people who actually do that,

are extremely disproportionate.

wonder why that is, hmm.....

Originally Posted by bkadoctaj

Well, at least Canada would take immigrants.

ho HO! is funny cuz you referring to something has nothing to do with this conversation! ho ho! - family guy anyone?

[CosmicSerpent]

My guess is we'll have a totally different perception of the two candidates come November. This general election is going to be insane - and you thought the primaries were a media frenzy? If Obama is the Democratic candidate, I'm pretty sure he will have no problem completely killing McCain in a debate... Hillary not so much. Although whoever their running mates are will be an important factor. I think that Obama will go ahead and announce at least a few positions in his cabinet before Election Day (people like Richardson, Edwards, Gore, etc.) and be able to unify the Democratic Party despite the bitter fight in the primaries.

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by CosmicSerpent

My guess is we'll have a totally different perception of the two candidates come November. This general election is going to be insane - and you thought the primaries were a media frenzy? If Obama is the Democratic candidate, I'm pretty sure he will have no problem completely killing McCain in a debate... Hillary not so much. Although whoever their running mates are will be an important factor. I think that Obama will go ahead and announce at least a few positions in his cabinet before Election Day (people like Richardson, Edwards, Gore, etc.) and be able to unify the Democratic Party despite the bitter fight in the primaries.

Absolutely. That's my view as well for the most part. Yep... you said exactly what I hope for.

[BurnOutYeah!]

Why cant we agree to disagree?

[bkadoctaj]

Originally Posted by BurnOutYeah!

Why cant we agree to disagree?

What's really the disagreement?

[stoned budda]

Originally Posted by bkadoctaj

That's the American democratic spirit. The winner of a democratic election is the real winner... unless it's the candidate I don't want. I'll protest the win so much that I'll move up north. Well, at least Canada would take immigrants. They admit they need them.

Im sorry, i was having a liberal moment and began channeling Alec Baldwin.