What race do you consider Barack Obama to be?

[Billy the Fish]

I don't understand why everyone is calling him 'Black'. He is mixed race, his mother was white.

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

He is mixed race, but his appearance is black, which has been the essential bit.

 

[FamilyGuy]

....and your point is

 

[strings]

Black can be (and is often) used as a catch all phrase for anyone who is from an ethnic minority. This can even stretch to people who appear to be white-skinned, but have an ethnic minority family history. The use of the phrase 'black', meaning ethnic minority is especially common in politics.

Therefore, Barak Obama is black, in the same way the Amir Khan and Lewis Hamilton are also black.

 

[Mendoza]

Was having this discussion with a few NSCers last night before the game

We came to the conclusion that this is why he isnt truly accepted by a lot of people as he is mixed race. Like Tiger Woods and Lewis Hamilton will never be fully accepted as black, or accepted as white.

 

[Seagull over NZ]

The PC phrase is "Dual Heritage"

 

[Billy the Fish]

....and your point is

It's factually incorrect to call him America's first 'black' president.
Also they keep having random black celebrities to comment on it when in reality he's racially as close to me as he is to them. It just goes to show, as BAG has said, that appearence counts for everything. Watching BBC news for the last hour, no-one has mentioned about it being a good thing to have a democrat in charge, it's all about having a 'black' man in charge.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Human race as far as I can tell.

 

[beorhthelm]

Human race as far as I can tell.

good answer.

 

[Billy the Fish]

So you both voted 'Fence' then?

 

[Gazwag]

It's factually incorrect to call him America's first 'black' president.
Also they keep having random black celebrities to comment on it when in reality he's racially as close to me as he is to them. It just goes to show, as BAG has said, that appearence counts for everything. Watching BBC news for the last hour, no-one has mentioned about it being a good thing to have a democrat in charge, it's all about having a 'black' man in charge.

If he wasnt mixed race would he have actually stood a chance

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

It's factually incorrect to call him America's first 'black' president.
Also they keep having random black celebrities to comment on it when in reality he's racially as close to me as he is to them. It just goes to show, as BAG has said, that appearence counts for everything. Watching BBC news for the last hour, no-one has mentioned about it being a good thing to have a democrat in charge, it's all about having a 'black' man in charge.

My point was coming from a far more positive place than yours!!!

On the news, there are so many people who said that they never thought they'd see a mixed race person, let alone a black person in office. I really think that this is a sign of change, that the 'deep south racist hillbilly' type that we percieve run the States no longer have the power in America. This may sound overly cheesy, but I really think that America has finally accepted people no matter what their colour. It's a massive massive step forwards - as of course is that a Democrat president will be in office is a big thing!

 

[ben andrews' girlfriend]

If he wasnt mixed race would he have actually stood a chance

I think so, his policies were strong, and his rhetoric was very strong. His speeches made people listen - and his campaign revolved around the concept of change, where McCain seemed to want to just go backwards, such as his promises to ban abortion, to block gay rights, and his speeches about going for Iran. McCain would have just been another 4 years with Bush, but with a woman who was almost more dangerous as VP.

 

[Perry Milkins]

The PC phrase is "Dual Heritage"

I was often called 'Heinz'.

 

[Gazwag]

I think so, his policies were strong, and his rhetoric was very strong. His speeches made people listen - and his campaign revolved around the concept of change, where McCain seemed to want to just go backwards, such as his promises to ban abortion, to block gay rights, and his speeches about going for Iran. McCain would have just been another 4 years with Bush, but with a woman who was almost more dangerous as VP.

McCain blew his chance by being old and having a nutter hockey mom ready to take over, I think maybe hollywood (and little britain) helped Obama with films such as Deep Impact showing a non-white president - I'm not sure how many americans actually understand policies.

 

[Perry Milkins]

McCain blew his chance by being old and having a nutter hockey mom ready to take over, I think maybe hollywood (and little britain) helped Obama with films such as Deep Impact showing a non-white president - I'm not sure how many americans actually understand policies.

Maybe Morgan Freeman should run next time. He is ever so good at those 'The Human Race is ending - please go to your bunkers and may your God be with you' type addresses.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Isn't it the LAW in America that the President has to have some Irish ancestry?

There must be a pub somewhere in deepest County Kerry that, even as we speak, is planning a party to celebrate the success of the latest local boy to make it to the White House.

 

[Perry Milkins]

Isn't it the LAW in America that the President has to have some Irish ancestry?

There must be a pub somewhere in deepest County Kerry that, even as we speak, is planning a party to celebrate the success of the latest local boy to make it to the White House.

Were you watching Brucie on Strictly Come Dancing on Sat LB?

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

If he wasnt mixed race would he have actually stood a chance

He's the 'acceptable' face of ethnicity for the American public. If his features were more 'African' he would never have made the White House imho. See also Will Smith and his powerful position in Hollywood.

 

[Seagull over NZ]

Obama reminds me very much of the black president in 24, can't remember his name. Wonder if that helped him?