Colin Powell,supports Obama.

[The Merry Prankster]

so it's perfectly alright to vote based on skin colour if you're black then ?

If I was black I would be voting for Obama even if he was a Palace fan.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

I take you've lived in the US ? Well I have and I can assure you that the 'ghettos' you speak 'so knowledgeably' about are multi racial apart from areas such as Mississippi that has very few Hispanics. Racism in America does exist but it's vastly different to what it was even twenty years ago. Hackney is not a good example as they also have a reasonable number of South Americans living there as well, I used to go out with a Brazilian from there. Having worked in Whitechapel earlier this year I can also say that vast majority there are Bangaladeshi but then I would hardly call it a ghetto.

I think you are rather relying on out dated stereotypes.

I’ve been living and working in the States for the last 10 months – both in a consultant’s office and on construction sites so I’ve had a chance to hear both white and blue collar workers talking about the election – and one thing the Yanks are not shy about is letting you know their views. I would agree that racism has changed in the last 20 years but there is still a very tangible racist undercurrent amongst both blue and white collar workers. Up until now it has been the ‘elephant in the room’ polite Americans would not discuss – well now it is being discussed by the broadsheets, news magazines and TV pundits. It still represents a very clear obstacle to Obama’s road to the Whitehouse – a lot of Americans who have told the pollsters they will vote for Obama could still vote for McCain or abstain, which is why a lot of Americans still believe McCain will win regardless of what the polls are predicting.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

1) His ties to self-confessed domestic terrorist William Ayers, which Obama has lied about and tried to cover up.

2) His links to the left-wing group ACORN, which is being investigated for voter fraud in 12 states, and has been known for this for years. He lied about this too. It is entirely possible their efforts will make the election pointless.

3) Attempts by the Obama campaign to basically silence anybody who doesn't agree with them. Doesn't sound much like free speech to me. Case in point (amongst many) is the way the Obama team is currently trying to smear "Joe the plumber", an ordinary guy who hit the headlines by daring to ask Mr Obama about his tax plans at a recent event.

4) His extremely liberal and left-wing voting record whilst in office.

5) He is the second-highest recipient of money from government-backed mortgage lenders Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, despite going about "Change", which is his main platform.

These are just things off the top of my head. I am sure I can think of more. And if you wish me to go into detail about of these, I will

f*** me... this sounds like a Sarah Palin speech. You've just listed things McCain's campaign came up when he slid so far in the polls. If these were real issues they would have been brought up months ago.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

That is something that is dragged up too. Some people are claiming he is a Muslim, then someone (Colin Powell actually) claimed Obama has always been a Christian.

Well, the truth is that he WAS a Muslim but is now a Christian. Not a big deal really.

Given the attitude of some Islamic fundamentalists to apostasy, that is an allegation that is obviously intended to threaten Obama.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I’ve been living and working in the States for the last 10 months – both in a consultant’s office and on construction sites so I’ve had a chance to hear both white and blue collar workers talking about the election – and one thing the Yanks are not shy about is letting you know their views. I would agree that racism has changed in the last 20 years but there is still a very tangible racist undercurrent amongst both blue and white collar workers. Up until now it has been the ‘elephant in the room’ polite Americans would not discuss – well now it is being discussed by the broadsheets, news magazines and TV pundits. It still represents a very clear obstacle to Obama’s road to the Whitehouse – a lot of Americans who have told the pollsters they will vote for Obama could still vote for McCain or abstain, which is why a lot of Americans still believe McCain will win regardless of what the polls are predicting.

I think the difference now is that people won't claim to be voting Obama & secretly vote McCain. I think most people will now just come out with saying, "I'm voting McCain". That's a big change in the last 20 years.

I see this as similar to when Labour won in 1997. The previous election the polls said Labour were going to win, but when it came to crossing the box a lot of people couldn't bring themselves to vote for Kinnock. In 97 the media was saying the same could happen, but in the end everyone came out to vote to make sure that didn't happen - there was a bigger determination to not allow that mistake to happen again. I think we'll see that in this election, and Obama will win big

 

[clapham_gull]

As Colin Powell has proved, racism will ALSO cost John Mccain votes. You cannot have it only one way , however much you might want to.

Sorry are you honestly suggesting that the reason Obama is ahead in the polls is because America has all of a sudden gone all wishy washy Guardian reader like ?

This is the country that elected George Bush....

I read some bollocks posted on here, but that really takes the biscuit (sorry cookie)

Just perhaps the majority of those voting have all of a sudden realised that the image the country has abroad may need fixing for the greater good.

The quickest route is to get away from the George Bush era as quickly as possible.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Sorry are you honestly suggesting that the reason Obama is ahead in the polls is because America has all of a sudden gone all wishy washy Guardian reader like ?

This is the country that elected George Bush....

I read some bollocks posted on here, but that really takes the biscuit.

I think he's saying blacks will vote Obama because he's black. Forgetting the fact that blacks will vote Democrat because they're poor & the Democrats might try to help them

 

[clapham_gull]

I think he's saying blacks will vote Obama because he's black. Forgetting the fact that blacks will vote Democrat because they're poor & the Democrats might try to help them

In that case then, he's suggesting that a "mixed race" election can never be fair. Perhaps alternatively they should have all black candidates and all white candidates just to ensure race isn't an issue...

.. Michael Jackson for president. Everyones happy.

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

I think the difference now is that people won't claim to be voting Obama & secretly vote McCain. I think most people will now just come out with saying, "I'm voting McCain". That's a big change in the last 20 years.

I see this as similar to when Labour won in 1997. The previous election the polls said Labour were going to win, but when it came to crossing the box a lot of people couldn't bring themselves to vote for Kinnock. In 97 the media was saying the same could happen, but in the end everyone came out to vote to make sure that didn't happen - there was a bigger determination to not allow that mistake to happen again. I think we'll see that in this election, and Obama will win big

I hope you are right about Obama – the black vote has never been in doubt but there just seems to be a concern about the white, blue collar vote which has traditionally been the mainstay of the Democrats. They are quite happy to see black people become CEOs and VPs of companies but are they ready yet for a black President ? – plenty of Americans think the jury is still out on that one. The BBC have picked up on it as well

Americans also have a very unfortunate track record of electing the “wrong” president (Bush – if he ever was elected, and Reagan to name but two)

November 5 should be very interesting.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I’ve been living and working in the States for the last 10 months – both in a consultant’s office and on construction sites so I’ve had a chance to hear both white and blue collar workers talking about the election – and one thing the Yanks are not shy about is letting you know their views. I would agree that racism has changed in the last 20 years but there is still a very tangible racist undercurrent amongst both blue and white collar workers. Up until now it has been the ‘elephant in the room’ polite Americans would not discuss – well now it is being discussed by the broadsheets, news magazines and TV pundits. It still represents a very clear obstacle to Obama’s road to the Whitehouse – a lot of Americans who have told the pollsters they will vote for Obama could still vote for McCain or abstain, which is why a lot of Americans still believe McCain will win regardless of what the polls are predicting.

Well we won't know till the election - but the Obama camp say they have not seen that effect in the primaries - apart maybe from the one that Hillary won. If it is the case that the polls are wrong - well that industry may as well pack its bags and get another job.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Hmmm, well I would give Harlesden or Edmonton a wide birth for a start.

I lived in Harlesden (20 years ago mind) - but it was a fairly safe area with a settled, mixed, population. Stonebridge Park was the estate to avoid.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

1)
3) Attempts by the Obama campaign to basically silence anybody who doesn't agree with them. Doesn't sound much like free speech to me. Case in point (amongst many) is the way the Obama team is currently trying to smear "Joe the plumber", an ordinary guy who hit the headlines by daring to ask Mr Obama about his tax plans at a recent event.

Was he an ordinary Guy ? He was earning nowhere near the amount he was asking the question about - and to show what type of citizen he was he had not paid all his taxes. It looked like a set-up, or he was trying to make a political point - not one from his own experience.

 

[User removed 4]

Hang on. You said Powell (Republican) is backing Obama (Democrat) because they're both black. So what's the difference between Lieberman (Democrat) backing McCain (Republican) because they're both white.

The difference is that it doesn't fit your narrow view of the world. Because you're clearly a TIT

im sorry , i mixed biden and lieberman up , there really is no need to resort to personal abuse just because i dont fit into your naive sugar coated view of the world.

 

[User removed 4]

Read his statement. It was crystal clear why he decided to go with Obama. He gave a range of reasons.

i did , i just dont believe it.

 

[User removed 4]

What are you talking about, you silly fool?

i was stating that if a prominent white democrat switched to supporting mccain , you would be the first to start screaming racism, as anyone with a remotely normal iq would have realised.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

'What scares you about him?'

4) His extremely liberal and left-wing voting record whilst in office.

Oh NO! Anything but THAT!

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

i was stating that if a prominent white democrat switched to supporting mccain , you would be the first to start screaming racism, as anyone with a remotely normal iq would have realised.

What - if Hillary Clinton endorsed McCain people would say it was racism ? Are you sure ?

 

[User removed 4]

What game you talking about? Life?

theres me thinking we'd started to become mates !

 

[User removed 4]

If I was black I would be voting for Obama even if he was a Palace fan.

then dont blame whites for doing the same.

 

[User removed 4]

Sorry are you honestly suggesting that the reason Obama is ahead in the polls is because America has all of a sudden gone all wishy washy Guardian reader like ?

no, what iam suggesting is that a lot of backs will vote obama............. because he's black, regardless of policy, when they may well have voted mccain if the democrat candidate had been white,which isracism costing mccain votes, which is what i think you knew i meant, to be honest.