Non-Black Duers please read

[angee_is_mad]

I've had a similar post on DU in the past. But this is always timely when this site goes into depression mode and start fixating on polls and wondering why Barack isn't leading by 20points.

Follow this dailykos link and alway believe in the bottom of your heart (like the majority of Blacks in this country) "YES WE CAN." If you thought this was going to be easy, you should have asked a Black person. Hell nothing has ever been easy for us and we still persevere and never give up. We were raise to KNOW we had to be smarter to get half as much. Its sad, but true.

Work your ass off like Barack is down by 20 points.If you HONESTLY do this, we will win and a change will come.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/7/154846/6842/716/590179

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Thanks. I needed that.

:thumbsup:

[faulknercindy]

57. People relax please

this is what really matters. not some dumb poll
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/
go vote nov. 3

[PatrynXX]

87. Polls

Relax, yes but not too much. Think I just ordered a bumper sticker saying "Get involved, Show up!"

So relaxing is one thing but lets not get complacent here.. As much as Hillary tried to make it about gender, it wasn't. I felt thing as I do now that it's easier for a gender to get thru politics. It's race that has a harder time of it. The fact Obama made it through all of that shows something. But it sure as sh** ain't going to be easy. Especially with the Muslim jokes I've had to endure all year long.

[faulknercindy]

99. And that's what I was saying

don't pay attention to all this nonsense about poll and McCain is ahead. They don't count. It's about electoral delegate counts. Nothing more. Go vote on 4 Nov.

[angee_is_mad]

109. Exactly

Thank you. Its all about the electoral college.

[amyrose2712]

125. NOV 3rd???????????????????

what the hell?

[faulknercindy]

128. Sorry one of those days

when the ole brain was on stun.

[amyrose2712]

129. ok , sorry

just making sure you knew !:P

[BlooInBloo]

2. Enter the it's-not race-it's-class racism deniers...

[Liberalboy]

3. K/R

[Cleita]

4. Another..

:kick:

[treestar]

5. Thank you!

all these people freaking out because the polls are not always going right are downers who detract from the enthusiasm. It's ridiculous to expect an easy victory.

[King Coal]

93. Listen. If they can make everyone believe it is a close race, then they can hack the

election machines again. They fucking cheat. Believe it.

[progdog]

95. Bingo !

That's how they do it. They will try again.

[katty]

100. Again, if it is a razor close race, the rove-hackers will steal it

the GOP NEVER ceases in their lies and their cheating-and they won't stop now.

[glitch]

110. They only need the impression that it's close, they don't need it to actually be close.

Which is why we need to bring such overwhelming numbers that no one could possibly believe their illusion.

And then follow-through with action on our disbelief (post-election action on the fraud was the key piece missing in 2004).

[Loge23]

6. Guilty as charged

I have to be more positive.
I'm just running into the wrong people.
Let's keep it going!

[angee_is_mad]

18. Man, get a different set of friends

and when you get depressed and feel yourself getting in a defeatist mode, talk it out with a black friend. If you don't have one, you should get one.

I'm not talking about someone you work with, but a Friend that you can get real with and will be real with you.

[EatTacos]

124. I don't know any black people

I frequently take my dog for a walk through my neighborhood, and I've never seen a black person in my neighborhood. There is a black person at the company where I work though.

[angee_is_mad]

130. Bless your heart

just,,,, bless your heart.

[beac]

7. A hearty K&R! n/t

[Sodan]

8. Work your ass off like Barack is down by 20 points!!!

Exactly!

[me b zola]

39. Hungry?

[Pirate Smile]

9. Here is the text for those who don't like to go to links:

White People, Can We Talk?

by TexasMango
Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 01:51:49 PM PDT

I'm new and if this has been dairied before, I apologize but I think some people need a reminder of the reality of our candidate's situation. He is a black man named Barack Hussein Obama. Did you think this would be easy?

Go easy on me, this is my first diary. But I feel I must address some of the hand ringing going on around here. p

TexasMango's diary :: ::
First as an African American woman let me say thank you to all of Barack's white supporters, who supported him when most of the African American community didn't because we just didn't believe he had a snowball's chance in Hell of winning. Iowa, a state that is 97% white, sent Barack on his path to the White House and that is something that I will never forget. I hope that other black people remember that too.

I've found throughout my short life that few white people fully understand the extent to which all black people even, brilliant, successful and beautiful black people like the Obama's, are still subject to racism. This used to frustrate me, but then I thought about how separate black and white people often live. Some whites are well aware because they have black friends, black spouses or lovers. Or black people who are in their lives in some real intimate way that has allowed them to see the difference in treatment first hand. But for those of you who are not racist, but don't have black people you are close to, you are finding that many people you know don't want to vote for a black man for president and are using any excuse not to do so even though they know it's in their own best interests to vote for the Democratic Nominee. Many of you, especially people under 30 are getting aquainted with how race plays out in modern America, more covert then overt. You are shocked and hurt. I undderstand, but you better get over it and fast.

There is a certain percentage of the poulation, my guess is at least 20% that won't vote for Obama because he is black. It could be larger or smaller and the good news is many are already Rethugs, largely because of the racist Southern Stratgey. But if you assume that some of those people would be inclined to vote for the Democrat in the race then that is a loss for Obama that he can do nothing about. Even without Palin, who has rallied the GOP fundie base, McCains greatest asset against Obama in a close race is being an old white man in a country that has ony had white men as president. Barack does not have the time or the ability to change attitudes that existed before he was even born.

So if your anecdotal experience is that some people you know are moving to McCain who you though were available to Obama, don't be alarmed because they were never available to Obama they just didn't want to tell you why. Palin has given them cover for their decision, but please know that the decision was made already. Palin is a good excuse because she is a woman, but when they got into the voting both, alone with their racism, they were not going to vote for Obama. Ever.

What you are seeing in your lives, in the people around you and in the tight polling is the reality that comes with our choice. When we as Democrates and other who wanted change voted for Barack Obama and made him our Nominee, we took a huge gamble. White American's have had a lot more experience being brainwashed to be afraid of black men meaning them harm then white Republicans meaning them harm. You're right in this environment the race shouldn't be this close, but there shouldn't be any such thing as racism either. This is our reality, a reality that Barack has lived with and overcome all of his life. Now it's a part of yours too. So buck up, suck it up and get to work like Barack is 10 points down because he may be.

Barack can win and I trust he knows how to win, but we can't help him win if we freak out about what comes with the realities of having a black nominee every time they rear their ugly heads. Just like almost everything else in America, politics is harder if you are black. I think the Bradely Effect is already in these polls so things look closer then they should be in a non-racist, perfect world. Getting Barack Obama onto the White House is the most audacious and improbable political endeavor in American history. Never forget that and never forget why.

This was always going to be a fight. This was always going to be an uphill climb. I think some of you may just only now be coming to that realization and I'm glad you have. Think about it and maybe even cry about it, but then let it be your fuel. We've got two months and we need everyone fired up an ready to go. Stop haggling with the bigots at work and maybe in your families because somewhere out there, people who is just now paying attention to this race, people who are open to Barack need to here from you and would be a better use of your time and energy. These people are how we win. Stop hand ringing and go get 'em!

UPDATE: Thank you all so much for putting me on the rec list! I also wanted to say that I think there is the possibility that there is both a reverse Bradley Effect (closet Obama supporters) and that if there is a Bradley Effect for Barack it's already reflected in the polls now. That's the missing 4-5 points that a Dem should get in this anti-incumbent environment.

I actually hate the term "folks" too, but I thought it was more gentile then "Hey you all you white people!"

Another thing. I realize that racism kind of has a scale so if you think you know someone who is possibly winnable, stay on them. It's the hard core racists I'm talking about. Some slaves don't want to be free so screw 'em! Let's get our Barack elected and we'll just have to try not to gloat when they benefit from him being in office too!

Thanks again. XOXOXOXO

[Butch350]

24. Sometimes I want to think...

That there are individuals out there who may tell their friends that their gonna vote McCain but once inside
the voting booth - they will take the risk for change and vote for Obama!

[angee_is_mad]

34. That's going to happen 2

There are people who are surrounded by bigots and know it is wrong, but are afraid to be vocal against it. These people are going to pull the lever for Obama and they are not being polled.

[1corona4u]

38. Man, she hit every nail right on the head. and she's right

about the racism scale too. I totally believe that. We can win some of those people over.

Kudos to the writer.

[butterfly77]

105. Boy,you said a mouth full..

I think that a lot of people are new to politics and how the republicons work. THe republicons have code words and the media to do there dirty work.

[corkhead]

10. that was written to me. Thanks for posting this

[angee_is_mad]

11. Keep you Eyes on the Prize

and don't give up. If you do, they win!

[gratefultobelib]

12. And me--and just at the right time.

[Blondiegrrl]

13. That was very inspiring. Thanks for bringing it over. n/t

[Number23]

14. "Work twice as hard to get half as far."

It's a saying my grandfather (God rest his soul) used to always say. He grew up in the segregated South when black kids were only allowed to go to school 3 months a year. But he WENT, dammit. And not only did he graduate through high school when so many of his peers had long dropped out, he graduate from Morehouse College at the ripe old age of 36 (the same age I am now) after going to war for his country and coming back home and being denied job after job after job. His memory is one of the reasons I'm such a workhorse who refuses to be tied down now.

The article you linked to was great, Angee. I loved these quotes in particular:

"When we as Democrates and other who wanted change voted for Barack Obama and made him our Nominee, we took a huge gamble."

"This was always going to be a fight. This was always going to be an uphill climb. I think some of you may just only now be coming to that realization and I'm glad you have. Think about it and maybe even cry about it, but then let it be your fuel. We've got two months and we need everyone fired up an ready to go."

True words indeed. And it's not to say that sometimes black folks don't get disheartened and discouraged by what we see and hear (ie John McCain's convention bounce numbers) but we always knew this would be a tough slog, and so far, I don't think anyone has been disappointed.

[angee_is_mad]

23. We always knew this

and we need to keep reminding our fellow Duers about this fact.

Hell, there are at least 10 posts in this forum about what Barack is doing wrong, and how many points he is down.

I haven't seen any posts about the record number of voter registration in Va, Ga, and NC. I guess those posts were allowed to sink and the posts about how we are losing are rising.

[yellerpup]

15. Poignant essay and so very true.

Work like you'll never get a second chance. Obama is the most inspirational leader in my lifetime and he is exactly what our country needs to survive. People do use any and every excuse to justify their bigotry and racism. I once called my mother (a Republican) on her ugly racist views and she said, "I can't help it. It's the way I was raised." I said, "Mamma, that's the worst excuse in the world." Some people won't change. Believe that it can be done, though. OH, YES WE CAN!

K&R!!! :dem: :dem: :dem:

[Mimosa]

16. Hon, this native american is doing it.

Thanks to DUers and all the material you provide I am a formidable cyber warrior.

[Undercurrent]

17. This is so true.

My second husband was black, and he was way over qualified for every job he was able to get. He knew, like blacks have always known, that in order to get an even shot, he had to be 200% better than the next guy.

As much as any of us would like to believe, we are not fully post racial. Racism is still very much a part of our society.

[Peacetrain]

19. Absolutely!! Kicked

you speak truth to power

[smuvop]

29. What I tell all young black guys that I work with.

You have to work twice as hard as everyone else!
Look at Barack, he does 3 to 4 appearances a day to Mccain 1
Mccain takes most of the weekends off and Barack works thru them.

Mccain is playing 2nd fiddle to Palin now, Mccain can't go
campaign by himself no would come see him, their coming to see Palin!
With Biden and Clitons spliting the states up campaiging on the same day we cover
way more ground. Look how the Clintons came back on barack at the end of the primaries
by spliting up the states. We have so many more Great people to help Barack wins this,
whoes Mccain gonna get to help him cover all the battle ground states? when the excitement
of Palin is gone and they find she's about nothing but the speech that someone writes for her.
MSM is keeping this thing close so they can rake up the advertisement dollars.

[senseandsensibility]

20. I'm white ,blond ,blue eyed

married to another white, blond, blue eyed DUer, and both of us are from far rightwing families. Given that, I will ALWAYS align myself with my African American progressive brothers and sisters. They have always spoken for me. Just one example is when they had the gall to support President Gore in 2000. African Americans are too smart to be fooled by chimp and his cronies. I wish I could say the same for middle class and lower class whites. I'm under no illusions about this being easy. Even if the polls show us fifteen points ahead (and they may at some point), work like we're twenty behind!

[Erin Elizabeth]

21. Amen to this post.

:kick:

[eowyn_of_rohan]

83. No one race is less "smart" than another

and never underestimate the power of the MSM, in combination with corrupted election results, to create false illusions about the political leanings of ALL our brothers and sisters.

[quoddy woman]

89. Keep your eye on the donut

not on the hole! Great post ,thank you.

[Love Bug]

85. Thank you!

Yes, the Congressional Black Caucus saw through Bush early on and did their best to stop him. They also knew many of their constituents had been illegally struck from the voting rolls. I recall watching them one by one go up to the podium to have their say and they were sent back one by one. I was proud of them for standing up for their constituents and this country even though they knew it was in vain.

That is what true courage is -- doing what is right even then you know you will fail.

[Raine]

22. Thumbs Up

it's going to be extreme hard but if we really work we can do it! :thumbsup:

[Cha]

25. What a sweet sweet poignant

post!

"Barack can win and I trust he knows how to win, but we can't help him win if we freak out about what comes with the realities of having a black nominee every time they rear their ugly heads. Just like almost everything else in America, politics is harder if you are black. I think the Bradely Effect is already in these polls so things look closer then they should be in a non-racist, perfect world. Getting Barack Obama onto the White House is the most audacious and improbable political endeavor in American history. Never forget that and never forget why."

Rec'd~

[Erin Elizabeth]

26. THANK YOU!!!!

I sent that to several people who need to read it. Thank you so much for posting it here, I would have missed it.

[Erin Elizabeth]

27. Her essay made me realize something--

she's right--a lot of white people who did KNOW racism still existed are being hit with it for the first time in their lives in very REAL terms with this race. And it can be very disheartening, discouraging, depressing.

But I think that's what she's addressing--that she and other African-Americans (like Obama) have been facing this their entire lives and you just have to "buck up, suck it up" and work your ass off to get it done.

Amen to that.

[angee_is_mad]

30. You get it, Erin

Now we have to make sure everyone else does.

As a Black woman, I have never been so proud as when the Iowa numbers came out. After Iowa, Blacks KNEW it could happen. It wasn't going to be easy, but it could be done.

A QUALIFIED Black man with a muslim name beat the greatest democratic machine in decades, and a populist with a great story in a state that was 97% white. That showed Black people that whites could look beyond race and toward the possibilities.

[1Hippiechick]

28. Absolutely. Get out and go door-to-door. It is a REWARDING experience, and it will MOTIVATE you to

continue. I have posted on here before that I have been amazed at the number of ppl in the 70s, 80, & 90s who are in the TANK for Obama! Yes, there will be some ppl on whose door you knock who want nothing to do with you or your canvass. I always tell people that they matter to Barack--so much so that he has sent me to ask for their vote. I even manage (sometimes) to ask them how many Republicans have come by asking for their vote. I always ask them to keep an open mind, and I thank them for their time.

[flamingdem]

31. I like hearing about door to door visits, try it you'll like it I say! nt

[Top Cat]

32. Yes We Can!

:thumbsup:

[barack the house]

33. A very good article. Fear is our WORST enemy we must remain focused and realize the greater good->

As the article says the republicans are always using brainwashing and image to confuse people. You must override that and keep focused no matter what. Some are unreachable and abandon trying.

[ismnotwasm]

35. Awesome

Thank you for that.

You should see the looks my white, redneck looking, bearded and ponytailed husband gets in his "Obama for Change" tee shirt. We will work for that change that will come with Senator Obama's election.

He gets lots of compliments as well.


My daughter, who served in the military for over 8 years, got out after her tour in Afghanistan. She came back disillusioned, felt like her service was meaningless, as well as being damn near part republican when she was political at all. The candidacy of Barack Obama changed all that, he galvanized that girl (Ok woman-- whatever-- she's my oldest baby)
Got her interested, changed her views made her care and most important, made her feel her time wasn't wasted. For that alone, Senator Obama has my gratitude. For who he is and what her represents, he has my full support.

[angee_is_mad]

36. Thank you and your daughter

Review the polls, but don't be a slave to them.

[Frank Booth]

37. Wait. Are you claiming that Obama has had to work harder to prove himself than

the guy who has milked his POW thing for 30 years now and the woman who has done nothing of consequence other than govern one of the smallest states in the country for no more than 20 months??

[angee_is_mad]

41. Yep!!!

Someone who has made it in spite of the color of his skin and the family he was born into.

Barack Obama was suppose to be another black male statistic, not President of the United States of America. That fact alone pisses people off.

I have read posts about how Barack should fight and get angry. Trust me, you DON'T want to see him angry.

As a Black woman who grew up being able to see other people who look like me, I can only imagine what that man had to go through growing up looking 100% black and being raised by white midwesterner grandparents.

There is a special place in heaven for his maternal grandparents.

[gal]

40. I started canvassing last night, I attended a house party tonight...

Both went good but for some reason tonight after I started getting worried ...then I seen this.
We all need our boosts. Thank you

Please ppl get up and do something, don't depend on others to do it or assume Obama is going to win.

[angee_is_mad]

42. he's 20 points down

use that as your motivation even if he is 20 points up.

[4_Legs_Good]

43. Very nice post! Thanks!!!

20 points down.

We can win this if we work!

David

[angee_is_mad]

44. Yes We Can

and Yes We Will

[southerncrone]

45. Your're right, Angee. No whining.

[tannybogus]

46. Use your energy to work twice as hard!!

Turn fear or whining or whatever into that energy. This race is a rollercoaster. Look at all the major ups and downs that have already occurred.

There will be more and you only get whiplash by swinging with them. Just keep pushing. They want us to spend our energy on other things.

[democrat2thecore]

47. Not to spoil the party...but....I think you are wrong

This is a mistake. I guess I'll be the one to stick my neck out.

I don't think he doesn't have a "bigger lead" because he's black. I would plead we not play the race card. He's doing as well or better in the polls than Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004 - they are both white.

As far as Obama's success (or lack of, as you're assuming) being due to racism - it cuts both ways. Obama won 90%+ of the black vote in many of the primaries and probably wouldn't even BE the nominee without that vote. Ask "President" Hillary Clinton.

I love Barack Obama. I believe with all of my heart that he should be our next president, not because he's black, white, pink, green or blue - but because he's who he is. But, to argue that he's "not doing better" because of racism - is itself a form of racism. It's painting with a very broad brush and making some assumptions that simply can't be proven.

(Disclosure: I didn't support Hillary - I've been with Obama for over a year. All right here on DU.) With that said, was the black vote that otherwise would have been huge for Hillary , but went to Obama, actions of racism against Hillary Clinton? Voting for a black man in a 90% block simply because he's black? We just don't want to go there. Let us judge our candidates by the content of their character at DU and not make assumptions based on gut feelings. Are there some who won't vote for Obama because he's black? Yes. Enough to change the polls? I don't think so. Are there blacks who will vote for Obama simply because he's black and because McCain is white? Yes. So, it cuts both ways; and it's the broad brush being used to paint a picture of widespread racism, and the resulting opinion that he would be "doing better" if he were white is what I object to.

We can "blame" race and racism in this campaign - or we can choose to recognize Barack Obama for being Barack Obama and not being Barack Obama - the black candidate. Yes, it's a fact he is black - no, it's not a fact he would be "doing better" if he were white.

I say - let's not go there. Please don't flame away without considering my opinion thoughtfully. I mean it with the best of heart, honest discussion - and not a lick of racism in my bones. I just question the theory, and wish it wasn't a convenient excuse to trot out when things ever waver and speed bumps are met along the way over the next 60 days. We need to work hard and harder and even harder than that - no matter the color of our party's nominee.

GOBAMA!

[angee_is_mad]

48. Check out the link

I was the only early black Barack supporter that I knew. I had friends and family supporting hillary, because of bill. Blacks did not have faith that whites would vote for a Black man.

It wasn't that they didn't think Barack was qualified, but that they didn't trust that whites would vote for him. If you look at the polls at the start of the primary season, hillary was getting 80% of the black vote. If she was polling 80, what did that leave Obama?

Remember at the beginning it was said that Barack wasn't black enough. The media was interviewing southern black senior citizens who said they were going to vote for hillary to save Obama's life. They thought he would be assassinated like MLK.

It was a long and drawn out primary and it is easy to forget what was going on before the Iowa caucus.

Elite=uppity
Exotic=black

Uppity Black man is taking a white man's job. Those damn coloreds.

[demokatgurrl]

67. Thank you for posting those true definitions

I get so sick of snotty rich white Republicans using the terms "elite" and "elitist" against Obama. Transparent lying assholes.

[Kweli4Real]

98. I caution you ...

You say that "Racism cuts both ways" and cite to Blacks voting at 90% for Obama as evidence of racism? Is that not a racist rightwing talking point? Don't forget that Blacks have voted 90% democrat since the 1960s. It is only now that there is a Black candidate that this is even an issue. It's as if you are saying that the ONLY reason Obama captured the Black vote is because he is Black; not because 90% of Black believe that Obama will best represent their individual interests.

[pipi_k]

132. You said just about everything I was thinking myself

Back in 2000, it was between a couple of white guys

Again in 2004


And polls? Who the hell can believe them? I'm not privy to how they do those things, so someone has to tell me...

are these poll questions being asked of the very same people each week?

Are these people being asked the same questions from week to week and giving different answers based on whether a candidate's nose hairs are sticking out, or this or that guy mispronounced a word?

Are they being asked of different mixtures of people? That, to me, could explain the rise and fall of poll numbers.

Also...I've seen lots of poll questions that could be misconstrued, leading people to answer in a way that doesn't fully reflect what they're really thinking about something

Or poll questions that have "yes" or "no" answers that don't take into account the shades of gray...sort of like the, "Do you still beat your wife? Answer yes or no" question.

Given those possibilities, I've decided that Jesus Christ himself could be running against Satan and a little fine manipulation of poll questions could have them running just about dead even with each other.

I mean, if it really mattered to those whose business it is to keep us all on the edge of our seats...i.e. play with our heads....until the voting booths are shut down and all the votes are in.

To do it any other way wouldn't be any "fun" for them, would it....


So honestly, I spit on polls...I don't get encouraged or discouraged...what matters is Election Day


:)

[buzzard]

49. I have no vote in your election but if I did Obama would be my choice hands down, my sil

is African American and thinks that I am making a token choice and believes many others are doing so as well. I have a hard time understanding this thought process as he is clearly the most intelligent enlightened politician up for election. I feel lousy that she views my choice this way because I am not intolerant or prejudiced but rather find Obama inspiring and appealing to my ideals.

[Skittles]

50. I don't pay any attention to the polls

I'm voting Obama and working for Obama, getting the word out that by default we are truly FUCKED if McCain is prez

[angee_is_mad]

51. God Bless You

for all your hard work. Let's get it DONE!!!!

[Skittles]

52. it's not easy here in Texas

I've got a bit of a sixth sense about me that I can tell right away if it's a policy issue causing people to say they won't vote for Obama or a race issue - I can tell - I've always been able to read people very well and I'm still doing it.

[McCamy Taylor]

53. Democrats forget that there are other people in America. McCain is going to have

to battle some prejudice, too. I am not sure that he realizes it yet. Does not matter how "tough" Gov. Palin tries to appear. After the first glamor wears off, there is going to be a time when his voters reflect. This Pew survey found that Democratic female candidates get a boost from women voters but that Republican female candidates do not.

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/474/female-president

This poll from 2007 found that people from the south and older voters were less likely to vote for a female candidate.

http://people-press.org/report/307/voters-remain-in-neutral-as-presidential-campaign-moves-into-high-gear

The McCain camp may have felt that they had the Republican/male/southern/older demographic tied up and that they were really using Palin to appeal to the base and not to get more women supporters. However, I get the impression that they just plain did not look at the polls when they picked her. Because they would have done better to pick Huckabee if their intention was to rally the base. He is extremely likable, and he could have refined his weird positions from the primary easily enough, and no one would have questioned his experience. Plus, southern candidates do very well when seeking national office. Huckabee is the "real deal". Palin is a phony. People are already seeing that.

[Virginian]

79. VA elected Doug Wilder, but not Mary Sue Terry as Governor

Virginia elected Doug Wilder as the first African American Governor.

In the following election, Mary Sue Terry did not win against George "Maccaca" Allen.

Maybe it was the idea of two "firsts" in a row that defeated her or maybe it was that Virginia was not ready for a woman Governor.

[D23MIURG23]

54. K&R

[wildeyed]

55. kick

[AlabamaBrightBlueDot]

56. K&R

Thanks for the reminder!

[racaulk]

58. Damn right!

This white DUer hears you loud and clear, and I could not agree with you more. This needed to be said. Thank you! :hi:

K&R

[angee_is_mad]

112. Truth Hurts

but we must not have any delusions in what we are dealing with.

Let me repeat, We Can Win and We Will Win!!! We just can not get into a depression when mcsame is leading by three whole points after the GOP convention.

[secondwind]

59. VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER!!!

[faulknercindy]

60. Rekax and vote on election day that's all we need to do

two things to watch for folks. The only two things that matter. What is the delegate count math in the electoral college ( You know what actually gets somebody elected.) and where are they spending the money for ad space.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/

that's the only thing that matters. they know this is almost over if not already. the rest is just noise.

[meowomon]

61. That was good. Thanks

[Heather MC]

62. Opps I read this, does it make me white now?

I only recently got my color card back
You are so right, Obama could never do what McCain and Palin Does and get a way with it. And the fact of the matter is, If Obama cheated on his, was in the Keating 5, lied about selling a plane for profit. was in a meeting next door to the Memebers of AIP

He would never have been aloud to run for POTUS
The double standard is sickening, but I also believe in his case it's Repug/vs DEM thing as well
The Dems have had to be perfect to get in office. I mean just the other day I read an Article of someone clumping Kilpatrick in with Obama. But the Ted Stevens Palin Association is completely ignored

[lisa58]

63. I just keep reminding myself what Axelrod said a couple of weeks ago...

...that if he lived by the polls he would have jumped off a building when Obama was 30 points behind Hillary.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

64. Well said. K&R

[Turner Ashby]

65. I don't think it is a black thing

I think it is a POW thing. McCain gets a lot of mileage out of it.

And I am half Latina, my father could not get jobs when he came back from Korea. He took 10 years to get through 4 years of college. So, I understand having to give 150% in order to get 100% credit.

[RedLetterRev]

66. Just keep holding my hand

and I'll hold the one next to me, you hold the one next to you. They'll hold the ones next to them, and so on. We'll form one bigass line and dare the thugs to step across one more time. This is way past color. This is about this big strange family we call America, now.

:grouphug:

[EstimatedProphet]

68. Well said!

[NoSheep]

69. Working night and day to inform, debunk, educate...and I'll keep on doing it

until we get our damn country back. :kick:

[democracy1st]

70. K & R

[bdamomma]

71. kick

we need to kick repig butts. let us fight back hard.

[roody]

72. The polls are a lie, just like two stolen elections.

[liberaldem4ever]

73. Great inspiring post-K&R

That really put it in perspective for me this morning and brought my spirits up. Thanks!

[SaveAmerica]

74. Hey Angee, I used to be mad too, then I started walking, canvassing, walking,

calling, canvassing, so on, and so on. I have no personal life right now, but I'm doing so much better now that I'm not watching the TV shows with anchors who think they know everything but are really hurting our country. I started volunteering and with every step I take I feel that much more peace. You are 100% correct with your message. It's like everything else in life, you have to focus on where you're going and not get distracted as you work to get there.

Working to win.

YES...


WE...


CAN!!!!!!!!

[Curtland1015]

75. The problem is, most of the people seem to give up if Barack is 2 points down.

Let alone 20. Suck it up people! Get out there and fight!

[kmdemqueen]

76. I am not worried

I talak to my nieghbors here every day. we do have to work hard. But we can win. We can win!!!!!!

[onefreespiritedchick]

77. Great read! I needed that! n/t

It's the plain truth, and yet so uplifting!

[mcollier]

81. REMEMBER - We Are The Ones

We've Been Waiting For... - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghSJsEVf0pU

Get out the vote... No Time To Be Shy!

[onefreespiritedchick]

78. Actually, this post is for all DU'ers!

Very uplifting!

[eowyn_of_rohan]

94. So true. The race specificity of the title is somewhat off-putting

but that is pretty much outweighed by the good intentions and general message.

[ksimons]

80. Shedding a little more optimistic light on as well

... these polls are using older voter rolls, as well as the fact that most younger and more Democratic voters are smart enough to not answer their land lines from unblocked or unknown numbers - and an additional lot of them are cell-phone only folks - who would not be on older roll books at all.

Older, home-bound Republicans answering polls must outnumber Dems by at least 3 to 1 - so I consider these polls only marginally effective. Could be they are faking the numbers just to get their fees and aren't really doing anything more than 'keeping it close' and therefore interesting. Let's face it, the polling industry can be as trusted as the existing government, no?

[Love Bug]

82. Good advice!

I think people need to calm down and look at where they live, too. I live in a Blue state that is not going to go to McCain, no how, no way. That doesn't mean we shouldn't work hard for Obama but we don't have as tough a job as those who live in Red states or in states that could go either way.

As a woman, I also know what it's like to have to work harder to be regarded the same as a man. I'm sure for AA women that is doubly so. We just have to do what we can.

This was never going to be easy but Obama is tough but calm. We need to follow his example. He has fought hard against tough odds for the past year when he was trailing in the polls and he succeded, has he not?

[Spiffarino]

84. Like Barack, my grandson's father is black

I had hoped that his road would be easier than his father's, and his father's before him. Observing Barack's difficulty getting certain demographic groups to side with him, even when it's in their best interest to do so, makes me suspect that racism is still prevalent in America.

Something like 12% of voters admitted they wouldn't vote for a black person. They're just the ones who were honest about it. How many more are there who agree yet would never admit such a thing to a stranger?

I shudder to think what that sweet, wonderful boy will have to face in the future.

[wowimthere]

86. Well put! K&R

Your post was to the point and fortunately many who are realist see it this way. Yes... people are looking for an excuse not to vote for the true change candidate even when they weren't going to vote for Obama any way. Sad that many would rather stay miserable and vote against their own best interest rather than vote for a black man or woman.

[WheelWalker]

88. You've stated what I believe quite well. Thank you.

:kick:

[Kokonoe]

90. Thank You,

Truly a treasure post.

[Plucketeer]

91. I was raised with racial bias

Fortunately, it was not intense or purposely forced upon me, but it was there nonetheless. It was my time in the service that helped change my attitude - and later, my time living in the south. Of course, I can SEE Obama's color, but it's only a fact about him - not a factor. Polls are like mosquitos. Just a temporary niusance. Obama's gonna win. I can FEEL it!

[jamesatemple]

92. I was down-in-the-dumps!

Your fine contribution has lifted my chin a bit. I'll tackle these East Texas rednecks again...and, again...and, again. Hell, I could stand on my head for two months if I had to! (I made that last part up. I couldn't stand on my head for the slightest part of a second. But, you get the idea.)

The long, long struggle of people of color must be documented carefully and studied by all citizens. That documentation would be, in the distant future, a primer for the candidate for the Presidency who decries the tragedy of religion.

In my wildest imagination, I can visualize a person of color becoming the POTUS; I shall work hard to see that it is so by January 20, 2009. Yet, that same imagination isn't wild enough to ever visualize an atheist leading this country, no matter how perfect that person would be. And, so long as religous beliefs cause one group to kill thousands of innocent people by flying airplanes into buildings while another group, in retaliation, kills hundreds of thousands of innocent people by dropping bombs on their cities, I shall forever hold both those religions comtemptible.

[Skidmore]

96. K&R....Nothing worth doing is ever easy.

We must work for our lives depend on it right now. And they do.

Barack and Joe have done a great job. When Barack came to Iowa last year, most people didn't know who he was or what he stood for. We launched him and we're going to get him across the finish line.

I honestly believe that the more negative posts are made by disruptors, just like the ones during the primaries. We kept working with our eyes on the prize. We will overcome and restore our nation and our Constitution.

Thank you for your post.

[wryter2000]

97. Than you.

Thank you. And thanks to the author of the Daily Kos piece.

In the meantime, people might want to look at this site. Unless I'm misunderstanding, the webmaster is a Republican but that rare breed who deals in reality.

http://www.electionprojection.com/president08.shtml

The overall percentage rates aren't what's important because we don't go by the popular vote. We go by states. Barack's still ahead.

[bobbolink]

101. Unless/Until Dems begin LISTENING to those outside and REACH OUT TO US,

Dems will continue to barely squeak by.

Instead, Dems like right here at DU insist on calling people "stupid" and lots of other names, and disregarding the fACT that Dems have NOT included poor people, nor make our issues their priority.

The Dems are paying the price for this short-sightedness and will continue to do so.

[NOLALady]

107. The Dems are paying the price.

Not just the Dems, practically everyone's paying the price. Some of us are aware, others not so much.

[bobbolink]

133. Yes, you have it. BUT... I and others get attacked for stating the obvious.

The Dems can take the hint and the warning and begin taking poverty seriously, or they can proceed as usual... at their own peril.

Some of us have tried to sound the warning.

[stuartallenmills]

102. absolutely true - we should take no comfort even if polls show a large lead

Its time to take to the streets. Make sure that every person under 30 votes this year. We need to take the country back.

[JuniperLea]

103. And don't forget WHO runs polls...

The media... and right-leaning groups... and do we ever see the actual questions asked? No.

[Thirtieschild]

104. "We shall overcome"

[David Zephyr]

106. !

K&R.

[unapatriciated]

108. Get Out There and Get To Know Your Neighbors......

The Campaign has given us many ways to get involved on a local level, here is a link to one.

Neighbor to Neighbor:
Reach Out to Voters in your Community
This campaign is built on the belief that everyday Americans, when organized and focused, can change their country.
Now you can have an even greater impact on your community. Start today by logging in to our new voter contact tool to find voters near you to reach out to. You can go door to door or make calls at any time that’s convenient for you. There's no one who knows your community better than you do, so help us build support for Barack Obama and this movement for change by beginning in your own neighborhood.

When you log in you'll see that we’ve prepared all the resources that you need, including:
A list of voters in your neighborhood who we need to reach out to
A script you can use in your conversations
A customized flyer you can distribute
Easy interfaces to report back the results of your efforts to the campaign
Support and training to answer any questions along the way

http://my.barackobama.com/modules/votercontact/login_signup.php

Find your local Obama Campaign Office and get involved.
We only have a couple of months left.

[Sunshine Jim]

122. right on!

get a copy of Saul Alinsky's book

"Reveille for Radicals" while you're out there!

[Dollface]

111. If you are able volunteer to drive people to the polls on election day. This is a big obstacle.

[glitch]

113. This is an awesome post, as well as the second user post in the thread at Kos

from sistermoon, a simple direct statement to racists:

They can be reached. I've done phone banking, and have developed a very stark analogy for the "I can't vote for a black man" meme.

I tell them, "We're drowning in America right now. All of us - black, white, brown, red and yellow. We've got a black man offering a life preserver, and a white man offering a concrete block. Which one do you want to choose?"

[Joe Chi Minh]

116. Love that analogy. Apart from having to laugh at that blunt outrageous truth, who wouldn't

be ashamed to effectively confess that they missed the point by not conceding?

[glitch]

117. Yeah it's pretty perfect. Short, sweet, great visual, logically binding. nt

[Joe Chi Minh]

118. Logically binding! You have a great way with words.

[glitch]

120. Thanks! I wish that was true always, but it's very hit and miss. Oh well! :hi: nt

[sui generis]

114. wow imagine a non-white thread.

seems like the only way to manufacture racism is out of irrelevant whole cloth.

Not a slam against the OP but I wish we could leave this crap out of it altogether. W.W.O.D.

[ailsagirl]

115. A Big THANK YOU for posting, angee... points well made

:yourock:

[Redstone]

119. Possibly the most inspiring post I've seen on DU in a LONG time.

Redstone

[angee_is_mad]

127. Thank you so much

this was and is an encouragement post. It's to remind my fellow DUers not to become a slave to the polls, but to get out there and work!

[Sunshine Jim]

121. just visited Seattle

LOTS of Obama signs

no McSame/whats her face signs.

the polls are corporate scams to set up the next vote theft.

[Infinite Hope]

123. I agree. Anyone who spends more than half hour on here needs to get out and volunteer.

Preaching to the choir and gossiping does not bring change. Get out and hit the pavement or the phone lines. And this has been my 5 minutes. Bye.

[HockeyMom]

126. I wear my Obama Mama Tshirt around town in Florida

I get positive comments everywhere I do. These comments are from WHITE people. Is that a positive sign or not?

[angee_is_mad]

131. Extremely postive

and hopefully we will earn their votes in November and not just comments.

[wrenny]

134. thanks for the encouraging post

I echo what everyone here has said. I've been very nervous, and feeling like I'll need a valium to get me through these next few weeks. My husband put our Obama lawn sign out tonight and within the hour, some idiot yelled an epithet at him as they drove by (We live in a pretty Rethug neighborhood, but not entirely!).
But now I feel better. I live in a swing state and I will make time to go canvas and do phone banking for Obama. I have to know that I did everything I could to make sure the evil empire is crushed!!
I too do not believe in polls. I need to keep reminding myself though!
I also honestly think that a huge turnout of voters is very key and I feel that working toward getting out the vote is an extremely important area to focus energies - especially among blacks, latinos and young people who may feel powerless. These groups alone could push Obama into a landslide win if they come out in large numbers on election day.

Oh, and Obama is black? I hadn't noticed.

[Kweli4Real]

136. I agree ... talking amongst ourselves does nothing ...

It is all about hitting the bricks.

But sadly, it does no good for me, a Black man, to talk with white folks on the issue of Obama ... white folks need to talk with white folks; Black folks need with talk to Black folks; and Hispanics need to talk with Hispanic folks.

[Politicub]

135. Incredibley powerful

And we thought it would be easy? We have before us a monumental task, but together, we can move mountains.

[Infinite Hope]

137. Everyone should be volunteering once per week. If you haven't started yet...

you're vary late, but it's never too late. You need to start this week. Stop talking about it, stop talking even unless it's to voters for at least 2-3 hours a week on the doors or on the phones. Wearing a shirt, wearing a button, talking to the choir does next to NOTHING. Get out on the DOORS. Get out on the PHONES. PERSUADE VOTERS 2-3 HOUS PER WEEK.

End of rant...this organizer is tired of lazy people who talk the talk, but never walk. Hopefully that's not the case here, but the reality is for many posters here it is. Are you going to play lazy and take it for granted...then bitch and complain for 4 more years? If you are not on the doors or phones 2-3 hours a week, you aren't even trying. Everyone can adjust their schedules to make room for 2 hours per week. You can call from an office, knock with local campaigns, or call from home even. There are programs for that. GET OUT AND ****WORK****!!!!