Jim Stillman
Nevar
Problems for Senator Obama and for us all
July 25th 2008 20:28
It is no secret to those familiar with these pages that I am a strong supporter of Barack Obama’s quest for the presidency, that, while both Senator McCain and he share attributes of patriotism, decency, morality and such, the former brings with him too many of the policies of the Bush administration for my comfort. Moreover, again from my point of view, another Republican presidency would shift the Supreme Court further to the Right and endanger freedoms and rights I hold precious.
I recognize that these views are not universal; members of my family have taken me to task on many occasions for being too far to the Left. On the other hand, there are problems facing Barack Obama that are not the result of rational thought; they are, instead, the product of prejudice and sheer ignorance.
The election of the president of the United States should not be grounded in either.
Senator Obama should win the election, if not handily then at least by a respectable margin. There is no question that he is well qualified, will have advisors who match my personal (and therefore correct) social and political views. Yet I am concerned that many liberal-progressives, traditional Democrats, will choose not to vote or, worse, hold their respective noses and vote for Senator McCain.
During the primary season, the exit polling consistently had greater numbers for Senator Obama that the actual results. My concern is that, in the privacy of the voting booth, a number of voters will not cast their votes for an African-American or a person perceived, falsely, as Muslim. They will be ashamed to admit the prejudice or try and justify it, but the damage will be done.
As to the first issue, that of Senator Obama’s race, there is an obvious reluctance to openly admit the prejudice. A comprehensive report of the Pew Research Center issued earlier this month suggests that respondents state that Senator Obama’s “inexperience” weighs more heavily in determination of voter preference than does race, 42% as opposed to 22%. It should be noted, however, that “inexperience” can be cited with no acknowledgement of prejudice.
Further studies by the Pew Center indicate that African-Americans are more likely to state that race will play a significant role in the election. The numbers are in the 25% to 35% range but the diminishing polling advantage to Senator Obama worries me.
Whereas racial prejudice is not readily admitted, another factor remains on the table, the continuing and enduring belief that Barack Obama is Muslim.
The Pew Center report notes that the false belief that Senator Obama is Muslim is durable and non-partisan.
The incorrect perception that the Democratic presidential candidate adheres to the Muslim faith or to another non-Christian faith has remained remarkably constant over the course of the 2008 election campaign. The belief that Obama is Muslim, however, appears to have virtually no effect on Republican voters -- who overwhelmingly support McCain in any case. But Democrats who share the misperception are significantly less likely to support Obama.
In its latest survey, the Pew Research Center found that 12% say Obama is Muslim, virtually unchanged from 10% in March. This misperception is not limited to voters who oppose Obama. Identical percentages of Republicans and Democrats (12% each) think he is Muslim, and the link between views of Obama's religion and their candidate choice vote is strongest among Democrats.
But questions about Obama's faith may have an effect beyond the 12% who flatly say Obama is Muslim. One-quarter of voters say they don't know what Obama's religious beliefs are, including 10% who say the reason they don't know is not that they "just don't know enough about him," but instead that they've "heard different things about his religion." Significantly, those who have heard different things about Obama's religion favor McCain by a margin of 48% to 33%, while those who just don't know enough about it favor Obama 48% to 33%.
Republican voters in the survey overwhelmingly support McCain irrespective of their belief about Obama's religious faith. But the new Pew Research poll finds that questions about Obama's faith appear to have a strong influence on candidate preference among the Democrats who either believe Obama is Muslim or who don't know because they've heard different things. These voters are 28 points less likely to say they back Obama for president than are those who believe he is Christian (62% vs. 90%).
The relationship between views of Obama's religion and the vote is far less substantial among independents -- those who believe he is Christian are split evenly between the two candidates, while those who think or have heard Obama is Muslim favor McCain by a 50%-to-34% margin.
It’s not too late for Senator Obama to try to educate the public. It is about 100 days to the election and the public remains unengaged – except for us political junkies!
In a special survey published on July 16, 2008, the Pew Center reported most Americans say they do not know very much about Senator Obama’s policy positions. Only 40% say they know a lot or a fair amount about his positions on foreign policy; 59% say they know just some or very little.
These numbers are unchanged from early March. Even among Democrats, just 49% currently know at least a fair amount about Senator Obama's foreign policy positions, while 50% know just some or very little.
Although John McCain has made foreign policy the centerpiece of his campaign, his positions on this subject are only slightly better known than Obama's. Currently, 45% say they know a lot or a fair amount about McCain's positions on foreign policy, while 53% know just some or very little. In March, somewhat more people said they were aware of McCain's foreign policy stances (52%).
The candidates' economic policies also are not very well known by the public. Only about half of Americans (49%) say they know a lot or a fair amount about Senator Obama's economic positions; just 46% say they know at least a fair amount about John McCain's
Those of us who spend too much time watching cable news, MSNBC or Fox, may find these figures impossible to accept. The real danger is that, in lieu of any real information, the voters will fall back upon prejudices that are unworthy of this country.
I recognize that these views are not universal; members of my family have taken me to task on many occasions for being too far to the Left. On the other hand, there are problems facing Barack Obama that are not the result of rational thought; they are, instead, the product of prejudice and sheer ignorance.
The election of the president of the United States should not be grounded in either.
Senator Obama should win the election, if not handily then at least by a respectable margin. There is no question that he is well qualified, will have advisors who match my personal (and therefore correct) social and political views. Yet I am concerned that many liberal-progressives, traditional Democrats, will choose not to vote or, worse, hold their respective noses and vote for Senator McCain.
During the primary season, the exit polling consistently had greater numbers for Senator Obama that the actual results. My concern is that, in the privacy of the voting booth, a number of voters will not cast their votes for an African-American or a person perceived, falsely, as Muslim. They will be ashamed to admit the prejudice or try and justify it, but the damage will be done.
As to the first issue, that of Senator Obama’s race, there is an obvious reluctance to openly admit the prejudice. A comprehensive report of the Pew Research Center issued earlier this month suggests that respondents state that Senator Obama’s “inexperience” weighs more heavily in determination of voter preference than does race, 42% as opposed to 22%. It should be noted, however, that “inexperience” can be cited with no acknowledgement of prejudice.
Whereas racial prejudice is not readily admitted, another factor remains on the table, the continuing and enduring belief that Barack Obama is Muslim.
The Pew Center report notes that the false belief that Senator Obama is Muslim is durable and non-partisan.
The incorrect perception that the Democratic presidential candidate adheres to the Muslim faith or to another non-Christian faith has remained remarkably constant over the course of the 2008 election campaign. The belief that Obama is Muslim, however, appears to have virtually no effect on Republican voters -- who overwhelmingly support McCain in any case. But Democrats who share the misperception are significantly less likely to support Obama.
In its latest survey, the Pew Research Center found that 12% say Obama is Muslim, virtually unchanged from 10% in March. This misperception is not limited to voters who oppose Obama. Identical percentages of Republicans and Democrats (12% each) think he is Muslim, and the link between views of Obama's religion and their candidate choice vote is strongest among Democrats.
But questions about Obama's faith may have an effect beyond the 12% who flatly say Obama is Muslim. One-quarter of voters say they don't know what Obama's religious beliefs are, including 10% who say the reason they don't know is not that they "just don't know enough about him," but instead that they've "heard different things about his religion." Significantly, those who have heard different things about Obama's religion favor McCain by a margin of 48% to 33%, while those who just don't know enough about it favor Obama 48% to 33%.
Republican voters in the survey overwhelmingly support McCain irrespective of their belief about Obama's religious faith. But the new Pew Research poll finds that questions about Obama's faith appear to have a strong influence on candidate preference among the Democrats who either believe Obama is Muslim or who don't know because they've heard different things. These voters are 28 points less likely to say they back Obama for president than are those who believe he is Christian (62% vs. 90%).
The relationship between views of Obama's religion and the vote is far less substantial among independents -- those who believe he is Christian are split evenly between the two candidates, while those who think or have heard Obama is Muslim favor McCain by a 50%-to-34% margin.
It’s not too late for Senator Obama to try to educate the public. It is about 100 days to the election and the public remains unengaged – except for us political junkies!
In a special survey published on July 16, 2008, the Pew Center reported most Americans say they do not know very much about Senator Obama’s policy positions. Only 40% say they know a lot or a fair amount about his positions on foreign policy; 59% say they know just some or very little.
These numbers are unchanged from early March. Even among Democrats, just 49% currently know at least a fair amount about Senator Obama's foreign policy positions, while 50% know just some or very little.
Although John McCain has made foreign policy the centerpiece of his campaign, his positions on this subject are only slightly better known than Obama's. Currently, 45% say they know a lot or a fair amount about McCain's positions on foreign policy, while 53% know just some or very little. In March, somewhat more people said they were aware of McCain's foreign policy stances (52%).
The candidates' economic policies also are not very well known by the public. Only about half of Americans (49%) say they know a lot or a fair amount about Senator Obama's economic positions; just 46% say they know at least a fair amount about John McCain's
Those of us who spend too much time watching cable news, MSNBC or Fox, may find these figures impossible to accept. The real danger is that, in lieu of any real information, the voters will fall back upon prejudices that are unworthy of this country.
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Comment by Lester Caudill
Round Politics
Jim why do you think most people don't know enough about Barack Hussein Obama? I have followed the political candidates for some time now, and I still don't know how he stands.
He is for the second amendment, but he support gun bans. He is against Gay marriage, but is against voting in California on the gay marriage issue.
He is pro-abortion, but is a loving man of faith. It is Senator Barack Hussein Obama's own fault because he doesn't even know where he stands or he knows and is trying to keep everyone else confused and just listening to his pretty empty speeches.
Comment by Jim Stillman
Political Certainty
To the extent that a voter disagrees with the positions of a politician, that is between the voter and the candidate. To the extent that a politician's viewpoints are not clearly communicated, that's the fault of the candidate, assuming that the lack of clarity is truly present. So Senator Obama has to, if he wants to be president, work harder to present himself.
BUT, and here's my problem with your post. Why "Barack Hussein Obama? Why the repeated use of the Senator's middle name? Are you trying to suggest that he is a deceased Iraqi dictator? A terrorist? Not a patriotic American? Agree or disagree with his political viewpoints, his priorities, his policies on gun control, his position on a woman's legal right to an abortion (not her moral right because as a man of strong faith you may have other viewpoints), no one in his right mind believes him to be other than a patriotic American who loves this country.
So would you please cut out the "Hussein" business; it's beneath you.