Sunday, September 21, 2008

AP Blames Obama's Sagging Popularity on Racism

Check out this gem from the AP (via the NY Post):

RACISM HURTS OBAMA IN POLL

The poll, conducted with Stanford University, suggests the percentage of voters who may turn away from Obama because of his race could easily be larger than the final difference between the 2004 presidential candidates - about 2.5 points. ... The pollsters set out to determine why Obama is locked in a close race with McCain, even as the political landscape seems to favor Democrats.


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Racism is to blame, eh? Funny, I thought Obama's hidden Marxist past and his 20-year membership in a black liberation theology church might have something to do with it. Silly me!

6 comments:

Mike said...

The survey is flawed and the results are skewed to conclude that there is racism involved.

The survey is flawed in two ways. First, it assumes that a single adjective like "friendly" can be used to describe an large sample population. I suggest that the only adjective that can be applied to the entire black population is "dark-skinned."

Second, for each adjective, the survey allows these responses:

How well do each of these words describe blacks?
Extremely well
Very well
Moderately well
Slightly well
Not at all
Not answered

In any survey, the mid-point is always a neutral response, like "Neither well nor poorly". This survey is skewed because "moderately well" is chosen as the mid-point.

If you answered the question, "are most blacks friendly" as describing blacks "moderately well", the survey counts YOU as racist!

In their own survey, their conclusion is refuted by this question:

CQ11. Does the fact that if elected, Barack Obama would be the first black president of the United States make
you more likely to vote for him, less likely to vote for him, or does it not affect your vote either way?

All Respondents Wave 6
More likely to vote for him 9
Less likely to vote for him 9
Not affect your vote either way 82
Refused / Not Answered 0

Whites Only Wave 6
More likely to vote for him 6
Less likely to vote for him 10
Not affect your vote either way 84
Refused / Not Answered 0

Neocon Latina said...

Given that the pollsters are professionals, is it your judgment that the poll was deliberately designed in a misleading fashion?

Jack Lacton said...

But as I pointed out the racism is on the left...!

1Peter3:15 said...

The story certainly doesn't fit with Obama's recent polling, which has been very strong. Also, many recent analyses of the Obama/Clinton primaries discounted any supposed "Bradley" effect of Obama over-polling.

On the other hand, it is hard to argue that racism does not exist in the United States. We are after all only a few generations away from the Jim Crow South.

Whatever your views on Obama, what a wonderful thing that a black man can be competitive for our nation's highest office. It's really a testament to the progress we have made as a nation to overcome the dark legacy of slavery and segregation.

Unknown said...

THE RACISM RED HERRING ...
If Obama can get Americans to base the election on racism, then it will take their attention off the fact that he has no experience, no credentials, and no issues.

Neocon Latina said...

1peter3:15,

Sure there is racism. But Obama's sagging popularity (albeit with a mild resurgence of late) cannot be due to racism. It's not as if the American people just recently realized he was black.

Also, as others have pointed out, the racism goes in both directions. Obama, for example, was a 20-year member of a racist church.