Growing number say country ready for black president

Posted: 04:01 PM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A new poll suggests that the number of Americans who believe the country is ready for a black president is on the rise.

Seventy-six percent of those polled in a CNN/Essence Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Thursday say that the country is ready. That's up 14 points from December 2006, at the start of the presidential campaign.

"Some of the increase in the number of Americans who say the country is ready for a black president is a simple recognition of Barack Obama's success in the Democratic primaries," said Keating Holland, CNN's polling director.

"We're not asking this question in a vacuum. In many cases, respondents must have had Obama in mind when giving their answer, even though he is not mentioned anywhere in the questionnaire."

The senator from Illinois is locked in a battle with Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama currently leads Clinton in states won, delegates pledged, and in the overall popular vote in the primaries and caucuses held so far this year.

The poll also indicates that more white Americans than African-Americans think the country is ready for a black president. Seventy-eight percent of white Americans surveyed say the country is ready, as opposed to only 69 percent of African-Americans polled. Both numbers are up substantially from December 2006.

"Drawing on their own life experience, blacks are a little more skeptical than whites," said Bill Schneider, CNN's senior political analyst. "But blacks, too, have come around, particularly after the Iowa caucuses demonstrated that Obama could win in an overwhelmingly white electorate."

Holland added, "Among blacks, the belief that the country is ready for an African-American president is highest among blacks who share traits with Obama. Optimism about the country's acceptance of a black president is higher among black men than among black women, higher among college-educated blacks than among those with no college degree, and higher among younger blacks than older blacks."

The poll also suggests that more Americans think the country is ready for a black president than a woman president. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed said that the country is ready for a female president. That's 13 points lower than those who say the country is ready for black president.

"Do Americans see more prejudice against a woman than an African-American," Schneider asked. "More likely, they see more negative feelings about this woman than about this African-American. Because it's true. More people have an unfavorable opinion of Hillary Clinton than of Barack Obama."

It's also important to note that the poll asked whether the country is ready for a black or woman president, not whether the respondent would vote for a black or woman president.

"Few people will acknowledge their own prejudices, but they will answer whether they think the country is ready to elect a black or woman president," Schneider said.

The CNN/Essence Magazine/Opinion Research Corporation survey was released on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

The poll was conducted by telephone from March 26 to April 2, with 2,184 Americans questioned, including 1,014 blacks and 1,001 whites. The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points for the overall sample and plus or minus 3 percentage points for the questions asked just of black or white Americans.

I'm home. Guess the one link I provided was sufficient.

I'm home. Guess the one link I provided was sufficient.

Okay I have just finished reading the recent banter being exchanged and it appears to be an argument of whether Obama is "black enough". Last time I checked when you are of a mixed ethnic background you choose which box you check. Feeling the need to make an argument based on one's ethnic background and not something that actually matters is sad. That is about as desperate and your fellow Republican McCain. He is behind in the polls and has to revert to old faithful.....fear politics. If you can't win them on issues scare the uninformed into voting for you!!

I thought we had decided all these links were boring!! It actually makes me think of the spoof SNL did last night on the view where they made fun of Elizabeth and all her "I found it on the internet" remarks for her information.

Still waiting for proof of your statement that Senator Obama is Arab.

He is behind in the polls and has to revert to old faithful.....fear politics. If you can't win them on issues scare the uninformed into voting for you!!

You mean like the fear politics like the libs have perfected over the years? You sound as if only the right uses them. Here's some not-so-oldies but goodies:

"Don't vote for Bush, he'll bring back the draft. Do you want to get killed in Iraq? This affects you, make it your issue!"

"If you think that rape should be legal, then don't vote. (To) fight off that danger of losing that, then you should vote!"

"Bush legalized assault weapons, so crime is going to spiral out of control."

"Bush is a Texas cowboy!"

Kerry is following the familiar Democratic ploy of flogging the Social Security issue, hyperbolically implying that Bush's ill-defined plans for individual investment accounts will cost current retirees their benefits.

GLOOMILY aware that Al Gore is not setting the campaign trail on fire, Democrats are already invoking the specter of George W. Bush stocking the U.S. Supreme Court with right-wing fanatics. Take People For the American Way, a liberal pressure group. Last month, a report from this outfit quavered that the court is ``just one or two new justices away from curtailing or abolishing fundamental rights that millions of Americans take for granted.'' (Roe v. Wade, back-alley abortions)

Can you say "global warming"?? :cool2:

Remember during one of the Bush elections the left claimed that a vote for Bush would all but guarantee your elderly parents and grandparents would be forced to eat dog food because they wouldn't be able to afford food and meds?

And the most fantastic thing the left has THIS election is the true oldie but goodie: The race card. If you don't vote for Obama, it's because you're a racist. :biggrin:

I mean, really, it is used constantly by all. :biggrin:

Still waiting for proof of your statement that Senator Obama is Arab.

Something tells me you could view a videotape of Obama admitting it and you wouldn't believe it. :cool2:

KyBC: You make a very good point about the absurdity of basing ones vote on a candidate's ethnic background.

On the other hand, there is this claim by some of the people posting on this and other threads that Senator Obama is an Arab. I am challenging that claim because I have seen no proof of it and no one with any credibility proving in any way that it is true. Even John McCain when he had to address the claim up close and personal in front of the cameras said that Senator Obama is not an Arab.

Senator Obama claims that he is an American - and that he is an American with both white and black parents, which if it ever counted for anything and it doesn't in my books, would point to some people correctly referring to him as African-American. Which is part of this silly discussion.

You are absolute correct when you say that this is a desperate ploy to plant fear in the hearts of Americans.

I personally couldn't care less if he's an Arab. What I DO know is that he is a socialist, which is reason enough to make sure he never sees the light of day in the White House.

HOWEVER, I can see some people's concern: He has issues with certain tokens of patriotism. Add to that if he's an Arab or even remotely a terrorist sympathizer, that could certainly mean something of substance.

Edited November 2, 200817 yr by BethFromVA

As we've said before Beth, dirty campaign politics is in the eye of the beholder. I've never heard any of the rehtoric that you've posted above. And I've been involved in politics all my life.

I believe that you are interpretating certain statements to mean what you've posted. Like the Bush one about the draft.

Which brings up a good point. Bush interestingly enough, did not reinstate the draft although it seemed like he might have to. Instead he turned our National Guard into regular military and he changed the rule of no back to back combat tours of duty, to making them fight in Iraq as long as he decides they are needed to keep his and McCain's and Cheney's sham of a war going. And Republican supporters say that the military knew what they were getting into when they signed up, so it's fine and dandy. You talk about sad. That is not only sad, it is unfair and has put our position of having a good defense in jeopardy.

And btw Beth I will believe that Senator Obama is an Arab when there is valid proof. I don't care in what form it is presented. But it has to be valid proof.

As we've said before Beth, dirty campaign politics is in the eye of the beholder. I've never heard any of the rehtoric that you've posted above. And I've been involved in politics all my life.

I don't mean this as derogatory to you but instead as a well-used sentiment: If you haven't heard what I've mentioned, then you must live under a rock. I have heard this stuff for YEARS. I even knew which words to Google just so I could find them. I guess it's less about being in the eye of the beholder as it is being able to cherry pick what one hears.

I believe that you are interpretating certain statements to mean what you've posted. Like the Bush one about the draft.

Again, you can Google it as I did. Here it is from USAToday, in 2004 (though others ran the story, but I figured if they weren't left-leaning enough, you would cry foul):

Kerry raises possibility that draft could return if Bush re-elected

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, citing the war in Iraq and other trouble spots in the world, raised the possibility Wednesday that a military draft could be reinstated if voters re-elect President Bush.

Kerry said he would not bring back the draft and questioned how fairly it was administered in the past.

Answering a question about the draft that had been posed at a forum with voters, Kerry said: "If George Bush were to be re-elected, given the way he has gone about this war and given his avoidance of responsibility in North Korea and Iran and other places, is it possible? I can't tell you."

Which brings up a good point. Bush interestingly enough, did not reinstate the draft although it seemed like he might have to. Instead he turned our National Guard into regular military and he changed the rule of no back to back combat tours of duty, to making them fight in Iraq as long as he decides they are needed to keep his and McCain's and Cheney's sham of a war going. And Republican supporters say that the military knew what they were getting into when they signed up, so it's fine and dandy. You talk about sad. That is not only sad, it is unfair and has put our position of having a good defense in jeopardy.

Had Clinton not decimiated our military by 1/3, Bush (or any president to follow Clinton) wouldn't have had to do such a thing.

And btw Beth I will believe that Senator Obama is an Arab when there is valid proof. I don't care in what form it is presented. But it has to be valid proof.

Personally I couldn't care less if he's a one-eyed, one-armed, flying purple people eater. He IS a SOCIALIST, and for me, that's all that matters.

Again, you can Google it as I did. Here it is from USAToday, in 2004 (though others ran the story, but I figured if they weren't left-leaning enough, you would cry foul):.

Umm do your google skills go beyond 2004...maybe 2008's candidate?

Personally I couldn't care less if he's a one-eyed, one-armed, flying purple people eater. He IS a SOCIALIST, and for me, that's all that matters.

Give me a break on the socialist crap and use your google skills to research what a socialist really is and stop drinking the Kool-Aid!!! Raising taxes on the wealthy (back to what they were under Clinton) does not equal socialism.

Umm do your google skills go beyond 2004...maybe 2008's candidate?

Try and keep up. I was posting the history, showing that it's nothing new, and it certainly isn't performed only by the right.

Give me a break on the socialist crap and use your google skills to research what a socialist really is and stop drinking the Kool-Aid!!! Raising taxes on the wealthy (back to what they were under Clinton) does not equal socialism.

No, but Barack's OWN WORDS about spreading the wealth IS socialism. Talk about the Kool-Aid drinkers! Omg, y'all really can pick and choose what you want to hear. What a talent. :cool2:

Try and keep up. I was posting the history, showing that it's nothing new, and it certainly isn't performed only by the right.

First of all don't insult my intelligence, everything you posted was from previous elections being ran by different individuals. I am saying Reps are down and using fear tactics now.

No, but Barack's OWN WORDS about spreading the wealth IS socialism. Talk about the Kool-Aid drinkers! Omg, y'all really can pick and choose what you want to hear. What a talent. :cool2:

Anytime you change tax rates it's spreading the wealth. It's just silly to equate changing tax rates back to what they were under Clinton to Socialism. Taking one's words out of context does not equal socialism.

I am becoming increasingly irritated by the misuse of the term "socialism." This is a term which has a precise meaning: Socialism is a "movement aiming to establish a classless society by substituting public for private ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange." By this definition, Obama is not a socialist and he is not offering socialism as part or all of his political platform. (And Canada is not a socialist country though some of us are amused when you call us such. We think: oh, class is already beginning to disappear south of the border, eh. LOL)

Okay I have just finished reading the recent banter being exchanged and it appears to be an argument of whether Obama is "black enough". Last time I checked when you are of a mixed ethnic background you choose which box you check. Feeling the need to make an argument based on one's ethnic background and not something that actually matters is sad. That is about as desperate and your fellow Republican McCain. He is behind in the polls and has to revert to old faithful.....fear politics. If you can't win them on issues scare the uninformed into voting for you!!

I'm posting this on two threads because it applies to two threads.

Well, as usual, I am astounded at the bigotry ascribed to me (or maybe I'm not). I did not try to make an argument that Obama's ancestry matters. I did not try to make an argument that no one should vote for him because of his familial background. I did not try to make an argument that he should be called "Arab" or "Arab-American" or "Arab-African-American" or anything else. I quite simply pointed out that he does not share commonality of heritage with the West Indies slave-descendants that traditionally are defined by the term "African-American".

If someone (correctly) pointed out that I had Italian heritage, I wouldn't start jumping up and down saying, "What are you calling me, A WHOP???? Are you saying I have loyalty to ROME rather than to the US? Are you saying I don't deserve to be here????" On the contrary, I'd say, "Yes, I do."

ALL I DID was correctly identify his heritage. It's the rest of you who are jumping to the conclusion that that fact is an issue in the election.

Edited November 2, 200817 yr by gadgetlady

First of all don't insult my intelligence, everything you posted was from previous elections being ran by different individuals. I am saying Reps are down and using fear tactics now.

I apologize. I thought you were insulting your own intelligence by acting as if this is the first time this has ever happened. No doubt both sides are using it now. I was just showing this is nothing new. Especially from the left.