Pa. Gov. Ed Rendell: Some White Voters ‘Not Ready’ to Elect Black Candidate
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Ed Rendell, one of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s most visible supporters, said some white Pennsylvanians are likely to vote against her rival Barack Obama because he is black.
“You’ve got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate,” Rendell told the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in remarks that appeared in Tuesday’s paper.
To buttress his point, Rendell cited his 2006 re-election campaign, in which he defeated Republican challenger Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star, by a margin of more than 60 percent to less than 40 percent.
“I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann been the identical candidate that he was — well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking — but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so,” he said. “And that (attitude) exists. But on the other hand, that is counterbalanced by Obama’s ability to bring new voters into the electoral pool.”
Rendell, chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 2000 and previously Philadelphia’s mayor, endorsed Clinton on Jan. 23.
Pennsylvania holds its primary April 22.
Several figures in Clinton’s campaign, including her husband, the former president, have been criticized in recent weeks for raising Obama’s race. In response, Bill Clinton has said he will stick to promoting his wife, rather than defending her.
As Black Republican, I’m thrilled that finally black folk are starting to see the true colors of the dem party. Black people stop wasting you vote on this group, they take your vote for granted. It’s about time you start looking at the issues not the symbol.
Since when did Pennsylvania become more racist than states like Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, or Virginia?? All states that Obama won. What makes Pennsylvania any different. I’m from the Virginia but I live in Pennsylvania now and their by no means as intense up here as they are down there about race. Rendell should have kept that comment to himself. Ever since Obama won Iowa SOME white people have really gotten beside themselves with some of their comments.
Black people! We dont have to walk around anymore wondering who at our jobs, schools, or communities are racist after this campaign is over. They are really coming out of the closet now.
This campaign has shocked alot of people. I never in a million years would have imagined the number of people voting for a black president. I guess this country has really made major strides overcoming racial divide. I’m proud of that, its just a small percent still holding us back.
For every black person that votes for Obama because he’s black theirs just as many white people not voting for Obama because he’s black. It all equals out. That doesn’t make it right but HEY! thats the country we live in
There’s nothing wrong with stating that a lot of whites are not ready for a Black president. Gov Ed Rendell just made a too honest comment that some view as offensive. Obama is just riding a wave of liberal enthusiasm, that will wane come November. It seems as though a lot of the media are giving him a free pass, after all they don’t want to seem biased, and it makes a great story. But do we really want someone with so little experience leading the country? That’s why I think if the Democrats nominate Obama, regardless of race, it will be 1988 redux. All the polls will put Obama ahead but as the election comes closer, McCain will pull ahead. Come November, people will face reality and elect McCain, as the more palatable choice.
Clearly this is one Super Delegate vote Barack won’t get! What happened to the tradition of neutrality from party chairmen? What post was he offered in the HRC administration?
We shouldn’t be surprised that Rendell is using the old politics of dividing people along racial or cultural lines. That is a formula that has been working for a long time. Playing to the fears of people is shameful. Mrs. Clinton has not been well-served by his inappropriate remarks. She needs Pennsylvania to stop Barack’s momentum, and Rendell’s either hasty or mis-calculated analysis probably just took Pennsylvania out of play for Hillary in the delegate race.
Gov. Rendell, with that stupid comment, has just insured that Barack will win in Pennsylvania. He won against Lynn Swann, not because Swann is black, but because he is a Republican. I would give the good people of this great state more credit than their racist governor does. Hope you’re ready to apologize to Sen. Clinton when Obama sweeps the state. Shame on you.
I was stunned to hear the comments of Governor Ed Rendell. I gave him much more credit than he deserves. Not only does he have the audacity to try and speak for voters in his state, he does so under the auspice of racism. I wonder what Michael Nutter is thinking. Perhaps Philadelphia was not ready for an African American mayor? Politics make strange bedfellows.
If I was Michael Nutter, I would think twice about who you consider to be an ally.
And some blacks aren’t ready for a white president (but they just had to deal didn’t they?). What the heck is the Governor talking about? Give me a break. Its true, if you and the Clinton campaign keep talking about our divides as a people, perhaps you will keep us down momentarily…but honestly the American people are smarter than so many of you political relics. Continue to cling to your old ways, and you will clearly be replaced by what is a politics of optimism, hope, and unity. It’s happening. Step aside Gov.
Are you guys insane.. stop being so Obamish.. whatever this means.. the fact is that 90% of black voters are illusionalily voting for the black candidate and NOT for his platform ( which is not much by the way, …every thing is so rhetoric).. is like going to a church.. I think that he and Hackabe together would be a good ticket. LOL.
Latino vote will matter 2008, just wait, “texanos” will make the difference.
P.
[...] Given the “we-are-all-victims” mentality of the Democratic Party, they will accuse even the staunchest supporter of quotas (a/k/a affirmative action) and political correctness, such as the Clintons, of being racist should they bring up the inconvenient notion that Obama has become the minority candidate. A bit of a storm ensued when the governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, Democrat had the temerity to tell the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “You’ve got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate.” (via FoxNews) [...]