let me say, when I came to the US from israel I had a very different view of what constituted a race...

It took five years of every government form asking if I am "white, asian, latino, or african" for me to see a person and think "he is black"... I did a double take the first time I thought that... it did not make sense, since black skin is just a characteristic, just like blue eyes or blond hair... sure some ethnic groups are more likely to have them, but overall it is a very poor way of seperating the MANY strains of humanity.

Overall the first step should be to end the brainwashing and remove the multiple choice race selection from government documents. At least ones given to people under 18.

I agree that race will never cease to be an issue until we at least stop officially quantifying it.  It doesn't matter to the census whether your eyes are blue or green.  Likewise, the color or your skin should have no impact on your opportunities.  Those who wish to continue to collect this sort of information will insist that there is no other way to enforce anti-discrimination laws & regulations, but until we as a people start viewing race as no more a difference than gender, the collection of such information will continue to fuel the race industry.  Perhaps, though I'm not holding my breath, BO's election will persuade 'rank & file' minority group members that such distinctions are no longer necessary, but those who owe their power, prestige & livelihood to the race industry will do everything they can to keep racism alive as a concept.  The unspoken premise will be that whitey can't be trusted & will require perpetual policing.

"Who said he won based on race? I didn't see a single person post that. If you honestly believe that a great many people didn't vote for him solely because he is black you have your head in the sand.  No, that isn't why he won, but it is a fact just the same. I've heard far too many people say it, and know it to be true. I've seen people being interviewed who plainly stated that's why they voted for him.

Jackson is a bad example as there are a great many blacks who despise the man and are embarassed by him. But it is true that Obama wouldn't have won based solely upon the minority vote."

That's exactly why he is the perfect example. People say a lot of things when being polled that are inaccurate about what they really believe. eg. They say they don't like violent TV being allowed, but it rates very well.

The fact is that they didn't vote for Obama just because he was black, and I know that shatters your cries of victimhood, but it simply doesn't wash. What they were inspired by was that a black man could be so inspiring, intelligent and competent sounding and be running for President. Jackson is the perfect example and proof that black people do not vote for just any idiot who fronts up with black skin. They waited for one who had a lot of great qualities. And while you may not feel he was the best candidate for the job, in most people's eyes in the US and around the world, we can say the following without any reference to race: Obama was the best person for the job.

I still don't agree with your economic arguments, and have heard Right wing economist after Right wing economist put far more convincing arguments than yours to disprove your idea. But that's not really the point. The whole economic crisis could be 100% Bill Clinton's fault and the point is that most Americans blame Bush for the current crisis (and while we're on the topic, we who are affected by the global economy feel much the same) and that was the number one factor in why they didn't vote for another Republican administrtion. Again, "change" sounds silly and like a jingle, but people wanted change from a set of policies that they disagree with. The slogan "No more Neo-Conservativism" doesn't have the same ring to it as "Chnge We Can Believe In"

The main difference between Jackson and Obama is Jackson did not win the Democratic nod for presidency so this part of your answer is a non sequitur

I watched the race fairly closely until I had my little break from reality, the only time the race card was played was from the Obama camp, he never got Jackson's and sharpton's support because they felt their power as race dividers slipping away.

I am Turkish and also my religion is Jewish, I been checking the "other" box far back as I remember. I think this is one item they should have done away with at least 50 years ago.

You are most welcome

Amen!

Who said he won because of the minority vote? where did you read this here? he won because he bled off enough WHITE votes to put him over the top, combined with an overwhelming turnout by minorities Blacks and Hispanics both. The good thing about it was enough Blacks voted in California to pass prop. 8 once again restoring and defining marriage as one man to one woman.

Exactly. Jackson couldn't even get his Party's nomination. That's how untrue it is that someone can win just from being black. May I remind you that the title of this article is "Obama Win Proves Racism Lives". It seems that your opinion is now instead simply "Obama Got Some Votes For Racist Reasons, But They Wouldn't Have Been Enough to Win Him The Election If It Hadn't Also Been For A Lot Of People Who Voted For Him For Other Reasons". And my contention is that people didn't vote for the colour of his skin, but they voted for someone with intelligence, a fresh youthful energy, confidence, rational thought and a bunch of policies that are different to neo-conservatism. Was it more inspiring to also know that you were electing the first black President? Sure. Some of that inspiration might have come from the idea that we've heard these sorts of ideas from plenty of old white guys before, but Obama is different enough to the status quo, that he might actually do something about America's problems.

But people are not as stupid as you would like to claim. "He's black" is not enough reason to line up for so many hours. Obama managed to make this campaign about who was the best for the job. He never played the race card. He focussed on policy and rhetoric. And in the end people decided he was the best for the job, not the only black one running.

the difference is that i have an argument. you have a feeling. You have a feeling that it was "bush's fails policies". Some abstract unnamed thing, no specific policies are named though.

I have a list of laws and legislators performing specific actions and counter actions that contributed or tried to prevent it.

That would be conservatives versus liberals. ANd a great demonstration of the difference.

NO Oboma did not have to His proxies did, time and time and time again. Although he did call his white grandmother a closet racist.

That would be the race card.

Not sure if it was the first, but it definitely came very early on in the process. I feel confident in stating the Media would have let us know if someone had already pointed out that Obama was black before that statement was made.

If a breath of air that vaguely sounded like Black came out of the rights mouth the MSM would have constructed gallows for the perpetrator. That's a fact.