I need some advice...
I need some advice. I have been campaigning for Barack Obama for some time on a one to one basis and have encountered a number of opinions and reactions. One that I run into somewhat too often is a racist one...anything from he's black and for the blacks to....I don't think he would be good for this country because he will divide the country between blacks and whites (implied that blacks will gain supremacy and oppress whites...). Also, a somewhat common response is...."Obama would not be right as president....he lacks experience...and I'm not prejudiced...I just think he does not have enough experience. Really!" I live in Massachusetts and the racism is here...but, it is not pc to say so. Also, I think that these folks really believe they aren't racist...well, they are, subconsciously, and maybe not so subconsciously! I need to hear how you (anyone who would like to share with me...) answer this. And please,...dont refer me to the anti-smear site. These are folks who do not go on the internet very much.
Here is one strategy that works for me:
"We need to move forward and do something to kickstart jobs in this country--don't you agree?
Well I do too.
Obama is the presumed Democratic nominee and regardless our personal feelings (and I realize that some have hesitations because they feel like that don't know him--find some way to honor their feelings without embracing racism). We must have a Democrat in the WhiteHouse and a large majority of Democrats in both houses if we are going to be able to pull our Nation out of the financial quicksand that we are in now and get people back to work and rebuild our nation.
It's not going to happen with McCain in the White House and a Democratic Congress. We will get just what we have now: stagnation. Congress passes a bill and the President vetoes it. We can't do this any more. We need to move forward. We do not have the luxury to sit on our thumbs for four more years. Our bridges are collapsing as Congress argues and spend extra weeks working out compromises over funding and compromises always mean more pork barrel for us voters.
So even if Obama may not be quite the person you want, he is a Democrat and we need a Democrat in the WhiteHouse.
NOTE: I don't even try to sell them on liking Obama and I certainly don't address the underlying racism (even though I would love to). My business is to get them to vote for a Democrat and I would be doing the same thing with voters who "didn't want a woman" had Hillary obtained the majority of the delegates.
This type of insulting assumption is another reason this campaign lack credibility, it is so negative toward anyone in decent.
Don't be so presumptive.
He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart - Proverbs 11:29