In the Democratic race for the presidency the latest media hype pits African Americans against the so-called white blue collar voters. We hear the constant discussions of tantrums and threats of some groups of Democratic voters, threatening to vote for the opposing party if their candidate doesn't become the nominee. Some question if the party's divisions created by the long protracted primary will be beyond repair in the general election.

In this corner, you have the loyal 90% plus voting block of the Democratic Party, the African Americans. There has been unfair criticism of the black community's overwhelming vote for the first viable candidate that most represents them. At the outset, the pundits wondered why African Americans were so slow to support Obama.The initial black community apprehension of Obama was due to a lack of trust that the country was ready to elect an African American, Obama was not as well know as his opponents, and above all else African Americans had to believe he was viable. Understanding the urgency of change in the white house, African Americans were more skeptical then most. The same complaints weren't waged when the "black vote" helped nominate and elect Bill Clinton and many other sometimes mediocre white men. But now somehow this dependable voting block is supposed to forego or not have pride in an accomplished, articulate, inspirational visionary candidate like Obama.



We have in the next corner the "average Joe" or white blue collar voter. While the African American vote has not been respected and been taken for granted, the white blue collar voter has been blatantly exploited. The politicians all dance and prance in their best portrayal of blue collar garb and compete on who represents the "regular guy". Some candidates wink and suggest that the other candidate will change life as you know it; lacking respect for "average Joe's way of life. This is the source of the whole Obama elitist controversy. Obama was correct in his analysis that the fear of losing guns, and the exploitation of religious issues has been effective political tactics causing this sector to vote against their own economic interest.

Some suggest that African Americans have bestowed blind allegiance to the Democratic Party. I propose the black community votes as all voters should, on the strength of the parties' platform and policies promoting prosperity for them. Even when the Republican's message is cloaked in "compassionate conservatism", the majority of African Americans aren't impressed by the party of "Voodoo" or "trickle down" economics. Those on the bottom and middle of the economic scale, in this current economy are being schooled on the differences in the results of the political philosophy and strategy of each party.

The politics of "mass deception" attempt to convey Obama as an elitist to one of the very groups that nurtured and gave him life, his white blue collar grandparents. Obama maybe the first president that is one step removed from the average Americans concerns, a man of the people. Obama chose to sacrifice the big salary and be an advocate for unprivileged people after law school. His family just paid student loans and purchased their first home after his bestselling book. Both blue collar voters and black voters must not partake in the promotion of the black vs. blue, when the divisive tactics are always about the "green". Spite all the tantrums and threats, there should be no doubt of a united Democratic Party against the Republican philosophy that brought us record fuel prices, enormous job loses, recession, the Iraq war, the record deficit, and no solutions on healthcare.