Lesley Stahl | 04/08/2008 4:17 pm

I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Will Obama Prove Them Wrong?

I did a story for “60 Minutes” years ago about Denny’s, the restaurant chain, which was then embroiled in a discrimination lawsuit. As part of the story, my producer, a black woman, and I went into a Denny’s separately, sat at the counter alongside each other, and ordered. She was convinced that the waitress sneered at her, deliberately served her after she served me, and all but threw her food at her. I noticed none of that, even though I was looking for it. But to the producer it was real, and painful.

Fast forward to the current presidential campaign. From the beginning, just about every black friend and reporter I know has said that Obama can’t win the election because, as in the incident at Denny’s, prejudice is subtle, and enduring.

But as the campaign has sputtered along, I’ve been thinking that Obama’s victories are proving them all wrong.

Then today I read a smart column in the Washington Post by Richard Cohen, who points out that in the primaries Obama has done well with white voters in states where there are few blacks. Where there are substantial black populations – Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, New Jersey – the white vote has tipped overwhelmingly to Hillary.

Cohen says the persistence of racism makes Obama especially vulnerable to a Republican image assault like the Willie Horton ads that Bush “41” ran to portray his opponent, Michael Dukakis, as soft on black rapists.

I was in Washington over the weekend where I heard variations on the Cohen theme: Obama can’t win because the Republicans will make him into another liberal George McGovern … or effete Adlai Stevenson. (He should NEVER have bowled in that tie!) But it is the race issue that hovers over everything.

But I keep remembering that many of the same analysts and blacks who say Obama can’t win the election, said he couldn’t win the nomination. Which, I suppose, is still a possibility.

Cohen says we’ll have a better handle on all this by April 22, the night of the Pennsylvania primary. This is a state with lots of blacks.

265 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Mugsy, you are so funny. You got rid of Brad. Now you are going after Mark.

By Kay Sara on 04/09/2008 5:14 pm

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When McCain first announced his candidacy, I planned to vote for him, even though I normally lean toward Democrats. I thought, he’s a true American hero, VietNam vet, POW, experienced leader, etc. But listening to him now, his comments about the recession we’re falling into, and how people who are being faced with losing their homes don’t deserve our government’s help, plus looking over his voting record - for example, he voted against the MLK Jr Holiday - I have to join all the other voices who’ve said, “Please, the last thing we need is more of the same of Dubya’s mishandling!” As Obama said, McCain is running for Bush’s third term. We need to end this war in Iraq, ASAP, and McCain has no intention of doing so (at least he’s honest about that). I think Hillary Clinton, although she may have more political experience, just doesn’t have the leadership abilities that Obama has, and that he will build on in the years to come. I could not in good conscience vote for McCain, and I believe Obama is going to win the Democratic nomination. I also believe enough people are fed up with the way the Republicans have run our economy into the ground, and pushed this needless, pointless war, that Obama as President is a distinct possibility. In fact, I’m counting on it. And finally, even though I suspect he’s just another run-of-the-mill rabble-rousing TROLL, the likes of which we all see every day online, I must comment on “Dr.” Klein’s assertion that race is a dead issue in America. I have lived in every state on the east coast, from upstate New York to south of Miami. While I’ve seen many instances of racism everywhere I’ve lived, Philadelphia is the most racist city I’ve ever lived in. It’s racist across the board - every race has something against every other race. Once again, “Doctor”, I must implore you to seek psychiatric help because you are very much out of touch with reality.

By Ginger Richardson on 04/08/2008 6:53 pm

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Ginger, you have no idea what real racism is. What it’s not is a public figure not bowing down to gods of political correctness, or some jerk making a hurtful nasty comment. I saw real racism in the south before the civil rights movement got rolling. The doors of opportunity are fully open to any American willing to the work. Those who cry racism project blame for their own failings on strawmen. Your comment ” “Doctor”, I must implore you to seek psychiatric help because you are very much out of touch with reality” brings to mind Soviet psychiatrists who labeled dissenters schizophrenics to justify involuntarily hospitalizing them when didn’t qualify for the gulag. And “Doctor”. I’m a licensed physician and a board certified psychiatrist who held medical professorships at the Cornell Medical College, the University of California and taught at the Hebrew University Medical School.

By MARK KLEIN, M.D. on 04/08/2008 9:23 pm

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Dr. Klein, Being a doctor, or multi-millionaire hudge fund player, or an attorney does not necessarily mean that you know history or are well informed beyond your field. What it often means in men is that they are so arrogant they believe their rather superficial understanding of culture is correct and that their perspective is the only one. It is very easy for someone who has had the benefit of education and a high paying profession to make the inherently racist statement that ,”The doors of opportunity are fully open to any American willing to the work. Those who cry racism project blame for their own failings on strawmen.” Babies do not chose their parents, their race, or their place of birth. The child that drops into the arms of a crack-addicted mother and then attends deliberately underfunded schools, in a crime ridden area targeted with drugs for arrests to fill our for-profit prison system so they can answer the phones for Visa….is not blaming strawmen for their ‘own failings.” Your arrogance is exceeded only by your ignorance. But the real prize for stupidity is this NeoCon missive from your blog advocating bombing Iran…”Radical Islam cannot be bargained with, or appeased. We won the Cold War by waiting out the Soviets with the credible threat if attacked we would destroy their population centers and national infrastructure.” Attacking population centers is a war crime. Doctor…”healer of man” We won against the Soviets because the US secretly armed, trained, and paid Afghani insurgents to run a long dragged out war, financially draining the Soviets to weaken them. Now the same insurgents we trained and financed are using the tactics we taught them against us. Those of us who know history knew Iraq would be a failure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_war_in_Afghanistan The British tried this before. Our country is all but bankrupt and you want to bomb Iran? Not enough killing and destruction for you yet? So let’s invade an infinitely stronger, larger country that could just shut off the Strait of Hormuz so we don’t even have oil to run our military? Because they are “islamo-fascists.” That’s rather like the “commies” you fought while slaying innocent civilians in Vietnam to benefit Brown and Root. Do you get all your history and news from Fox? Because you certainly are running the Rush Limbaugh line. You continue: “The certainty of national destruction is the only thing fanatical ideological enemies like the Iranians fear. Truman destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki to convince Emperor Hirohito to unconditionally surrender his nation and claim to Divinity. While defending our civilization no matter the cost against Islamo-facism, we must look inward to purge ourselves of the spiritual, moral, economic and political decay which emboldened the Forces of Darkness to challenge the very existence of Judeo-Christian Civilization.” We are NOT a Judeo-Christian civilization. And the Darkness in this country is the Bush Administration. “Israel is all stands between us and the Forces of Darkness. Unlike the United States and Europe, Israel still believes in its raison d’etre as the Jewish National Home. For America and Europe all we’ve come to stand for is making a buck and living large no matter what the cost to our society, and particularly to our children and grandchildren. Blessed are people of Israel and its brave soldiers, sailors and airmen who sacrificed themselves unflinchingly in the fight against Hezbollah so that we will have the time to reflect upon our shortcomings and then act to redeem the inherent greatness of Judeo-Christian Civilization.Believers build and maintain great civilizations. Hence care not that cynics mock you. ARK KLEIN, M.D. OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES I’m a psychiatrist in my mid-60s. With my four children now grown and gone I’ve become a passionate flower gardener which fulfills my need to create beauty and have something in my everyday life to love and care for. I’m willing to set aside a very pleasant life to serve America in her hour of need.” Dr. Klein, we do not need more crackpots advocating more countries. Read the “Sorrows of Empire” for starters and get a clue. The reason for the unrest in the Middle-East is the US’s unquestioning support of Israel even when it is destroying the innocent people in Palestine and Lebonan. The US Total U.S. aid to Israel is approximately one-third of the American foreign-aid budget, even though Israel comprises just .001 percent of the world’s population. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=US+aid+to+israel&btnG=Search Here is the total cost to US taxpayers to aid Israel: http://www.washington-report.org/html/us_aid_to_israel.htm We attack Iran and it will make Iraq look like the cakewalk that was promised. You are an immense fool. Immense. I repeat what Mugsy Peabody asked you, What part of Women on the Web do you not understand?

By Buh-Bye Hillary Hillary Buh-Bye on 04/09/2008 12:06 am

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Suzanne, Why is it you are not supporting Nader?

By Kay Sara on 04/09/2008 5:18 pm

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Suzanne, He simply does not appeal to me at all…but I understand he does to many, and that is their choice. It won’t happen but I wish Obama and Clinton would just join together as a ticket and get this over with so the country can focus energy on all that needs to be done. Mr. Nader has carved out a career being the national whistleblower…he has a platform and performs a terrific service and hope he continues with that.

By Buh-Bye Hillary Hillary Buh-Bye on 04/10/2008 12:03 am

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I believe in Obama. I think that he can do more for all of us than Hillary or McCain. I truly believe that if McCain gets voted in office we are all doomed. I do not think that he will do anything to help any of us. I am an Independent but I will vote democratic.

By CAROLINE MuLVEY on 04/08/2008 6:59 pm

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Richard Cohen is absolutely right but maybe not for the reasons he intended. People who have never had to deal with the problems that people in the inner cities and southern states have lived with have no idea what the racial issues really are. If people are basing their opinions on what they see or read in the media they’re not getting the true picture. They’re getting the “Politcally Correct”, ratings friendly point of view.

By Sherrie Crews on 04/08/2008 7:38 pm

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Actually, Pennsylvania may prove both you and Cohen wrong. In Pennsylvania, however, the percentage of black voters is relatively low and the Latino population in the low single digits. Survey USA released results today that show Hillary Clinton with a 56% to 38% lead over Obama. The results are almost identical to a SUSA poll released one month ago (only SUSA correctly predicted she would win California). 1. Some of the men who flirted with Obama at the end of March have returned to Clinton. 2. Obama lost ground among voters age 35 to 49. 3. In Southeast PA, which includes Philadelphia and which makes up 42% of likely Democratic voters, Clinton had a good week, Obama a bad week. Clinton is above 50% for the first time and Obama is now down by 9 in a region he must win to carry the state. 4. Obama lost ground against moderates and liberals. The complete absence of movement among whites and among women is keeping Clinton in the lead. As for Richard Cohen, I wouldn’t buy a used car from him.

By Corinne M. on 04/08/2008 8:04 pm

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My personal gut feeling is this: conspiracy to some degree- Obama is not electable in my opinion based on exeperience, and I don’t like the suspect acquaintances he keeps. The powers that be pushed Obama in the arena to stop a Woman President/Clinton era-part 2. The republicans are feeling secure that if Obama gets the nomination McCain will win. That is what they are betting on. Because ultimately our nation is not only predjudice but fear anything they don’t understand. Mixed race Black men with names like Obama’s are just one of the things that strikes fear in our nation.

By Joy Lazaro on 04/08/2008 8:08 pm

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Suzanne de Cornelia, I love you!!!!

By Filippo Colangeli on 04/08/2008 8:21 pm

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Well thank you Filippo, I suspect you agree we do not need war-mongering bigots here. Time for its opposite. Louis Armstrong’s “It’s a Wonderful World”….Oh yeah….;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IIXeR5OUI&feature=related

By Buh-Bye Hillary Hillary Buh-Bye on 04/09/2008 1:50 am

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Obama is really not ready for prime time. Great oration, lofty promises, no strategy that can seemingly change much and he is far too inexperienced and narcissistic to be a good President. I cannot predict if nominated that he will be defeated by McCain. Of course, the issue of racism has become a major issue, and Obamatons accuse any criticism of Obama as racist. As women we are seeing what happens when a woman dares to reach for Presidential power. Some say…not THIS woman. I say NO woman would be acceptable after observing the current torrent of hate and trash talk that has swept our media and inflected mysogynist sterotypes into an epidemic of raging sexism.

By Simmy Sussman on 04/08/2008 8:47 pm

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Well Simmy, I am not an Obamaton. No one could match the incompetence or narcissism of Bush. 61% of historians in a recent poll picked him as the worst president in US history. One said he is great at two things: further enriching the rich, and f***ing-up everything else. I would love to see a woman Prez. I definitely agree with you that the level of misogynistic rhetoric is stunning. It would be interesting if posters here revealed more about what in their background, locale, education, career attracts them to the candidate they choose. Because a lot is based, I believe, in that kind of visceral relationship; i.e. Obama invoking JFK, etc.

By Buh-Bye Hillary Hillary Buh-Bye on 04/09/2008 1:25 am