the elephant in the election

[wreck ship]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Racial attitudes have not improved in the four years since the United States elected its first black president, an Associated Press poll finds, as a slight majority of Americans now express prejudice toward blacks whether they recognize those feelings or not.
Those views could cost President Barack Obama votes as he tries for re-election, the survey found, though the effects are mitigated by some people's more favorable views of blacks.
Racial prejudice has increased slightly since 2008 whether those feelings were measured using questions that explicitly asked respondents about racist attitudes, or through an experimental test that measured implicit views toward race without asking questions about that topic directly.
In all, 51 percent of Americans now express explicit anti-black attitudes, compared with 48 percent in a similar 2008 survey. When measured by an implicit racial attitudes test, the number of Americans with anti-black sentiments jumped to 56 percent, up from 49 percent during the last presidential election. In both tests, the share of Americans expressing pro-black attitudes fell.
"As much as we'd hope the impact of race would decline over time ... it appears the impact of anti-black sentiment on voting is about the same as it was four years ago," said Jon Krosnick, a Stanford University professor who worked with AP to develop the survey.
Most Americans expressed anti-Hispanic sentiments, too. In an AP survey done in 2011, 52 percent of non-Hispanic whites expressed anti-Hispanic attitudes. That figure rose to 57 percent in the implicit test. The survey on Hispanics had no past data for comparison.
The AP surveys were conducted with researchers from Stanford University, the University of Michigan and NORC at the University of Chicago.
Experts on race said they were not surprised by the findings.
"We have this false idea that there is uniformity in progress and that things change in one big step. That is not the way history has worked," said Jelani Cobb, professor of history and director of the Institute for African-American Studies at the University of Connecticut. "When we've seen progress, we've also seen backlash."
Obama has tread cautiously on the subject of race, but many African-Americans have talked openly about perceived antagonism toward them since Obama took office. As evidence, they point to events involving police brutality or cite bumper stickers, cartoons and protest posters that mock the president as a lion or a monkey, or lynch him in effigy.
"Part of it is growing polarization within American society," said Fredrick Harris, director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University. "The last Democrat in the White House said we had to have a national discussion about race. There's been total silence around issues of race with this president. But, as you see, whether there is silence, or an elevation of the discussion of race, you still have polarization. It will take more generations, I suspect, before we eliminate these deep feelings."
Overall, the survey found that by virtue of racial prejudice, Obama could lose 5 percentage points off his share of the popular vote in his Nov. 6 contest against Republican challenger Mitt Romney. But Obama also stands to benefit from a 3 percentage point gain due to pro-black sentiment, researchers said. Overall, that means an estimated net loss of 2 percentage points due to anti-black attitudes.
The poll finds that racial prejudice is not limited to one group of partisans. Although Republicans were more likely than Democrats to express racial prejudice in the questions measuring explicit racism (79 percent among Republicans compared with 32 percent among Democrats), the implicit test found little difference between the two parties. That test showed a majority of both Democrats and Republicans held anti-black feelings (55 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans), as did about half of political independents (49 percent).
Obama faced a similar situation in 2008, the survey then found.
The AP developed the surveys to measure sensitive racial views in several ways and repeated those studies several times between 2008 and 2012.
The explicit racism measures asked respondents whether they agreed or disagreed with a series of statements about black and Hispanic people. In addition, the surveys asked how well respondents thought certain words, such as "friendly," ''hardworking," ''violent" and "lazy," described blacks, whites and Hispanics.
The same respondents were also administered a survey designed to measure implicit racism, in which a photo of a black, Hispanic or white male flashed on the screen before a neutral image of a Chinese character. The respondents were then asked to rate their feelings toward the Chinese character. Previous research has shown that people transfer their feelings about the photo onto the character, allowing researchers to measure racist feelings even if a respondent does not acknowledge them.
Results from those questions were analyzed with poll takers' ages, partisan beliefs, views on Obama and Romney and other factors, which allowed researchers to predict the likelihood that people would vote for either Obama or Romney. Those models were then used to estimate the net impact of each factor on the candidates' support.
All the surveys were conducted online. Other research has shown that poll takers are more likely to share unpopular attitudes when they are filling out a survey using a computer rather than speaking with an interviewer. Respondents were randomly selected from a nationally representative panel maintained by GfK Custom Research.
Overall results from each survey have a margin of sampling error of approximately plus or minus 4 percentage points. The most recent poll, measuring anti-black views, was conducted Aug. 30 to Sept. 11.
Andra Gillespie, an Emory University political scientist who studies race-neutrality among black politicians, contrasted the situation to that faced by the first black mayors elected in major U.S. cities, the closest parallel to Obama's first-black situation. Those mayors, she said, typically won about 20 percent of the white vote in their first races, but when seeking reelection they enjoyed greater white support presumably because "the whites who stayed in the cities ... became more comfortable with a black executive."
"President Obama's election clearly didn't change those who appear to be sort of hard-wired folks with racial resentment," she said.
Negative racial attitudes can manifest in policy, noted Alan Jenkins, an assistant solicitor general during the Clinton administration and now executive director of the Opportunity Agenda think tank.
"That has very real circumstances in the way people are treated by police, the way kids are treated by teachers, the way home seekers are treated by landlords and real estate agents," Jenkins said.
Hakeem Jeffries, a New York state assemblyman and candidate for a congressional seat being vacated by a fellow black Democrat, called it troubling that more progress on racial attitudes had not been made. Jeffries has fought a New York City police program of "stop and frisk" that has affected mostly blacks and Latinos but which supporters contend is not racially focused.
"I do remain cautiously optimistic that the future of America bends toward the side of increased racial tolerance," Jeffries said. "We've come a long way, but clearly these results demonstrate there's a long way to go."

[Morgan]

Stephen A. Smith Says N-Word On ESPN?

A recent edition of the sports talk show "First Take" on ESPN may have shown one potential downside of not having a second chance to shoot a segment. During a live debate between polarizing talking head Skip Bayless and reporter Stephen A. Smith, the latter may have dropped an expletive during an animated rant about LeBron James.

While discussing whether James will ever regain popularity, Smith grew increasingly agitated -- as is his style -- and said that the two-time MVP should be more liked than Kobe Bryant. In the middle of his roll, many people thought that they heard Smith accidentally drop a racial slur. From Sports Grid:

"He is too supremely talented. He may be the best talent in the world. You know what? You just got to get that heart man! Stop walking around like the Tin Man syndrome. I mean what is wrong with you!? This **CENSORED**. Come on man. He got it in him. Just peel it out. Suck it up. Wear the black hat."

Although it can be difficult to say for certain that Smith in fact said the n-word The Big Lead and NESW Sports both think that he did.

What do you hear?

http://youtu.be/gormoBYiIMM

[wreck ship]

so some white people are racist toward blacks because some blacks people use the N word when referring to one each other?

[Deadhead]

Interestingly, it is the Obama crowd that is bringing up the race card. If you want Obama out, your're a racist. Ignorance at its finest. Proving that the African American community is, perhaps, more racist than the rest of mainstream America. My issue has nothing to do with the color of the dude's skin. It has everything to do with ideology, and the fact that he has forced an agenda down my throat that I want nothing to do with.

I encourage the African American community to move on, we are no longer living in the early 1900's. Stop using race as a crutch. At this point, it is an irrelevant cheap shot, and makes you look ignorant.

Edit: I find it ironic and hypocritical that the people that would accuse me of being racist (because I want Obama out), are the same people that would vote for Obama just because he is black.

[wreck ship]

My issue has nothing to do with the color of the dude's skin. It has everything to do with ideology, and the fact that he has forced an agenda down my throat that I want nothing to do with.

1. No one cares what your issue is. The poll was conducted to reflect any racial undertones of the election and you obviously disagree with the findings.
2. Obama never shoved anything down your throat. The majority of Americans voted him to represent them and you are obviously in the minority.

2 responses so far that totally ignore the poll findings...

[Deadhead]

My issue has nothing to do with the color of the dude's skin. It has everything to do with ideology, and the fact that he has forced an agenda down my throat that I want nothing to do with.

1. No one cares what your issue is. The poll was conducted to reflect any racial undertones of the election and you obviously disagree with the findings.
2. Obama never shoved anything down your throat. The majority of Americans voted him to represent them and you are obviously in the minority.

2 responses so far that totally ignore the poll findings...

At least half of Americans wanted nothing to do with Obamacare. And I would suspect that you will see evidence of that on November 6.

Furthermore, I suspect that the last election had more to do with people not liking the McCain/Palin ticket. Not even I liked my choices last election.

And this is a forum where people post their opinions. I shared mine. You can **CENSORED** off

Edit: Oh, and **CENSORED** your poll.

[VinBucFan]

Intersting that I just read someone in this thread claiming that others were politicizing an issue.  Hmm, vote for Obama or you are really a racist.  Subtle.

[Deadhead]

Intersting that I just read someone in this thread claiming that others were politicizing an issue.  Hmm, vote for Obama or you are really a racist.  Subtle.

You haven't heard that before? Are you living in a cave?

You talk bad about Obama's policies, and the ignorant resort to calling you a racist.

[Bayfisher]

I got called a racist on this board four years ago for questioning experience.  That person apologized and I hope they are smarter for it but it will always be an issue.  If you remember Morris was just hired also so it was a common theme that year.  If you didn't like him you were a closet racist also.   What percentage of Blacks will vote for Romney?

[wreck ship]

My issue has nothing to do with the color of the dude's skin. It has everything to do with ideology, and the fact that he has forced an agenda down my throat that I want nothing to do with.

1. No one cares what your issue is. The poll was conducted to reflect any racial undertones of the election and you obviously disagree with the findings.
2. Obama never shoved anything down your throat. The majority of Americans voted him to represent them and you are obviously in the minority.

2 responses so far that totally ignore the poll findings...

At least half of Americans wanted nothing to do with Obamacare. And I would suspect that you will see evidence of that on November 6.

Furthermore, I suspect that the last election had more to do with people not liking the McCain/Palin ticket. Not even I liked my choices last election.

And this is a forum where people post their opinions. I shared mine. You can **CENSORED** off

Edit: Oh, and **CENSORED** your poll.

lol...looks like more decades or centuries of racism on the menu but hey, we might have this deficit under control by them. lol

Republicans priority = 1.Economics...10.Social issues
Come nov. 6th, Obama will be re-elected presidents again b/c despite every effort by the right wing extremist media to employ negative propaganda against Obama, they now look like the bad guys while Obama emerges as the vicitim of the conservative attack dogs. Gotta love the stupidity of your kind. thanks for 4 more years.

[wreck ship]

Intersting that I just read someone in this thread claiming that others were politicizing an issue.  Hmm, vote for Obama or you are really a racist.  Subtle.

politicizing a mans death is not an issue...it's a distasteful act

[wreck ship]

I got called a racist on this board four years ago for questioning experience.  That person apologized and I hope they are smarter for it but it will always be an issue.  If you remember Morris was just hired also so it was a common theme that year.  If you didn't like him you were a closet racist also.   What percentage of Blacks will vote for Romney?

I think less than one percent of black voters will vote for Romney. Not cause he's white, but because he's a republican and blacks tend to vote democrat.

[Bayfisher]

lol...looks like more decades or centuries of racism on the menu but hey, we might have this deficit under control by them. lol

Republicans priority = 1.Economics...10.Social issues
Come nov. 6th, Obama will be re-elected presidents again b/c despite every effort by the right wing extremist media to employ negative propaganda against Obama, they now look like the bad guys while Obama emerges as the vicitim of the conservative attack dogs. Gotta love the stupidity of your kind. thanks for 4 more years.

I am going to assume that you are very young from your comments.  In ten years you will have a better understanding of the world.

[Deadhead]

My issue has nothing to do with the color of the dude's skin. It has everything to do with ideology, and the fact that he has forced an agenda down my throat that I want nothing to do with.

1. No one cares what your issue is. The poll was conducted to reflect any racial undertones of the election and you obviously disagree with the findings.
2. Obama never shoved anything down your throat. The majority of Americans voted him to represent them and you are obviously in the minority.

2 responses so far that totally ignore the poll findings...

At least half of Americans wanted nothing to do with Obamacare. And I would suspect that you will see evidence of that on November 6.

Furthermore, I suspect that the last election had more to do with people not liking the McCain/Palin ticket. Not even I liked my choices last election.

And this is a forum where people post their opinions. I shared mine. You can **CENSORED** off

Edit: Oh, and **CENSORED** your poll.

lol...looks like more decades or centuries of racism on the menu but hey, we might have this deficit under control by them. lol

Republicans priority = 1.Economics...10.Social issues
Come nov. 6th, Obama will be re-elected presidents again b/c despite every effort by the right wing extremist media to employ negative propaganda against Obama, they now look like the bad guys while Obama emerges as the vicitim of the conservative attack dogs. Gotta love the stupidity of your kind. thanks for 4 more years.

The biggest issue we are facing? Our economy and a deficit that is on pace to be $24 trillion by 2022. We are currently adding $4 billion to the deficit daily. That's $200 billion in last 50 days. And Obamacare (which has been called a "fiscal disaster") hasn't been implemented yet. Here is to hoping the rest of America isn't as ignorant and brain dead as you are.

[wreck ship]

lol...looks like more decades or centuries of racism on the menu but hey, we might have this deficit under control by them. lol

Republicans priority = 1.Economics...10.Social issues
Come nov. 6th, Obama will be re-elected presidents again b/c despite every effort by the right wing extremist media to employ negative propaganda against Obama, they now look like the bad guys while Obama emerges as the vicitim of the conservative attack dogs. Gotta love the stupidity of your kind. thanks for 4 more years.

I am going to assume that you are very young from your comments.  In ten years you will have a better understanding of the world.

I assume from your comments that you are oblivious to the real support that Obama has from a majority of americans. In less than 2 weeks you will feel a lot worse about your world than you do now.