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September 16, 2009

Race card losing its effectiveness (updated)

By Clarice Feldman

In the past the race card was in fact a potent play for the left. I wonder if it hasn't been played so often that it's now thin enough for people to see through.


The latest Rasmussen poll suggests that is the case:

Twelve percent (12%) of voters nationwide believe that most opponents of President Obama's health care reform plan are racist. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 67% of voters disagree, and 21% are not sure.[snip] Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Republicans reject the notion that most of the opponents are racist. So do 78% of voters not affiliated with either major party. However, just 39% of Democrats share that view.

I expect that 12% are diehard Democrats who still think they elected the Messiah.

Update from Rosslyn Smith

 
With eighty-eight percent of Republicans and 78% of Independents rejecting the position that opposition to Obamacare is based on racial animosity, the left would do better to find another line of argument to promote their agenda. Claiming those in opposition are merely in denial over America's election of Barack Obama to the presidency seems to be a monumental loser.  Of course, like many an emotional crutch, yelling racist at one's opponents can be a hard habit to break.


A mid the detail at Rasmussen comes this tidbit about the composition of that 12%.  
Among Obama's strongest supporters, those who Strongly Approve of his job performance, 35% say most opponents are racists, 32% disagree and 33% are not sure.

Among African-American voters, 27% say most opponents are racist, 25% disagree, and 48% are not sure.

That 48% is interesting. I was surprised at how high it was.  It suggests that while many black voters are not completely trusting of whites, they are also very cautious about attributing racial motives to others.   

What makes the 48% number particularly significant is that many elected blacks show no such caution in attributing opposition to their agenda to racism.  Could a segment of black voters be feeling as alienated from the likes of Congressmen Charles Rangel, Jim Clyburn and Hank Johnson as many of those who attended the Tea Parties are with their own Congressmen and women?   With unemployment running very high among urban blacks, especially young black men, the tolerance for all this posturing by black Congressman may be wearing thin.  
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