Race not the only historic issue, Larchmont author says
Larchmont’s Kate Kelly is a contributor to the Huffington Post and the author of Election Day: An American Holiday, An American History. She’s chock-full of interesting election facts and had plenty to say about the presidential election yesterday.
“I think an Election Day first this time around is the impact of the Internet,” Kelly said. “Citizen journalists and the blogosphere have helped information travel so quickly.”
Kelly added the speed at which information is available on the Internet has helped shape the election cycle. One of the reasons John Kerry lost in 2004, Kelly said, was his delayed responses to attacks against him such as the Swift Boat ads questioning his Vietnam service.
“Both campaigns this year were really good about grabbing something quickly and responding to it,” Kelly said.
What Kelly said she’s looking forward to seeing in the next few days will be voter turnout statistics.
“There has never been so much excitement among voters in decades,†Kelly said. “There used to be a lot of fun and spirit at rallies in the 1800s because candidates held political barbecues, but that spirit was more from being a participant at the event. There wasn’t that feeling of “I can make a difference,†that’s causing the excitement now.”
If you haven’t had a chance to take Kelly’s Election quiz, you can here. See if you can beat my score of 10/12.
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Race had nothing to do with the results of this election: the irresponsible behavior of the incumbent party, historical trends, and the judgment of the incumbent party’s candidate were the factors in electing Senator Obama.
It is glorious that our country has its first Black president. As a longtime supporter of John McCain, I wish president-elect Obama only good tidings. When we say “Country First,” we mean it, as Republicans. I doubt that any state socialism will result over the next four years.
But: Mr. Obama’s victory is like Reagan’s, in 1980. Voters were dissatisfied. A lot of them. I was there.
And a popular, articulate candidate of the out-party made no mistakes as he campaigned against the establishment that has had America depressed for more than two years.
There will be other elections. Right now, we Republicans should wish president-elect Obama only well. It’s his fellow Democrats who will turn on him first, be they in government or in the news media.
But race played little in the election. Only the white liberals who seek to absolve themselves of inherited-privilege guilt will see it that way.
How can you say race was not a factor when 96 percent of blacks voted for Obama? 96 percent.
However, I agree about white liberal guilt being a factor, but not just in how they view the results. I believe it also was why at least some of them voted as they did.
Most likely many moderates voted for Obama in response to the vitriol perpetrated by people like Jiminy Cricket.
Don’t you get it Jiminy? People of sick of that rhetoric and quite frankly, I am sick of your nasty posts.
We will see a new patriotism in this country and renewed sense of community and social activism not seen since the 60’s.
All else will flow from there.
Jiminy:
So, 96% of Blacks voted for Obama. As against ONLY 90% of Blacks who voted for Kerry in ‘04. Wow. What a surprise.
What I want to know is: who were the four percent of Blacks who didn’t vote for Obama?
It meant nothing. The Black vote didn’t turn any state, excepting North Carolina.
It was the DISSATISFIED vote that turned the election.
God Bless our Black American brethren. But they did not influence this election.
Let them be happy, and let this result heal racial divides. Until everyone turns on president-elect Obama. That’s going to be fun to watch.
Tim has it correct..the data supports him…the number
of self described conservatives, liberals and moderates
has not changed since the Kerry race..what has changed
however is the number of moderates attracted to
the democratic candidate..44% of voters described
themselves as moderate..kerry won these voters
by 9%..not enough to win ohio…but Obama won them
by 21%...enough to win ohio, north carolina colorado
nevada and new mexico…
now african americans always vote democratic…the increase
in their vote for Obama was not enough in and of itself
to swing the election ….neither was the youth vote
the election was won IN THE MIDDLE..which is exactly
what i have been saying for months..and if the republicans
don’t find a way to attract the MIDDLE..THEY WILL BE
WANDERING IN THE DESSERT LONGER THAN MOSES
The reference to the Race Issue has to do with Obama being black. No mention of black voter turnout in the article itself. You’re making connections that are not there.
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