Reverse Bradley Effect - Behind Closed Curtains

[Anonymous]

With so much talk about the Bradley Effect, of people saying they're going to vote Obama, but when the curtain closes behind them, they can't get themselves to vote for a black man.

What about the possibility of the other way around? What about people saying they're going to vote Republican/McCain because they are surrounded by other Reps, Conservatives, Halleluyas, and military social circles, but when the curtain closes behind them, they vote Democrat and for Obama?

[Anonymous]

one can only dream.....

[Anonymous]

Haven't seen the research but I heard that someone has done it and suggested this could happen.

[Anonymous]

There is a possibility that McCain's age could cause this. Polls indicate more concern over his age than Obama's race. Of course, part of the Bradley Effect is that people answer polls one way and act another. So maybe it's easier to voice a concern over age than race.

Personally, I believe the Bradley Effect still exists. But I am biased by the awful experience of the Harvey Gantt / Jesse Helms campaign of 1990.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a possibility that McCain's age could cause this. Polls indicate more concern over his age than Obama's race. Of course, part of the Bradley Effect is that people answer polls one way and act another. So maybe it's easier to voice a concern over age than race.

Personally, I believe the Bradley Effect still exists. But I am biased by the awful experience of the Harvey Gantt / Jesse Helms campaign of 1990.

Yes, but that's part of the time period when the research shows there was a demonstrable effect. It was 18 years ago, and in North Carolina -- not a state that's known for racial justice. Let's wait and see. I for one don't think race will cause many people to vote against their own economic self-interest during such a severe economic downturn. Even if they're racist, I think many people will do the proverbial nose-holding move and vote for Obama.

[Anonymous]

DC is away at college in the south and had dinner with our conservative relatives. The election came up in conversation and one relative said I'm thinking of voting for Obama. Another relative said, "You might want to keep that to yourself," and winked at DC. Let's hope it's a trend.

[Anonymous]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102328.html?nav=hcmodule

[Anonymous]

Nice to get to this point where I feel there's enough breathing room to raise this issue (meaning I think BO is going to win! yay!) but it will be interesting after the election to sort out the impact of Obama's rather "exotic" background -- that is, the Islamic sounding name, the Kenyan father, the childhood in Indonesia and Hawaii (sorry, Hawaii, it's still unusual for the rest of the US).

There are ways in this "exotic background" is more threatening to certain voters because of their Islamaphobia and xenophobia.

But there are ways in which I think it is comforting to other fearful voters because Obama doesn't have the typical African-American background. In fact, it's Michelle that really grounds him in the African-American community and my highly unscientific gut-feeling-based guess is that her connection is what gives some of the racist voters pause. I think that if Obama were married to a conventional white woman he would have been a shoo-in from the beginning -- because he doesn't seem very Black to begin with.

My husband disagrees with me. He thinks an interracial marriage would have doomed Obama.

At any rate, I love Michelle Obama. I am soooo hoping she becomes first lady. But I do wonder if there is a certain kind of voter out there that finds her scarier than Barack.

Your thoughts, DCUMers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

My husband disagrees with me. He thinks an interracial marriage would have doomed Obama.

I think if Obama had a white wife then there's a strong possibility he could have alienated some black folks but could have won over some white folks.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:
At any rate, I love Michelle Obama. I am soooo hoping she becomes first lady. But I do wonder if there is a certain kind of voter out there that finds her scarier than Barack.

There is no doubt about it. Look how often Michelle has been attacked as "angry" or anti-white. Barack is never (at least to my knowledge) portrayed in such terms. But, to be fair, the same voters likely found Hillary to be a lot scarier than Bill a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
At any rate, I love Michelle Obama. I am soooo hoping she becomes first lady. But I do wonder if there is a certain kind of voter out there that finds her scarier than Barack.

There is no doubt about it. Look how often Michelle has been attacked as "angry" or anti-white. Barack is never (at least to my knowledge) portrayed in such terms. But, to be fair, the same voters likely found Hillary to be a lot scarier than Bill a few years ago.

There are men as well as women who are afraid of strong and intelligent women (black or white). I could not understand why some men really despised HRC.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
At any rate, I love Michelle Obama. I am soooo hoping she becomes first lady. But I do wonder if there is a certain kind of voter out there that finds her scarier than Barack.

There is no doubt about it. Look how often Michelle has been attacked as "angry" or anti-white. Barack is never (at least to my knowledge) portrayed in such terms. But, to be fair, the same voters likely found Hillary to be a lot scarier than Bill a few years ago.

Michelle Obama is angry. For the first time in my life I am proud of America. Who in the heck even remotely thinks that yet alone says it out loud. Oh yea. Reverend Jerimiah Wright. The minister that married Barack and Michelle. Lord help us all

[Anonymous]

I love Michelle Obama. I think Michelle and Barack seem to share a genuine love and affection for one another, I think she seems like a grounded and loving mother, I think she is highly intelligent and accomplished, I think she is incredibly poised but still down-to-earth... I could go on and on!

And I don't think she seems the least bit angry. (In fact, going on a purely superficial basis, Cindy McCain looks a heck of a lot angrier. Cindy McCain looks like she might cut you!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Michelle Obama is angry. For the first time in my life I am proud of America. Who in the heck even remotely thinks that yet alone says it out loud. Oh yea. Reverend Jeremiah Wright. The minister that married Barack and Michelle. Lord help us all

Even as a white American, I am ashamed of the history of our treatment of blacks. I found her statement quite easy to understand, and, with all due respect, I think it is, if not borderline racist, at least racially insensitive, to attack her for it.

However, I agree with your sentiment that we can all use the Lord's help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

My husband disagrees with me. He thinks an interracial marriage would have doomed Obama.

I think if Obama had a white wife then there's a strong possibility he could have alienated some black folks but could have won over some white folks.

I actually think the oposite would have happened, especially in the South. I can see how some of the older southern gentlemen would have issue pulling the level for him while imagining him in bed with ..... you get the picture.