Is this comment racist or not?

Question

I'm an African-American Obama supporter. I originally supported Hillary but she didn't get the nomination. My African-American friend Rhonda is an Obama supporter as well and she admires Michelle Obama. Don't get me wrong, I love Michelle Obama too, but Rhonda told me that she's glad Barack married a black woman. She said if Michelle was white, she would've voted for Hillary. I told her that's a stupid reason not to vote for Barack Obama. However, I can't decide whether that comment was racist or not. Because if she said she would've voted for Hillary Clinton instead, that's not racist considering that Clinton is a white woman. But saying that she would'nt vote for Obama if Michelle was a white woman is kind of racist. Overall, do you think that comment was racist. What do you think of it?

Answer 1

No.  Your friend Rhonda is just dumb and nitpicky.  

Answer 2

It's a stupid reason for voting for someone who will control your nation's destiny.  

Answer 3

I would've taken offense to that but I am a white woman and I have a mixed daughter and my ex is black.  I grew up in a tough area of DFW and I was treated the same as everyone else, mostly because I earned their respect.  But to be told its not right for a black man/woman to marry a white woman/man is racist.  (IMO)

Answer 4

This is one of those "Date/Marry your own race things"

Wrong? yes / Racist? No (In My Opinion)

Answer 5

Her comment was prejudiced. She's not claiming that she hates White people or that she's superior to them, but she has something against BM/WW couples.

Frankly, that's an idiotic reason not to vote for someone (no offense to your friend). I thought it's supposed to be about the issues.

Answer 6

I would say it was more along the lines of stupidity then being racist. Regardless of who Obama is married too, we're not voting for his spouse, we're voting for him. We're voting based on the things that he "says" he can do to restore our economy, bring our troops home from the war, re-engineer the health care/social security systems, and bring jobs back here to the states from over seas.

The color of his spouse’s skin has nothing to do with the content of his character. And what would it matter if he'd married a white woman? h**l, he's half White himself. People kill me with how easy it is for them to forget the fact that he's half black and half white. So if he did marry a woman of another color, who are we to judge him based on that fact alone when he's bi-racial himself.

Anyway, (I'm getting on a soap box here). Michelle is a woman of integrity, of strength, faith, honor, and courage. She's one of the fiercest women of color in politics that America (the world) has seen so far. She's sharp, and intelligent, stylish and graceful; and for many people it’s scary. Many Americans don't know how to deal with the idea that there may be an African American family living in the White House running this country. The sheer idea of this Bi-racial man and Black woman representing America (for some Americans is an odd picture) is what's making many people apprehensive about voting "them" (because they're like the Clintons, a two package deal) into the position of Commander and Chief. And I think like your friend, many people don't take the time to research the stances that either of them takes on certain issues as much as they do the color of their skin. Many American’s relate their experiences with black men and women too the Obama’s and they fear that possible retaliation will be taken against them as people if these two where sworn in. And then you have the few “narrow-minded” American’s who will only vote for them for the simple fact that they are Bi-racial/African American, with out even thinking about what they represent or bring to the American table.

So your friend is only repeating what she's hears other people in her immediate group of friends say vs. looking at the over all picture. I could care less about who he's married too, the only things I care about is reducing the price of gas and energy, bringing my fellow service men and women home (I'm a Navy vet) from the war, and ensuring that I and many others will have a job/decent healthcare/social security come the year 2010.

We need to stop focusing on color and focus more on the issues that are at stake (and for grabs) for the next President of the United States of America. I seriously don't think that Mc Cain could care less about the poor or middle class, coming from a privileged back ground. And I say this as a Navy Vet, because I've served under the command of many "privileged" Navy officer who had no clue as of to how to run a command affectively. People get caught up in the fact that he's prior military, but as prior military I've learned that some of your worst leaders are the one's who're in charge of the lives of many (just look at Bush for example, he was an officer in the reserves). I'm not questioning his patriotism, but being military does not make you qualified (this is just my personal opinion). There are a number of other factors that goes into running a nation, such as starting out on the bottom and making our way up to the top like Barrack and Michelle have. They can identify more with the working lower and middle class (the class of people who keep the wheels turning in our work force) because they’ve been there and done that. Nothing was handed to them, and no special treatment was taken. That’s one of the main reasons why I want to see the Obama’s in office. Not because they’re black, but because they understand the fears, ideas, hopes, and dreams of many people such as myself (a single, employed, middle class, African American Woman looking to start my own business).

Answer 7

She obviously doesn't believe in interracial marriage. At least not for blacks. That doesn't necessarily mean she's racist. But it's not the sort of thing one should base their vote on.

Answer 8

- Not racist no

Answer 9

It is ethnic favoritism. Most if not all cultures do this. White people favor whites, black people favor blacks, asians favor asians, etc. Those who say otherwise are liars

Answer 10

i think thats pretty racist.

because she would support the person that is the same color of her.