The real problem with Americans and their disrespect for Obama—according to a Canadian

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I think there quite a few people who voted for Obama because he was black; but a large number of them did it because they wanted to be a part of voting for the first black President. While that's not the best reason to vote for somebody, it doesn't make the person racist; it just means they wanted to be a part of history.

If the next black candidate gets the same type of turnout, that might be a little different.

It would be interesting if the next black candidate was Republican and he/she got the same results from blacks. That would be pretty racist of blacks but I don't think Republicans would get too upset.

I wouldn't have a problem voting for a black Republican. The issue is most black Republicans don't have a good track record with black voters. At this point, the only one who could have run and defeated Obama would have been Colin Powell.

If your message is devoid of racism and hateful language, you can get black people behind you. Ask Thad Cochran. He's a white republican, and he went and courted black people. Asked them what they wanted and campaigned for them. He won.

[B_J 2,752]

I wouldn't have a problem voting for a black Republican. The issue is most black Republicans don't have a good track record with black voters. At this point, the only one who could have run and defeated Obama would have been Colin Powell.

If your message is devoid of racism and hateful language, you can get black people behind you. Ask Thad Cochran. He's a white republican, and he went and courted black people. Asked them what they wanted and campaigned for them. He won.

I always felt that Colin Powell could have been President anytime he wanted.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I always felt that Colin Powell could have been President anytime he wanted.

He could have. But as Karee, MBD, and a few others have pointed out, he's too moderate for the ticket. When it comes to black republicans, they usually want black people who convey a certain type of message.

[B_J 2,752]

He could have. But as Karee, MBD, and a few others have pointed out, he's too moderate for the ticket. When it comes to black republicans, they usually want black people who convey a certain type of message.

At this time he couldn't get the nomination; but it was a different political climate back then. If he had said he was running, they would have given him the nomination right there. There is no way Republicans would have passed the chance to have the first black President come from their party. They would never let anybody forget it, ever; it would be right there with Lincoln being a Republican.

But things are different now.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

At this time he couldn't get the nomination; but it was a different political climate back then. If he had said he was running, they would have given him the nomination right there. There is no way Republicans would have passed the chance to have the first black President come from their party. They would never let anybody forget it, ever; it would be right there with Lincoln being a Republican.

But things are different now.

I'm not so sure. The GOP was never really interested in the idea until Obama was elected. Allen West, Michael Steele, and a few others have been stumping for years, but the issue has always been the message. Powell could have run back in the 90's, but like you said the climate was different. I'm glad folks like Love and Scott are making headway.

If Obama never ran and won, I don't see the GOP saying let's get a black candidate to run. I could be wrong, but that's the vibe I get.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I'm not so sure. The GOP was never really interested in the idea until Obama was elected. Allen West, Michael Steele, and a few others have been stumping for years, but the issue has always been the message. Powell could have run back in the 90's, but like you said the climate was different. I'm glad folks like Love and Scott are making headway.

If Obama never ran and won, I don't see the GOP saying let's get a black candidate to run. I could be wrong, but that's the vibe I get.

Just look at the diversity in the Republican party and you know that you're not wrong. They will have a black Congresswoman in January 2015. That is the first black Republican Congresswoman. Ever. And the only one. In fact, there's not a single black person right now among House Republicans. Not one. So I can see where you get that vibe...

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Just look at the diversity in the Republican party and you know that you're not wrong. They will have a black Congresswoman in January 2015. That is the first black Republican Congresswoman. Ever. And the only one. In fact, there's not a single black person right now among House Republicans. Not one. So I can see where you get that vibe...

They should really work on changing the face of their party to represent America. At this point, they only want to reflect what they feel America should look like.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They should really work on changing the face of their party to represent America. At this point, they only want to reflect what they feel America should look like.

To be fair, it looks like they are working on it. It's progressing painfully slow but one can recognize that there are efforts to diversify - if one looks really closely.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

To be fair, it looks like they are working on it. It's progressing painfully slow but one can recognize that there are efforts to diversify - if one looks really closely.

I'm sure it must be really painful for them.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Just look at the diversity in the Republican party and you know that you're not wrong. They will have a black Congresswoman in January 2015. That is the first black Republican Congresswoman. Ever. And the only one. In fact, there's not a single black person right now among House Republicans. Not one. So I can see where you get that vibe...

This is where I was going with it. BJ is a moderate conservative, so he sees things in a more balanced light. That's why I speak to him in this way, he gives respect so he's earned mine.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I'm sure it must be really painful for them.

[B_J 2,752]

I'm not so sure. The GOP was never really interested in the idea until Obama was elected. Allen West, Michael Steele, and a few others have been stumping for years, but the issue has always been the message. Powell could have run back in the 90's, but like you said the climate was different. I'm glad folks like Love and Scott are making headway.

If Obama never ran and won, I don't see the GOP saying let's get a black candidate to run. I could be wrong, but that's the vibe I get.

I'm not saying that Republicans were looking for just any black person to run; I don't think that's what happened with Obama and the Democrats. But, I do believe that if Republicans had a candidate that they liked, and he happened to be black, then they would have given him the nomination on a platter.

I don't know how much others really pay attention to what's happening on the Republican side; as opposed to just seeing what they want to see - but just in recent memory there have been people who wanted Powell, Condi Rice, and J.C. Watts to run for higher office. And these would be serious candidates for the nomination, they just decided not to run.

And please don't forget the number of black people that GWB appointed to different positions when he was in office. Some people are just uninformed or disingenuous when they look at certain issues.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I'm not saying that Republicans were looking for just any black person to run; I don't think that's what happened with Obama and the Democrats. But, I do believe that if Republicans had a candidate that they liked, and he happened to be black, then they would have given him the nomination on a platter.

I don't know how much others really pay attention to what's happening on the Republican side; as opposed to just seeing what they want to see - but just in recent memory there have been people who wanted Powell, Condi Rice, and J.C. Watts to run for higher office. And these would be serious candidates for the nomination, they just decided not to run.

And please don't forget the number of black people that GWB appointed to different positions when he was in office. Some people are just uninformed or disingenuous when they look at certain issues.

JC Watts I don't know a lot about. Powell I always felt wasn't wanted due to his moderate nature. For the GOP in recent years, you had to walk the hard line in order to secure the nomination. And Powell wasn't that. Most folks thought he was more Democratic than anything else. Condi had the WMD scandal tied to her more closely than Powell so I don't think she would have done well. Not crash and burn, but no home runs either.

I thought Mccain would be a good choice(minus the VP), and if the Democrats didn't have Obama or Clinton in the running, it might have turned out differently. I know GWB has appointed some people of color while he was in office. I don't hate the man or anyone that preceded him.

[B_J 2,752]

JC Watts I don't know a lot about. Powell I always felt wasn't wanted due to his moderate nature. For the GOP in recent years, you had to walk the hard line in order to secure the nomination. And Powell wasn't that. Most folks thought he was more Democratic than anything else. Condi had the WMD scandal tied to her more closely than Powell so I don't think she would have done well. Not crash and burn, but no home runs either.

I thought Mccain would be a good choice(minus the VP), and if the Democrats didn't have Obama or Clinton in the running, it might have turned out differently. I know GWB has appointed some people of color while he was in office. I don't hate the man or anyone that preceded him.

I think we need to talk about the Republican part pre-Tea Party and post-Tea Party. Post-TP, you have to move as far right as possible to get the nomination; not so much pre-TP. I think of Powell as pre-TP. All he had to do is walk out in his uniform and people on the right would swoon. Condi had no issues as far as Republicans are concerned. The WMD scandal wouldn't hurt her in trying to get the nomination; it would just hurt her in the general election. JC Watts was a congressman back in the 90s (I think). Played football for OU, ordained Baptist minister, had a couple of high profile moments. A lot of people wanted him as a VP candidate, he just wasn't interested.

I was a big McCain supporter. I don't hate Palin, or even have real negative opinions of her. I understand why he chose her, but I also think it was a mistake. Not that it made a difference. He just wasn't going to beat Obama.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

I think we need to talk about the Republican part pre-Tea Party and post-Tea Party. Post-TP, you have to move as far right as possible to get the nomination; not so much pre-TP. I think of Powell as pre-TP. All he had to do is walk out in his uniform and people on the right would swoon. Condi had no issues as far as Republicans are concerned. The WMD scandal wouldn't hurt her in trying to get the nomination; it would just hurt her in the general election. JC Watts was a congressman back in the 90s (I think). Played football for OU, ordained Baptist minister, had a couple of high profile moments. A lot of people wanted him as a VP candidate, he just wasn't interested.

I was a big McCain supporter. I don't hate Palin, or even have real negative opinions of her. I understand why he chose her, but I also think it was a mistake. Not that it made a difference. He just wasn't going to beat Obama.

I agree with this. Just read about Watts. He sounds like he could have been on the money. I think the TP has hurt the GOP in more ways than it could have helped them. Powell was a good man throughout. I really thought he should have been the first black president. His military experience plus his position within the Bush Administration would have been golden.

I know that Mccain grabbed Palin to try and counter Obama with a woman VP. If he grabbed Powell, that would have been a fight to see.