White Women and Movability

“across the board – excluding Democrats and liberals”? How is that ‘across the board’? So if Republican women presumably favor McCain already, the movement is among Independents with particular emphasis on working class (Catholic?) women (with kids?) Can you be more specific?

Maybe they are “movable” because there is no such ideological group like “White Women” so each time you sample different women, you get different answers. This might be a false demographic for the questions you are asking.

For the white male, it’s about race. If a black man who made Law Review at Harvard can’t be accepted because he’s only half-white, that says a lot.
For the women, it’s about having a woman in the White House. Forget Roe vs. Wade and everything else the pro-choice groups calimed were so important to them.
This is all about RACE! This is White America!

Hey Republicans…I have to comment on your assestment that the media has been sexism against Sarah Palin because they are asking if she can handle the job as VP and still be able to care for her family.
First of all…you MUST recognize that the men candidates have also been asked this of them. The one example that races to my mind is when Elizabeth Edwards revealed her cancer had come back and everyone was asking could John Edwards handle looking after his family at the same time he was running for president.
So please, please refrain from a close-minded approach that anytime we question Sarah Palin it’s because we’re sexist. I’m a woman and I am asking this same question because she has 5 teenage children and they are at an age where they are very impressionable…that’s fair. Just like it was fair to question Edwards if he could handle running for Pres. while his wife was in her vulnerable state.
What scares me is that women might be focusing on trying to prove a point at the expense of putting our country back on the right track. The republicans are dangerous…and as a mother to be (my baby arrives in Dec.) I’m more concerned on making the point that I cannot entrust my baby’s future to a party that wrecklessly thrusted us into a war that never should have been waged. I’m more concerned that the republican party for the next 8 years will countinue to harms us economically and do nothing to advance our educational system. That’s what we should be focusing on.
If your focus is sexism and accusing anyone of that when we question whether or not our candidates are capable of handling the job, than you’re doing a bigger disservice to your families and communities and you need to recognize that. I’ve got the right to ask ALL the questions of our politicians because I’ve got the responsiblity to my family to vote for the person that I believe will best benefit us as a country. And if the media can help me get those answers, then your dam right I’m going to listen and take advantage of that tool…not to say I won’t look for other tools to help me gather info. on our candidates.
And for all you women who vote for McCain just because he’s got a woman on the ticket…ask yourself this question:
will you feel good about yourselves voting for a man who would keep us in Iraq indefinitely…if so then don’t complain when your sons and daughters come home in a body bag. Will you feel good about yourselves for voting for a ticket that refuses to believe we have an economic disaster…than don’t complain when you lose your home, or your jobs and can’t pay the bills or send your kids to college.
The republicans don’t have a plan! That is why for them, this election will be about personality than issues. That’s what they are good at, distracting us from what really matters. Remember this 8 years ago: “Now Bush…there’s a guy I can have a beer with.” Well eight years later, we can’t even afford the dam beer.
Women don’t reduce yourselves to what the Republicans are wanting you to be…empty women who vote with their bras instead of their brains.”
WE’RE BETTER THAN THAT!!!!!!!!!

The best choice is Hillary. It’s about issues and, yes, I truly believe a woman will bring necessary leadership for this country right now. Too bad Palin is way off to the right – otherwise she’s a great woman.

How many here have ranted against Bush and his policies the last few years but are going to now vote for McCain/Palin even though they represent a continuation of those very same Bush policies? And you say “race” isn’t an issue? Bull-spit.

I guess women like throwing their equal rights away by voting for Bush 3 and Bush 4. Odd!

Me too. Independent voters for McCain Palin!
They represent the American majority. Race
has nothing to do with it, we supported Condi

Don’t worry Marty. McCain is dispatching a “truth squad” to respond to the “dirt.” Unlike the Democratic primaries, the Republican media (Fox, Wash Times, National Review, WSJ, etc) and blog world will tear down efforts to demonize Palin. The liberal media helped him beat down Clinton. This is a new ballgame.

Another Sarah, I agree totally that Obama has used race to his advantage in this campaign. On several occasions he told audiences that the Republicans and John McCain would say, “he doesn’t look like the other guy, his name is funny, did I mention he’s black, etc.” The problem is, I never heard John McCain, anyone on his staff, or any official in the Republican Party refer to Barack Obama’s race, the rumors about his alleged Muslim religion, his ‘funny’ name, or anything of the sort. Barak Obama was the one bringing up these issues, not John McCain. That is one thing that turned me off in his campaign, and I was, in the beginning, open to Senator Obama. For a time I truly did believe he was a new kind of politician. Then he proved he wasn’t, and he lost my support. I really think a lot of Obama supporters have invested so much energy and time into their adulation of this man that they simply cannot bring themselves to admit that they were wrong. Instead, they cling to their position, and spew vitriol at those who don’t agree with them. That’s just childish, in my opinion. I supported Obama in the beginning because I didn’t want a rerun of the Bill & Hillary Show, but now I’m casting a vote for John McCain. He’s a decent guy, and he doesn’t deserve to have his reputation and his war record trashed by the left-wing of the party. My father is a veteran, and so are two of my uncles. I don’t have much patience for people who attack men who have served their country.

The very women who fought so hard regarding roe v. wade are the very women BO decided didn’t have anywhere else to go but to him. He was soooooooooo wrong.

As a white female I am concerned that woman can dismiss the issues at hand and not see where the country is today before getting excited about a woman that has so little experience. I am independent but lean on the Democrate side most of the time. This woman’s beliefs are very scary for mainstream women. Her views on absence only and not teaching sex education shows a lack of understanding of what is happening with the kids, I am a retired health teacher with 25 years experence, and know that absence only does not work. For this reason alone I would not vote for McCain and the idea that Palin would be next in line is unthinkable. I hope the media will keep telling the truth on all four and people will listen instead of just voting without thinking. We don’t know much about Palin and have little time left to find out. I resent the way McCain decieded on this woman and expects us to vote for him because of her. Come on women wake up and think don’t fall for an old man pushing an unknown on us just because it is a woman. I though we were smarter than this.

The world is in recession. At least in America
we have an abundance of food, sources to help
people in need, women have rights, are not
forced to walk behind males, wear costumes
treated as second rate citizens. Does
the House of Saud protect women’s rights?
Huh? Why not, they want influence in America
and did they fund all of Obama’s education, his
4 million dollar home? He didn’t buy it with
books. wake up sleeping dogs. It is time to
confront the liars or demagogues and elect
the All American Team, McCain and Palin.
We are independents for the Republicans and
we are forming another group, the Women for
the McCain/Palin ticket. Join in and learn the
truth about Obama and his history. It is no
longer secrets, the truth is emerging daily. The
archives of the UIC Library have been opened.
the graduate, Obama, Magna cum saudi is exposed.

My whole family, democrats from birth, will vote McCain/Palin. Not just because of a great woman was just added to the McCain ticket, but because 1) OBAMA IS NOT QUALIFIED. 2) Obama runs with corrupt characters. 3) Obama has no friends to speak of his character as job reference.
Obama’s friends hate America and most are in jail. That makes Obama an enemy of the state.
Now that Governor Palin has been added to the ticket as VP, Obama the community organizer, looks less qualified to be president.
There’s no doubt that John McCain has experience to the President.

I am a middle-age, middle-class white women and I was both a Hillary and Obama supporter. My support shifted to Obama the moment Hillary backed out of the race and he and Joe Biden will continue to have my support. Just because Sarah Palin is a woman has nothing to do with where I stand on the issues. Personally, I think tapping Palin for VP is a joke. The fact that Bush began talking about removing troops from Iraq after Obama made removal of troops from Iraq an issue, and the fact that McCain is now talking about “change” when this is what Obama has based his entire campaign on is amazing to say the least. Although I have a lot of respect for what McCain went through in the war, the rhetoric from both Bush and McCain, seems to confirm that you cannot trust what now are the McCain/Palin messages. In any case, I trust in the Change that Obama talks about and believe that cares about all Americans. I was against the war from the beginning; am part of the middle class affected by a corporation that cut health and retirement benefits to my husband who has worked for the same company for 25 years. I am pro-choice, believe in equality for everyone and am a huge supporter of the health and education changes as outlined by Obama. I hope people who are independent or don’t know who they are going to vote for can manage to look at the issues and not the hype of personalities that is presented to us. Obama is smart, dedicated and articulate and would not only do great things for us in the U.S., but would be a great at diplomacy and foreign relations.

IF you are a child left behind, blame your
parents, before most of begin school, we are
already educated in some areas. We develop
learning skills at the knee of our father and
mother, how to communicate with people is
first. Our parents communicate with us, we
are taught to read and write with books and
interaction with our families. Please don’t
put me in the charge of a public school. We
learned more about American History before
we entered school to have them undo our learning
not only from the Historians, but the fact we
were taken to Americas historical sights, to
Washington, we saw the Capitol Building, the
10 commandments, engraved on the walls, the
history of the Congress having church meetings
in the legislative buildings.

Rose, This is a free country and so far not socialist so you are allowed to vote for whoever you want as president and be respected for that decision. However, there are some inconsistencies in your post. Bush is not talking about pulling troops because Obama suggested it. Bush is pulling troops (to send to Afganistan) because the surge in Iraq, of which McCain supported and Obama did not, is working. They are handing over more and more provinces to Iraqi soldiers who were trained by our military.
Secondly, as stated by Biden, the presidency does not lend itself to on the job training, Obama has no foreign policy experience, and limited experience in everything else.

Okay, everyone wants to base this one race, but deny it at the same time. Ask McCain’s senior adviser, Nancy Pf., what she meant when she said on CNN Sunday that Obama is just carrying the water for his party.

The rebulican party seems to be getting the gains they have by promising no new taxes or not raising taxes,well it is pretty dumb to think that with the economy being in the shape it is in that we can get by without raising them.we cannot keep boring from other countries to keep our heads barely above water,to keep us in Iraq with 140,000 troops still there doesn’t sound like the Bush administration is sure the surge is going to keep.Why does McCain and Palin keep saying the surge has worked and that the war has been won.It is not won nor will it be such until we don’t have to keep troops there in substantial numbers.The republicans are painting a rose colored picture but if you look very carefully you will see it start to fade.We don’t no what Palin is really about until the debates.That is if the media is not afraid to question her.There is going to be some that will bring up sexism but if she wants to run she should be questioned just as Hillary was.She came out swinging like she could stand up to the world so she should be able to take some questions.She is going to have to deal with much more than a few questios from reporters.

Anyone that knows me knows that I usually keep my opinions to myself …at least on things like religion and politics. I’m a 28 year old white female from a small town in NC. I do mortgage lending for a local bank, have been married for 8 years and have no kids.
I tell you all of this in order for you to realize that I’m a pretty average person.
I’m sitting on my couch today September 9th, 2008 sick with a cold and watching ABC News with Charles Gibson. I am absolutely astounded at what I just saw. So astounded in fact that if I hadn’t just looked up what I saw at http://www.abcnews.com I would almost believe I had taken too much cold medicine.
I’m referring to a segment that just aired in which the topic of discussion is the shift in the polls of white women voters. More importantly, I’m referring to a statistic that was mentioned. In a nutshell it was stated that people who are voting based on the issues Obama is leading and that people who are voting on “personal quality” McCain is leading.
It was also mentioned that in the very close election of 2000 Gore lead in people voting on issues and Bush lead in people voting on “personal quality”.
Am I the only one completely outraged that the American public would be so ignorant as to vote on “personal quality”?
I could go on and on about how this is simply insane and a complete embarrassment to the voters of America. However, instead I will make a simple plea:
Please Please Please be an informed voter. Whether you vote for Obama, McCain, or you write someone in – please vote for the issues and the person that you think can best serve America. Don’t vote for someone because they chose a female VP running mate or because someone would be the first black president. Please be an educated voter – even if you just read up on 1 or 2 of the most important issues to you. Vote for a VALID reason.

Not about racism,??? I live in the red state of KY. and I can tell you that there are many a redneck here that will not be voting for a “black man”. I am a white woman and I did not intend to become an Obama supporter. But,,,Geez look what it takes to get the Reps. excited… The old soldier…wasn’t enough by himself so they get a cross between a far right hockey mom and a pitt bull??? Come on ladies!!! From Hillary to Palin??? Just as Obama’s selection in Biden was to make up for his lack of foreign affairs experience, so is McCains selection in Palin to make up for his lack in appeal to women and change. Palin is the political move to get you off focus and it’s working. Think about how much change do you really think McCain is going to have with a Democratic House and Senate which they just took back in Nov, 06??? Seriously we can do better…

McCain used the same pig line in May and once before that-
I am embarrassed for women and so angry that women across the country are falling for this move by McCain. I am middle aged, white, professional and have always voted Republican. I fell for the fear tactics in 2004 and voted to stay safe, what a fool. But this year the issues are too important- I want this WAR to end today, I want to get out of debt, I want my kids and grandkids to be safe, and I want people to respect our government and our leaders. But all women can tell me is that they “like her” , but why??? When we start to discuss her beliefs, they seem shocked, but they are falling for it. This was a cynical pick and so disrespectful to hard working women all over this country- I was hoping this election we would be smarter.

I am a white 51 year old women. Catholic.
Married. Mother. Educator.
I would like to know the breakdown of women polled by state,age,race,
level of education and religion. When a news org performs a poll it is their responsibility to provide ALL the pertinent data.
Personally, I can’t imagine any educated woman voting for Palin.
I am a very strong supporter of Obama. I became interested in his work when he was a state senator in 1999, and even more so in 2004, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. I have done my homework on his track record and position of the issues.
I am convinced he is the hope of America. Primarily, because as our leader he will be accepted by all of those around the world, and in this country, who have come to doubt and hate Americans because of our racism, because of our lack of compassion, our greed and our single mindedness. The hope I see is best described as a unifying force. A force that can transform our country and extend healing bridges to our adversaries.
All Women would do well to unite FOR Obama!

You insisted that Hillary’s Supporters would shift over to Obama after they were done pouting… It is that type of sexist attitude in the media that is bringing us over to McCain/Palin. We are women over 40 who understand Sales & Marketing – many of us are in that field ourselves & we are not going to buy the Pepsi like Campaign that won Barack the Nomination. “We’re the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For” – you expected us to be stupid enough to buy that crap. We’re intelligent – we see through both the Covert attacks from the Obama Campaign just as easily as the Overt ones from all the rest. We do our homework – we read everything we can get our hands or eyes on and we read between the lines. The media has manipulated the election process from the beginning and we will not be told who to vote for. Warning: The more you smear Sarah Palin, the more determined we will be out there garnering votes for the McCain/Palin ticket. Believe it – Report it – It’s True!

Obama and Dems insulted me so terribly in the primaries. Clinton might forgive Obama, but I dislike the guy. Can’t help it, he’s not worthy and the Kennedy, Biden, Dole, Byrd old boys club makes me sick to my stomack. Manipulating and lying for votes is one thing, stealing the uncommitted of Michigan and strongarm four delegates from Clinton, which she won, broke with everything I believe.
For democracy they don’t deserve to win, so country first speaks volumes for McCain. With Palin on the ticket, it becomes almost a no-brainer.

As I read the posts here, I can’t stop asking the question;why are former Hillary supporters so mad at and resentful of Obama? It seem as if you are so hell bent on voting against Obama instead of voting for McCain.It also lead me to believe some of you are more concerned with voting for a woman than the issues she stand for.Have we as a country really sunk that low? One of the most dustrubing aspects is you are making This decision without really knowing what she even stand for. Please take a step back and ask yourself if you are making an informed decision or being distracted?

It is not surprising that majority of white women are shifting towards white candidates in this election. Mr. Langer’s data suggest from a historical baseline that the white-Americans in general tend to vote for the candidates that are more conservative from center(relative term). As for women voting based on gender alone is something not easily measured, but I would venture to say that race is important consideration along with gender to voters.
When it comes to trailblazing the path for women in presidential politics, Hillary Clinton and Sara Palin are newcomers. I shall never forget Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm run for the President in 1972. Although, I am not Afro-American or female, Ms. Chisholm gender and color were unimportant to me, but as a young man, I was touched by her spirit and ideas to change public policy and culture to reflect a world with parity for all. I must say, Shirley Chisholm’s agenda did not garner much support in 1972 from women or men voters regardless of color (Nixon was the man with voters in 1972).
It is very possible that as in 1972, the double edge sword of being a Afro-American or women candidate in 2008 will play out the expected and in-the- box response from voters based on culture and political bias from years passed. Change from the past would be historic, change from the past with purpose, parity, and competencies, would be a step forward for all.

I must agree with 3rivers, although I was not able to vote in 1972, I vaguely remember thinking it would be great if she won, but there was no excitement. Democrats finally have a candidate who could and I hope will offer us “Change we can believe in!” I’m Black, Christian, married, socially moderate, fiscally conservative and work full-time. I believe we should be the change we want to see in this world! Let’s change America! Fighting is not the answer-let’s unite and find REAL solutions to America’s ills. Go OBAMA’08!

“he’s not worthy and the Kennedy, Biden, Dole, Byrd old boys club makes me sick to my stomach.” Add Pelosi and Reid to that list. Barack Obama will sign anything they send to him since he’s never stood up to any of them.
One of Bush’s many and biggest mistakes was giving Congress everything it wanted. The only way to get this country back on track is to have a President willing to use the veto. John McCain will do that.

This isn’t high school. Popularity contests won high school SCA elections, but this is our lives, our childrens’ futures and the future of our country. While everybody is concerned about lipstick and old fish, we have record budget deficits, high unemployment, home foreclosures, bank failures and now the big 3 auto makers are looking for a handout. Palin/McCain-yes, Palin has stolen McCain’s thunder, are just repeating the same old lines but are not giving any really hard facts about the issues. People wake up!!!! I’m Christian, Black, 38, single- mother B.A. degree, U.S. Army veteran and an Obama supporter. This election is too important to throw it for who you want to have a beer/dinner with. The majority of the people I know just want to be able to put gas in the car to go to the grocery store to purchase groceries they cannot afford to feed their own families.

THANK YOU GREG!!! You took the words right out of my mouth. It makes me want to pull my hair out of my head, how easily swayed people are by Obama’s pretty speeches. People need to actually look at the facts.

Race, Race, Race! Is that all you air heads can talk about? There is so much more going on in this world!
Well one things for sure America still has a lot of growing up to do!

Remember the issues, we are in two wars,gas and food prices are soaring, education is in trouble, jobs are being lost, economy is bad,world isolation, and our debt is growing 10 billion a onth while the Iragi govt bank 70 billion a month to help their economy, and if you want 4 more years of the same, then vote for the Republicans and if you want some change and fresh new ideas, then vote for Obama and Biden.
Either way, done vote because of race and gender. Remember, Congress is who represents the American people and they come from our states,towns and cities across America. It takes more than 4 people to run this country. Don’t get sidetracked and forget about the real and the big picture. The country is in a mess and we the people must maintain control of our feelings and emotions and work together as one. This is not a black,white,brown,or yellow issue.
This is about the lives of the American people and the course we set for the next four years. Ask yourself are you much better off and can you support 4 years of what? I hope you have an answer you can live with.

What about Black women? or don’t we matter? Why are Black women invisible in this survey. As a matter of fact, that’s all I seem to be hearing “white women are leaning more to the McCain/Palin ticket” and how much white women related to the barracuda/hockey mom/pit bull! How well do Black women relate to her or how well does she relate to Black women. Let’s hear some discussion about that!

Whether man or woman, if a politician has to be defended from questions from a talkshow host or newscaster, then that person is too weak to be in office. The Presidency is a tough job, not a figurehead position. And a VP has had to step into the Presidency all too often. Look at some clips of Margaret Thatcher in Parliament. She was a tough politician first and a lady second. My kids deserve someone who can defend them, not need defending. Our family is not better off than 8 years ago. Are you?

well put…Trackback

I’m amazed that any decent black person would vote for Obama. Why would Obama spend so many years in a church lead by a bigot? You will never sell me on the idea that he didn’t know where he was going to church.
It’s the same as his decision to start sell the pro gun thing. Now it’s okay to have guns, even though he has never voted for a pro second amendment bill. He is a liar, period. He needs Pennsylvania and he knows he won’t get it unless he fools the public.

Listening to Sarah Palin convinced this woman how wrong the McCain/Palin ticket is. She casually discusses entering into battle with Russia – reminds you about McCain casually saying bomb bomb Iran. Neither of these idiots bothers to think about the benefits versus the costs. Our military is already threadbare – it will take years of increased military spending to restore our military equipment to a state of readiness and our volunteer army is too lean with the stop loss abuse.

What a joke. Self appointed ‘patriots’ who out of fear, greed and ignorance have consistently supported most incompetent government in American history. These idiots have managed to bring the greatest country in the world down to the point where we may already not have a future because we are so far in debt to the rest of the world. Go ahead, vote for McCain and Palin, two nitwits who will seal the deal. Just don’t pretend to be loyal to anything beyond your own narrow minded and obsolete view of the world.

You do realize that Sarah Palin would probably make a good hockey mom. She will not make a good VP or Pres. She is clueless about national politics. McCain is simply too old and too set in the 1950′s. We need people who look forward to the future and improve humanity rather than looking back to 1950′s white America (that by the way never existed for the black, yellow, brown and red peoples in this country) as the pinnacle of human civilization. I am just happy it looks like Barrack is out in front and people who want to blow up small countries and mix church and state will at least be out of the government for a little while so main street and other corners of America can be represented rather than the lobbyists of the corporatocracy.