re: Obama (OT)

"Blacks consistently vote >90% for Democrats, most of whom are white. Obama didn't get >90% of the black vote because he's black, he got >90% of the black vote because he's a DEMOCRAT."

This is true of the general election - but I think LGL40 has a point about the primary. I am quite doubtful that Obama would have won the primary against Hillary Clinton if he had been white.

What is more, I think the prospect of electing the first black president energized the Democratic base, resulting in higher turnout. Whether this was necessary for Obama to win the election I don't know, but the effect was substantial - though probably not as substantial as "Not Bush!"

On all the other points, I agree with you. Obama is not a socialist but a corporatist and a statist - which is actually much worse. I have some socialist friends, but I try not to associate with statists.