Last week America elected its first black president. But while racism in America is enormously diminished, it is not dead. Blogger Rod McCullom relays a report of postelection bigotry at a rally in Los Angeles, described by a reader named Gregory (quoting verbatim):
It was like being at a klan rally except the klansmen were wearing Abercrombie polos and Birkenstocks. YOU NIGGER, one man shouted at men. If your people want to call me a FAGGOT, I will call you a nigger. Someone else said same thing to me on the next block near the temple…me and my friend were walking, he is also gay but Korean, and a young WeHo clone said after last night the niggers better not come to West Hollywood if they knew what was BEST for them.
At issue, of course, was Proposition 8, a ballot measure that makes the traditional definition of marriage part of the California Constitution. Earlier the state Supreme Court had held that definition unconstitutional and ordered that localities issue marriage licenses to couples consisting of two men or two women.
California voters approved Proposition 8, 52% to 48%, even as they were giving President-elect Obama an overwhelming 61% of the vote. But exit polls showed a striking divergence in voting patterns between racial and ethnic groups:
- White Californians backed Obama, 52% to 46%. But they voted against Proposition 8, 49% to 51%.
- Blacks supported Obama by 94% to 5%. They supported Proposition 8, 70% to 30%. That is what prompted the Gay KK to come out in the streets of Los Angeles.
- Hispanics and Asians alike were more pro-Obama than whites, giving him 74% and 64% respectively. Meanwhile 53% of Hispanics voted for Proposition 8, while Asians’ vote was the same as whites, with 51% opposed.
- Overall, however, Obama voters were against Proposition 8, 32% to 68%.
A similar, although less pronounced, pattern also was seen in another ballot measure, Proposition 4, which would have prohibited performing an abortion on an unemancipated minor unless her legal guardian or, in some cases, another adult family member was notified. Proposition 4 was voted down, 48% to 52%, but again there was an ethnic and racial divergence:
- Whites opposed Proposition 4, 45% to 55%.
- Blacks narrowly supported it, 51% to 49%.
- Hispanics and Asians supported it by wider margins, with 53% and 57%, respectively, casting "yes" votes.
- Overall, Obama voters opposed Proposition 4, 32% to 68%.
Obama was the "socially liberal" candidate–opposed to Proposition 8, although in the abstract also against same-sex marriage, and extremely pro-abortion. McCain supported Proposition 8, albeit diffidently, and opposes abortion.
What the California exit polls suggest is that minorities, and especially blacks, tend to be considerably more socially conservative than their presidential votes would lead one to believe. There may be an opportunity for Republicans here–especially if proponents of liberal social policies persist in expressions of outright bigotry.
The NJG: Luke?
The NJG: there’s another scoop for you
The NJG: the gays are going after a guy named Scott Eckern
The NJG: who gave some money to Yes on 8
The NJG: he is a musical director
The NJG: they’re trying to get him fired
The NJG: they’ve already bullied him into giving money to the HRC (gay organization)
The NJG: and he’s apologized to them
The NJG: it’s on every gay blog
The NJG: http://guydads.blogspot.com/2008/11/california-musical-theatre-artistic.html The NJG: like that one
The NJG: but they are bullying him
The NJG: they’re trying to get him fired
The NJG: http://clydefitch.blogspot.com/2008/11/scott-eckern-enemy-of-freedom-lover-of.html The NJG: the gays are going through the list of who gave money to prop 8, which was also published by the SF Chronicle
The NJG: and they are trying to intimidate and bully everyone on that list