I am supporting obama because he is black!

I've actually heard this one... so I talked to him about Obama's plan for Health care, and his tax plan that would raise taxes of people making over 250,000 and well, don't think that he will think that the historic significates of having the first black president is as important anymore. Since this person didn't end up agreeing with Obama's plans after actually finding out what they were. I think when a person says they will be supporting a candidate based on their race, political party or gender for that matter, it usually means they neglected to look into their plans for this country. Amazing the number of people who throw their support behind a candidate without doing any research on the matter.

I would say they should not be allowed to vote. Maybe a person would understand why that is stupid if the tables were turned. I am supporting McCain because he is white. (Not that I really am.) But this shouldn't be a blacks against whites thing. That is just so immature.

I'd say nothing. Everyone has a right to cast one vote for whatever reason they choose. As many voted for Kennedy because he was a Catholic as voted against him because he was a Catholic. That sort of voting has a way of evening out. It did for Kennedy and it will for Obama too. Frankly, if I were an African American, I probably would vote for Obama just because he was black. I'm not African American and I'm voting for him because I believe he's the best choice. It's still comes down to one person, one vote.

I guess I'd say about the same thing as I'd say to someone who said they were voting for someone just because she's a woman or any other group, or I guess I should say I'd ASK them the same thing which would be how would they vote if the two candidates were both the same race, gender or whatever demographic group we're talking about. I suppose I could sort of understand someone basing their decision that way if all else were pretty much equal. This question is very different from your other discussion about not voting for Obama because he's black. That would be pretty much the same as if Hillary Clinton were the nominee and someone were to say they wouldn't vote for her because she's a woman. However, think about as objectively as you can and if you're black or a woman - just to use these two examples - and, as I said all else were fairly equal concerning the issues you cared most about, character and whatever else you considered important when choosing for whom to vote, wouldn't the idea of someone "like you" if nobody had ever gotten that far before be really great? I can't stress enough that I mean this if all else were equal! Annie

I would say that though you have the right to use whatever criteria that you want to use, it would be better spent if you looked at the candidates based on what they stand for and how you think their plan for the country will impact your life.

It's not any worse than the old ladies in my grandmother's Sunday School class who said they were voting for Kennedy because he was so good looking.

Carry on... That's all I would have to say.. I am not going to fight with them, because it would be a waste of my time..