The mainstream media, the Obama campaign and even a lot of pro-McCain pundits seem to be dismissing it this time around, saying that such an effect is likely to be very small these days. The Obama campaign even goes so far as to claim that there will be a reverse Bradley Effect which will mean Obama’s support is actually higher than it is.

But let’s look at these points. First, a reminder that the Bradley effect is not about whites being secretly racist – it’s about whites fearing that others will think them racist even though their rejection of Obama has nothing to do with race and everything to do with policy.

Bradley was running for governor, Obama for the White House. I’m not 100% about this but I suspect that the fear of being labeled a racist is more pronounced this time around because:

1) The Presidency is a far more important position which carries a much greater responsibility than governor and so the unspoken, taboo question of “is a black man up to the job” hangs heavier in the atmosphere. Note that I’m not saying that whites affected by the Bradley Effect are actually worried by that question – rather that they’re worried that others will think that they’re worried about it.

2) This is not the early 80’s, it’s 2008 and the specter of political correctness is far more pronounced. It was a different social environment in 1982 when Bradley ran for governor. TV, for example, featured far fewer black characters and black families. Racist jokes were somewhat more acceptable. There was far less of the kind of racial “witch-hunt” atmosphere that pervades life these days. If you were accused of being a racist it was somewhat less of a big deal. You wouldn’t worry so much about losing your career and being shunned by friends and family. I’m not condoning those times, just making an observation.

3) Aside from the difference in our social environment now, it cannot be denied that the pro-Obama camp has done its bit to make race a far greater issue in this election than in any other election in history in America. Obama has played the race card and indirectly – but obviously – accused those who don’t support him of being racist, as has the rest of his campaign. The mainstream media has done more than its fair share of insinuating that McCain supporters are just racists who won’t vote for a black man. The fear of being labeled a racist is far greater this time.

These factors lead me to believe that not only is the Bradley effect alive and well, but it’s probably more pronounced than it’s ever been.

As for the suggestion by the Obama campaign that a “reverse” Bradley Effect may apply:

Did they even think this through? The suggestion is that many whites are proudly racist – so much so that they’ll say they’re voting for McCain while secretly planning to vote for Obama (because as everyone “knows,” Obama is “better on the economy” and all of those uneducated rednecks are so financially desperate that they’ll grit their teeth and vote for a black man)….

But the Bradley Effect is not about the ways in which people hide their true voting intentions from their peers, it’s about how they hide their true intentions from anonymous pollsters. Does anyone really think that whites are so embarrassed to tell a phone pollster that they’re voting for a black man that they’ll lie and say they’re voting for McCain?

At the end of the day, the proof will be in the pudding and we can only wait and see. But privately I’m thinking that there will be a Bradley Effect in this election – and not only that, I’m hoping there will be. Unashamedly, because it’s not an indictment of the racism of America, rather an indictment of the way in which Americans recognize that racism is shameful.

HIDING?!!

According Eldridge Cleaver, African Americans (like ALL Americans) don’t want a communist wealth redistribution plan. They want jobs!! Wealth redistribution is nothing more then a plan to keep the oppressed oppressed and the corrupt corrupt!!

They paid the Drudge report for the top spot. Obama had is fake self up there to on another ad. The NRA against Obama has theirs up there too. Nearly 40,000 people voted.

Fair warning it will be hard for you Obama people to cheat game this poll.
But knock yourselves out. Something has got you troubled for you to be here in such numbers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=491_5WxfcgI

oh dear… the ending is magnificent…

a. hillary
b. mccain

america first!

found the great video via yours:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=491_5WxfcgI

a. hillary
b. mccain

america first!

If he were a true leader, instead of talking, talking, talking in his convoluted intellectual dialogues, ah, as shown in this, ah, video, he would seek out other SUCCESSFUL “community organizers” elsewhere in this great country and set them up as examples of what can be achieved.

I do not believe there are no such success stories in this country. Just because Obama, Rev Wright, Fr Pfleger, and Bill Ayers failed in Chicago does not mean that everyone else did also. Unless, of course, the rest of us have been willfully suppressing and suffocating minorities to the extent that they cannot rise above their circumstances. Or, perhaps, like in Chicago, everybody’s good intentions everywhere are sold out and perverted by corrupt, self-serving politicians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCY5sUsEM7E

wow. amazing…

a. hillary
b. mccain

america first!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnESx4KDeQI

a. hillary
b. mccain

america first!

toddler killed in obama slum housing…

thanks obama!

a. hillary
b. mccain

america first!