Mr. E's Forum: 2006-2007 -> Multicultural Studies -> News #4: A Black President?
Post Info TOPIC: News #4: A Black President?
mre

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News #4: A Black President?
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Who is Barak Obama?  He is currently the only African American serving in the US Senate and only one of five in the history of the country.  He is one of the first African Americans to make a run for the Democratic candidacy for President of the United States since Jesse Jackson in 1984 and Shirley Chisholm in 1972.  What do you think of his stands on the issues?  Are there any issues you support or oppose?  Do you think he can win?  Consider his background, experience, the American voters, the issues, the question of race and his opponents in your answer [80 points].  Also, ask a question or respond with a comment to another student's post [20 points].  Thanks.

Obama: U.S. ready for black president

By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer 39 minutes ago

White House hopeful Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record), taking a fellow black lawmaker to task, said Saturday voters are ready to elect a black president.

"At every turn in our history, there's been somebody who said we can't," the Democratic senator from Illinois told a nearly all-black audience of about 2,000 at Claflin University.

"Some people said we can't do this, we can't do that, so we shouldn't even try. If I have your support, if I have your energy and involvement and commitment and ideas, then I'm here to tell you, 'Yes we can.'"

The comments drew the loudest ovation during a question-and-answer session in his first campaign swing through South Carolina, an early voting state.

The first-in-the-South contest here is seen as a test of candidates' abilities to reach black voters. Half of the state's Democratic primary voters are black.

Obama responded to comments this past week by Democratic state Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston, who helped mobilize black voters for former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards in 2004, but has switched to Hillary Rodham Clinton in the 2008 presidential race.

Ford said Tuesday that Obama, a first-term senator, has much to prove. "The media made this guy bigger than life," Ford said. "This guy isn't tested and they made him a rock star."

Ford said one reason he was supporting Clinton, the New York senator, is that he is skeptical Obama can win the presidency and worries his nomination could hurt other Democratic candidates.

"Every Democrat running on that ticket next year would lose — because he's black and he's top of the ticket. We'd lose the House and the Senate and the governors and everything," Ford said.

Ford drew widespread criticism for his comment and later apologized.

U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., introduced Obama, saying "Run, Barack, run."

"Obama is able to run today because Rosa Parks sat down," Clyburn said. "He is able to run today because Septima Clark stood up."

Parks, in 1955, refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Ala., sparking a mass boycott by thousands, mainly black women domestic workers who had long filled the buses' back seats.

Clark was an educator and activist for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People decades before the nation's attention turned to racial equality.

Clyburn says he is not endorsing a primary candidate.

State Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin tells candidates the race is open and the black vote is not monolithic.

Darcel Lancaster, an 18-year-old Claflin freshman, spent nearly two hours waiting in the morning's chill to be the first in line to see Obama. The biology major said she wouldn't commit to Obama's campaign.

"I'm going to look more into others," she said.

She doesn't expect him to win every black vote — including hers.

"Some people think he's not black enough," Lancaster said. If she picked Obama, it wouldn't be because of his race, she said. "He's not full black," Lancaster said.

U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut spoke earlier Saturday at a Richland County Democratic Party breakfast to a crowd of less than 100.

Both Dodd and Obama had to shorten their South Carolina visits to get back to Washington for a Senate vote on a resolution opposing the Iraq war.



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nessaA

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this presidential election is a tough one. we have a woman running and a black man running.  i think it's about time we have both a woman president and it's about time we have a black president.  i also think that if the the man running wins it would be a stab to woman and if the woman wins it would be a stab to the black community.  i don't know which i would prefer.  but when either of them win, it will open new doors to people and show that america isn't as close minded as we were in history.  there are no laws that say a woman or a black person can't run for presidency and i dont understand why it hasn't happened yet.  it's 2007.

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JAIMIE

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I FEEL AS THOUGH HE WILL DO WELL AND I THINK HE HAS GOOD ISSUES HE WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE LIKE ENDING THE WAR IN IRAQ  AND MORE SECURITY SO TERRORISTS CANT GET WEAPONS IN THERE HANDS AND ALSO BECAUS EI COME FROM A DEMOCRATOC STATE AND HE TOO IS A DEMOCRAT AND HE CARES ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND THE POOR!



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JAIMIE

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nessaA wrote:

this presidential election is a tough one. we have a woman running and a black man running.  i think it's about time we have both a woman president and it's about time we have a black president.  i also think that if the the man running wins it would be a stab to woman and if the woman wins it would be a stab to the black community.  i don't know which i would prefer.  but when either of them win, it will open new doors to people and show that america isn't as close minded as we were in history.  there are no laws that say a woman or a black person can't run for presidency and i dont understand why it hasn't happened yet.  it's 2007.
DAMN THATS A GOOD POINT I DNT KNO TOUGH DESICION BUT WHAT IF ONE ASKS THE OTHER TO BE THERE VOCE PRESIDENT AND IT WOULD BE GOOD




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Leslie

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Concerning the issue of the presidential election, it’s really hard to decide which of them to pick.  I honestly think that it doesn’t matter who wins as long as it’s a change to the usual people who always win.  If a black man wins the election, I think that it will be a good way of opening new doors and changing people’s minds on how they think.  But then if a woman wins, then women will be looked at in a different way. So it really doesn’t matter who wins because both will be a good way of the world changing their views on almost everything. But it is definitely going to be very hard for people to get out of their usual way of voting to vote for either a woman or a black man. I also think that it’s going to be harder for people to vote for something different but I know that it would be something that would be beneficial for our country. With either a black person or a woman becoming person, I think that all the issues that are not yet dealt with would be given much more attention to. It would definitely be something that would help us out a lot more as a country and maybe even help us gain more respect from other countries.



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mike jones

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Here is the link to the website of Historical speeches.. ENJOY!
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html

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Catherine

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I think that it is about time that a black person wins or even a women they are as smart as a white man can be so i dont know why they wont give another race or gender a try its about time for a new change in the world and i think that another person that is not a white male can bring it to the country. If they have the right to run then i think they have the right to win and if they have to brake a few rules for them to be able to win then so be it. But I do hope at least one of them will win the election! 



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mre

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Grades updated - March 3rd



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Shallyn Carreiro

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I feel that he will do extremely well, and i dont think race would be an issue because hes human like everyone else so it shouldnt matter if hes white or black. so i do not oppose any of those issues. I would like to see a black man be president. I think it will show people that race isnt an issue anymore.



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donald venerable

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Who is Barak Obama?  He is currently the only African American serving in the US Senate and only one of five in the history of the country.  He is one of the first African Americans to make a run for the Democratic candidacy for President of the United States since Jesse Jackson in 1984 and Shirley Chisholm in 1972.  What do you think of his stands on the issues?  Are there any issues you support or oppose?  Do you think he can win?  Consider his background, experience, the American voters, the issues, the question of race and his opponents in your answer [80 points].  Also, ask a question or respond with a comment to another student's post [20 points].  Thanks.

I think he can do a lot to help the U.S. and he has good views too. I like the view that he has about schools but he really needs to do something about the jos and the money they make because there is so much poverty in the U.S. even in Washington D.C. right where the white house is and if gets elected he better call it the black house because he will be known as a sucka forever. The U.S. isn't ready for a black president the racist whites will riot and the U.S. will never be the same I cant wait until they elect him just to see how its going to change.He has a good chance of winning. I think its going to be close and if your of age please vote.

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donald venerable

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I feel the same way you do jamie but I hope he is not fake and just looking for votes because we need a good president to fix bush's screw ups

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donald

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does this class think were ready for a black president and if he gets elected do you think the white people will riot.

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nathan

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I have heard about him. I was reading a Newsweek magazine and it was on the fornt cover. I think that he has every right to run for president. this presidential election is a tough one. we have a woman running and a black man running.  i think it's about time we have both a woman president and it's about time we have a black president.  i also think that if the the man running wins it would be a stab to woman and if the woman wins it would be a stab to the black community.  i don't know which i would prefer.  but when either of them win, it will open new doors to people and show that america isn't as close minded as we were in history.  there are no laws that say a woman or a black person can't run for presidency and i dont understand why it hasn't happened yet.  it's 2007. Its about time that we have either a black man or a woman.

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Valdir

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            I think it’s pretty obvious the legitimacy his campaign has shown, if not through poll results he has shown that he can win in numerous other ways. Despite this, I’m not sure if America itself is ready for a black president, and I think we underestimate the magnitude of such an achievement. It’s mind boggling to think a race significantly crippled, handicapped, and degraded for hundreds of years, can, in little more than a century, be seen as equals to the leaders of the great nations abroad. Obama has two hundred years of hope on his chest, hope of a truly united nation, not only under a Constitution but unified in tolerance and understanding. Racism will always be integrated in our society, humanity to specific and cynical. Even though racism will outlast our days here on Earth, Obama’s presidency will prove to all the naysayers, bigots, and racists that King’s dream was not in vain, and that the inept, inferior, incompetent African-American community can and will be seen as equals on the grandest of stages. Now about his views, I for the most part support him. His agenda concerning gun politics, immigration, health care, gay marriage, and the War in Iraq all pretty much coincide with my own views. Contrarily, I couldn’t disagree and more with his abortion policy, but it’s what I expect following a Democrat.            



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Heather Roy

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I definately think he would be a good president. I don't really understand how race has anything to do with it. If he has good ideas why shouldn't he be respected and be given the right to become a president? I thought it was so sad when I found out Deval Patrick is only the 2nd black governor in the United States. People need to stop being so narrow-minded and realize finding our next president isn't about what background he has or what race he is, but by what his intentions and ideas are. I think it's time for a change.




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Kate Snell!

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I think having a black president would definitely change the country's views for the better.  Barak Obama would make an excellent president.  His ideas on having a more honest government would probably make the country feel safer.  Right now, we have no idea what is going on with Bush.  He makes decisions out of no where and it is very irritating.
I will be voting for Barak Obama this election year. I hope America is ready.
What i dont understand, however, is why it really matters if he is black or not.  When i vote for Obama, i won't be voting for a black president. I will be voting for a strong man with a great view on how he can change America for the better. 
I'm not sure if he will win or not because of the older American people.  They are too old fashioned and not really used to the fact of minorities being in charge.  It's all based on stereotypes.  I really do want him to win though. 



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Kate Snell!

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Heather Roy wrote:

I definately think he would be a good president. I don't really understand how race has anything to do with it. If he has good ideas why shouldn't he be respected and be given the right to become a president? I thought it was so sad when I found out Deval Patrick is only the 2nd black governor in the United States. People need to stop being so narrow-minded and realize finding our next president isn't about what background he has or what race he is, but by what his intentions and ideas are. I think it's time for a change.



   it's the older generations. they want to just 'stick to the old way'. it's too old fashioned.  we do need change. America is changing. People are slowly starting to open there eyes more and more.

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Kate Snell!

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donald wrote:

does this class think were ready for a black president and if he gets elected do you think the white people will riot.

ya know... i dont think there would be a riot over a black president.  I think that the people who didnt vote for Obama (if he wins) would be upset. BUT that would happen even if he wasnt black.  Think about when Bush won the election (both times) the people who didnt vote for him were upset.. and if there was any time for a riot, i would say after he was re-elected. 
It's definitely time for a change.



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Jamie DIas

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Yes i do think he can win even though we've never had a black president the world is different now and its changed in many ways and i think he has a chance of winning.If he wins i think he;'d do a good job and it would change what the colored people think about the white people.also if we had a women as president it would change alot also.

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Jamie Dias

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if  we had a black president elected do you think the way things are done now would change alot?

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miek jones

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its about time a black person runs for presidency. He has a ligitamate shot at gettin the job as president. He will have my vote. He is runing against Hillary clinton whom has a shot at winning also because she will have bill clinton helping her out.

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Heather Roy

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Catherine wrote:

I think that it is about time that a black person wins or even a women they are as smart as a white man can be so i dont know why they wont give another race or gender a try its about time for a new change in the world and i think that another person that is not a white male can bring it to the country. If they have the right to run then i think they have the right to win and if they have to brake a few rules for them to be able to win then so be it. But I do hope at least one of them will win the election! 


I def. agree, it's about time for a woman or black president
I agree w/ you totally.



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Ashley Rego

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vanessa writes:


this presidential election is a tough one. we have a woman running and a black man running.  i think it's about time we have both a woman president and it's about time we have a black president.  i also think that if the the man running wins it would be a stab to woman and if the woman wins it would be a stab to the black community.  i don't know which i would prefer.  but when either of them win, it will open new doors to people and show that america isn't as close minded as we were in history.  there are no laws that say a woman or a black person can't run for presidency and i dont understand why it hasn't happened yet.  it's 2007


I agree what you have to say. You made an intresting point. I think we should have a women president runnin and a black president running too. Instead of the society judging they should get to it because theirs no laws that says woman can't run for president.


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A days

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News #4: A Black President?

Who is Barak Obama?  He is currently the only African American serving in the US Senate and only one of five in the history of the country.  He is one of the first African Americans to make a run for the Democratic candidacy for President of the United States since Jesse Jackson in 1984 and Shirley Chisholm in 1972.  What do you think of his stands on the issues?  Are there any issues you support or oppose?  Do you think he can win?  Consider his background, experience, the American voters, the issues, the question of race and his opponents in your answer [80 points].  Also, ask a question or respond with a comment to another student's post [20 points].  Thanks.


i think that Marak Obama could possibly win... i dont think that it would be becauseof his race... or anything. i think it would be because he has good pionts and deals with important issues.  if he didnt deal with the issues.. he obv. would be elected.

i agree with most of his issues... i hope he ends the war in irag.and he also wants to improve the schools.  reading about the issues makes me think that he could be a good president for this century.

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a days

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JAIMIE wrote:

I FEEL AS THOUGH HE WILL DO WELL AND I THINK HE HAS GOOD ISSUES HE WOULD LIKE TO RESOLVE LIKE ENDING THE WAR IN IRAQ  AND MORE SECURITY SO TERRORISTS CANT GET WEAPONS IN THERE HANDS AND ALSO BECAUS EI COME FROM A DEMOCRATOC STATE AND HE TOO IS A DEMOCRAT AND HE CARES ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND THE POOR!


jaime.. would u just pick him because he is a democratoc.. what if other people had better idea's? do u think he will be pick just because  people dont wanna be seen as racist?



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Amanda

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What do you think of his stands on the issues? Are there any issues you support or oppose? Do you think he can win?

I think that Barack Obama’s stand on the issues that are affecting our country could in turn really help the country improve within the country and with the rest of the world. I support his stand on education, I think it could really help the country. I also think his stand on strengthening America’s involvement overseas and improving our healthcare system for citizens who can not afford it, would be helpful to America as well. Yes I think he has a fairly good chance. It seems that he really has the support of the Democratic party with the amount of attention he receives in the media. When it comes to news on the presidential campaign a lot of the focus has been on him and I think that will help him when the election comes.

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Amanda

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Leslie wrote:

Concerning the issue of the presidential election, it’s really hard to decide which of them to pick. I honestly think that it doesn’t matter who wins as long as it’s a change to the usual people who always win. If a black man wins the election, I think that it will be a good way of opening new doors and changing people’s minds on how they think. But then if a woman wins, then women will be looked at in a different way. So it really doesn’t matter who wins because both will be a good way of the world changing their views on almost everything. But it is definitely going to be very hard for people to get out of their usual way of voting to vote for either a woman or a black man. I also think that it’s going to be harder for people to vote for something different but I know that it would be something that would be beneficial for our country. With either a black person or a woman becoming person, I think that all the issues that are not yet dealt with would be given much more attention to. It would definitely be something that would help us out a lot more as a country and maybe even help us gain more respect from other countries.



 


Leslie, I agree with you that having either a black man or a woman as president would really help change some things in this country. I also agree that important issues that aren't always addressed would probably be given more attention.

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mre

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Grades updated - March 9th

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Jenna

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I think that Mr. Obama will be the next president. I feel strongly on that because he's issues that he presents, I think he will stand by he's word and make a difference. I think America is ready for a black president.

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Jenna

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donald wrote:

does this class think were ready for a black president and if he gets elected do you think the white people will riot.
We don't necessary need a black president but just someone better than Bush...but I'm not gonna lie it would be nice to final see a black president. And as far as riots breaking out if Obama does win, I doubt if any do, I could see if it was back in like the 1970s when race was a bigger issue but I think we've come to far to go back to that.


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Tiffany

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does this class think were ready for a black president and if he gets elected do you think the white people will riot.


       I don `t nessacary think that we need a black president. i Think it might make a difference because we have never had a black president before maybe he has new things to offer to america. That possably a white president might not see that a black president might see. I think that one of the biggest reason also because the african american wont feel as the president is only makin descions for the whites and forgetting the black. Possably with a black president there could be changes that there could ahve been porblems that are not gettin resolved. Other wize black or white president I don `t think it matter as long as they are trying to make america for the better.

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lexie wetzel

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Barak Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. In 2004, he became the third African
American since Reconstruction to be elected to the U.S. Senate. He is one of the first African
Americans to make a run for the Democratic candidacy for President of the United States since
Jesse Jackson in 1984 and Shirley Chisholm in 1972. His stands of the issues are he wishes to strengthen America overseas. He plans on ending the war
in Iraq, cleaning up Washington's culture of Corruption, meeting America's energy needs, honoring
our veterans, improving our schools, creating a healthcare system that works, protecting our
homeland, Strengthening Families and Communities, Protecting the Right to Vote, and Reconciling
Faith and Politics. The support all of Baraka Obama’s issues I believe that even though he is a Democrat, he reaches
out to Republicans to find areas of common ground. This shows his approach to solving situations is
an excellent one. I do believe that Barak Obama will do well with his campaign for Presidency because of his
concentration on issues around the world such as the war in Iraq and his view on America.

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Mike Jones

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donald wrote:

does this class think were ready for a black president and if he gets elected do you think the white people will riot.

 i really believe the country is ready for a black president. I have no doubt in my mind that a lot of white supremesists will not be too happy about it. I think the president have protection liek teh Pope when he travels.



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Ashley Rego

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Barak Obama is an African American US Senate. Born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. He is one of the first African Americans to lead the Democratic candidacy as President in the United States . I think his stands on the issues are remarkable.  I think he can strengthen America overseas and help Americans education, and the whole society. I think he could help the healthcare system for people who are struggling to afford it. His speeches are realistic, and i think he has great potential. He gets peoples attention from the media, and listeners who agree. He has a good chance seeing that he has support from the Democractic Party, and being well-known. I do believe that Barak Obama will do well with his campaign for Presidency because of he also focuses well on what's going on in the world right now with Iraq, and gives his opinions on America.

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mre

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Grades updated - March 26th

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Sabrina

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I believe Mr. Obama has an extremely good chance of becoming the President.  There are really knkow issues I know of now that I would oppose.  Me personally, am ready to see a black president in office.  I think it will finally show the long way America has come from the days of slavery.  I think it is also time for change, Obama will make a good contribution to America by becoming our President.  I think if all black people and all other minorities who want to see a change vote he will win.  He is more than qualified for the position and portrays everything a President should .  I think our nation should give him a chance.

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Sabrina

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I agree with Jaimie, I also come from the same democratic state as well as a black democratic family and also think it is time to end the war in Iraq and try and stop weapons getting into the hands of the terrorists. Good Job!!!!

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KEVIN

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I dont really know if america is ready forthis i mean part of me wants it because its history before my eyes and proves than black are equal to anyone out there and will be great for everybody of all races. but part of me thinks if he is president there will be a lot of people underminning his acomplishments or views because they will put as thought o he just won because he is black or he wants to pass this bill because of black people so i dont know if could be tollerant enough to accept him.

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KEVIN

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Jenna wrote:

I think that Mr. Obama will be the next president. I feel strongly on that because he's issues that he presents, I think he will stand by he's word and make a difference. I think America is ready for a black president.
KEVIN:you also have to think about the after affects and the reactions of the masses




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Valdir

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Sabrina wrote:

I believe Mr. Obama has an extremely good chance of becoming the President.  There are really knkow issues I know of now that I would oppose.  Me personally, am ready to see a black president in office.  I think it will finally show the long way America has come from the days of slavery.  I think it is also time for change, Obama will make a good contribution to America by becoming our President.  I think if all black people and all other minorities who want to see a change vote he will win.  He is more than qualified for the position and portrays everything a President should .  I think our nation should give him a chance.
How exactly would Obama "make a good contribution to America by becoming our president"?



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Winnie Z.

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I think that on most of his views on certain issues like the one about healthcare, honoring our veterans, and strengthening America overseas, I agree with. Those are some of the major issues today that I support his opinion on. Considering that his views on the issues are mostly positive, I think he will have a pretty big chance of winning. It will be a momentous day in history when we finally have our very first black president. ^.^ That also applies to having the very first female president as well. I personally don't have much of a lean towards either one since it would be great no matter which one won I suppose since either one would be the very first black/female president.

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Winnie Z.

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Tiffany wrote:


does this class think were ready for a black president and if he gets elected do you think the white people will riot.


I don `t nessacary think that we need a black president. i Think it might make a difference because we have never had a black president before maybe he has new things to offer to america. That possably a white president might not see that a black president might see. I think that one of the biggest reason also because the african american wont feel as the president is only makin descions for the whites and forgetting the black. Possably with a black president there could be changes that there could ahve been porblems that are not gettin resolved. Other wize black or white president I don `t think it matter as long as they are trying to make america for the better.



 I agree with Tiffany here in that different perspectives often leads to different decisions based on that person's point of view. And I'm with you 100% in that it doesn't matter if the president is black or white and that it should only matter in what they do to make America better. Good job Tiffany. ^.^



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mre

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Grades updated 4/1/07

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