In interviews here in the Deep South and in Virginia, white voters made it clear that they remain deeply uneasy with Mr. Obama -- with his politics, his personality and his biracial background. Being the son of a white mother and a black father has come to symbolize Mr. Obama's larger mysteries for many voters. When asked about his background, a substantial number of people interviewed said they believed his racial heritage was unclear, giving them another reason to vote against him.
How scary is this? Here we are, in the 21st century, and this country still harbors those who are convinced that the color of one's skin is a matter of supreme significance- so much so that many of these maroons won't vote for Barack Obama. Yes, that's right; our economy is circling the drain, we're still embroiled in a pointless, endless war in Iraq, and yet many will not make a Presidential choice based on qualifications. They'll do it based on skin color...which really leads me to wonder- do these idjits even deserve to be allowed the privilege of voting?
No, I'm not advocating that people be denied their right to vote, but does their right to be openly and aggressively ignorant have to be front and center? If you're making decisions in a voting booth based on the skin color of a candidate, haven't you really forfeited your right to fully participate in representative democracy? Should we not be able to expect that voters exercise at least a bare minimum of rational thought?
People like this are why I fear for the future of this country. When this sort of rampant, aggressive ignorance can tilt the balance of power and determine the direction in which this country heads, how can any rational person feel good about what the future holds?
