Confessions of a Black Hillary Supporter

During the democratic primaries, I heard a number of Black Obama supporters ask 'why in the world would a Black person choose to support Hillary over Obama?' There had been a profuse number of considerations concerning a possible deficit of racial self-regard. Calls of selling out, names like Uncle Tom, traitor and the like were thrown around recurrently on such people as Maya Angelou, Magic Johnson, John Lewis , Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Sheila Jackson-Lee. Civil rights activist like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Tavis Smiley were jumped on before they even stated who they supported. Smiley spoke of death threats for the crime of taking issue with Barack's position on particular issues. For the record, he has never endorsed Clinton. I listened as a local radio personality who shared a school of thought that he regularly stated insisting that Black Hillary backers did not believe in the ideal that a Black man was capable of leading the country, as if there could not be any other reason to feel another candidate wasn't better suited to win the election.

As a Obama supporter that first was a Clinton supporter, I can only speak on my own reason for choosing the put my money on Hillary before Barrack. I will start by dispelling the above listed beliefs. I have an immense amount of racial dignity. I’m not at all a sell out, Uncle Tom, or race traitor. I think a Black man is very capable of leading the nation, my feelings on race had nothing to do with the position. If anything, the biggest reason why I went to the Clinton side was the opposite of that school of thought. I, without prevarication, did not think that enough of white (yellow, brown, and other) America was capable of pulling the lever for a Black man such as Obama. I believed in Obama, I just didn't believe in the voters. I’m still not unconditionally convinced and won’t be until the results are in come election night.

A significant portion of my Clinton support came from the fact that I, like many, chose to go for what I thought was the surest turnpike to keeping another right winged sectarian out of the white house, which I thought was more important that casting a vote for someone who I thought would lose in spite of my racial pride. Before Obama's big win in Iowa, most Black's supported Clinton. In October of 2007, CNN reported that Clinton held an overwhelming edge over Obama of 57 percent to 33 percent. Even after the first caucus win it was not enough for us to get on the bus.

The current polls give me justification to continue to endure my once relatively fledgling trepidation. McCain is running a most loathsome crusade of a negative campaign. Bush and the Iraqi leaders are all of a sudden proving Obama’s 16-moth withdrawal plan to be a welcomed idea. Obama’s once spurned view on diplomacy with rogue nations like North Korea, Iran and Syria has become co-opted by the current administration. Barack is shining on so many levels but the race is virtually neck and neck. Am I saying that it is all racial? No. I would be unthinking to not discern that his ethnicity is a substantial component, the proverbial Black donkey in the room.

There were other reason as well, all being strictly platform related. A major illustration would be my inclination toward Hillary’s healthcare plan. I had no issue with the mandate; in fact I preferred the mandate. I think enough people will opt out of a voluntary plan (the young and the less responsible who know they can get treatment at an emergency room) and in turn cost will be higher for the rest. There is a reason why personal contributions to programs like unemployment insurance are compulsory.

I equally disagree with Obama’s support of faith-based initiatives, No Child Left Behind, and have concerns with how others will view his experience. And of course, a part of me had hopes that the Clintons returning to office would bring back some of the prosperity that we had in the 90s. I say some because I know that much of it was due to the internet boom that is a long way from coming back.

Eventually Barack’s well run campaign, his positions on Iraq and Afghanistan, combined with his poise, self assurance and general aplomb was a stark contrast to Bill and Hillary’s implosion and forlorn negative attacks. As much as Obama pulled me to his side, Bill and Hillary pushed me away. I’d be negligent if I didn’t give acknowledgment to the apparently open-minded millions of white, Asian, Latino and other non-Black primary voters that helped alleviate my fears somewhat. It made me have complete understanding of Michelle Obama's remarks in reference to a diferent kind of pride in her country.

Still there is a long way until election night.