Chances are, you’ve heard chatter on CNN or MSNBC about the “Bradley Effect”. Named for Tom Bradley, a candidate in the 1982 California Gubernatorial Race, it refers to instances when a number of Whites who claim to have voted for a Black candidate were lying, which skews the predictions of the outcome. In simplest terms, say you have 100 voters at a particular polling place. In exit polls (when someone asks you who you voted for after it is said and done), 80 people claim to have voted for Candidate A. The other 20 voted for Candidate B. But when the votes are counted, Candidate B receives 49 votes. Basically, folks lied.
Tom Bradley and the people who treated him
Tom Bradley was predicted to win via exit poll data, but in fact lost. The same suspicious phenomenon has occurred in a number of other races: Jesse Jackson for President, Harold Washington for Mayor of Chicago, Douglass Wilder for Governor of Virginia, David Dinkins for Mayor of New York City, etc. While some of these races were still won by the Black candidate, the margin of victory was not consistent with the number of people who had claimed to have voted for them.
With McCain/Palin rallies starting to resemble lynching parties, one can’t help but to wonder how ready this county is for a Black president. But while we know where the loud and proud McCain supporters stand…what about the other White (or Asian or Latino folks)? Those who travel in circles where Obama is the candidate of choice, but who may quietly feel otherwise? Who are publicly supporting the Blue ticket because they are afraid of being called a racist if they claim otherwise…and are actually unable/unwilling/unsure about voting a Black man for President?
If this race has taught me anything, it has affirmed my long held belief that there is a large portion of the White American population that does not view African-Americans as Americans. I personally view myself as American-by-default, and whilst I may never be loud and proud, I will be damned if some fascist tells me that this country is not as much mine as it is his. Americans of all creeds and colors have a history of voting against their interests in order to support their party, race, gender or religious beliefs. Perhaps some of Barack’s audaciously hopefulness has rubbed off on me, but I really feel that folks are going to make the right choice this time around. How is everyone else feeling these days?
BTW- I realize that the tone of this article presupposes that all of you are Barack supporters. We here at Blind-I believe that to be true. However, if you are backing McCain…please go back to Vibe.com, mmmkay?
DROPPED BY SISTER TOLDJA
Tags: election 08, mcain, OBAMA, politics
October 16th, 2008 at 7:26 am
I was JUUUSSST talking about the Tom Bradley incident yesterday. Sad but true! Aside from the people that flat out lie in the polls because they want to appear open-minded, there are those that are actually straddling the fence on Obama. On one end they want change and feel good vibrations from Barack, but they are still uneasy about having a black man in control. So when it is time to fill out the ballot, all the intricacies of their campaigns get muddled and it dwindles down to a simple decision like the the Kenneth and Mamie Clark studies in the 40s. Black doll or white doll? I hope that people set prejudices aside next month, but only time will tell…
October 21st, 2008 at 11:19 am
Is it possible, that Obama’s lead could evaporate on election day because of Bradley-Wilder effect? Or nowadays Americans are significantly less reluctant to vote for an African-American? Vote here - http://www.votetheday.com/america/secret-racism-will-subvert-obamas-advantage-333