“It’s cool, we get it,you’re not racist; just the people who put you in office are.”

“You’ve got conservative whites here … who are not ready to vote for an African American candidate. I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann been the identical candidate that he was — well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking but white instead of black — that instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so. I think there was that factor there. And that exists, but on the other hand, that’s counterbalanced by Obama’s ability to bring new voters into the electoral pool.”

- Gov. Ed Rendell on the majority of Pennsylvania constituents

My response posted to the article when it ran in the L.A. Times:
“No matter how true or untrue the governor’s assessment of his state were, it is that exact racism and flawed political mentality that we are rallying to change. He is practically condoning it by suggesting that his decision to endorse Clinton was influenced by this ‘reality’.
I don’t know about the Governor but when I vote on April 22nd I’m going to pick the candidate that is a catalyst for change, not one that simply reinforces where America stands. If I were Hillary, I would be offended to take votes simply because I am white.
Obama does not just bring ‘black voters’; he brings Independents (I just transfered to Dem for the PA primary), new voters, Republicans (RepublicansforObama.org), and those who have been politically apathetic for the past 8 years…” There was a closing, but that sums it up.

 

Governor Rendell offered a semi-rebuttal in the Post Gazette today, which was also disappointing…

In any case, Governor Rendell at this point is essentially whining and still defending his comments as ‘honest’. Pollsters can say that there has been racial affect, although to what degree is unknown. As a Governor, to simply say that your constituents tend to reject the Black candidate is virtually condoning it. If he meant to lament the fact, as a public figure he should have finished the thought “That is an unacceptable mentality that continues to hinder the government process.’ Perhaps he does not agree with the latter part of that statement, but again, that is in line with defending this entire viewpoint. He should have either been more tactful in his statements, or at least clearer; I can’t possibly imagine how he thought Pittsburghers would just let that go.
Governor Rendell’s entire defense and mentality is just another reason I am voting for Barack Obama; the last thing anyone needs is politics as usual… my next political rant will be about how the superdelegate situation is equally as frustrating.

 

Cheers & Happy St. Valentine’s Day