I have noted for the past few months the way Nigerians are madly (blindly) supporting Barrack Obama. Not that I have anything against the man, but it is so funny how we can support him simply because of his colour or because he has an African father. To me, this is racism because most of the people supporting the guy dnt even know a single thing about what he plans to do.
I like his personality but wont mind the best man for the job to win. Bill Clintn is white, yet he did a lot for blacks such that some dubbed him the first black president in white skin.

People, am i making sense?

@poster
It's not just a Naija thing!
It's a world thing! Did you notice the impact he had on the Germans yesterday?
No one else has been able to pull such a crowd except the Pope.
The Guy is simply a phenomenon to the chagrin of the Republicans and skeptics!

olukunle:

I have noted for the past few months the way Nigerians are madly (blindly) supporting Barrack Obama. Not that I have anything against the man, but it is so funny how we can support him simply because of his colour or because he has an African father. To me, this is racism because most of the people supporting the guy dnt even know a single thing about what he plans to do.
I like his personality but wont mind the best man for the job to win. Bill Clintn is white, yet he did a lot for blacks such that some dubbed him the first black president in white skin.

People, am i making sense?

I was wodering so too because i have never heard of Nigerians supporting any country's presidential candidate before. May be there is something special about him sha not neccessarily the colour, but it beats me why the noise gets to a stage where we now even have his supporters like an organisation in Nigeria. Hmmmmmmm

may be those who are political gurus will enlighten us a bit sha

I will just like to say that the Nigerians in America who are eligible to vote (99.9% of them) are in support of Obama. Those who are not eligible to vote are also in support of Obama.

If Obama wins I will be happy, if McCain wins I might be rich.

@opokonwa,

Did you notice the impact he had on the Germans yesterday?

Are you aware that he took the stage prior to a concert?

I was wodering so too because i have never heard of Nigerians supporting any country's presidential candidate before. May be there is something special about him sha not neccessarily the colour, but it beats me why the
noise gets to a stage where we now even have his supporters like an organisation in Nigeria. Hmmmmmmm

may be those who are political gurus will enlighten us a bit sha

I am not a political guru, but here is my take. Obama is a politician's politician. He has the look, the smile,
the high intelligence, and a compelling biography. He is an inspirational orator of the first order, and above
all, a great community organizer. Not only is he making history because of his race, but he has managed to
do so while re-writing the play book of American politics. Simply put, he has the midas touch in politics and
his fund raising ability is the envy of any American politician.

As per the enthusiasm shown by people outside of America (Nigeria including), its a reflection of whats
happening inside America and I suppose everyone else wants to get a preview of the new face of America
or at least help in their small ways to make it happen. Lastly, don't forget that there are Nigerian American
currently in Nigeria who are committed to supporting and voting for Obama whether they are in the US or not.

Personally, I was not sold on the Obama phenomenon until early this year and that was because like most
people I thought he didn't stand a chance in hell of becoming the nominee,I mean, how do you beat Hillary Clinton?. I finally tuned in around January and soon realized that he deserves all the ravings. For the first
time in my life, I started donating to a political campaign because I wanted a really smart man as president
and also because of the signficance of what he represents for black people all around the world. If the son
of a Kenyan immigrant can become the leader of the most powerful country on earth, there can be no more excuses for any black child who may be questioning their abilities. Moreover, that should extinguish the fire
of those racists who consider anything black as inferior, its just simply too powerful a picture to project.

Hope that helps,

Im not so down with him , but I wish him the very best

Obama deserves an Oscar. I dont think denzel can act this good.

@poster

Can someone enlighten me on what Clinton actually did for black people
besides the odd appearance on Oprah

@Iyke-D,

He is an inspirational orator of the first order, and above all, a great community organizer.

Can you kindly tell us what a Community Organizer is and/or does? How does this qualify one to be President?

Can you kindly tell us what a Community Organizer is and/or does? How does this qualify one to be President?

Here we go again, A degree from Columbia and Harvard? President of Harvard Law Review? State Senator?
US Senate? Community Organizer? University of Chicago Constitutional Law Professor? Author? Is that enough for you yet or if not please list the Qualification for President.

Imagine a Harvard law school graduate going into impoverished communities to work with people who have
been laid off from factories to reclaim their neighborhoods, registering people to vote, etc. You know, he
could have done what maybe 99% of Harvard law graduates do, go for that that 6 figure salary. You can
read some more here if you are genuinely interested in knowing what community organizing is:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070416/moberg


Someone says he needs an Oscar, sad to hear coming from our people but does anyone in their right might think you can be a serious contender for the US Presidency based on acting alone, most especially a black contender?
Granted, every politician does some acting because they are trying to convince everyone to vote for them, but the bottom line is that Obama is much more than that, he has the sheer brilliance to go with it. I will rather vote for an excellent actor with a Harvard law degree than one who graduated at the lowest bottom of his class.

@Iyke-D,

You still never told us what it entails to be a Community Organizer. You seem not to know the meaning of what you consider a great plus to Obama. Sounds like one more of those high fallutin languages that means nothing.

Author?

Author of what? His autobiography. Do you know of any academic work he published? What has he added to the world's knowledge through his papers?

University of Chicago Constitutional Law Professor?

Obama a Professor? Who sold you that lie? It appears you missed out on one more of his titles - messiah!

Iyke-D:

Moreover, that should extinguish the fire
of those racists who consider anything black as inferior, its just simply too powerful a picture to project.

Hope that helps,

From my experience and that of many of the Nigerians I have met, and know here, I percieve that mentality exists more within the black community than it does elsewhere. I sense many more people in the black community go around wearing that badge on their sleeves.

@Tayo

You still never told us what it entails to be a Community Organizer. You seem not to know the meaning of what you consider a
great plus to Obama. Sounds like one more of those high fallutin languages that means nothing.

I stated in my few words what it meant to be a community organizer but apparently that wasn't enough for you. I also went
as far as posting an external link, but obviously that's not enough. Not sure if there is anything else to say here.

You are right, I have been sold a a bunch of lies, you are the wise and smart one. I can livee with that. By the way, since my
answers where not adequate, you did not even bother to list the "Qualifications for President" that you seem to be insinuating
that he lacks on his account of being a community organizer.

Pray help me, what do you call someone who "writes" a book, not an author? I didn't know the book has to be on medicine or
engineering before the writers can technically be considered as authors, my bad. <snark>.

On being a University Professor, you are right, but he did in fact teach constitutional law at University of Chicago, so I suppose
that makes him a lecturer, teacher, tutor, etc.? Please fill in the black. May be this link too can help if you care to look.
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2008/03/obama_not_law_professor_just_taught_at_law_school/

In the final analysis, there are only two choices this November. One is an old patriot that is being in government for decades and
is just beginning to learn how to use a computer. He is a good man but he seem to think that war is the answer to just about
conflict. The other one is a young patriot that represents the face of America's future. He has spent far less time in government
(a plus for me ), but does have an intelligence that even his detractors can not take away from him. He his very inspiring, writes
his own speeches, a class act all through, and one that also happens to look like me. Its no brainer to me that I am for Obama.

There are more than two choices this november. Last I checked, there were four names on the list for November.

For our American based guys, am not disputing the fact that Obama is good or that he is not well qualified for the post. My line of argument is that most of the people supporting him here in Nigeria where I live are just supporting him blindly simplybecause he is an African American, rather than the fact that they know what he can do or not. Nowadays, you see Obama 2008 stickers on cars in Lagos,it has now become a sort of status symbol. Yet, some of these same people dnt even know who the deputy governor of Lagos is, neither do the y know the name of the president of Benin republic just beside us here.

as much as i know, it is not only nigeria that is crazy sbout obama, but every other country except america is actually enthusiastic about obama

I do support Obama's course, I have read a lot on the guy and followed his campaign all the way from the cnn-youtube debate last year (i think it was in august). I most admit, my curiousity about Obama started because the guy is black, but as time's gone by I have continued to read more and more about the guys policies on Iraq, Afghanistan and Healthcare so I know what he's about.
A lot of people also think the guy is some kind of angel but from what I read in the recent New Yorker article (you know, the one with the fist bump) I came to see that the guy is just a smart, very calculating kind of guy. That said I still hope he wins the election as does almost every other person in the world.

There are more than two choices this november. Last I checked, there were four names on the list for November.

You can sit there and nitpick my comment all you want, what is certain is that America's next president is coming
from either the democratic party or the republican party, but I am sure you have something else to add to that,

There are different reasons why people support Obama

Some of us are craving for a Nigerian Obama
That transcends tribe, religion, age and accident of birth

In addition, an Obama gives me this " feel good" sentiment, because he is black!
And I do not owe any apology for that
Would you have preferred me hooting for a Mcaine?

@oldie,

And I do not owe any apology for that
Would you have preferred me hooting for a Mcaine?

I would prefer you hoot for someone based on ideology and not his race. Supporting Obama based on his race is equivalent to not supporting McCain based on his race. Isn't that a clear manifestation of racism?

While I have my reservations about McCain, I am not under any illusion that Obama is diametrically opposed to my Conservative leanings. I cannot in good conscience vote for Obama. Voting that way will confuse my conscience and will probably hunt me for the rest of my life.

Tayo-D:

@oldie,
I would prefer you hoot for someone based on ideology and not his race. Supporting Obama based on his race is equivalent to not supporting McCain based on his race. Isn't that a clear manifestation of racism?

While I have my reservations about McCain, I am not under any illusion that Obama is iametrically opposed to my Conservative leanings. I cannot in good conscience vote for Obama. Voting that way will confuse my conscience and will probably hunt me for the rest of my life.

Hey, you have your right to vote for who ever
Sometimes, some of us vote for reasons that are not rational and cannot be explained
Like I wrote, Obama gives me "this feel good" feeling
I think that should be enough reason for hooting for Obama

I do not want to be academic about this!

It's okay Oldie. You are entitled to your preference. Bad as it may seem.

@oldie,

No doubt you have the right to vote for him based on any flimsy reason you or anyone can conjure. At least I am glad you are honest enough to speak the truth that your decision is based on feelings and not based on Obama's proven abilities. This is the self-delusion I have seen in most of his followers.

Tayo-D:

@oldie,
I would prefer you hoot for someone based on ideology and not his race. Supporting Obama based on his race is equivalent to not supporting McCain based on his race. Isn't that a clear manifestation of racism?

While I have my reservations about McCain, I am not under any illusion that Obama is diametrically opposed to my Conservative leanings. I cannot in good conscience vote for Obama. Voting that way will confuse my conscience and will probably hunt me for the rest of my life.

slowpoke. (Talk about conscience}.

People, am i making sense?

You are making sense my brother. I think it's inferiority complex. Blacks, especially blind Nigerians never knew they could attain such political level in the US.

@ Tayo-D
Problem about ideology and rationalisation is that there are no "in-betweens"
Majority of voters vote on sentiments, however stupid and in-explainable
But I have a problem with you ratioanlising my reasons for voting for whoever
And thats one of the problems with ideologists - no halfway measures!
You are either with me or you are against me.

No doubt you have the right to vote for him based on any flimsy reason you or anyone can conjure. At least I am glad you are honest enough to speak the truth that your decision is based on feelings and not based on Obama's proven abilities. This is the self-delusion I have seen in most of his followers.

Proven Abilities?
Obama is running probably the best campaign ever in the history of American politics and someone is talking about his proven abilities?
He taught constitutional law in one of the nation's top schools and someone is still talking about proven abilities. I am yet to get your
list of qualifications for president, still waiting,


Followers?
Isn't that insulting? I think the more appropriate term should be supporters or voters. For decades the majority of white Americans have
voted in presidents and other public servants simply because "they" were one of them, regardless of whatever misgivings they may have
had. I am sure there are tons of people who will vote for Obama because his black, but I can guarantee you that the vast majority will
vote for him because of what he has done, and the vision he represents. Do you think Obama is where he is today because of the support
of blacks alone? Do you think the hundreds of millions of dollars he has raised within the past 18 months came from black people?

For those paying attention, isn't it amazing that foreign policy positions that Obama have been articulating for the past 18months are what
exactly the Bush administration is now warming up to after almost 8 years of groping in the dark? Do you think distinguished US senators
like John Kerry, Richard Luger, Hagel, Tom Daschle, Chris Dodd, the Kennedy family, etc. are all blind? Wow, if Obama can truly fool all those
people then I am more right in supporting him because I respect the level of high intelligence that it takes to pull that off. That is who I want
as president not someone. In my book, the most successful leaders are those who can inspire.

Iyke-D:

Proven Abilities?
In my book, the most successful leaders are those who can inspire.

Exactly, thats what I was trying to explain
And he happens to be black!

@sleek_p,

slowpoke. (Talk about conscience}.

I will appreciate if you take back that insuilt. While I am for peaceful discussions and exchange of ideas, I do not shy away from roforofo fight when called upon. Until now, no one has abused those they disagree with before this insult from you. Toe the line of honor now for the sake of civility.

LOL 


To hell with civility roforofo rederede jati jati is the newest trend .

While I have my reservations about McCain, I am not under any illusion that Obama is diametrically opposed to my Conservative leanings.
I cannot in good conscience vote for Obama. Voting that way will confuse my conscience and will probably hunt me for the rest of my life.

Ha, I didn't want to make any assumptions about you until I saw the above and now I see where you are coming from all along.

We all can support or vote for whoever we want to vote for, but I can not in good conscience vote for a war monger and someone
who believes war is the answer to everything? The best thing McCain has going for him was his military service, never mind that he
got preferential treatment on account of his father and grand father who were navy people. That aside, McCain is old, out of touch,
and not very bright, I mean he graduated at the very bottom of his class. Given what Conservatives have wrought, on this country
the last 8 years, the last thing we need is another old and out of touch republican.

Conservative Leaning?
McCain is conservative? That is news to me. Where did the Maverick title came from if he was conservative? What the hell is a
conservative nowadays? Please don't make us laugh!