Probably a statement of fact.

However, is that what a governor of a state should be saying? Perhaps if he is looking to eliminate that sort of bias. I don't really know what to think on this one, but I am sure this message was not pre-approved by the HRC campaign.

It will be interesting to see how the PA electorate would react to such a statement. I know that a statement like this said in my homestate would cause revulsion and a public rebuke at the polls.

Of course, I live in liberal (and proud of it) Minnesota.

I lived in PA and Rendell is most certainly right. They say it is Philadelphia in the East, Pittsburgh in the West and Alabama in between (or Mississippi- depending on who you ask)... (although hmm- didn't Obama do well in Alabama- I believe the point is that there is a lot of hard core racism there...)

The rural parts of PA are home to some right wing militia groups and Neo-Nazi groups. That having been said- I am not sure Obama was ever courting their vote (or for that matter was Hillary). Basically- Rendell is right but it is certainly off the talking points of the campaign. They really don't want to talk about race again. I think the real problem for Obama in PA is Pittsburgh- white and blue collar workers who are slightly older and very much in the Clinton camp. If I were doing the talking points for Hillary I would stress the working class population that plays to her strength instead of race as Obama's weakness.

I don't think Obama or Clinton wins in the "racist/bigot" demographic. That is a solid Republican constituency.

Rendell just further assured that the competition will be over before it comes to PA. HRC is toast.

And we're back to the Clinton campaign playing their race cards.

Why am I not surprised?

Anyone notice how Camp Clinton is way more interested in promoting race and gender issues?

HRC has campaign shirts about being the first woman president. Apparently, she feels the need to remind folks she is a woman -- rather than just run on her merits and let people figure her gender on their own.

Her operatives continue to publicly raise racial issues. Dirty, ugly politics.

The Obama campaign, on the otherhand, does not focus on race or gender.

Sometimes the facts aren't politically correct.

Rendell is right. And it's not just PA that we will see this phenomenon.

Kind of cuts into their argument that they can unite the party.

Rendell does this. Clinton comes out with the proud blacks remarks after losing in Maine, LA, Washington. Im sure closet Billary hacks will still give them the benefit of the racist's doubt when it comes to all this crap.
Pathetic.

This stuff is great though from another perspective. This crap exposes the closeted white "liberal" racists that surround us.

Appears to me to be an attempt at getting the Obama campaign to take the race bait.

Rereading the comment, I'd guess he was referencing the general election since PA is a swing state, blowing the "dogwhistle" to whites in Virginia, Maryland and other upcoming states, hoping to stem Obama's momentum.

"I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann [2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate] been the identical candidate that he was --well-spoken [note: Mr. Rendell did not call the brother "articulate"], charismatic, good-looking -- but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so."

So, 2.5 out of every 100 Pennsylvanian, according to their governor, would vote against their interests of electing a Republican to avoid voting for a black person.

Downstate Illinois is more racist than middle Pennsylvania. Barack Obama got elected over Alan Keyes (so they cancel out the I'm-afraid-of-blacks vote). You'd think turnout would be down in an uncontested Senate race with people not wanting to vote for a black guy? No, not really.

I demand the Governor and Hillary Clinton go on MSNBC and apologize tonight, and then both be suspended from campaigning. (wink)

"I don't think Obama or Clinton wins in the "racist/bigot" demographic. That is a solid Republican constituency."

Exactly. The racist rednecks in mid PA certainly don't like Hillary and don't like feminists either.

But numerically, they are also outweighted by the two big cities. Which is why Kerry and Gore both won there.

What's Rendell's problem, anyway?
I grew up in Pennsylvania, and I was in college in Philadelphia while he was the mayor there; he seemed like he did a pretty good job, but then after he left, it seems like he lost control of his mouth. He shot Al Gore's legs out from under him in the 2000 recount; now this. And there have been other impolitic things he's blurted out in b etween, though I can't think of any offhand.
I'll be glad when he's out of office and--I hope--out of politics altogether.

I think that this is exactly what Obama means about the past versus the future, hope versus cynicism. Can you picture an Obama supporter telling a newspaper that some people won't vote for a woman?

And besides being outmoded and race-baiting, it's just politically stupid. Was Rendell paying attention at all during the SC campaign?

Haha, no doubt, where is Hillary's self righteous indignation now? I fully expect her to "strongly hint" that he should be stripped of his Icky-delegate status, and maybe even impeached! After all, I'd say this is certainly more offensive than the colloquial "pimping" comment. :P

Yeaahh, somehow I don't think she'll even step up and say she disapproves, just like all of her other surrogates' comments. Hell, with Bob Johnson she actually had the audacity to back him up and say he wasn't talking about what he was clearly talking about.

Shameless.

Maybe we should petition the governor of PA to chastise Rendell for his racist remarks.
Oh wait!...never mind.

I second everything on this blog

1. White conservatives don't vote for women either

2. White conservatives don't vote democratic.

3. White conservatives don't need the Governor saying this as a matter of fact. If he truly believes this than he should speak out against this type of thing. That is what I call LEADERSHIP.

I grew up in central PA and my folks still live there. Rendell is right. My dad, a conservative Republican now strongly supporting Obama, told me this exact thing yesterday--he expected the vast majority of Democrats in his area to vote for Hillary because they are racists who won't vote for an African-American. He was very pessimistic about Obama in PA. I hope he's wrong.

Ed Rendell has just trashed himself and the Clinton campaign. In truth the attitudinal polling I have seen says that American voters have less problem voting for an AA candidate than they do a female candidate. Does Gov. Rendell want to address that issue? This guy is supposed to be a pro, how inept can you get??

According to a columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) made the following argument in a meeting with the paper's editorial board as to why Obama could have some difficulty in his state's April 22 primary:

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate."

---

The Pittsburhg Post-Gazette is rabidly right wing.

A reader points out that Obama himself has made similar remarks about the unacceptability of his race to some voters

It's all in the context. Obama could say the N-word too, but I would strongly advise Rendell to refrain from doing so. Look, when Obama says that some people won't vote for him because of his race but that it's not important to most Americans, he is attempting to diminish race as a political factor. When Rendell says such things, he is trying to make race a political issue. And even if he isn't trying to, that is the consequence--more racial divisiveness in the Democrat party--and that's what gets people so angry when Clinton supporters can't seem to shut up about race.

FRS, I think that is exactly what is the most offensive about his comments.

We all know there are racists out there who will not vote for Obama, and sexists out there who will not vote for Clinton (though, I think the numbers for both are greatly exaggerated, perhaps in part by people who are projecting their own issues). The problem is when elected officials start to in a way sanction that attitude as acceptable or at least tolerable, which is what Rendell appears to be doing.

Even worse, because Rendell has endorsed another candidate, his statement gives the perception that he thinks the racism of others is something that should be factored into "your" vote. "Don't vote for Barack because he isn't going to win because he is black and there are racists out there," which is just a convoluted way of saying "don't vote for Barack because he is black."

There are also some males and females who won't vote for a woman. So do we play to the racists and the sexists or do we offer the best candidates to the American public? I think the answer in 2008 is pretty obvious, but Ed (never opposed the Iraq war) Rendell may think differently.

"It seems I keep defying the notion that America is not ready for me." is the Obama quote.

One of the panelists on *Meet the Press* said something to the effect that people hear different things when race &/or gender are involved. I live in Pennsylvania and believe that there will be Democrats who will have a hard time deciding to show up when the choice is between a woman and a black man. And I *live* in one of the big cities. I would have hoped that Governor Rendell would have learned from the reaction to Bill Clinton's remarks in South Carolina that candor is dangerous in this climate. That saddens me-- So I'd be skeptical about polling data out of PA, since the more politically correct will often not admit to their personal preferences in public. With that said, I'd certainly like to know the entire context in which the Governor was quoted. And how stupid do you think the Clinton campaign is? They just (sort of) stamped out the last fire. What possible advantage would there be to "playing the race card"? It's not going to change the mind of anyone who hadn't made up his/her mind up anyhow. Pennsylvania is not as easy to understand as racist/non-racist, though. Particularly in Western PA, the continual loss of jobs since steel departed has produced many desperate people, some of whom scapegoat to make sense of their situation. What a concept, though--politicians being criticized for telling their concept of the truth. No wonder they don't do it very often.

Quote: "Sometimes the facts aren't politically correct.

Rendell is right. And it's not just PA that we will see this phenomenon."

Yes, and there are really terrorists out to get us. But when the Republicans inflame concern about terrorism right before an election, it's called fear-mongering.

And that's what Rendell is doing here: Trying to scare Dems into thinking there are sufficient voters who would never vote for an African American that Obama could never win, so they better vote for Hillary instead.

Identity politics at its worst -- and brought to you here by the Clinton campaign.

Eric: The addition of the Obama quote takes it completely out of context and gives the appearance that you're offering some sort of cover for Rendell's indefensible commentary.

Just as a clarification, if you read the whole article it seems he is talking about general election prospects, not Dem primary. He is probably right. People have been trying to generalize the success Obama has had with white voters in the Dem primaries and caucuses out to the general election. I just don't think the same math applies.

I am a PA resident - I actually live in Pittsburgh.

The Post-Gazette is actually the much more liberal of the papers here. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is the right wing outlet in the area - it's owned by Richard Scaife Mellon.

Anyhow, I just sent a note to the Governor's office telling him that I wasn't pleased with his comments. I'm a white Democrat and I plan to vote for Obama in the primary. It's fine if he wants to endorse HRC in his capacity as a superdelegate but to imply that I'm not capable of voting the issues really chaps my hide.

Then again, by his logic, he probably believes that I would vote for HRC since she's a white woman and so am I. If she wins the primaries, I will vote for her but as far as the primaries go, I'll vote Obama, thanks very much.

It's one thing to recognize that Obama's race is an obstacle with some voters. It's another thing altogether for Clinton supporters to make part of their case about the fact that Obama's race is an obstacle with some voters.

They are all trying to make "electability" arguments. It is perfectly valid for Obama to say that lots of people won't vote for Clinton because she is a woman. That is true. Also true that she has high negatives, which he points out every time he speaks. If his race or her gender makes one of them less likely to beat McCain, we have a right to take that into account.

As an ex-Pennslyvanian, Mr Rendell reflects the attitudes of the vast majoriety of his constituency, Repub and Dem who live outside the urban centers. They are rabidly 'reverse discrimination' and bitterly resent welfare recipients.

From the article in the Post-Gazette:

Many analysts see Pennsylvania as a promising state for Mrs. Clinton. According to one report, the Obama strategists are among them. Exit polls in previous states suggest that one demographic plus for the New York senator is that Pennsylvania has one of the nation's oldest populations. Older voters have been among Mrs. Clinton's most reliable supporters.

"We're an old state, second oldest in the union, so, advantage Clinton,'' said Mr. Rendell, who has endorsed Mrs. Clinton.

But referring to Mr. Obama's strength among younger voters he added, "We have a lot of college students who can register here -- so advantage Sen. Obama."

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," he said. "I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann [the 2006 GOP gubernatorial candidate] been the identical candidate that he was -- well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking -- but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so.

"And that [attitude] exists. But on the other hand, that is counterbalanced by Obama's ability to bring new voters into the electoral pool."

I'm not seeing this as a racist comment, but a comment on racism. It's still better left unsaid IMHO.

I live in central Pa (hence the screen-name), and my reading is that Rendell is still campaigning for VP. He came out recently with an endorsement of Hillary, which seemed odd. I think they're panicking and trying to set all the fire breaks they can, and a big endorsement in PA (like the one from Glenn in Ohio, FWIW) is the only thing they can think of.

Now, Rendell's comments about racial attitudes here are true, but they certainly aren't unique to Pa. Also, I think this whole thing is so fluid that Obama has some time to let people get to know him here. I'm surrounded by Republicans at work, and at home, but they're not the Sean Hannity types. They're more like a mix of Eisenhower/Dole types, straight out of the 50s. A lot of them are very moderate, and several have told me that they're considering switching parties to vote for Obama because they're so disgusted and embarassed by BushCo.

Yeah, there are the skinheads and neo-nazis up in the hinterlands (where they came after being hounded out of Idaho), but that sort is everywhere.

I actually have more faith in my fellow Pennsylvanians that Rendell does, but again, i think he's just doing what he thinks will help Hillary. He's wrong, but this was just a political move to block Obama and create Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. Dumb. And it won't work.

"I'm not seeing this as a racist comment, but a comment on racism. It's still better left unsaid IMHO."

As governor, rather than just stating facts, it would be nice if he could call the voters to look beyond race and gender and vote for the best candidate.

It's ashame he seems to be pushing a self-fulfilling prophesy, as "factual" as it may be.

It is troubling that sooo many of Clinton surrogates are playing up the race card, rather than deploring it. *They* have made this election all about race and gender, and I find it disgraceful. I once supported the Clintons but have honestly been troubled by this pattern of race-baiting.

My impression of Rendell:

Rendell: [offering Pennsylvania on a silver platter to Barrack Obama]

I agree this won't help Hillary and he shouldn't have said it.

I'm an Obama supporter and delegate living in the Pittsburgh area. Here in Allegheny County, the problem for Obama is not racism. While it does exist the issue for Obama here is age. We have one of the oldest populations in all of the country - and that bodes well for Hillary. While some older folks are pulling for Obama, the large majority of them are for Hillary, but I can say from my experience circulating petitions that the bulk of the other Democrats are pulling for Obama.

This was evident this past Sunday when Hillary easily won a straw poll at the Allegheny County Endorsement meeting, which was decided by Democratic Committee members who are typically over the age of 50 and 60. Despite her success in the poll, Obama supporters here re much more active, visible, and and fired up than anyone supporting Clinton. At the endorsement meeting the Clinton table that was right next to ours was literally trying to poach our petition signers. We had a lot more volunteers and a lot more activity and interest from passer bys who were white, black, young, and old.

As for the racists conservative whites in the Commonwealth - yes, they do exists but these "Neanderthals" as one voter here called them, are the majority of the Republicans in the state who live outside of the major urban areas of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Erie.

The race here, if it happens, will come down to how well Obama does out in the Philadelphia suburbs. Western PA For Obama is ready for a race here and we will be helping out with Eastern Ohio. If it comes down to PA I can assure you support for Obama here is strong and it is going to be a close one!

Poor Rendell. I guess only in America will an Italian consider himself ango/white.

What the Governor actually meant:

Some whites will not vote for a black candidate, so all whites might as well follow the racists' lead, and just vote for the white candidate that I, Ed. Rendell am supporting.

And the Clintons still wonder why they have alienated the African American community!. If they really are that clueless, the are not worthy of anyone's vote.

I know this is sacrilegious but I kinda like that the HRC camp is wiggling race back into the primary season.

It tells me very clearly that this is their best shot at Obama.

I would infer that they have pulled nothing up on Obama at all. In the meantime, we all know what happens when you turn over a Clinton rock -- which no one has done yet on this campaign in a major way.

This means that Obamas arsenal is still quite a bit larger than the Clintons.

The problem I have with these type of statements is they are coming from skilled politicians in the middle of a nomination process.
Surely they choose their words carefully and for the impact that they may have on the people.

And they always have to go out of their way to assure that they weren't meant to be racial.
Granted some people are overly sensitive to any statement that may insinuate race.

Yet, the Governor has never said to the editorial board of any newspaper that "some whites will never vote for a Jew", while he was running for office. That may be just as obvious as what he did say concerning Mr. Obama.

I question his reasoning of having to say it at all.

The problem I have with these type of statements is they are coming from skilled politicians in the middle of a nomination process.
Surely they choose their words carefully and for the impact that they may have on the people.

And they always have to go out of their way to assure that they weren't meant to be racial.
Granted some people are overly sensitive to any statement that may insinuate race.

Yet, the Governor has never said to the editorial board of any newspaper that "some whites will never vote for a Jew", while he was running for office. That may be just as obvious as what he did say concerning Mr. Obama.

I question his reasoning of having to say it at all.

I've written a request for an apology to Governor Rendell, and I encourage other Pennsylvania residents to do the same as they see fit.

My letter to Rendell, just sent through his website (http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/govmail.html):

"Dear Governor Rendell,

I thank you for your service to the Commonwealth.

However, today I must ask to request an apology for your comments to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. When the delicate matter of race arises, I believe a Governor's role should be to denounce it - not to exacerbate its damaging effects for political gain. I sincerely believe this to be your primary motivation for making those comments - specifically, the political gain of the presidential candidate you've endorsed, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. In doing so, you've insulted thousands of your constituents.

You've made Pennsylvania's non-Black citizens out to be bigots, and African-American constituents like myself are now left to wonder whether, should Senator Clinton triumph in the Democratic primary, race was the primary reason why!

You've done a disservice to your candidate, to your state and to yourself. As your constituent, I am requesting a formal apology and retraction of those comments."

Mr. Ed is clearly doing the Klinton's bidding here--he is WAY too experienced to wade into this stuff without clearance from the Ready On Day One ™ leader. I think there is a demarcation line here: get enough people thinking like this early on and you MIGHT suppress some of the vote. If you wait until after the Potomac Primary, when presumably the wave for Obama will be sweeping in, it's likely to backfire.

These old-school hacks have fought the Klinton wars so long they think just like Republicans now. There is a generational divide here, not restricted by age but rather by mindset. These fossils belong to the past and are going to get left behind in the dust. Shame on you, Mr. Ed.

Still not convinced about Camp Clinton's intentions regarding the manipulation of race and gender issues to their advantage?

Check this from the AP today:

An Associated Press-Ipsos poll found Obama with a narrow lead over the Arizona senator in a potential match-up, and Clinton running about even.

"We bring in voters who haven't given Democrats a chance" in the past, said Obama pollster Cornell Belcher, citing support from independents.

Mark Penn, Clinton's chief strategist, countered that she holds appeal for women voters and Hispanics. "Hillary Clinton has a coalition of voters well-suited to winning the general election," he said.

Obama's campaign says "voters" (of all races and genders) and Camp Hillary says "women" and "Hispanics".

Residents of Pennsylvania, the ball is in your court. Do not let the Clinton camp get away with playing the race card once again. Vote for Obama and defend the honor and good name of your state. Rendell wants you to take you cue from the few addled bigots in your midst. You are better than them, and better than Ed Rendell.

Still not convinced about Camp Clinton's intentions regarding the manipulation of race and gender issues to their advantage?

Check this from the AP today:

An Associated Press-Ipsos poll found Obama with a narrow lead over the Arizona senator in a potential match-up, and Clinton running about even.

"We bring in voters who haven't given Democrats a chance" in the past, said Obama pollster Cornell Belcher, citing support from independents.

Mark Penn, Clinton's chief strategist, countered that she holds appeal for women voters and Hispanics. "Hillary Clinton has a coalition of voters well-suited to winning the general election," he said.

Obama's campaign says "voters" (of all races and genders) and Camp Hillary says "women" and "Hispanics".

Genghis:

Can you please repost your succinct and lucid comment on the difference when the HRC camp brings up race and when the Obama camp brings up race?

Apparently too many here missed it in an effort to scroll to the bottom to add their own insights.

Thanks!

Reading Rendell's full statement, it's also disingenuous to compare Obama to African-American Republican candidate for governor Lynn Swann. If Swann had been a Democrat and Rendell a Republican, Swann may well have won, not lost by 17 or 22 points.

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," he said bluntly. Our eyes only met briefly, perhaps because the governor wanted to spare the only black guy in the room from feeling self-conscious for backing an obvious loser. "I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann [2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate] been the identical candidate that he was --well-spoken [note: Mr. Rendell did not call the brother "articulate"], charismatic, good-looking -- but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so."

Great letter! It does insult his own constituents. And he should use his position to work against this kind of thing - not say - hey, that's just how it is.

...to recognize how much better we can be. Obama is representative of this because he sees it...

Perhaps Obama should first help his own supporters find their "better angel". If he can't do that, he's got nothing to sell me.

Note to Sen. Obama:
From Gov. Rendell

Does this mean I don't get the VP spot?

What Rendell said is right. But there is a reason why he said it:

Throw it in the mix and let people fight against each other. Divide and conquer.

I'm tired of these old politics. Let's move on. If Barack can seal TX, who cares about "some" people in PA.

Word from a friend of mine on the ground in maryland. A chardonay sipping "white" liberal precinct area had 97% turnout as of 10:30 a.m. this morning. Also, heard on the radio that turnout was heavy. Holy cow!!!!!

I guess not many "Some" people in Maryland so far...lol

"Throw it in the mix and let people fight against each other."

Umm...no, Rendell didn't do that. TPM did by taking his non-controversial statement and making it the big headline. I'm sure it was embarrassing for TPM to learn that Obama had made virtually the same observation as Rendell. I'm sure Obama wasn't practicing the "old" politics of divide and conquer.

I wish the press and blogs were not so intent on manufacturing racism where it does not exist.

I totally agree with scb, enough already. I have been pretty distressed by this constant meme. And really why don't we support women in the same way? This campaign is getting ridiculous. Move on and please discuss health care and economic issues instead of this nonsense.

SCB-I agree with you. It has a lot to do with the way the press has conducted in this election. But I was working on the ground in SC during their primary- in some of the poorest and the most deprived neighbhorhoods. They didn't deserve the mind-gaming. It was really sad.

To be clear, I'm not Black and I'm not from SC.

Let's forget the argument who said what- because I don't think I can convince anyone to change their opinions. But some of the most deprived people in this country in SC were hearing this: Stop dreaming about a black guy being president.

I had a lot of respect and admiration for President Clinton, and even now I admire the Mrs. Clinton strength- but I witnessed a game-play and from where I was witnessing- it was clear to me it was a intentional Clinton strategy.

The Idea was, let's loose SC by a landslide and brand him as a "black" candidate. Done and dusted. Well it seems this nation has thankfully moved beyond such over simplification.

Again it's my opinion from what I saw. I can never support Clintons again.

This proves conclusively that you do not have to be very bright in order to be elected governor.

joanbeach4 --

After you call Rendell's office you might want to put in a call to Obama, since he said essentially the same thing.

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate."

He conveniently left out the part about how those people vote Republican anyway.

If you go to the Obama web-site and click on the People Tab you will be presented with a series of webpages broken down by identity group.
African Americans for Obama
http://africanamericans.barackobama.com/page/content/afamhome
Generation Obama
http://go.barackobama.com/page/content/gohomepage
Latinos for Obama
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/latinoshome/

Each page carefully custom crafted to appeal to the particular group. There is exactly zero wrong with that. The reason you don't see a 'Blacks for Obama' sign is that it would be sort of overkill, and explicitly undercut the public message that he is running a post racial campaign. Because in the context of the more than a dozen 'X for Obama' groups the following is just crap.

"Camp Clinton is all about playing identity politics. Obama's campaign is not"

Bullshit, what part of 'Generational Change' don't people understand? It's all identity politics, it is just when you happen to be in the pander pool you don't see it that way. Obama is rather specifically running on an Anti-Boomer platform, the 'Change' he wants is away from us. And supporters may fully believe now is their time. Just don't kid yourself that that is not playing identity politics all of its own.

Thanks for the thoughtful post Bruce Webb. Sadly, for those who seem to need to hate Hillary in order to keep up their support of Barak, no amount of reason is going to disuade them from vomiting out charges of racism. The Atlantic Monthly's Clive Crook, a strong Obama supporter, noted that the "race card" allegations are a creation of the press.
http://clivecrook.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/how_the_press_played_the_race.php

I think Obama will be an exceptional president, and I hope with everything that I have that he wins. But I don't need to manufacture Hillary Clinton into a racist in order to get myself excited for Obama.

In reference to the Governors’ remark in a Pittsburg newspaper that some White people in Pennsylvania will not vote for Obama is disturbing and divisive. He needs to pay closer attention to the polling results. Obama has won in some of the "Whitest" states in the Union. I understand there are some narrow minded Whites in Pennsylvania but they exist everywhere and this common knowledge. With all due respect Mr. Governor it wasn't necessary for you to make a public statement like this.

Respectfully Submitted,

After hearing the context, I would have to agree that Rendell was being honest. Anyone who doesn't think there are whites who would not vote for a black candidate is crazy. Why shouldn't someone be able to say it? Unless we all start talking honestly about race, we're going to live with a lot of tension. Barrack Obama has pretty much acknowledged the same thing: some white people won't vote for him. Fine. He can win without those "some" because there are more who will.

David Kurtz now writes that PA Governor Rendell "Probably Deserves a Pass."

I say emphatically that he does NOT!!