Comments on: Little White Lies and Harold Ford

By: The Right Nation

The Right Nation — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 12:35:00 +0000

Mid-Term (Open) Must-Read List...

Michael Barone, Quin Hillyer, John McIntyre, Tod Lindberg, Jay Cost, Sheryl G. Stolberg, Peggy Noonan, Bill Whalen, Carl Leubsdorf, Abby W. Schachter, Clive Crook, Rich Lowry, John Heilemann, Jed Babbin, Wynton Hall, Chuck Todd, Donald Lambro, Mona C.....

By: Tano

Tano — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:50:01 +0000

Maybe, given the context of TN as a red southern state, the "politically incorrect" answer is that you intend to vote for a black Democrat for Senator. Maybe it is Ford's vote that is being underestimated.

By: Tano

Tano — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:20:56 +0000

James,

But for goodness sakes, how can saying that you will vote for Bob Corker be seen as "politically incorrect"? TN is a pretty red state, and it is hardly an edgy position to take to say that you will vote for a Republican. I mean, it is not like asking someone if they use the n word.

By: Steven Taylor

Steven Taylor — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 18:01:40 +0000

I concur that the likelihood is that ultimately in MD and TN the most significant factor will be the basic partisan makeup of the states in question.

I also agree that in the postmortems in the punditocracy, race will be overly emphasized.

Still, as you note, it is a factor that cannot be ignored. In terms of analysis, the question is one of proportionality in weighing the variables.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:36:17 +0000

Tano: It's more a case of not wanting to give a politically incorrect answer. People naturally want to impress other people and are often afraid, in the personalistic context of a phone call with a stranger, to confess holding views that one isn't supposed to have.

By: Tano

Tano — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 17:09:50 +0000

"people telling pollsters what they think they want to hear"

I am not denying the existence of such a phenomenon, but it sure strikes me as weird. If asked by a pollster for my opinion on anything, I dont think it would ever enter my mind that the pollster was "wanting to hear" a certain answer, nor could I imagine being influenced in my response by such a sense even if I did feel it.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:25:49 +0000

James,

You don't see the possibility of the younger generation feeling a "politically correct" pressure to support someone based on being a minority race or to avoid being seen not supporting them lest it be inferred the lack of support was based on race?

Look at the cries of racism because a white woman was associated with Ford's playboy party hook up. You can't see the possibility of someone wanting to avoid the charge they are a racist when such an innocuous thing can be considered a racist act?