Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius went there and told the truth. She publicly considered the possibility that Sen. Barack Obama’s race might be a factor in this year’s presidential election during an appearance in Iowa City. She didn’t say anything we did not already know, but it still managed to rankle the Republicans in Iowa City.
“Have any of you noticed that Barack Obama is part African-American?” Sebelius asked in response to a question about why the election is so close. “That may be a factor. All the code language, all that doesn’t show up in the polls. And that may be a factor for some people.”
The remark raised a couple chuckles but few eyebrows in the downtown Iowa City crowd, but Republicans took offense and responded in short order.
“Governor Sebelius’s remarks in Iowa City today are hurtful and divisive at best,” said Republican Party of Iowa Executive Director Caleb Hunter in a press release. “With less than 50 days to go, Democrats will continue to try and change the focus away from the issues that will decide this election.” What? Pull the race card? Take a look at the racist incidents occurring on a daily basis. Race has found its way into the presidential campaign. How do you explain the Obama Waffles and other derogatory things being done and said about Barack Obama.
One questioner argued that Obama was under-performing in polls because young voters with cell phones were under-reported, and Sebelius agreed. “I have a 24 year old and a 27 year old and they’ve never had a land-line since they went to college,” she said. “So they don’t show up in polls. But they need to show up at the polls.”
Filed under: Barack Obama, Iowa City, Joe Biden, John McCain, Kathleen Sebelius, Sarah Palin
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