Do Blacks fault the President more for Katrina because they’re Black?
Posted in Politics/Economics on December 27th, 2005
Shortly after the Katrina disaster, a number of news organizations (including CNN) noted that African-Americans disproportionately believed race and poverty were factors in the slow response and distribution of aid. Salon even alluded to it in a recent war room post (toward the bottom). While the previously mentioned CNN polls numbers were higher*, the following Newsweek poll has results more typical of similar such polls.
These results appear quite striking, but take a look at the following:
Notice that about 48% of Democrats say race and poverty are a factor as do 53% of Non-whites? Also remember these surveys have a MOE of 3%. When we recognize that approximately 90% of African-Americans identify as Democrats, one begins to question where the cause and effect relationship lies. Are Non-whites responding as they do as a more direct result of their race or because of their political beliefs?
P.S. I’m a Democrat. This is in no way intended to question the political views of a minority population, but instead question the numerical analysis of news organization that would eagerly sensationalize information to boost ratings, even at the risk of reporting inaccuracies.
Cantwell Carson says:
I honestly think that asking such a question seriously, and leaving it unanswered, is tantamount to denying the existence of race as an economic factor in the lives of black americans. It is akin to asking whether Jews in Germany didn’t like Hitler because he was responsible for killing them or if they just didn’t like the doctrine of National Socialism.
Please show some consideration, or at least respect, in the future.
Jan 13, 2006 @ 11:25 am
Rio Flores says:
“It is akin to asking whether Jews in Germany didn’t like Hitler because he was responsible for killing them ”
That’s a ridiculous comparison.
The failed relief efforts in New Orleans did not subject to African Americans to a direct, intentional, racially targeted, systemic campaign of subjugation and de-humanization that drove toward genocide. They were the subject of gross neglect. Comparing a direct, intentional effort to kill people as quickly and efficiently as possible to horribly failed attempt to help people is absurd. That’s like arguing that a bumbling, idiot CEO is the same thing as trying to kill his employees.
Furthermore, I’m not saying that the people have no reason to question or fault Bush, instead I’m suggesting that they disliked Bush just as much before Hurricane Katrina hit. (As they should have)
Please show a better understanding of subject materials before you put forward your absurd comparisons.
Feb 2, 2007 @ 2:43 pm