Obama's plans for College Tuition

[Professor_Adam]

like all groups that are disadvantaged they tend to stick together for certain causes or stay close in certain areas. when a leader comes along they support him.

...

Well that's interesting, if true, because it would mean that people will yield their own personal values (no matter how dear) in order to appease their minority group. For instance, my black friends who voted for Obama do not support gay marriage or a repeal of the "don't ask don't tell policy." -- Yes, I asked them. They also don't identify with Obama's life in any way other than -- literally -- his status as being half black, and yet they support him as if he did. To me this kind of behavior is worthy of further study and research.

And I have to object to your idea that they will center on a leader who looks like them. This is not true. The black community does not support Condoleeza Rice and their feelings on Clarence Thomas and Gen. Colin Powell are somewhat mixed. It seems that if a black person is seen as supportive of conservative or Republican ideals (a la Bill Cosby, Thomas Sowell), they are immediately dismissed as being respresentative of their race. Why is this so? And put another way, how come only liberal blacks need apply for leadership roles in that culture?