From: David Neita, UK
Date: 31st October 2008
To: American Voters, USA
Dear American Voters:
Re: The Race for Leader of the Nation and Racism at Polling Station

Congratulations you on your registration to vote in the 2008 Presidential Election. I believe this is the most significant election in America's history to date and this is why I would like to take this opportunity to address you on the subject of the race for the Oval Office and the potential impact of the racist voter. I am only tackling this issue because recently the media has been intimating that racism will play a role in the way some people will vote in the election. They have alluded to the Bradley Effect and have suggested that many people who publicly claim that they will vote for Obama will turn around and privately vote McCain because of their hidden racism.

The Bradley Effect: The effect refers to a supposed tendency on the part of some voters to tell pollsters that they are undecided or likely to vote for a black candidate, and yet, on election day, vote for his or her white opponent. It was named for Tom Bradley, an African-American who lost the 1982 California governor's race despite being ahead in voter polls going into the elections. ~ Wikipedia

It is not my main objective to challenge racism in this particular letter but rather to demonstrate that voting for Barack Obama for President of the United States of America is a far superior use of the ballot box…even for the racist!

Racism is an uncomfortable reality of America's history and it has an unfortunate legacy in contemporary American society. It would be too naïve to expect that there are no voters driven by racism in America. It would be equally gullible to expect that there are no voters influenced by sexism in a society that has a history of discrimination on the basis of gender. So if we assume that the pundits are correct then we can accept that firstly there is a body of racist voters and secondly that racism affects their vote. But how should their votes be influenced? In answering this conundrum we must never forget that racists are people too. They have the same needs and desires as the rest of us. They need economic opportunity and political involvement just like the rest of us. They need proper health care and a sustainable environment just like the rest of us. Their children need a good education so their next generation can be a bit more enlightened, just like the rest of us.

In all of this it is a distinct possibility that a Black President can deliver all these things, through great leadership, for those disabled by racism, whilst a White President can persist on a misguided path that continues to deny Americans the change they need. In this case, in this election, on this occasion it is a fact! It is a fact that Obama will make a better President for all groups, including our racist friends. Let us encourage all our relatives, colleagues, friends and enemies (including those with a racist bone) by letters, emails, fax, or phone to vote Barack Obama for a Better America....for All!

God Bless You All!

YES WE CAN