Racial Divide?

Here's an interesting political map about Obama's and McCain's voters, when divided by race:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/03/how-did-white-people-vote.html

I enjoyed reading the comments. One comment pointed out that the map lacks a control. Without comparing the Obama/McCain map with the Kerry/Bush election, one can't reasonable conclude anything significant. Chances are, the maps might be similar for both elections, meaning there was no racial pattern in the 2008 election.

How Did You Vote?

This is the Ron Clark Academy presidential debate. Gotta love the token white guy.

Lyrics to “You Can Vote However You Like”

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
I said, you can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like
I said, you can vote however you like, yeah

(McCain supporters)
McCain is the man
Fought for us in Vietnam
You know if anyone can
Help our country he can
Taxes droppin' low
Don't you know oil's gonna flow
Drill it low
I’ll show our economy will grow
McCain’s the best candidate
With Palin as his running mate
They’ll fight for gun rights, pro life,
The conservative right
Our future is bright
Better economy in sight
And all the world will feel our military might

(Obama supporters)
But McCain and Bush are real close right
They vote alike and keep it tight
Obama’s new, he’s younger too
The Middle Class he will help you
He’ll bring a change, he’s got the brains
McCain and Bush are just the same
You are to blame, Iraq’s a shame
Four more years would be insane

Lower your Taxes - you know Obama won’t
PROTECT THE LOWER CLASS - You know McCain won’t!
Have enough experience - you know that they don’t
STOP GLOBAL WARMING - you know that you won’t

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA
Stick with McCain and you’re going to have some drama
We need it
HE’LL BRING IT
He’ll be it
YOU’LL SEE IT
We’ll do it
GET TO IT
Let’s move it
DO IT!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

I’m talking big pipelines, and low gas prices
Below $2.00 that would be nice

But to do it right we gotta start today
Finding renewable ways that are here to stay

I want Obama
FORGET OBAMA,
Stick with McCain you gonna have some drama
MORE WAR IN IRAQ
Iran he will attack
CAN’T BRING OUR TROOPS BACK
We gotta vote Barack!

Obama on the left
McCain on the right
We can talk politics all night
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

Democratic left
Republican right
November 4th we decide
And you can vote however you like, I said
You can vote however you like, yeah

"Yes We Can"

President-elect Barack Obama won the election and delivered an inspirational speech that left Oprah and Jesse Jackson in tears. Prior to Obama, John McCain delivered a speech that confirmed he's one of the most honest ("The American people have spoken...and they have spoken clearly.") and dignified politicians in American history.

98% of the results have been tallied, and the popular vote breakdown is as follows:

Obama 53%/ McCain 46% / Other Parties 1%

I predicted 53% / 44% / 3%, so I wasn't too far off. I overestimated the support the Green Party, Libertarians and Ron Paul write-ins would receive.

McCain's choice of Palin may be viewed as a poor decision by future historians; however, the theory in picking her was sound. Republicans have two competing strains--one is libertarian-ish, wanting lower taxes, fewer earmarks, less government spending, and smaller government; the other is Christian, wanting religion and their version of family values to be recognized. McCain believed he could attract the libertarian side by himself, so he chose Palin because he thought she could steer the Christian side to his camp. Theoretically, it might have worked, but he was left with what many people thought was more of a political Frankenstein than a perfect compromise.

If Palin really does get enough money to run for election in 2012, I predict another eight years of Democrats in the White House. The road to the American presidency goes through California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, and/or Illinois. It decidedly does not go through Alaska, Arizona, Oklahoma, Kentucky, or Alabama, most of which are losing residents while the less religious states gain residents. Using this electoral vote angle, Hillary Clinton supporters might admit that choosing Barack Obama over Senator Clinton was a wise choice--New Yorkers would vote Democrat anyway, and Obama would guarantee Illinois. The Republicans are now in a poor position--Jeb Bush is political kryptonite because of his family name, and there are few Republican politicians other than Senator McCain and Ron Paul who inspire Americans.

Let this be a lesson to the Republican party: you have to choose sides. Either you return to the prestige and integrity of Eisenhower, Goldwater, or Jefferson, or you take the American people into a religious era in a country that has wisely favored separation of church and state since its inception. In short, does the Republican party want to be the party of freedom and fiscal responsibility, or a conservative Christian party? It is time to choose.

Update on November 6, 2008: Greg Mankiw has similar thoughts on where the Republican Party should go:

http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2008/11/youth-vote-and-gop.html
___________________

Obama's victory speech:

CNN Transcript (Obama)

McCain's concession speech:

CNN Transcript (McCain)

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/allcandidates/