Is It Racist?

In a forum I hang out in, there are often whites posting this question:
Is it racist to vote for Obama because he is Black?

I find this pretty ironic, because for many long years, people have voted for candidates from their communities and no one ever thought about it being racist.

However, my response to this common question is:
If you vote for someone just because he's Black, it's not racist.
If you vote against someone just because he's Black, that's racist.

There is a huge difference that doesn't appear to be visible to a lot of people.

Voting for someone because he/she is a Christian, Jewish, Mormon, Black, Native American, Latino, Hispanic, Democratic, Republican, Green, Libertarian, your friend, your neighbor, your cousin, from your state - none of that is racist or wrong. (Perhaps a little unenlightened if they don't support the things you believe in, but that's another topic entirely.)

Why?
Obviously, there is a positive element in voting FOR someone in/of/from your community, whatever community it may be, political, racial, ethnic, spiritual, etc. Supporting someone of your community isn't wrong. (Yes, even if your community is German, Irish, Swedish, French, English, white.)

Voting AGAINST someone because of any of those factors is wrong.

It's not racist to vote for Obama because he's Black.

Again, in my not-at-all-humble opinion, a bit foolish if you're a die-hard Republican who's voting against all you believe in JUST because Obama is Black.

But it's not racist.

Also, in my opinion, if you want to have the right to bitch, moan, whine, and complain about our government over the next four years, you'd better get to the polls and VOTE!

People who don't vote shouldn't be complaining when politicians make decisions on their behalf. They had a chance to vote the buggers in or out. If they didn't vote, they're just stuck in the same old rut with everyone else.

IE, if you choose not to participate in the process, don't be surprised when the process doesn't represent you.