It's All About Money

The Washington Post: Economic Fears Give Obama Clear Lead Over McCain in Poll Turmoil in the financial industry and growing pessimism about the economy have altered the shape of the presidential race, giving Democratic nominee Barack Obama the first clear lead of the general-election campaign over Republican John McCain, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News national poll. Just 9 percent of those surveyed rated the economy as good or excellent, the first time that number has been in single digits since the days just before the 1992 election. Just 14 percent said the country is heading in the right direction, equaling the record low on that question in polls dating back to 1973. More voters trust Obama to deal with the economy, and he currently has a big edge as the candidate who is more in tune with the economic problems Americans now face. He also has a double-digit advantage on handling the current problems on Wall Street, and as a result, there has been a rise in his overall support. The poll found that, among likely voters, Obama now leads McCain by 52 percent to 43 percent. Two weeks ago, in the days immediately following the Republican National Convention, the race was essentially even, with McCain at 49 percent and Obama at 47 percent. It's still the economy, stupid. It transcends race, age, gender, class, sexual orientation, and ideology. It's the 800-lb. gorilla taking a shit in the corner of the room and people can't ignore the smell anymore. Watching Wall Street go up and down like a speeding, out-of-control roller coaster will do that. Unemployment, foreclosures, the cost of everything spiraling up, up and away. As one of my favorite rap songs goes, "It's all about money, ain't a damned thing funny." In the end, corny as it sounds, the only color that voters are going to care about is going to be green. Translation: "Sure, the n--er, black guy is uppity, but he won't fuck up my 401K." Enlightenment isn't far behind when there's a dollar bill in your wallet dying of loneliness.