CNN iReport

Yesterday, I watched as Matt Laurer interviewed a couple in Viriginia who claimed to be life-long Democrats, but said they were unsure about Barack Obama because they felt "like they don't know him." Really?

What is really annoying to me and many of other African Americans in this election is the attempt to make race a "non-issue" and the lack of ownership by white folks in saying race does matter. Why didn't Matt ask the couple in Virigina if they felt comfortable voting for Obama because of his race?

Obama has written two autobiographical novels discussing his upbringing, background, and beliefs in great detail, his biography was profiled on CNN, we met his family during the convention, you can find out how he voted and what he voted on through various non-partisan Legislative voting trackers, you can decipher fact vs fiction by looking at Factcheck.org and other websites. And finally, you can read Barack Obama's stance on all the issues on his website even download them in PDF format or read the entire doctrine in his book: Change We Can Believe In.

So I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I understand what it is you possibly could not know about Barack Obama. But here is what we all know about him. Regardless of his bi-racial ethnicity he is regarded as a black man in this country. And the one thing some (and I emphasize some because he does have a lot of white supporters) white people are crossing the party line for is race. They can't come to grips with putting a black man in power. Period. The fact that he is a Democrat whose stance on the main issues are equal to those of Hillary Clinton SHOULD be enough for any real Democrat!

And to many of US the phrase "I feel like I don't know him" has become the new code for "I'm voting race not issues this election," particularly when it comes from white life-long Democrats.

I want people to take ownership of their real beliefs because they are doing nothing but insulting every African American in this country by creating a catch phrase instead of discussing what they are really concerned about! How can we address those concerns if no one will admit to them? And really they are not fooling anyone by playing the "I don't know him" card.

p.s. Here is another very sad and sobering thought: South Africa had legalized racism through Apartheid up until 1993 and since apartheid was dismantled S. Africans have already freely ELECTED two black South Africans as president. We (the U.S.) are so far behind it's not even funny.