Refereeing special interests
WASHINGTON DC: Following on from what we might call the "Dick Morris thesis" on race and the Obama campaign I pass on something that the Obama folk are peddling down here in South Carolina, or more precisely will be peddling after a win which is then characterised as a win "wholly due to black voters turning out for the black candidate". First they will call this a form of racism (do black voters not count?) and secondly according to the document I have seen:
"The fact of the matter is that blacks represent potentially pivotal blocs of voters in most battleground states in November – including Florida, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia and even Nevada. Obama’s ability to inspire and mobilize black voters could easily prove instrumental in swinging those competitive states to the Democratic column in November. Indeed, in Nevada where blacks are about 6% of the voting age population, with Obama on the ballot they comprised fully 15% of the caucus electorate according to the Entrance Poll -proof that he can bring them out beyond their numbers or past participation."
All of that is fair enough, I suppose, except that Hillary Clinton's special appeal to Latino voters might rather counterbalance it. Although black people have been more reliable voters in the past? The subject is now much discussed both sides of the Atlantic with the
For the record, I asked Obama - during a campaign stop here - if he accepted that the media gave him an easier ride that they did the Clintons. He laughed. He claimed it wasn't true. But he went on to call the press "the referee".
I have never heard a politician do that unless he thought the referee was making the right decision...
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Far be it for me to tell the American people who they should vote for in their own general election but it is my hope they will choose a Democrat come November.
However, I think it's a great shame that rather than concentrating on the issues, the Democrats are bringing race into this race.
Ultimately, this will not serve any of them well as come the election, the Republicans will spin all of the negative quotes the Democrats have used against each other to make their case for a conservative president.
Any thoughts as to whether the Clinton camp feel betrayed / perceive bias in Oprah Winfrey's support for Obama ?
Is she going to keep her head below the parapet, or will there be more messages of support in the run-up to Super Tuesday ??
If a candidate's "identity" does indeed come packaged with any obligation to redress the magnitude of past wrongs, then surely an equally good black candidate, man or woman, would have my vote before an equally good white establishment candidate. If Oprah considered such things, then she made the right choice.
But I think Obama is a much better than equal candidate.
And while I want a democrat in the White House next year and believe that several of the contenders would make a good enough President, the tone and aim of the Clinton campaign seem more to win the nomination at any cost, even risking the national election.
The letters sent from each candidate, and read to voters before the Nevada caucus were telling. Obama's was clear, forthright and intelligent. I wish the Ö÷²¥´óÐã or print media would publish those letters for voters to review, as each letter seemed worth a score of editorials to me.
Justin, have you asked any South Carolinians who aren't African-American whether they, too might be supporting Obama? If not, why not?
He is most assuredly not only 'the black candidate.' (Unfortunately) I still think Senator Clinton will win the Democratic nomination, but Senator Obama is stirring things up and making this an actual contest.
You should continue your excellent coverage by noting (for yourself and then passing on to your viewers and listeners)what a large group of Americans from all walks of life have come out enthusiastically for Barack.
Don't buy into the campaign media pack mentality. It is descended, after all, from our notorious Washington press corps: mostly the laziest, most complacent reporters in the US, who also helped the Bush administration sell the disaster in Iraq.
I believe the crucial element in the race issue is honesty. As Justin points out its not possible to know how truthful respondents are to poll questions.
The two obvious examples are religion and race. Unless you are very close confidant of somebody they are unlikely to confess to 1) not wishing to vote for a black man to be president under any circumstance, or 2) not believing in God, and not trusting faith heavy candidates. So poll data is untrustworthy.
I think the race is wide open, simply because no candidate from either party is outstanding. Sadly for the worlds leading democracy we will see a second rate President for at least 4 more years.
It's a sad fact that the American public at large have bought the spin that all of the main stream media are pitching. That is, that the contest for the Democratic party candidate is a two person race leaving out the one candidate who has real integrity and hasn't already been bought by big business.. Because of his out cry against corporate greed and control, the Media ( corporate controlled) is all but ignoring him and the refreshing perspective he brings to politics. Shame on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã for promoting this deception. Real democracy is all but dead and we are left with a choice between Coke and Pepsi ! with no real nutritional value in either. Just sweet syrupy bubble!