As the election grows closer and the polls grow tighter, there’s been a disturbing trend to blame Barack Obama’s troubles on race. For the Democratic Party and the media (are they still getting separate mentions?) it’s a win/whine situation. If Barack Obama wins, it adds to the mythic, Lenin-esque figure we are so privileged to have elected. If he loses, it had to be because we’re all racists. Talk about your sore losers.

(If you can bear it, check out Russell Brand, the host of MTV’s Video Music Awards, as he leads the charge -- http://www.nme.com/news/russell-brand/39546)

For months, the Dem/Media has longed for a good reason to remind voters that Barack Obama is black. (Note such occasions as Obama’s worrying that he doesn’t look like any other US President or more pointedly suggesting that Republicans stir up fear in the country with such lines as “…and did I mention he’s black?”) The problem is that no one’s playing ball: the only people talking about race are the hand-wringing grievance-baiters themselves.

So now, with no cue, no occasion to unleash their moral indignation, the Dem/Media is going forward with the story anyway. As seen here:

http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-obama-race;_ylt=AoiaqRuyqI3ldLVRz7LX3c7Cw5R4

http://townhall.com/columnists/SalenaZito/2008/09/21/race_and_the_union_vote

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080921/pl_politico/13686;_ylt=Al.p45hUnzHQkfYc0kLyn5us0NUE

Apparently when race is the topic, the country is guilty until proven innocent. Or, to put it another way, when there is a lack of evidence to prove your point – then the lack of evidence IS the evidence: 

Item: The fact that the Republicans are not race-baiting just means that they are crafty. 

Item: Obama’s numbers have stayed stable in exit polling because people are hiding their racism from the pollsters.

Item: White people, especially Republicans, see all black people as “violent,” “lazy,” and not “law-abiding.” (Though the AP is gracious enough to point out, “Not all whites are prejudiced.”)

One wonders why, in such a “racist” country as ours people would find reason to hide their racism, but let’s ignore that for the moment. 

Let’s instead focus on what has actually been proven. To be sure, the Dem/Media is partly correct – race is a HUGE issue in this election. Where they go wrong is in their conclusion – race has been a huge POSITIVE for Obama. 

Forget that 90% of black voters have voted for Obama since the primaries in South Carolina. (I’m sure it was only due to the clear policy differences he had with Hilary Clinton…cue the laugh track.)

Forget that, rather than being a bad thing, in an election year about “change”, the BEST thing for a presidential candidate is to look nothing like past presidents.

Instead let’s use Dem/Media logic. If Sarah Palin’s only qualification to be Vice-President is that she “hasn’t had an abortion,” (see http://www.palmettoscoop.com/2008/09/10/fowler-palin-primary-qualification-that-she-hasn%E2%80%99t-had-an-abortion/ for details) then Barack Obama’s only qualification to be President is that he’s black. Before I bump into Geraldine Ferraro in the Time-Out Corner (funny how I won’t see Carol Fowler there), let me ask, why else is Obama the Dems’ nominee? Because he has NO executive experience? Because he has NO legislative accomplishments? Because he’s given three good speeches? Because he’s better looking than Dennis Kucinich? Sure, he’s a great communicator, but if that would’ve have beaten Hilary Clinton, so would’ve John Edwards. 

It’s a great time to be a black politician, Barack. Because this country, myself included, would LOVE to have a black president. 

Don’t believe me? Then you must think a white presidential candidate could have survived the political catastrophe of worshipping at Trinity United for 21 years, being married by Jeremiah Wright and using his words for the title of his autobiography.  Poor Gary Hart only had an affair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M-kD0QdRJk

Or perhaps you didn’t see the poll where Colin Powell topped voters’ VP lists in BOTH parties, and was followed closely by Condoleezza Rice in those “racist” GOP voters’ VP list.  

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/30/powell_is_favorite_in_online_vp_poll/

Or maybe you forgot 1996, when a lackluster GOP begged Colin Powell to run as their candidate. 

“Race is not the biggest factor driving Democrats and independents away from Obama. Doubts about his competency loom even larger, the poll indicates. More than a quarter of all Democrats expressed doubt that Obama can bring about the change they want, and they are likely to vote against him because of that.”

You see? Even the AP can have a moment of clarity.  Now if they can just stop with the racial extortion.