Alright, I’m just gonna go ahead and post on this. I’ve been trying to resist, since it seems all I ever blog about anymore is Obama and race. But the cultural Zeitgeist is what it is.
Earlier this week, Politico ran a series of articles on the role of race in the current presidential battle. The pieces covered all the now-familiar terrain, speculating on how big of a role race (or racism) could play in the upcoming election. For me, the most interesting piece was a report on “How Obama Quietly Targets Blacks.”
One of the most fascinating aspects of Obama’s campaign has been the delicate balance he must strike between reaching white voters and black voters. The unspoken understanding has long been that if Obama does too much to appeal to the African American community, he’d scare off many in the white community. While I think this is silly and perhaps insulting to many white voters who have no problem with Obama’s skin color, I also think it’s true a lot of the time. Again, the Zeitgeist is what it is.
And so, for the majority of his campaign, Obama has found it necessary to treat the African American community the same way a bashful eighth-grader does that pretty girl in English class—glancing at her only in quick snatches, lest his secret crush become a topic of public discussion among all the middle-schoolers. Here’s one of that Politico article’s most riveting quotes:
“What [Obama] has done is he’s shunned black voters — but he knows that they know that he’s black. And he knows that they know in our communities we have a certain feeling that he’s got to do that to get those white votes,” said Kevin Wardally, a New York City political consultant who worked for Hillary Rodham Clinton. “We inherently believe that what he’s doing he has to do — he has to not be in Harlem to get those white votes.”
As I read that, I wondered how some white readers would interpret this statement. Would it seem to them that Obama is being sneaky or disingenuous? Would they be able to recognize the sad irony in all of this? The thing is, white politicians can often be very upfront about appealing to the cultural sensibilities of white voters. For instance, when Sarah Palin talks about Obama not feeling that “our great country” is perfect enough, something tells me she’s not thinking of non-whites when she says “our.” If an African American politician like Obama were as brazen with black voters, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
I confess that I was intrigued by these Politico reports. But to tell you the truth, I think these types of articles are getting old. Every day brings another examination of the role of race. Will the “Bradley Effect” rob Barack Obama of the presidential race, even though the polls keep putting him well ahead? Will the “Bubba Vote” save John McCain? Did McCain mean something sinister during the debate when he said, “That One”? Are Sarah Palin’s frequent slams against Obama before mostly white audiences (“This is not a man who sees America like you and I see America”) racial code for something else?
I could give you my opinion, but what difference would it really make? Who really cares anymore? Are any of us truly ready to see the argument from the other side’s perspective? Some will call it racism. Some will call it down-and-dirty campaigning. It is what it is. And depending on your personal experience, your political affiliation, your cultural background, and perhaps the color of your skin, you’re going to have a different opinion about the meaning of it all. Honestly, at the end of the day, none of that really matters.
What does matter, however, is how we’re treating our fellow citizens, how we’re treating our brothers and sisters. Sometimes I almost think it would be best to put real life on hold during the high theater of this phase of the election season, when emotions are high and partisan rhetoric is running at a fever pitch. In these latter days of the race, there’s usually no room for banal values like respect, compassion, and grace. Right now, it’s all about getting our guy (or gal) elected.
Reconciliation Blog 
Barack is a genius. White people never seen a brotha that bold and that smart. They can’t believe it. Add to that the fact that he is beating them in all the polls.
Palin is trying to suggest to her fans that he can’t be trusted. I ain’t worried, they are dealing with a brotha that made it this far. Do people really understand what he had to overcome to get this far. Dude ain’t no punk!
Edward, I sympathize with your tiredness about the role of race in this campaign while also agreeing that “the cultural Zeitgeist is what it is.” I appreciate the question about a white person’s response to Politico’s claim that Obama has shunned black voters in order to “get those white votes.” Given the type of language coming from the McCain/Palin ticket lately, much of it in front of mostly-white crowds, it makes sense to me that Obama has to tread extra carefully. As you point out, when Palin talks about “our” country or “our” it seems to have a very specific cultural and historical meaning. Could Obama use the same type of language and be so loudly cheered? This seems to be the ugly dilemma you are pointing out.
This morning I heard an encouraging story on NPR’s Morning Edition about a white union leader who has been constructively addressing the issue of Obama’s race in union halls across the country. There are enough discouraging stories right now so it was nice to hear something positive.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95591135
something tells me she’s not thinking of non-whites when she says “our.”
What’s that ‘something’ exactly? I don’t think she prefaced it with, “Ok white people…”
One thing that quote points out though is the danger of a voting bloc being taken for granted by a party. One side (Republicans) doesn’t see much chance of swaying blacks so they’re ignored, and the other side (Democrats) already knows they’ve got their votes so blacks are ignored by Dems as well.
This race needs to become about the economy, and quick. With a pending collapse, both of these guys need to quit acting like this is just a regular recession or just using a terrible situation to score political points.
Pray for this country, for real. The government is trying to act like God in this economic mess and doing a horrible job. God’s much better at being God than a bunch of political hacks.
Ok I’m done. Have a wonderful day everyone 🙂
Very thoughtful reflection. Thanks for that…
Thanks for your post Ed. I am so disturbed by what is going on in the election I needed to come to your page and see what was going on here. I am disturbed by all the “dangerous” allegations. Most disturbing is that some people are buying into them.
Judy – I do agree with you. We desperately need to pray for our nation right now – for what is going on with the economy and for all the deep seated resentments that are coming out in the last month before the election.
I wish we could vote right now.
Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts.
Judy, when I said “something tells me,” I was referring to my own personal experience in seeing and hearing things like that. I do try to acknowledge, however, that depending on your own unique experiences, each of us will interpret comments and gestures like that in a different way. Unfortunately, I’m not immune to occasionally viewing these events through that personal lens. I think it’s important, though, to also attempt to see the world empathetically, through the eyes of others.
Ay ay ay… life on earth! So sordid sometimes! I remember as a child hearing about wars, and wondering loudly to the adults around me, why can’t the leaders of each country just fight each other, and settle things quickly that way? I really believed that would be a most efficient and fair solution.
Now my daughters and I lament similarly regarding the election, although we would make it an exchange of ideas, not a fist fight. It seems to us that Obama, McCain, Biden and Palin left to themselves would get along very well as human beings and citizens… that if they could just sit in a room and have a series of discussions among themselves, with the nations unobtrusively (it is a fantasy! I’m allowed to be fantastic!) listening in, we could all make an informed decision. There would be no “staff” for either involved in any way, shape or form. In fact, campaign staff wouldn’t exist, in our little dreamworld…
So sorry that will never happen. I genuinely believe the best about all four of them. I don’t believe any one wants to sell the soul of America, or has a racist agenda, or will turn us into a right-wing or left-wing dictatorship.
In terms of Obama having to “avoid” Harlem (so to speak)… my interpretation as a woman is that I understand. As a woman, there have been many occasions when I have had to put up with a certain amount of garbage, when I have had to look the other way or tolerate a situation because my goals were greater than that immediate battle. I don’t believe it is compromise or subterfuge, I believe it is strategy. We are, after all, still on planet earth.
Thank you so much for sharing that
As for Palin and her once again adiment gesture of Obama not to be Trusted….I’d have to say she is in definate need greatness in prayers…and too stare that accusational statement against Obama right back at herself in the mirror. Just one more reassurance for me when it comes to voting…Our economoy is in a critical situation-and if not addressed with honest intentions for everyone..I can only imagine this fallout…leaving Christ center in “Hopes” to bring forth a man of dignity, justice, love and character for the poor, middle class…or rather the folk with absolutley nothing in their pockets, and no home to live in. How sad..