Denver is looming large on the horizon. However, some business needs to be settled for the Obama campaign leading up to the convention. My spirits were lifted back during the primary campaign when Barack gave that wonderful speech on “Race in America”. As an African American, his speech caused me to hope that he was putting the perspective of RACE in American politics into the proper viewpoint. With less than 4 weeks to Denver, reality lies below the fold.
Many people, black and white, quickly tire when the subject turns to the “racial problem”. This is because race stirs the emotions of all people. Let’s look at the facts. A white candidate with Barack’s capabilities, his education, his speaking abilities, wit, charm and charisma as the presumptive Democratic nominee would have no contest from the likes of John McCain. With the failures of the Republican party fresh in the minds of voters, it would absolutely be NO CONTEST!
Therefore, it is obvious that the only handicap Barack has is his RACE, and in this election it is a big one.
All of the current pettifogging circulated in the media that Obama lacks experience, or he’s too presumptive, or he’s elitist, etc. When confronted with proof that anyone of these arguments are false, the complainer simply reaches down and offers another one. These petty arguments that have dogged Barack throughout his campaign are simply racially coded anti-Obama arguments which spares the biased individual the indignity of being forced to say straight out, “I don’t like him because he’s black! RACE IS THE ONLY ISSUE IN THIS ELECTION!
RACE in this election is bigger than –
The Energy Crisis,
The Economy,
The War in Iraq,
The Housing Crisis,
The Decaying Infrastructure,
The 8 – 10 Trillion Dollar Federal debt….
There are millions of white Americans though faced with imminent financial disaster will still go into the voting booth and vote for McCain, even though they know that things are going to become a horrible nightmare for them and their family when he becomes President.
The Obama campaign MUST continue discussing all of the issues above, but their strategy must mirror the realization that RACE is the primary issue in this campaign. When Barack accepts the Democratic nomination for President in front of 75,000 cheering fans (as planned in August), it is important to remember that not all of those people will actually vote for Barack on Election day.
The secret to winning a close race in a racially charged Presidential election is to:
- Keep the base strong and dedicated. Treat them like family and give them plenty of attention.
- Speak your program to the Independents. They are the folks really interested in the problems and will pay sharp attention as to how you propose to solve them.
- Carefully screen advisory personnel designated as spokespeople on the TV media. The campaign interview shows on TV will be getting tougher and more biased as the general election campaign proceeds and the people representing the Obama campaign must be up to the task.
My sense is that Barack wants to stay above this level of political reality and attract voters mainly on his position on the issues. However, that is the way politics used to be. Democrats used to vote the “pocket book issues”. Unfortunately, for the Democratic party,the Reagan Democrats ended that, whom chose to surrender instead to the emotional fire of the Republican “hot Button Issues”. Not one of these inconsequential questions ever put another chicken in the pot and a new car in the garage! In the 8 year wake of George W’s demolition of the financial state of the federal government, the Democrats are whistling “happy Days are here again”. But many registered Democrats are still under the influence of the Republican hot button propaganda and in this election RACE is the hot button issue.
