Obama’s Unbearable Blackness of Being
February 29, 2008 / 12:46 pm • By Dr. Melissa ClouthierLast week, I wrote that this presidential campaign might be more civilized because the press may continue their love-fest with McCain lest they give the conservatives ammo and well, they’ll be nice to Obama because he is their guy. It might just be more civilized because of white guilt.
How will this play out in the election? Howard Kurtz wonders at the “pulled punches” because Obama is black:
“As conservative columnist Peggy Noonan wrote this month, ‘Mr. Obama will not be easy for Republicans to attack. . . . There are many reasons, but a primary one is that the fact of his race will freeze them.’ ”
It certainly won’t freeze them on the issues. But on personal matters and insinuations, that’s probably right.
Politico’s Ben Smith says Obama may be milking the contrition of his rivals:
“Most of them have apologized for saying something insensitive about Obama’s race, his name, or his heritage. And the dynamic of outrage and offense this campaign has proved race to be a much touchier subject than gender. At times, Obama’s campaign has sought to downplay burgeoning outrage. At others, he’s stoked it for political advantage.
The problem with the pussy-footing is that it is, in itself, racist. When a black man or woman can be criticized or challenged like a person of any other color, then we’ll know that equality has been achieved.
I don’t think we’ll see “equality” in this election by either the press or the candidates.
