As I wrote on September 13th, for many people, this presidential election is more about race than politics. This morning I was watching the news and the Big Question was: Why isn’t Obama way ahead of McCain in the polls? The statement was made: If Obama were white, he’d be way ahead of McCain in the polls. (If Obama were white, I think this inexperienced, first-term senator, lacking even a single significant legislative achievement would never have gotten the nomination.)
Next, from Pennsylvania, came the report that some people, who did not wish to appear on camera or be quoted, said that although they themselves were not affected by Obama’s race, they knew people who “… probably would not vote for Obama because he’s black.” A perfect answer to the previous question.
It was Obama supporters who posed the question (and the implied answer) as to why Obama is not ahead of McCain by a larger margin. I believe these people are making a mistake similar to those who supported Al Gore for president: The American people may not have liked George Bush very much, but that doesn’t mean Al Gore was the more desirable of the two candidates.
Democrats have been running Obama against George Bush. They’ve been trying mightily to equate McCain with George Bush and saying we can’t afford four more years of the same thing. I’m not sure it’s working. I think voters are judging McCain as McCain and not considering him another George Bush.
There are many reasons (which are not racial) to reject Obama as president. As I pointed out previously, both Obama and McCain are, historically, too “liberal” to be elected president.
Many Obama supporters, unfortunately, cannot see beyond race. They believe that it’s time America elected a black president to prove to the world that we’ve put racism behind us. The only reason, therefore, for not supporting Obama must be racism, in their view.
Look for more playing of the race card as the campaign continues. Look for more efforts to “guilt” the American people into electing Obama. Stay tuned.