Its rare to see a modern myth disappear before your eyes; but it happened today. The straight talking maverick of the 2000 GOP campaign died today and in his stead rose a new John McCain with race card in hand. While I am under no delusions about the high stakes nature of politics and the place that pragmatism plays in it, I never thought MCcain would stoop this low this fast. From a purely political perspective it makes sense to use " The race card" because any mentioning of race automatically puts Obama on the defensive. Barack Obama is supposed to be the candidate that transcends race and you can't effectively hold that position if your comments are always in reference to the issue.
While this was an all or nothing gambit on the part of MCcain in the tradition of Bush The Elder's " Willie Horton" ad, the sad difference for MCcain will be the change in the outcome. Simply put, it won't work this time.
Unlike 1988 or even 2004 with the swiftboat affair there are certain realities that are present now that diminish the most desperate attacks of the worst kind of demagogue.
People are more susceptible to acting out of fear and doubt when they can conveniently hide themselves from the reality of their lives. You can buy into the rampaging Black convict ( or covert Muslim) terrorizing your home when the prices of gas and food aren't at an all time high. When you aren't being foreclosed upon or having your property values diminished because of the foreclosures; those attack ads seem a lot more potent and pressing.
The failure of the Bush administration is too explicit and abject for any degree of race-baiting and xenophobia to prove effective. Even more the impotence of MCcain as a candidate has now been exposed with this new stunt.
The corruption, arrogance and incompotence of the Bush administration has effectively created the perfect storm for an Obama presidency.
I can't wait to see what version of MCcain emerges next.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Sooner or later the Race card was going to be played. To date a majority of Whites have not supported Obama. It is 35% of Whites, 90%+ of Blacks and a surprising majority of Hispanics who are supporting Obama. Let us remember that to this day in everything from music to marriage Race is and always has been a factor in EVERYTHING in America. The sad truth is that this application of the 'Race Card' will probably work. Also I am sure that Obama understands that he gave an opening. He won't make the same mistake again
Post a Comment