August 1, 2008

  • One of the key questions in this campaign is whether we as a nation can collectively discuss controversial topics like race in a mature, sophisticated, and civil manner, or whether we must inevitably decline into immature point scoring, 'gotcha' politics, and ad hominem attacks.

    I would venture to say that Senator Obama's campaign has been betting on the former. Meanwhile, the increasing influence of former Karl Rove staffers in Senator McCain's campaign is a clear sign that the McCain campaign is betting on the latter holding true.

    Just because you talk about (let along obliquely mention) race doesn't mean you are "playing the race card."

    Race is an important issue and a legitimate topic for discussion. Some people may want to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the issue, or pretend it doesn't exist, but it does.

    The key is how you address race.

    Obama was using humor to obliquely reference his own race while addressing the larger issues of some of the rumors and skepticism that have been circulating about him.

    Meanwhile, the McCain campaign shows its immaturity in talking about race, by immediately categorizing the mere mention of something remotely racial as "playing the race card." In doing so, they show that they are willing to drag the level and standard of public discourse down to the lowest level.

    It was completely legitimate for Obama to raise the specter of attacks against him based on fears related to his race, youth, etc. Obama has already been the subject of widespread racial and ethnically based or racial and ethnically tinged attacks. Here are just a few examples:

    - New Yorker cover (yes, they were attempting satire -- but that just underscores the point)
    - circulated photo of Obama wearing African ceremonial garb
    - repeated false rumors that he is a Muslim, or born a Muslim, or educated as a Muslim, etc.
    - false rumors that he took the Senate oath of office using the Koran (he used his family bible)