I’ve been trying to convince friends that yes, Obama can get votes from white Americans. That’s because American race relations, even when they are antagonistic, are more complicated than their typical portrayal in the media. Andrew Sullivan offers one telling example of a conservative who admits to having racist feelings at times but claims he will vote for Obama.
And in fact, Hilary Clinton will likely have more trouble winning a national election than Obama. Not just because she’s a woman, but also because her public persona defies more conservative expectations regarding women.
If she were on the right, this somewhat brittle persona might in fact work to her advantage (as Thatcher’s worked to hers in England). Unfortunately, the image that the left must work against is that of being unhinged, angry, and less interested in America as a whole than in certain interest groups or international amity. Conservatives can more easily get away with being unhinged because their anger and other uncomfortable emotions are directed not toward the nation as a whole but outside it (towards other countries, hazily defined “terrorists”, or certain minorities who while geographically “within” are made to seem “other” and hence outside). Even a candidate like Dean, who was ironically conservative in some ways, can quickly be undone by the “angry liberal” label (in his case the character assassination had to be pulled off with great precision, including a preliminary raising of expectations).
Hilary has tried to escape the less palatable aspects of the progressive image with typically Clintonian triangulation; unfortunately, she cannot triangulate the unfeminine vibe she gives off on TV. She is caught between two possible negative media portrayals — the first as extreme leftist (as she was portrayed during the health care fiasco in the early 90s) if she displays her passion, and the second as cold opportunist if she withholds it. In other words, she cannot appeal to less progressive voters without seeming dishonest; being a woman is part of that conundrum.
Obama is in the opposite situation. Many Americans would love to prove that they are not racist if given the chance (“I’m not a racist, I have plenty of black friends … and I voted for Obama!).
Hence that Obama is black helps him as much as it hurts him. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are not adequate objects for assuaging white guilt, because they are much rougher around the edges than Obama (something Biden was trying to get at in his ill-advised remarks about Obama being “clean-cut” and “articulate”).
In fact, Obama’s superb demeanor will be far more of a factor than the fact that he is a progressive — many Americans are more sensitive to (and more confident in their judgment of) character than issues.
After their experience with Bush, Americans are looking for a candidate who exudes sanity. (Is “it’s the sanity, stupid” a possible slogan?). It’s not a high standard: please, just don’t be crazy. Obama possesses this un-crazy quality in much greater quantity than any other candidate in the Democratic or Republican field. It’s part of his sincere, calm, and charismatic demeanor. That he is an African American with these qualities makes him a more, not less, formidable candidate.
Wes. Good writing. Sounds a little bit biased for my taste.
Hillary is a much more serious candidate then you give her credit for. She is a very well known public figure. She is a Clinton. She has a lot more political experience then Obama. You have to face it most people in America didn’t even know who Obama was three years ago and probably there are many that don’t recognize him even today.
You make a sound argument when you say that “many Americans are more sensitive to (and more confident in their judgment of) character than issues” however that is true if everything else is the same. In this case it is not. As I mentioned he lacks experience and public recognition when compared with other candidates like Hillary or John Edwards whom you completely fail to recognize.
Also I don’t think him being black is in his favor. That is a very bold statement. I agree that racial relations have improved considerably but I still think that the public is not going to vote an African American for president as well as for no other minority candidate. I also think that the public is not going to vote a woman for president either(or at least not for Hillary).
It is one thing to compare candidates from one party between each other and a whole different story when you compare them with the other party’s candidate. In this case each and every one of them has to measure up to the republican candidates Giuliani or McCain (I am mentioning only two because I think they are the most likely to get the nomination). Both Giuliani and McCain reflect “SANITY” and they are very well known public figures with huge political background and support. They are both strong candidates and we have to face it, they might end up wining. I really hope something like that wont happen. If it does it would be devastating for the democrats.
After 8 years of loosing democrats are desperate for a victory. Both Obama and Hillary would be great candidates if democrats were in power. However in the present conditions neither one of them guaranties victory because they have clear disadvantages: Obama is an African American and lucks political experience and Hillary is a woman, unappealing character (at least for me) and issues with her voting record.
Once all these factors are taken into consideration the only logical conclusion is that most likely democrats are going to play it safe with John Edwards.
Your comments that Americans will vote for Obama out of guilt because he is black is racist. Just as not voting for him because he is black is racist. So the fact that he happens to be elected president because of a racist vote is detrimental to him, to America, to blacks, and even to whites. If Obama were to become president via a racist vote, he would not be able to address any race relation issues properly because he would face an impenetrable mass of racism.
Whites would say, “Why are you working on race relations. You are black and we voted for you! Some of our best friends are black and even our president is black!”
It would be better for people to admit they will not vote for Obama because Obama is black. It would be better for Obama to lose outright in a landslide so that race relations can be exposed and hopefully addressed.
Obama winning would not be good in any respect for any of these issues, and you are a racist for using the white (wo)man’s guilt to vote for him!
I hate to say I told you so … wait, I love to say I told you so