I remember having a similar thought ten or so years ago when Bill Clinton was being excoriated for his Oral Office issues: "Finally! People are talking about sex openly, and thereby helping to dilute the 'eeeew' factor about sex our culture has retained from our puritanical forefathers." Of course, the blue dress and the wagging finger and the definition of "is" and a follow up impeachment put THAT issue back in the box--but for just a moment, I hoped we might be addressing a deeply relevant and important issue of our time.
Listening to Obama on CNN and MSNBC I find myself thinking: "Finally, someone has opened up the discussion about race in this country that MUST be had if we are to move through it. And what's more, we are ALSO talking about religion and politics!"
And that's when it hit me: Could this have been Obama's plan all the while?
Let's look at this more closely.
Obviously Obama knew that "race" was going to be a huge issue in his run for the presidency. And, he likely also knew that questions would arise about his religious affiliation. He has probably encountered questions about his name (all three of them) many times in his life--so he's not unprepared. I've read many wonderful comments on this site from other Obama supporters, in response to queries as to Obama's ability to deflect the email smears claiming "Obama's a Muslim!" that say something to the effect that: "He's been prepared with all that's hit him so far, and I trust that he'll be able to handle this, too." But I am in an almost perpetual state of disbelief at the ability of so many to believe just what they want to believe, no matter the facts and logic that may be presented to them. So I would read these hopeful comments and cringe a little inside, thinking, "Really? But, remember the swiftboaters? What if he ISN'T prepared to deal with these issues.?"
Sure enough, just as HRC is issuing a "double dare" to Obama in the form of a "Keystone Test", Ms. Ferraro let rip with her racist remarks. The timing was pretty good--if the idea was to make sure there was plenty of time to steam some fresh racist foam in Pennsylvania for the primary. And because Hillary did not "denounce and reject" those comments, or ask Ms. Ferraro to resign from the Clinton campaign, it left open the possibility that Clinton was planning to keep the race issue writhing all the way to Denver.
And then there are those persistent "smearmails" that are morphing into the most inane game of email "telephone," wherein Obama's religious affiliation and "hatred for america" seem to get worse in every version.
So what's a VERY smart, "black" candidate named Barack Hussein Obama to do in the next six weeks (while there are no other primaries going on) to ensure that we are talking about very serious issues that are best raised BEFORE the general election-- in order to set up a Presidency that might actually accomplish quantum social change and betterment?
Why, this would be a GREAT time to talk about race and religion in the context of politics in America! And, weren't there some highly inflammatory videos of Rev. Jeremiah Wright talking about how, "Clinton's never been called a ni**er!" (true, but inflammatory), and "rich, white men control America!" (also true and definitely worthy of discussion!)! "So," the Obama campaign could be heard to say, "let's not run from this, let's get right out there and put all the cards on the table--lets open up this can of worms a go for it! After all, we're FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!!"
Suddenly, over and over again, we hear that Obama's been going to his church (not a MOSQUE!) for SEVENTEEN years!!! And yup, Obama's black alright, but he's right out there talking about how there is a transition happening in the African American community, and that he (Obama) is a reflection of that shift. And he's NOT AFRAID to talk about race, without the (righteous) angry rhetoric of Reverend Wright, but with the rational, sensitive perspective Obama seems to bring to every discussion.
So, my theory is that the Obama campaign knew exactly when to bring this to a head. Of course, it remains to be seen how deep these issues run and we may never know if it will have an impact on the Pennsylvania primary, but there is no doubt that this is bringing up all kinds of VERY REAL issues that the United States must be talking about in order to heal and move beyond.
And won't it be a great day in America when we really DO begin to move through the ugliness of racism and xenophobia and look each other in the eye and smile, knowing we're all in this together?
Perhaps we have found a REAL leader for the Democratic Party that will bring us through, to a new era in America?
I believe there's a saying, something about it always being darkest before the dawn......
Thanks to Pluto for posting this, that inspired the happy vision, that inspired this diary.