We need to discuss the issue of race in this campaign. I was canvassing this weekend for the Obama campaign and I encountered the subtle - and sometimes not-too-subtle insinuations that certain voters were not wholeheartedly for Senator Obama simply because of his race. Registered, lifelong, union-member, inner-city, lower-middle-class, "God Bless the USA", white Democrats. Wow, I thought, this is much bigger than I had anticipated.
And then I found this story on Drudge about an incident at George Fox University:
http://www.oregonlive.com/...
And it's not surprising that this particular story will die and that race will never be discussed on the streets, unless we, individually, push the issue.
I don't believe Senator Obama can initiate the discussion. Sure, it's a delicate issue, for the uninformed or cowards, but I think he and his campaign can only provide reactions to events that are based on race, lest he be seen as poking the elephant in the room for his own political advantage.
When voters initiated the issue of race on their doorsteps with a complete stranger who had already announced his political agenda (I never brought it up!), I asked them what - IN PARTICULAR - concerned them. In general, I got three answers: people feared race riots in the streets over jobs. They worried that blacks would "go crazy" and try to take advantage of the system. And the ugly answer: "I'm not sure America is ready for a black President".
The first answer sort of surprised me. But I shut down that discussion by mentioning that jobs were an economic issue - not a race issue. The Republicans and McCain had gotten us into this situation in the first place. Obama's looking ahead to create 5 million green-collar jobs, etc. They generally agreed with that.
I then mentioned, in the case of specific jobs/openings/interviews, that the decision was based on experience and qualifications, right? Again, not an issue of race. But, in an interview, you can tell if someone has what it takes to solve the problems and excel in the position for which they're interviewing - regardless of race, right? Senator Obama, right? Senator McCain has been a part of the experience and Republican philosophy that has gotten us into this problem, right? So race shouldn't be an issue when considering someone for a job, right?
As for the second reply - about blacks trying to take advantage of the system - I replied with a little humor (but stinging, honest policy issues) to the effect: "sure blacks could take advantage of the system, and - what? - make their neighborhoods safer, reduce crime, improve the schools, provide better health care and job and urban development - like what's needed in this neighborhood and related directly to the issues that concern you". I got big, toothy smiles and a couple replies like "yeah, you're right".
And, finally, for the "America's not ready argument": There are millions of people who are ready. And I drove here this weekend to tell you, personally, on the streets of your town, on your porch, that I'm ready for America to have a black President. And you know deep down that the issues we're facing are too big for America not to be ready for a black President. Because he's right on all the issues. And I'll bet you're ready for a black President. And that's why we all need you to to come out and volunteer - here in your neighborhood - so I don't have to drive here to tell you that. So I can drive over to this other town next weekend to tell them what they already know: Barack Obama is the right American to have this job at this time.
That seemed to work. People genuinely opened up. I can't say it sealed the deal, but they lost that shield of "privacy" and they lowered their guard and were able to discuss the issues. As Democrats.
I still haven't figured out a response to those who actually think Barack Obama is racist, but they weren't going to vote for a Democrat anyway, right?
This is our job. We need to keep the issue of race on the front page - George Fox University! - and bring on the race battle. Because this isn't an ugly civil-rights style battle we're waging. Not this time. I don't think it's a matter of combating "racists" per se. It's more a matter of helping people feel comfortable with Senator Obama - Constitutional Scholar Obama - President of Harvard Law Review Obama - community activist Obama - father, husband, friend and neighbor Barack.