Kate Zernike:
CPAC Speaker Bashes Obama, in Racial Tones
How can conservatives win the youth vote that overwhelmingly went for Barack Obama in 2008? At the Conservative Political Action Conference, apparently, some are betting on using racial stereotypes.
In a panel appealing to conservatives under 30, Jason Mattera, author of a forthcoming book called "Obama Zombies: How the Liberal Machine Brainwashed My Generation," likened the gathering to "our Woodstock."
In the panel, Mattera -- imitating the sound of Chris Rock's voice -- mocked the notion of "diversity," saying a "feminist new black man" was like "a crossover between RuPaul and Barney Frank." And then (emphasis added):
Can we save our generation from Obama zombies, he asked. He answered himself by borrowing the president’s campaign slogan: "Yes, my brothahs and sistahs. Yes we can!"
There's an audience for everything, but if Mattera really believes the best way to win over the next generation of voters is to resort to racial stereotypes and gay-baiting, then he has no understanding of the basic demographic challenges confronting the conservative movements. There's just no way his message will ever work. Conservatives can romance the past, but if they want to win elections, they can't live in it.