Intentions vs. Perceptions, How the Dems Lost Their Way

I have been amongst the harshest of Clinton critics over the past several days, there is no doubt and I freely admit it.

As of right now, I'm going back to square one. I am giving the Clinton team the benefit of the doubt on the race flap. I'm doing this because of two words, intention and perception.

Join me after the flip for an analysis of these words and why I'm willing to give the Clinton Campaign the benefit of the doubt.

Words can be very funny things. This is due to perceptions, and how a phrase is perceived can be completely dependent upon a person's life experience. I believe that this is a central theme around why we find ourselves in the mess regarding race. This came to me after having a brief, and from my part visciously bilous, conversation with Blue Democrat in a diary composed by that Kossack. I'd like to take this opportunity to publically apologize to Blue Democrat for the words I typed. I was wrong to assume your intent when I have no way of knowing it.

After carefully considering Hillary Clinton's comments centered around Martin Luther King Jr., I find that I can point to no explicit ill intent. I perceived insensitivity, but now I do not believe that was her intent. If one explores the record, she has been in the forefront of improving race relations.

On the other hand, my perception allows me to see how nasty and condescending those remarks have to be perceived by many in the African American community. Coupled with other racially insensitve remarks by members of the Clinton campaign and high visibility supporters, and there is no doubt that a pattern emerges in perception.

From this analysis, a solution emerges. Members of the Clinton Campaign will have no choice but to carefully choose their words. A phrase I heard often when I was a child befits the situation:

Engage your brain before opening your mouth.

Words mean things, and can mean completely different things to those whose life experience is greatly different from yours.

On the other side, those who perceive racial insensitivity need to not jump to conclusions over intent. If I peceive racial insensitivity in a comment I hear from the Clinton team, or any Kossack, I will attempt to graciously point out how and why the comment could be perceived as racially insensitive. Again, a phrase is applicable:

Engage your brain before opening your mouth.

With that said, my hope is the two candidates involved in this will be able to come to similar conclusions. This is very difficult when there is little trust already between two groups.

The first candidate who is able to express the dichotomy of intentions and perceptions with regards to race should probably end up being the nominee.

But that's just my two cents...