Republicans and Democrats are making two differents cases about race...and both are right.
Much has been made about race and racism in this campaign. Rightly so, Obama is afterall the first person of color to get the nomination of a major political party for the Presidency. It seems to me that eah side is making a case about racism in this election and it seems to me that both are right. The question is - which argument will get traction?
Here is the Republican arguement:
It is not racist to oppose Obama.
This is fair. It certainly is not racist to oppose Obama. A person has every intellectual right to oppose Obama's tax plan, support the war, oppose nationalized health care, be pro-life and yes even question Obama's experience. The fact that Obama happens to be black has nothing to with the fact that many Republicans (particularly those earning over 250k) would reject his policies. They have every right to vote Republican and I think it is unfair to charge that just because you oppose Obama you are a racist. In fact you can oppose him admantly and even make attack him vicously on policy and not be racist. To call a true blue conservative racist just because they prefer McCain is wrong and frankly offensive.
Here is the Democratic arguement:
There are people who oppose Obama just because he is black. These people are voting for McCain.
Right again! There are racists and they will vote McCain simply because he is white. Some of these racists are Dem's who will vote against thier natural political stripes just because Obama is black. I would add that many Republicans are racist AND oppose Obama's policies - so they have two reasons to vote against him.
So you can see the conundrum for both camps. Obama can't say to oppose me IS racist eventhough in some cases it is. McCain can't admit that some of his supporters ARE racist eventhough some of them are.
Of these two positions I think Obamas is better. The question for some voters may become - do you want to vote for the candidate that the "racists" are voting for? It certainly doesn't mean you are racist to oppose Obama but if you do - you will be joining with Americans who are. I beleive this will be a turnoff for swing voters. I think in the end if all things are equal for a voter that voter may vote for Obama. At least they KNOW they aren't joining with the fraction of McCain voters are racists.