Since the early 1960s, the the African American vote has been the backbone of the Democratic coalition, the Presidency won by a combination of a super majority black vote and a minority white vote. Bill Clinton winning approximately winning 40% of the white votes in 92 and 96 and winning 85% of the black votes. Even Jimmy Carter only won 47% of the white votes.
We did not hear Clinton's opponents claiming that blacks were racists or that they had the support of the majority of the hardworking white people. If Nixon, Reagan, Bush or Dole or even GWB had said something like that, the very same Democratic Hillary supporters, who accuse the blacks of racism would have been shocked and horrified.
I understand that in the heat of things, people say stuff that they would never dream of saying in a calm state. And Hillary's supporters just as Obama's people are good and decent. I was a Hillary supporter during her darkest days in in the late 90s when her new friends, Bill O'Reilly, Scaife, Limbaugh and co were piling up on them. I still remember when Limbaugh compared Chelsea to a dog. And Bill goes on his show the day before the Texas primary.
If Hillary has run a issue oriented campaign as opposed to dog whistling about how she was more electable that Obama, she may have even won it. She lost me in South Carolina. And many others left her along the way.
I cannot imagine Bill Clinton in 1992, saying that Bush Sr. would be a better commander in Chief than Tsongas. I could not imagine Gore saying that Dukakis because of his Greek ethnicity would be unelectable in the south. Hell, I couldnt imagine, Dick Cheney emphasize Joe Lieberman's Jewish heritage in the deep south.
Hillary Clinton is the first Presidential candidate who has ever said "Don't vote for him, because hardworking white people wont vote for him". She has brought down the discussion such a low level and peeled off healing scabs, I fear that this has the potential of dissolving the coalition.
To those who sneer at these concerns, just remember what Pete Wilson did to the Republican Hispanic coalition in California and nationwide.
Even if everything is settled by election time, I fear that
the scars may not heal.