>>As I've said before, a young white man named John Smith, with Obama's resume and one partial term in the Senate, who also made a good speech would never have made it this far, I think. Do you?<<
Kate -
Perhaps saying he is "only an idea" is not demeaning his character. It only demeans him as a qualified candidate. So I'll give you that one.
I do think, however, that a young white man with all of Obama's gifts and charisma, and with an equivalent resume, might very well make it this far, and even farther. I think you are ignoring the fact that Democrats have been longing for a truly charismatic, likeable candidate for a long time. We're sick of redwoods like Gore and Kerry.
I suppose some people might be excited about the idea of a black president, and thus be more likely than they otherwise would be to support Obama. But just as many people, I submit, would not vote for him because he is black, either because they are, to some degree, racist, or because they believe that a black candidate is less electable overall.
As for your hypothetical white candidate, I realize that it happened a long time ago, but Lincoln got himself elected President.
- Allen |
