Re: [A-List] O and racism

[Carrol Cox <cbcox@xxxxxxxxx>]

Charles Brown wrote:
> 
> Of course, the term "racist" should be used here. Obama has racist obstacles in his path.  He took a tact of "transcending" race as the only way he could remotely get masses of white votes.

This is true enough -- and, ultimately, racism is the most serious
threat to his winning in NOvember, as sexism would be the most serious
threat to Clinton winning in November. But it is also true that probably
only a very special sort of candidate could have defeated Clinton for
the nomination, and a candidate who can appeal to both anti-racists,
blacks, _and_ one large sector of racists (those who see the problem as
race relations rather than as oppression of blacks) -- such a candidate
probably had the best chance.

We will never know for sure the exact 'balance' of racism, liberal
racism, and sexism which is determining the outcome, whatever it may be,
of both the nomination and the general election. All are clearly
important.

But we can at least be happy that however it turns out, there are going
to be a large number of unhappy Democrats over the next couple of years,
and that is all to the good.

Carrol