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Will Black (And Other) Conservatives Abandon McCain Because Of Race

Many people have been attracted to Obama ? or at least to the idea of Obama, to the image of Obama created by his biracial campaign biography, etc. ? because of their belief (more like a hope) that his biracialism embodies the prospect of moving beyond race, of transcending the racial divide. (See the comments of some of his supporters, quoted recently here.)

The prospect, or even theoretical possibility, of ?moving beyond? race has an especially strong appeal to opponents of race preferences, a group that includes a number of influential black conservatives. As Ward Connerly, perhaps the most influential of this group, has observed on many occasions (such as here):

?The entire argument for race preferences is that society is institutionally racist and institutionally sexist, and you need affirmative action to level the playing field,? Mr. Connerly said. ?The historic success of Senator Obama, as well as Senator Clinton, dismantles that argument.?

That argument has apparently not yet persuaded Obama himself (perhaps, as Rev. Wright implies, because of the nature of his brain), but it has persuaded many voters, even many anti-affirmative black conservatives, many of whom, according to this recent article, are strongly considering supporting Obama. Although the article mentions Colin Powell and former Congressman J.C. Watts, they have always supported affirmative action. The list is impressive, however, because of the number of black conservatives on it who oppose race preferences. Examples:

• Armstrong Williams has never voted for a Democrat, but that could change. ?I don?t necessarily like his policies; I don?t like much that he advocates, but for the first time in my life, history thrusts me to really seriously think about it.?

• Joseph Phillips, who has appeared here here and here, wonders ?if this is the time where we get over the hump, where an Obama victory will finally, at long last, move us beyond some of the old conversations about race.? Phillips is still ?go[ing] back and forth? on Obama because of disagreements on so many other issues.

• John McWhorter, who has written exellent books on race (one pointed to here), says ?this issue of getting past race for real is such a wedge issue for me. And he is so intelligent, and I think he would be a perfectly competent president, that I'm for him. I want him to get in because, in a way, it will put me out of a job.?
  

Ward Connerly, however, is sadly unpersuaded.

With all my heart ? and for the betterment of my country ? I desperately wanted to believe that Sen. Barack Obama was not one of the same tired voices who peddle arguments about ?institutional racism.?

I have heard him say that America is not about ?black and white.? I was inspired when his supporters chanted at his rally on the night of his victory in South Carolina that ?race doesn?t matter.? I thought his March 18 speech about race had the potential to become a defining moment in our endless struggle to confront and conquer this issue. I was encouraged by his perceptive acknowledgment that affirmative action breeds resentment and hostility. As millions of whites cast their votes for him in predominantly white states, I held out hope that, perhaps, he truly was a transformative leader.

Those hopes were finally dashed, however, by the recent confirmation, discussed here, that Obama remains committed to preserving racial preference policies.

If Mr. Obama wants to be the candidate of ?change,? why doesn?t he change the idiotic racial classification system that burdens millions of Americans? Why doesn?t he call attention to the barbaric ?one-drop? (of hereditary blood) rule that continues to haunt our nation, and which drives him to identify with the ?black community? at the expense of his white ancestry? If he wants to unite the American people, how does he propose to do that by asking some Americans to accept preferential treatment for others and discrimination against themselves?

How does Mr. Obama expect America to compete with China and India when we abandon the principle of individual merit and elevate skin color and sex above performance?

Soothing rhetoric about uniting our nation against a backdrop of American flags isn?t sufficient to accomplish that objective. Specific policies like affirmative action ? and where candidates stand on them ? are where the rubber meets the road.

Unfortunately, so far Obama?s own refusal to consider ?change? where one of his party?s sacred cows is concerned has not been challenged by McCain, and thus Connerly offers his compelling advice to both candidates, not just Obama:

If either Barack Obama or John McCain want to be a truly ?post-racial president,? then it is essential that they support efforts to place our nation on a path to guarantee equal treatment under the law for all Americans. That means preferential treatment for none on the basis of their race, ethnic background, skin color or sex.

If, in the end, there is no substantial difference between McCain and Obama on race preferences, the enthusiasm (and perhaps even the votes) of conservatives for whom the principle of ?without regard? colorblind equality is so important will no doubt be diminished.

Colorado is on everyone?s short list of crucial swing states, and an initiative that would prohibit state-sponsored race, ethnic, and gender preferences will be on the ballot there in November. If McCain campaigns there by, in effect, saying ?Me, too? to Obama?s opposition to colorblind equality, he will indeed be No. 2 when the votes are counted.

Full post as published by Discriminations on June 16, 2008 (boomark / email).