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Equality: It?s Good Politics

A few days ago, as I noted here, Mickey Kaus argued that McCain ?could get right with GOP conservatives and virtually guarantee his nomination? if he would do one thing: ?Promise that he won't press for his ?comprehensive immigration reform? legislation during his first term.? I then added:

Here?s another thing that would work just about as well, and better if done in conjunction with the Border Promise: announce his strong support of the civil rights initiatives barring racial preferences that are likely to be on the November 2008 ballot in five states, including his home state of Arizona. Such a move would neutralize the support Giuliani has received (and deserved) from enlisting Ward Connerly as one of his delegate candidates in California.

There he goes again. Now Mickey is back, explaining ?How Obama Can Win.? Noting that ?the idea that Obama has been ?ghettoized? as the ?black? candidate has become the accepted template for the campaign ? even the point that a win in hotly contested South Carolina on Saturday is seen as actually hurting Obama? (citing the Dick Morris argument I mentioned here), Mickey suggests a way out of the racial trap the Clintons? have set: the ?obvious move,? he writes, ?is to find a Sister Souljah ? after Saturday ? to stiff arm.? And, he continues,

[t]he most promising candidate is not a person, but an idea: race-based affirmative action. Obama has already made noises about shifting to a class-based, race-blind system of preferences. What if he made that explicit? Wouldn't that shock hostile white voters into taking a second look at his candidacy? He'd renew his image as trans-race leader (and healer). The howls of criticism from the conventional civil-rights establishment ? they'd flood the cable shows ? would provide him with an army of Souljahs to hold off. If anyone noticed Hillary in the ensuing fuss, it would be to put her on the spot--she'd be the one defending mend-it-don't-end-it civil rights orthodoxy.

Even though I?m on record (this is a record, isn?t it?) with doubts about Obama?s willingness or ability to endorse the principle of colorblind ?without regard? equality (see, for starters, here, here, here, here, here, and here), I think Mickey?s recommendation is a good one. I wish Obama would accept it.

Imagine that! Advocating colorblind equality would be good politics, for both Democrats and Republicans. Must be something inherently American about the idea.

Full post as published by Discriminations on January 23, 2008 (boomark / email).