Predictable as rain, the race card has surfaced just in time to stir up electoral passions, justify outcomes and explain away inconvenient truths.
Just days from Election Day, the zeitgeist belched up one of its least attractive — and least defensible — memes. (Was it the weather?)
Preemptive theories, in no particular order, include: Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama because they are both black (according to Romney surrogate John Sununu); if Obama loses Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, all of which voted for him in 2008, the old Confederacy will be restored (Daily Beast commentator Andrew Sullivan); Americans still harbor racial bias even if they don’t know it (recent online poll, Associated Press).
Anyone reading headlines related to the poll might infer that white Americans are biased toward black Americans. Extrapolating, given the current election season, it follows that if some voters prefer Romney, it is because Obama is African-American.
But a review of the poll reveals something not quite so definitive or sinister. Overall, the findings suggest that most Americans are moderate, fair-minded and for the most part don’t see things one way or the other based on race.
Some of the questions themselves, on the other hand, were unnecessarily provocative and biased. That is, their design was based on an assumption of racial bias.
For example, participants in the AP online poll were asked whether they agree or disagree with the following statements: “Irish, Italians, Jewish, and other minorities overcame prejudice and worked their way up. Blacks should do the same without special favors.”
What kind of question is this? Who doesn’t believe that everyone should work his or her way up? The underlying assumption is blatantly racist, implying as it does that blacks don’t work and do expect special favors.
It is heartening that the majority, perhaps perceiving the trap, neither strongly agreed nor disagreed.
Another statement read: “It’s really a matter of some people just not trying hard enough; if blacks would only try harder, they could just be as well off as whites.”
Why not just ask people when they stopped beating their children?
The lengthy poll posed similar questions about other races and ethnicities.
I selected these two because they were among the most egregiously biased and were most pertinent to the current election. It should be noted that most of those polled expressed a preference for Obama to win on Nov. 6, even though the figures have dipped somewhat since 2010, when the AP polling began.
Oh, and most identified themselves as white Christians (though not necessarily born-again) and most were from the South. So much for the Confederacy, which never dies in the eyes of some political commentators.
Sullivan found “fascinating” the reconstitution of the Confederate states should Romney win the three previously mentioned. But the obvious implication, Sullivan’s protests notwithstanding, is that people who vote for Romney in those states are necessarily racist.
What else could he have meant by mentioning the Confederacy in the context of a black incumbent president being rejected by three Southern states that previously embraced him? Operative words: “previously embraced him.”
What happened? Did all those people who voted for Obama in 2008 suddenly become racist? Or have they lost confidence in Obama four years later? Obama had a 70 percent approval rating early in his administration. Did all those people suddenly become racist?
We are not a nation naive enough to think race plays no part in our perceptions and responses. And where there are humans, there will be racists. But this nation also elected an African-American as its president. By an overwhelming majority, Americans like him and wanted him to succeed.
If Obama loses, it will be his own undoing. Meanwhile, no one questions why 95 percent of blacks support the president. Is it racial? Or is it simply that most African-Americans happen to be Democrats?
Sununu implied the former, hinting that Powell chose Obama out of racial loyalty. I wish Sununu hadn’t gone there. Had Powell endorsed Romney, he’d be a GOP hero, just as he now is to Democrats who have managed to overlook his convincing support for the weapons of mass destruction hypothesis in Iraq.
So it goes. But even the netherworld of politics should have standards. To preemptively label people racist for favoring a candidate who happens to be white, and otherwise advancing a narrative that will create only racial animus should Obama lose, is implicitly biased, intellectually dishonest and a breach of good faith. Stop it.
Kathleen Parker is a columnist with the Washington Post Writers Group. Her email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com.
If you want to see the race card being played, all you have to do is watch MSNBC. Chris Matthews has got to be the worst reporter on TV today. He cannot respect anyone’s position, if it’s not the same as his. He says that if the white male popualtion doesn’t vote for Obama it’s because of racial bias. No Chris! It’s because YOU the media sold a bad product to the American people. He is a terrible POTUS and will go down probably as on of the worst. And I don’t blame Obama. I blame the liberal media, who wouldn’t tell the truth about him.
I have seen ample racism spread during the past 4 years, much of it as “funny” emails based on the US President’s heritage. Furthermore, I’m quite sure Chris Matthews never said what you imply here. What he may have said is that racism is a factor in the race and he is right about that.
Actually, I seem to recall Matthews saying that. I wonder if it’s on Youtube somewhere.
I am already hearing rumbles about how racism will be the reason that Obama doesn’t get reelected.
I doubt very much he will go down as one of the worst Presidents ever. Read some history and you’ll find some that are far worse. What will go down as the worst in history however, is Congress for the past 2 years. And Chris Matthews is far from the worst you have to look at Faux news for that.
I agree that most Americans (I hope it’s most) are not racist but I worry more about the minority who are either racist or are at least heavily prejudiced on a race basis. The obvious or not so subtile digs on the President’s race and background can be construed as evidence for this. In addition, not all Southerners are prejudiced but a significant number are including, on a related matter, referring to the Civil was as “The War of Northern Aggression”. The resaons for choosing either candidate are complex for all too many, it’s the only reason for all too many on a prejudicial basis.
I also agree: both sides should cut the cr*p. Now.
Racism doesn’t exist because you say so? Because you’re tired of hearing it? Ridiculous.
“But a review of the poll reveals something not quite so definitive or sinister. Overall, the findings suggest that most Americans are moderate, fair-minded and for the most part don’t see things one way or the other based on race.”
What kind of poll suggests that? Because when you look at actual real polls that deal with the subject, the exact opposite of what this author is saying is demonstrated.
http://comm.stanford.edu/faculty/krosnick/docs/2012/2012%20Voting%20and%20Racism.pdf
I’d kind of like to read that but I really don’t have the time. I suspect I’d question it anyway.
It just states that a majority of Americans (all, not just white people), demonstrate some racial baises. Sometimes overt and sometimes not.
I don’t know why it’s a massive issue to admit that racism exists and yes, sometimes it does motivate politic attacks. If we admit it exists, we can work to move beyond that — we can work on forcing ourself to admit it’s not fair to judge or stereotype with skin color as a basis.
Of course racism exists. I’ve always said everyone is racist. but the story above is accurate too. This questions asked do imply certain things, certain things about certain races. I’m not convinced and never have been that Sybolic Racism studies are accurate.
We are in agreement here. There needs to be a frank discussion…without condemning one while excusing another.
ok… here we go… Both of my brothers were in the military, my older brother for 20 years and my younger brother for 8… and bluntly stated.. they will vote against Obama because he is black (they used more colorful language and they state that their experiences in the military influences that opinion). Racism is alive and well for whatever “reason”. To deny it is to deny the nose on your face.
All you got to do is listen to Chrissy Mathews and MSNBC and the most racist comments come from them. When someone voted for Obama they weren’t racist or they were guilt ridden so they voted for him. Now because he is incompetent and the smooth polish has worn off, you will now be a racist for not voting for him. The black vote can never be accused of racism for their vote right? What an argument! Only the diehard libbers will use this for an excuse and how dare anyone see that Obama has been one lousy pres and say so. Remember….certain words can’t be said anymore, ask Chrissy, they are all racist innuendos. Ban the dictionary next.
Oh, so they weren’t going to vote for a Democrat, but then they felt guilty and switched to Obama? Get real.