Blogging on Meds

He isn’t free of her yet, but Barack Obama may have already won a battle more important than the one fought against Hillary Clinton. Prior to Obama’s surprise win in Iowa, Shelby Steele, a noted black conservative (no, Condi is not alone), wrote a book, A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can’t Win. Steele diagramed the pitfalls that awaited an Obama candidacy, and how it was highly unlikely that he would prevail.According to Steele, the problem that Barack faced is that there are two kinds of black people: “Bargainers” and “Challengers.” Bargainers are black people who adopt a mask that’s affable and decidedly non-confrontational. The bargainer says to white people, “I will not use America’s horrible history of white racism against you, if you will promise not to use my race against me.” Steele places Oprah, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Obama in this category. Challengers are far less forgiving and more accusatory. They presume that “whites are incorrigibly racist until they do something to prove otherwise.” Insert Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, and KRS-ONE here. Essentially, Steele saw Obama’s problem as the paradox of wearing two masks. If Obama was to obtain broad based white support, he must be a Bargainer. But, if he appeared to be pandering to whites, he would lose the equally important black vote as well. To retain black support, he must be a Challenger, but that would frighten, anger or turn off white voters. Since he could not simultaneously wear the two masks, he could not win. (You can see Steele on Bill Moyer’s Journal at the link here. Ironically, he asks, “would John McCain have a pastor who said ‘God damn America’?” No, just one that insists God damns American citizens).

What’s so disturbing about Steele’s proposition was not his over-simplification of 21^st century race relations, but how compelling and persuasive it was. The subtext of Hillary’s argument on Obama’s lack of electability is that his overwhelming black support will turn away white support overwhelmingly. As we approach the edge of a moment that will likely result in Obama being named the Democratic nominee, Steele’s warning seems out of touch. But, this historic event owes some credit to the unexpected boon that came out of the Reverend Wright controversy. Obama’s association with Wright triggered the fear that he was a Challenger pretending to be a Bargainer (like Chuck D pretending to be Will Smith). His Philadelphia speech on race was the game changer. He neither put on the mask of the Bargainer, which the talking heads were anticipating, or that of the Challenger, which a number of his supporters were defiantly trying on. Instead, he shunned all masks and discussed race in a way few politicians had done before, with honesty, and without an appeal to isolated groups, but to the better instincts of all Americans. When we look back on his candidacy, history will confirm that as the moment when we were not just persuaded, but convinced that he was the right leader at the right time. He was no longer a Bound Man confined by racial restraints; he freed himself and became a Liberated Man.

He’s reaped the rewards of dealing with the Wright situation so successfully, as evidenced by his massive win in North Carolina, but race is still an obstacle, as evidenced by his massive loss in West Virginia. But, the votes of the mind-numb people that still believe he’s a Muslim or that would never vote for a black man, are votes he never had a chance of getting.Race will surface again when he faces McCain in the fall. Republicans have made no secret about their intentions to use the Wright issue. But, I’m sure that McCain doesn’t know that the climate has shifted (and that it’s time for his nap). The shift is generational. Voters are tired of discussing race in the same old ways. Obama’s nomination will galvanize the young, blacks, and elite Prius driving, Equinox gym members into a formidable voting coalition. Wright based attacks will hold no sway. (All this talk of masks makes me anxious for Halloween, less than a week before Election Day. By then the New York Times’ infamous exposé on John McCain will have resurfaced, forcing him to wear the mask of a Transformer…and you know he’s a Decepticon.)