Of Course Barack Couldn’t Win The Democratic Nomination If He Wasn’t Black

by John Hawkins | March 12, 2008 8:00 am

“A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.” — Michael Kinsley

Yesterday, Geraldine Ferraro[1] committed a gaffe by telling the truth about Barack Obama.

“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”

How can anyone even deny this obvious fact about Barack Obama?

The majority of his fan base is made up of black people who are voting for Barack because he’s black and guilt ridden white people who are voting for Barack so they can prove to all their friends that they’re not racists. Then you add to that, the Republicans and Independents who like him because he’s a “post-racial” black candidate, and you’ve probably accounted for what, 50%, 60%, 75% of Obama’s support so far in the primaries?

In other words, if Barack Obama had been white, he’d have been laughed off as too inexperienced to even be running for the job and he’d have been relegated to the bottom of the Democratic pile with Dennis Kucinich, Joe Biden, and Chris Dodd.

Does that mean that there aren’t Democratic racists who won’t vote for Barack because he’s black? Not at all. To the contrary, there are plenty of people like that supporting Hillary. But, the honest truth is that Barack’s race is much more of an asset than a hindrance to him, so much so that if he weren’t black, he wouldn’t have the slightest chance to win the Democratic nomination.

PS: Is that unfair? Some people may think so, but that’s what life is like. Every politician has different strengths and weaknesses that help them.

If John McCain hadn’t been a POW, would he be the GOP nominee? If Hillary Clinton hadn’t ridden her husband’s coat tails, would she be in the hunt for the Democratic nomination? If Ted Kennedy hadn’t been born a Kennedy, would he be in the Senate? If George Bush hadn’t been a Bush, would he be in the White House? If Arnold Schwarzenegger hadn’t been in the movies, would he be Governor of California? If Condi Rice weren’t a black woman, would anyone even be talking about her as a potential Vice-Presidential pick? For that matter, would Geraldine Ferarro have ever been considered for the Veep position if she were a man? Would Ronald Reagan, one of the greatest Presidents of all-time, have ever made it to the White House if he hadn’t been an actor? You can go on and on with these examples.

But, what it all comes down to is that there are all sorts of things about politicians that shouldn’t matter, but do. All you can really do about it is accept reality and deal with it as you find it.

Update #1: Bonus Ferraro[2],

“Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let’s address reality and the problems we’re facing in this world, you’re accused of being racist, so you have to shut up. Racism works in two different directions. I really think they’re attacking me because I’m white. How’s that?”

Actually, I can’t agree that they’re attacking Ferraro because she’s white. They’re attacking her because she dared to say something negative about the all-knowing Obamamessiah and the racism charge is the easiest way to fire back.

Incidentally, Republicans better get used to that charge, because if Obama is the nominee, it’s going to be leveled at pretty much any and every Republican who disagrees with Obama in any way — which is pretty ironic, isn’t it?

Here you have the first, post-racial black candidate for the presidency on the Left. He doesn’t ask people to vote for him because he’s black (even if they do), he doesn’t use his race as an excuse, and he doesn’t accuse people who disagree with him of being racists — but his supporters are constantly doing all those things and he’s content to let them do so. Does that, along with his anti-white spiritual mentor, Jeremiah Wright, suggest that maybe Obama isn’t very sincere about his beliefs? I think it does…

Update #2: From the comments section,

“Heck, if Obama were white, he’d be John Edwards.” — CavalierX[3]

Although Obama and Edwards are very similar politicians, I think that’s actually too kind to Obama.

Edwards is more accomplished, more experienced, and had a significantly higher profile than Obama when this whole thing started. If Obama was white, he would have been considered to be an inferior candidate to Edwards.