by D. Keith Shurtleff

Created on: June 13, 2008

Racism In Reverse

Throughout the Democrat National Primary much has been made about the number of Black Americans who supported Obama and the number of White Americans who did not. Since there is very little of substance to be found in any of Obama's stump speeches it very well might be the case that many White Americans chose to NOT vote for him, based only on his race. Since it would be hard for them to dislike him based on policies which he has not expounded and which are unknown. If it is the case that White Americans did not vote for him based on his race, it is truly reprehensible and flies in the face of all our nation truly stands for.

However, if that is the case, then it is also very likely the case that many Black Americans voted FOR him simply based on race, again not being able to point to any specific policies that informed their vote. While the codling media, do not even explore this other possibility, rather spending its time and energy supporting the great liberal orator, the fact remains that both forms of racism are reprehensible. It is not just and act of racism, to vote against a person based on their race, but it is every bit as evil and bigoted to vote for a person based upon their race.

The fact is that candidates for office of President should be scrutinized for their policies, character, patriotism, courage under fire, and integrity without regard to race. In fact, to claim that any legitimate inquiry into a candidates character is racism, simply because the candidate is from a minority, is also a subtle but perverse form of racism. It projects the critic's own recognition of racial difference upon those who without mention of race or background, focus on the issues and character of a candidate. Such subtle racism is patently unfair in that it acts to protect a candidate from scrutiny if they are a minority, but offers no such protection to a candidate who happens to not be from a minority.

How refreshing it would be if race was not even mentioned for the rest of the 2008 election campaign, either by those who claim it is a valid ground for rejecting or accepting a candidate, or by those who try to use race to shield a candidate from honest scrutiny. In fact that seems to be the very sentiment that was espoused by Martin Luther King Jr. However, in spite of his dream of an America where people(substitute here political candidates) will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, this 2008 election seems to show us that we have still not arrived. Sadly, race continues to play a huge role in the election process.

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