Trevor Phillips, one of Britain’s most influential black figures, accuses Barack Obama of cynically exploiting America’s racial divide and warned that Obama could prolong the rift:
In truth, Obama may be helping to postpone the arrival of a post-racial America, and I think he knows it. If he wins, the cynicism may be worth it to him and his party. In the end he is a politician and a very good one; his job is to win elections. He may even beat Hillary to the nomination (though I'd be surprised). But the harbinger of a post-racial America? I don't think so. Obama's boosters compare him with JFK (see below). But I think he has a more recent role model, whose charm, skill and ruthless cynicism he may come to emulate. I'm talking, of course, of William Jefferson Clinton.
Phillips gets to that conclusion after discussing Shelby Steele's theory that there are two kinds of influential black figures in US public life. The "challengers," such as Garvey, Malcolm X, and Jackson, "wield power by making whites feel guilty about the old crime and only allowing the guilt to be relieved in return for concessions of one kind or another." The second type, "bargainers," such as Poitier, King, Bill Cosby and Oprah Winfrey, strike a different deal by saying to white America: "I will not use America's horrible history of white racism against you, if you will promise not to use my race against me." [See Steele's new book about Obama, "A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win"]
I have lots of problems with Obama. I think Obama is a naive, extreme-left-wing LIBERAL, who talks of hope of achieving Camelot by governing in a nonpartisan manner. Despite his call for change -- and who doesn't want to change things -- Obama hasn't even made an effort to do anything in a bipartisan, let alone nonpartisan, way. Nevertheless, I have never thought of Obama's candidacy of exploiting the racial divide. No, that was done by Bill Clinton, on behalf of Hillary's campaign.
I disagree with Mr. Phillips. I see Obama's campaign as evidence we are making racial progress in America. I'm not about to vote for him, but that has nothing to do with Obama's race. It has everything to do with the fact that I agree with Senator McCain when he describes Obama's endless mantra as an "eloquent but empty call for change."
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