Is America Ready for an Affirmative Action President?

The question is often asked “Is America ready for a Black President?” It is most often asked by Liberals like Jacob Weisberg who proclaims that If Obama Loses Racism is the only reason McCain might beat him.

In Weisberg’s mind the only reason people would not vote for Barack Obama is because they are racists.

Citing President Bush’s unpopularity (keep in mind that Bush is not running), he maintains that

“Barack Obama, with every natural and structural advantage in the presidential race, is running only neck-and-neck against John McCain, a sub-par Republican nominee with a list of liabilities longer than a Joe Biden monologue. Obama has built a crack political operation, raised record sums, and inspired millions with his eloquence and vision. McCain has struggled with a fractious campaign team, lacks clarity and discipline, and remains a stranger to charisma. Yet at the moment, the two of them appear to be tied. What gives?”

Let’s parse that paragraph: Obama has a
· “crack political organization”
· Raised lots of money
· Gives a good speech
So based on these attributes he deserves to be our next president. If he is not, why not?

His answer is racism. He cites the result of a NY Times poll which refers to, in his words:

“…white America's curious sense of racial grievance. In the poll, 26 percent of whites say they have been victims of discrimination.”

Note the word "curious." Your mind’s ear can hear the incredulity in Weisberg’s voice. Whites cannot be the victims of discrimination in Weisberg’s universe. By Liberal definition, whites are the oppressors, never the oppressed.

This ties together with the reason why Barack Obama is the Democrat’s choice for President: he’s Black.

Note that nowhere in Weisberg’s article is there any reference to Obama’s accomplishments. To ask the question is to answer it: he has none. In Chicago, his leadership of a $50 million dollar program to improve public schools left the schools there in arguably worse condition. The housing for the poor in Obama’s district is abominable, in part due to Tony Rezko. Poor Black people are being forced out of Michelle Obama’s hospital in an initiative spearheaded by the candidate’s wife.

Obama’s associates are a disreputable bunch of race hustlers like Jeremiah Wright; unrepentant terrorists like William Ayers, and convicted grafters like Tony Rezko.

So his singular accomplishments include the ability to give a good speech that sends a thrill down the legs of Chris Matthews, the fact that his last name is not Clinton (The Accidental Candidate), and the fact that he’s Black. That, my friends is the very definition of an affirmative action candidate.

We have had forty years of affirmative action in all walks of life. Not enough women or minorities in management? Hire and promote more, and white men waiting for the job or promotion can just wait until the quota is filled. Not enough minority police officers or firemen in the upper ranks? Promote more and whites can wait their turn.

To the Weisbergs of this world, these decisions are not the subject of legitimate grievance. The white males who see themselves passed over should just suck it up and realize that they are paying for the sins of their race. In fact, to even resent this shows just how racist they are. Affirmative action is good, and those who would question its “collateral damage” are themselves racists of the worst kind: racist who do not acknowledge their racism. But Jacob Weisberg has found you out.

To question the fitness of Obama for the presidency is, according to Weisberg,

“.. prejudice usually … coded in distortions about Obama and his background.”

Objections to Obama’s lack of experience, programs, associates and failures are illegitimate; because he’s Black. We don't ask if an affirmative action hire is the most qualified, we only note the race or gender.

Let’s not dismiss out of hand the goals of affirmative action. People have been kept out of jobs because of the color of their skin or their gender. So it’s time to ask if America should now elect an affirmative action candidate to the highest office in the land.

Weisberg believes that

“the biggest issues we face: a failing health care system, oil dependency, income stagnation, and climate change.”

If you believe that these are really the biggest issues facing America, you too may want to vote for Obama. These are "his" issues.

If, on the other hand you believe that some other issues are bigger: issues like a newly energized Russia re-creating its empire, Islamofacism as a world-wide terrorist movement that has not been defeated, high fuels costs, and a global financial crisis. If these issues are senior to Weisberg’s list you may just want to elect a president with a few more years of experience and a more realistic view of the world.

Weisberg’s entire screed is a paean to affirmative action. He demands that we make Barack Obama our first affirmative action President. Old white men need not apply.