Politics of interjecting race into Presidential campaign

more at http://www.theuptake.org
University of Minnesota Professor John Logie talks about how the Clinton campaign has interjected race into the election and how Hillary Clinton's "concession" speech shows just how close this race really is.

This is a second part of John Logie's analysis.
Transcription:

As has often been the case in this campaign, Barack Obama delivered a speech that was exemplary in terms of political rhetoric. The takeaway phrase in this was "the choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders. It's not about rich vs. poor, young vs. old and it is not about black vs. white. It is about the past vs. the future". Barack Obama clearly thinks that's a winning message. This was the central point in a speech that was highly visible. And it's an argument that might well change the dynamics of the upcoming contest on what we're now stupidly calling "Super Duper Tuesday".

It will be interesting to see how the mainstream media covers Obama victory and in particular Obama's powerful speech. Or whether the next news cycle is dominated by someone who has a habit of dominating news cycles and that's Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton managed to pull the focus away from his wife's campaign yet again with his comparison of Barack Obama to Jesse Jackson.
The clear import of Clinton's comparison is to suggest that Black candidates do well in South Carolina and thus, Barack Obama then impending victory could be discounted because "hey, South Carolina voters tend to like Black candidates."

With that I think we can close any further debate as to whether the Clinton campaign is actively injecting race as an issue into the 2008 Democratic primary season. They are doing it. Bill Clinton is doing it. Whether he is the designated attack dog for the Clinton campaign or just a loose cannon, this is unfortunate. It's especially unfortunate given the sharp contrast between Clinton's role in this campaign and the role of his predecessors have tended to take in previous campaigns. Admittedly he's in a difficult situation, being both a former President and Presidents have tended to maintain a kind of respectful silence as campaigns have unfolded. He's also a political spouse and there are certain obligations. But, I think you could draw a sharp contrast between the role he's taken and the role either Elizabeth Edwards or Michelle Obama has taken. Both of whom have tended to be much more supportive of the merits of their spouses rather than attacking opponents.

There was a subtle but clear indication about just how close this race is by the way the Clinton camp conceded -- and I'm using the word conceded loosely. They finished in a distant second place and the Clinton camp elected not to have Hillary Clinton speak in the form of a traditional concession speech, but delivered a short written message to the press. That message said among other things "on to Florida."

Because Florida and Michigan jumped the gun and held primaries before February 5th, their delegates don't count. And there was an agreement among most Democrats not to campaign there. Now as we saw in Michigan, Hillary Clinton's name ended up on the ballot despite that agreement. And that dynamic is playing out again in Florida. So essentially Hillary Clinton is running uncontested in those states. And she wants votes to count. If the core message coming out of her "concession" to Barack Obama in the South Carolina primary is "now we're moving on to Florida", that's an indication of just how close this race has gotten.

So that's how things look from a kitchen table in south Minneapolis. For The Uptake, this is John Logie

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[mslluellyn]

Yes, they are. The HillaWillie campaign is playing the race card. Winning in S.C. makes Obama the Jesse Jackson candidate.

Translation: He is the candidate for "the Negros."

Remind HillaWillie she is dismissing all those white voters in Iowa. Obama is the President for all Americans.

[freff]

Not at all, but the context that Clinton invoked Jackson left no doubt in any political observer exactly what his real intent was.

Bill knows the game. He's been around a very long time, and he's a southern politician himself. He didn't get to where he's gotten, both in Arkansas and on the national scene without know the coded language of southern racial politics.

In that one instant though, he overstepped badly and basically shattered his credibility within the party probably for good.

[wildguido]

The only people injecting racism into this race are the onces that are racist. I am white and I don't see color when I see Obama.

[moscar00]

rate me 1-10 p

[mikeoze]

hey guys, Obama got white blood too so dnt call him black

[dcmej]

Obama voted as a senator Against the BORN ALIVE CHILD DEFENCE ACT that means if after a failed abortion the BABY is born ALIVE put the BABY that is ALIVE in a bucket in the corner until the BABY is DEAD. That is something that is important to Obama . NOT ABORTION were talking.KILLING CHILDREN that are ALIVE.

[segagman]

nice to see people as thoughtful as you

[cap1949]

In this hard economic times Spam for prez and rice for vice prez.

[Oneforthegoodofall]

Great comment dude! At least I don't go around calling people stupid or any other names. Din't dude go out in the 80's some where????? Come back to the future!

[roomsixproductions]

Dude, you're so stupid, my dog just read what you typed and said, "GRRRWHAT???!"