Actually he does it quite often, but has some pretty good points on a recent column attacking Obama.
Generally, OneMan makes a good point about how no one actually addresses the issues and I hope he does start with some he disagrees on–it’ll be interesting.
Going back to the columnist, I’ll point out a couple other problems. First, the petty bit about whether Obama is biracial or African-American misses the basic point that most African-Americans are multi-racial. Obama, strangely, probably has some of the more clear cut ethnic lines of most African-Americans. Ethnicity is a social construct and we acknowledge it in race as adding both the social and the physical to some degree in physical characteristics. But in society, it is hard to imagine that most don’t view and that Barack himself views himself as African-American.
Second, Herbert’s piece really doesn’t say vote for him because of race. In fact, the message seems to be that Obama is transcending race by reaching people who aren’t African-American. But details, schmetails. And many people do call on people to vote for white candidates that make substantial efforts to reach African-Americans. Two Republican examples include Jack! and Jim Talent in Missouri (I often mention Talent as an example of how white politicians should reach African-Americans).
Many, many more problems, but OneMan deals with most of those.
Obama is part of a new breed of African American politicians who are highly educated, articulate professionals who appeal to affluent white liberals but still haven’t lost touch base with their roots in African American neighborhoods. Michael Coleman, the Mayor of Columbus OH, is another good example. Harold Ford from Tennesse would fit in here as well. To a lesser extent, I think Jesse Jackson Jr. might fit too.
They share some interesting characteristics. They are extremely knowledgeable on policy issues. They promote innovative programs that blend some aspect of conservative philosophy to achieve a progressive goal. And they are all young — not the first “affirmative action” generation to get higher education, but children of that generation.
These politicians are the next wave in breaking down race barriers at the top levels of government. It will be interesting to see what they accomplish.