Ever since Senator Barack Obama of Illinois announced his running for Democratic nominee for the United States Presidential election of 2008, the issue of race played a major factor. Race along with gender were two major factors that played throughout the Democratic primary contest. The gender topic was major because of Obama’s very formidable opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.
It was very historical on the part of the Democratic Party. One candidate is female and the other candidate is biracial. Around June, it was Obama that ended up winning the Democratic nomination.
Even through the general election race, the issue of race still continues to be brought up. The most notable example would be the attack on Obama’s connection with the controversial Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who became notorious for his “God Damn America” sermon. During the Democratic primary, the Clinton campaign had tried to use that against Obama.
But, it backfired.
As of recently, the campaign for GOP Presidential nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona has been trying to hammer Obama on his connections with Wright and William Ayers. Ayers is the founder of the radical anti-war group known as the Weather Underground.
However, it does not having the desired effective. It was revealed that McCain is unwilling to attack Obama on Wright. However, aides along with McCain’s VP running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin have insisted that he does. But, the main focus is on Palin.
This may come back to bite Palin and in turn bite McCain.
Alaska’s black leaders have stepped forward and weighed in on Sarah Palin of injecting race into the campaign. While McCain refuses to attack Obama on the issue, Palin continues to poke at the subject.
According to Reverend Alonzo Patterson, Palin is being very insensitive to minorities. He said: “She’s really inciting a lot of African-Americans to get out and vote.” That would mean, she’s inadvertently citing a lot of African-Americans to vote for Obama.
It’s also revealed that the relationship between Palin and black leaders have been tense at times ever since becoming Alaska’s Governor in 2006. While Governor, it was revealed that Palin opposed a proclamation that did not bode well with Alaska’s black community.
The proclamation was for support and endorsement of a festival that celebrates the free of black slaves.
At the same time, Palin’s campaign trail attracted those with negative views towards minorities.
Palin’s black constituents themselves are disgusted with her tactics. According to Javis Odom, a minister in Anchorage, the Palin rallies were similar to the KKK rallies. Odom feels that Palin is showing her “true colors” on the stage of the nation.
For those that had kept track of the recent McCain-Palin rallies the last week and a half, there was a lot of “hatred” and “intolerance” directed towards Obama.
Democratic Representative John Lewis of Georgia, an African-American, had compared those rallies to those by then Democratic Governor George Wallace. This is an example on how injecting race is like opening up Pandora’s Box, there is going to be some random usually some negative and counter-productive effect.
In short, Alaska’s black leaders have spoken out and feel Palin is insensitive to minorities. On a side note, blacks make up only four percent of Alaska’s population. Eighteen percent of the population are Alaska Natives.
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