Kerwick's Corner: A Matter of Color

Several weeks ago I blogged about Barack Obama's victory and you responded.

Many of you disagreed with me when I said that Obama's victory was a referendum on the economy and race relations in America and that the color of his skin had more to do with his victory than the content of his character. Many of you misinterpreted that to mean that I believed his color somehow prevented him from being qualified to be president, momentarily forgetting my next few lines:

This is not to say that Obama's character makes him unworthy of the office. I'm not saying that at all. Lest you forget, in the dog days of the primary, I lauded Obama for his political acumen, and even admitted that he might make a good president one day. I still believe John McCain was the better choice in this election, but Barack Obama is not a bad one by any means.

I still believe what I wrote -- all of it. And I'm warming to the idea of a Barack Obama presidency. From the little I've seen so far, I can't help but be pleased. He seems to be showing a genuine interest in non-partisanship, and I think that's a step in the right direction -- it's one of the many reasons I liked John McCain. McCain has always been his own man, and that has often gotten him into trouble with members of his own party and with many on the right.

As for Obama, the proof will be in the pudding, not the crust, so we'll see what happens when it comes to policy. He's surrounding himself with people of alternative views and when you do this, it's difficult not to see the other side's points. That means those points will at least be considered when Obama drafts his legislative proposals and executive orders.

Was color a factor in the election? Without a doubt. Does that preclude Obama from becoming a good president? Not at all.

This week, About.com Guest writer Jack Kerwick weighs in on the subject of race and the election (as you knew he would eventually), and offers what I believe to be a rather insightful look at the issue. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

From the column:

Imagine that it was not Barack Obama, but, say, Clarence Thomas, or at least a Clarence Thomas-like figure, that had been running for the presidency. Due to the fact that Thomas is all black, not half-black, like Obama, he is several shades darker than the latter, but does anyone seriously think that the media would have been sweating over whether whites would refuse to vote for him “just because he is black?”

Photo © Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

More From Kerwick:

• A Racism Industry in Overdrive
• Why Barack Obama Won
• The Death of Racism & the Return of the True Conservatives