Clintons Civil Rights Lesson - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog
The comment, an apparent reference to Senator Barack Obama, is particularly striking given documented fears among blacks that Mr. Obama will be assassinated if elected.
This Obama assassination meme is getting a lot of play, especially on the left. But is there anything to it? Will Obama be assassinated if he is elected?
Short answer: No.
Detailed answer: The American left has several irrational beliefs - well, irrational today - that are grounded in their cultural memories of the 1960s. There is of course the notion that the real enemy of America is White Militias (never mind that it was a committed communist who murdered their Saint John of Hyannisport, and a committed Palestinian savage who murdered Saint John’s brother), and then there is the notion that all their heros - from MLK to JFK to Che - will be murdered by “the man.” Finally, there is their deepseated conviction that America is racist to the bone, that there has been no improvement in the nearly fifty years since Dr. King began his crusade for the sort of equality that bears no resemblance to the affirmative action swamp we actually ended up in.
But the reality of today is far different than half-century old New Left fantasies. America is a far less racist place than it was then. An entire generation - the Greatest Generation - that was in charge when the New Left first rose is today dead and buried. The old anti-black passions simply aren’t there any more. Nor are the “white militias” (always overblown, today non-existent in any sense of real power) that were supposed to express this racism in acts of violence. And finally, in today’s threat-rich environment, the capabilities of those who protect a President are by an order of magnitude, at least, more effective.
So, the somewhat longer answer: Neither the sort of virulent racism America once knew, nor those capable of expressing it effectively in violent acts still exist, and even if they did, it wouldn’t be able to crack a president’s protective shield.
No, Obama won’t be assassinated.
Submit to Stumbled Upon!
Good points, Bill. Guess I’d better scratch that off my ‘08 predictions…
I think it is highly unlikely - but I don’t claim it is impossible.
If he is assassinated, it’s most likely not going to be simply because he’s a black president, and more related to the fact that he’s the incumbent President of the United States/Great Satan.
I tend to agree, John, but that is not the meme currently circulating among blacks and the left in general. That meme says that he will be murdered by white racists who cannot tolerate a black man in power over them. That Islamofascists might do it is completely outside their belief cloud - everybody knows that the only problems with the Muslims are the ones caused by George W. Bush.
And the racists, of course.
What if he doesn’t make it to the Democrat National Convention? What if he is assassinated and Hillary winds up as the nominee? Do you think White Racist America wants that?
Well, the New Meme would then be that Hillary will be murdered, too, because, well, that’s the only thing white racists know how to do.
Bill, did you see this little piece of loverliness from HuffPo?
Of course, one can imagine the Clinton Mafia licking their chops. “Hmmmm…. No more Obama. Bush takes the blame. How hard are Blackwater badges and logos to fake, anyway?”
Vince Foster, call your office! ;-)