Holy Crap
Well, this was unexpected and we all know it wasn’t McCain’s doing. Palin stole the show and any voter’s swinging toward McCain are doing so because of Palin. So what did she say that was so persuasive?
NOTHING.
Entertaining sure. Persuasive? Rousing? No, not really. So why the bump? Well, here’s my thought. Racists. I’m not talking your white hoods and pajama party racists; we have largely moved beyond that. I think this bump is about the subtler racism in society. Where we can trust and care for the black guy we know personally but get scared or anxious when approached by a black stranger. It’s a pervasive and stubborn form of racism that parades itself as caution.
This is why I’m willing to say, “I’m a racist”. You know, maybe I should never run for political office after having said that. I can just see that being misconstrued but the point is that we give ourselves a pass since we don’t HATE black people. We just feel slightly uncomfortable around them until we determine it’s safe…guilty until proven innocent.
And I think the Palin Bump here is a result of this stealth racism. It’s not that she’s a racist, though there is speculation. It’s that she’s the pleasant alternative for those who are inherently uncomfortable with a black man they haven’t personally vetted. They can say, “she’s so sassy” or “that’s one tough lady” and write it off as an attraction to her personality and it’s so easy to do. But she didn’t give us a reason to want to support her, just a pleasant face to latch onto because it’s easier than facing our own demons.
-cyranicles
p.s. I recently wrote a poem touching on this topic here.
