Early in January of this year I mentioned to my wife how proud I was that we, as a nation and a voting public, had come so far. Up to that point, with all the sudden interest in the freshman Senator from Illinois' bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, I had not heard any real mention of his skin color. Oh, how the times have changed.
Even after Obama's somewhat surprising win in Iowa and his disappointing loss in New Hampshire, his race was still not part of his description. The media was transfixed by his oratory skill, his calm demeanor, his infectious smile - but nothing about his ethnic heritage.
Suddenly one evening in the build-up to the South Carolina primary, former President Bill Clinton was caught in an off-hand comment comparing Jesse Jackson's presidential bid with that of his wife's opponent. President Clinton commented on Obama's impending win in the state by recalling that Mr. Jackson had won South Carolina in both 1984 and 1988 without gaining the party nomination.
Even after Obama's somewhat surprising win in Iowa and his disappointing loss in New Hampshire, his race was still not part of his description. The media was transfixed by his oratory skill, his calm demeanor, his infectious smile - but nothing about his ethnic heritage.
Suddenly one evening in the build-up to the South Carolina primary, former President Bill Clinton was caught in an off-hand comment comparing Jesse Jackson's presidential bid with that of his wife's opponent. President Clinton commented on Obama's impending win in the state by recalling that Mr. Jackson had won South Carolina in both 1984 and 1988 without gaining the party nomination.
In and of itself the comment was either a simple stated fact or an underhanded judgement of both Mr. Jackson's and Senator Obama's race. The media decided it was the latter and and suddenly the headlines stated the obvious - Barack Obama has a dark complexion.
And, no, he's not an African-American - he's actually an Afro-Anglo-American. In fact, he's a lot like all of us Americans. We're all a hodge-podge of ethnicity and maybe that's been his appeal - he mirrors our society in a lot of ways.
This evening, after a week in which Clinton campaign fundraiser Geraldine Ferraro claimed Obama was lucky to be black and finally quit while remaining defiant, Hillary Clinton apologized for her husbands January comments. I imagine she's been very busy on the campaign trail and I'm sure this was really the first opportunity she's had to find a member of the press who was available to listen to her apology. No seriously - 2 months?
And here is Sen. Clinton's quote, given before an association of African American community newspapers, as the AP is reporting it this evening:
And, no, he's not an African-American - he's actually an Afro-Anglo-American. In fact, he's a lot like all of us Americans. We're all a hodge-podge of ethnicity and maybe that's been his appeal - he mirrors our society in a lot of ways.
This evening, after a week in which Clinton campaign fundraiser Geraldine Ferraro claimed Obama was lucky to be black and finally quit while remaining defiant, Hillary Clinton apologized for her husbands January comments. I imagine she's been very busy on the campaign trail and I'm sure this was really the first opportunity she's had to find a member of the press who was available to listen to her apology. No seriously - 2 months?
And here is Sen. Clinton's quote, given before an association of African American community newspapers, as the AP is reporting it this evening:
"You know I am sorry if anyone was offended. It was certainly not meant in any way to be offensive... Anyone who has followed my husband's public life or my public life know very well where we have stood and what we have stood for and who we have stood with."
But that isn't really an apology is it? She's sorry if you were offended, and if you were offended really that's probably your fault, and she's didn't mention that she's sorry that her husband said it.
Between then and now there have been fear tactics, foreboding TV ads, a discounting of the importance of all but the largest states and an unwillingness to reject the false claims that Obama is secretly a Muslim. Set aside some time in mid-May and get some pretzels and soda. Nothing like a "2-Months Too Late Non-Apology" party. See you then.
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