Two symbolic ends of the social spectrum are embodied in the men running for President. In big picture terms we have the culmination of the Civil Rights Act of 1960, Mr. Obama, seen as a Black man of modest birth, running against Mr. McCain, the archetypal white Republican candidate, a senior citizen, a career politician, and a decorated veteran from an accomplished military family. What better defines the separation of people in this country than these two men? In one corner, we have a liberal community activist, a political social worker if you will, and in the other corner, a conservative POW veteran and career politician, a hawk.
One of the big questions in my mind is this; can Obama bring together a coalition of the underclass of all colors? Can he meld them into one powerful voting bloc? If he can succeed at that then perhaps the political landscape of America will be forever changed. Whether or not John McCain is wealthy, he represents the wealthy as a Republican in the minds of most. Since he’s earning well over $200k per year in a military pension, social security and his Senate salary, I’d say he’s at the very least upper-middle class. Obama may have started out middle class but barring some personal flub of epic proportions, he’s never destined to be there again. And yet, despite his Harvard education and potential wealth, he represents as a Black man, the underclass of America. He has worked in the inner city so he has some “street-cred”. He can also legitimately articulate the interests of the middle class white man as part of the larger underclass of America.
Since the country was formed, powerful white men have ruled it. For just as long, underclass whites have identified with the powerful. They’ve worked for them and they’ve served them hoping some day to be included in their club. A select few now and then have earned a spot in the club by becoming wealthy. Most of the underclass in America has seen the gap between rich and poor widen. Even the focus of the unions has turned to government and service jobs, away from the shrinking traditional labor in manufacturing. The rich are served by government and they are the primary consumers of the service sector. American society is increasingly structured to serve the wealthiest among us.
Now along comes Obama who speaks about change and simply by being Black presents the very picture of change. Does he have the power of will and the charisma to draw in the blue collar, white worker? Can he weave together a coalition of the underclass with a message they will accept? It will take a shift in thinking for the Archie Bunkers of America to accept that they are part of the poor underclass that includes the Black man. Can blue collar workers be shaken out of the “American Dream”? Can Barack prove that despite their color they have never been invited to the club and that they probably never will be? Can Barack help them see that the only color that actually matters to the rich is green?
I am fascinated and fearful. There could be an opportunity for real change that hidden racism could erase; that is, if blue collar white people vote based on color. I see a youth movement behind Obama that may well propel him into the White House if the underclass coalition is successfully constructed.
I question whether the young people working in Barack’s campaign understand why his election is in doubt at all. It should not be, not given the state of the crippled Republican party. Are the young people familiar with the fears and prejudices of their parents that produce such indignation at the words of his former pastor?
I wonder if everyone knows what changes they want once Barack Obama elected. Is this merely a raucous ride on a parade float? Do they have the will to make sacrifices to make changes happen? If the parade ends at the White House and the crowd simply disappears into the scenery then nothing new will have happened. We cannot afford to vote color in this election and we cannot afford to end our parade with a victory only to be left unheard outside the gates of power.
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