During the 2000 election debacle, I was working with a man who was an orthodox Jew. He was conservative but not party-oriented and therefore did not make his preference known regarding the as-of-yet undecided outcome of the election. I can say that he was virulently anti-gay. we had many debates about "the gays" and I told him about my incredibly generous and wonderful sister who happened to be gay and no matter how glowing my desciptions and examples of my sister's acts of kindness, he asserted and re-asserted that her life was immoral and she was destined for hell. This was a man who was offended enough by a Timeout New York (a magazine publication here in NYC)cover photo of two statuesque shirtless gay men locked in a kiss that he wrote a letter of disgust to the magazine and they published it. He proudly walked around the office showing everyone how his letter had been published, sparking discomfort and awkward congratulations.
Needless to say this is a man whom I had many less-than-civil political discussions with. When the election was finally decided in Bush's favor by the Supreme Court I was in a serious funk. I remember we were walking down the street and I expressed my dismay and he expressed his relief.
"Oh, so you're a Republican." I said.
"No, I'm not" he replied.
"What?"
"I am relieved that Leiberman didn't get in."
"What? Why?" I said. "Isn't he an orthodox Jew like you? I would think you would love to see the first orthodox Jewish vice president."
"No way. It's too high-profile. Imagine if something big and bad happened? Everyone would blame the Jew."
I relate that story because the memory of that conversation was rekindled after reading Marjorie Valbrun's Op-ed in WaPo today.
The discourse, occurring mostly among black people, has been dominated by questions about Obama's being biracial, his immigrant father and his suitability as a presidential candidate, given that his life story doesn't parallel that of most blacks born in the United States. Some have implied that only a black candidate whose ancestors were slaves here or who have themselves experienced the trauma of this country's racial history can truly understand what it means to be black in America and represent the political interests of black Americans.
Now granted, there are many who will say that I have no right to weigh in on a question that seems to revolve around Barak Obama's degree of "blackness" which, even SAYING "his degree of blackness" I find utterly offensive. Even having a feeling of offense, I feel I am not entitled to it as though this is not my debate to have; This is not my issue to weigh in on. But quite honestly, I think it is a discussion that is not being had and it should at least be tiouched upon.
What Valbrun speaks to is most certainly an issue and debate that only a suburban born, caucasian fool would rush in to and pontificate on the "issue's" validity. However, apart from this WaPo article, this issue is one that I have not heard of coming from the black community (for the most part), but an argument from the right-wing, racist, bloviating, twisted, race-baiting sickos with big soap boxes.
I was all prepared for this issue to be debated as; 'what degree should the boiling oil be for Limbaugh's fat, drug-addled racist ass?', not an actual debate about Obama's "blackness" by the black community. Am I the only one seeing the absurdity of this being taken seriously?
Is Colin Powell WHITE enough?
Is Bush incompetent enough?
Is Leiberman Jewish enough?
This is, IMHO, on a par with Limbaugh's Michael J. Fox drama; The media asking with a straight face, "Is Michael J. Fox fair game?"
Before my awareness of this debate in the black community, I believed that there was one reason why this debate about Obama's blackness is being propagated; The right cannot say "Don't elect a black president. You can't trust him." But they can talk about his blackness. They can question his blackness. They can continually remind the voters that he's a scary black guy no matter how white and appealing he may seem, and guess what? Therefore...you can't trust him.
Personally I don't believe that this debate does any justice to the black community or Barak Obama, it merely helps keep the racist-conservtive meme afloat. And please someone explain to me if there really is a debate in the black community about his blackness? And if there is, I seriously question the merits of the argument. Is it similar to my orthodox Jewish friend? Is it a fear of being blamed? Of taking any more heat as a race, as a culture, as a societal scape-goat?
I ask this question with an instinctual, visceral knowledge that I tread on dangerous ground. But this is not being discussed by the left. This question's stauts as an issue has me flustered and confused.