Recent Washington Post-ABC News polls have shown a drop in the number of blacks who have ”strongly favorable” views of Obama and those who think his policies are improving the economy. This has coincided with vocal criticism of the president among some members of the Congressional Black Caucus and other African American leaders.I don't really have a problem with exhortations towards solidarity amongst the members of a group. We Greeks were told to vote for Dukakis because he was Greek, and a lot did. In the gay community we have an organization whose sole purpose is to help gay candidates get elected. And none of that bothers me. And it doesn't necessarily bother me if some people argue that the black community should support President Obama because he's black.
But the focus on sticking together has prompted criticism from some who call it an overly simplistic view that shuts off dialogue about Obama’s achievements and his failures.
“It truncates vibrant conversation in the black community,” said Eddie Glaude Jr., a professor of religion and African American studies at Princeton University. “What I hear them saying is, ‘Black folk need to get in lock step because we don’t want Republicans to take the White House.’ There is a kind of disciplining of the black polity that doesn’t lend itself to a vibrant and detailed consideration about political issues.”
But. There is a problem if we're asked to stop thinking entirely simply because of the race or sexual orientation, or whatever other defining characteristic, of the candidate - that we should vote for him regardless of what we think of him simply because he's gay or black or whatever. The problem is that this can be a license for the candidate, or elected official, to do whatever they choose, or break whatever promise, with impunity. Elections at their best impose a certain check and balance on politicians and their promises. And as the old adage goes, there's no reason to buy the cow if you can get the milk for free.
At some point, politicians need to earn our vote. And we need to earn their respect. Or we're never going to get anything better than "at least I'm not the other guy."
