Jack & Jill Politics

In the VA Senate race, Virginians have a tough choice. Do they vote for a revealed racist — George “Mr. Macaca” Allen or for a candidate who panders insincerely to a key minority voting bloc — Jim Webb.

It shows the emerging power of the black and minority vote that Jim Webb has felt the need to “clarify” his position on affirmative action both before the primary and in the middle of the race. It’s ok for African-Americans but not ok for everyone else. Except for maybe poor whites who grew up struggling like he did. Or something like that.

I agree with Webb that the U.S. does a poor job in general of providing equal opportunity for education and job training for low-income, tax paying citizens of any race. We can and should do a better job of helping all those who want to succeed, who want a higher education, who want to start their own small business, who want to learn new information technology or customer service skills to strive for a better life. America’s economic strength is its middle class. Any initiative that grows the middle class grows our strength as a nation.

Yet, it’s clear from reports coming in that even in meeting with African-American Democratic leaders that he doesn’t “get it”. Even one of his stronger supporters in the black community spoke in code when describing the meeting.

Del. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, one of the few black leaders to back Webb over Harris Miller in the Democratic primary, said, “George Allen’s macaca slur showed George Allen’s true feelings. It exposed his heart.”

McEachin described the meeting at the mansion as “a good give and take. It showed what needs to happen for Jim Webb to win the campaign.”

For those of you who have trouble reading between the lines, let me translate for you. “A lot of people in the Black community are not happy with Webb nor his campaign and they had a chance to express that clearly to his face. His answers didn’t completely satisfy or re-assure them. Yet, hopefully with some continuing dialogue, we might be able to help him understand how to speak successfully to the concerns of African-American voters in VA and get elected.”

His website doesn’t even address his stand on affirmative action despite the controversy surrounding his position. His past statements calling affirmative action “state-sponsored racism” are extreme and troubling. It’s a tough choice for Virginians and I don’t envy them. Are they forced to choose between racist or racist-er?