Barack Obama's Magic Bouncing Race Card (and other tricks)

Presidential Election day, according to my calculations, is 91 days away and I've been saying for some time now that not only will the race card be played (in fact it already HAS been played), but the AGE card will be the ace in the hole for the Obama camp. Evidence of these predictions came as a response to the "Celeb" ad from the McCain troops showing Obama as the beloved, vacuous celebrity teleprompter voicetrack some believe him to be. Rock Star? yes. Commander-in-chief? no.

Well, Well. It seems it didn't take very long (a few days and a weekend, really) for us to fully understand the ramifications of this little Obama retort, given several times over the last week on the stump:

Obama "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."

This comment was made by the messianic presumptive democratic nominee after John McCain had the unmitigated gall to actually campaign for President of the United States. He did so with the aforementioned ad -- found here. As an aside, may I say, the Presidency is an office I can only assume McCain wants to hold, based on his willingness to avoid confrontation and UN- willingness or inability to show pizazz on the stump. The "Celeb" ad notwithstanding, John McCain reminds me a bit of my 80 year old Grandfather after he cuts the front lawn. He'll "finish the job" regardless of what it looks like later, but you can tell he's not so sure he should have started to begin with and his heart wasn't in it when he got done...but I digress.

Obama responded to the ad last week by saying McCain was trying to scare you into not voting for him. Part of his reasoning is in the above quote. Barack doesn't look like the presidents on the "dollar bills". I guess I could be cheap and point out the obvious...i.e there is only one dollar bill design and only one guy on it. I COULD point out that Obama looks as much like George Washington as I do. (and I'm white) -- but I won't. We all know know what Barack had in mind.

Of course, I'd merely be left to guess on the intent except Obama chief strategist David Axelrod made clear Friday that Barack was, indeed, discussing his melanin. Find it.... here. In my opinion, this is all a subtle play to cast McCain as a thing of the past - a relic - in the mold (or mould) of Washington, Jefferson, Jackson. Old. White. Dead.

According to an opinion piece by AJC editorial page editor Cynthia Tucker found here race is not only a factor, but it is inevitable AND (this is the best part) its all John McCain's FAULT. Cynthia opitomizes the Obama position on race. He wants to have it both ways. Celebrate his glass ceiling-shattering and historic accomplishment as a grand shining moment in black history and, at the same time, DARE anyone from the heretofore white hierarchy to even mention Obama's hypocrisy when it comes to color. Put it this way....if I, as a talk show host, had said precisely the words that Obama did, I would be labeled racist and some would have called for my firing. Why? My offense? Mentioning Obama's skin. However OBAMA can bring it up with impunity...

...and that is the point...isn't it? To play the race card from BOTH the top and bottom and DARE your opponent to show a winning hand. Meanwhile, unmentioned even in bloggers paradise is the use of the subtle ageist tactics, that will (I predict) topple McCain once and for all once the Black Knight rises to conquer his old, has-been pasty-white opponent during the debates. Kids (18-26 year olds) for the first time in history will alter an election. These youngsters will elect Barack Obama, to simultaneously prove his color matters, and to prove it doesn't.