Philosophy
With so much talk of the Bradley effect and the reverse Bradley effect lately, I began wondering about something that might be a common cause but could probably not be accounted for in quantitative analysis. The character of President David Palmer on the show 24, was a strong, smart, competent African American. Could the prominence of this character have created the archetype of an acceptable African American president in the minds of Americans worried about national security?
The Bradley effect, in which people tell pollsters that they support a minority candidate, but do not vote for him/her, is based upon racial beliefs and those beliefs are affected by what we think is normal. Our perceptions of normality are shaped by what we see, even -- perhaps especially -- fiction. We know that 24 has shaped the national debate on the morality of torture, for example, being cited even by a Supreme Court justice. Could it also be affecting the larger cultural mind about what is acceptable in terms of race?
If so, the idea that a pro-torture, neo-conservative, fear-mongering drama on Fox setting the table for a Democratic President would have to go in the "irony can be so ironic" file.
- Irony Can Be So Ironic: Affordable Care Objections
Listening to the arguments from the Supreme Court yesterday, the "irony can be so ironic" file had to be opened wide. When President Obama approached the health care debate, he looked at recent history. Republicans went nuts over "Hilary-care"...
- How Different Is It?
It was 150 years ago today that Fort Sumter was attacked starting the Civil War. The war over slavery was indicative of a problematic view of race that we have had in this nation since it began. We hold up the first African-American President as evidence...
- "it's Not About Race."
TheWife and I were in Baltimore Saturday to see the President Elect speak as a part of his whistle-stop tour. It was crowded. I saw Americans of many, many backgrounds: Middle-Eastern, East Asian, Latino, South Asian, African-American, European-American,...
- A Deal Lieberman Couldn't Refuse?
Seems to me that there are four possible explanations for the Lieberman fiasco: (1) The caucus believes that they are at 60 with Begich and Franken and the super-majority was more important than Lieberman's behavior. (2) Obama is serious about ending...
- Chelsea Manning's Letter To The President
Every day that goes by, when new developments on the Bradley Manning story unfold, and especially in light of the difficult obstacles and pressures she has had to face throughout her life and career, my admiration for this remarkable, courageous and principled...
Philosophy
David Palmer and Barack Obama
With so much talk of the Bradley effect and the reverse Bradley effect lately, I began wondering about something that might be a common cause but could probably not be accounted for in quantitative analysis. The character of President David Palmer on the show 24, was a strong, smart, competent African American. Could the prominence of this character have created the archetype of an acceptable African American president in the minds of Americans worried about national security?
The Bradley effect, in which people tell pollsters that they support a minority candidate, but do not vote for him/her, is based upon racial beliefs and those beliefs are affected by what we think is normal. Our perceptions of normality are shaped by what we see, even -- perhaps especially -- fiction. We know that 24 has shaped the national debate on the morality of torture, for example, being cited even by a Supreme Court justice. Could it also be affecting the larger cultural mind about what is acceptable in terms of race?
If so, the idea that a pro-torture, neo-conservative, fear-mongering drama on Fox setting the table for a Democratic President would have to go in the "irony can be so ironic" file.
- Irony Can Be So Ironic: Affordable Care Objections
Listening to the arguments from the Supreme Court yesterday, the "irony can be so ironic" file had to be opened wide. When President Obama approached the health care debate, he looked at recent history. Republicans went nuts over "Hilary-care"...
- How Different Is It?
It was 150 years ago today that Fort Sumter was attacked starting the Civil War. The war over slavery was indicative of a problematic view of race that we have had in this nation since it began. We hold up the first African-American President as evidence...
- "it's Not About Race."
TheWife and I were in Baltimore Saturday to see the President Elect speak as a part of his whistle-stop tour. It was crowded. I saw Americans of many, many backgrounds: Middle-Eastern, East Asian, Latino, South Asian, African-American, European-American,...
- A Deal Lieberman Couldn't Refuse?
Seems to me that there are four possible explanations for the Lieberman fiasco: (1) The caucus believes that they are at 60 with Begich and Franken and the super-majority was more important than Lieberman's behavior. (2) Obama is serious about ending...
- Chelsea Manning's Letter To The President
Every day that goes by, when new developments on the Bradley Manning story unfold, and especially in light of the difficult obstacles and pressures she has had to face throughout her life and career, my admiration for this remarkable, courageous and principled...