Politics

A friend of mine once referred to a prominent black conservative writer as a “blackface mercenary.” In kind of a knee-jerk response, I agreed, since I disagree with most so-called black conservatives. On deeper reflection, I asked myself: is that really a fair characterization? And then I recalled a curious little essay by one black…

If Sen. Barack Obama harbors any hope of winning the Ohio Democratic primary, he will have to flip the script on his so-far successful formula. In most of his primary and caucus victories, Obama relied on the energy and excitement of college kids to build a movement-like crusade. The settings for his stump speeches have…

I was starting to get very concerned about Cindy McCain. Up until this past Tuesday afternoon, when she took a not-so-subtle shot at Michelle Obama, she has been what some have dubbed the political “Stepford Wife.” Think about it. Mrs. McCain walks quietly and adoringly behind her husband as he campaigns. She is blonde, blue-eyed,…

After living here for two years, I’ve grown accustomed to life in Hawaii. My attorney is Japanese. The woman who rings up my eco-friendly Martha Stewart pans at K-Mart is Filipino. The baggers at Safeway are aging Hawaiian ladies, and the young woman who takes my order at Jamba Juice is “hapa haole,” or half-white.…

Can Obama be elected? Can he actually win? Is Bill Clinton right about the Obama fairy tale? I am sick and tired of these questions. Yes he can! Yes we can! Remember, a village in Texas has been missing its idiot for nearly 8 years now. If we can elect Bush president of the United…

President Bush has traveled to the African continent on a trip billed as “an opportunity to demonstrate America’s commitment to the people of…Africa.” Yet Africans are likely to be as skeptical of Mr. Bush’s “compassionate conservatism” as African Americans. Bush is frequently heralded as the president that has done more for Africa than any in…

The image most people have of slavery involves a cotton plantation with a big white house, a black village where 300 people live in cabins and a cruel overseer in the wings. This was not the model followed by the ancestors of President George W. Bush when, 175 years ago, they enslaved about 30 people…

Who put Tavis Smiley in charge? Over the past two months African Americans have emerged as equal partners in a multi-racial, intergenerational, bipartisan, national coalition led by the most exciting political candidate of the past four decades, who also happens to be the first viable African-American presidential possibility in our history. So why is Tavis…