LET THE PANDERING BEGIN – AT 9:53 A.M. ET:   As some readers know, I started the political end of my career in liberal politics, as a campaign aide to the distinguished senator from Illinois, Paul Douglas, who was also a true war hero, severely wounded at Okinawa.  I still have great respect for true liberals, national defense liberals like Mr. Douglas, Scoop Jackson and Stuart Symington.  I have little regard for the current crops, who are leftists, not liberals.

Let me relate an incident from the 1960 campaign.  I was with Mr. Douglas in an African-American neighborhood.  We were parked in the campaign van.  A black woman came up to speak with the senator.  During the conversation Mr. Douglas said, "I know that democracy hasn't been too kind to your people."  The woman's face froze.  She replied coldly, "I do all right."

Mr. Douglas later reflected on the incident.  He realized, he said, that he had offended the woman by patronizing her, offending her pride.  He'd meant well, but it hadn't come off that way.

I thought of that incident when I read this story last night, from AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is creating a new office to bolster education of African-American students.

The White House says the office will coordinate the work of communities and federal agencies to ensure that African-American youngsters are better prepared for high school, college and career.

Obama is announcing his election-year initiative Wednesday night in a speech to the civil rights group the National Urban League as he seeks to rally black voters. Aides say his executive order, to be signed Thursday, will set a goal of producing "a more effective continuum" of programs for African-American students.

COMMENT:  This is just awful.  It is pandering at its worst.  If I were an African-American I'd feel insulted and patronized.

Also, it is wrong to set up a federal office for the students of only one ethnic group.  Obviously, this is just an election-year gimmick to stimulate a lethargic black electorate, but it separates us, rather than unites us.  It also stigmatizes.  There are plenty of opportunities for black kids today.  If they aren't seizing those opportunities, the problem is in upbringing, mentoring and local failure, not in the lack of a federal program. 

The mentality of the sixties is really back, isn't it?

July 26, 2012