Black votes matter. If Republicans could get 20 percent of black votes,
the Democrats would be ruined. This is highly unlikely, given the
approach used by Republicans. However, the point is that Democrats must
not only continue to get nine-tenths of black votes, they also need to
get a high turnout of black voters on election day.
People who expected the election of President Barack Obama to lead to
racial healing and a post-racial society failed to take account of the
political reality that racial healing and a post-racial society would,
at a minimum, reduce black voter turnout.
Black votes matter to many politicians -- more so than black lives. That
is why such politicians must try to keep black voters fearful, angry
and resentful. Racial harmony would be a political disaster for such
politicians.
Racial polarization makes both the black population and the white
population worse off, but it makes politicians who depend on black votes
better off.
Hillary Clinton desperately needs black votes in this year's close
election. Promoting fear, anger and resentments among blacks -- and, if
possible, paranoia -- serves her political interest. Barack Obama has
mastered the art of keeping black voters aroused while keeping white
voters soothed -- thanks in part to the gullibility of much of the
public, who mistake geniality and glib rhetoric for honesty and good
will.
