Don't blame racism

Obama’s recent setbacks are of his own making | Joel Belz

You're beginning to hear it now—and I predict the accusatory chant will pick up in volume between now and the gathering of the Democratic National Convention in Denver in late August. It will sound like thunder by Nov. 4.

The charge will be that we are a racist nation after all, and that when finally presented with a golden opportunity to elect an attractive minority candidate, we are likely to flunk the test. So shame, shame! Just to avoid such embarrassment, get on the bandwagon and demonstrate your tolerant spirit!

The problem with such an analysis, though, is that it stands reality on its head. The America I see, both through my own observation and through the often-twisted media, is an America that would dearly love to elect its first minority president—if only the first credible minority candidate for that office would demonstrate enough integrity to deserve election.