Crist comments on slave reparations may have sunk Obama in Florida
By Gary Reese
Florida Insider
March 31, 2008 — Definition 1A of “Serendipity” is “the accidental discovery of something fortunate, especially when looking for something else entirely.” Definition 1B is “Charlie Crist.” On March 26, the Republican Florida governor put an exclamation point on the Legislature’s unanimously passed apology for slavery by saying financial reparations for the descendants of slaves is an idea he’s open to considering. Incredibly, his politically ham-fisted comments could possibly end up doing nothing less than assuring that America doesn’t elect a black president in November. His dyed-in-the-wool liberal sentiments can only help the Republicans in the presidential race. The governor habitually displays a disconnect between words and deeds, but never like this. His undoubtedly sincere sentiments about the limitless tragedy of American slavery make for Exhibit A. The black caucus leader of the Florida House told media that the apology is just the first step in making amends for slavery. It’s not hard to guess that the “last step” would be some serious jack into the bank accounts of Florida blacks. He also compared incarceration of blacks for criminal convictions to slavery. A black history professor told another reporter that the apology was “too little, too late.” In other words, the official apology may have opened more wounds than it healed. It sanctioned and energized the black grievance industry. Reparations as a political issue may reverberate in many tones before all is said and done. The chances of the state of Florida appropriating serious money to slave descendants are zero. Surely that’s why Gov. Crist saw no harm in refusing to dismiss – or even to discourage – the idea. He knows that others will attack the notion, and snuff out any such legislation so he won’t have to. So why not let his heart bleed a little? The reason is that the conservative wing of the Florida Republican Party is demoralized with the national political scene and angry with their own governor for taking them for granted. And yet once again, Crist may do the biggest favor for the same right-wingers that are so disenchanted with him. If Barack Obama needs Florida’s electoral votes, he’d better pray that reparations isn’t so much as mentioned when and if he campaigns here this fall. Unfortunately for him, his voting base – blacks – is bound to bring it up. After all, the Republican governor has opened the door to a discussion about reparations, so why shouldn’t blacks’ “own” candidate run the same standard up the flag pole? Yes, some awkward moments on the campaign trail for John McCain and Charlie Crist may also come, based on Crist’s comments this week. But the issue of race is a winner for the GOP this fall and a loser for the Democrats. Serious discussion by sincere people about race in American politics is impossible to profit by. Knee-jerk emotions trump reason and deliberation every time. Nobody changes their minds, and “discussions” quickly become angry harangues. There are a lot more white voters than black ones in Florida. Blacks are already a lock to turn out in droves to vote for Obama if he is the Democratic nominee. Whites are a sleeping dog on race, however. Given the disgust with George Bush and the Republican Party, many of them are ready to vote for “the other guy” versus McCain, no matter who he or she is. But if black anger becomes a political football this fall, Barack Obama might as well take a knee. The Legislature handled the apology resolution as well as possible: There was no debate, discussion or roll-call vote. And everybody agreed, more or less, to close ranks and vote unanimously, so that no lawmaker can have their vote used against them in their own re-elections. Fine. In a matter of days, the press would be likely to move on to something else. But Charlie Crist has left open a door to more on this. The perpetual lack of proportion he displays in his lovey-dovey administration likely will hurt him somewhere down the road. (For one thing, you can make John McCain’s “short list” of possible vice-presidential running mates even shorter now – Crist is almost certainly not on it any more.) But irony casts a colossal shadow on this whole affair: Crist may have guaranteed Republican triumph this fall in the presidential race by his having embraced the liberals again. Is he brilliant or lucky? Does it matter? |
