Is Obama Playing the Race Card? It Appears So

After an ugly Democratic Primary, where race raised its ugly head in a party that claims to be so egalitarian, now it seems to be emerging in the general election. This week, in Missouri, Barack Obama described criticism coming from the McCain campaign in this manner:

"....So, what they are trying to do is make you scared of me. You know, he's (Obama) not patriotic enough. He's got a funny name. You know, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills. You know, he's risky."

The McCain campaign (Rick Davis, McCain Campaign manager) reacted by accusing Obama of "playing the race card from the bottom of the deck."

I would agree, and here is why. First of all, who in the McCain campaign (or Republican Party) for that matter, has said anything about the fact that Obama doesn't look like previous presidents?

Who in the McCain campaign has tried to scare voters about Obama because of his name?

Are the Republicans trying to say that we should be afraid of an Obama presidency? Sure, why not? I am afraid of an Obama presidency. I am afraid of the policies he will institute if he is elected. I regard him as a leftist. I am conservative.

Is he risky? Absolutely. There is nothing wrong with making Obama's policies front and center.

Is there a question about his patriotism? Well, yes. I have not come to a final conclusion on this question, but given the language coming out of his church the past 20 years and some comments from his wife, I have to say that there is a bit of doubt. Thus, it is a legitimate campaign issue. Remember this:

"God D--- America!" (Jeremiah Wright)

"America is a really mean country" (Michelle Obama)

"For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud to be an American" (Michelle Obama).

But to get back to the race issue, in my mind, Obama is indeed playing the race card with this week's comments. In Berlin, he made a similar comment to the crowd reminding them that he didn't look like previous presidents who had visited Berlin.

I speak for myself here, but I think America is ready for an African-American president, a woman president, Hispanic president or Asian-American president. But it depends on who the person is and what his/her policies are. I am ready to vote for a black candidate for president, but it is not Barack Obama. There are some black Republican conservatives I find very attractive such as Michael Steele or Lynn Swann, but I don't think either one is ready to run for the office.

Frankly, I am burned out on the whole subject of race. Burned out or not, however, we have to continue addressing it. However, if Barack Obama intends to make this election a referendum on race, he is making a mistake. Originally, he said that if he lost his campaign it would not be because of his race rather because his message was not accepted by the voters. He should stick to that theme.

So who is he directing this argument to? Is it to the African-American electorate? Or is it to guilt-ridden white voters who would give him their votes to assuage their own guilt for America's racial past?

Let this election be decided on the future direction this country should take. Most Americans will turn away from Obama if he makes this a referendum on race. It will only bring back memories (still fresh) of Jeremiah Wright.

It is becoming increasingly clear that Obama is arrogant and starting to believe his press clippings as the "second coming of the Messiah." However, if he loses this election, it will not be because America is still a racist country. It will be because the American people looked closely at him-and found him wanting.