The racial divide in 2008

I just finished carefully reading through the text of Barack's "A More Perfect Union" speech on the racial divide. Barack once again gives a great speech and he certainty does a decent job of characterizing the current state of race relations in 2008 in America, but once again he fails to offer much in the way of a solution or a good reason why somehow he will actually be able to "make a difference" if it is him in the White House rather than somebody else.

In fact, it sure sounds as if his solution to the problem is to simply talk about it and otherwise accept it as it is... and enforce civil rights laws, and ensure equal access to opportunities, and... in general do all the things that Democrats decided to do back in the days of LBJ.

What is he really bringing to the table other than more dramatic delivery of stock Democratic party talking points? Sure, he is more passionate, even charismatic, but so what? He sure is putting a lot of emphasis on hope, but not really offering much in the way of real change.

That said, I really do want to recognize that his speech really was a robust characterization of the state of racial relations in America in 2008.

What that has to do with being president of the U.S. is rather murky. I do not recall any polls suggesting that racial relations was one of the top concerns among Americans.

-- Jack Krupansky