The Soft Bigotry of Low Expectations

Full disclosure: In part due to filial piety, I am an OSU partisan, therefore I pulled for Greg Oden and Mike Conley when the Buckeye duo ruled the Big 10 conference for a season. Additionally, I followed most of the big man's travels at Lawrence North, IN, where he threatened Oscar Robertson for the title of greatest Indiana high school basketball player ever. And as you may know, I endorsed Senator Barack Obama long ago.

Pardon the Interruption, one of the best shows on television, hailed Trail Blazer Greg Oden's recent endorsement of Barack Obama. Michael Wilbon: "I'm thrilled." Obviously, in comparison to the ABDICATION of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, the thoughtful NBA center comes off as the new Muhammad Ali or Jim Brown. In an age when multi-million dollar athletes are closer to corporations than the average wage-earner, we are told to applaud Oden's "taking a stand."

No.

At present, Senator Obama is the most liked presidential candidate since Bill Clinton following the 1992 Democratic National Convention, or maybe since President Reagan in 1984. Furthermore, the Illinois Democrat has amassed an incredible winning streak against the once-powerhouse force of Hillary Clinton. If that were not enough, the senator also leads virtually every general election poll against his presumed opponent, Senator John McCain of Arizona.

Anyone who has known me for even a short time realizes how much credit I afford to those willing to say or do something that may risk their current status and/or career. I became a full-fledged fan of the brilliant Alicia Keys, not because of her fine music, but due to her uninhibited comment on the American flag. Until the Dixie Chicks bailed to criticism following Nathalie Maines's remark about President Bush, I was impressed by them as well.

My central point is that supporting Barack Obama, particularly now, particularly for a young person, particularly for a black person, is the safest thing one can do in politics since deciding to back President Bush on 9/12. Where is the cost? Mr. Obama is currently wildly popular among most Americans, more importantly, his "negatives" (at present) are very low. Here is Mr. Oden:

"He is a very nice man and I am a big fan. I got the chance to go to his website and read up on some of his beliefs and there are things he is doing that I really support like his plan with education, civil rights, and health care. That's why Senator Obama is getting my vote."

Sigh. Should this truly impress us? Now, to be (slightly) fair to Greg, if in the future he comments in detail about Senator Obama's policy goals, especially when those very goals are coming under assault from Republicans in the campaign, I will amend my conclusions. Until such time, however, I am not going to give "dap" to individuals that espouse platitudes, only those that offer something along these lines:

"I support Barack Obama because I agree with his views that the wealthier Americans need to pay more taxes to support the less fortunate; that insurance companies that choose to fight his health care reform package deserve an embarrassing defeat; that justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito should prove the last of their ilk to reach the High Court; that, at minimum, civil unions should be afforded to persons in all US states."

Or show me a professional athlete willing to say that we should not pretend all scientists agree that (mainly) humans have caused the Earth's climate to change rapidly, or that we should send US soldiers to the Sudan, or boycott the 2008 Summer Games on account of the widespread suppression of free speech in China. Advocate military action against Tehran or offer support for the re-institution of forced busing, yet do it seriously, like the sultry Susan Sarandon, and take what heat may come your way.

Whether I agree with the person is immaterial, for what matters is whether individuals are willing to take a tough stance that could cause them some distress. Just don't expect me to applaud those that now give Barack Obama a thumbs-up.