Following Jim Webb's recent insightful and highly relevant comments
about Appalachia and racial sentiments he really should be considered
the top-tier VP candidate, as long as he passes a vetting process for
skeletons.
Webb argues very well that
1. There is bias against black and brown minorities in Appalachia, creating a wall for Obama.
However, 2. It is not merely racism, but a feeling that the
affirmative action programs of the 60s went beyond historical justice
for African Americans to aiding other minorities and in effect at the
expense of the socio-economically poor in general (e.g. whites also in
poverty).
Therefore, 3. If Obama were to speak to this cultural group with this understanding in mind he would be able to reach them.
I have heard this idea floating around before (on Slate?) that
perhaps one of the most dramatic, powerful things Obama could do to win
the 'hearts and minds' of the vast mainstream of America would be to propose transforming affirmative action
programs from being race-based to being purely poverty-based.
Of course this is a pivot that could meet resistance from the base, but who can disagree that it is a policy change whose time must come at some point anyhow?
OBAMA / WEBB '08