Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Obamas: Did Condoleezza Rice plow the road?
Blake Hounshell at FP Passport makes an interesting point that I have not seen elsewhere (emphasis added):
Michelle Obama got some of her biggest applause last night when she thanked "People like Hillary Clinton, who put those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, so that our daughters and sons can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher." Against the backdrop of a press- and chattering-class fueled story about an enduring split between die-hard Hillary backers and Barack Obama, it was a deft political move.
Watching Michelle, I couldn't help but think that she might also have given a shout-out to Condoleezza Rice. Isn't it likely that Americans, accustomed to seeing an assertive African-American woman on TV every night for the past seven years, are more comfortable with Michelle Obama as a result? After Michelle's speech, Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann of MSNBC were marveling at the fact that six years ago, it would have been hard to imagine an African-American family up on the stage as a possible first family. For that, the Obamas may have Rice to thank.
It is almost certainly true that Condoleezza Rice, leading by both example and precept, has plowed the road for the Obamas. It is a bit much, perhaps, for Michelle Obama to enrage so many of her husband's supporters by saying as much at the Democratic National Convention, but it would be interesting to know whether she would admit as much in a different setting. Some reporter should put the question to her. Her answer, almost no matter what it is, would be instructive.
4 Comments:
By 
, at
Tue Aug 26, 06:39:00 PM:
Is McCain smart enough to select Condoleezza Rice as his Vice Presidential running mate? Is Dr. Rice dumb enough to accept? Dumb enough because she would be the next President either taking over mid-term from McCain or winning election in 2012.
By 
Dawnfire82, at
Tue Aug 26, 07:51:00 PM:
Silly Hawk... don't you know that black Republicans are race traitors, and usually don't get mentioned by their Democratic fellows in anything other than disparaging terms, if at all?
By , at
Tue Aug 26, 09:20:00 PM:
It's too bad the MSM doesn't want to be in any way confrontational with the Obamas. Many people have noticed that they seem to ignore both Condelezza Rice and Colin Powell. Barak Obama only mentioned Clarance Thomas to put him down.
By Peter Dow, at
Wed Aug 27, 07:53:00 AM:
Condoleezza Rice has shown us the road to a new and better world.
Please read my blog post and view my Condi videos playlist (the best spent 2 hours 15 minutes of your life!)
McCain - Rice 2008 ticket. The case for VP Condi.
Peter Dow,
Owner, Rice for President Yahoo Group
