The Politics of Race in the Era of Barack Obama
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By electing its first black president, some Americans believe Dr. King's vision of a "colorblind" America has been achieved. Others call Barack Obama a Muslim who was born outside the country. What role is race playing in the re-election campaign? Also, the capsizing of an Italian cruise ship is blamed on human error, and there's one less Republican candidate for President today, and evangelical leaders have chosen a favorite from what's left of the pack.
Banner image: President Barack Obama tours the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial in Washington, DC, October 14, 2011. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Making News
Capsizing of Cruise Ship Blamed on Human Error ()
The search continues for 16 people still missing after the Italian luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia hit a rock and rolled on to its side Friday off the island of Giglio in the Mediterranean Sea. There were 4200 passengers on board. Six have been found dead. The owners of Costa Cruises are blaming the captain. Gavin Jones is reporting for the Reuters News Service.
Guests:
- Gavin Jones: Reuters
Main Topic
Dr. King's Dream and American Politics ()
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of a colorblind society. Forty-three years after he was gunned down, the first black president is running for re-election. Barack Obama has been criticized by African-Americans, including Cornell West and Tavis Smiley, for failing to focus more on the problems of black people. Republican challengers have called him a "food stamp president" who doesn't "understand America" and wants to "transform" it into a "socialist" country. Is that political code implying that a black man is different from other Americans? Is race still very much a part of American politics?
Guests:
- Peniel Joseph: Tufts University
- Marie Stroughter: African American Conservatives, @mariestroughter
- Walter Rhett: historian and writer, @walterrhett
- Mikki Taylor: Essence magazine
Links:
Reporter's Notebook
Santorum Wins Evangelical Backing ()
Former Utah Governor and Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination today. Calling for Party unity, he endorsed Mitt Romney, calling him the "candidate who is best-equipped to defeat the president and return conservative leadership to the White House." But a group of evangelical leaders met in Texas over the weekend to find agreement on a candidate other than Romney. Their choice is former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. One of those at the conclave was Richard Land, President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.
Guests:
- Richard Land: Southern Baptist Convention, @erlcsbc
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