Raising Race

-- By AdamCarlis - 18 Feb 2008

Introduction

In a presidential campaign, “experience” could mean any number of things and so it means precisely nothing; making it a winning word for politicians crafting a message the masses can support. It works because it’s versatile. The word’s ambiguity prompts voters to interpret the candidates’ messages in a way most in concert with their own worldview. Mr. Obama uses the term “quarter century of experience” to denigrate old man McCain? and some American’s picture an aging Washington insider. Mrs. Clinton raises her own “experience” as a foil to newcomer Mr. Obama and many of those same Americans picture a young man not quite ready for oval office. In each case, the audience is left to define the word for themselves and, in each case, it is the speaker who benefits. During this campaign cycle, Mrs. Clinton has repeatedly attempted to harness the word’s power. As potential voters digest her message, they do so in uncontrolled and potentially destructive ways, particularly if Mr. Obama is the eventual nominee.

Part 1: By speaking broadly about her experience, voters can attach their own meaning to the word.

• She purposefully uses platitudes because everyone likes “experience” but some might not like her experience
  • Intuitively, it sounds good to have someone in control who has some experience
  • Voters associate Bush with inexperience and that inexperience with severe costs to the country
  • Without details, we can all assume that she has the right experience for the job
• Other authors have pointed out that her experience leaves much to be desired, forcing her, instead of speaking in specifics, to speak broadly.

Part 2: Obama the Foil: If she is Experienced, He is Not

• He is young and new to politics so the mantle sticks
• Masks her own legislative shortcomings by raising his

Part 3: Race has been explicitly raised by her campaign, opening up the door for connections between her other appeals and a racial appeal. The experience claim sticks because Obama is Black.

• Few questioned John Edwards experience even though it is less than (or at least comparable to) Obama’s.
  • In the 3-way race for Iowa, the experience tag stuck to Hillary and people questions whether Barack was ready. Edwards's experience was rarely questioned.
• Her supporters are predisposed to hearing such arguments (white, poorly educated)
• The media continues to play up the race issue to a point where it is near central to the campaign.
• Highlighting Obama’s inexperience can be likened to calling him a “boy”.

Part 4: While raising race likely won't substantially help Mrs. Clinton's campaign, it will make it easier for republicans if Obama is the nominee

• True racists wouldn't support her
• She has already lost the black vote
• Only benefit may be the comfort level increase from white voters that she gets anyway when showing her face
• Republican's have taken up the "experience" mantle in encouraging McCain? 's attacks on Obama.
  • Conservative elements in this country will not vote for a black man. By carrying the "experience" argument into the election, McCain can can raise the race issue without having to do so explicitly

Conclusion

# * Set ALLOWTOPICVIEW = TWikiAdminGroup, AdamCarlis