Race war predicted if McCain wins

Paul K. writes:

In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, blacks who were interviewed suggested that race riots might follow an electoral defeat of Obama. “My audience is upset,” said Bev Smith, a nationally syndicated black talk-show host in Pittsburgh. “Some people said they would be so angry it would be reminiscent of the [1960s] riots—that is how despondent they would be.”

A Philadelphia columnist, Fatimah Ali, was cited in a recent Drudge Report (http://tinyurl.com/6b5l6d) for predicting, “If McCain wins, look for a full-fledged race and class war…”

Judging from the comments section of sites carrying these articles, the response of many fed-up whites seems to be, “Bring it on,” seeing such a reaction as bringing about the white backlash I’ve been hearing about since the late 1960s. However, it occurred to me that if race riots follow a McCain victory, he will react as the liberal he is and try to appease blacks with ever more programs, benefits, high-level appointments, etc. In fact, I think those actions will be forthcoming in any case, as McCain will be on the defensive and have to atone for the sin of standing in the way of a black man achieving the nation’s highest office. Racial reconciliation will be the order of the day. To make up for defeating Obama, he will govern as Obama.

By the way, I think that anyone who imagines that Palin has traditionalist views on race is deluding themselves. I suspect that she has the typical Christian evangelist’s notion of racial inclusiveness.

LA replies:

On one hand, threats of black riots if one doesn’t get one’s way are a routine,even “legitimate” feature of American politics. In 1994, Mathilda Cuomo, the wife of three-term New York governor Mario Cuomo, said that if her husband’s opponent, George Pataki, won the election, there would be race riots in the New York City the next summer. Needless to say, Mrs. Cuomo never retracted or apologized for the comment. Pataki won the election, and there were no riots. And of course the entire basis of modern liberalism is that society must do all kinds of things for blacks or they will riot.

So I don’t put much creedence on this latest prediction/threat.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at September 13, 2008 11:51 AM | Send