‘Race Baiting’ Desperation Being Rejected By Voters, Columnist Says

Race baiting, or the act of using unfair statements about race to try and manipulate the actions and attitudes of a specific group of people, has long been a tool of the U.S. politician, and according to one columnist, it’s been a main tool of the Democratic party for a number of years.

Joe Concha of Mediaite pointed an accusatory finger at a number of Democratic politicians who have made statements of “hyperbole” about race during the last few years, especially the months leading up to Tuesday’s midterm elections.

But, Concha notes, voters are finally starting to see through it and reject it. Concha then shared several examples of how the Democratic party employs race baiting in their campaigning.

Endangered Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu had this to say.

“The South has not always been the friendliest place for African-Americans. It’s been a difficult time for the president to present himself in a very positive light as a leader.”

Then there is Charlie Rangel, a Democrat from New York.

“They don’t disagree — they hate! They think if you didn’t come from Europe 30 years ago, you didn’t even make it. Some of them believe that slavery isn’t over and they and think they won the Civil War!”

There was also the Joe Biden speech in which he warned African-American voters that Republicans would “put y’all back in chains.”

“Yup,” Concha writes, “the bigots are so desperate they don’t even know how to properly race-bait anymore. Here’s Alma Adams (D-NC) last Saturday at a campaign rally for Senator Kay Hagan in the Tar Heel State: ‘We need to send Uncle Tom — Tillis, that is — home.’ Thom Tillis is a white guy, but no matter.”

Conch’s views are clearly opinion, but if you look at the poll numbers leading in to Tuesday, one thing is apparent: nothing Democrats have tried this election season has done much good.

Nate Silver of the Fivethirtyeight blog, a Democratic hero after correctly calling the 2012 Presidential election, estimates that Republicans have a 68.5 percent chance of reclaiming the Senate.

“The New York Times Upshot has it at 71 percent, while the Washington Post’s Election Lab has it at 95 percent,” adds Concha.

Until Tuesday, the real effect of Democratic campaigning will remain a mystery. But if the damage is as bad as most polling organizations are predicting, it may be time for the party to find a new game plan.

Do you think Democrats are quick to use race baiting in their campaigns? Share your thoughts in our comments section.

[Image via Jason and Bonnie Grower / Shutterstock.com]