Prometheus 6

Bishop Glen A. Staples, pastor of the Temple of Praise Church in Southeast Washington, where former president Bill Clinton appeared yesterday, said Clinton and Obama differ little on the issues.

"Of course, a lot are going to Obama because they like that he's a black man. But a lot support Hillary because of past and present ties to" the Clintons, said Staples, who said he is undecided but will not reveal his choice publicly when he makes it.

See?

Nope, not going to jack him. He's having a hard enough time, as are most of her Black supporters.

In fact, here's your chance to ridicule me. You see, I'm going to agree with Marion Barry, who is one of those guys you're not supposed to agree with in public. 

D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) had been silent on the primary until last week, when the he endorsed Obama. He said he'd been torn between Obama and Clinton....

Barry, who showed up at the church later, said he understands why black lawmakers are split between Obama and Clinton.

"In politics, it's about relationships, and the Clintons have had had long relationships with John Lewis [Ga.], with Maxine Waters [Calif.] and a number of other people -- Charlie Rangel [N.Y.]," he said, speaking of members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which is divided on the two Democratic candidates. "In the final analysis, you have to look at your interest."

That's just the way it works. Elect Obama and it will still work that way. That's why I'm not mad at them.

If agreeing with Barry makes you uncomfortable, take heart in my recognizing this as nonsense.

"Whether anyone admits it, race and gender are a factor in everyone's minds. Not the factor, but a factor," he said. "The white Democrats have taken us for granted. They always thought our vote was there. The Republicans have ignored us. At last, we're in a leveraged position in the Democratic Party."

Kinda. Because if everyone believes the presence of a Black man in the center of the Oval Office is some fundamental change, then they're going to act like things have changed. Which means things will change, right?

Right. I'm just not predicting the short term nature of the change.

Do not credit Sen. Obama directly for that change, if change it truly be. Black folk didn't burst out of some chrysalis during the South Carolina primary. The difference is that Black politics have generally been of a defensive nature. No one expected Black folks would actually assert when given the chance.