If Colin Powell had run as a Republican, would the country have been embroiled in a conversation

[ruggerson]

about race in America?

Are the concerns about Obama racial, or are they really just concerns from "Reagan Democrats" (a term I loathe) over a candidate they consider too liberal, concerns that the hypersensational media then distorts into a "racist" angle.

I don't know the answer, so I'm tossing it out there.

[bluetrain]

1. I say no. Creating divisions and loyalties based on bigotry is the right wing's stock and trade.

The way this is playing out is their framing by the book. Also, Powell, as a Republican, would not be winning as many AA votes as Obama does by naturally gaining a huge section of the traditional Democratic base.

[Secret_Society]

2. No...a black candiate would not

split the Republican party because there is not black base to split off. The Democratic party is big tent that can have some family squabbles.

[kevsand]

3. Yes, we would still be talking about race.

If nothing else, the historic nature of such a campaign would generate discussion, but I am pretty sure that it would go way beyond that, just as it has now. The dynamics would be different, but at some point (and probably at several points) we would still have been talking about somebody's attitudes towards race, and it would not all be favorable. That is the unfortunately reality of America: we have not all come as far as we wanted to believe.

[democracy1st]

4. No talk of race because "We can trust this Black guy,he's a conservative"

[ruggerson]

6. That's kind of what I'm thinking

I think it has more to do with Barack being portrayed as the "angry radical" which then morphs into the race discussion.

Colin Powell does not threaten them as much, because he is at heart a conservative and part of the power structure.

[anonymous171]

5. Good question.

I think it is a combination of the two.

[LibraLiz1973]

7. I think some republicans would have had a big problem with him running

But in this situation, I think most Republicans are concerned about the idea of ANY democrat being in power- no matter the color of their skin or their gender.

[amandabeech]

8. Powell's patriotism cannot be questioned nor can his experience.

Right or wrong, Obama's patriotism can because of the pin, Rev. WRight, etc., at least for a decent-sized segment of the voting population.

Powell starts far ahead of Obama on that.

Powell also has a tremendous amount of experience in government administration and in foreign policy.

Again, he starts far ahead of Obama.

Powell is perceived as a moderate. Obama really has not been despite his vow to work across party lines.

Again, Powell starts way ahead.

If Powell had run for the pubbies in '00, I think that Al Gore would have had a hard time winning.

If Powell had run for us in '00, I think that he would have taken the primaries and won the election.

Almost no one would have cared about his skin color.