Obama, McCain and the GOP Attack Machine

Assuming Sen. Barack Obama wins the Democratic presidential nomination, the talk now turns to how will he fare in the general election against not only against the presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, but also against the Republican attack machine. That machine went into high gear against Vice President Al Gore in 2000 and Sen. Jon Kerry in 2004; mounting vicious personal attacks that pretty much undermined the credibility of both men. This is standard fare in the Republican Party's playbook but in Obama they will being facing an usual candidate whose appeal demolishes conventional thinking and who is remarkably adept at deflecting attacks. But the wild card is the issue of race. The question applies equally to Obama and the Republican party: will race be an asset or a liability?

Don King Day

Unfortunately, and in ways that Carter G. Woodson could not have imagined, Black History Month has been shamelessly exploited as a justification for almost anything, regardless of how dubious, ridiculous, or far fetched. Witness what happened in Washington, D.C. the other day. The city council, presumably a deliberative body elected to represent the interests of its citizens, passed a resolution declaring February 27th Don King Day in the nation's capital. In the words of Ward 2 councilman Jack Evans: "It's Black History Month, and we wanted to honor Don for his contributions to local boxing. Hence Don King Day." Never mind that the polysyllabic scoundrel was already the recipient of such an honor back in 1999. Never mind that even the most casual boxing fan would not confuse the District of Columbia with Las Vegas as a mecca for practitioners the sweet science and that the city has no serious boxing presence to speak of. But what adds insult to injury is that Mr. King failed to show up for the official ceremony because of "unforeseen circumstances."

The Showdown

The speculation going into last night's Cleveland State University debate was how Hillary Clinton, faced with Obama's ll straight wins and her campaign in disarray, would try to stem the opponent's momentum with her last stand in delegate rich Ohio and Texas. For those expecting fireworks or some calamitous misstep by one of the candidates, they were disappointed. And after 19 debates, how could it realistically be anything more? Sure, there were the usual contentious moments: Clinton and Obama trading jabs about distortions and misleading characterizations about each other's positions; the familiar mantra about the dichotomies, experience vs. judgment and action vs. words. But neither one emerged, to borrow the shopworn sports metaphor, to score a knockout. And with Clinton sorely in need of scoring not simply victories but substantial victories in next week's contests, that means she fell short.

Ralph Nader's Absurdity

Once I thought the insufferably self-righteous Ralph Nader was merely delusional for his repeated insistence that his presence in the 2000 presidential election campaign, where he clearly siphoned votes away from Al Gore, did not lead to the election of George W. Bush. Now, with Nader yesterday declaring his intention to enter the 2008 campaign, I not only find him delusional, I believe he has lost his mind and with it whatever credibility he retained as a consumer advocate. Nader claims the marginalization of independent political candidates is comparable to the Jim Crow laws faced by black people in the South as they tried to exercise the right to vote.

One is based on race, and the other is based on status. They are basically discriminating against us because they think we're going to take votes away from them. Look at it from the voter point of view: They're denying us a free choice of candidates.

Nader's statement is patently absurd. As far as I know, there is nothing enshrined into law that prevents citizens like him from organizing political parties and seeking the support of their fellow citizens for elective office. In contrast, African Americans were faced with a number of devices - grandfather clauses, poll taxes, literacy tests, voter intimidation, just to name a few - that disenfranchised them.

Angry Hillary

It was reported last Friday that the Clinton campaign was divided on how to respond to Obama's momentum. One group argued that she should be much more aggressive in drawing distinctions between herself and Obama. The other group argued that personal, hard-edged attacks would be counter-productive and that she should focus her message on herself and what she had to offer as as candidate. Judging from developments within the last twenty-four hours, it is clear that Clinton opted for the advice of the former. In a fit of anger, she lashed out at the Obama campaign for its release of fliers to Ohio voters about Clinton's positions on health care and NAFTA. "Shame on you, Barack Obama," Clinton said. "It is time you ran a campaign consistent with your messages in public. That's what I expect from you. Meet me in Ohio. Let's have a debate about your tactics and behavior in this campaign."

All this sounds like a desperate candidate who senses, however painfully, the futility of her situation.

The Silly Season

In this week's Democratic presidential debate, Sen. Barack Obama referred to the "silly season" in response to Sen. Hillary Clinton's charge of plagiarism. But the appellation applies equally to the current palaver about Obama's considerable oratorical skills. Come now, this is one discussion that we should not be having; for we have for the last seven years endured the current occupant of the White House, whose ineptitude as chief executive is outdistanced only by his remarkable ability to mangle the English language.

Sampson Departs

Presumably, Kelvin Sampson's skills as a college basketball coach are somewhat more refined than his ethics. Yesterday Sampson accepted a handsome $750,000 buyout of his contract and resigned as head coach at the University of Indiana for N.C.A.A. recruitment violations. According to a report, "Sampson and his staff had violated telephone recruiting restrictions that were imposed because of previous violations Sampson committed while at Oklahoma, then lied about it to the university and N.C.A.A. investigators." The hope is that the young men formerly under Sampson's tutelage were able to distinguish basketball instruction from their former coach's ethically challenged model of conduct.

Tragic Yes But Avoidable

The eight people killed and five injured resulting from a car running into a crowd that gathered at 3 a.m. last Sunday in the middle of a Maryland highway to watch an illegal street race was both tragic and senseless. But what gets lost in the whole discussion surrounding this accident is the obvious question, what were they doing there in the first place? Highways and thoroughfares are, by definition, designed to carry vehicular traffic, which makes them inherently dangerous to pedestrians. Highways were never intended to be gathering places for spectators in the darkness of night to watch impromptu, illegal street races. To behave otherwise is manifestly irresponsible and an assumption of unnecessary and avoidable risk.

Still Bill

As if Hillary Clinton was not under enough pressure, having suffered 11 straight defeats to Barack Obama, husband Bill assesses the state of the campaign of the erstwhile inevitable Democratic presidential nominee while speaking to a Beaumont, Texas audience: "You probably like it that it has come down to Texas. If she wins Texas and Ohio, I think she will be the nominee. If you don't deliver for her, then I don't think she can be. It's all on you."

Clinton-Obama: The Texas Debate

Last night's debate saw neither Clinton nor Obama able to strike a devastating blow against the opposition. True, both candidates had their moments in sounding familiar themes. Clinton trumpeted her vast experience that will enable her to assume the role of commander-in-chief on day one. Obama spoke of his superior judgment on vital issues, particularly Iraq, and his desire to move beyond the partisan divide to forge coalitions to get things done. Clinton, having the greater need to distinguish herself from Obama, repeated the charge of plagiarism. "I think that if your candidacy is going to be about words, then they should be your own words. That's, I think, a very simple proposition. And, you know, lifting whole passages from someone else's speeches is not change you can believe in, it's change you can Xerox." But Obama effectively dismissed the charge as "silly" and admonished her to move beyond personal attacks and talk about the issues people are concerned about. It is unlikely that the debate swayed voters to either side, and, in that sense, Clinton came up short because she did not gain any ground.

Pride of Country

Cindy McCain, the demure wife of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, declared her unqualified love of country the other day in Wisconsin. "I'm proud of my country. I don't know about you - if you heard those words earlier - I'm very proud of my country." Those earlier words belonged to Michelle Obama who told an audience: "For the first time in my adult lifetime I am really proud of my country. And not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change." Nobody should be surprised that a political candidate or his surrogate would seize upon an innocuous remark and try to exploit it for political advantage. And, of course, the Republican party is remakably adept at using this little maneuver on matters of God and patriotism. For those whose historical narrative and experience is decidedly different from Mrs. McCain, Mrs. Obama's words have special resonance that cannot be denied or used as campaign fodder.

Obama's Wisconsin Victory

Barack Obama's victory over Hillary Clinton in the Wisconsin primary was expected; however, the margin - nearly 60/40 - was astounding as were the inroads he made in groups that previously supported her. In almost every category, he improved upon the percentages racked up on Super Tuesday. And as usual after a defeat, Clinton never acknowledged the result and repeated ad nauseum what has become her mantra during this losing streak:

One of us is ready to be commander in chief in a dangerous world.
One of us has a plan to provide health care for every single American
- no one left out.
One of us has faced serious Republican opposition in the past. And
one of us is ready to do it again.

Huckabee, The Dealin's Done

You got to know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em.
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sitten at the table.
There'll be time for countin' when the dealin's done.

Kenny Rogers, The Gambler

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, the preacher-politician, persists in staying in the race for the Republican presidential nomination despite an almost insurmountable lead by the presumptive nominee Sen John McCain. Huckabee, whose most memorable lines of the campaign consists of muttering nonsense about going to college to major in miracles and the culinary delights of microwaved squirrel, claims that this campaign is not about him but rather the Christian conservative, evangelical wing of the Republican party. That explanation just does not ring true when you consider that Huckabee, unlike the other candidates who have fallen by the wayside, does not have a regular full time job awaiting him and therefore needs something to do to pass the time. Or perhaps he is just positioning himself for the vice presidential slot.

Clinton to Go After Pledged Delegates

With Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama locked into a virtual dead heat for the Democratic presidential nomination, much attention has been focussed on the role of superdelegates. But the fight also involves pledged delegates. Roger Simon of Politico writes, "Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign intends to go after delegates whom Barack Obama has already won in the caucuses and primaries if she needs them to win the nomination." Simon adds, "Pledged delegates are not really pledged at all, not even on the first ballot. This has been an open secret in the party for years, but it has never really mattered because there has always been a clear victor."

Bush 41 Endorses McCain

Former President George H. W. Bush, Bush 41, endorses Sen. John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination, saying "No one is better prepared to lead our nation in these trying times than Sen. John McCain." This endorsement does not carry weigh with an important GOP faction, namely, disaffected conservatives who are uncomfortable with McCain apostasies and never exactly thrilled with Bush 41.

Clinton Charges Obama with Plagiarism

In what can only be described as yet another act of desperation, the Clinton campaign accuses Barack Obama of plagiarism, specifically, a 2006 speech of Mass. Governor Deval Patrick. There is no denying that the words uttered by Obama and Patrick are identical; however, the two men are friends who share ideas about politics and public policy, so it is not surprising that they would borrow from one another. And borrowing is exactly what is, similar to Hillary Clinton's use, without attribution, of "it's time to turn the page" and "fired up and ready to go," phrases used earlier and with great effectiveness by Obama.

Pelosi on superdelegates and Michigan, Florida

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi believes that the superdelegates should reflect the will of the Democratic voters in the party primaries and caucuses and that delegates in Michigan and Florida should not be seated. This is a rejection of a central argument of the Clinton campaign.

Reading Obama

An interesting, and often unintentionally humorous, sidebar to the 2008 presidential campaign is how the punditocracy and other so-called opinion shapers attempt to define and explain the phenomenom known as Sen. Barack Obama. At first, his entry into the race was seen as, at best, quixotic giving the inevitabilty of Hillary Clinton's Democratic presidential nomination. Then after Obama demonstrated that he was indeed a formidable challenger, former President Clinton and others tried to play him off and thus marginalize him as the "black candidate" not unlike Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Obama's repeated success in states with small black populations has just about burst that bubble. Now comes the New York Times and what it terms The Charisma Mandate. Essentially, Obama's appeal is viewed as a cult of personality - Rev. Jim Jones without the Kool-Aid. The most feverish utterances are those of Sean Wilentz, who is identified as a Princeton historian and longtime Clinton family friend. "What is troubling about the campaign is that it's gone beyond hope and change to redemption. It's posing as a figure who is one person who will redeem our politics and what I fear is, that ends up promising more from politics can deliver."

A "God save the Republic" is order at this point.

Hancock's List

Grammy winner Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters is a homage to the artistry of folk singer Joni Mitchell. In the weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal, Hancock lists his favorite jazz covers of popular songs. Included are pianist Bill Evans' Emily from the film The Americanization of Emily; Miles Davis' treatment of the Cyndi Lauper tune Time After Time; John Coltrane's transformation of the Rodgers and Hart standard My Favorite Things; Coleman Hawkins' venerable Body and Soul; and Wes Montgomery's take on the Beatles' A Day in the Life.

Wilder on Bill Clinton

Appearing on the CBS program Face the Nation with host Bob Schieffer, Richmond mayor and former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder was asked to comment on Bill Clinton's surrogate role in his wife's campaign, specifically in the South Carolina primary where Clinton sought to minimize Obama's victory by drawing a comparison with Jesse Jackson. Wilder said, "He [Clinton] didn't look to the issues, he didn't look to the positions, he looked to the color." Wilder further added, "It's a mistake for Bill Clinton to believe that there has been given to him this mantle of authenticity to be able to speak for and to blacks and to be dismissive of African Americans. I think he made a big mistake and I think he hurt Hillary in the process."

Tavis Smiley, Would-Be HNIC

Tavis Smiley, the notorious self-promoter and would be HNIC, is the object of a torrent of criticism primarily from the blogosphere, and deservedly so, for calling out Sen. Barack Obama for not attending Smiley's State of the Black Union conference in New Orleans. Apparently, somebody forgot to tell Mr. Smiley that Obama is in the middle of a tough campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination with upcoming primaries in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Texas; that the Louisiana primary was last week; and that he, Mr. Smiley, is simply not that significant a figure for whom Obama would change his schedule.

Catching Up

With their constituents voting overwhelmingly for Sen Barack Obama in Democratic primaries and caucuses, members of the Congressional Black Caucus find themselves pressured to reassess their support for Sen. Hillary Clinton. It reminds me of a story about Mahatma Gandhi who was asked, "Where are you going?" He answered: "There go my people. I must run to catch up with them for I am their leader."

The Prescient Bill Clinton

Former president Bill Clinton is more prescient in ways that even he did not fully comprehend. Speaking at Dartmouth College before the New Hampshire primary shortly after Sen. Barack Obama's win over wife Hillary in the Iowa caucuses, he said: "It was really an unfortunate development for her that New Hampshire moved its election to five days after Iowa. There's just only so much you can do against a tidal wave."

A Clinton Campaign Defection

Rep. John Lewis, veteran hero of the Civil Rights movement and superdelegate who staunchly backed Hillary Clinton, has now declared his support for Barack Obama. Lewis's decision is based on his desire to avoid a divisive fight at the convention. "In recent days there is a sense of movement. Something is happening in America, and people are prepared and ready for the great leap." This is terrible news for the Clinton campaign, and could very well be a harbinger of things to come.

The Clinton Campaign Intensifies

After being swept in the Potomac primaries, and with it losing the support of voters across the demographic spectrum to Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign grows increasingly desperate as she tries to stem the tide in the delegate rich states of Ohio and Texas. As such, she employs a strategy remarkably similar to fellow New Yorker Rudy Giuliani, and we know how that played out. But with that sense of desperation, we can be certain that the Clinton attack machine will switch into high gear. In part, this is unavoidable because, aside from Iraq and insubstantial differences on health care, there is little to separate the candidates other than style and vision, meaning that the attacks will likely get very personal.

Aretha, Behaving Badly

That Aretha Franklin, widely acknowledged as the Queen of Soul, is one of the truly iconic figures and distinctive voices in the history of American music is indisputable. Unfortunately, it also appears that her prodigious talent is matched only by an outsize ego and hypersensitivity. During last Sunday's Grammy Awards Ceremony, Beyonce Knowles committed a serious faux pas by hailing Tina Turner as the "Queen" with Franklin sitting in the audience. In a statement released through her publicist, Franklin lashed out at Beyonce:

I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce. However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy.

In addition to that, I thank the Grammys and the voting academy for my 20th Grammy and love to Beyonce anyway.

It is safe to say that no serious fan would ever equate Turner with Franklin for their musical contributions, much less claim that the former is the "Queen." But instead of taking the high road and letting others come to her defense, Franklin comes across as someone whose toes were stepped on and ego bruised. Not exactly the sort of behavior one associates with a Queen.

Herbie Hancock's Grammy Award

Herbie Hancock won a Grammy Award for album of the year for "River: The Joni Letters", edging out Amy Winehouse, the self-destructive British singer and Kanye West, the self-absorbed hip hop artist and rapper. But as the New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff argues, Hancock's win should not be interpreted as a victory for jazz. He writes, "'River' can be understood as a celebration of the academy's more high-minded pop impulses. The best album category, in particular, is often a corrective or an apology for any excesses or shortcomings of the present." It goes without saying, that Hancock had never won a Grammy before despite a brilliant, storied career as pianist, composer, and bandleader.

Hillary's Stand

As of this writing, Barack Obama has been declared the winner in the Virginia primary, and if he takes Maryland and the District of Columbia as expected, Hillary Clinton will have suffered eight consecutive defeats, an unenviable position for the formerly inevitable Democratic presidential nominee. Earlier this evening she boarded a plane for Texas, where along with Ohio, she hopes to counter Obama's momentum and shore up support from campaign donors and superdelegates.

Superdelegates

With the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama a virtual dead heat, the role of the superdelegates is getting a lot of attention. The issue is, what role should they play in the process? "Should they ratify the decision by regular delegates and vote for the candidate who is ahead in June, no matter how small the lead? Are they obligated to follow the vote of their constituents in primaries or caucuses? Or should they simply follow their conscience and vote for whomever they think is the best nominee?"

Not surprisingly, Sen. Clinton, who enjoys an edge of 204-99 over Obama, takes the position that superdelegates should be free to vote for the candidate they believe has the best chance of winning in November and the strongest president. Sen. Obama argues that the superdelegates should follow the will of the voters as expressed in the primaries and caucuses.

The notion that superdelegates should ignore the voters and exercise their own judgment is shortsighted and misguided. It will subvert the idea that it is the voters in the Democratic party who ultimately determine its party's nominee. It will alienate segments of Democratic voters who were inspired to participate in the process out of hope and idealism that the 2008 election would not be business as usual. And it will provide fodder for Republicans to exploit the hypocrisy of the Democratic party as the party of fairness.

Bush: McCain, the "True Conservative"

The Decider has spoken. Sen. John McCain, according to President George W. Bush, is a "true conservative" despite the reservations of the radio talk wing of the Republican Party. Whether this is sufficient to mollify Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, et al, remains to be seen.

Bush-McCain

Sen. Hillary Clinton's opponents are fond of saying that her presidency would be little more than a continuation of husband Bill's two terms in the Oval Office. But an equally persuasive case can be made that John McCain's election would be validation of President George W. Bush's Iraq war, a centerpiece of his two terms. It has been said that Bush and McCain "have forged a powerful bond as the two leading champions of the Iraq war and the decision a year ago to send more troops, according to associates of both men." Given this symbiotic relationship, it is ironic that the Conservative Political Action Conference was at best lukewarm to Sen. McCain's appearance but greeted President Bush as a conquering hero.

Thad Cochran Chills

Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran recently told the Boston Globe that supporting the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain would be a matter of great discomfort. "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper." Now it appears that Cochran has learned to manage those cold chills because he has thrown his support to the erstwhile temperamentally unsuited Arizona senator. In a statement released Thursday, Cochran said: "I am supporting John McCain for the Republican nomination for president. As for McCain's previous unfitness, the senator said: "That's all behind me."

Romney Exits

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney suspended his run for the Republican presidential nomination. This development hardly comes as a surprise given his rather pathetic showing in the primaries and caucuses. Of Romney, it was said, he looked presidential, somebody that Hollywood could conceivably cast to play the role of president. Unfortunately, he did not have much to offer beyond that image and a small fortune that allowed him to garner support to the tune of $1.16 million per delegate. Not exactly a solid return on an investment for someone who prides himself on his business acumen. He presented himself as an authentic conservative but, in truth, he was nothing more than a flip flopper, not averse to saying anything to win the nomination. And his Mormon religion never quite endeared him to the Christian evangelicals who regard the Jesus Christ Church of Latter-day Saints as a cult. Of course, the presence of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, himself an ordained Baptist minister, further complicated a campaign that never had much traction to begin with.

Super Tuesday

The results in Super Tuesday's presidential primaries mean very different things to Democrats and Republicans.

For Democrats, the results confirm what we already knew, namely, that Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama remain locked into a closely fought race whose eventual winner is not likely to be determined in the foreseeable future. Clinton scored impressive victories in big states, including New York and California, and leads in the delegate count. Obama actually won more states than Clinton, and continues to show strength among diverse demographic groups with the notable exception of Latinos.

For Republicans, Sen. John McCain did not lock up the nomination but emerged as the clear frontrunner to the chagrin of many party conservatives. Former Gov. Mike Huckabee continued to show surprising strength, particularly among social conservatives and evangelicals, although he has little chance of overtaking McCain. However, Huckabee's success has effectively marginalized former Gov. Mitt Romney as a serious contender for the nomination.

McCain's Detractors

The prospect that Sen. John McCain is all but certain to emerge as the Republican presidential nominee has thrown the blowhards of ring wing talk radio - Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, and others - into a hissy fit. They deem the self-described straight talking senator as being substantially less than a true conservative. In their view, he has strayed too many times from conservative orthoxy to merit their support. But trumpeting the candidacy of the notorious flip flopper former Gov. Mitt Romney does not make a lot of sense. If McCain lacks the credentials, even less can be said of Romney.

Commissioner Goodell, Rose Mary Woods, and Tapes

National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell could find himself linked with President Richard Nixon's secretary Rose Mary Woods and the disposition of tapes in sensitive matters. Woods, you might recall, could not account for the 18 1/2 minute gap in an audiotape bearing on the Watergate scandal. Similarly, Commissioner Goodell finds himself embroiled in controversy and the unwelcome attention of Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) for destroying videotapes in the New England Patriots' spygate scandal. According to Goodell, the tapes were destroyed because there was no reason to keep them. To which, Sen. Specter responded: "Their answer makes no sense. That's totally insufficient. That compounds the question as to why they destroyed the tapes."

New England Patriots' 19-0 Trademarks

Bill Belichick's New England Patriots are known for their meticulous preparation, which accounts in part for their 3 Super Bowl Championships since 2001 and their unblemished 18-0 record heading into today's Super Bowl XLII. So in a sense, it should not come as a surprise that the Patriots, leaving nothing to chance, have filed trademark applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the registration of 19-0 and 19-0 The Perfect Season. Of course, all of this will be for nothing if the New York Giants pull an upset.

Wesley Prevails

Wesley Snipes was found not guilty on the felony tax charges he faced in this celebrated tax evasion trial. However, he was found guilty on three misdemeanors for failing to file tax returns or to pay taxes for 2002 to 2004. Interestingly, Snipes' co-defendants who advised him were convicted on the more serious charges of fraud and conspiracy charges. Snipes' defense attorneys said the actor will pay all of his taxes plus penalties and interest.

Clinton-Obama California Debate

Unlike the rancorous debates in South Carolina, last night's California Democratic presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was cordial and friendly, with the senators taking turns praising each other for their public service. The negative, caustic digs were reserved for the Republicans - President Bush, Sen. John McCain, and former Gov. Mitt Romney. Even when the candidates attempted to differentiate themselves, it was done civilly. Clinton, as usual, touted her 35 years of experience as a change agent; Obama, his judgment, work as community organizer and public interest lawyer and state senator. In responding to questions about several issues, including health care, immigration, and Iraq, they demonstrated knowledge of the subject matter and command of the facts. If viewed in terms of who won and who lost, I would say that the outcome was virtually even, with neither side having a decisive advantage.

Lynching

In recent months, the subject of lynching has found its way into public consciousness. Nooses have mysteriously appeared on college campuses, residential areas, and worksites. A Golf Channel commentator was recently suspended for suggesting that Tiger Woods' competitors should perhaps take him out in a back alley and lynch him, apparently as a means of restoring competitive balance to the tour. GOLF magazine, in an effort to sensationalize its coverage of the incident, emblazoned its cover with a large hangman's noose. The editor was subsequently fired. To get some perspective on the significance of lynching in American history, it is instructive to examine writings from that period.

W.E.B. DuBois, as editor of the NAACP's Crisis magazine, devoted considerable space in speaking out against lynching, which he regarded as a manifestation of American lawlessness and violence and a means of social control. In an August 1927 editorial, Lynchings, he wrote:

The horrible lynchings in the United States, even the almost incredible burning of human beings alive, have raised not a ripple of interest, not a single protest from the United States Government, scarcely a word from the pulpit and not a syllable from the Defenders of the Republic, the 100% Americans, or the propagandists of the army and navy. And this in spite of the fact that the cause of the Louisville, Mississippi, bestiality was, according to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal "widespread indignation at the refusal of the Negroes traveling in slow, second-handed Fords to give road to faster cars." And yet hiding and concealing this barbarism by every resource of American silence, we are sitting in council at Geneva and Peking and trying to make the world believe we are a civilized nation