Al Sharpton has opened yet another door in the racial victimology mansion. At the Democrats' 'brown and black' candidate forum in Iowa last weekend, he demanded to know why Howard Dean, the governor of a state with very, very few blacks and Hispanics, never appointed a non—white senior cabinet member. If none were available locally, the Reverend averred, there was an implicit need to import talent of color from elsewhere. Vermont's cabinet has no business 'looking like Vermont.'  No, it must look like Bill Clinton's America.

The art of the mau—mau has been advanced one more step. Howard Dean, wounded but still in the lead, is simply too inviting a target for the Sharptons of the world. In their universe, governing a state without a substantial, vocal, aggrieved racial minority is itself an affront.  It is now therefore only a matter of time until the next level will be reached.

Who will be the first to accuse Howard Dean of racism for moving away from minority—rich New York City, to lily—white Vermont? How long will this inevitable step take? Viewed from the fevered perspective of a committed racialist, isn't it unacceptable for white people to move far, far away from blacks and Hispanics? How dare they voluntarily locate themselves someplace where they are unlikely to encounter minorities in everyday life?

Possibly, native born Vermonters might have an excuse for living there. But people who leave 'diverse' environs for racially—deficient locales are clearly another matter. There is already a phrase to describe this nefarious activity: 'white flight.'

You can be certain that if Howard Dean and Judy Steinberg had chosen to locate in, say, Idaho instead of Vermont, these questions would already have been raised. Idahoans of a certain disposition are already on the defensive, because their scenic state had the misfortune to become the home of various white supremacist factions. Never mind that the racist wackos enjoy no local sympathies whatsoever, and that authorities have done all they can to limit and discourage them. The entire state has been besmirched, and it pains many people there no end to be so tarred with guilt—by—association. So powerful is this image that a highly educated black woman of my acquaintance has stated that she is afraid to even drive through Idaho on a cross country trip.

But Vermont has so far escaped such libels. The land of Ben and Jerry has enjoyed a certain liberal immunity to aspersions of racism. But for exactly this reason, Sharpton or some other race hustler MUST eventually play the white flight card. Liberals are the ones who are most deeply vulnerable to accusations of racism, and the ones most likely to pay the wages of guilt to those who accuse them. Al Sharpton knows all about using white guilt to obtain things of value for himself. The only question is when he will act on this tempting opportunity.

So, start your office pool today. Howard Dean 'white flight watch' is officially underway.

Posted by Thomas  01 14 04