Most Ridiculous Interesting Article of the Year, So Far

I've written of Reuben Navarette Jr. before. He writes for the San Diego Union Tribune and the Register Guard republishes his stuff. He, like Kathleen Parker, typically writes in the "I'm a non-partisan observer who just happens to think George Bush is teh greatest president ever and the Democrats want to feed your children to the secular Satanists" vein.

This weekend he made the argument that the Democrats are really struggling when it comes to diversity. Specifically, "white liberals" just cannot handle the success of Obama. Apparently, while liberals cannot tolerate the thought of a black man as a leader, as we like to keep the minorities subservient. Navarette offers three pieces of "evidence" for his thesis that 2008 might just become known as the year of the "annoyed white liberal." (I think Navarette believes that while liberals might vote for someone other than Obama, should he get the nomination. Or he meant to say 2007 was the year of the "annoyed white liberal.")

1. Joe Biden called Obama "articulate."
2. Bob Kerrey used his middle name, called him a Muslim, and said he went to a madrassa.
3. Elizabeth Edwards, responding to critical comments made by Michelle Obama about John Edwards, said she was "surprised and disappointed in Michelle."

And there you have it. White liberals, no longer able to suppress their latent racism have unleashed it on Obama. Navarette definitely sees this as a something that will affect the campaign.

[Racism is] a problem for them. Democrats have much of their brand tied up in the assertion that they're more progressive than Republicans, especially on racial issues. What if enough people conclude this isn't so?

At a time when Democratic leaders like to talk about “Republican dirty tricks,” it's becoming clear that Democrats know a few of their own.

I have a problem wrapping my head around all of this, so forgive me if I am stating the obvious, but it seems that a columnist for a mid-size American newspaper is actually trying to make the case that these three incidents are evidence enough of Democratic racism that minorities may just turn to the Republican party? Maybe not vote at all? Remember, he is writing this after Iowa and just a few days before Obama becomes the odds-on favorite to become the Democratic nominee. Yes, nothing says Party-of-Racism quite like nominating a black man to be president.