The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race to the White House

Author, syndicated columnist, political analyst and commentator Earl Hutchinson has been a guest on Hannity and Colmes, The O'Reilly Factor, The Big Story, EXTRA, and numerous CNN News and talk shows. In October 2007, I featured Earl´s book, The Latino Challenge to Black America at my blog, The Book Connection. When asked to interview Earl for his latest book, The Ethnic Presidency: How RACE Decides the Race to the White House, I eagerly accepted the invitation, knowing I would learn a great many things during our time together.

As always, it´s a pleasure to have you with us, Earl. We´re going to move right into the The Ethnic Presidency. Now, this book discusses the impact that race and ethnic politics will have on the 2008 presidential election, but the introduction reaches many years into the past to a piece of legislation that altered voting in the Southern States. Can you discuss this piece of legislation and how it continues to impact us today?

Thanks for inviting me back. The two pieces of legislation you refer to are the 1964 landmark civil rights bill. It outlawed legal discrimination in public accommodations, transportation, employment and housing. This marked the formal end of Jim Crow segregation in America. The other is the 1965 Voting Rights Act that outlawed the poll tax, literacy tests and other devices used to bar blacks from the polls.

In Chapter 1, you bring up an interesting statistic in regards to Democratic contender Senator Barak Obama. You mention a July 2007, Newsweek poll in which over "40 percent of those polled said they thought the country wasn´t ready for a black president". Obama has done well in the primaries, most recently with his win in South Carolina, and it was just announced that he received the backing of Senator Edward Kennedy(D-MA) and Caroline Kennedy. Do you feel a change is coming? [Interviewer´s note: Since this interview, Barak Obama has won 11 other primaries.]

Yes and no. Poll wise, nearly all whites say that the country is ready for a black president. However, polls are one thing, the privacy of the voting booth is another. In a showdown between Obama and a white male, the test will be whether white voters that say they like Obama, and that includes Democrats, back up their words with a vote for Obama. He did well on Super Tuesday, but that was when white men were choosing between a black man and a white woman.

With Hillary Clinton also vying for the Democratic nomination, what impact will women voters, especially black women voters, have on the 2008 election?

Black women voters will likely back Obama. Race almost always trumps gender among black women. However, Hillary gets strong backing from women over age 50, and I suspect that includes a number of black women. Women will play a crucial role in the election if they are politically aroused.

The issue of immigration is touched on in both The Latino Challenge to Black America and The Ethnic Presidency. Why has immigration become such a huge issue, and why do you believe that the GOP is going to have a challenge dealing with immigration reform?

The GOP is locked into a hard line stance of secure borders, and tough citizenship requirements and that plays well with their conservative base. But immigration will be a huge issue in the election because it is unresolved, the numbers are growing, and it has the potential to be an emotionally laden wedge issue that both sides can use to hammer the other.

With race and ethnic politics playing such an important role in the 2008 presidential election, what do you think candidates are going to do to sway minority voters?

Make naked and bold appeals in black and brown communities that getting a black man in the White House is historic. This mixes ethnic pride with tradition breaking, sense of empowerment, and political change.

Where can readers purchase a copy of The Ethnic Presidency?

The Ethnic Presidency and at Amazon

Is there anything you would like to add?

Just thanks again, it was a pleasure

For much more information about Earl Ofari Hutchinson and The Ethnic Presidency - feel free to visit his virtual book tour pages at Inspired Author