The Prospect of Riots

The Prospect of Riots

This report from the October 21, 2008 The Hill should make a lot of Democrats think long and hard about their continual playing of the race card when anyone (included Democrats) criticized Obama:

Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day, preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the historic presidential contest.
Public safety officials said in interviews with The Hill that the election, which will end with either the nation’s first black president or its first female vice president, demanded a stronger police presence.

Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations. Others based the need for enhanced patrols on past riots in urban areas (following professional sports events) and also on Internet rumors.

You notice that no one worries about Republicans rioting if Obama wins. But then again, we are the party of adults. When we lost control of Congress in 2006, there were no temper tantrums, or accusations that we lost control because of election fraud (although there were certainly individual elections decided by fraudulent votes). And the tragedy is that the big losers if McCain miraculously pulls a victory rabbit out of his hat, and blacks go on a rampage will be...blacks. As Crime, Guns, and Videotape points out:

I don’t like the message that’s being spread around right now. At least one African-American columnist from the Baltimore Sun has tried to spread fear and racial divide. What I see is a lame attempt at extortionate intimidation to assure Barack Obama gets installed into the Whitehouse.

African-Americans can’t have that short a memory. When that happens in our country the death and destruction always becomes localized in the ghettos. The impact, damage and suffering is always heaviest on the African-Americans themselves.

Obviously, the vast majority of blacks aren't going to lose their tempers and start rioting if Obama loses. They're just like you and me. But a small number of hotheads, encouraged by the lunatic fringe of the Democratic Party, might decide that looting, pillaging, and burning makes loads of sense...and thus create a strong incentive for Democrats not to nominate another black Presidential candidate, perhaps even one who is qualified for the job.