Obama Policies Expose Rifts in Liberal Cabal

Here's an interesting question: Will Barack Obama align himself more with white liberal democrats or working class blacks? There are some profound differences between these groups which, because of the monolithic nature of liberal politics, has never really surfaced before. But now we are seeing some cracks in the liberal cabal, especially with the environmental and homosexual elements.

Black voters in California overwhelming voted for Prop 8, the constitutional ammendment banning gay marriage. Obama himself has walked a tightrope saying he was against homosexual marriage, but didn't think measures like Prop 8 were the correct way to handle the issue. (I don't understand this either, but there you go.)

Now that Obama has asked evangelical pastor Rick Warren to say a prayer at his inauguration, homosexual activists are screaming. You'd think Obama had appointed Pat Robertson to a cabinet post! I doubt, however, that the average black voter has any problem with Warren praying at the event.

An even more important rift is beginning to be exposed between Obama and the environmental activist arm of the Democratic party. The incoming president is concerned about jobs, and very rightly so. His idea is to build or repair highways and bridges, which are bad because they enable evil automobiles. He certainly doesn't want to see the auto industry go under either.

The black community understands the importance of job creation and retention better than most groups in this country. When it comes to balancing trees and jobs, black Americans are going to favor jobs every time. If Obama reflects this sentiment, environmentalists will be tree-sitting on the White House grounds before you know it.

Another area likely to get the incoming president in trouble is immigration. This may be a delicate subject, but my experience tells me that there is no love loss between the black and Spanish-speaking communities. Blacks often see latino workers as job stealers, newcomers who are willing to work for lower wages. Will Obama liberalize immigration policy on our southern border, or will his policy reflect the black community's desire to protect American jobs from the onslaught of impoverished Mexican workers?

As I write this, another issue comes to mind. History has proven that one of the most color blind institutions in the United States is the military. Black men and women have been able to find opportunities and achieve rank in the military in times when the civilian world was less open to them. White liberals would like to see the military go away. Shrinking the military would decrease opportunities for minorities. How will Obama balance this one?

I have always believed that on almost every social issue, affirmative action and maybe welfare policy being the major exceptions, black Americans aligned better with Republican ideals than those of the Democrats. The incredible irony of Obama's success is that this truth may now be exposed and if Republicans are smart enough, many blacks might take a serious look at the GOP in future elections.