If Obama Loses It's Because America is Racist

So says Father Andrew Greeley, another self-loathing liberal white Chicago priest who, despite giving lots of good political reasons why people wouldn't support Barack Obama, still can't pull himself away from calling America a bunch of racists if Obama loses. Here's the end of his column:

Certainly there are solid political and personal reasons that some Americans might have had for voting against the senator that would not be in principle racist. He is one of the most "liberal" members of Congress. He stole the election from a woman who was entitled to it. He is one of the "boys" beating up on the female candidate. He is a not a patriot dedicated to final victory in Iraq. He is weak on national security. He lacks experience. He supports abortion. Yet behind these arguments, might racism lurk?

The point is that racism permeates American society and hides itself under many different disguises. The nomination of an African-American candidate was a near-miracle. Only the innocent and the naive think that the November election will not be about race.

The odds against the replication of the primary miracle in November, even against a disgraced and discredited Republic administration, are very high.

Race will silently trump the war, the economy, the cost of gasoline, the disgust with President Bush. One may wish that it will not be so, that if Obama loses it will not be because of the color of his skin but because the country genuinely wants another Republican administration.

Father Greeley just doesn't understand that there are lots of people who will oppose Obama due to his inexperience and liberal poliics, but would eagerly vote for a black conservative if the right person came along. I'm sure it would come as a shock to the self-loathing Greeley, but most of America isn't obsessed with race.

If race has an effect on the election it will be in the polling. Obama will poll higher than his actual support because some voters will be intimidated by the thought of telling a pollster they won't support the black guy, so they'll play the politically correct game and claim support for Obama even though they won't actually vote for him. His polling will be suspect all year.