The Atlantic - Latest Comments in There Is No Black Working Class

Re: There Is No Black Working Class

nihil — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:01:44 -0000

Good sociology. Groups, tribes,sects, select their leaders for leadership qualities, which are the qualities that get people selected as leaders. Leaders come from select groups, son of a chief, toughest fighter, bravest soldier, a person who touches the souls of most of the people (charisma, grace). No one can make it to the top of any country without, as you say, people to drag you across the finish line. (Great way of putting it). Few volunteer to drag. You have to ask without losing your dignity. The decorated officer-veteran has an enormous advantage, as does an amateur boxer (professionals may have too much brain damage.) Previous service high in government is a plus. We're talking Webb here. He sure to draw the Appalachian (Scotch-Irish) vote (he's their bard). He is strong where Obama is weak. McCain loves to ridicule Marines. He'll be sorry.

Re: There Is No Black Working Class

Levi Stahl — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:06:10 -0000

I had been thinking for a long time that he might pick AZ governor Janet Napolitano, but with McCain as the opponent, AZ is no longer even conceivably winnable (and, to be honest, given what we've seen of the sexism thrown Clinton's way (I say as a non-supporter of her campaign) this season, there's no way in hell America's ready for a national campaign by an unmarried woman.). I'd gladly take Webb or McCaskill, though. They both strike me as good fighters.

Re: There Is No Black Working Class

zak — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:07:54 -0000

Great point. I think it has to do in part with the way that "working class" has come to be a cultural instead of an economic signifier, and the "culture" associated with it is Archie Bunker's. It's the weird mirror image of how "white," as in "Stuff White People Like," is often equated with "everyone white *except* the white working class." Puzzling.