Friday, June 06, 2008

Guess Who's Coming To The General Election?


Well, it seems that cinematic, movie themes were in vogue, and applied to the wrap-up of the Democratic Primary race this week,


As you know, we here at The Garlic choose the riveting 'White Heat' to frame the narrative for "Made It Ma, Top of the Campaign! ..."

And in a cool piece of writing, Erza Klein, over on The American Prospect, choose something else;

Towards the end of the 1967 movie "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," Dr. John Wane Prentice, played by Sydney Poitier, sits down with his fiance's white father, played by Spencer Tracy. "Have you given any thought to the problems your children will have?" Tracy asks. "Yes, and they'll have some...[But] Joey feels that all of our children will be President of the United States," replies Poitier. "How do you feel about that?" asks Tracy, looking skeptically at the black man in front of him. "I'd settle for Secretary of State," Poitier laughs.

Written in the late-1960s, the exchange was, indeed, laughable. The Civil Rights Act had been passed three years prior. Two years before, the Watts riots had broken out, killing 35. Martin Luther King Jr. would be assassinated a year later. But here we are, almost exactly 40 years after theatergoers heard that exchange. The last two Secretaries of State were African-American and, as of tonight, the next president may well be a black man. John Prentice's children would probably still be in their late-30s. They could still grow up to be cabinet officials or even presidents, but they would not necessarily be trailblazers.
Rather interesting observation, no?

Now, if we can just keep the script for "Carrie" out of TMFOITW's hands, we may actually get someplace.


Bonus Wrap-Up Links

Chris Cillizza: What Went Wrong for Clinton?

Chris Cillizza: What Went Right for Obama

Al Giordano: No More Drama


No comments: