I live in Marin County: white, affluent and liberal. In Marin, like so many other places in the world (black, white, rich, poor, young, old)—Obama mania is everywhere. I love the way it manifests itself in Marin—the white social liberal fiscal conservative hotbed of Northern California.
Obama bumper stickers are everywhere. They are on the back of land rovers parked at the Whole Food, pinned to Chanel scarves and somewhere, I am sure you could find a diaper bag with BARACK splayed across the front. Obama is the latest white liberal fad. A few years ago, it was Pilates. Pilates was everywhere—it could tone you, help you lose weight, center your chi, improve your heart. Classes in gyms and health centers filled. After all, this was much less shallow than simply working out. I mean, Pilates was like made from Indian people (or somewhere exotic and where the people were all centered and stuff). As a result, their ego has gotten a little boost, knowing that they couldn’t possibly be racist—because they totally used Indian techniques to help them loose weight. A woman might let it “slip” to her friend that she had taken up Pilates (translation: I am less racist, more centered and 1weigh 0 pounds less than you). This, in turn, would lead the friend to take up Pilates…and so the fad continues.
Elite Barack mania has the same affect. It should be noted here that this bears no reflection on Barack as a candidate. I like him. I’ll end up voting for him. But the majority of Barack paraphernalia has a much different effect.
In Marin, when a white, upper middle class man or woman walks into a room wearing an Obama pin, they are not supporting his health care policy. They are saying. “I’m not racist. No I mean I am really not racist. I am way more not racist than you. Okay, maybe I have a Mexican maid who I underpay and maybe sometimes I lock my car door when black people walk by, but look at my pin! I’m totally okay.”
Voting for Obama makes white people not racist. I am going to vote for Obama. I hear he can strengthen my core and help me lose 20 pounds.
Tags: Barack, marin, obama, pilates, Uncategorized
