The night after the Iowa Caucuses, I tuned in to PBS television's Charlie Rose and watched as Shelby Steele discussed his book, A Bound Man: Why We're Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win. Ironically, Sen. Obama was victorious in the Iowa primary and, since then, won more states than his fellow Democratic contender on Super Tuesday, made a clean sweep on "Super Saturday" and scored 3-0 in the Potomac Primary.
In A Bound Man, Steele examines Sen. Obama's quest for higher office, making a distinction between Obama the man and Obama the symbol. Steele writes that, as a symbol, Obama "raises several remarkable possibilities. Is America now the kind of society that can allow a black man -- of whatever pedigree -- to become the most powerful person on earth, the commander of the greatest military in history? Have our democratic principles moved us beyond even the tribalism of race?"
In Steele's opinion, as blacks navigate the white American mainstream they have adopted two postures -- either as "bargainers" or "challengers." Challengers (like Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson) believe that "whites are incorrigibly racist until they do something to prove otherwise." Bargainers (like Oprah Winfrey or Bill Cosby) promise "I will not use America's horrible history of racism against you, if you will promise not to use my race against me.'
According to Steele, Sen. Obama (a bargainer) is a bound man. Steele writes, "Strong convictions seem to be anathema to Barack Obama because he is a bound man. He has fit himself into the world by often taking his own experience out of account. ... He is bound against himself."
Although Steele raises valid questions about the nation's readiness for a presidential candidate such as Sen. Obama, both poll results and Sen. Obama's track record indicate that Steele's theory is flawed, such that he arrives at the wrong conclusions.
Voters in Iowa and beyond have clearly demonstrated how much we've moved beyond what Steele calls the tribalism of race. Sen. Obama's twin message of hope and 'change we can believe in' resonates with constituents. Recently, Sen. Claire McCaskill told David Gregory on MSNBC, "I think we should never be derisive about somebody who has the ability to inspire ... You know, we've had some dark days in this democracy over the last seven years and today the sun is out. It is shining brightly."
Sen. Obama has proven himself adept at coalition building; secured the endorsement of Sen. Ted Kennedy; and key strategists including former Sen. Tom Daschle are squarely ensconced in Obama's camp.
Moreover, exit polls at the Potomac Primary indicate that Sen. Obama has won over a new cadre of followers. In addition to groups that supported him in previous primaries and caucuses -- blacks, younger voters, the affluent and self-identified independents -- Sen. Obama has made inroads into Sen. Clinton's constituent base of older voters, women and lower income people. In Virginia, Sen. Obama won majorities of white men and Hispanic voters.
Sen. Obama's campaign continues to gain momentum and he now holds the lead in the delegate count. Next Tuesday, voters in Wisconsin and Hawaii head to the polls; next month, on March 4, voters in Texas and Ohio will have their say. Maybe now is as good a time as any for Mr. Steele to recall his book and work on an alternate, revised ending.