The New Tiger/Obama Calculation

In 1997, a 21-year-old black-Asian golfer posted the lowest score in the history of the most prestigious golf tournament in America at one of the most exclusive private enclaves in America - Augusta National Golf Club.

Old white guys - rich good ol' boys in white pants and green jackets who were not accustomed to seeing a person of color playing on their famous golf course - found themselves rooting for this magnificent athlete who was tearing through their hallowed links like Sherman's March to the Sea.

With his extraordinary athletic prowess, Tiger Woods cut a swath through America's calcified racial prejudice. He excelled in what had historically been a wealthy white man's leisure pastime. In doing so, he caused a tectonic shift in race relations. Suddenly, it was okay - terrific even - for a black man to stand atop the leader board of American life.

This is why Barack Obama has a chance to become president of the United States in 2008. Woods has opened up a pathway for Obama in the American political psyche as no one before him.

Of course there are other black superstars who have established broad appeal that transformed race: Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Bill Cosby, to name a few. But basketball and entertainment don't occupy the same place in the American iconography as does golf - born in Scotland and played in America (until very recently) by affluent white people.

Golf is not an inner-city sport and it hasn't been - until quite recently - even a working-class sport. Historically, it's enjoyed about the same social status as polo, fox-hunting and squash. At the most exclusive golf clubs - where members dress for lunch and never use cash -- the amount of money you had wasn't as important as how old your money was.

Into this world came young Tiger Woods - a handsome, lithe, well-mannered, articulate young man with a black father and Thai mother. And a golf swing for the ages. He was so talented, so accomplished, so poised that only coarse, unbridled, unmasked racism could have kept him out of the ranks of the Professional Golfers of America with its access to the most discriminating golf clubs in the world.

And since overt racism was no longer fashionable, Tiger was permitted, on the strength of his ability, to play with the white guys. Only a few black golfers ever had had that opportunity and none with Tiger's prowess. The shift in attitudes Woods has created is what breaks the ice for Obama, the son of an African father and a white mother.

Here's what Katie Lang, a 32-year-old insurance executive from Tampa, told the Washington Post at an Obama campaign event:

Obama speaks to everyone. He doesn't just speak to one race, one group. He is what is good about this nation...Kind of like, if I could compare him to Tiger Woods. When I look at Tiger Woods, I see the best golfer in the world.

So when I see Barack Obama, I see a strong political candidate. I do not see 'Oh, that's a black man running for president, or African American or multiracial black.' It's not what comes to mind first. What comes to mind first is: great platform, charismatic, good leader, attractive.

As essayist Shelby Steele explained to Time magazine: "It's all about gratitude. White people are just thrilled when a prominent black person comes along and doesn't rub their noses in racial guilt. White people just go crazy over people like that."

If Obama does not win his party's nomination, it will not be because he is black. The tiny number of Democrats who won't vote for him because he's black wouldn't have voted for him anyway. If Obama is not successful, it will be because Clinton will have done a better job of capturing the Democratic base.

But if Obama could win the Democratic nomination, he would have a better shot a winning the presidency than would Ms. Clinton. He's less polarizing and more appealing to a wider swath of voters. Those who wouldn't vote for him because he is black would never vote for any Democrat. But there are plenty of voters who wouldn't vote for Clinton who might vote for a less antagonizing Democrat.

There's nothing new about referring to Obama as the Tiger Woods of politics, or in noting their crossover appeal or their similar racial fusion characteristics. But it's important to understand that the new racial calculus in America is this:

If he can win the Democratic Party's nomination, Barack Obama has a genuine shot at the presidency because Tiger Woods has altered how Americans view a talented black man in pursuit of a goal that has been historically reserved for white guys.

Comments

[nihilon x]

"As essayist Shelby Steele explained to Time magazine: "It's all about gratitude. White people are just thrilled when a prominent black person comes along and doesn't rub their noses in racial guilt. White people just go crazy over people like that."

A good observation...but let's also remember that both Tiger and Obama are only half-"black" and thus (even if only subconsciously) more acceptable to the white mainstream than a dark-skinned black individual.

Even as you commend these individuals for seemingly being above race, lets remember that its far easier to be above race when you don't completely look the part of someone who could fit the "stereotype".

[LizM]

Wrong comparison...not even close, in fact.

Senator JOE BIDEN is the 'Tiger Woods' of this election campaign.

Tiger Woods is the premier player of his time, and will probably eclipse the achievements by players of other times, in record time! Hey, I became a GOLF fan after a few years of being a TIGER fan.

Similarly, Joe Biden is the premier candidate in this presidential race - the one candidate who has real expertise and intimate knowledge of the critical matters of foreign policy, national security, and constitutional issues...not to mention a legislative prowess and ability to attract bipartisan and independent support to advance a domestic agenda in the best interests of the American people - all of which are wholly unmatched by any of his rivals.

[SamThornton]

Setting aside the Tiger Woods test for a moment, one test of a Democratic Presidential candidate is how well they fare should their name be on the final ballot in November 2008.

According to recent national polling (http://pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm), Clinton and Obama both lead marginally against likely Republican opponents.

Surprisingly, Obama and Clinton are in a statistical dead heat (52% and 51%, respectively) along with Giuliani (49%), Edwards (48%), and McCain (46%), when voters of both parties are asked who they are likely to vote for in the actual election should the candidate be on the ballot.

What is most surprising (at least to me) is how well both Giuliani and McCain seem to be doing despite what appear to be rather pointed failures and lapses on their part.

A little less surprising, but surprising nonetheless, is Edward's strength in this poll. Looks like we have an old-fashioned smackdown in progress.

[Tunnelista]

Great article, Phil! I have often thought of Tiger as I have watched Barack's well-deserved and meteoric rise on the political scene. I am convinced that he is the only Democratic who can win in November 08 and I am devoting my life to making that happen.

GObama 08!

[The Collinbrandt]

I believe Obama is the best, most intelligent person for the job of president however, as Dickins said in "A Christmas Carol", Beware the boy, named ignorance, because he is the most dangerous of all. Many poor and middle class whites I talk too are afraid that a man of ethnicity(African American, Latino or other) would take away what little they have left. After all these decades of evil steeling under the families of the plutarchs, these struggling whites (which is most of them) must be assured by Obamma or any other minority candidate that they, would not be worse off under a minority leader"irregardless of race", versus the absoulte dictatorship of those born to priviledge.

[querencia]

Obama is not taking a stand on getting out of Iraq in any way that I find even marginally supportable, even though I like other stuff about him. Black white or green-getting out of Iraq, reinstating the constitution and compliance with the Geneva convention, global warming concerns and attention to inappropriate privatization is what matters to me more than anything in the candidates right now. Kucinich is the only one who seems to be tracking with reality in terms of all that is going on and where the leverage points are to change it.

Condi and Colin Powell are black too. I can't say I am a fan of either. The merit of someone's work is what matters here. Arguing that being black is not a factor for a black Presidential candidate in America is silly. Of course it is. Racism is embedded in our culture.
Is that a factor that should stop people who agree with Obama's platform from supporting him? I don't think so.

I do think anyone who does support Obama should get familiar with Kucinich, with his voting record, his work, his platform and his understanding of the issues, and see if they REALLY think Obama would do a better job. He falls short for me in that contest and I think he would for anyone else who is focused on the core issues impacting our country right now.

Don't take my word for it- check it out for yourself. http://www.dennis4president.com/home/

[TommyMcCarthy]

Can't help saying I strongly agree with Phil that if Democrats do NOT nominate Obama it won't be because he is black.....and I'm pretty proud of that. The number of Dems who will vote AGAINST Obama based on race is in fact miniscule.

Just for grins: do you think the same could be said of his party if Barack was running as a Republican? Perhaps we could ask Alan Keyes........tm

[noeltaylor]

It's not just Tiger, it's an accumulation of people, i would give additional credit to: Oprah,Condi, Collen P., Doug williams Tony Dungy (yes Tiger) The Williams Sisters, Harold Washington and even Clarence Thomas.

[feelfree]

"So when I see Barack Obama, I see a strong political candidate. I do not see 'Oh, that's a black man running for president, or African American or multiracial black.' It's not what comes to mind first. What comes to mind first is: great platform, charismatic, good leader, attractive."

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Katie Lang is lying. This is tiresome so-called progressive rhetoric that sounds good and reads well, but in this country if you're black everyone knows it.

I bet Obama can't get a cab in NYC.

And I bet that same woman would hold her purse a bit tighter if she passed him on the street.

It's because white people go crazy for him is the reason many blacks won't vote for him. So-called progressives never go for blacks who truly stand for something. They only go for blacks politicians who make them FEEL comfortable and stand for nothing. And that's Obama.

[BUSHsurvivor]

Those democrats who won't vote for a democrat over a republican after what our nation has experienced from 2000 on have some serious soul searching to do. The presidential election should be a slam dunk for our party after the crime, lies, spin and failed policies of the nutty neocon party, but the infighting could be our downfall!