Tuesday, April 27, 2010

HopeChange Chronicles: Identity Politics for the November Ballox Box

Aaaaaand in the era of HopeChange and post-racial social harmony in the Age of Obamessiah, the man himself is apparently playing the race card for the 2010 elections -- since the Dems are facing plummeting popularity.

And Asians don't matter, apparently. I hate identity politics, but at the same time, I'm annoyed that Asians always vanish. You would think the only races in the entire country were white, black, and brown, and that's it. (Then again, given the way that Asians usually don't fit the narrative about minorities, we basically don't count as minorities -- need I bring up the lawsuits and ugliness in California education? Pffft.) If you want to talk about race, you should talk about ALL races. Or is that too complex and nuanced for your pat little prepackaged narrative?

You want to play cynical, reductive, divisive identity politics during interviews and do the demographic dance on the campaign trail? This independent, libertarian-minded, center-right, freedom-loving young Asian American woman refuses to participate. She's got real work to do. Go ahead. Call me a race/gender traitor. I dare you. I don't care.

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