According to Earl Ofari Hutchinson, Barack Obama simply hasn’t been on the political scene long enough to sell the Dems’ message and open the money spigots.

Obama: Not For President?
By Earl Ofari Hutschinson 

Even before Oprah Winfrey cheer-led Illinois Senator Barack Obama for President in 2008 on Larry King Live, “Obama for President 2008″ bumper stickers, mugs, and tee shirts were hot ticket sellers on websites. Internet chat rooms pulse with talk about an Obama presidency run, and Chicago papers run articles speculating about the prospects of an Obama candidacy.

Though Obama hasn’t said anything about his plans, the Democratic Party’s newest telegenic, shining star must be flattered by the clamor for him to toss his hat in the ring. But that’s what it should stay, flattery.

Obama is not the shot in the arm the Democrats need to take back Congress and the White House in 2008. He is too new on the political scene, too untested, too politically nice, too liberal, and most of all he’s an African-American.

Those factors make it virtually impossible for Obama to pry one, let alone, two states away from the Southern Republican bloc. The solid South, that is the South that is mostly white, conservative and male, pro war, anti-big government, vehemently opposes any political tilt to minorities, and is heavily influenced by ultra conservative Bible Belt fundamentalism. These political attributes are the exact antithesis of Obama’s political appeal, pitch and thrust (despite his tepid plea for the Dems to court the Christian fundamentalists).  The Southern strategy has proven to be a winning formula for GOP presidents Nixon, Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr.

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