Craig's Interrogation and the On-going Problem of Racism

Over on the Volokh Conspiracy, Dale Carpenter makes an important observation about Senator Craig's interrogation and police tactics that raise serious questions about institutionalized racism. The police officer who interviewed Craig, attempts to persuade Craig to admit wrong doing by associating Craig's obstructive behavior with people "from the hood" (i.e. young, black males). Carpenter notes that the officer is attempting to shame Craig by casting his actions as those consistent with the actions of the other. Carpenter is extremely informative here and I can add nothing nearly as insightful as he.

Instead, I wonder about the state of racial politics in the country. Other than Carpenter's post, I have seen nothing on the police officer's comments. Neither Democrats nor Republicans have voiced much on such a widely publicized event. Both have significant incentives to do so. Democrats can play to their base. Republicans could do a good deal to bolster Craig's position that he did nothing wrong by casting the investigation in less than favorable terms. However, the disincentives, provided by the state of contemporary politics, appears to be too be too great. Democrats seem unwilling to take provocative stances that might jeopardize their standing as the party-less-hated and Republicans long ago sold out on questionable interrogation techniques. Any change in that policy now would look absurd.

Of course, what all this means is that real conversations about race and power in the United States is not currently possible--at least in political circles. Perhaps the rest of us can carry on the conversation whilst our leaders continue to watch Rome burn.