Last night the Obama campaign sent an e-mail to supporters with the subject line "Time for the Talk." I thought this e-mail would finally ask folks to deal head-on with racism among their friends and family. It turns out that the text did not mention race specifically, but it did seem geared toward encouraging younger voters to broach that very subject with their older relatives:
With so many rumors and misperceptions out there, it's incredibly important that you sit down with parents or other family members. Tell them who Barack is, what he stands for, and why you're supporting him.
You may be the only person who can convince them.
The campaign went on to offer this sample e-mail for supporters to send to their families:
Hi, I've been thinking a lot about the election and how important it is to our family.
I've decided to support Barack Obama, and wanted to let you know why.
There are many rumors floating around out there, so here's some information about Barack's positions on things I know are important to you.
[...]
This is probably going to be the most important election in my lifetime, and it's something I strongly believe in. So let's talk about it. Ask me anything.
Ask me anything. That seems to be an invitation to an open discussion about race, religion, and cultural values.
--Dana Goldstein
