BACK TO THE SIXTIES – AT 9:21 P.M. ET:  I understand racial pride, ethnic pride, national pride, the whole pride industry.  It's understandable that people will want to boost their own.

However, it can be way overdone, and that's what we're seeing in a sickening display in Chicago.  You'd think with Obama in the White House, promising a "post-racial" society, that some of his pals back in the windbag city would get the message.  Apparently, the call didn't go through:

After two months of closed-door meetings, a coalition of African-American leaders announced Saturday that it has settled on U.S. Rep. Danny Davis as its "consensus candidate" for Chicago mayor.

It was a late turnaround for the veteran congressman, who was not among the two finalists the Chicago Coalition for Mayor said it was considering endorsing a week ago.

Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, said Davis impressed the group — which includes elected officials, ministers, business leaders, lawyers, accountants and ex-offenders — during a Friday night interview in which he showed a strong grasp of how the city works.

Davis, 69, also is familiar to coalition members through his community outreach efforts, said Burnett, chairman of the City Council's black caucus. "He's one of the hardest working congressmen," Burnett said.

COMMENT:  It is simply incredible, in this day and age, that a group would coalesce around a candidate primarily because of the person's race.  Can you imagine the reaction if other groups did that? 

Davis will apparently run against former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.  The whole thing strikes me as ugly, and a throwback to the 1960s.  Maybe it's time to get beyond that era, with enforced racial solidarity and group candidates.

Mr. Obama, anything to say?

November 7, 2010