'Let's Not Overreact to Obama's Win'

This from Michael Fauntroy at Huffington Post.

First, beware the fawning media. Virtually all of the coverage of Obama's win has been over-the-top, almost as if he won the nomination. This isn't a surprise with Obama, as the national news media have treated him as if he were the Second Coming from the moment he rocketed to national prominence following his speech at the 2004 Democratic national convention. His personal story and charisma have charmed the media into doing almost no critical analysis of his political positions. Most of the coverage I saw tried to suggest that his win was proof that White voters have overcome their aversion to Black presidential candidates. His chief opponent, Hilary Clinton, on the other hand, has been bashed by the media consistently since she hit the nation's consciousness in 1992. If Clinton's coverage were half as positive as Obama's since her rise to national prominence, then she might have the nomination locked up by now. . . .

Second, it should never be a surprise to anyone when a Black Democrat wins a presidential primary. Democratic voters around the country have been voting for Black presidential candidates for years. After all, the hated Jesse Jackson won seven primaries and four caucuses 20 years ago. He scored wins in, among other places, the White-as-Iowa Vermont (95 percent White) and disproportionately White Delaware (70 percent White). Indeed, the real surprise will be when a Black candidate wins a Republican primary. . . .

Obama's win was solid and comfortable, but it wasn't earthshattering.