Obama, Benjamin represent failure, not race in West Columbia controversy

Liberal media race-baiting will not
help Owens.

Injecting race into everything, with no solutions to Democrat failure, likely to hurt candidates. 

West Columbia mayor Joe Owens is in a political fight with his council members over whether there should be a strong-mayor form of government in the city.

It will be left up to the voters of West Columbia in a Sept. 30 referendum.

But by invoking race into the contest, has the media damaged the prospects of Owens to get the strong-mayor set-up he'd like?

In an Aug. 27, column The State newspaper says: “Whether racist or just racially insensitive, West Columbia, SC, campaign sign unacceptable.”

The column is penned by racially absurd Associate Editor Warren Bolton.

The sign is implying that too much power, to failed leaders should be avoided. It has absolutely nothing to do with race and everything to do with poor leadership.

SC Political Digest chronicled the opening ring of the circus when The State predictably infused race, but more-subtlety, in a Saturday news piece.

See SCPD Saturday article: Media cries"Racism" over media comparison to Obama failure

The more-blatant Bolton says: “Mayor Owens’ critics are so set on derailing his attempt to get voters to adopt a strong-mayor system in West Columbia that they resorted to one of the oldest, sickest political tricks: Blame the black man. They didn’t even try to hide the obvious appeal to race. Call it racist or racially insensitive — take your pick — the yard sign picturing Mr. Owens, who is white, sandwiched between President Obama and Mayor Benjamin, both African-Americans, is downright dirty dealing.

The message on the sign said: “Want to have ONE voice controlling our government? Me neither. Vote No! to strong mayor. Unite our city.”

I guess Bolton thinks he is helping Owens, but a leftwing, race-baiting columnist is not likely to impress or bully the people of West Columbia. In fact, many Americans are so turned off by the ignorance of the race debate in America, defending him with the architects of polarization will likely hurt him, more than help.

Owens should call Bolton and ask him to butt-out. He's done enough to influence the race already. But

not in a way Owens would like.