One historic aspect of this year's presidential election was the first re-election of an African-American chief executive. Ever since Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, 2008, one wondered whether he would be one-term president, or even be alive to complete a first term. Race was always hanging around this presidency, and certainly so during the 2012 election campaign. Obama v. Romney included offensive episodes such as Donald Trump's repellent, insulting $5 million dollar offer for the 44th president to produce his college records. In this case, we're talking about a doubting a president who was a Harvard Law grad.
While few people told pollsters they were voting against Obama simply because he was a brother, racism was unquestionably a factor Democrats and Republicans took into account in certain states. However, evidence of articulated racism is a little tricky to identify.
According to a story appearing in today's online edition of the LA Times, during the final days of the election period, and Election Day itself, some academic researchers "analyzed 'hate' tweets by geography." The results: Alabama and Mississippi led the pack in this shameful category, with many states of the former Confederacy following close behind.
It's an interesting story, and one that won't vanish after January 20, 2013.
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