Pandering via Race Card?

The George Zimmerman (Trayvon Martin) case is in the books. No matter what side you were on during the trial, the verdict is the verdict. However, as Americans, we have the right to either celebrate or protest (peacefully) in support of or in response to that verdict.

In fact, as an American citizen, I take pride in those who publicly voice their opinions in a peaceful, respectful manner, whether I agree with the opinions or not.

One lawmaker, however, is going in a different direction—one that just makes me gag and choke over the sheer lack of sense demonstrated by using a racially charged incident to push a political agenda.

After reading Bryan P. Sears’ article about Senator Ben Cardin and his “reaction” to the Zimmerman verdict, I wondered if the Senator is so desperate for votes that he would sell his soul by pandering to the black community without taking a look at the reality of what is going on in this country today.

You see, Senator Cardin wants to direct his efforts (as well as the efforts of the Justice Department) to generate an investigation into whether Trayvon Martin was a victim of racial profiling and if his civil rights were violated. How can a Senator—someone who is supposed to be “of the people, by the people, and for the people”—make such an outlandish statement without knowing the true state of race relations in this country?

Because, of course, without that knowledge, such statements equate to baseless propaganda … not that the Senator would do such a thing just to get votes. (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.)

Does anyone remember the O.J. Simpson murder trial? After that verdict was announced, were there any violent protests in the streets or demand for the Justice Department to step in? No, there were not. In fact, the black community hailed the justice system for its ability to render a just verdict.

Major figures like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have built careers on waiting around for these types of cases to make their way into the news. Where are these “leaders” when it comes to matters like the homicides in Chicago or the recent bankruptcy of Detroit? Where is their concern for the fact that black males are 10 times more likely to engage in homicidal acts than other races, or that 73% of black children are born out of wedlock?

Take, for example, another scandal brewing right here in our city of Baltimore. Where is the NAACP to respond to this story?

What about Governor O’Malley’s response (or lack thereof) in the recent prison scandal? Where is Senator Cardin’s call for a Justice Department probe over that mess? I am guessing that he was too busy staying clear of the news coverage due the governor’s gaffe.

If Senator Cardin wants to speak out about brutal, racially motivated crimes, then that is his business. However, with that said, I did not hear a peep out of him following another brutal crime that gained no attention in the liberal media. Then again, maybe there wasn’t enough media attention or race baiting to warrant the Senator’s intervention. I guess the photo opportunities on that case were not politically correct for accumulating votes.

Like Mr. O’Reilly says, “It’s time for some straight talk.”

As for me, I’ve had enough of people like Senator Cardin and the garbage they spew while pandering for votes.

I was under the assumption that the ability to think logically and critically is a requirement to serve as a U.S. Senator.

Apparently, I assumed wrong.