Bill White still having to sure up his base... plays the race card...

Bill White's playing of the race card this week, saying Rick wanted African Americans to view him as their "master," should offend any fair minded observer. This is a major gaffe, and while I am not surprised the mainstream media has ignored it so far I am surprised there is not more discussion about it from Rick's side (link). Excerpt follows...

Most of the black business and community leaders gathered Tuesday at a Luby's restaurant in southern Dallas will not be voting Republicanin November.

Bill White, flanked by state Rep. Barbara Mallory Caraway and Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway, took on Gov. Rick Perry in saying, 'We need a governor who's a servant, as opposed to Rick Perry, who wants to be treated as master.' " style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; ">

JIM MAHONEY/DMN

Bill White, flanked by state Rep. Barbara Mallory Caraway and Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway, took on Gov. Rick Perry in saying, 'We need a governor who's a servant, as opposed to Rick Perry, who wants to be treated as master.'

Yet Bill White, the Democratic nominee for governor, still must sell himself to voters pre-disposed to go Democratic but looking for help getting off the porch and to the polls.

[SNIP]

For most of his campaign, White has marketed himself as a contender with a potentially broad base, able to court independents and Republicans.

But any success in November will depend on how much he can electrify the Democratic base and boost vote totals in places like Dallas County, where the black and Hispanic votes are critical components of the electorate.

[SNIP]

Billy R. Allen of Dallas, who works as a job recruiter, said he wants White to be uncompromising on issues facing minority voters.

"He needs to step up and talk about those issues, the issues of disparity," Allen said. "He could energize this segment of the voting public if he stays with those issues. He needs to highlight that the current administration has totally bypassed African-Americans."

I think the news here is still that Bill White told a group of black people that Rick wanted them to treat Rick as master. That is one of the very worst uses of the race card I have ever seen at any level in politics, and Bill White needs to be held accountable for it.

"Master?" To a group of black people? Really? In 2010? Bill White should apologize for using such an outrageous and obviously inflammatory racially tinged term.