He ‘evolved’ on gay marriage when he could no longer hide. If he had been liberal/progressive he would have been leading, not following Joe Biden. He waited to see which way things would go before he said anything.

I taught at a couple of schools where the majority of staff were black and learned how the black middle class thinks the old fashioned way — by talking with them. They’re all about God, moral values, and upright living. The only reason the black middle class aren’t Republicans is because today’s Republicans are so obviously racist lunatics. If today’s Republicans were actual conservatives rather than a bunch of radical lunatics bent on reshaping American society into their image, it would be the natural home for the black middle class.

When Obama was running for President back in 2007-2008 I looked at his actual policies in his speeches and on his web site, looked at how the Kossaks were falling all over him as the Great Liberal Hope, and was utterly baffled. Because he seemed to be pretty much standard conservative black middle class. Great Liberal Hope? In what universe? But white liberals who’ve never spent any time actually, well, talking to black middle class people just can’t see it. Sigh.

On the other hand, I do have to give Obama credit for a couple of liberal things, like changing his mind on gay marriage. Of course, that was after he said he was against gay marriage but credit him with that little bit, at least. There was one other liberal thing he did, but I forgot. Tells you how consequential it must have been :).