Forget about "Sista Souljah!"

TNR's latest &c. post is lamenting Kerry's lost Sista Souljah opportunity (in this case, saying he should have bashed the performers at his recent fundraiser in NYC). Now, I know that the TNR-types loved what Bill Clinton did to Sista Souljah (especially considering their view that black Democrats should be seen, not heard). But times have changed, and that sort of distancing from the base in not at all necessary in 2004. On top of that, Kerry's "Sista Souljah" moment already happened, but they're too dense to realize it.

After the disasters in 84 and 88, a lot of people believed -- rightly or wrongly -- that the Dem cadidates were under the thumb of "special interests" (specifically Jesse Jackson and the black voters he represented). But after 8 years of Clinton and 4 years of Dubya, does anyone still believe that? After their disgraceful capitulation in the Iraq War vote? After going along with Bush's tax cuts? After DOMA? You can accuse the Democrats of 2004 of a lot of things, but excessive fealty to their base isn't one of them.

But even if a "Sista Souljah" moment was necessary in this election, it's alreay happened. Kerry proved his independence and his willingness to go against his base by trying to get John McCain to join the ticket as the VP candidate. Asking a pro-choice, anti-affirmative action, pro-Iraq War hawk to join the ticket is pretty definitive proof that Kerry has no fear that the Dem base might revolt.