Race continues to be factor in Louisiana politics

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA - Carol Forsloff - Louisiana folks protest race
shouldn't be an issue anymore, but the fact remains conversations among
the rank and file reflect it plays a big role in state affairs.


In Natchitoches, where the racial
distribution in voter count is almost 50 - 50, both whites and blacks
are hanging on the local mood and direction.



A local white dentist, with a
significant practice among African Americans, smiles and says, "I don't
mind if there is an African American mayor in Natchitoches.  I get along
with everyone."



A local white independent
businessman counts African Americans as personal friends.  "It's
coming.  I've already got someone in mind I think would do a good job in
being mayor since we might be electing an African American this next
time.



This tipping point might be reached
fairly soon, since in the Presidential election, Natchitoches parish
was fourth towards Obama, although that fourth showed enough of a margin
of white votes so that McCain took the parish by a relative sliver.
The three other parishes, including major parts of Shreveport and New
Orleans, have large African American populations.

How this land of the Steel Magnolias and ancestors of Uncle Tom's cabin will respond this year at the polls will be significant in examining the voter blocs this year, as one man said this week in Natchitoches, musing over the future of a small section of the state with some of the most compelling history and history.



The fact Mitch Landrieu, of the
famous family of Landrieus, a white man, was elected mayor following Ray
Nagin, who is African American, people say reflects the fact people
will choose the person they think is best in the running regardless of
race.



Given two candidates of similar background and favor, race steps to the front in vote patterns.



Voting during the Presidential election of 2008 across the state
in Louisiana showed a pattern set by race, with McCain taking
predominantly white population areas and Obama winning those parishes
with large African American voter blocs.



This is the year David Vitter faces
the voters in Louisiana, and what happens to Vitter might end up being a
bellweather for what happens down the road in a state where race is
always part of the conversation.  As never a friend to the African
American, at least in the voting blocs, his is the neck on the line this
year.  His consistent votes against President Obama, the first African
American President, are likely to be remembered, one African American
leader in Natchitoches said.  Vitter has also favored lawsuits against Obama on the birth certificate issue.

The Steel Magnolia people and the Uncle Tom folks too talk among themselves, and across racial lines with the crossovers in each side, about the impact of race on this year's election as they "gather at the river" that runs through the town, Cane River Lake, a monument that the town moves along in a deliberate flow regardless.


"Our time is coming," said someone
in the know in the African American community.  That "time a coming" is
something citizens have anticipated and how it figures into the
leadership of Natchitoches will be part of the continuing historical
quilt  of politics that race has dominated in state history as it will
be in the elections this year.