Conveniently, the Governor's decision in the Scott case came just a day before his meeting with NAACP President Ben Jealous and Mississippi NAACP State Conference President Derrick Johnson. The NAACP played a major role in persuading Barbour to issue the indefinite suspension of the Scotts' sentence.
Surely freeing the Scotts is intended to burnish Barbour's credentials as a fair-minded, color-blind son of the New South. That is seen as a "must do" if Barbour is serious about seeking the Oval Office in 2012. He cannot even be a contender without some of the black and brown votes won by Obama in 2008.
American voters are frequently praised by politicians and journalists alike for their "common sense." Give an American the facts and he or she will likely make the right decision, the line goes. This is a big part of the narrative of American Exceptionalism that persists and flourishes despite historical facts to the contrary.
American voters may have common sense but they also tend to have very short memories. So we can only live in hope that they will remember to ask the governor where he has been since 1994.
The Scott sisters will have no trouble remembering where they were.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
