If African-Americans can support Samuel Alito, that unexpected relationship may reap unimaginable dividends over the years.

There is a marvelous passage in Doris Kerns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. The passage is marvelous because it teaches much about political genius. In the passage, Lincoln runs for political office. He loses, something that Lincoln knew all too well.  And yet he was magnanimous to the extreme in defeat. His classy behavior made such an impact on his opponents that they threw their support behind Lincoln for President in 1860. The touch was but one of many that placed Lincoln in a class by himself.

Lyndon Johnson had the touch as well. Just listen to tape recordings of his placing the lean on Ramsey Clark to convince his father, Tom Clark, to resign from the U.S. Supreme Court. Johnson had executed a brilliant strategy of political chess.  In order to open up a vacancy for Thurgood Marshall, Johnson needed to create a vacancy. Supreme Court Justices do not easily resign from the Court. So, Johnson played on the love of a father for a son. He nominated Justice Clark’s son as Attorney General, knowing full well that the appointment of the son as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer would pressure the father to step down to avoid the appearance of impropriety. The scheme worked. Justice Clark stepped down as Justice. Ramsey Clark became Attorney General.  And Johnson was able to fill the vacancy with Thurgood Marshall.
 
The nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. sets up an opportunity for African-Americans that Lincoln and Johnson would appreciate.

You may be wondering how support of a conservative judge to a lifetime position on the Court creates an opportunity. Read on.

What are current conditions for African-Americans?  According to some accounts, Bush’s support has dropped to an all-time low of two percent among African-Americans. That Condoleezza Rice is the first female African-American Secretary of State does not matter. Kanye West said what all too many African-Americans must think— — that Bush does not care about Black People. Even the Rosa Parks funeral was mishandled with President Clinton in full presence and the Bush White House notably absent.

The Republican Party rightfully has no expectations.

Now do the opposite. That’s right, do the opposite.

If African-Americans are expected to trash Alito, support for Alito would serve several purposes. First, support would create relationships across party lines. In an age where party lines are sharply drawn, the touch of Lincoln and Johnson are forgotten skills. Good will breeds good will. If you do someone a good turn, they remember. Sometimes, there are true enemies in the body politic. And opposition should be full-throated. But then there are other times when one must be realistic about the appointments one can expect from a Republican administration. If you totally burn all bridges to a nominee, that nominee will owe zero allegiance to you and your arguments. (Hint: Think Clarence Thomas). Absent evidence that Alito is bent on turning back the clock, strategic support for Alito might reap dividends over time.
 
Second, support is more meaningful from unexpected quarters. Put your self in Alito’s position tonight. He knows that the right will support him. His greatest concern is whether the pro-choice forces will force a Senate filibuster.  And the Black vote? Alito is not losing sleep about Senator Obama’s vote. Trust me. But if African-American constituents supported Alito, this unexpected support would turn heads and make an impression. The unexpected always lingers, not the expected.

Ronna Lichtenberg has written in It’s Not Business It’s Personal: The 9 Relationship Principles that Power Your Career that “if you try to say I’m just going to do business with my heart; I’m only going to do work with people for whom I have a warm glow and good feelings — you’re going to go down in flames.” The relationships that you form outside of your comfort zone may turn out to be the most important to your ultimate success.  I am reminded of Vickie Turner, probably the most influential African-American attorney in San Diego. Turner has recalled how her career took off when a white partner from Alabama (of all places) took an interest in her career.  If African-Americans can support Alito, that unexpected relationship may reap unimaginable dividends over the years.

Finally, there are some Black Americans who will never accept Justice Thomas. Fine. It is a free country. But turn the point on its head. Do you want another Justice that is not invested in the Black community? Because of our past, we assume that conservatism is racism. And that has sometimes been true. Oftentimes, conservatism is another name for how our strict grandparents raised us.  Remove racism from conservatism and you have traditional values and attitudes at home in the black church. If Alito is free of racism, then he deserves to be supported or opposed on the merits. Race-baiting has no place.  Once again, it is a sign of strength to do the unexpected, if your interests are protected.

When I began this essay, I thought how could anyone urge African-Americans to support Alito. But that’s the point. Until we change our thoughts about the acceptable, we will never change our world. And that is political genius.