"Of course this element of Obamaism appeals to white yuppies, too. But I think Obama’s educated, urbane, cosmopolitan fans have always been able to savor the real/unreal distinction with a certain amount of irony and non-chalance. But for those written out of the “real” America for reasons of race rather than taste in salad greens, that kind of cultural and political marginalization is much more threatening, and the idea of relaxing it is incredibly appealing."
