Ever since Obama swore the oath of office, I have followed the political discourse in America very closely. I paid particular attention to how America now deals with the issue of race. I saw the premature declarations that America was now entering a ‘post-partisan’ era as…well, interesting.

I personally feel that Obama is a very talented politician, maybe the most gifted of my generation. The way he handled the Rev Wright controversy with a nuisance speech on how race still affects American life and his denouncement of his mentor/friend/father figure Rev Wright was the closest I have seen a politician play career roulette and win. The situation taught me three things about Barack Obama; 1- He is not to be underestimated, 2- He is absolutely ruthless, and 3- He is a tactician.

These are the three things that the G.O.P fails to acknowledge about Obama. Their new short term strategy of throwing the kitchen sink at the president may show some short term gains in the polls, but long term Obama still holds all the cards. The American economy seems to be showing signs of vitality and if Obama manages to pass health care, politically the Republicans will be left in ruins. This is why they can not afford to pitch any capital on the race game they seem to be playing with Obama, because he too knows the rules of the game very well.

Obama baited the Republicans with the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, calculating that the G.O.P would not show enough political sensitivity and alienate what is soon to be a major voting block in the United States. Calling Sotomayor a racist, an affirmative action pick and focusing solely on her ‘wise Latina’ comment validated Obama’s political move. The Republicans might think that they have nothing to lose by attacking Sotomayor but I believe all they have done is provide ammunition to the Democrats to delegitimize the G.O.P in the Latino community in future campaigns.

There has to be someone in the Republican ranks that is able to look at the bigger picture and calculate that the small gains they are making attacking Sotomayor are not worth it. Even if enough Republicans vote for her in her confirmation, I believe that the damage has already been done.

This new Birther phenomenon also plays a part in delegitimizing the Republicans in a voting block they already struggle with, ethnic minorities. How this movement has any support in the mainstream Republican ranks is beyond me. I think it symbolizes the desperate situation the G.O.P find themselves in. Off course the issue of de-legitimacy when it comes to the American presidency has been prominent in political discussion in both Clinton and Bush’s terms, but the reasons haven’t been as laughable or as nonsensical as claiming Obama wasn’t born in America.

This Birther phenomenon is beneath the Republicans and it should be shut down as soon as possible. Again, there has to be someone in the Republican ranks who can see that it is doing their party more bad than good. There will become a time where people associate this nutty movement solely with the Republican Party, thus driving away ethnic minorities (who will soon become a majority in America) moderate republicans and independents alike.

When Obama has decided to speak about the issue of Race, he apparently managed to alienate white voters. What many failed to acknowledge was that he spoke what many consider to be a universal truth amongst ethnic minorities on the issue of how police treat non-white suspects. I believe that the Gates-Gate did improve Obama’s position amongst black voters (if that was ever more possible).

My overall conclusion is that Republicans really need to stay away from the issue of race. Stay far away from it. Do not drink (how do you Americans say?) the Kool-Aid and think that race damages Obama, it damages the Republicans as well, if not more.

The Republicans need to regroup and refocus on the issues like fiscal responsibility, personal freedoms and a strong national defense, issues which they can actually make real and sustainable gains on. Race is not one of those issues. I am a huge fan of Lee Atwater’s genius ‘Southern Strategy’ but the political climate has changed.

Obama is playing the race game and Republicans: it will kill you.