Look for them only in the history books ...
The shift is almost unmistakable, now that John Lewis is on board, declaring that "something is happening in America".
That's a little unspecific, but what is happening is more than Obama being the absolution candidate for the GOP. He's also promises implicitly to turn the page on the old ways of managing the historically rooted challenge of race - most prominently affirmative action and its attendants.
AS is giddy over the prospect, as one would expect when the perpetual prologue of the Left finally becomes the province of the Right.
Lewis' backing is a true break.
Have a look at Obama's Civil Rights page, on his campaign website, which is wrapped up in abstractions about justice that look decidedly a-liberal (not non-liberal) or chiefly technocratic, concerning the administration of law. This is one area where he seems to have no ideas on how to change mindsets, or is reluctant to voice them, for obvious reasons. He hasn't said or done anything on civil rights since September (it appears - god knows, I don't have his full schedule at hand), apart from the Ebeneezer speech which was fine, but a little ... backward looking? On the other hand, Hillary was just recently being visible with the basic package of what it has meant to keep visible on the issues of the civil rights struggle.
It does seem the contrast is pretty clear, and therefore the break with the past, as well.
