As well as threatening the introduction of forced labour schemes, Clinton promises firm action against fathers who desert children to welfare dependency. No more freebies' By distinguishing between real need and the undeserving welfare dependents, the Democrats appeal both to the fear of recession among middle Americans and to the prejudice that secured the old Republican majority. White suburbanites identify welfare dependency with blacks and the inner cities. They resent taxes because they imagine that they are paying to buy crack for black 'welfare queens'. Clinton's tough talk appeals to those sentiments.
Middle class is here a euphemism for white America, just as 'welfare' is a code word for black.
The underlying racial message of Clinton's campaign is not restricted to welfare spending. Clinton has opposed racial division, but at the same time attacked black militants for creating it. His attack on black rap star Sister Souljah over her support for black rioters in Los Angeles followed a similar line to Bush and Dan Quayle, in reposing the issues as ones of black crime and violence rather than poverty and racism. Clinton's chosen photo-opportunity on the eve of the Maryland, Georgia and Colorado primaries was in front of a formation of prisoners in chains, most of whom were black, at the Stone Mountain Correctional Facility. They have always been alternative parties of American capitalism, but today's Democrats are even to the right of yesterday's Republicans.