First they came for David Patterson, Governor of New York. Barack Obama and the Democrats ganged up on him and forced him to not seek re-election.

Now they’ve come for Kendrick Meeks, or at least Bill Clinton, America’s first black President, has come for Kendrick Meeks, but at the behest of America’s second black President.

It started with a story in the Politico.

Bill Clinton sought to persuade Rep. Kendrick Meek to drop out of the race for Senate during a trip to Florida last week — and nearly succeeded.

Meek agreed — twice — to drop out and endorse Gov. Charlie Crist’s independent bid in a last-ditch effort to stop Marco Rubio, the Republican nominee who stands on the cusp of national stardom.

Specifically, “Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna confirmed to Politico” that Clinton’s top aide, Doug Band, brought up the subject with Meeks. Meeks sounded amenable. They then brought Clinton in.

Kendrick Meeks denied it to CNN.

Clinton confirmed it then backed away from it then confirmed it again. But Clinton said the White House was not involved.

Charlie Crist, who has had to heated private conversations with Kendrick Meeks in the past week, says the White House was involved.

Some Democrats “with knowledge of the plan” confirm the White House knew.

Had this been the Republicans ganging up on a black man to drive him from office, we’d hear all sorts of cries of racism.

But there are three really important points to make here. They are major points:

1. The only group the Democrats have left that will turn out in sizable numbers is the black voting block. This, the second time the White House has colluded to drive a black man out of a statewide election, does not help turn those voters out.

2. Bill Clinton has worked very hard to patch things up with black voters after the 2008 Democratic primary and now here he is trying to force a black man out of the race. So much for rehabilitation.

3. And this is the most important point: This clearly shows the White House is only interested in the short game. Alex Sink needs black voters to turn out for her to push her over the line. Florida is picking up congressional seats and a Democratic Governor would help tremendously. But the Democrats were willing to sacrifice black voter turnout to get a Senate seat for maybe six years instead of a Governor’s mansion that would impact congressional races for at least a decade.

Bonus take away point: Kendrick Meeks has run the classiest campaign by any Democrat in 2010.