groovelady:

hey guys--you misunderstand Gatewood--he's saying that blacks aren't racist when they vote for whites, but that they are racists when they vote for blacks. Get it?

hmmm...where have I heard this "logic" before?

Gatewood, do yourself a favor and become a Republican.

If Blacks vote for Obama because he's black or women vote for Hillary because she's a woman they are not necessarily racist or sexist but are engaging in identity politics. Does this mean that black people wouldn't vote for a white candidate or that women wouldn't vote for a male candidate? Of course not.

As I stated earlier this is the first primary where there is a viable woman and a viable black canidate. Since this has never happened before and since both candidates have pretty similiar platforms it's hardly surprising that women or blacks would vote for "one of their own" when they might not get the opportunity again if history is a guide.

Hillary's early implication was that many blacks voted for Obama because of his race and this was more of an excuse for losing states like Louisiana. Her latest claim is that working class whites are racists and will not vote for Obama. This says that racism is acceptable and it insults working class whites too. The implication is that the "elitist" voters can look beyond race but that the working class is simply incapable of doing this.

Finally to Gatewood's so-called "enlightenment." It's a joke. Someone who claims to be enlightened is probably far from it in most cases. I don't claim enlightenment but I am a realist and I understand that people are not perfect and most people's motives are not "pure."

If we're honest we all have some prejudices whether it's against people who look different, who practice a different religion or who are a different sex among other things. Recognizing our prejudices is the first step in overcoming them.

Obama challenges us to come together while Hillary seems to be saying keep your prejudices as long as it will help her win.