Like most Republicans on this posting, I agree it's ridiculous to feel guilty for slavery which occurred and ended a long long time ago.

So let's take look at what's happened recently.

Since 1968 the Republicans have consistently used the "Southern Strategy" to its advantage. That was a strategy of using code words and positions such as "States rights" and "Law & Order" to appeal to the Jim Crow crowd and to lock up the electoral collage votes in that region.

Republicans have not only benefitted from a fear of black people, but have openly stoked the flames, a la Willie Horton .

What's too funny it that many posters on this site claim that conservatives don't feel guilt because they are are beyond race. This is a bit rich. The Republicans have played racial identity politics it like a violin for the last 40 years. And continue to do so as we speak. Consider the recent La and Miss congressional races.

So along comes Obama. A thoughful, intelligent, well spoken individual who happens to be black. He's not claiming to be a victim and doesn't want a sympathy vote. He doesn't fit comfortably into the "angry black man" cartoon that has so greatly benefitted the Republican party in the recent past.

Hence it's only natural that some people would feel some satisfaction in voting for this fellow. Call it liberal pride rather than liberal guilt.

Well, that and the fact he's the best candidate. Yes, it's all satisfying.

to be the best thing that has happened to America since FDR?

I realize that not only are Republicans clueless about the whys and wherefores of racial guilt, they also have no idea how to come to terms with being wrong about their bad judgment. Case in point - little george.

So will Obama's success only elicit more anger from those that were sure his election was a big mistake?

Let's hope that it does not end up producing a violent backlash.

"I realize that not only are Republicans clueless about the whys and wherefores of racial guilt, they also have no idea how to come to terms with being wrong about their bad judgment. Case in point - little george."

The choice wasn't made in a vacuum, it was made by a collection of factions who felt that the alternative candidate who was the representative of an opposing collection of factions was worse.

Racial guilt is crap. I don't get to have racial pride because a caucasian cured polio or invented the airplane. It isn't my glory. Likewise, my vote is no more or less influenced by race than the 90% turn out among blacks for Obama. And when in the position position to do so, I don't smear or praise or invent code words to denigrate some one because of race.

And when I vote for Obama, it will be because his investment into the US infratstructure, and his rejection of antagonistic factionalism are what the country needs.

I mean, to me, Liberal White Guilt is not an albatross around my neck. It is a reminder that even though a white man might have invented the airplane or cured polio, there is no reason to believe that either of those inventions could have occurred sooner had there been no restraints on any humans through our checkered history.

Would cancer have already been cured if the person who had the potential for being that person been given the opportunity to go to college instead of spending his life in manual labor as a share cropper?

Racism has been a scourge on mankind for many reasons, but it's real damage is that it has formed classes in America, the country that is supposed to be class free.

As soon as we become class free, we become all free.

"But what if he turns out to be the best thing that has happened to America since FDR?"

FDR was easily one of the the worst things to happen to America. Only someone with very poor judgment would consider FDR's reign more than a disaster.

The internment of 120,000 Japanese-Americans, appointed KKK members to be Attorney General and Supreme Court justices, prolonged the Great Depression, increased unemployment, made the Federal government into a monstrosity...

If Obama (or anyone) turns out to be anything like FDR I hope there is a violent backlash.