As an often crazy liberal myself, I find I'm gonna side with the McCain supporters in saying that there really isn't a racial component to whats going on - not one that is worth the noise the liberal crowd is making. I mean, dude, we're winning this thing. We don't need to backtrack and have a race-card discussion because they're the conservatives are the ones to gripe. Doesn't have to be us.

But the article is right about what lays behind this distracting talk of race; that Palin and McCain are representative of a political ideology that intends to divide and conquer. Divide us by "patriotic" and "traitor", or by "Small Town Values" and "East Coast Liberals." These are all republican-created terms, trying to categorize voters like sheep. The Republicans are the beneficiaries of division and disunity, because it allows them

Nothing is more orwellian in this election than McCain's usage of the term "country first" as a slogan. This election, for him, has been about establishing who is or is not a "true" american. That's certainly the angle he's used against Obama, and Palin and everyone else all down to Ann Coulter are all to-happy to say the things that the elected officials won't, and to stir up the anger that the Republican establishment has fed on.

Frankly, its incredible how small an issue race has been in this race. People have claimed "racism," but upon further examination, we see that racial mistrust is not a significant factor in this race. Obama is leading among white independents.

But I think its no less a frightening thing to see the way McCain and Palin are crafting a narrative in which part of this country is, well, not quite as American as the other. Nothing is lower in this country's politics than to say so - and though they could be saying much worse, the path that they have chosen to take here is clear.

Only thing is, there's one big, glaring flaw in your thesis. That being, regardless of the terminology used by Republicans, the "blue states" are going to continue to vote for traditional values conservatism. What the left hopes is that Obama's going to craft a better smoke and mirrors act than previous Democrats have been able to perform. And so far, they're right. His speeches are captivating in a mind-numbing sort of way.

But we're not quite there when it comes to actual liberal consensus of values shifting. When the war's over, and the Democrats screw things up even worse than they are now, we'll do what we always do, vote for another "change." Fact is, Obama's not changing anything. He's just a socialist, who knows exactly how to entertain a crowd.

Michelle Bachman, (an R from MN/MI?) said yesterday when questioned by Chris Mathews about Palins "pro-American/real American" speech, that there were people who were anti-American, and she likened them to "liberals and leftists." she said that Barack Obama was anti-American and that others in Congress may be and that journalists should investigate all of congress to see who was American and who wasn't. I wish Chris would have delivered a KO with "Lady, your attitude proves you should be the first one investigated."

GrannyB2, here's your link - <link>

FBH, I applaud you on your huge segway between my "thesis" and all the reasons you dislike Obama. The two things certainly had very little to do with one another. Sara Palin would be proud.

I think you were trying to say, perhaps, that since democrats consolidate their voting bloc in "blue states" that they are just as bad as the republicans for dividing and conquering. This is innacurate for 2 reasons.

First, anyone who is watching this election can see that democrats are focusing their efforts to win over red states, and republicans are simply hunkering down in those states playing defense. It has to do with what kind of campaign each side is running: Obama (though not a centrist himself) is trying to explain his positions to the center\independents, and is trying to broaden the appeal of democrats in places that haven't warmed to them in recent years. McCain, much like Bush before him, is using the Rove strategy of playing to the party base. By picking Palin and talking about personal issues instead of political ones, McCain is using a strategy that eschews talking to the center.

BTW, Obama is now ahead in Virginia, Coloroda, Missouri, Nevada, and is causing trouble for McCain in N. Carolina. This has been the opposite of divide-and-conquer, it is about inclusiveness, and its working.

Secondly, (and this is the key thing), its one thing to look at demographics and craft a message that your constituents will like best. Its a totally different thing to make your speech ABOUT the differences between Americans. Obama had one gaffe in the last year about this: the "bitter" comment, and it was an offhand and unintentionally stupid thing to say. The entire purpose of McCain's campaign is to get voters to think about who is more "one-of-us", and to provide charicatures of liberals for conservatives to mock. There's really no comparison between the campaigns in this regard, and that was what I was getting at.

Bachman (from MN) is a total shrew. She is Bush in a dress and extremely divisive (and recall: was caught on video kissing and "massaging" the president after one of his states of the union). I sincerely hope she gets her ass handed to her this year. I wish I lived in her district so I could do my part. :(

As current party leaders, McCain and Palin can't be as direct as the rest of the conservative adherents. But the message could not be clearer - some Americans are more American than others.

Ask anyone who thinks that Sarah Palin was a good choice... I guarantee they will agree with that viewpoint.

Nothing could be more the opposite of "country first."

Actually JW, the reason I don't trust Democrats in general is because of the predictability of their platform. I could care less about Obama. He's just another of their suits. The platform however, is a problem for me. I can't vote for a candidate in any party who's foundational direction will involve higher government intrustion and higher taxation, and higher regulation. Not to mention that I'm pro-life. It's nothing personal against Obama.

And I know what you're going to say. The repubs have not done a very good job of limiting government growth and debt either. But this election, like every other, isn't about getting what I want. It's about limiting damage, as best we can. The guess must start with written policy and predictable expectations.

Fact is, I expect Obama to by a fairly typical Democrat. If elected, he is going to find new ways to introduce the governments programs and solutions into my life. I'm not interested in that. I want a government that builds and maintains roads, provides a strong military, and prosecutes criminals and all that is involved therein. Everything else is negotiable. I see no potential for a Democratic White House and Legislative branch to provide such restraint...

Racism need not be overtly directed at a group of people. The first commentator seems to think that black people have a race, while white people do not. McCain-Palin might not be attacking black people, but they certainly are speaking to a subset of Americans who see themselves as slighted by elites and believe that as white people, dare I say "real Americans," they should be running this country and determining its culture.

Sarah Palin, in particular, has referenced her qualifications for understanding "real Americans" in stating numerous times that Alaska, a state that is almost entirely white, is a microcosm of the United States. Does this not speak to race even if it is not a comment overtly about race? Is Joe-Six-Pack black or white? He's white; I'd stake my life on it. Are Hockey Moms black? Asian? They're white and, as Sarah Palin would have, the "real Americans." Palin isn't speaking to black people, or Asians, or Native Americans, or mixed-race people and in so doing she is constructing a specifically white nationalist rhetoric that is completely out of touch with the realities of life for most people who I would deem "real Americans," that is anyone living in the United States.

Your post tells us why conservatives like yourself are not really patriots, they are partisans. You do not want Obama to succeed for if he does, he singlehandedly ends your mythology, Zues is destroyed by a new God. In our case, we liberals watched in horror as Ronald Reagan ushered in an era of greed, class warfare and massive redistribution of incomes to the top 1 per cent. We see the tide turning finally and as a 52 year old man, I am thrilled it has happened by a black man to boot. It proves that the Democratic/Progressive wing of the American political landscape is really our best hope to move beyond race, religion, dogma and hate.

Go Obama/Biden.

I don't think the implication is McCain/Palin are being racist as to African Americans, but that the use of the word "terrorist" in conjunction with a candidate whose name is Obama is to engender a fear of a Muslim connection.

Woolley:

Your post tells us why conservatives like yourself are not really patriots, they are partisans. You do not want Obama to succeed for if he does, he singlehandedly ends your mythology, Zues is destroyed by a new God. In our case, we liberals watched in horror as Ronald Reagan ushered in an era of greed, class warfare and massive redistribution of incomes to the top 1 per cent. We see the tide turning finally and as a 52 year old man, I am thrilled it has happened by a black man to boot. It proves that the Democratic/Progressive wing of the American political landscape is really our best hope to move beyond race, religion, dogma and hate.

Go Obama/Biden.

Amen, bro.

Plus with Obama at the helm, Pelosi running the senate, and maybe Barney Frank still directing the misappropriation of our finances, we got maybe one, possibly two years at best as a functioning country. Fifty-somethings like you and me might as well that advantage of these remaining golden years, drink ourselves into a steady daily beer haze, and try replicating a lot of the shopping cart pranks on steep hills like those Jack*ss movie kids. That will allow us to take advantage of all the free helath care that Obama promises quicker that way, too. We gotta huury, tho' -- most hospitals still got a few months of life in them before they have to shutter their doors circa the second quarter of 2009 because of Obama's socialized health plans.

Go Obama!

Anyone who believes racism does not play a part in this should canvas for Sen. Obama. I absolutely agree the McCain/Palin team are making this an issue with their comments on "real Americans" as well as their or their party playing the fear card on everything from Bill Ayres to Rev. Wright to the candidates name.

In these economic times and with Bush's approval rating so low, why isn't he farther ahead in the polls?

I can smell the sarcasm through my DSL connection but if I am wrong, please let me know. If you are a 50 something and think the GOP is the answer, I have no idea where you have been these last 50 years. If I am wrong and you agree with me that partisanship destroyed the liberal movement in the 70s and has now taken conservatives away to a Hades of their own making, then Amen Brother. I refuse to allow the right to claim superiority, they are not and will never be so.

I don't have the motivation to read your entire response but the notion that racism does not enter the picture is flat wrong. I grew up in a blue collar racist milieu (irish roman catholic). I feel this gives me some insight here. McCain is playing directly to fear of the other, Palin is a willing pawn. John Lewis: "They are playing with fire" spot on, I don't think even they(Mcain et al) realized how potent this hatred is. As someone who used to hold affection for McCain I feel I've seen his true colors, another megalomanic flailing against his feelings of impotence, reaching for whatever will do the job, (he's pretty close after all). All I can say is that I feel an immense amount of gratitude to obama, that a person of his quality and integrity would subject himself to this process with the (sincere I believe ) belief that he has something to offer that this republic needs.