You know something Gibson, you have it wrong on Obama is a way. He may not have played the race card, but Obama better explain his relationship with Louis farrahkan when Obama marched side by side with him in the million man march. Farrahkan is one of the biggest racists in this country He is antisemitic and anti-white. And you can bet Obama knew this and still marched with Farrahkan. If Obama denounces racism so much, then why does he associate himself with this bigot so much. You need to wake up Gibson open your eyes and see the truth.

There is no race card, only Republicans trying to extend the disaster of the past 8 years. So Obama marched with so and so, or read so and so, or had went to church so and so.
Anything is better than Bush and his sorry handling of the economy, the starting an unneeded war etc etc. As a Vietnam Vet I am especially upset by the war and its ramifications.
And now the Republicans continue with their usual rant about not talking to the enemy. Yes if diplomacy does not occur all is left is war. Diplomacy does not mean you agree with the enemy. The other choice is war. But Bush and his buddies like Cheney wouldn’t go to Vietnam, nor will their family go to any new war they start, including Iraq (unless on some super secure rear line).They leave it to the citizens to die for their mistakes, not their family.
In short the race card is another Republican effort to divert attention from the fact this country is in a monumental mess, in debt up to our ears, without a viable energy policy, with a large minority without health coverage, in a war without end. Yes the race card is the real issue to them, isn’t it? This is why the Republicans need to all go home and call people names instead of discuss the issues. That seems to be what they are good at, a la Rush Limbaugh.

Thanks America, and congratulations. Thanks to those Americans who sacrificed and in some cases gave their lives to pave the way for an African American to lead his party’s quest for the nation’s highest office. Thanks for sitting in; and freedom riding; and protesting in spite of snarling dogs and fire hoses and flailing police batons. Thanks for braving the tyranny of “night riders” and lynch mobs. Thanks for your courage and devotion to the principles of fairness and the brotherhood of man. Thanks for voting your hearts. Thanks for enabling black parents to stop lying to their children. For years we told our kids, “This is America, and if you study hard, work hard and apply yourself, you can be anything you’re capable of being.” We said these things knowing that there was always a caveat, an asterisk, an exception. It’s unfathomable that some expect unconditional patriotism and loyalty from people deprived of the full measure of this nation’s opportunities. I’m retired military and I love this nation dearly. However, I understand fully what the potential “First Lady” means when she speaks of patriotic reservations. I think she means that finally America is maturing. Finally, she seems prepared to realize the true meaning of her creed. Congratulations America! Regardless of the outcome in November, the face of American politics has changed forever. The realistic aspirations of every American child have changed forever. Sam Cooke was right, a change has come.

Jerril Jones

Fairview Heights

Greg,

I can’t speak for someone else, but I too believe Obama is playing the race card. I don’t think he’s a race-baiter, I just think Illinois’ junior Senator thinks it’s a great strategy to keep his political opponents on the defensive.

Senator Obama answers every criticism by calling it “offensive”, or “out of bounds”, thus insulating himself from examination. He warns that he will not stand for criticism of his wife, despite the fact that she has no problem inveighing against a mysterious “they” (the white power structure?)who keep raising the bar for the poor and minorities in
America.

His mother is described as a “typical white person” who fears black men, and he implied that white Pennsylvanians were bigots who hid behind guns and God when faced with dark-skinned immigrants.

Rather than the Clinton-Obama controversial issues, I would like to put in my “2 cents worth” on the Voters vs. Constitituion of the United States. Does anyone really think this was a fair election? First of all, Michigan and Florida were treated as children and punished. Look at all the votes not counted. And this is fair to the people who voted there? I don’t think so. Hillary had 18,000,000(+/-) votes which was the popular vote. Whatever happened to “majority rules”? In the Constitution in Article 2, Section 1, and in the 12th Amendment they talk about electoral college. This is so outdated that it should be banned from the Constitution. When it was signed in 1787 it made sense - people couldn’t read nor write and needed it, but in this 21st Century, I think not. If we could bring the Constitution current, this may be a better Country. So much is outdated. Who will be smart enough and strong enough to start the fight to get rid of this ridiculous electoral College? In 1996 Gore won the popular vote, but lost. And now in 2008 Hillary won the popular vote but Obama won. This isn’t “sour grapes” believe it or not, it’s the facts.

To Penny J. Levitt,
I think you need to look at the electoral college again. It was not the “last line of defense to make sure we don’t get a bad president” idea that many have tried to make it out to be. The electoral college is another way to keep the federal government a collective government from many states. Just like the two bodies of Congress, the electoral college is designed to make sure that smaller states (with their smaller numbers) are still important players in the federal government. If all we used was the popular vote than many candidates would never have to leave New York or California. The college and the Congress are design around a many states working under one larger government construct. If you want to change that, we can. But, we would change a alot more then just the electoral college.

GMichaud:

“Anything is better than Bush and his sorry handling of the economy, the starting an unneeded war etc etc. As a Vietnam Vet I am especially upset by the war and its ramifications.”

Thank you for your service to our country. I’m assuming that since you did not describe yourself as a ‘combat’ veteran, you served our country by unloading cases of SPAM at stateside Post Exchanges but no matter, everybody ever associated with a war is upset at the prospect of another one but quite often the enemy determines how unnecessary it is. Saddam could have complied with any of the 17 United Nations Resolutions and PRESTO/VOILA! No war in Iraq and your Bush rage is slightly sidetracked.

It’s obvious to you that Bush was personally responsible for Saddam’s stubborn resistance but what, pray tell, does a President do to ‘handle’ the economy, stain blue dresses?

While Obama isn’t making race an issue, it has been part of the primary and it will continue to be an issue. There are vocal Democrats that will try and make anyone not supporting Obama out to be a racist. There will be racists that don’t vote for him but they’ll be the exception rather than the rule.

At the same time people will also mock McCain for his age, but for them that will be perfectly ok. This will be a lopsided election as far as mudslinging goes with McCain taking most of the heat.

IS- No, Bush is not to be held responsible for Saddam’s failure to be a responsible leader and cooperate with the world community. Bush is responsible for throwing a childish, bombastic rage whereby in defiance of the international community he singlehandedly takes the problem from molehill to mountain. When it comes to international diplomacy Bush is the proverbial bull in the china closet. It isn’t that the problem wasn’t there, it’s that Bush so ineptly dealt with it. I imagine that you are a veteran of one of the world wars, right? If so, where do get off with the “stacking spam” bs comment?

RCJ- I doubt that McCain will be the recipient of more mudslinging than Obama. Yes, there will some who mock his age and there will be some with legitimate concerns. But unless McCain starts “showing his age” I think it will be a minor issue. However, Obama’s race is the ultimate wedge issue and while I suspect that McCain is above using it their are many on the political right who have no such scruples. This can be witnessed right here on this blog daily.

Penny- I think you missed it. The primaries are not national elections subject to constitutional protections. They are political party referendums organized, funded and governed by the parties themselves. The parties make and enforce their own rules. FL and MI violated the rules, case closed. If anyone was cheated it was by the FL and MI state democratic leaders not the national democratic party. Also, I think the electoral college still serves an important function in our election process.

Dear lunar chiroptera:

I did not miss the point. The College is not needed. In fact, less govermental intervention is what we really need after Bush. If the candidates do not visit all over the country, then let the voters decide whether they want that candidate or not. No more primaries, just a general election in November!!!