Geeze Elrod……since when does anyone need evidence of a conspiracy Theory???

Given the various comments here, I think it’s clear that America is making social progress and moving away from issues of racism, gender, etc. But to some people one’s skin color (or whatever prejudices they have) matters a great deal. It’s great to see America becoming more accepting of others. Whether now is the time for a woman or black Prez. I don’t know. Though I think both Hillary and Obama both have a great shot at the WH.

It will be interesting to see if the eventual Republican nominee will pull the gender (or race card, assuming either Hillary or Obama is the Dem. nominee) at the risk of alienating a crucial voting block- the moderates/independents/undecideds.

I think the religion card being pulled on Obama is about his race. My brother- a white Southern Republican will not vote for Obama because he say that Obama is a muslim. And because it’s a rumor, there must be some truth in it, otherwise the people who say it can be thrown in jail. I say that not only because it’s what he believes but to illustrate that otherwise intelligent people don’t often think things through all the way and make stupid comments- but generally they do so to support what they want to believe.

So yeah, a lot of people find it more acceptable to believe that Obama is a manchurian Muslim candidate who doesn’t hold his hand over his heart when saying the Pledge of Allegiance, than to acknowledge their own racist thoughts.

Wrong the whackos that believe Bush Bombed the WTS are the same ones who believe this conspiracy stuff in chain letters.

Obama is the far left darling. They are the ones who believe this conspiracy stuff. It is they who have started these letters to cast dispersions upon the Right or even moderates in this election.

I have stated over and over. Attack yourself and let the internet defend you.

Obama and his minions have mastered this early on in this election. The rest of the candidates just dont get it yet.

There is a reason Rush can get kicked off the air withing 10 minutes for making a racial comment and still have legions of fans that don’t see a thing wrong with what he said. Ditto O’Reilly. There are millions of people that share the mindset of nowhere near Klan mentality, but I’ll be damned if I let my daughter date one.

Anyone who disagrees is really living in an alternate universe.

These prejudices are culturally ingrained from a very early age, and apparently, we all suffer from them. If you think you are the exception, head on over to the Harvard psychology department and try out their nifty test of your ingrained “implicit associations.”

Identity politics is not going away. In fact, a big reason for Mike Huckabee’s rise is Evangelical Christian identity politics. I see it all the time here in East Tennessee, where people wear t-shirts and display bumper stickers showing off their faith. Why are they doing that? Is it supposed to convince non-Christians like me that I should convert to Christianity…a crass form of “witnessing?” I doubt it. A better explanation is that evangelicals feel marginalized in the modern secular culture and they want to proclaim for everybody that they are unashamed to be who they are. Just as gays did when they marched flambuoyantly, or blacks did with black power, women with bra burnings, modern evangelicals are forcing the wider public to take notice of them as a social group to be respected.

And sometimes it all goes overboard, as with the Duke lacrosse case, or with overzealous Christian fundamentalism, or Tawana Brawley-style race hustling.

But none of that has to do with the “Muslim” campaign against Obama. Take him or leave him on the merits. Celebrate or ignore his identity politics – every candidate brings some sort of identity politics to the fore (Rudy it’s Italian NYC, Romney it’s Mormonism, McCain it’s veterans, Edwards and Thompson it’s Southernness, Hillary it’s gender, Obama it’s race, Hucakbee it’s religion, etc.). But don’t make up stuff about the candidate’s identity.

It won’t be long before Clinton or Obama plays the sex or race card in the campaign — if not someone else, in order for the candidates to “evade” responsibility. The implications or outright dishonest statements that people oppose her or him due to sexism or racism will surface soon, too.

Yes, maybe there is some racial animus toward Obama. But perhaps its just politics as usual – nasty remarks are nothing new, and neither party gets high marks for clean campaigning.

My opinion and a buck buys a cuppa coffee

Orson