Obama was just straight-talking. Everybody knows the vicious and totally unprincipled elements on the right will use anything and everything they can against any Democratic candidate. (Remember what they did to triple-amputee Max Cleland? Heck, think of how they treated McCain in South Carolina in 2000–spreading rumors that he’d had a child with a black prostitute when the child in question was a Bengali orphan they’d adopted. Tell me the hate-mongers didn’t play the race card in that instance.)
Sadly, there are still plenty of people in this country who won’t vote for Obama simply because of his skin color, and some of them will and have said as much in public. Many more will be convinced to act on their prejudice and vote against their own interests by the Reprehensible Right. But I think we’re seeing the “death throes” of racism in this country and in this campaign, and maybe even the first signs that those who have set out to poison our politics are being pushed way out to the margins, where they can stew in their toxic juices while the rest of us get on with the business of taking back our democracy.

“But I think we’re seeing the “death throes” of racism in this country and in this campaign, and maybe even the first signs that those who have set out to poison our politics are being pushed way out to the margins,”
The racism in this campaign has exhibited quite clearly by the Democrats and Obama’s campaign just pushed it front and center today. The Republicans haven’t brought us Obama’s race yet but clearly Obama is and I bet this won’t be the last time.
Racism exists and Obama and the Democrats are trying to exploit it for their own purposes. Just as the left has done against Bush in the past (If you elect Bush, black churches will burn).
Typical. Obama is just like any other politician who uses racism charges against the Republicans even though they haven’t said one word about race. How post-partisan of him. Yes, that’s change you can believe in. He really is a new kind of candidate, running a new kind of campaign. It only appears to be the same smear.

I only knew it was a matter of time before he personally pulled the race card, rather than letting his minions do it. Any criticism of him is automatically racist. How pathetic.

There are many legitimate reasons to criticize Obama. Michelle keeps missing them.

By the way, Michelle, exactly where did you find Democrats saying “If you elect Bush, Black churches will burn”? President Clinton in 1998 did comment “Racial hostility is the driving force” behind the arson attacks on Black churches, but do you suppose it wasn’t.
I’ll grant you that anti-KKK organizations such as the Center for Democratic (that’s not Democratic as in party, in case you didn’t know) Renewal were needing an additional reason to go out and look for funds in the 90′s after their successes against the KKK in the 80′s. That’s not the same as “If you elect McCain, black churches will burn.”
Now, as for racism, wasn’t it your man Bush who managed to win the South Carolina primary by spreading a rumor that the child he and Cindy adopted from India was Black? Wasn’t it a Republican making the “macaca” joke? And didn’t the Republican party establish its base in the South after Civil Rights? Wasn’t Trent Lott congratulating Strom Thurmond on running for President on a segregation ticket just two years ago, stating that the country would be a different and better place had the Dixiecrats beat Truman (the comment made after your man George ascended to rule us). Isn’t hatred of Black people what kept the Republican party in power so many years?
The director of the Republican party in my state commented “Of course I love (plural of the N word), every white man should own two.” To an all-white audience, of course. And this was when Bush was running. Race is an issue. Republicans by and large are the racists, and you are one, too.

“By the way, Michelle, exactly where did you find Democrats saying “If you elect Bush, Black churches will burn”?”
It was used against Bush in the 2000 presidential election. I heard it myself.

Who said this? When? Where? To whom? Where is the documentation?
By your photo, I’d guess you are in your early to mid 50′s. Senior moments begin by that age. Are you sure this “memory” isn’t a figment of your imagination? Or did you just read that in another right-wing blog and assume it is true?
A few months ago in Austin, Texas a predominantly white Presbyterian church burned to the ground, in a fire set by arsonists. Before that, a predominantly white Presbyterian church in Dripping Springs, Texas, burned down to the ground in a fire set by arsonists. Do you suppose your colleagues just got the wrong address?

Hey, “Rob”, Since you’re so big on references, how about some references that show it was Bush’s idea to spread “a rumor that the child he and Cindy adopted from India was Black”
Also, since you’ve decided that personal attacks like commenting on Michele’s appearance, calling her a liar, and questioning her mental state are OK, is it OK for me to call you a pathetic troll and loser?

You know what’s funny? I’m the same age as Obama. I wonder if you’d characterize his lapses as “senior moments?”

Michelle, I for one think your glasses and smile are really cute

Thanks, ZZ! Rob’s comments don’t bother me. I tell my daughters not to let the opinion of people you don’t even know bother you. Listen to the people closest to you. My husband and kids think I’m beautiful, that’s good enough for me