I'm cautiously optimistic that some of the more extreme versions of this viral racism will boil up into the mainstream media at some point in the fall. I think the resulting backlash would help Obama. Maybe.

But as we are learning, there are a lot of racists out there...

2008 was the year that vicious sexism and racism reemerged from the closet.

I hate this. I have a friend in Connecticut who told me he couldn't vote for Obama because of his muslim background. I swear I think I had steam coming out of my ears. I said that he couldn't really believe that shit and he replied he had credible sources. You can't convince those that refuse to see that they are blinded by their prejudices.

I hope you're right, Turtle. I keep getting more and more of these, some from people who I had otherwise thought reasonable.

LeCastor, I agree with you totally. Somehow since we had a female and a black candidate, bigots think it is okay to voice their ignorant opinions.

Yes, Barry, I am sickened and nauseous. I can try to counter prejudices until I am blue in the face but to no avail. I just hope they stay home this coming November.

So many contradictions to the universal appeal of the Republican brand have occurred just today that we may forget that this kind of American Taliban does not speak for the average person. Except for the three quarters who aren't paying attention and get their voting instructions from their clique, that is. I'm posting a green chili recipe, if I can get my computer to re-learn how to speak to my camera. The French call it divertissement. Hold on, it's only six months. Only.

I wonder if anybody has a picture of Joystick Johnny getting a lap dance down in Pensacola when he was a young "Maverick" wrecking airplanes right and left. That would be a good photo to have right now.

I got one of those scary "Obama is a Muslim" emails from a family member months ago, when I wasn't even supporting him. In fact, I think both Dodd and Edwards might still have been in the race.

Still, I had to respond, even though I usually just ignore junk emails, explaining that even though I wasn't planning to vote for him (then), I didn't believe he was a Muslim (saying it didn't matter if he were would have been too subtle), etc., etc., and besides, if he were, then were were the burqas and head coverings. I didn't think to mention where was Michelle's submissive attitude, but I would include that now, too.

Someone either here or maybe on Greenwald's blog had a link to a RWA site specializing in Obama-bashing. The comments, though, were pushing back, not buying it.