I think that just because this can be percieved as racist doesn't mean it was intended as racist, or even that it is objectively racist (if there is such a quality). I think they were definitely trying to strike fear into the hearts of parents, which is Rovian enough as it is, but I can't fault her for the racist sub-sub-subtext. By the logic in your link, one could make the argument that she'd be racist to say "I'm a better candidate than Senator Obama."

Additionally, though I must accept that his race is a factor, I'd like to think that very few voters associate Obama's blackness with nightstalker-bugaboo-blackness.

Ms. Dickerson, I'm astounded that you didn't see the racist subtext of that ad.

It's an obvious play into the irrational notions of black men being irresponsible - not fit to take care of the white children in trouble at 3 a.m.

It's just ANOTHER race-baiting tactic the Clintons have relied upon...

Thanks to Sean above for pointing out the obvious logical fallacy here. To our self-righteously "astounded" friend, Nic, supposing that Senator Clinton were to make the claim "I'm a better candidate than Senator Obama," wouldn't she simply be "playing into stereotypes of black inferiority"? You are so bent on portraying Clinton as racist that you view any criticism of her opponent as "race-baiting." I am an Obama supporter myself, and I think your argument, and Dickerson's, are false.

Mjameson,
Consider the fact that, rather than saying "I think I'm a better candidate than Obama," the Clintons go even further, describing Obama with terms like "fairy tale" and "unfit."

Does the red phone ad simply say, "I'm a better candidate," or does it say something a little different than that? Think about it...if you still think I'm being "self-righteous" in pointing that out, let me know...

America's racial climate is a lot more complicated than many people care to see...for an excellent insight into American attitudes concerning race, many of which manifest themselves in our subconscious minds, I recommend Malcolm Gladwell's book, "Blink." Anyone who has read that will probably agree with my take on the red phone ad...

The ad plays to fear. Fear is irrational.

Fear is insidious and so the ad is despicable on many levels.

Fear bleeds over into every area it can. If you run ads based on fear and other negative emotions, they will pick up whatever is there. Racism is there, though Obama is 'mixed', and his father was Kenyan, not black American. Which is why the press so delights in calling him "African American" over and over again. One drop of 'black blood' and ...

Anyone answering the phone at 3 am in a business suit is clearly acting ... it's just 'dressing' for a part. But that incongruity will not be the most obvious thing.

Fear is the thing, and fear is what the Republicans and the conservative Democrats use.

I think you are right, nic, that the add implies more than a superior candidate. However, you are jumping to the conclusion that the implication of greater security under the supposedly more experienced candidate implies the racial inferiority of Obama. I agree with you, I think, that the implication of greater safety under Clinton is baseless. However, once again implying greater safety does not imply that the Clintons see black men as intrinsically "unsafe" or any other insidious stereotype.

Yes, Hussein and Elydog, the ad uses fear suggestively. And yes, the political right often uses fear to debase the left. However, many a lefty ad or even Motherjones article, prays on our [in my opinion, appropriate] fears of losing abortion rights, spending a 1000-year Reich in Iraq, etc.. It is merely part of the political landscape, so to identify it as an evil artifice of the right is silly.

Having said that, I think that the notion of Obama unfit to deal with a potential threat to the US is utterly baseless and part of the stalled and essentially failed "experience" party line that Hillary has beaten to death.

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

I have read "Blink"... but I'm not sure what you're talking about? Are you referring to the "Seven Seconds in the Bronx" chapter about the police shooting?

OH MY GOD! Are you people for real?
The only racist subtext in that ad is the one you people are inventing. Who really has an issue with race here?.

Throughout Gladwell's book, he makes the case repeatedly that racist attitudes are so ingrained in Americans that we make split decisions based on irrational fears and associations. Remember all the talk about white being considered "clean," while black is often associated with evil? The Seven Seconds in the Bronx Chapter is an excellent exposure of how people allow race to affect their impressions of situations without even consciously considering it.

This week on The View the "test" of word substitution was used once again on the language adopted by the site of Obama's Church. Substitute "white" for "black" in their presentation and it reads like a KKK group: "white values" or "the white work ethic". I think for most people the result of the word substitution is absolutely chilling. The fact that two white women were discussing the issue with two African American women allowed the debate to progress on less partisan, more intellectually honest lines.
If racism surges up in this campaign, it will probably be reactive. Even Rove has said that the Republicans should avoid initiating any reference to Obama's being half black. The readiness that Obama supporters show to see racism in that ad proves Rove's point.

March 12th, 2008

"Bigotry, Racism & Hatred Breeds Murder. It must be renounced at the earliest level, before it leads to the unthinkable in a Free Society"

With this being stated, I find no Racist hidden agenda in the 3 A.M. Ad on U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton for President. I only am hearing now, people attempting to make something Racist about it which holds no water.

I joined the NAACP in 1975. I have fought for Civil Rights for more years than I want to think one would have to. I have looked in the face of the KKK head on. I have also on those times seen them back down. Anyone who has to cover their face up with a mask and hood surely is hiding a personal agenda to begin with. You have to realize that the KKK Cult is a learned process and for most they learn Hatred and Bigotry at home from the time they are born. It is not something that is taught in Public Schools under any class course. I do know it not only is taught at home but in many cult churches in America. So it goes hand in hand to have communites in America that teach their children it is ok to hate and be racist. As they live in Towns and Cities that support this type of terrible mind set. They go to stores owned by racist bigots. They go to Cult Churches that preach Hatred and Bigotry.

So when we know where Bigotry, Racism and Hatred Breeds, then you have a better understanding why some in our culture are the way they are. Once they discover it is a negative process to live by, the better that person becomes a human again. They will leave the comfort zone they have lived in their whole life and discover a new comfort zone that opens them up to accepting everyone as a fellow citizen of a society called America.

In todays society bigotry, racism and hatred only is alive if one allows to feel empty in their own agenda.

When I went to University I had made friends with students from all over the World. Each one shared cultures and customs from their countries. There was never any difference in any of us as we were all equals. Some had more human life experiences to share than others in different ways. We all grew from an amazing bond.

To think in the 1950's, 60's and 70's we had thought we had made all the changes needed for a better world. Then to see the 1980's arrive and along with it came Reagan and the following agenda of the Fascist Republican Far Right Party undo all the accomplishments we had made in those previous 3 decades.

Today we have U.S. Senator Obama running for President. A historic moment in our history of 231 years of a very 'Good Old Boy Club'. One I am not happy to ever look back on and think there is anything great about America. We have U.S. Senator Clinton running for President. A historic moment in our history of 231 years of a very 'Good Old Boy Club'. One I am not happy to ever look back on and think there is anything great about America.

It is amazing and great we have 2 U.S. Senators who have been defined as one is 1/2 White and 1/2 Black and a Man. We have one defined as who is White and a Woman.

Now this is where it all stops for me. For starters U.S. Senator Obama is neither Black nor White. U.S. Senator Clinton is not White. They are both just American Citizens.

Now back to the 3 a.m. call in the morning commercial. U.S. Senator Obama is a smart man. He has accomplished many things in public office. Of course he never got where he is today if it was not for the criminal Tony Rezko who is right now in Jail. He is reported to have backed Obama when he ran for State Senate and then for U.S. Senate. He bought his house from Tony Rezko for a reported $300,000 under the market value and then bought some extra land next door to the house also from Tony Rezko. I would like to hear U.S. Senator Obama address in complete, all the years he has been associated with Tony Rezko and all transactions he has had with him. If one is running for the highest office in the country, one should be open to share how they came about funds and purchases they have made.

U.S. Senator Clinton has been investigated inside and out by Ken Starr for 8 years when her husband was then U.S. President Bill Clinton. What ever charges Ken Starr was attempting to discover never were proven to be true on either President Bill Clinton or 1st Lady Hillary Clinton. Nor have there been since Clinton ran for the U.S. Senate and won and has had many years in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Senator Obama was running for the U.S. Senate when the vote for Mid East action was voted on in the U.S. Senate. So he never was able to be put on public record by any vote. I just thought that needed to be made clear. The vote that was taken was to give permission to let the inspectors do their job and if any evidence was ever found by the U.N. Inspectors then Emperor George W. Bush would take action. Instead Emperor Bush and his Dick as in shoot your best friend in the face Cheney just went to have an Unjust War in the Mid East. One has to also remember even former President George Bush Sr. and all his Advisors stated it was wrong to attack Iraq. So much for the son to listen to his Father. Oh I forgot, Emperor Bush does not listen to his earthly father he listens to the Father from above.

Were coming up on 5 years now in the Mid East for an Unjust War that had no foundation to begin with, other than for Emperor Bush and his Dick Cheney to go to War for the Greed for Oil for the 1% Rich.

I am sure after U.S. Senator Obama has more years on the job in the U.S. Senate he would make a good President as there are never any Great Presidents.

What we need now is someone who has the experience, leadership and years of skillful working in public office. The only person who has this is U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton. To put anyone else in the Oval Office January of 2009 would be a complete disregard for the most qualifed person at this time. I do not want to watch U.S. Senator Obama learn on the job for the next 4 years as he will have to also explain Tony Rezko for 4 years. America is having to much happen to have a person at this time to start learning on the job for the next 4 years. It all has to do with experience and leadership abilities from years of experience.

I surely do not want to see another Republican in office as we have seen they only care about the 1% Rich. For the past 7+ years we have lived through the down fall of America.

We are now in a 9 Trillion Dollar Debt under Emperor Bush and his Dick Cheney Fascist Dictatorship Watch.

U.S. Senator McCain would only continue the policies of the failed Emperor Bush and his Dick Cheney 1% Rich agenda. Also I am concerned about the mental and medical health status of U.S. Senator McCain. He flys off the handle and flip flops more than anyone on Capitol Hill for the past 20 years. He has also stated he would keep the war in the Mid East going for the next 100 years. We are spending now $500,000 dollars every 30 seconds on an Unjust War in the Mid East. How much do we spend on the Poor and Middle Class every 30 seconds in America? What ever amount, it is not to be used to cause the 'Daily' Suffering and Deaths of American Poor to benefit for the Greed of the 1% Rich. It is also not enough to be spending on the American Poor and Middle Class from the basic needs they have worked for and then to have taken away. Do the 1% Rich expect us all to live in van down by the river drinking coffee? With over 4 Million Foreclosures of Homes in America I would expect to see many people now having to live by the rivers of America. Just do not drink the water.

In December of 2005 the Republican Controlled U.S. Congress cut 141 Entitlements to the Poor in America. In May of 2006 the Republican Controlled U.S. Congress cut more Entitlements to the Poor in America. It would appear we have a system by the 1% Rich to rob from the poor and middle class and give to the 1% Rich. This is what happens when you have a Fascist Dictatorship living in 'Our White House' and in 'The Old Navy Observatory' for the past 7+ years in Washington D.C..

So I have to look at reality. I have to see the list of accomplishments in leadership, experience and on the job training of who would be the next President of America. At this time there is no one who can match or come close to U.S. Hillary Clinton. Unless you are a man or woman who has issues with taking orders from a woman. If you are man or woman who has issues with having a Woman finally as President of the United States, who will for the 1st time in 7+ years will once again return Democracy to be ruled as a true Republic returned to all American Citizens once again, it would appear you have a lot of learning to do and growing up if you attempt to pull the 'Race Card' being played by anyone other than those who want to think this is on the agenda. For those who attempt to pull the 'Race Card' are surely off their prescription medications.

Emperor George W. Bush and his Dick Cheney have shown they know how to bomb the world to pieces but do not know how to bomb the world to PEACE. As they have been taking from the poor and middle class and giving it to the 1% Rich!

Surely it is no secret that most on Capitol Hill are in the 1% Rich Group. There was a time anyone could run for office and not have to be the 1% Rich. Of course that was over 100 years ago.

After 231 years it is way over due to have a woman as President of the United State of America who is qualifed, experienced and can also take a phone call at 3 a.m. in the morning and not disturb their sleeping time as we have had with Emperor Bush. As it is reported he likes to go to bed at 9 p.m. and then get up at 7 a.m. in the morning. I am sure Laura reads him a bed time story each night. She is the one in the Bush family that can make complete sentences and read big words for Emperor Bush to learn. Well it would appear Emperor Bush has failed at the learning process in making complete sentences or able to say big words without screwing them up. It would appear he was the one child that was left behind by his parents.

So anyone who wants to play the 'Race Card' is barking up the wrong tree of any type.

There is no Black, White, Yellow, Green, Purple or Red people in America as we are only all American Citizens. The next time you have to fill out a form and it ask if you are Black or White our Hispanic or Other, just fill in the Other Space with, AMERICAN CITIZEN!

http://www.impeachbush.org

How rational. How not slanted immeasurably toward Obama. No racism? No sexism? HRC isn't Satan in Senate raiments? No goblets of blood or stolen babies? Sir I think you have posted on the wrong site! (hehe) Seriously, I would love to find just one human being in person with your temperament. Seems that most everyone else has been successfully divided and conquered, sadly.

While I don't think it's racial hysteria, his opinion seems based more on "prophetic vision" than on "subversion," an understanding of which might require some familiarity with the work of Ivy League religious scholar Cornel West (and maybe some of the postcolonial Caribbean theorists). Oh, by the way, in West's most recent book, Hillary is repeatedly referred to as a "paternalistic nihilist."

Patterson, born 1940 under British colonial rule in rural Jamaica and educated in England, became a Harvard sociology professor in 1970.

Therefore according to Debra Dickerson's criteria, Patterson is not black, so what to make of his charge that the ad describes Obama as "the outsider within"?

"Black," in our political and social reality, means those descended from West African slaves. Voluntary immigrants of African descent (even those descended from West Indian slaves) are just that, voluntary immigrants of African descent with markedly different outlooks on the role of race in their lives and in politics. -- Debra Dickerson, Colorblind

Sullivan is "blonde-Republican-bimbo-lite." He's had a fixation on Clinton for months.

Take his writing with a huge grain of salt.

The real scary thing is how easy a TV can sway the vote.

The real scary thing is how easy a TV ad can sway the vote.

Officer Thomas A. Porter D.P.O, Did you type that all for this post of copy/paste it from somewhere else?

I'm a melenin deficient American male of Barak's own generation. I assume that, on some level, I'm suceptible to racist psychological manipulation and that the symbolism of cultural myths have a lot of power. We in America have no more powerful set of myths than those surrounding our "original myth," race.

When I first watched the commercial, it was as a partisan offended by its premise, but there was something about it, on reviewing, that was extremely disquieting. I dismissed it as the phone continually ringing, but having again reviewed after reading Prof. Patterson's critique, I cannot help but see that there's something deeper going on. I think that I'll trust Prof Patterson's expertise in telling me just what that "something deeper" really is.

Perhaps all this blabber about is the 3am advert 'racist' is accurate..perhaps it wasn't constructed to instill fear in the hearts of older white or Latina women? BUT, then again, there is absolutely NO DOUBT whatsoever that Geraldine Ferraro's "job" was to IMPLANT her racist barb in the skulls of all those white rednecks who gravitate towards "coded" language, and in her case, NOT so coded bigotry. Ferraro should LOSE her status as 'superdelegate' as sure as Spitzer has. Race baiting is on par with KLAN.shame on ferraro.

I don't have TV but am well aware of the ad.I initially did not perceive it (the ad) to be racial per se' in context, but i being a white male that voted for Obama and caucused in a relatively 'redneck' town that the majority of Dems went for Hillary, have often said that she displays a racist attitude and k demeanor, and that she could not get nominated unless she bought some delegates.

I don't have TV but am well aware of the ad.I initially did not perceive it (the ad) to be racial per se' in context, but i being a white male that voted for Obama and caucused in a relatively 'redneck' town that the majority of Dems went for Hillary, have often said that she displays a racist attitude and demeanor, and that she could not get nominated unless she bought some delegates.

Debra, you are back!!! I've missed you these last weeks.

As for the "racist subtext" - I think that is too blunt a way of describing what's going on. But if you are inclined to think racially, it is an ad that will get you on its hook. To see what I mean, you combine visual cues, verbal cues, and unspoken information that the target audience already brings to the viewing experience: the ad says "It's 3 AM and YOUR children are asleep" and shows an image of white, blond sleeping angels. Point one: the target audience of ad is the parents of sleeping white blond girls... Point two: you have to know what choice is being asked of those white parents of sleeping little blond girls... the unspoken information that is brought to the table - the choice between the black guy or the blond white woman... I don't think this ad would have worked if this were a race between John Edwards and Senator Clinton (Even though Edwards doesn't have much more political experience than Obama). The ad is only effective if Obama is the alternative. It isn't necessarily racist in what it says about Obama, but the target audience most likely to identify with the message is people-like-the-people-shown-in-the-ad.

It amazes me how the media gave Clinton such a boost with that ad. I live in Texas, and even though she supposedly paid for the ad to air on TX TV, I never saw it, except ad nauseum on the news broadcasts, even beyond TX. We all got played by the media - if the media had ignored the ad, and left it to do its work in the media market it was supposed to reach, none of us would have seen it, but neither would voters in Ohio, PA, etc. Clinton hit a homerun by coopting the media to get her message out to all 50 states for FREE.

Officer Thomas A. Porter D.P.O, how cogent, how rational, how definitive and how sane. Thank you.
Racists? Subliminal message for Latinos and white women?
I have an answer for Orlando Patterson, Andrew Sullivan, Debra Dickerson and any and all who perceive, under the blanket with your flashlight via a route of twisted paranoid logic and conceptual disassociation, a "subtest?" and/or a " racist subliminal message?"---THORAZINE!, PROZAC! AND ANOTHER HANDFUL OR TWO OF TRANQUILIZERS AND ESPECIALLY, LAXATIVES!!!!!!
AH, YIE, YIE!!
Hillary Clinton is addressing one thing and one thing only-EXPERIENCE!! Crazy B!$%#&*$!

This is a joke, right? What are the Obama people going to do in the general election when they have to face actual racist tactics?

There certainly is a racist subtext for anyone wanting to see it there. There is a sexist subtext as well, "mother is watching out for you". There is a whole world of subtexts that come to the fore for each of us a individuals. If you are afraid of the black bogeyman you will fell fear. If you are afraid mother is not there, you will feel fear. That is the idea here, be afraid, be very afraid. I don't think it is fair however to suggest that this was designed to elicit a particular fear. In my case, the fear it generated was that of Hillary answering that phone.

As an aside to Officer Porter, Obama did not buy his home from Rezko. He bought it from the original owner for $300,000 less than the listed price. That was not a matter of shady dealings, but rather that the housing market for high end homes was soft, and is now even softer, so the buyer was willing to take less. He bought the strip of land from Rezko for more than twice the assessed value. It was really a boneheaded move both financially and from a PR standpoint. There was nothing illegal about it.

Please remember: Obama copied her same ad as his own rebuttal to her original advertising - even using the same opening footage. Is he implying that women are lurking the bushes ready to spring into an attack - or worse, IMHO, that a women is not capable of maintaining the security of this country?

The ad did was it was intended to do - to argue that you will feel safe if Hillary is POTUS. To read ANYTHING else into it is, well, unbelievable...unless you hated Hillary to begin with.

Blacks think EVERYTHING is racist. Let's not vote for Obama at all and then we won't have to deal with made up crap.

I agree with previous post from Myrtle.

I read the editorial by Dr. Patterson in the NY Times yesterday, as well as over 200 comments that followed. He has studied racism for so long and so intensely that he sees it in everything.

About 2/3 of commentors thought Patterson was whacked, that he was the one reading racism into something that wasn't there. Others didn't understand why the Times would have even published such a bizare analysis. A few had an Ah Ha moment and suddenly had insights that there must indeed have been extreme racismm embedded in this brief ad.

When I saw the ad, all I got from it was a message about Hillary's emphasis on her experience, like who would you want to be in charge in the event of a crisis, no matter what that crisis may be. She keeps saying she is the most qualified and has the most experience, read to lead on day one. They ad is just a clip to emphasize this.

Some people want to read racism into everything. Folks are gonna really get tired of having to tip toe around worrying that anything they say may be interpreted as a racist remark. It already has become tiresome and annoying. I don't think our country will want to go through a whole presidency dealing with this unnecessary tension.

Surely no one will free to speak with candor about issues or take off masks in order to deal straight in conversation or discussion of issues where there is a variance of opinion.

No way I am voting for Obama. I don't think he does have the experience to be president yet. What has he accomplished? I do like him ok, but don't understand what all the rave is about. This constant reading of racism into everything is enough to turn me off and make my decision easy.

If Senator Clinton is not the nominee, I'm voting Republican.

ENOUGH !

Naw...the 3 a.m. ad is not using the race card and playing on people's fears, but Obama sure is playing on black people's historical fears of white folks when he tells Mississippi voters to watch out for the "okey doke" and that "they" will "try to bamboozle you." He's also subtly reminding people of race and appealing to them on this basis in his above comments, whether the fear appeal works or not. Yet he continually denies that he injects race into the presidential contest and he continuously objects when anyone else mentions "race," and how it is a part of his success, like Geraldine Ferraro did. He gets to have it both ways: to say that others are being racist, while he uses race and reverse discrimnination over and over. Where's the hope and change in his approach?

The 3 a.m. ad is simply asking, "Who would you want to be in charge when a crisis arrives." Lighten up!

At first I thought it was a home security ad for ADT. It is racial, you have all those white children sleeping in their beds and then a white woman tip toes into their room. Then a suited and pearled white Hillary Clinton is seated and on the phone.
I then envisioned a black man outside in the dark, hiding in the bushes. I am a middle aged white woman and that is how I saw it. Shame.

I perceive the use of racism in this election to be a means to exercise sexism. Furthermore, I believe sexism is more universal than racism and thus easily over looked. Could it be the claims of racism are just the acting out of our coultural sexist attitudes.

Well then Cheryl, it is your own racism perceptions that are triggered, not something intended by this ad.

I am a middle age white woman also, and it never even occurred to me when I saw this ad to be afraid of some black man in the shadows. I'm not someone that has any special fears of black men though - I work with some extremely nice professional black men and they for sure would help me with my safety if I was in danger, same for some of our black men security guards at our office building.

The first emergency thought the ad triggered for me was one of an earthquake, tornado or hurricane damage.

I read that the videos were old videos for sale, something that could be thrown together quickly. Did it really matter what race the children are? Children are children, all precious, no matter the race. How could someone possibly try to make something out of that?

Yes, these racist perceptions are all coming from the distorted thinking of the people who come up with this angle.

Like I said, some folks are getting really disgusted with having to tip toe around every little thing in fear of a racist accusation. There is enough real racism around without people trying to make it be there when it is not.

March 13th, 2008

In reply to your statement Jonathan Swift on U.S. Senator Obama and the buying of his home and the extra land. I was wanting to hear from U.S. Senator Obama to release his public records on his house and land buy in connection to arrested Tony Rezko and from the get go before U.S. Senator Obama ran for State Senate. There has been no public accounting given by U.S. Senator Obama where ever he goes I have seen no public 1st hand from U.S. Senator Obama to talk on the subject. I only keep hearing about 'Change' and it sounds more and more we are hearing about U.S. Senator Obama's change in his pocket. Someone who is running to have the top job in America can surely share this information if they want to continue to be a public figure. U.S. Senator Obama is not a private citizen as he is a public figure. Like all Government Employees, they live off the largest Welfare Program in America. Thank You for providing the information but I did not ask to hear from hear say, but to hear from U.S. Senator Obama on the matter. I am sure we will hear more once Tony Rezko the longer he is in jail and his case goes to court.

In reply to Bob on copy/paste? No I do not. I type my own articles for the Article I am replying to or an Article I am typing for publication. Some of us can type and think for ourselves and express a valid point for others to think about.

That is what we use to
call 'Freedom of Speech' in verbal or in type. I know we have few freedoms left in America but this is also going to change with U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton is elected President and moves into the White House in January of 2009.

http://www.impeachbush.org

WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? I AM A TRANSPLANTED NEW ENGLANDER TO THE BIBLE BELT (WITH MUCH REGRET) AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT RACISM IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL. ITS JUST TAKEN A MORE SUBTLE FORM. UNFORTUNATLEY, WE AS A COUNTRY HAVE A MUCH LONGER TIME TO GO. AND AS FAR AS PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS, HOMES, ETC., WHEN THEY SEE A MINORITY DOING BETTER THAN THEY ARE, THEY ALWAYS BLAME THE MINORITY, NOT THE REAL CULPRIT, GREED.

Racism exists in our society whether we see it or not. Being the flawed species that we are, we may never get beyond it enough to truly have peace in this world, let alone this country. Be that as it may, for those Clinton supporters who say they will either not vote or will vote for McCain if Clinton doesn't get the nomination and for those Obama supporters who say they will either not vote or will vote for McCain if Obama doesn't get the nomination - this speaks of spoiled brat mentality. Don't get your own way and you thumb your nose at the alternative? Hey, if you can live with McCain as president - our country going down the drain economically, more and more of our kids killed and maimed in Iraq, possibly Iran, and on and on, well, I just don't understand that way of thinking. This is serious stuff we're dealing with and we need to get a DEMOCRAT, ANY DEMOCRAT in office. Grow up people. Use your brains. Vote, and vote responsibly. We shouldn't be playing these kid games with the future of our country and there's no way around it - the future of our country is at stake in this election and McCain is not the way to go.

Why have the two comments I made yesterday not been posted?

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

Here, let me help you all out. It was a message about experience. He doesn't have much and she has more. To boot, living in the house with her would be a two term ex-president.

When I read comments like this I understand how so many of you people voted for GW for two terms.

I have been an Obams supporter from the beginning but I am getting so tired of the Obama as a Victim/Walk on Water Candidate that I think I may just go ahead and send Hillary a few hundred.

Any message requires that someone send and someone receive. It may not have been the intent to draw attention to the racial differences between Clinton and Obama, but that does not mean that the message was not received that way.

Just because someone receives a message in a way other than that which was intended does not mean the receiver is wrong.

It is important that we all understand these fundamental elements of communication.

Clinton, as a person, has many people working for her and she may have permitted them to play upon the unspoken--maybe even unacknowledged--fears of a society still reeling from 11 Sept 01, a society only one generation removed from Jim Crow, and a society that is still trying to come to terms with the "browning" of our country through immigration (both legal and illegal).

Obama is still trying to appeal to the whole of society without division...in spite of the same situation described above.

The difference between the two is, for me, that in the former case (Clinton) the prescription for the problems is to focus on the fear and try to adopt plans to combat the situations that produce fear.

In the case of the latter (Obama), his prescription is to focus on what COULD be rather than what IS.

If you've ever taken golf lessons, you've probably heard that if you look at the water, your ball will go into the water. If you look at the tree, your ball will hit the tree. If you look toward the goal, you're more likely to hit that goal.

So, for my money, I want to focus on where I want to go as an individual and as a society and THEN determine how to get there, as opposed to focusing on where we are and trying to determine where we are going.

I hope this helps the discussion move forward beyond our support for or dislike of the candidates. I also hope we do not get so bogged down in our own perspectives that we forget there are other perspectives...and ours may not be the one that encompasses the most people. In other words, we may not be the "norm."

Best regards,
A~

I saw the ad "3 a.m." and attribute it's catchiness to the media who have repeated it so often in their brain dead way that it goes thru your head like an unwelcome nursery tune. Doesn't make it good or bad or racist or frightening and color me stupid but I thought the fear we were supposed to feel (for our innocent, helpless and beautifully sleeping children) was from terrorists (think bogeymen) who attack at night while everyone is asleep. (Not true, but scarier). If you read your Stephen King properly you know these scary creatures come out at night. I guess I missed any race connotation, probably too busy laughing at one blogger's comments who said Hillary is stumbling all over Bill when the phone rings and when she finally picks it up, the caller asks for Obama. That's exactly the right slant. First Obama has more actual political experience than Hillary who was a housewife for a long time while her huband ran the country and was kept otherwise busy but I don't see how you could put down that you were a carpenter just because you handed your husband the nails while he operated the nail gun. Sure, she's competent and a hard worker. She's also artificial, and not the least bit inspiring, not even likable, and a bit unethical and unscrupulous, if you consider the lengths to which she'll go to berate, ridicule and bait Obama while he does his damndest to stay out of the hate exchange mess - and is catching it from both sides. Why is she so obsessed with trying to make him look bad, when she should be showing she has good character and willingness to work hard if she's elected to the toughest job in the land. You'd think by her experience (which incidentally contradicts her "change" posture that she adopted or plagarized if you will from Obama) that she alone ran the White House during Bill Clinton's administration. Talk about an emasculator! I heard the Red Neck boys (who hate her) expound on that theory for years and detested them for it. And if she didn't run the show when Bill was in, then why the posturing over all her experience. Obama has more years in government work than she does if you discount that he was never a first lady. Personally I'd vote for just about anyone but her because of her petty, mean and spiteful personality and spirit that hinges on the unscrupulous by twisting facts and trying to brainwash the gullible. She's not a leader, he is. That's so patently obvious it must be poisoning her insides in her obsession to win. Maybe a charismatic, natural born leader with a few years of experience, a natural intelligence and a superior education is not as important as a political insider with acquaintances in high places with some experience, is a hard worker with a distasteful personality but I personally think it is and more to the point it may be the difference in pulling it altogether world wide. We can dream can't we? always a cynic and a realist, it is very nice for the first time in my life to have a dream that it is possible to have a better world for my grandchildren's generation - if Barak Obama wins.
PS If anyone thinks this nomination race has anything to do with gender or race they're so stupid they may as will go over to the Republican camp with the other mental and moral defectives.