Colbert King always has excellent pieces.

And exactly why are we concerned about being polite? 'A racist is as a racist does!'

I believe it's dangerous and wrong to attempt to be PC with bigots. Yell it out, loud and clear. If we don't, then we are just allowing them to continue their negative actions.

Every single time - identify their racist actions for exactly what they are - but don't whisper, say it loud and clear. Stand up and speak out!

Polite? I think Ms. Manners would agree that racism doesn't deserve a tip of the hat or should be acknowledged as proper decorum.

Be 'impolite' - point your finger and show 'em the exit. And be sure the door hits 'em in the behind as you slam it shut!

Imagine if in 2008, democrats and liberals had stopped attacking other dems and liberals and had actually read something more than bad headlines which weren't true and could have been proven untrue if dems and libs had read, say, the article, from which the bad reporter had culled his quotes while omitting the key quote - (19.03.07) from Mark Penn, "we are never going to say anything about his background".

Unfortunately, in 2008, dems and libs, unacustomed and for the most part ignorant of the truth, still insisted on pushing incorrect memes, lies and stories about other dems, working themselves into frenzies and knee jerk reactionary columns because it was so much easier that way than to tell the whole story - such was the tunnel vision, the back biting, the petty animosity so much more important than the election which they lost, paving the way for the McCain administration to carry on the disastrous Bush policies.

What to do? Egads, MJ, surely we know that no one ever won a campaign by defending himself with every breath. Campaigns are won by making the opposition defend themselves. It isn't like McCain has no weaknesses. If the Obama campaign, and more so, if the Democratic Party would stand up and speak out about McCain, his senility, his stupidity, his black and white view of the world, his unstable temper, his desire to settle all issues like they did in old western movies, his lack of morals, his love affair with Bush, and on and on, the problem would be solved.

I don't begrudge Obama his vacation, but he damn well better come back fired up to seriously campaign, and not just make pretty speeches. President Gore should be able to explain the flaw in that strategy.

"So you're saying he's an uppity negro?"

I think that the best response to ANYONE & EVERYONE who says anything with a hint, a smidgen, even a whisp of racism in it.
Ask the question, keep asking, and hammer it home to get the person to define what it is they are saying. Maybe they have an actual response, but most likely they don't.

And if their second or third response still smacks of racism, ask it again and watch them squirm!!
If they start to attack your character (attacking the messenger) then you just bring the conversation right back to them: "So now you're saying that I'm uppity?"

What's great about phrasing accusations in the form of questions is that this is the tried and true Socratic "didactic" method of inquiry and teaching favored by..... OBAMA... constitutional scholar and instructor!
.... works for me.

I don't think spinning their wheels in that endless mud puddle is going to win them the election. Voters who really don't want to leave it, who love to wallow around in it, aren't going to leave it no matter what is said in response. They look for the reponse only in order to pick it apart and confirm their own preconceived ideas.

The Obama campaign needs to come out with an all out partisan strategy, based on (other) issues voters are concerned with, and go on offense to win the rest of them over.

I found the identity aspects of the Dem primary a real turn off because at this point in my life, I am just plain sick and tired of hearing about it. I'm certain a lot general election voters will find it a turn off as well. The Obama campaign should attempt to participate in it as little as possible.

Although, I doubt the press will go along--the press loves to wallow in it. The public will hate them, too.

We'll see who they decide to take it out on.

The strategy to me is simple:

Obama and surrogates need to defend vigorously, calmly and effectively against the smears. This is a good example of Obama doing so.

Then, they need to keep hammering on two themes: 1) McCain has been an American hero and dedicated public servant who has served his country for over forty years, but is too out of touch with the modern world (e.g., his Czechoslovakia comments, Iraq bordering Afghanistan, etc.) to effectively address the needs of a radically changed world, and 2) McCain is running for Bush's third term, and is in fact inclined to double down on Bush's most reckless and short-sighted policies. Keep showing McCain's awkward hug of Bush. Ask people if they feel better off than they did four or eight years ago, and then if they want more of the same.

I think that'll do it.