It's telling that Tim Russert omitted the first part of Bill Clinton's "fairy tale" remarks, which made it clear that he was talking about Obama's record on the Iraq War, and not his entire candidacy. Selective clips like these -- a particular specialty of Russert -- are probably what led Clyburn and Brazile to say what they did. Or, perhaps it was selective memories -- surely they know there's not an ounce of racism in either Clinton, which should have led them, like it did me, to search for the wider context in which these words were uttered. If anyone is being political and opportunistic, it may not be the Clintons; it may be those in the media who cut and paste people's words, and those in the black community and beyond who believe what they hear rather than what they know.

This article by historian Sean Wilentz in The New Republic gives gives perspective on LBJ & MLK's relationship. He says MLK provided the impetus and inspiration for civil rights laws, while LBJ used his legislative skills to push them through (Just as Hillary said). One couldn't have happened without the other. He compares this to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation; Lincoln enacted it, but Frederick Douglass and the abolitionists provided the moral leadership. In both cases, acknowledging the one doesn't diminish the other.

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=a383df9e-9d33-4b57-b832-a75b7c4d0d0c

If Michelle Obama had said this is human nature, a general tendency all people have, no matter where they live, that would be more understandable. But how is this inherently "American"? I'm not sure why she'd believe it, either. When I heard the whole statement, "that's America" really stood out to me, and I haven't been in the least bothered by the Wright comments, or her own previous flap. I'm not offended. I'm not an outrage junkie. I try to weigh all comments in context, and not rely on the media to present its preferred snippets. Even then, I always give the benefit of the doubt. But I do find it curious that that's where her mind goes when talking about people's differences, in a country that's giving her husband a real shot at the presidency.

Joan, journalists always discuss Obama's charm and charisma, but rarely mention his less appealing traits -- he can be at times glib, haughty, mocking, defensive and holier-than-thou. These qualities turn me off greatly and, I'm embarrassed to say, they are probably the biggest obstacles to my supporting him. Do you think this could be a "woman thing"? I know younger women like him better than older women do, so maybe there's an age factor there too. Maybe you have to already be part of the "team" to appreciate the mockery, say, because this is something that is obviously more fun to give than receive. I just find him a tad whiny and hypocritical sometimes, especially when he complains about, say, yesterday's admitted one-sided debate against him and its focus on trivia and slander. He's complaining now that he got a dose of this kind of treatment, but never expressed outrage when Hillary was getting hammered on equally specious grounds and equally unfair ways, long after she was the frontrunner. What do you think?