I understand the anger and frustration over Rick Warren. Though, I don't know why people are so surprised. It seems like the kind of thing Obama promised to do through out the campaign - i.e. be more inclusive and reaching across the aisle, even to people we completely disagree with. We will need a broad coalition to accomplish what needs to be done.

What surprises me in this debate, though, is that so many people are overlooking the inclusion of Joseph Lowery, the African American minister who will be giving the benediction. Lowery is a civil rights legend. He is also a vocal supporter of gay rights, including marriage. He essentially told off Bush to his face from the pulpit at Coretta Scott King's funeral. This is the man who will have the final word at the inauguration.

While it does not necessarily mitigate the Warren thing, I do think it is worth noting and should be presented as part of the equation. There will already be a pro-gay presence counterbalancing Warren that day. Warren's voice will not be the only one heard that day, and my guess is that Lowery's voice will have a deeper and lasting resonance.

I think it is important to know that the McCain campaign and it's surrogates have cited her motherhood as one of the main reasons she is qualified for vp. They say that her *choice* (even though she and McCain do not believe the rest us deserve to choose) to raise a child with downs syndrome shows that she has the character to be vp. They deflected internet rumors about Trig's parentage by revealing her 17 year old daughter's pregnancy. They are putting her children and her role as a mother front and center in this campaign. How do we not address it along with the fact that she is utterly unqualified for the position?

While I wonder if people would be as worried about a man balancing work and family, I don't think we have had any cnadidate in this situation before. She has a 4 month old with down syndrom and a pregnant teenage daughter - that is a lot to deal with for any parent yet a parent about to embark on a grueling campaign. It is a very unusal situation for any presidential or vice-presidential candidate, regardless of gender. And let's remember many people criticized John Edwards for continuing his campaign after his wife's diagnosis. Sometimes we do hold male candidates responsible for their families.

It also makes me concerned about her stance on policies regarding work/life balance, maternity/paternity leave, and equal pay. She went back to work 3 days after giving birth. Does she expect all women to follow her lead on this? I don;t ahve the answers because the McCain campaign is keeping her far away from the press.

Look, I don't believe the Clintons are racist -- at least not to any greater extent that any white person who carries around unconscious, unacknowledged racism.

What I do believe is that after Iowa and New Hampshire, they decided the only way they could stop Obama was to pull out every dogwhistle and coded attack they could think of, on the theory that if they won, all would be forgiven -- and hey, if you can't take the rough stuff, you don't deserve to win. I think they prided themselves on their "realism" and ruthlessness (no way in hell would they let themselves be beaten like those chumps Gore and Kerry).

Well, they were called on it, it backfired in a BIG way in South Carolina, and now they were stuck with the dirt on their hands. Sorry, but they're the ones who need to get over this. I hope and feel sure that Obama will do what he needs to do to ensure that the party is united -- but this burden doesn't just fall to him.