Arlen Specter was openly -- in public, into a microphone -- crossing his fingers, and hoping for racism.

Ms. Traister, are we then to believe all Obama voters are misogynists for not voting Hillary? Are black voters for Obama racist against McCain? It is a fact that most polls in the primary elections were wrong. What is to say the polls are right now? I find it interesting that you would mention racism when nothing about race was mentioned by Mr. Specter. How can any honest thinking american look at this man being so close to the highest office in our country and then make charges of racism? The mere fact Mr. Obama is in this position shows racism is little more than a modern day witch hunt. The cavalier way you write this into your article could also be considered a modern day "black listing" of Mr. Specter. If Mr. Obama is to lose, which by the way would be the third Democratic loss in a row, then maybe the party needs to look at their proposed policy. Racism would be a nice scapegoat along with the stolen and swift boater elections. The Democrat party would be better served by looking at their proposed policies that lose elections instead of inding the nearest scapegoat. Then again, that would mean accepting personal responsibility.

Arlen Specter was openly -- in public, into a microphone -- crossing his fingers, and hoping for racism.

To lie about voting for a black man is simply a way to not be labled a "RACIST" by modern day witch hunters. Looking at Iowa shows what happens when you have to vote in full view of others. I think we should be at a time in our history when the witch hunters should be ridiculed for what they are, "Thought Police". The term racism is used in a too cavailier way by those who would smear others for simple political differences. To throw the term "RACIST" around is as hateful as the "N word". The true intollerant are those who would label anyone with such hate speech for differences in opinion.

Many have written off the Republican party following hese elections. The outcome has more to do with the raw emotions of voters due to the economy than ideology. The hints that most are Americans are center rather than right or left show up in key issues like prop 8 in California. There is no mandate by the people or this huge swing in voter ideology as most would have you believe. It is the economy. Democrats have had two years without any meaningful legislation and were elected with the promise of pulling troops out of Iraq. They now have been elected with the promise of turning the economy, getting troops out of Iraq and solving healthcare. The next two years will decide the Democrats fate. Nancy Pelosi and others have already said healthcare is not an immediate concern the day after the election. If we can learn anything from history we can learn from George Bush and his "Read my lips, no new taxes" debacle. The voters are as likely to turn on the current Democrats if current situations do not improve in two years and election promises are not kept. Healthcare was a key issue and will be even more in voters minds if the current economy does not improve. The Democrats have set themselves up to be swept back out of office and the blame George Bush game can not work when they have total control. The premise that voters rejected conservative ideology is also flawed as conservative ideology was never on parade. Neither John McCain nor George Bush practiced true conservatism. The success of the Democratic party will hinge on the economy and nothing more. George Bush will likely go down as one of the worst Presidents in American history but two years from now voters will only care if Democrats have delivered. Both parties will always have their base but those "middle" voters have and will vote with their pocket books.

This election was won by voters who voted with their pocket books. Irag, taxes and healthcare was also important to voters. Gay marriage, gun control, abortion and other hot button issues were not an issue in this election. The quickest way the for the Democrats to be tossed in 2010 is to tackle anything but the economy, healthcare and Iraq. Those three issues are linked and must be addressed. When prop 8 is defeated in a state like California the Democrats better take notice. Kerry ran on those hot button issues and lost to Bush. That was the reason he lost even though the conventional wisdom was to blame the swift boaters. The Clinton's did no better pushing their agenda in the first term and it caused the Democrats to be sewpt from office. So run with this mandate but watch it backfire in 2010.Democrats and Republicans never have a mandate to shove their extreme right or left wing agendas down the throats of a mostly moderate voting public. History shows that any extremes lead to defeat as those undecided voters will turn from conventional agendas.