Clarence Thomas has always felt that he was a victim, so therefore it’s easy to see his assumed identification with Bigger Thomas and Tom from "To Kill a Mockingbird". His actions on the court are essentially those of someone who has always been victimized and now has the chance to heap pain on someone else. From his earliest days he was ridiculed by his own people for the darkness of his complexion. His actions stem from as a child being marginalized by white society and alienated in his own community. Lets be real; Black on Black crime is deplorable, Black on Black hate is epidemic and endemic. Thomas displays his hate for himself as a once poor, black child in every opinion he makes on the Supreme Court. He strikes swiftly and capriciously against those who remind him of his own terrible poverty and blackness.

I just want to say that I appreciate Joe Hoodoo for his truthful letter. I too am a son of the south, a black son. Racism in this country is pervasive and the attitudes and beliefs that give birth to this sickness are too complex to easily categorize racists as "knuckle-draggers". Some highly intelligent and socialized people are vehament racists. This affliction comes from people never stepping outside their racial comfort zones, so blacks always exist as the other.

I also think Mr. Benen's friend is being conservative in his 15% estimate, I think its close to 35% of whites who will not vote for a black candidate.

Years ago my college roomate was White and he and I remain friends to this day. He tells me that he hears the N-word on an average of 50+ times a week from several of his colleagues. He and a few others his group are bold enough to chastize those employees who make racist remarks, but most move on like they never heard it at all. I bet that if those who said nothing were questioned about race in America they would be the first to disengenuously proclaim that; "blacks are too sensitive and racism is a thing of the past". Yeah right, the past, try last week.

Well, it seems that hihi566 claims that he's not a racist but is enraged that 90% of blacks are voting for Obama and that makes us the real racists? Do you understand that those same 90% of blacks voted for Bill Clinton, John Kerry and every other White Democratic candidate in the recent history? Why are they now racist for supporting Obama? I'll tell you this, black folks historically have had nothing but hope to cling to when times got hard, Obama gives us hope, he speaks of optimism in the face of despair, he disavows dirty politics, he wants to change things in Washington, he demands that America live up to its creed; what is wrong with that? Now you have Hillary, who I actually like but who says, "things will never change", we have to play politics as usual, I'm here to uphold the status quo". Now which candidate would be more appealling to a group who are able to incite hate simply based on their appearance? It's not that blacks are racist, we just think that Obama is more in touch with the true purpose of America.

I find it hard to believe that while America nosedives toward a total economic collapse, and an endless Military Engagement, someone would scoff at the idea of change! I know that Obama spews rhetoric, that's what politicians do. However, America is in need of new leadership with fresh ideas. If we as a nation must purge congress and the senate of the scoundrels then now is the time to do it. Jefferson was visionary when he posited that we needed a revolution ever so often to keep America focused on its principals. The last one was the 1960's and regarless of where you come from you must admit that lives were improved for minorities,women and gays because of that tumultous decade. Pragmatism is great for those who consign themselves to defeat and misery, not so great for anyone else who thinks that we must redefine American politics.

Hillary is not the answer because she seems to be universally despised. Her wins in PA, CA, TX, etc . . happened to come because she is the non-black candidate, not because of her promise as a leader. The contacts she has in Washington, they belong to Bill not her. Hillary has burned too many bridges in DC. Furthermore, I can not comprehend that the racists and chauvanists in America are going to treat her any better than they would Obama. Obama may have no actual foreign policy experience but neither did Bush. What Obama has is the ability to deal with other nations from a perspective of respect and understanding. Also, contrary to popular belief the rest of the world deals with black leaders on a regular basis, so his color may be a hinderence here in America but Condi Rice, Colin Powell and numerous African Diplomats are a common site on the global stage.