McCain is running a scurrilous and disrespectful campaign. McCain thinks he can get away with that because the media has been giving him pass after pass over his gaffes and lies. But know he has finally gone over the top and the first time Obama punches back he is running to deal the race card. The ad and Obama's comments were not racist but jumping to the race card is. The arrogant label is a subtle form of racism but calling McCain grouchy is a subtle form of ageism. Frankly there is no evidence that race inhibits a person from performing well as president but old age is a real disadvantage at performing the toughest job in the world. Voting for McCain is like voting for 2nd term Ronald Reagan and we all know that Nancy ran the white house by the end of his second term. I hope McCain voters have that much confidence in Cindy. In the end in the current political climate the voters will care about the issues and Obama is correct on 90% of the issues. It will just be a whole bunch of ugly from the McCain camp before the debates.

A PASS? A PASS! Well blow me down! Free at last! free at last!

The McCain camp keeps complaining about this, about that. …Media this, media that. …Barack Obama this, Barack Obama that.

As I've written in another forum, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain and his camp are coming across like a stunted Jan on the ABC, 1969–1974 The Brady Bunch.

…"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!"

…"Obama, Obama, Obama!"

It comes across as tripe, a piss-poor excuse—which won't travel so far as to reach the end of October—for the Arizona senator with a 3-month campaign advantage! (McCain wrapped his GOP nomination in March; for presumptive Democratic nominee and Illinois senator Obama, it was in June.)

Of course Obama is using the "race card." As silly as that term has come to mean. Let's define it -- and implication, that somehow, underlying a candidate's criticism of an adversary is the implicit assertion that he (or she) is a racist.

Bill Clinton attacked Obama for such, and he was right.

Obama has used the "race card" to thwart preemptively any criticism of his record. McCain has never used the term "risky" in his campaign. Never. I defy anyone to find a source that specifically find it so. They have avoided it, not because it isn't true, but because it could be construed as racist. Yet it is true. He is risky.

The biggest racist in the race is the one who implies racism -- and that's Obama. From his camp's view, no pointing out any of his views, votes, statements, associations, beliefs, that might be at odds with most Americans beliefs, because if you do: You are a racist.

Wonder about his opposition to drilling for oil to reduce foreign imports of oil? Racist.

Wonder about his flip flop on eavesdropping legislation on terrorists? Racist.

Wonder about his meager record in the U.S. Senate? Racist.

On and on. It is certainly less than explicit -- he doesn't look like the "presidents on the one dollar bills" (forgetting that there has only been on -- must be right up there with his belief that there are 57 states). But racist it is. No question.

He does it because it's easy, and the folks that should call him on it, are too afraid. But most Americans are not -- they are too smart. We'll see how it goes of course. Racism here? You bet. And it's name is Obama.

Racism here? You bet. And it's name is Obama.

-- Saxon The Dog

It..? Dog..?

What a rich tapestry of passive-aggressive racism and self-deprecation you weave in so few words. Bravo.

Not much of a big thing: On the Brady Bunch, it was:

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!

Silly post, yours, so one in return sort of seems appropriate. It's actually somewhat relevant insofar as Marsha Brady was quite taken with herself, and though she had quite the entitlement since she was quite "popular."

Same as Obama. A popular celebrity? You betcha.

Leader of the free world? Not funny. Even if they call themselves the "Obama Bunch."

You're just chasing your mad dog tail if you allege Obama to be a racist, and if this were quite so, on what facts do you base this?

Well thank you for your kind words!

I never asserted that BO was a racist, merely that he has used the race card. Implying that Republicans are just waiting to use his race against him, that's doing exactly that.

He's done it at least twice (and more if you figure in the primary campaign). "Doesn't look like the faces on the one dollar bills" -- a paraphrase I admit, but of course that's triggering race as a factor in the campaign.

Or how about "and another thing, he's BLACK."

You did see him say that didn't you?

It's of course clear that's what he's doing. Accusing the opposition of racism just to capitalize on his Kenyan father (and Irish (white) mother). Politics ain't bean bag. But he's nothing more than another politico. Face it. He's not "THE ONE."

I disagree with the article's interpretation. I think that the Obama camp was using, however slightly, the race card in a form of calculated overaction. Admittedly, calculated overaction appears the order of the day, and of this campaign season, but at least this response from the Obama camp should be categorized for its reliance on a racial tenor.

When one group responds to another's attack (of say, vacuous celebrity) by pretending that the attack was instead directed at a more inflammatory topic, should one not conclude that the responding group is trying to have the advantage of defending against the more inflammatory, and of painting the attacker in a decidedly less noble position than the original content might merit?

I suppose I'm reading a 'card' as played for advantage, and the article has containing a nearly imperceptible bias, masking distinct preferences in a good faith given almost equally even when it is undeserved.