This, I think, bears repeating.

In light of yet another "Whoops, did I say something fairly creepy and probably racist?" gaffe by Hillary Clinton this morning, I'd like to reiterate a point that really, really bugs me.

When Hillary Clinton mentions that "hard-working, white voters" support her she is relying on a racist culture to further her campaign.

No, really.



Seriously, she is.

Instead of beginning with analysis, let's begin with some sad facts; When Kentucky Representative Ben Chandler endorsed Barack Obama, over 500 phone calls flooded his office, the vast majority of them using the word "nigger."

Chandler's aides (who were white) went home shaken, crying, in utter disbelief. They didn't think racism still existed.

...Why are we skirting around this issue? Why are we coming up with excuses? It seems as though people are more afraid of being called racist than they are afraid of actually being racist. (ed note - hooo boy, does that sound familiar)

... Thus Hillary's use of code phrases -- designed to be direct and easily understood by those with animosity towards blacks, resentful of blacks, distrustful of blacks -- those who are ... let's face it -- racists.

Dee Davis says Obama should have visited rural voters more. Why? So that he can change the mind of the Marietta, GA man who portrayed Obama as Curious George? So he can expose his two daughters to possible death threats, so they can witness the panoply of black lawn jockeys?

I mean, can you imagine Barack Obama referring to Clinton's lack of appeal amongst 'the hardworking men of America' or something similar as a reason why she couldn't win a general election? Not really.

I'm sure there are a lot of Obama supporters who are only behind him because they couldn't stomach voting for a woman (in fact, I'm sure Chris Matthews is firmly in that camp). But he's not openly using that misogyny to court superdelegates.

If Barack Obama has been making statements like this, please let me know. Please.

And yes, it's a big deal to bring up the specter of assassination in this campaign, even it it was accidentally.

Her advisers quickly explained that Clinton merely intended to note that this was not the first primary campaign to stretch into the summer, not to suggest that Obama might be assassinated. Clinton later apologized to the Kennedy family while speaking to reporters, saying she did not mean to offend anyone.

But in a campaign where Obama's safety has been a subtext and in which critics have blamed Clinton for exacerbating racial tensions, her words added a new element of tension to the Democratic contest. Obama began receiving Secret Service protection about 18 months before the general election because homeland security officials were concerned about potential threats against him.

Emphasis mine. Also, note that she felt the need to apologize to the Kennedy family but not the Obama family.

And on a related note, can we please, please, please stop with the Obama-elitist meme (skewered pretty well awesomely here)? I mean, after 8 years of President "Have-a-Beer-With-Me" Bush, we're really going to play the anti-elitism game? Really?