"Black mainstream values"
Coming from an editor such as this, it's code for socialism, usually. Black friends and acquaintances of mine, however, are consistently opposed to illegal immigration, are deeply offended that gay activists are attempting to equate their efforts with the civil rights movement, and are beginning to question the overt hostility directed at their Christian religious beliefs.
As a result, I think that if this editor thinks he's all that well acquainted with the actual mainstream values of black Americans, he really needs to get out more, and actually speak with a few black people before making such a statement.
I keep pointing out that as Protestant white males, Stevens and Souter should have asterisks, since they hardly represent mainstream white male Protestant thought in this country.
Ginsburg and O'Conner hardly represented the mainstream thought of married women in this country, so their status as married women deserves an asterisk, too.
How stupid is this all going to get?