[ottbmare]

I've told every member of my liberal black family the same thing, and they look at me like I'm speaking gibberish. It has never occurred to them, nor to Randall Kennedy, that Obama looks entirely different to middle America than he does to most blacks and the hard-core left. Their echo chamber doesn't admit facts, data, or any competing analysis of their candidate.

My best girlfriend, a black professional woman, says the same thing about her family. She tries to explain to them that Barack Obama would simply be bad for America, but their minds are closed; all they see is that the color of his skin is a little bit like theirs.

Middle Americans do not want someone in the White House, of any color, who seems to do nothing except criticize this country. They cringe when they think of Michelle Obama and her baseless resentments bringing every whiner, every Marxist, every past and present revolutionary into the house that belongs to the people.

But how happily would Middle America vote for a Michael Steele or someone else who behaved with dignity and patriotism.

[Windflier]

My best girlfriend, a black professional woman, says the same thing about her family. She tries to explain to them that Barack Obama would simply be bad for America, but their minds are closed; all they see is that the color of his skin is a little bit like theirs.

My whole family are educated, upscale people, but that is exactly the mindset they're stuck in. It's only because they refuse to examine Obama with critical analysis that they allow themselves to "believe" in him.

I honestly think they're smarter than that, but they'd have to re-examine the foundations of their liberal politics if they looked too carefully. It's intellectual dishonesty on their part, frankly. They can't look, or their worldview will fall apart, and OMG!, they might become Republicannnnnnnnnsssssssss!!!!!!!!!!