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In his explanation Rather offers his Texas background as an excuse saying, "I used the analogy of selling watermelons by the side of the road. It's an expression that stretches to my boyhood roots in Southeast Texas"

I've lived in Texas all my life, and I've NEVER heard that expression used.

I moved to TX 8 years ago from (what I now realize to be) a very racist and hateful part of CA. You know, the part with people in it. Many of the folks around me in CA were quiet and vehement about their racist beliefs and you would never know until an unguarded moment what really dwelled in them folks' hearts. Of course, they never rubbed elbows with black people, except for Steve, the mainframe guy (example), and had no valid reason to hold the beliefs they did, as they were based on ignorance rather than real world experience.

Anyway, having been raised in that environment, and having no real experience with black folks either save for that Ice-T video with the girl shaking her butt, I was entirely unprepared the day I saw a black guy at the side of the road selling watermelons from his pickup. I did a double take, burned a 180, and went back to get a closer look at this rarified specimen. Turns out he is a small farmer in the area. He sells what he grows, and at that point in the season, it was watermelon for sale. He works hard. I restrained myself for asking for a photo of him in front of his truck, (because that would have been awesome!) but I really did open my mind and learn something that day: Liberals from CA are close minded pricks!.

This occured on the road to Bryan, about 40 miles south, almost to highway 290. Apparently he is still there.