This is a very interesting clip. Obama responds to a question about his "electability" (something Dems did very well with strategically in 2004 by choosing John Kerry btw), which in his case is a question of race.

I have heard this question again and again. Particularly, when I was back in Washington D.C. this past week. It is always phrased the same way, about how "the middle of the country might not be ready for an African-American President."

First of all, as someone who lives in that vast "middle" now, the one that many on the coasts only fly over and think watches Hee Haw all the time, I have to say a few things. Um, Illinois is in the middle. And for Obama to be elected there with 70%, some white folks outside of Chicago must have been voting for him.

And yes, I know he was running against another African American in Alan Keyes, but wouldn't you vote for the self-hating black man as opposed to the one who is comfortable in his own skin (no pun intended) if you're so racist? Or maybe you wouldn't vote at all.

Second, you may remember that the first African American governor was not from my home state of New York or California or Massachusetts, but Virginia. And not today's Virginia. A much more crimson-hued Virginia of two decades ago.

My point is not to say there is no lingering racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, etc., out there. But to remind people that the media obsessed over Joe Lieberman's being the first Jewish VP in 2000, and without the election stolen in Florida, he wins. I think this issue is so openly pontificated simply because it is easy to argue about on cable. The truth, however, is not so black and white, or red and blue.