"Will the disgraceful and desperate attacks hurt Obama? Maybe, maybe not. But one thing is clear: they will hurt our country."

I think that the emergence of this sort of talk at the highest point of political discourse represents to the world a nation that is already in deep pain.

It is understandable that the Republicans would have to mount a different campaign to avoid the evil spectres of Dick'n'George. Different shouldn't mean that they add to the shame of the Bush reign with such obviously made up stories based on a bit of innuendo. I wonder what would happen if libel actions were initiated during an election.

I see the present situation as an opportunity as manifested here in clipmarks. We're sharing a wealth of information that needs to be seen. For the 1st time in too long a time we are participating in serious discourse and debates about what really is at the core of our beliefs. How we really think and feel. What is of true value and for the benefit of all. And this type of discourse, though painful at times, is what can lead to a better understanding of where we need to make changes. People are scared. When folks get scared we go into defensive or attack modes. But the good news is that can lead to finding creative ways of extracting ourselves and making the needed changes that will benefit the majority instead of only the few.

Close your eyes and you'd swear it was a clan rally

zalisan, exactly right - good point. This is democracy in action, from the bottom up.

we all know it's true...stop playing the stupid race card it gets old. He has mingled with strange people for a long time! some people better wise up.

"We all know it's true". Who are these people in the know? Who are these "strange" people that he has "mingled" with? And how does that excuse the hatred from the McCain supporters side. How do you explain the obsession with his middle name or the attempts to paint him as a Muslim, as if being a Muslim was a bad thing?

No,the hate stops here and now....

Check this out, if you think the race card is overdone:
1988 campaign strategy