"The problem is that they interpret the ad as channeling fears of miscegenation, when in fact it is operating on an entirely different but utterly familiar racial dynamic: the idea that black success, by definition, hurts white interests."

The need liberals have to see racism where none exists continues to boggle the mind. The point of the ad was to expose Obama as an empty suit. The use of Paris and Britney were as examples of celebrities who have achieved their fame based on their bizarre personal antics, rather than on anything that would constitute "merit". Are you guys really so clueless as not to see why the ad was so effective from its intended perspective?

the need conservatives have to use and justify racism, even in this day and age when most of the rest of the world has left their tired mentality behind, truly boggles the mind.

of course, anytime white women known primarily for their hyper-sexualized personae are superimposed over the image of a black male in the way McCain's camp did, race is involved, and is the immeidate subtext. true that many conservatives aren't educated enough to know this, but true on its own none the less.

as for the theory put forward here that black success hurts whites, I don't think so at all. you're over-thinking by the time you're mining this territory. there isn't anything about the image of either Britney or Paris which states such a thing either overtly or by implication. its just the simple image and its simply impact - young white woman, smiling black man. that's all there is to it.

Thank you onceler for proving that you guys are as clueless as you appear.

Nothing will get the vote of independents and undecideds faster than calling them racists for finding the McCain funny or for agreeing with the ad's basic point that Obama is nothing more than an empty suit on a par with the "achievements" of Paris and Britney.

Obama is not on a par with the blonde bimbos--though nothing says vapid like a blonde bimbo, right? Obama does have throngs of teeny bopper fans. And he really does. And McCain gets to be the adult.

Anyone who thinks that Paris and Britney are models of virginal womanhood in need of defense by the confederacy needs to get off the cheap critical race theory.

Just grab the needle and pull.

"The need liberals have to see racism where none exists continues to boggle the mind."

The need mindless partisan conservatives have to deny racist tactics when they are carefully and deliberately used continues to boggle the mind.

Did you have a point to make?

"Nothing will get the vote of independents and undecideds faster than calling them racists for finding the McCain funny or for agreeing with the ad's basic point that Obama is nothing more than an empty suit on a par with the 'achievements' of Paris and Britney."

Dear heart, since "independents and undecideds" hold neither of these views, I'm not sure what point you think you're making.

Don't say "miscegenation." Words that begin with "mis--" connote disapproval, which is hardly what you want to say (I hope). Also, the historial baggage of the word is immense, and none of it good.