How Can We Have a Discussion on Race Without Mentioning Race?

B.E.T. founder Johnson agrees with Ferraro about Obama | KansasCity.com Prime Buzz Bob Johnson founded Black Entertainment Television. He is listed in the article as a friend and supporter of Senator Clinton.

"What I believe Geraldine Ferraro meant is that if you take a freshman senator from Illinois called `Jerry Smith' and he says I'm going to run for president, would he start off with 90 percent of the black vote?" Johnson said. "And the answer is, probably not... ."

"Geraldine Ferraro said it right. The problem is, Geraldine Ferraro is white. This campaign has such a hair-trigger on anything racial ... it is almost impossible for anybody to say anything."

Of course not saying anything suits them fine, because then they don't have to answer the awkward questions.

Let me be clear... I don't dislike Senator Obama because of his race. I dislike him because of his positions - positions that he has held in office in the US Senate and in the Illinois legislature. He is opposed to the Second Amendment - I believe that is born out in his statements, including the one where only "bitter" people cling (irrationally?) to guns and God.

And we have to be able to discuss his positions - more than a hope for nebulous change - or we don't have a democratic process.