@Cycloptichorn,
I don't doubt that there is racism in the country Cyclops. How could I?
I think that a lot of what people perceive as racism is (as Hawkeye has said) instead classism. My particular viewpoint comes from being born and growing up in the poor class (parent's on food stamps my whole life, living in government assisted housing, etc). I've been a victim of many of the same offenses that I see people blaming on racism, especially as it pertains to youths (such as being harassed by the cops, being turned down for jobs, difficulties in school with resources and teachers, being followed when I enter a store, etc).
In reference to Obama, I find it difficult to distinguish between those who will grab at anything to oppose him simply because they oppose the Democrats and their policies and those who oppose him based on his race. I think you and others are too quick to blame this on racism, when it's not at all clear what their motivations or hearts are.
I keep thinking back to the nasty things said about Clinton and Bush who were both white. Nobody could blame racism then; just because people are saying nasty things about Obama and he's a black man, doesn't all of the sudden make those sometimes disgusting points of view based on his race.
