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Great discussion going on over at Ta-Nehisi’s new spot at The Atlantic. He quotes Ezra Klein’s response to Andrew Sullivan’s reply to Publius’ statement on white resentment (oh, what a tangled web) and essentially pillories the argument that white resentment — a phrase that has been used ad nauseum since Obama’s speech on race — is explained by affirmative action:

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adherence to norms of equality.  Which suggests that their opposition is driven more by a (I think misunderstood) application of said norms than it is prejudice.  And in the context of the conversation happening in the blogosphere, I think that publius has basically hit in on the nail; there are a significant number of whites who aren’t “racist” (or who at least don’t harbor any significant racial animus) but who oppose these programs out of a very real sense of unfairness.

adherence to norms of equality.  Which suggests that their opposition is driven more by a (I think misunderstood) application of said norms than it is prejudice.  And in the context of the conversation happening in the blogosphere, I think that publius has basically hit in on the nail; there are a significant number of whites who aren’t “racist” (or who at least don’t harbor any significant racial animus) but who oppose these programs out of a very real sense of unfairness.

Eric Martin as Obsidian Wings looks at the failure today of the Iraqi parliament to pass a provincial elections law, meaning no elections for 2008, and asks the obvious question. The reason that the Iraqi legislature is having such a tough time agreeing on an election law is that the disagreements over the parameters of the law represent the larger, as yet unreconciled, political conflicts - the conflicts that the Surge was

white resentment (oh, what a tangled web) and essentially pillories the argument that white resentment — a phrase that has been used ad nauseum since Obama’s speech on race — is explained by affirmative action:

enthusiastic about him, compared with 10% for Obama. This puts McCain in a very awkward bind. He could generate more enthusiasm among Republicans, but he’d have to give up some of the other support that keeps the race close. Publius has some sharp analysis on this. That’s because the gap is precisely what is preventing McCain from going Democrat-lite. If he moves hard to the middle to win over Douthat’s “Obama or undecided” voters, then the enthusiasm gap gets worse as disillusioned

To strike back, maybe the Obama Campaign will send out g-strings, with "McCain's Energy Policy" stitched on them. Bonus Stumblin' Bumblin' Whorin' Links The Jed Report - McCain: Clueless and out of touch at Sturgis Hilzoy: Miss Buffalo Chip Bluegal: McCain Offers His Wife Up to Topless Biker Babe Beauty Contest Jezebel: John McCain Will Pimp Cindy For Your Vote Josh Marshall: Take My Wife, Please! Steve Benen: John, Cindy, and the Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant

Publius writes: I’m a child of the rural South. But you know what? Actual racism is a lot less common there — we have a ways to go, but there has been real progress on that front. The more serious problem is white resentment. A lot of white people honestly think

s candidacy. And the campaign is quick to invoke the race-card card, while it largely remains passive when stories that can be easily proven to be untrue are circulated. Publius at Obsidian Wings had this to say: But the bigger problem here is that the Race Card Chorus plays on white resentment — which remains a poisonous brew. I’m a child of the rural South. But you know what? Actual racism is a lot less common there — we have a ways to go, but there