I just watched a movie about Mandela's 27 year imprisonment and about how the ANC members were tortured and imprisoned during the years of apartheid. What really struck a chord in me is that the ANC was labeled Communist and that every white person genuinely believed that Mandela and the ANC were Communist because that is what the government told them. Of course, Mandela's writings were banned and even white dignitaries could not access his words without a special dispensation. That is in many ways like what we see happening to Obama in this country. He has been openly called a Socialist so many times that the majority of Americans- Democrats and Republicans alike- believe that he is a Socialist. (See the poll I posted a few weeks ago.) The big difference is that his words are not banned. Anyone interested can listen to his speeches and read his words. Trouble is, Americans are lazy and complacent and prefer to hear the lies, deliberate distortions and commentaries broadcast by the hate mongers like FOX News, Rush Limbaugh, etc. I wish (in vain) that our government would enforce the FCC regulations already on the books- but widely ignored- to put a stop to this treachery.

Like with Mandela, I believe the hatred is motivated by fear and prejudice. They are too savvy to use the N word, but it shakes them to the core that a black man in America can rise to the Presidency of the United States. It strikes deeply at long held perceptions and beliefs about the balance of power that place white men at the top of our social strata.

I'll tell you something else really scary: A recent Supreme Court decision UNCAPPED the amount of money special interest groups can spend in support or opposition of political candidates. The Tea Parties have established a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) and are funneling millions into campaigning for hyper-conservative candidates. Have you ever looked at photos of Tea Parties? White- white- white! If and when they find a black person in their midst, every camera is trained on them to give the appearance of mixed, but look at every other face around them!

Obama a Socialist? Only if Nelson Mandela is Communist.