Obama supporters: Could Obama be doing anything differently

so as to quell this whole race issue? I want to leave Clinton out of my equation, because I'm more concerned with my candidate's campaign than hers.

Here's the thing: I did find Jesse Jackson Jr's attack on Hillary, offensive, and I believe that obama should have distanced himself from those comments. Jackson is a co-chairman of Obama's campaign, so it's not as if he's just some supporter.

Is there anything else I think Obama could do to put out this brushfire? I waver about that, but I do think that putting out a statement to the effect that any discussion of the Clintons being racists is unfounded and disappointing. He could still go after Bill on his misrepresentation of Obama on the war and other dodgy statements. And it doesn't mean he can't be tough on Hillary.

I hate this contretemps. I think it does have the potential to damage Obama's run, and that he does need to do something. There's no doubt in my mind that the Clinton campaign has pursued a strategy of bringing race into the mix and that they're using some pretty questionable tactics. It's not fair that Obama should have to defuse this, but I think he does.

What do you think?

But I think (not entirely sure) Obama should keep it real. He's running a campaign for Americans not by race or gender, but all Americans. And that's who he's reaching, because that's who he is. If the Clintons can keep up the racial or gender politics, she wins. But if Obama does it, he loses. So he should carry on with his unity approach, because that's the only way it can be defused. Let surrogates defend him on this sort of thing.

If he stood up and said "Sen. Clinton is not a racist, We all know she is not a racist, I find the attacks calling her racist offensive and we cannot allow ourselves to be baited into making this primary about race and gender"

That would go a huge way to difuse the situation and bring this back to candidates and issues instead of skin and genitals.

Ms. Clinton should also say the same regarding sexism and equality in regards to Sen Obama.

The RW is being allowed to goad us all into forming a circular firing squad. If our candidates stick up for each other the attack is diffused and our party as a whole benefits.

People want to vote for a candidate that happens to be bi-racial or happens to be a woman, not because they are biracial or black.

That is my two cents.

or rather Clinton surrogates have repeatedly brought up race and religion. What is their responsibility here?

I see comments taken completely out of context being spun into an issue of race by the pundits and the media and our own are falling for it.

The very same way Obama was being spun as Anti-gay when we all know it is BS.

We are being goaded into a circular firing squad and unless all sides say " WE WILL NOT PLAY THIS GAME" then we will lose in the end.

Sooner, or later, everybody will realize exactly who is injecting race into this election. And, in the meantime, those who are not fooled will continue to rally around Obama. Is it any coincidence that significant, high-ranking endorsements for Obama have been pouring in since this mess started?

As far as Jackson goes, and I agree with your position on that one, I think that Obama should set him straight behind-closed-doors. I think that if Obama wants to speak out against it, he should do so abstractly, such as, "Certain statements have also come from my campaign and that is disappointing. However, I want to make it clear, that is NOT what my campaign is about".

But, of course, I'm just some silly poster on DU, Obama needn't listen to me! lol.

Race is going to be an issue in this campaign because he's going to be the first black nominee.