Steve Chapman, writing in the Chicago Tribune, is quick to deny that former President Jimmy Carter is correct in saying that "an overwhelming portion" of the animosity against President Barack Obama is based on his race. Chapman says that "hating presidents is an irrepressible American tradition." In view of the hyper-influence of religious "values voters" over the past decade, one would expect the value of love to have diminished any tradition of hate; unless religion has changed since I was in seminary 40 years ago.

If anything, the unvarnished viciousness has accelerated. In all my 77 years, I have known only one situation remotely comparable to the intensity of hatred directed at this president! That would be the mood in Dallas when President John Kennedy visited the city. Ronald Kessler, author of "In the President's Secret Service," reports that Obama is receiving 30 death threats a day, which is about four times the number Bush got.

Racism often comes in coded language. A brilliant young dancer/singer felt that he had to change his facial color and features to gain pop stardom. "For many white Americans," said Bob Herbert in The New York Times, "Barack Obama is nothing more than 'that black guy in the White House' and they want him out of there."