To ask where racism ends and politics begins in all of this is to set up a false dichotomy – America's politics has always been steeped in race and racism is a political force. The psychic scars of centuries are not removed in one election or as a result of one person. Indeed they may be deepened and made even more raw as a result of them.
The Europeans really are fixated on this idea of America as it was 50 years ago. And of course, Obama is unpopular because he is black. Just go to the most unrepresentative hollow in Kentucky to prove it. Don't report that, nationwide, Obama did better among working class whites than Kerry. And that, nationwide, Republicans are much more unpopular than Democrats.
It's much easier to report that Americans are racist than that they are deeply alienated with the political system. That later might make the smug European ruling class just a trifle nervous.
1''Even Charles Manson could beat him now' - UK Guardian; Younge
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