Mr. Hawkins, In an effort to be dramatic, you misuse and cheapen the term, "racism." "Racism" means a belief in the superiority -- genetic -- of one race over another. And then building a "regimen" of policy to enforce that. It involves the elite of states, cities and towns -- White Citizens Councils, for example -- enforcing a punitive and violent reaction to anyone who questioned the "proposition of racial inferiority." That is racism my friend. I'll not defend the quotes you mention. Many are stupid, ignorant, and uninformed ... for whatever motive. Call it prejudice, insensitivity, bias, stupidity. I'll join you in that. But you cheapen the meaning of racism as you can see from the response left in your wake.

Please, Cambermeister, provide some documentation. 99%? Source? Method of data collection? Publication venue, date?

Paulus Textor, Do please present the data for the following claim: "Before the 1950's, blacks were well on their way to economic parity with whites." Where? Nationally? In the West? Mountain West? New England? Atlantic Seaboard? Midwest? The peripheral south (VA, NC, TN, ARK, TX, FLA)? The deep south -- AL, MISS, LA, GA, SC? I am very anxious to see your data.

So, Jonah, in the face of public opinion ... in the face of overwhelming congressional support in renewing the VRA in 1970, 1975, 1982, and during the W Bush Administration ... in the face of nearly 50 years of precedent ... in hundreds of federal cases in which the law has been applied ... you would strike Section 5? Are you really advocating judicial activism? Legislating from the bench? Making the law rather than interpreting it? Legislating from the bench? If so, fine. You are as results-oriented as any liberal. But, be honest and admit it. Declare that the so-called principle of judicial restraint is only a matter of political expediency. At least you will be honest.

Please explain this point from the person you quote: civil rights actions were taken in courts to "weaken basic American institutions" What does that mean?

I will also remind you that Speaker of the House Joe Cannon approved it. Check that out for yourself.

OK, Hawk. Let's see how much you know. Did you have some intern do your research? Let's talk Jeannette Rankin, shall we? Others may join in. She was a pacifist. Know that? That is ok. I admire her courage. But get your research assistants to scour through roll call votes in the U.S. House of Representatives and explain her uniqueness. Want to know? (Tossing you a non-government funded short cut). She voted against the Resolution for WWI and against the Resolution for WWII. You didn't even bother to check when she was elected and served, did you? She also led protests against the Vietnam War in her last years. On the steps of the Capitol. So, you write a column and don't provide the history. Sloppy. Uninformed.

Ahhh, Cal. You always lead the charge to "do in" people who agree with you more often than not. Look at your "footprint" here ... your exhaust fumes. The comments are "tearing apart" Republican governors who actually have to "run" a state and not "pop off" in editorials.

Ann, I enjoy your columns. But is this what you want to breed? Behold your followers: loadstar Wrote: Letting them remain will be like ending slavery (also a tragic mistake)-- a lingering mess for all. We DO NOT NEED millions of low educated, low aptitude, culturally disparate who were weaned on socialist guvment trying to cradle them.

Professor Adams, Do you ever look at what your well-written columns leave in their wake? Just asking.

Mr. Thomas "danced" around a huge problem for Republicans. Explain this. 20 women in the Senate, 16-4 Democrats; 78 women in the House, 58-20 Democrats. Same in the state legislatures -- lopsided Democrat advantage. Females outnumber males in voting age population. Females vote in greater proportions than men. Females favor the Democrats. This advantage ... doing the math ... is about 8-9 million votes nation wide. Why the deficit for the Republicans? Mr. Thomas fails to address these facts. The RNC people need to stop relying upon anecdotes, as Mr. Thomas does, and address the core issues here.