Will Blacks and Barack Obama Transcend Color and/or Race?

The NY Times has an interesting article about color aroused whites who consider themselves liberal supporters of Baraack Obama. The article looks at five words spoken by a news commentator. Five little words -- ''I forgot he was black'' -- have exposed a contradiction in the idea of a post-racial nation. The comment came from MSNBC host Chris Matthews after President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech Wednesday. ''He is post-racial, by all appearances,'' the liberal host said on the air. ''I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. You know, he's gone a long way to become a leader of this country, and past so much history, in just a year or two. I mean, it's something we don't even think about.'' Asreported in the NY Times, The staunch Obama supporter meant it as praise, but it caused a rapid furor, with many calling the quote a troubling sign that blackness is viewed -- perhaps unconsciously -- as a handicap that still needs to be overcome. Let's talk about white and black issues surrounding color and race, tonight on the slugfest, "if you can handle the truth."