Unfortunately to the answer is yes. And let me make something clear, neither of these gentlemen are my first choice nor do they carry my ringing endorsement without qualification.

The bigots in the video are simply more transparent and vociferous than most with regard to thieir fears. They are however representative of a large group of americans with an underlying fear of blacks, especially in a position of power. This fire has been stoked in subltle and not so subtle ways, and the opposition to Obama has certainly been the purveyor of much of the misinterpretation and misrepresentation of any information that could be presented in ways to appeal to different aspects of bigots in american society.

Even on this board are one or two examples of people that try to coyly and frequently make sideways refereces to things about Obama and race. Make no bones about it, the ramping up of the references to "palling around with terrorists", the use of his middle name, and attempts at subtle(?) references to what is percieved to be Obamas "base" of voters are based in using racial fears to stoke the fires of ignorance and prey on prejudices. To deny this is occurring indicates severe naivete, dishonesty, or a condition of denial for what ever the motivation may be.

This is not to say that there are not serious questions about both candidates policies that need a deep and exacting examination before commiting to either one as a leader of our country. That however should be driven by how we think those policies will effect us individually and our country as a whole. This would mean factual examinations (as much as campaign promises can be subject to that) and not the entertaining of the manipulative presentation of things as noted above.

So yes this is our America...or more appropriately a piece of it that many of us will find distasteful. And no they are not all inarticulate rednecks. I have heard similar comments from bankers, physicians, admistrators, and sweet little old blue haired ladies with much "standing" in their communities and churches, and articulate people hiding behind avatars, just worded (sometimes) in less inflamatory or obvious language, or whispered as they look around.

I guess the redeeming point is that even in the face of this there is a broad constituency of people from all colors, all walks of life that are willing to endorse someone they think is qualified whether he is black or not (perhaps even in spite of it). There is ingnorance and prejudice in every society, but I don't think it dominates ours at the point, though it is certainly alive and well.