Radio host Mark Larsen wears blackface after Obama win

It didn’t take long for the first racially controversial routine to emerge in local media following the landmark success of Barack Obama’s election Tuesday as the nation’s first black president.

The moment came at 6 a.m. this morning, when WWBA-AM 820 morning man Mark Larsen, who is white, dressed in blackface makeup at the start of his show. Joined by the station’s news director Roger Schulman, Larsen joked about caking on the cosmetics, using a number of racially influenced comments in the process. Fans could watch the whole process go down via an in-studio Webcam. (See the bottom of this post for embedded video.)

“This gives me that Uncle Tom feel,” said Larsen, who also joked about changing his name to Marcus Washington Larsen. “Are you sure this comes off? Because I don’t feel like running for president.”

Click below to see the rest of the story and see YouTube video of the incident:

Before Tuesday’s election, Larsen talked about seeing a long line of black people waiting to vote at a Tampa Bay area polling place, saying they “looked like the line for takeout at Big Tim’s Barbecue” in St. Petersburg. And shortly after putting on the blackface makeup Wednesday, he told a caller he presumed to be black that “You love (America) because you have a man of color going to the White House. Before that, you probably were a malcontent."

Still, Larsen said he intended no racial insult. “I wasn’t making fun of black people,” he added, noting that he was fulfilling a bet he made last year that he would wear blackface if America elected a politician named Barack Hussein Obama.

Why choose to wear blackface? “If Dave Chappelle can wear whiteface and make fun of white people, then I should be able to do this,” noted the host, who stressed his Libertarian political views, saying he would have voted for black Reublicans such as Colin Powell or Condoleezza Rice. “The point I’m making is there’s a double standard here, and I don’t abide by the double standard.”

But there is a difference between wearing makeup to play a character of a different race -- as Fred Armisen (Obama on Saturday Night Live) and Robert Downey Jr. (playing a "method" actor in the Ben Stiller film Tropic Thunder) have done -– and donning the historic “blackface” makeup that has come to symbolize stereotypes of black people perpetuated in theater and film in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Beginning in the early 1800s, white performers used blackface makeup, raggedy clothes and white-painted lips to play the character of the coon. This figure was the star of minstrel shows depicting black people as lazy, uneducated, superstitious, musical and childlike -- all the stereotypes black people continue to fight in American society.

Talk radio has taken some criticism during the presidential election for racially insensitive language -- from some hosts’ insistence that Obama supporters might riot on Election Day to conservative Rush Limbaugh’s parody song “Barack the Magic Negro,” based on a line from a Los Angeles Times column.

Still, Larsen insisted he was not trying to evoke long-held stereotypes or racist imagery in his on-air jokes. A broadcaster for nearly 30 years, he drew criticism during a stint on WFLA-AM (970) for a Wednesday “Humpday” news segment featuring bizarre stories lampooning gay people.

“What I did today was knuckleheaded and goofy, but ... it wasn’t a big deal to me,” Larsen said. “I want to make it abundantly clear, I’m not on any mission to disparage anyone. I just don’t play double standards.”

*

Comments

[kirk]

Please read up on the historical significance of black face. In my opinion it is as offensive as a noose. Check out the movie Bamboozled! Larson has rallied his left crap before-ssame ol' same ol' sophmoric nonsense!

[Anthony Look]

I welcome this lunacy, this desperate wailing, and spewing of what has come to be expected from the GOP, especially the dying conservative base. They are doing this nation a favor by continuing their fervor and hate. It did not go unnoticed before the election and it is duly noted for the racism they deny it is. These people are a dying breed, the last of the generational white racist families in America. There numbers are at a critical mass of near extinction and their actions prove their shock value serves only to diminish their message to one that is ridiculed and shunned. It is because of the intolerance that Larsen, Palin, Mr. Plummer, McCain and the like demonstrated in their daily lives; that we won the hearts and souls of voting American and their children. A future of children that do find these antics witty, or humorous or plausible examples of correctness.
Carry on, dig your hole even deeper. America is changing for the better and you kind is the minority more so each day thanks to your methods.

[Obama voter]

Mo, most of us (at least I would like to beleive MOST of us, but its's probably a lot less) know the media is all about selling papers. good news, doesn't sell.

Teenagers, white or black, doing somthing positive in a community, gets back page or buried in the middle of the paper while a kid getting busted for drugs or someother crime gets front page exposure.

As for Larsen, whites or blacks:

I hate you all while behind the wheel of my truck, since most of you have NO common courtesy nor any sense while your driving.

[Mo]

Up to my lily...you are an idiot beyond measure. I'm considered black and I don't get a dam thing from the govt. I work full time and do not qualify for any type of government assistance despite the fact I live paycheck to paycheck. I don't beg anyone for a handout or a hand up. I've worked hard since the age of 16 for every dam thing I have. I am NOT the exception to the rule you seem to measure all blacks by.
Andre needs step up or step off about South St. Petersburg instead of talking about what he knows from the newspapers. I've lived there half my life and media coverage is mostly about the negative and rarely ever the positive of our city. I've walked the streets there late at night to neighborhood stores and I've never been mugged or assaulted, never been approached by dealers. People need to wake up and step outside of their little boxes and realize there is a whole world out there that you know nothing about. The more you rely on someone else's ideas and opinions the more ignorant you and your offspring become.
Statistics show there are more non-blacks on government assistance than blacks. Did you know that in predominately white areas, young unwed females with babies are placed in nice apartment complexes when they get subsidized housing (section 8)? You don't know who they are because on the outside you are looking for the black ghetto mama with a bunch of snotty nosed kids. Did you know most "crackheads" are white? The ones I see wondering my neighborhood looking for a hit - white. Tons of young white boys rolling through our neighborhoods looking for pot, pills and the like. Of course you don't believe that...they don't end up with lengthy rap sheets. That’s what you folks call justice.
The ignorant and cowardly are always quick to point fingers and down someone else based on something they know nothing about. I'm supposed to feel bad because of affirmative action? Why? Why exactly to you think so many young black males turn to selling drugs? They aren't all looking for the flash and cash. Many are trying to find a way to support themselves and their families. It takes a lot more balls than many of you and even that punk Joe the Plumber to sell dope. It's like nothing you could ever imagine and it's nothing like what you think no matter what the media and law enforcement tries to tell you. It’s a dangerous life that many think is a game.
Larsen is a coward and a fool. Yes it offends me because there is a difference between an actor with makeup looking a different ethnicity than a man wearing blackface carrying on about chicken and watermelon and then accusing people he doesn't even know of voting for Obama because he's black. I'm black and that is certainly not why he got my vote.

[credence]

820 is just another station trying to capitalize on and foment hate. Their new name: Hate20 Radio. HateTwenty equals Hate Plenty.

[Up to my lily-chocolate butt]

From now on, whenever I'm asked to "check off" my ethnicity, I'm checking "black", then I'll have a better chance at getting that job, that scholarship,(affirmative action is still alive and well) welfare, foodstamps, etc. AND I'll be able to say any offensive thing I want to anyone I want with no repercussions. How would anyone prove it? I'll just say that I'm half black, but since I just look more white but I'm really black. See how silly this sounds? This is what everyone here sounds like to me with the exception of GR and Andre.

[kyle]

Beltway- FUJA.

[beltwaybandit]

"Bloggers- Concealed gun permit hits the mail next week. I am trying to find the clause that says you can be shot for being stupid."

Posted by: kyle | November 06, 2008 at 08:04 PM

Kyle:

I can see why you would be worried about that.

[beltwaybandit]

November 06, 2008 at 02:07 PM :

It's obvious you truly don't get the point...

You and I agree about Larsen and his ill-advised actions/comments. My purpose is only to point out the reality of the situation.

When one pays attention to the actions of an irrelevent, small-minded broadcaster in a tier-2 media market like Tampa, and a very low-rated one at that, you do nothing but raise his profile.

Put it this way...outside of YOU and a few others feeling good about yourselves if you somehow got Larsen punished or fired, does anything in America really change as a result of your actions? No.

And the concept of getting sponsors to boycott these type of folks consumes much effort on your and others' part but yields less than satisfactory results.

An example? Don Imus is a far bigger, more successful radio host than Mark Larsen ever was or is. Larsen is heard on two stations, both low rated in small Florida markets. His total listener audience MAY number in the low thousands.

Imus was heard on over 100 stations in major markets as well as smaller markets with a listening audience of around 6-10 million daily.

Imus made racial remarks and got fired, in large part due to protests by black groups and NBC employees as well as pressure on advertisers.

The result? Imus was back on the air 8 months later at a radio station in NYC with higher ratings than the previous station and he is once again heard nationally on about 50 stations and growing.

And...many of his old advertisers are once again back on with Imus.

Instead of consuming all that energy to prove the obvious...that Larsen is unprofessional, offensive, or whatever...why not devote that energy to something that will make a difference for the country?

Your argument is precisely one that frustrates me about the Democratic Party, despite the fact I have voted against Republicans for 4 straight presidential elections now...you seem more interested in picking a meaningless fight on a small-time guy in a small market, making him a bigger deal than he is.

Meanwhile, the economy keeps melting down, incompetent politicians keep getting re-elected, and we're here having this discussion. No wonder the country got this way. Too few people focus on the important stuff and instead choose to focus on the small stuff.

Oh, and if you think Rush Limbaugh getting booted from ESPN over his comments about McNabb (who is in fact an under-performing quarterback, but not because of his race) bothered him, then you really, really don't understand how things work.

Rush got a new contract shortly after that for approximately $50 million annual salary. His radio ratings remain as solid as ever and in some places higher than ever. I guarantee you he does not care about that ESPN incident you focused on.

But feel free to continue down your stated path...it remains your right to do so.

[Kathleen]

I've never listened to his show, and now I never will. Just one more 'small-town' embarassment for Tampa. Stupid, demeaning and boring. Please realize that this audience is more sophisticated than he's giving them credit for being. Fire the idiot and give us someone worth tuning in for.

Black faced? What a cheap, tasteless, embarrassment for your station!

[Fred]

I have really enjoyed reading most of these comments. I firmly believe that all of the anti Larsen commenters have never listened to Larsen. Also, this exposure has been worth its weight in gold to the station. They couldnt buy this much exposure at any price. As far as the ratings go. 12+ ratings mean nothing, thats why they are released free for the taking. WWBA has day parts that probably get negative ratings. Larsen is their bankable talent. I'm certain his ratings are much better than the 12+ ratings. I wonder how many of the commenters here are black. Or, how many suffer from white guilt. I've also watched that left leaning people think from an emotional point of view and thats why you cant debate them. Once they hear something they dont like they start calling you names. I see a lot of that here. I have listened to Larsen for dozens of years here even going back to the days of 95YNF. There isnt a racist bone in his body.

[Louie]

Sad to say but being a closet racist is very popular in the USA. I pray this country can come together on all sides and do away with this type of behavior. I don't condone race hate or ill attempts at poking fun because of a persons race, no matter what race is doing it.

[zack repolgle]

Some blacks are to sensitive when its comes to joking around. At the same time if al sharpton(mike)did an white face joke like dave chappelle I know for a fact some whites would speak out on that. If an black NBA player came out of the locker room with a white face out to joke around I know for sure some whites would speak out (bill Oreilly) So why didnt whites speak out when dave chappelle did it because they knew it was different. Good point Mike.

[mike]

Its funny how maccain supporters say Blacks only voted for OBAMA because hes black but in realityif blacks only cared about someone being black they would have support AL SHARPTON which hardly any smart blacks do. Obama had more white voters than blacks.

Those of you talking about double standard the reason Dave Chappelle gets away with the jokes he makes is because he makes fun of racism not race, he talks about every race not just one, including his own. Dave Chappelle has millions of white supporters who love his show. Liza Minella or however you spell her names makes blacks jokes all the time no one cares because they know shes not racist its funny.

Its like this if you have an black friend co worker or classmate and yall joke around all the time, he makes fun of you about being white you make fun of him about being black then its no problem because you know its not out of hate.

So stop using this as a way to make right your wrongs. America not stupid, blacks or not stupid we can tell the difference between racist comments and jokes.

Stop thinking al sharpton and jesse speaks for all blacks making it seem like we have no sense of humor because if its funny its funny if its hate its hate.

[the jena 6]

Mark Larsen is a Class A racist and WFLA is a Right Wing racist talk show station. He is untruthful regarding his
reason, he made a bet a BLACK MAN WOULD
NOT WIN THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF THE
usa. Now kiss the THE BLACK PRESIDENT'S
BEHIND, WHITE BOY. Be like Bush, be a
lying DRUNK!

[kyle]

Bloggers- Concealed gun permit hits the mail next week. I am trying to find the clause that says you can be shot for being stupid.

[Steve]

Julie, Barry Hussein NObama chose to befriend the leader of the Weather Underground after the fact knowing full well of Ayres' history. Ayres, to this day, is proud of what he did and has not changed his ways one iota. He has grown old, but has not grown past his destructive behavior. So, yes, Barry is guilty by association.

And the maid's name may have very well been Juanita. Most people who clean office buildings in Tampa, especially in the west half of the city, are originally from Puerto Rico (a big part of Tampa's population).

As Larsen says, "check your premise."

[Jill B.]

Oh that was Michelle Mabama in the red and black thing, sure fooled me. I thought it was Aunt Esther from Sanford and Son.

[henry Dunras]

Is anyone offended that the Wayans brothers made a movie in whiteface called White Chicks? Go.

[Joe B.]

What would have been even funnier is if the radio host had of worn that horrible black and red dress that Mabama had on election night. Looked like she fell down in it and rolled in some red paint. Style and class, she doesn't have it, and will never have it!

[David]

I see both sides of the argument that Sherry and beltway bandit make.

On my original comment, I wondered if it is better to address this nonsense, or let it go?

But I think it is better to expose people like this -- and Rev. Wright -- for the hate-mongers they are.

One of them does it under the cover of the airwaves, and the other does it hiding behind the flimsiness of religion, but both are like cockroaches. They will scatter when the light is turned on them.

[Julie]

Calling the maid "Juanita" was every bit as small-minded as the minstrel face...by the way, genius, Obama was 8 years old when the Weathermen were doing their thing...you moron...

Beltway, by that logic, Rosa Parks should've just shut up and sat in the back of the bus -- she was giving the local transportation company all kinds of free publicity. And I'm glad you brought up Limbaugh: remember when ESPN canned his butt for his ridiculous comments about Donovan McNabb? I bet he didn't go to bed thanking the lord for the people who protested his stupid comments on ESPN that night. His 1st foray into mainstream media was a colossal failure, so he crawled back into his Dittohead echo chamber and no longer troubled the mainstream sports viewer. Good riddance.

You seem to also be implying somehow that making a stink about Larsen can only come at the expense of focusing on the economy. I'm not sure where you get that notion. I never suggested Obama should suspend transition activities to come down here and denounce Larsen. I'm just saying that as private citizens, it might be a good thing if those of us who are disgusted by the racist crap Larsen peddles to let his sponsors know it.

I did. If lots of other people do too, it might hit that station in the pocketbook and prompt them to tell that cretin to tone it down or find another gig. I have enough faith in this community to believe that the majority would be appalled if they saw what Larsen did. Your mileage obviously varies, but so be it.

[Steve]

AC...I'll be standing right beside you when the revolution comes, brother.

[Sherry Lea]

This is just awful. I don't care what Larsen's intent was, the end result is pathetic. And for posters who compare him to some comedians whom get paid to make people laugh with their often times incendiary and racist commentary is just ridiculous.

I thank the media for bringing this to light. Now I know to steer clear of this personality and 820 AM.

The election is over. Today we are just all Americans. Barack Obama will be our next president! Haters and racists will have a hard time with this. Their displeasure will manifest itself in blatent overt and covert ways. As it has always. Freedom of speach will be their cloak of protection when they dare to verbalize.
America has spoken and more of us are united and ready to move forward in a positive light. The future of our country depends on it. Yes we can and Yes we will! Believe that.

[beltwaybandit]

Sherry...

You are free to do what you wish. But I am a 30 year veteran of the media business and also on the other side...as a communications consultant.

I am telling you that every time you "exercise your free speech" to denounce actions like Larsen's, you actually have the opposite effect of what you're trying to do. You end up assisting him rather than hurting him. Look at Rush. Liberals have protested about him for years and years, raising his profile with his target audience and making him the patron saint of the right...and extremely rich. I guanratee you he goes to bed at night thanking God for the protesters of his commentary.

We will always be faced with moronic behavior in this country, fromliberals and conservatives and Christians and Muslims and Jews and Atheists. They have a right to engage in it, no matter how distasteful we may think it is.

Consider the mind-numbingly irrelevent focus from the right on issues like gay marriage or flag burning, and the time that was wasted as focus was not paid to the economy or other major issues.

I am not saying that such issues are not important...to some people.

But effective leadership will be able to bring effective change only when focus is placed on the most critical issues at the time.

Today, and for at least the next few years, the top issue will be the economy.

ANY focus on any issue other than that simply delays or prevents resolution of that problem.

If Obama and company do not get that one fixed, all other issues will end being moot points.

[Karen]

Dave Chapelle and Chris Rock can get away with being racist because THEY ARE. Their comic routines are packed with white jokes and all they do is insult and try to make whites look foolish. If you're black you couldn't possibly be called a racist - only white people are. I am sick and tired of everyone looking for an excuse to call someone else a racist. That's part of the reason that Obama got elected - liberal white weanies couldn't bear the thought of being called racist so they voted for the black man. One thing I don't understand is - does anyone remember that Obama is half white! I quess if you're half black than the white part doesn't count anymore.

[Oyaremi]

Don't allow this to get under OUR SKINS -- BARACK IS THE PRESIDENT .. remember how they treated Tiger!!! Chicken and Watermelon ;-) lol.

That is how they make themselves feel betta -- how we deal with it -- is REMEMBER -- OUR DREAM IS THERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE .. ASE ASE ASE ..

Give thanks to the Ancestors each and every dayyy -- they took more than a Black Face -- they took beatings each and every day ...

We can get over itttttttttttt.

Oyaremi

[Sherry Ciurczak]

Beltway Bandit, I'm not advocating stifling free speech. But what's wrong with exercising MY free speech by calling Larsen's sponsors' attention to his racist antics? It'll be up to them to decide whether or not they want to continue being associated with that kind of crap. It's called the free market.

As for the "just ignore it and it'll go away" strategy, I don't buy it. This kind of neanderthal race-baiting should be denounced by those who disagree with it. Sure, some pinheads will continue to be attracted to ignorance and hate, but others will be encouraged to see that decent people stand up against it. That's how progress gets made. It's called the market place of ideas.

[Sherry Ciurczak]

Okay, you removed my comment because I placed a link to Larsen's sponsor page and urged those who were offended to email his sponsors with their concerns. I disagree that it's inappropriate, but it's your blog.

Can I just encourage people to Google "Mark Larsen" and get the easily obtainable information on his sponsors and employer themselves? Thank you.

By the way, I haven't seen a peep about this in the other local media. I find that unbelievable.

[beltwaybandit]

To A.C. at 9:11AM:

Why do you need to pick sides? What is wrong with being an American and trying to blend both sides together into one big team?

To everyone:

I am amazed by the response on this. The only way Larsen and people like him gain any value pulling stunts like this is if they generate publicity beyond their core audience. After all, the ratings clearly show Larsen has an irrelevent core audience.

Juston this blog, Larsen has succeeded in expanding his audience because I guarnatee you some folks who had never heard of him have checked him out or visited the radio station's web site. Bad move.

The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference. Because love (and hate) is passion-based. Indifference is...indifferent.

Ironic that the very group liberals and Democrats (and some moderate Republicans) point to in anger...the conservative right wing...specialize and made their name by raising their profile and stirring things up to generate credibility.

Liberals for years played into that hand.

The lesson to be learned is when irrelevent "leaders" and media types try to raise their profiles, ignore them. That will do more to keep them in their place than by "pulling them off the air".

I do not want to live in a country that restricts free speech, whether I agree with it or not.

Remember...when it comes to folks like Larsen, Bubba, etc. the listener always has an option...turn the dial!

[ctb]

I'll bet this guy's out of work soon...

[Sonny]

I never knew the Brawny man had an AM radio show. I thought he just sold paper towels.

[msbhavn04]

If it was such a knucklehead move I don't see anything about an apology on in the article or on the WWBA-AM 820 website. Stupid actions have consequences. He wouldn't walk down the street with that make-up. He did it because he thought is funny and that no one would be paying attention. He's an idiot to say the least.

[batman]

no audience? how bout trying good radio? naw - let's start a fire, that always works.

[Jay]

If this guy was a libertarian, big L or small l, he would neither have worn blackface nor considered voting for ANY Republican, regardless of what race they were.

He's a McCain/Bushie.

[LittleBro]

You're right, Eric. I should have learned from Obama how to handle people like this guy - ignore him. Let him talk and be as vile as he wants. He speaks to and for a group of haters who, like "Mike" think he has a wide following. He doesn't and rational people should not allow him to upset them.

Thanks for the reminder.

[Eric Deggans]

Just a word of caution for commenters --
Please try to refrain from abusive language. I'm hesitant to delete any posts to preserve people's freedom to communicate. but I'm very uncomfortable with people slinging words like idiot around.

Also, I'm uncomfortable with people placing links and telephone numbers on the blog to organize protests. I apreciate your point of view, but I'm not sure I want to blog to become a focal point for that kind of effort.

Thanks for respecting my views on the blog's material.....

[FIRE LARSEN]

THIS GUY HAS TO GO. CAN HIM!

[Larsen is an Idiot]

Thanks for turning back the clock to the roaring 20's Larsen.

You are an idiot - and you listen to his nonsense you are too.

I am 41, White, Male, College Eduacted, Professional.

I voted for Obama, and am proud that Florida went Blue and the country came to its collective senses.

This guy needs to be out of a job by COB. Start calling and emailing the Station NOW.

[mike k]

He should be fed with open wounds to hungry sharks - what a loser

[LittleBro]

Why do you advertise for this clown? He's a turd in a punch bowl trying to attract the people who are tired of Palin's kool aid and want to drink some really fetid punch. Let them go sip at his trough and shriek their nonsense. But charge him if he wants publicity.

[AC]

To BeltWay Bandit:

I'll stand with the 56 million. They'll be the ones with guns.

The other side will have dialogue and diplomacy.

[A.C.S.]

I have listened to Mark Larsen for years. Not only is he hilarious but he has the courage to say what most of us are thinking on a variety of issues. He is also a tremendous asset to the community supporting our troops with Card drives for the troops each year, collecting food for those in need, helping the boy scouts and, in addition to his "hump day" segments, also has the SPCA on each week to assist in the adoption of animals. You thought police love to jump in on one thing and twist and tear it out of context. Perhaps if you listened each day for a while, you'd understand where his politics and persona really stand.

[Steve]

I can't believe the comments I'm reading here. Are we still this touchy about race in 2008? Are we still bent out of shape over people like Mark Larsen? Why? We just elected a black president! What more has to happen to make you people happy?

If anything, we should be equally concerned about the "get back in the kitchen and pop out babies" mentality towards Sarah Palin. BTW, where is the feminist movement? Where is Kim Gandy? Where are the NAGs? Where is the outrage among women?

[Simply Redhead]

There is a double-standard to be sure.
I was critized on MY website for supporting a female v-p...I am a crossover Democrat who stuck by a WOMAN
in Gov. Palin, so I know HOW to throw
insults, we Dems do that VERY well!
Maybe it was in poor taste, but why was
there NO outrage when Ms. Plain was
hung in effigy in California?
Had THAT been Obama's image, there would
have been an international outcry!!!

[louie]

I was told by an african american friend that CHANGE stood for- Come Help A "Negro" Get Elected. He used a different word than the one I picked because he is allowed to use the word and I am not. Its funny he makes white jokes all the time. I find them funny. He also said there was a theory in the black community that Obama was going to help keep the "brothers out of jail". Larsen looks like Jeff Foxworthy. Does that mean I stereotyped Larsen as a Redneck? Hope not.

[beltwaybandit]

Let's put some perspective on this discussion.

Obama received just under 64 million votes compared to McCain's 56.4 million.

That may seem to some like a wide margin, but think of it this way: would you want to stand in between two "armies", one of 64 million soliders and the other with more than 56 million?

I doubt you'd ever notice the difference in size once they collided.

So before Obama supporters start running away as if the whole world changed dramamtically in their direction last night, keep in mind that more than 56 million Americans don't like Obama enough to vote for him.

Those 56 million are going to include those who use race as the basis for their judgements, and they represent a good sized potential group of people who will exacerabte the race discussion in this country if provoked.

The amount of people who voted AGAINST Obama last night make up roughly 19% of the total population of the U.S., a much higher percentage than the total represented by the black population.

And for you "racists" out there who complain about the "double standard", keep in mind that more than 63 million people voted for Obama.

Provoke them...like Bush has...and you're bound to get some interesting reactions.

This election was good for this country on a number of levels.

However, we should all be prepared for an extended period of increasing tensions on race and other matters.

Emotions are high and will no doubt get worse over the next four years...or more.

[Mike]

"Hope won
Hate lost"

No, Obama won.

[Mike]

"If Larsen had any guts, he'd walk though the projects in his blackface."

I'm assuming you're saying that he'd be afraid to do that, because black people have a reputation for committing violent crimes, and he'd get beaten or killed, right?