Rush Limbaugh, that champion of political hysteria, has suggested that Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama was determined by the fact that both men are African American.

I wonder if he offered a racial criterion for the endorsement of Obama by the other Republicans, Christopher Buckley, an editor at the National Review and son of the conservative icon William Buckley, and Scott McClelland, George Bush’s former press secretary. Both men are of the Anglo-Saxon persuasion.

I try not to pay too much attention to Mr. Limbaugh and do not suggest that he is a racist. I don’t know him so I have no idea of what is in his heart…and what motivates his hates and fears. I do know that on air he caters to the fears of a substantial number of white Americans, particularly white men.

I have run into several men who have made it clear that they are voting against Barack Obama…not voting for John McCain. No one is enchanted with Senator McCain, his campaign being a disaster and the dissolving of his past reputation. The maverick has become a political marshmallow, Mr. Magoo on the campaign trail.

These acolytes of Limbaugh and Limbaugh-thinking fall into several different categories. There are a small number of out-and-out racists but the larger group which claims that Obama means socialism and that “we don’t know enough about him” denies that race is a factor in their political decision. Denial is more than a river in Egypt doncha know.

Considering the atrocious stats of the Republican Party and the Bush-McCain policies of the last eight years, most of these guys have absolutely no reason to vote for John McCain – other than Obama’s skin pigmentation. I am of the opinion that if any other Democrat…a white male, was running that he would be ahead in the polls by 25%. Obama, according to the latest polls, depending on which one you believe, is up by about 8 – 10%. But when you 3examine the numbers, you discover that among white Americans – there is a 50-50 division. It becomes clear that the turnout of African-Americans and Hispanic voters will provide the margin of victory for the first serious African-American candidate for President.

These white guys who insist that race is not a factor will tell you of Black friends and colleagues at work. They truly believe that race is not an issue. What they do know, if pushed in discussion, is that being a white male in this country has always had entitlement, entrée to places, opportunities to reach the heights. Any viewing of the business section of the NY Times will show pages of CEO’s and Boards of Directors, the most financially successful men in America…the power brokers, overwhelmingly white males…and with that goes an abundance of privilege. Look at the men hurting most visibly during the collapse of Wall Street. Isn’t that an irony?

There are thousands of Joes - the Plumber who grew up dreaming about being a player…and their entrée into that select circle has always been based on gender and color. For many, the unrealized and unstated aspect of the Obama candidacy is that it is perceived as an erosion of white male privilege. Add to that the ascension of women into the corridor of power – economic and political – and there is a threatening trend for men who feel that their potential has not been achieved.

Political pundits like Rush Limbaugh recognize this and play to that fear. At some point some someone has to shout that testicles and skin pigmentation are NOT the major qualities for being a CEO or a President…though there is a prevailing sentiment that the brain is an appendage of the scrotum.

We need some new talk about race and racism. The Bull Connors and Strom Thurmonds of a past era are not a real factor. Oh, their prototypes still exist – but they are on the lunatic fringe. Much more to the point in George Bush’s America is to suggest that color and gender are not the obstacles for success and self-realization. The Robber Barons of today - the Wall Street manipulators that have taken the country down a frightening path - have been the enemy of Plumber Joe…and they engage and sponsor opportunists like Rush Limbaugh to spread fear. We need a new dialogue and a new perspective to reach the frightened men of America who because of their macho irrationality, can never own up to their fears.

Remember John Rocker? The baseball pitcher (from ) who lamented about a trip on the New York subways, where different languages and cultures were exposed. His distaste for and fear of the cultural and ethnic mix lead him right out of major league baseball. He was frightened of people who didn’t look exactly like him…the fear of the different.

That’s what Rush Limbaugh recognizes…the fears. And he exploits it, silly little man that he is. Well not little but certainly silly and also dangerous to a democracy.

Amidst economic collapse, years ago, FDR told Americans that the only thing they had to fear was fear itself. We would be wise to listen more closely to the sentiments of FDR…and as for Rush Limbaugh who sells fear, you always have the opportunity to turn him off.

I’m David Rothenberg…out on a limb.