When I was asked to cover a regular beat on race and the current political cycle I expressed my hope that I wouldn't have enough to cover on a regular basis. Well, that dream died quickly.

Now, I don't really need to call the racial po-po out on McCain supporter Grover Nordquist's behind for calling Obama "John Kerry with a tan" 'cause that ish is obvious in its racism. Fo shizzle.

Now, would that be "talking black" or perhaps "talking white" since those slang terms, if not completely played out, have certainly gained currency amongst white hipsters who do stuff like watch The Wire. But, aw dayum, black folks like The Wire, too. If only we had clear racial boundaries, definitions and cultural signifiers or at the very least, someone to interpret and translate such things.

Well golly and gosh, Ralph Nader to the rescue who informs us that Senator Barack Obama is trying to "talk white" and appeal to "white guilt".

"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American," Nader said. "Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson?"

"He wants to show that he is not a threatening . . . another politically threatening African-American politician," Nader said. "He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically he's coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it's corporate or whether it's simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up."

In other words, Nader presumes to know not only that there is such a distinction but also what the definition is for black vs. white speech and that there is a standard of blackness (or, oddly, lack thereof) that can be used to lay a guilt trip on defenseless white people. Nader also instructs Obama on how to be black:

"I mean, first of all, the number one thing that a black American politician aspiring to the presidency should be is to candidly describe the plight of the poor, especially in the inner cities and the rural areas, and have a very detailed platform about how the poor is going to be defended by the law, is going to be protected by the law, and is going to be liberated by the law," Nader said. "Haven't heard a thing."

Somebody please tell John Edwards that he missed his opportunity to become the real first black president. If only he had claimed he is black in addition to offering a poverty platform, Edwards would be rolling towards 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. on some 24 inch rims, no doubt.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is relieved to learn that he is not black:

In fact, judging by these standards--which apparently require you to fall somewhere between Maulana Karenga and Jesse Jackson--there are roughly 317 black people in America. All of them live in the projects. All of them earn their keep by making white people feel bad.

This is such a relief. Now, without any guilt, I can finally get to those keg parties, cucumber sandwiches, and most importantly, white women. Wait, if I were a black man, I'd still be chasing white women...Hmmm, seems there are still some kinks to work out...

Latoya Peterson at Racialicious points out that the notion that "certain agendas are tied to whiteness and certain agendas are tied to blackness" is offensive.

And I love that last bit - plight of the poor, inner cities and rural areas are the specific area of black American politicians. Who needs to talk about white stuff like healthcare, Iraq, the economy? Obviously, we missed the memo that Barack is running for President of Blackville, USA.

Nader reinforces that notion in his response to Obama's response to Nader's initial remarks:

"And it's clear from Sen. Obama's campaign that he is not willing to tackle the white power structure,' he said, "whether in the form of the corporate power structure or many of the super-rich -- who are taking advantage of 100 million low-income Americans who are suffering in poverty or near poverty."

Um, last I heard Ralph, low-income Americans suffering from poverty included people of all races. When I wrote about "desperation lending" last year, there were people profiled in the links who are Native American, black, white, Latino - a veritable rainbow of poverty! Congress granted payday loan curbs to protect members of the military who are targeted by this industry. Why then is Nader not calling out John McCain for not sufficiently talking about a poverty agenda?

And speaking of un-equal opportunity calling out... why is Nader not calling himself out for not defining and being sufficiently focused on an Arab-American agenda as some commenters have noted?

The problem ultimately with Nader's attention seeking remarks is, as Carmen Van Kerckhove, blogging for CNN, explains:

Noticing a person’s race doesn’t make you racist. What does make you racist is if you make assumptions about that person’s intellectual, physical, or emotional characteristics based on the race you think the person is.

And Nader is not the only white guy making pronouncements on the unacceptable state of Obama's blackness. Based on a new television ad which shows Obama's roots (raised by a white mother and white grandparents) "Washington Post Congressional Reporter Jonathan Weisman said that Barack Obama is 'much more white than black.'"

Johnathan, dnA at Jack and Jill Politics has a news flash for you: Black People Not Actually All Alike.

Possibly a more legitimate racial criticism of Obama are complaints that his campaign is not doing a strong job of reaching out to Latino leaders and voters.

But certainly the most disturbing race and politics news this week is that "3 in 10 Americans admit to racial bias" in voting. The scary thing is that anyone versed in survey methodology will know that the actual number is likely higher as many who hold such feelings will not openly admit them to pollsters. And racist hate groups are using those feelings to fuel their campaigns. Watch the video from the The Southern Poverty Law Center in conjunction with the National Council of La Raza that Marisa Treviño shares at Latina Lista which details the hate groups behind the formation and funding of many of the active anti-immigrant groups operating today. Also, Jill Tubman at Jack and Jill Politics points out that white supremacists are using Obama's candidacy to increase their membership:

"I haven't seen this much anger in a long, long time," Billy Roper, a 36-year-old who runs a group called White Revolution in Russellville, Arkansas, told The Washington Post. "Nothing has awakened normally complacent white Americans more than the prospect of America having an overtly non-white president."

Sigh. People, I beg of you, give me nothing to talk about next week. Thank you in advance.

I leave you with a few more bloghers on the Nader comments:

Rachel Sklar at The Huffington Post wonders Ralph Nader, Who Asked You?

Yes, there's much that Nader could have done to draw attention to poverty issues — like be right. As it happens, Obama does have poverty positions — see here, subdivided for urban and rural areas. But that's actually not even the point. The point is, he lost any and all credibility the instant he dragged race into it, impugning not only Obama's worth as a black candidate but his "blackness" — an old and tired argument that I'd hoped we'd done away with a year ago. I mean, sheesh.

Jasmyne Cannick On Nader and Obama "Talking White"

Obama can’t be the Black president if he expects to win, he knows that and Nader knows that. But what Obama can do is champion a platform that reaches out to all poor and working class peoples, which most certainly includes Blacks. For example, the cost of food, gas, and housing affects more than just Blacks. Our jails are filled with Black men and women, but they’re also filled with Latinos as well. You get the point.

Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist on Ralph Nader claims Obama talking "too white"

Since Nader is now the expert on what is "really black," I wonder why it's ok for him to be educated and successful but not ok for Barack Obama. I can only wonder what would make Obama acceptable to Nader. Would Obama have to fit Ralph Nader's stereotype of a black person? As a member of a successful interracial, interfaith family I was appalled by his remarks. I think we need to do all we can to create an inclusive culture in the US and in the world.

Mailie La Zarr at Sky Star thinks Nader is right to call on Obama to challenge the white establishment

Nader is right: Obama needs to challenge the sacred cows in Washington – the white power structure, as Nader says. That is the change that American voters are hoping for – a Washington, DC that responds to the necessities of the American people rather than those funding corporate-government candidates. Listen to Nader and a landslide is Obama’s; don’t listen and join Dukakis, Gore and Kerry in losing to weak Republican candidates who should have been easily defeated.

BlogHer CE Maria Niles sometimes writes about race and politics at her blog PopConsumer.