CNN's Roland Martin argues that Obama's big mistake was that mentioned "Bush, then McCain" then lobbed the charge that "they" would make racist attacks. Had Obama simply referred to "bloggers, columnists, conservative talk show hosts ... he would have been absolutely right," says Martin. "I can understand why [McCain's] camp is responding the way they are. I would do the exact same thing."

Actually conservative columnists, bloggers, and talk-show hosts aren't engaging in race-baiting, but Obama would have gotten away with a more general smear against Republicans--as he did last month.