>1. >>When you're platform is based upon racial bigotry,
>Where does this come from, aside from accusations from the left?
>Ohhh... being opposed to a black socialist is equated to bigotry?
>

Good question, Michael.
One of the first senators from your state was that screaming lefty socialist, Sam Houston, a Democrat.
Before the civil war there were some repubs and some dems but after the 1870's, Texas elected socialist democrats nonstop.
Hmm.. I wonder why Texas turned socialist for almost a hundred years after the civil war?

Then, in 1961 things started to change.
Hmm, let's see.. what might have happened during the 1960's? Socialism? Maybe the civil rights movement? Hmmm.
Since the end of the Reagan years Texas has been solidly repub.
I guess Lincoln was right in the minds of Texans then, wasn't he?
Sam Houston was out in left field.

Seriously, Michael.
Race is the major historical factor here and to ignore it is to pretend that the earth is flat.