Don has the right idea in quoting Lakoff. More people should read what he has to say. "Moral Politics", "Don't Think of an Elephant", they're all easily found on search engines.

Madeleine Murray O'Hare doesn't typify the views of many atheists, today. As to the nature of what a true Christian is, this is thread creep, but to stay on subject,
the Tea Party, as Don has so rightly pointed out, is hell-bent on crude authoritarian behavior, bullying, yelling and ignoring useful facts imposing their ugly belief systems on everyone else.

Ayn Rand is a disturbed sociopathic personality reminiscent of Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan, and Scott Walker which is not just ideological but behavioral.

As to the question of racism, how could this not be an issue? The stupidest thing to do is to deny it. Obama is not as destructive as Bush was but has unfortunately carried Bush's policies forward. Suskind's book gives a good insight into what went on during Obama's first years.

Obama may not be ideal president but when you compare his qualifications to Perry, Bachmann, Mitt, or W. I think the contrast is made effectively.

Obama remains an educated thinking man unlike the ignorant Three that move to the top of the Tea Party. To say otherwise is to claim membership in a fool's club.