While their non racist claims seem a bit hollow (and a bit too naive to be believed) in this case, their accusal of hypocrisy toward those who decry the charicature of their Obama sock doll monkey while being silent or even supportive of the also offensive portrayals of President Bush as a monkey in many political cartoons (re: Bagley's in the Tribune), are valid.

How's bout this as a general rule. Any demeaning comparison of a person of any race to an animal of any species, is to be discouraged.

Wow, I always thought Lee Benson had a bit of common sense. I now stand corrected!

"Only if George W. Bush were a black man would this be hypocrisy..."???

The mere suggestion that you can compare a white man to an animal (in all civility - as you claim), but not a black man with the same animal, is hypocrisy at its very finest.

The comparison of a black man to a monkey historically is the very INCORRECT assumption that they were savages and no better than the beasts. What you are now telling me is that the white man has now devolved to that level, and it is OK to now make that comparison.

Mr. Benson - I would have applauded you for taking a stand against racism... However, during the process you sunk to the very level you are trying to dispell. You have joined the very elitist ranks you were attempting to decry.

Welcome to the wonderful world of hypocricy, Mr. Benson... You are not alone!

There is a big difference which they don't seem to understand. George Bush has earned his caricature by acting like a monkey while in office. He inspired it himself. The Obama caricature is based only on his race and thus is racist. Most presidents have inspired some cartoon images. Remember Nixon with a long Pinocchio (sp) nose?

While writing your criticism of the Lawsons, did you ever consider that perhaps they might be part of that percentage of the population that is beyond racism? There really is such a group, you know. If so, your own suggestion that their Obama "sock monkey" is racist only serves to perpetuate that same racism that you condemn.