To those who would make those paper-thin arguments, understand one thing:

Baker didn't lose his job because of his beliefs on race. In his off hours, he could prance around his home in a Klansman's robe for all anyone cares.

Racism alone didn't bring Baker down. Stupidity did. And not just your everyday brand of stupidity. I'm talking STUPIDITY.

I can't wait for the excuse distinguished newsman Dan Rather will give to explain why he even dreamed of putting the words "President Obama" "articulate" and "watermelons" in the same sentence during an interview this week.

He might fall back on the old "I was under the affects of medication routine" or he could just say he was tired from travel and was talking off the top of his head.

One excuse Rather can't use, though, is the old "I was misquoted" line, because his comment about Obama is there on the Internet for the whole world to read. Appearing on the Chris Matthews show this week, the veteran CBS reporter said of the President:

There is always something a little sad at the end of a sporting event, when a team that is hopelessly behind its opponent has the ball and absolutely no chance of victory.

They go through the motion of playing the game for a win, but everyone in the stands knows they are just running out the clock until the contest is officially over.

That is the unfortunate position New York's first black governor David Paterson finds himself in these days. He has already announced that he won't seek election to his own full term as governor, but he won't allow himself to suffer the shame of walking out on his term before it is complete.