Debates over immigration reform (to take but one example) are derided as polarizing. Commentators deride the lack of civil discourse in our political speech-especially if articulated by Republicans or tea partiers (who are derided as bitter and greedy, and otherwise disparaged in Menckian terms). Yet Barack Obama who preached unity a few short years ago:"Even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us--the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of 'anything goes.' Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America--there is the United States of America. There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America--there's the United States of America."--state senator Barack Obama , Democratic National Convention, July 27, 2004Not only has ditched that soundbite::"In the video message to his supporters, [President] Obama said his administration's success depends on the...(Read Full Post)