THE LIN CON

Reader Sally Denton thinks we may have misunderestimated the similarities between Lincoln and Obama and offers two stunning examples from speeches given by Lincoln barely two months apart but in dramatically differents parts of the country:

Let us discard all this quibbling about this man and the other man, this race and that race and the other race being inferior, and therefore they must be placed in an inferior position. Let us discard all these things, and unite as one people throughout his land, until we shall once more stand up declaring that all men are created equal. Lincoln, Chicago July 10, 1858

I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people...and inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. Lincoln, Charleston Sept. 18, 1858