Feel free to cite an example of me doing any of the things you allege (not that I have ever gone around quoting every obscure talk show host, but since I have been out of the States for a year you will probably have to go farther back than that.) Isaac did dig up one of my quotations of Lee Atwater describing how the GOP developed the Southern Strategy to such great effect in the '60s and evolved it over the next two decades so it remained effective, but that is hardly "something some aid to a senator supposedly said." It is a well documented statement by the former RNC Chairman who ran Bush 41s election campaign, during which he successfully tried to "make Willie Horton [Dukakis'] running mate." I am grateful Atwater finally had the grace and honesty to regret that and admit "it makes me sound racist" (even if it took an imminent meeting with his Maker to convince him,) but disappointed you apparently feel politically obligated to pretend it never happened, or does not matter if it did. Perhaps that is the greatest reason not to even momentarily indulge hatred as a leader: Because even when a leader subsequently admits and repudiates the momentary hatred many of his followers will still consider it acceptable.

Bottom line is that when a groups leaders spew that filth and the group applauds and shouts for more, yes, it implicates the group. That, and that I have been expecting OWS to get ugly for many of the reasons the Tea Party often has (which have nothing to do with politics and everything to do with character and humanity,) is why I have tried to keep my distance from OWS: I anticipate the leaders and/or much of the members of OWS doing something reprehensible and do not want to lend any support to it. I sympathize with many (though not all) of their GOALS, but virtually none of their tactics. In that respect, your blanket criticism of OWS has merit: When people who are not violent anarchists join those who are at rallies led by those who are, they group themselves with violent anarchist and risk receiving the same response. It is nigh impossible for a cop with blood streaming into his eyes from a thrown rock to tell the difference between the peaceful protester and the violent rock throwing radical standing beside him; they all get tear gassed and thrown in the paddy wagon together, for good reason.