Barack is to Race what NeoCons are to the Middle East?

The critical reaction to Obama's speech by many of the punditocracy expresses their skepticism about whether working class whites will accept Obama's nuanced attempts to bridge the racial divide. The consensus seems to be that Obama is expecting too much from these people and they will most likely reject his perspective and embrace the more traditional and comfortable John McCain.

Idealistic liberals bemoan this conservative skepticism but should they be so quick to criticize? Liberals love to remind the neoconservatives of their naive belief that the Iraqi people could rise above sectarian grievances because of the irresistible allure of freedom and democracy. That gamble has failed, will Obama's?

If Obama fails on the race issue will we be forced to embrace a pessimistic skepticism for all issues foreign and domestic?

I hope not.