Over the past few weeks, our political debate has centered on the intersection of race and gender in American politics. Clinton claims to be “proud” of Obama’s transcendence of racial discrimination, and Obama claims to be proud of Clinton’s success in shattering the glass ceiling. And both campaigns have instrumentally used race and gender, both publicly and deceitfully, to smear their opponents.

Journalists, commentators, and public figures have contributed to this debate, at times stirring feminist or African-American solidarity and, at other times, commending a nation that seems, perhaps, finally colorblind and egalitarian. “Women Are Never Front-Runners,” wrote Gloria Steinem, in an attempt to explain the importance of female support for Hillary Clinton. Chris Rock, opening for Obama at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, warned the audience not to waste their votes on “that white lady.” Others still use this contest between a black man and a female front-runner as evidence of our progress as a nation.

Are we left with the realization that we are still racist? Still sexist? Or are we left with the warm feeling that we are somehow less sexist and less racist than ever before? Perhaps this is the most dangerous of all the assumptions. Noticeably absent from the Race/Gender debate over the past few weeks has been a discussion of the anti-Muslim, anti-Arab sentiment that has played a significant role in the formation of our voters’ choices.

It is clear that Obama’s enemies have worked to highlight, rather than debunk, the myths about Obama’s madrasa education, swearing in on the Koran, and terrorist leanings. In Nevada, voters received anonymous robo-calls that stated Obama’s full name–”Barack Hussein Obama”–as many times as possible in thirty seconds. Mitt Romney, campaigning in Greenwood, SC in October, referred to Barack Obama’s call for a radical jihadist movement in Iraq. The tape on Mitt’s mind, of course, was actually recorded by one Osama bin Laden. Freudian slip? And the nonsense hasn’t been limited to Obama’s outspoken opponents. Nearly one year ago, CNN flashed the caption “Where’s Obama?” during a story on (obviously) Osama bin Laden. Even the flagrantly-liberal Ted Kennedy had his Oba/Osama moment.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APx2YJ-_jos]

If these comments and concerted efforts to portray Obama as anti-American were limited to public “mistakes,” it’d be one thing. But the anti-Muslim, anti-Arab rhetoric inherent in these discussions of Barack Obama have trickled down to us common folk. Since I first started canvassing for Obama in New Hampshire in September, I’ve fielded questions about Obama’s Muslim education, religious affiliation, his swearing in ceremony, his behavior during the Pledge of Allegiance, and his patriotism. As an Obama volunteer and principled person, I find myself extremely conflicted when these questions arise.

For example, when asked, “Is Barack Obama one of those Muslims?!” I know that it’s in the campaign’s best interest for me to shake my head and say, politely, “No, ma’am, Barack Obama is a practicing member of the United Church of Christ.” But I find it difficult to resist the temptation to use this interaction as a teachable moment with the response, “Would it matter if he was?” Earlier in the Fall, after Obama-haters spread the myth that Obama refused to place his hand over his heart during the Pledge, New Hampshire voters were eager to determine whether or not the Senator was enough of a patriot. I was forced to suppress my urge to say, “Pledge, Shmedge,” and embark on a lengthy explanation in which I debunked this myth, noted that Obama’s grandfather served in WWII, and insisted that only a patriot would undertake Obama’s lifelong commitment to public service.

So, here’s the thing. Race, gender, age, and experience aside, this campaign has taught us a valuable lesson: we are still totally racist. Even as we condemn the Bush administration’s use of nationalist rhetoric and failed war, we have preserved the fear that has been carefully instilled in us over the past 8 years.

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