Palin plays on our worst prejudices

As we struggle to escape the grip of our nation's worst economic crisis since the great depression, many say we could have averted disaster if only we had paid attention to the signs along the way.

My friends, Sarah Palin is another one of those signs we cannot afford to ignore.

If we do, she will lead us to relive another dark period in American history, a time when Sen. Joseph McCarthy preyed on Americans' worst fears and prejudices, and used guilt by association to destroy his enemies' careers and lives. Taking a page from McCarthy's playbook, Palin at a recent campaign rally accused Obama of "palling around with terrorists" because of his association with a former 1960s radical-turned-Chicago-professor. The crowd responded by chanting, "Obama is a terrorist."

It is only a matter of time until Palin tattoos Obama with a scarlet "T." During the vice presidential debate, Palin promised Americans that she and John McCain would fight for the middle class and families like ours. Translation: If you are not white, our kind of Christian and heterosexual. there's no room at the inn.

Sheryl Jedlinski

Palatine