Waechter's column derogatory

Calling someone, President George W. Bush or anyone else, a "rich white man" or a "racist," or even "a rich white man who is a racist," may be wrong, and it may even be wrong in some morally blameworthy way (it may also be a correct and morally praiseworthy thing to say). But it is not an act of racism or bigotry. On the other hand, talk about "miserly Jews" or "drug-snorting coloreds" is racism and bigotry. \nIt is disturbing that young Neil Waechter, in his ill-conceived column of Feb. 11 ("Criticize policies, not character flaws"), failed to understand the difference, and that he placed on par malicious ethnic or racial stereotyping and criticisms of particular public officials. Even more disturbing is the fact that he would articulate such racist statements -- even if only "hypothetically" -- in order to gain shock value. \nWhether or not George W. Bush is a racist or his policies are racist is a matter of legitimate public disagreement. Whether or not to be a Jew is to be a miser or to be an African-American is to be a crack addict is not a matter of legitimate public disagreement. It is deeply offensive that young Waechter would fail to see this, and that he would invoke vicious stereotypes in order to make a foolish debater's point.