This comment was originally posted on The Huffington Post. Barack Obama has pointed out he looks nothing like the pictures of presidents on our money. Strong reaction to this from McCain, that Obama had ‘played the race card’, all followed up with some fairly specious explanations from the Obama camp. “No, no. He wasn’t talking about being black, No, no, no!”

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OK, kids, can we talk?

First let's be honest, Barack DID play the race card! In the sense that he raised the perfectly reasonable point of view that honestly notices that a black man has NEVER in history even been considered for this office, let alone being put on our money.

Noticing this fact though, is informative and provocative rather than being "divisive, negative, shameful and wrong," as McCain campaign manager Rick Davis says.

It is honest and open to engage the obvious fact that race is an integral part of the American mindset and experience. It is attempting NOT to play the race card, which is to say, attempting to ignore the facts of race in America that causes so much regretful ignorance in our engagement of each other.

Well, this has just been plain silliness, so we look forward to a frank and open airing of ALL the issues of race in America, and the world, for that matter. Don't be faint of heart! There is much to discuss!

But also, dear Obama camp, please do not pretend that this is about the difference in age between Barack and the men on our money, or that it's all about him being new to Washington so he doesn't see himself in these engravings.

Please! He's intelligent, we're intelligent, you're intelligent...! No more waffling around this issue! Onward!

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"Sweet thang... When you call a 'spade a spade', stick with it!” At least we know you're coming from an honest place!