This is a very well-composed and original take on the cultural implications of Barack Obama's bid for president, but the story is seriously degraded by the last two paragraphs. The author makes an unnecessary and indefensible dig at the subject of the story, Ohio resident Jim Peterman, speculating that he is so set in his beliefs that he could not be led to dismiss the false rumors about Obama that circulate in his town. That sort of conjecture lacks journalistic integrity and doesn't belong in the pages of the Washington Post. A horrible way to wrap up an otherwise solid story.

Very anecdotal, zeroing in on one street. The view that it gives is useful, but it's not exactly the big picture. Yet, the story of how and why people latch onto false beliefs is the one not told enough.

This was a rather compelling article. It shows pretty clearly the problem that Obama is having, and will continue to have, with small-town Americans. While it focused entirely on a few residents in one small town in Ohio, it's clear that this problem is not contained merely to this area. At times, it seemed that the author was trying to paint the people in this town as small-minded or somewhat racist, but it was, sadly, truthful and I don't think the residents of this town would find his article offensive in the least.

This article is frightening. It begs the question, does any american read a newspaper and believe in their reporters anymore. I am an Australian, and I am so perplexed by the seeming ignorance of people. This phrase used by media - 'the folks are still getting to know Obama and what he stands for', and other such nonsense phrases. If the american people do not know the who, what, why and where by now, they never will.