FOXNews Sunday host Chris Wallace is shocked (shocked, I tell you!) that the GOP tactic of tying local candidates to Rev. Wright via Barack Obama could possibly be considered race-baiting.

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Dean: Chris, the Republicans…for the last 30 years, the Republican (play)book has been to race bait and to use hate and divisiveness. In 2006, the American people said no to that; I think they’re going to say no to that in 2008. It is true that the economy, the war and healthcare are more important to the American people. They are tired of the divisiveness of what the Republicans have done to them. And that’s why the Republicans are in trouble. Deep trouble. Another four years of George Bush is not what we need…

Wallace: Governor, are you suggesting that bringing up Jeremiah Wright is “race-baiting” and hate and divisive?

Dean: Yeah, I am suggesting that kind of stuff. I think when you start bringing up candidates that have nothing to do with the issues…uh when you start bringing up things that have nothing to do with the candidate, nothing to do with the issues, that’s race-baiting. And that’s exactly what it is. Just like Willie Horton was race-baiting so many years ago. I think we’re going to take…we’re going to turn the page on this stuff. I’ll tell you, there’s a lot of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats on issues, but the biggest issue of all is we don’t use this kind of stuff. We never have used this kind of stuff and we’re not going to start now. America is more important than the Republican party and that’s the lesson the voters are about to teach the Republicans.

Let's see, once again as Bill Moyers points out, what Wright has said is no more outrageous than Hagee, et al., yet Wright's words have been the subject of a non-stop media barrage and GOP smear ads. Hmm....what could be the difference between those conservative Christian leaders and Jeremiah Wright? You really can't imagine why that could be considered race-baiting, Chris?

Of course, when you're on the wrong end of every issue that Americans find important and you've got a record of massive scandal and incompetence, the only vestige you have left is appealing to the basest instincts of the American voter.