so either position where, it can be perceived that your actions are race-baiting or trying to generation a discussion on race unnecessarily is not good, smart politics. >> but michael, aren't they already in that place? they made these welfare ads, which they have released numerous ads about welfare. they have, you know, mitt romney's line about birthers, saying the president needs to learn to be an american. another ad that he ran basically saying that the president is taking money away from medicare recipients and giving it to other people. aren't they already engaging in these racial politics because they think it's effective? >> no, i don't -- i'm just not prepared to go that far. look, john came out and made clear that they made a mistake there and got that, okay? the reality is, i'm not trying to explain away anything here, but what i'm telling you is that looking at the welfare piece,