I had some small comfort that the election of Barack Obama proved once and for all that the United States had moved past prejudice, overcome the legacy of Jim Crow and was at last a post–racial society. 

Mainstream media loved him. The votes of white people elected him. Major corporations leaped on his bandwagon. Pepsi even changed its logo, so now my favorite soft drink is Wild Changey Diet Obama! 

Naively, I assumed eagle–eyed civil rights bean–counters would be satisfied: now they have a black man in the White House and fewer blacks in the big house. 

Now I learn the election of Obama is just the latest in a series of ruses by conservative bigots designed to set civil rights back and cause “progressives” to relax on their march toward a brighter future. 

A new book, “Between Barack and a Hard Place” warns of the blossoming of “Racism 2.0, which allows whites to celebrate the achievements of an individual such as Obama while harboring deep prejudice toward minorities as a whole.” Presumably while claiming “some of my best Presidents are black.” 

A University of Washington psychologist warns that a survey of 74 “predominately liberal” college students discovered the students perceived a definite goal in racial progress had been achieved and support for equal–opportunity policies showed “steep declines” after the election. 

Even more horrifying for “progressives” she found the students had a stronger belief in the “Protestant work ethic” that anything is possible with hard work. 

Fortunately racial warhorses like U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder are in a position to remind us what a backsliding bunch of bigots we remain. Earlier this year, Holder requested a significant increase in his civil rights division budget so he can bring more discrimination cases, hire more people to generate the cases and broaden the scope of the office. 

And after the Supreme Court failed to overturn the Voting Rights Act, Holder proclaimed, "As a nation, we have made great strides in advancing and protecting civil rights… But there is still more work to be done to fulfill the promise of full voting rights, free from discrimination, for all Americans."

Let’s put this in perspective, 44 years after the Voting Rights Acts was passed and seven months after the first black man was elected President, Holder wants to redouble his efforts to harpoon the white whale. 

This is like the Navy and the Marines demanding to keep every WWII ship and Marine in the Pacific up to and beyond 1985, to chase down the handful of pathetic Japanese troops still holding out on remote, isolated islands — dressed in coconut husk uniforms, hiding in caves, awaiting orders from the Emperor. 

Now the Federal Trade Commission is about to bring the full weight and majesty of the federal government to bear on bloggers who review consumer products. 

But before the FTC goes after work–from–home entrepreneurs, I suggest it start closer to home and go after the Obama campaign for “bait and switch.” 

Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic, entertaining and funny keynote speaker for corporate, non–profit and governmental organizations.