As the political season develops and Barak Obama’s star rises, I am encountering people willing to vote for a white man for president but not for a black man.

The reluctant ones are greatly outnumbered, but their number is not so small that they can, or should, be ignored. So far no one has bluntly said race is the obstacle or used any ugly words, but the message is clear. Sometimes the person is a little startled by the idea but quickly buttons down and changes the subject. Other times I hear muffled anger in the person’s voice followed by disapproval of someone who supports Obama, such as Tom Allen.

How should a person respond in such a situation? I have a few ideas, and they are below. I'll add to them as new ones occur to me. Also I'd like anyone reading this to weigh in. Add suggestions or react to mine.

First suggestion: Say nothing. This is the first response of most Mainers, who are usually polite and restrained folks. Silence is not an altogether bad idea. After all, sex, religion and politics are touchy subjects. The problem is it goes nowhere.

Second suggestion: Rebuke the other person. This is a bad idea. If you ever hoped to bring him around, a reproach will send him into the bunker where he will start shooting back. And you will look like a zealous college freshman out to right all wrongs before lunch. This idea is worse than the first one. It isn't just unproductive; it will set the whole business back at least a decade.

Third suggestion: Enroll the senator in the South Boston Hibernian Society and change his name to Barry O’Bama. That’s ridiculous and it will offend everyone. (So what's wrong with a little comic relief?)

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