The New Republic's "The Plank," blog of the contrarian liberal magazine that hates blogs, takes a little break from accusing Kos of setting the Reichstag on fire to, uh, well, this:

OBAMA -- WHITE MEN CAN'T CLAP:

Barack Obama says:

"Nothing is more transparent than inauthentic expressions of faith: the politician who shows up at a black church around election time and claps--off rhythm--to the gospel choir."

So, white men have no rhythm, eh? Tell that to this guy. Man, it's cruel stereotypes like these that are keeping my peeps down..

Yes, that is the single whitest thing you will read today. Also, yes, it is completely serious. Michael Crowley expands on his point in the comments, saying he was "tempted to devote an entire item on this" and talking about "swing" and the relative "grooviness" of Charlie Watts vs. Stewart Copeland.

All in principled objection to the seemingly casual -- and COMPLETELY TRUE -- observation that most white people clap on one and three. In fact, we are willing to bet good money that most of the staff of the New Republic claps on one and three.

Oh, and yeah, Senator Obama doesn't actually mention white people. But you knew that.

OBAMA--WHITE MEN CAN'T CLAP: [The Plank]