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Richard Wolffe: Hi. This is Richard Wolffe, ready to take your questions on our Barack Obama cover story: Black & White.

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Poughkeepsie, NY: I am an educated middle-class African-American that grew up in lower-middle class, predominately black neighborhood with a single parent. Because of my education, there are African-Americans that I grew up with who would consider me not to be black enough. My question is this: What does it mean to be black in America? Don’t get me wrong, I am not confused about my African-American roots-I embrace the positive aspect of black culture whole-heartedly. I just would like to know what people mean by black enough.

Richard Wolffe: That's a great question. Michelle Obama made the same point in the cover story: there's an ongoing debate within the African-American community about what it means to be black, and about representations of African-American identity. Obama himself has no confusion about who he is; she says the rest of us are having our assumptions challenged. And that's a healthy debate.

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Nashville, TN: I have seen a number of interpretations for the difference between Barack Obama's poll numbers and his fundraising numbers. Most of the interpretations go back to Howard Dean. Why isn't more consideration given to the notion that he is doing quite well with independents and disaffected republicans because of his less partisan message and that if he took a more partisan or attacking stance in order to appeal to democratic primary voters (like Clinton and Edwards), he would be viewed as "an angry black man" and lose most of his general appeal? I think that is the dilemma for his campaign.

Richard Wolffe: Well I think the poll numbers are mostly meaningless right now, at least on the national level. They are more of an indication of name-recognition than voters' judgments. Having said that, I don't believe Obama is avoiding partisan attacks because of concerns about racial stereotyping. That's just his style and his politics: consensus.

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Greenville, SC: Do you think that America is ready for a black man and a woman to jointly run this country?

Richard Wolffe: Two answers. One, our polling says yes. Two, depends on who the candidates are. Nobody votes for a generic man or woman.

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Thomasville, GA: What is the Senator's opinion of the 'old guard' race-baiting black "leaders" such as Sharpton and Jackson?

Richard Wolffe: I think he'd strongly dispute your characterization of the older generation. As for his personal style, he doesn't believe you get much done by shouting 'racism' - at least, that's what he told me.

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Orange, CA Given the current supreme court ruling. What plan does Obama have for equal education in America beyond the five second sound bite?

Richard Wolffe: Well his statement on the supreme court ruling was longer than that. Remember he was a constitutional law lecturer. Take a look at his website. He's a strong supporter of racially diverse public schools.

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Arlington, VA: Can you provide more of Cornel West's comments to provide proper context?

Richard Wolffe: I think we did provide proper context. But don't take my word for it. Take a look at his comments on YouTube.

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Union City, CA: I thank Newsweek for diving into this level of racial justice inquiry with Sen. Obama. Why are racial justice questions at this level not asked of Clinton, Giuliani, Edwards, or McCain? It is the epitome of white privilege that they do not even have to talk about the issue.

Richard Wolffe: Glad you liked the piece. I think all candidates should talk about race in America. But Obama represents a special case, don't you think?

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Harrisburg, PA: Even though Barack has raised more money than Hillary Clinton so far, he has not made much of a stride in the polls. He is substantially behind the front runner Hillary Clinton by at least 20 points in some polls. Hillary Clinton may have some advantage in the black community because of President Clinton plus she is a tested candidate. That given, do you think Barack has the potential to make it all the way to the presidency?

Richard Wolffe: Ask John McCain what a 20-point lead looks like. That's what he used to have not so long ago. Then take a look at the state-by-state polls. Iowa is a three-way statistical dead heat. South Carolina has Clinton up one week, then Obama up the next. In New Hampshire the Clinton lead is in the teens. It's way too early to know where voters are headed.

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Honolulu, HI: Do you think Obama would consider splitting the ticket with Clinton?

Richard Wolffe: I think he's running for the top job.

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Adrian, MI: Why is our FREE country so caught up in race or gender why aren't we more concerned with their views and qualifications?

Richard Wolffe: They're not mutually exclusive. We cover both at Newsweek.

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Brooklyn, NY: A black man running for president is a giant elephant in the room. Race should no longer be an issue in politics (and ostensibly it isn't), but something about the Obama candidacy seems simultaneously frightening yet embraceable to the American public. Having followed his campaign, can you explain that at all?

Richard Wolffe: That's what we tried to do in the cover story. I don't get the sense that people think he's "frightening" though. But race is an emotionally fraught subject in America. After 43 white male presidents, Obama is the first major African-American candidate on the presidential stage. We thought that was worth exploring in some detail.

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Newark, NJ: According to the Department of Justice, 30% of black men are destined for jail. Two questions: How can you ever have effective gun control when unregulated, illicit drug markets will continue to flourish in neighborhoods devoid of legitimate employment opportunity whose absence also is a byproduct of drug mafia violence? How do you eliminate illegal markets without either locking up so many black men (and not just black men, that's just the worst statistic) OR locking up some of the 80 million Americans who have ever used drugs, mostly without destroying themselves?

Richard Wolffe: That's a question for a cover story on the war on drugs.

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Simsbury, CT: I want the change that Obama can offer -- what I would like to see is more substance and not so much tentativeness in picking words. I know it's there, when do you think he'll start revealing it?

Richard Wolffe: You make two points. One is about policy substance. There's plenty of it - go to his website to see his recent policy speeches on energy, foreign policy, healthcare etc. It's also worth comparing them to other candidates. (Clinton hasn't offered up any details of her healthcare package beyond wanting to control costs - yet she doesn't get hit with the same point about substance. Interesting, no?) Obama's tentativeness is interesting. He does hesitate in interviews, as he picks out his words. I think he approaches these sessions trying to think what the transcript will look like. He's trying to be thoughtful, but it comes across as hesitant.

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Danville, KY: I want to know if Obama can help America break the classification of its citizens. I want to know if he can forever erase black, white, latino, asian from history and have American citizens just call each other Americans. I feel our divide is because of racial classification and I know he faces that every day, since he's from a mixed family. Thanks.

Richard Wolffe: That's a tall order. He has certainly opened up the debate, since his 2004 convention speech. Can he forever erase racial lines? I seriously doubt it.

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Chicago, IL: America tends to have the drive of a new dieter. The first few weeks we're full of enthusiasm, and the next we've forgotten all about it. How does Senator Obama intend to maintain his momentum through election day?

Richard Wolffe: He looks pretty trim to me. I think his money keeps his campaign going through Super Tuesday. He's certainly got the appetite for it. Or should that be stomach?

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Thomasville, GA: Does Senator Obama have a problem with being called black, as he has a white mother?

Richard Wolffe: No, he doesn't. But his first book goes into this subject in great detail. You should read it.

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Land O Lakes, FL: If diversity is a mixture then the real question should be 'Do we have a sufficiently diversified voting population to elect a biracial candidate?'

Richard Wolffe: But can you fit that on a bumper sticker? Obama thinks he appeals to people because of his position on the issues and on politics in general. Not because of the racial identities of voters or candidates.

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Silver Spring, MD: I can't wait to read the article on whether Hillary, Joe, John and Chris are white enough. And "Is Hillary woman enough?" would be good, too.

Richard Wolffe: Is she? I think that's a great idea, by the way. Hillary Clinton has long posed a challenge to accepted ideas of what women should do in society. Remember those cookies? I'll suggest it to our Clinton reporter. By the way, I think we know that being white is no problem if you're running for president.

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Granville, OH: Does Senator Obama have any openly gay or lesbian people on his campaign staff? Will he consider appointing any qualified openly gay/lesbian/ transgendered people to his cabinet?

Richard Wolffe: Good question. I don't know. On the campaign trail, he certainly mentions that his crowds are diverse - including gay supporters.

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Washington, DC: It is unfortunate that you reported on the continuing "rift" between Senator Obama and his pastor. The pastor recorded the Senator's introduction at the UCC annual conference this year, and he issued a scathing response to the NY Times reporter who wrote the story of the "rift." Since the media is addressing race, why do you not mention that NH and IA are two of the five least diverse states in the country, but they are hugely important in a national election? Many Americans, particularly minorities, probably are not aware that both states have less than a 1% Black population, but I'm sure they would want to know in weighing their importance on their vote as the media continues to do.

Richard Wolffe: That's two questions in one. First we reported Obama's account of the "rift". As I recall, the pastor's response to the New York Times was more about the reporter's style than the details of the account. We tried repeatedly to talk to Rev. Wright, but his staff declined our requests unless we signed legal papers agreeing to his terms. We don't do that at Newsweek.

As for the lack of diversity in NH and IA, I agree. That's why the early primary in South Carolina is such a good idea. Also remember that the early primaries in California and Florida have changed the landscape considerably.

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Flint, MI: Why does Obama think he is more qualified than his more seasoned counterparts like Chris Dodd and Joe Biden, who have been involved in the government for over 50 years collectively, when he will have been in the Senate for 4 years (technically only 2 years because this year and next are spent running for president) by the time elections roll around in 2008.

Richard Wolffe: No question he's a restless guy. But he would challenge the notion that he lacks experience. In his view, that means you only get experience in Washington (whereas, he has experience in Illinois and Chicago). My take, for what it's worth: there's no real experience that can prepare you for the job of president. Not even vice-president. What matters are judgment and character. Does Hillary Clinton's character make her a viable candidate, or is it her time as first lady? If it's the latter, then why isn't Laura Bush a viable candidate?

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Milwaukee, WI: Richard: Enjoy your daily insights on MSNBC every evening with Keith Obermann. In my opinion, not being qualified enough to be President ended with the Bush Presidency. Homer Simpson would garner many votes compared to the current occupant of the White House. I would vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton if that's what it came to, but I am just one of the 250,000 plus who has donated to the Obama Campaign. I am 54, and have not seen such a "rising star" run for President since JFK. How does Obama overcome the "Clinton Machine" in the weeks and months leading to the Iowa Primary?

Richard Wolffe: Thanks for watching! I'd like to see Homer Simpson running. How does Obama beat the Clinton machine? TV ads in the first instance. This campaign has barely begun on TV. It's going to be interesting once that battle begins on the airwaves. Can he change his name recognition? Can he maintain his favorable numbers when the attack ads begin? I don't really know.

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Galena, IL: I am definitely leaning towards Obama, but if he runs with Hillary, no way. He seems honest (haha, he's a politician, so ...) and I think she is horrid. So who would he run with?

Richard Wolffe: That question is impossible to answer. I find the veep pick an incredibly difficult story to cover, even after the top of the ticket is decided. Most of the stories about Kerry's pick turned out to be wrong. The only people who figured it out were the airplane enthusiasts who noticed a guy painting the name Edwards on his plane.

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New York, NY: "Is he black enough?" or "Is America ready to elect a black president?" Yikes, if he's black enough then he's probably too black for white America to vote for him, and if he's not black enough, then the media will say, "Blacks don't even want him why should anyone else." My question: why do you continue your preoccupation with his color when you could be answering serious questions regarding his impressive qualifications, intelligence, and progressive thinking? How are voters to learn anything if you don't ask questions that really matter?

Richard Wolffe: Well, if you read the cover story, you'll see that we do both. You can tell a lot about Obama by the way he has dealt with questions about race and politics - whether it's the death penalty in Illinois or winning over Cornel West.

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Washington, DC: Like Obama, Bill Richardson also suffers low numbers in among Latinos. Why not focus on HIS struggles? There is a historical context to be added here; Rev. Jesse Jackson didn't have the support of the black civil rights establishment including his peers, friends and compatriots (John Lewis and Coretta Scott King both supported Mondale). At issue wasn't his "blackness" but the self-interests of Black pols and community leaders much the same of any group of pols or community activists.

Richard Wolffe: Because Richardson isn't a top tier candidate like Obama.

Good point about the historical context though. Obama is facing some of the same challenges. Look at the quotes from Bobby Rush in the cover story.

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California, MO: I am a poor person on Social Security Disability raising a son. We are 125% below the poverty level, but illegal immigrants get more help with food than we do. Which one of the candidates really cares enough about the American people to take care of our poor first, then help others? After all, none of the candidates have to worry about whether they have enough food to last for the month!

Richard Wolffe: Sorry to do this, but this isn't the forum for your question. I'd compare the candidates' websites for that kind of answer.

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Cherry Hill, NJ: Give me two numbers. What are Obama's chances of winning the nomination and, in he wins the nomination, what are his chances of winning the election?

Richard Wolffe: 50 and 50. Does that count as one number or two?

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Tulsa, OK:

I for one am really tired of the age-old question you pose! Is America ready for a Black this or that -- or a woman this or that? By asking the question, you show you have a closed mind or a attempting to continue predicating it. What difference does it make to anyone other than a white man what color or sex someone is? Really?

The character and ability to lead are the only criteria. I think your article is racist.

Richard Wolffe: Did you read it? This isn't a debate that started with Newsweek. Take a look at Cornel West's concerns (before Obama won him over). The notion that racial politics don't exist in this country is, I'm afraid, a little naive.

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Anonymous: Even though Barack has raised more money than Hillary Clinton so far, he has not made much of a stride in the polls. He is substantially behind the front runner Hillary Clinton by at least 20 points in some polls. Hillary Clinton may have some advantage in the black community because of President Clinton plus she is a tested candidate. In this aspect, do you think Barack has the potential to curve out a campaign that will have positive tone to bridging the gap in racial terms and could be the President of the United States?

Richard Wolffe: Are you and Harrisburg PA the same person? Or do you just think alike?

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Anonymous: My concern is that he will be expected to favor enactment of laws that will favor blacks. I am alarmed by their enormous emotion when he appears at certain rallies. I belive too much will be expected of him due to his mixed blood. How do you think he will handle such extreme pressure?

Richard Wolffe: With his mixed blood? I'm alarmed by the tone of your question.

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San Francisco, CA: I understand that Sen. Obama introduced legislation to improve security at our nation's chemical plants. It is the Chemical Security and Safety Act? What other legislation has he passed or introduced?

Richard Wolffe: Great question. I'm not an expert in chemical security and safety. I bet his Senate office could help you.

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Milford, CT: Do you have any thoughts on why Barack chose to run this year?

My feeling is that he is sincere in his desire to help this country at a time when it needs help the most. He could have taken the easy road and waited but he didn't.

I feel like other candidates joined the race this year because it is so wide open with no incumbent or VP running. I don't get that feeling with Barack.

Richard Wolffe: I admire your feelings. I'm afraid I'm a little more skeptical. I think he saw a golden opportunity in a wide open race. And yes, he wants to take the country in a different direction too.

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Great Falls, MT: Will Obama support green energy and stop cities like Great Falls from building filthy coal fired power plants?

Richard Wolffe: Obama just delivered a big alternative energy speech. It's worth looking up. I'm not sure he mentioned Great Falls by name.

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Duluth, MN: Obama is not that well-known and performs better among voters who pay more attention to the campaign, but the kinds of voters that don't pay as much attention, such as women and voters without a college education, seem pretty loyal to Clinton. Do you have any thoughts on why this is?

Richard Wolffe: Yes. If they're not paying much attention to the news, they probably have no idea who he is. In the most recent Newsweek poll, 27 per cent said they have either never heard of him or have no opinion about him. And that's just the 27 per cent who admit they are clueless. Obama's big challenge - his enormous challenge - is to reach those people, while running against a candidate who is known everywhere, and knows how to run a determined, focused campaign.

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Richard Wolffe: This has been fascinating. Thanks from me and my co-writer Daren Briscoe, who has been co-answering your questions. See you next time!

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Lagos, Nigeria: Does he come across to you as having the competence and character to lead America? In the end that is what matters.

Richard Wolffe: My goodness! Just after we signed off, a question from Lagos. We couldn't ignore you Lagos. You're right: competence and character are what really matter. That's up to the voters to decide. But he's an impressive, credible candidate in any case.

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Ann Arbor, MI: Actually Clinton's average lead in the polls is ~15 points. Has Obama's campaign challenged the idea of Clinton as electable? For all the numbers coming out in Newsweek and other polls, the two most important swing groups besides independents, married working women and white Catholics, care a lot about integrity, and Obama may be in a better position to garner their support than Clinton.

Richard Wolffe: Ann Arbor, you too slipped in with Lagos. Good question about the polls. But I'd offer a note of warning: the samples are so small (at least in the public polls) that it's hard to break out ethnic groups and economic sub-classes to that degree. In fact in most polls, it's hard to get anything reliable on African-American voters.

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Richard Wolffe: OK, time's up - unless you're in Zambia. In which case, I'll be back. Thanks again for all your questions.

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