This is ridiculous. A few hundred incidents in a country of 300 million, many of which involved schoolkids, and the entire U.S. is once again tarrred as a racist haven. I live in the South and I have seen no such incidents. Most people I know are ecstatic over Obama's win.

Chuck, Richmond, USA

JHC, Jacksonville, FL, USA: And rightly so should have been the case. How long can you tread on people before they fight back? its only natural.

Jim, Sydney,

Please do not judge all white America by the acts of a few.
Let us not give any power to the heinous people that committed these ignorant acts.
The majority of us do not care what color his skin is, we care how Mr Obama will perform in the office he was elected to.
Let us move onward, please.

Minister Robert Kibble, Spring Grove, USA

Thank you Palin, for helping to stir this up with your ridiculous fear-inspiring comments. "He doesn't see America in the way you or I do..."

I hope you're pleased with the results.

Jen, Oxford,

When you factor in the voter suppression and election fraud that had to be overcome by the massive voter turnout then Obama's margin of victory was much larger than the 52% reported. This election with all the fraud could not have been won by a biracial man even 10 years ago. Change takes time.

Jerry, Seattle, USA

Appalling, and yet by way of perspective look at the rioting and mass murders over disputed elections in the President Elect's paternal homeland of Kenya. Or the homelands of many other Americans, for that matter. Our record in recent years has still been rather good, all things considered.

D.L. Anderson, Crossett, AR/U.S.A.

Johny from Brussels and Nicolas from Paris, why such ridiculous statements about American society as whole? Obama won a majority of the white vote in traditionally conservative states of VA, NC, IN, FL and OH. Here in extremely white Wisconsin, there were spontaneous parades on election night.

Justin, Madison, WI, US

What we don't need are academic rationalizations like Mr. Gallagher's; or a 'What will be, will be. We can't expect better.' attitude. We need the majority non-bigoted community to be telling the minority that such behavior is unacceptable, every time they see it, regardless of where we live.

Doug Hockenberry, Grove City, USA

If McCain had won, the vandalism and "hate" crimes would have made these incidents look like preschool antics. Don't be naive.

JHC, Jacksonville, FL, USA

Why is any one surprised, what would happen if the Uk elected a black PM? We all know, the BNP would have record numbers of supporters and hate crime would match America's. Look at the constitutionally racist police, racism is all over the world.

Devon, London, United Kingdom

while racist incidents do happen in America, the overall level f racism cannot compare to Europe. Being a minority in America I have not experience racism even once. When I lived in Europe (Britain) racism was a daily experience for me and many other immigrants that I know.

Alex, Columbus, USA

I dont not believe that these same racists would have hugged black folks if Obama was not elected U.S President. Things that were reported probably occur every single day, it's usually not widely reported. Obama's election victory did not make any difference. Haters will always be haters !

Mohammed, London, UK

You have to be mentally subnormal to be a 'good ole boy' or 'redneck'.
It's a shame that this type of person seem to congregate in the southern states, it must be the inbreeding.

Mullarkian , Raleigh,

And the Americans say the south africans were bad. Wow talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Same old America.

Adam, london,

Americans: All Brits welcome Obama, not for any other reason than he will not mangle the English Language as badly as George. At least give the guy a chance before criticising or worse, I hope he has the intelligence to surround himself with experienced advisors, irrespective of party politics.

alan, benalmadena, spain

I loved it, all Europe's politicians chanting the praise of the 'true' face of America after the election. The return of US in the civilized and enlightened world far from racism, bigotry, utter ignorance and stuborn arrogance. Well they are wrong, because the true face of America is this article.

Johny, Brussels, Belgium

Tough times ahead. America will pull through...somehow

Mustafa, Khartoum, Sudan

Europeans fail to understand that G. W. Bush was the president white America wanted and deserved. And that Palin in all her stupidity represents white America. Obama won only by a thin 52% vs a senile, erratic man from a failed party. EU shouldn't celebrate US's return in modern society too soon...

Nicolas, Paris, France