Subliminal Campaign Against Obama?

Is this the start of a subliminal smear campaign against Barack Obama by the Republicans?

Chief GOP strategist Karl Rove was in Little Rock, Arkansas yesterday giving a speech at the University of Arkansas. While he raised the issue of Obama's "experience", Rove also decided to throw in a choice word...articulate. He also labelled Obama, charismatic.

Now where have we heard that before? Oh yes, Joe Biden on the day he announced he was running for President. Biden said in a New York Observer interview that Obama was "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy." Biden came under serious fire for those remarks, and he was quick to apologise.

Rove is a smart guy - even his opponents admit that. Was there a chance that he used the word "articulate" without considering it's connotations and reference back to Biden? Very very doubtful.

To confirm that theory, President Bush used the same word on Fox, calling Obama "an attractive guy. He's articulate."

Are the Republicans getting worried by the increase in Barack Obama's support in recent months? Never underestimate the dog whistle tactics the GOP will employ to attack their opponents.