The images and sounds that emerged from the two competing events did more to damage the credibility and cause of left-wing activists from Sharpton to Obama than anything Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh or other conservative spokesmen could have done in 20 years.  Why?  Because for any American citizen willing to pay attention (and many of them did), it was a real-time depiction - no filter, no interpretation, no cosmetics - of the stark contrasts between two totally different views on this country, its heritage and its destiny.

Sure, there were the anecdotal comparisons like noting how the media incessantly referred to Beck as a "controversial conservative," while the uber-controversial and race-baiting Al Sharpton received the undeserved title of "civil rights leader."