It's amazing: some people think Lincoln was telling the truth as a racist, and others think the was LYING-- i.e. that it's ok for a president to lie to the people about his convictions "for the right reasons." People like that don't want a democracy- they want a DICTATOR who LIES to the people in order to get into power, and then does whatever he wants, even if millions die because of it-- and the more he kills, the more the fools call him a "great leader" and make preposterous excuses for him, saying how "the stupid people just don't UNDERSTAND" him. Yeah right, we just didn't "understand" Adolf Hitler or Charles Manson either. That's the most dangerous type of person there is-- a pragmatic tyrant. Oh and for those who say Lincoln wasn't serious: he sponsored a law to keep everyone out of his state, who was of ANY black ancestry: yep, Lincoln wouldn't even allow Obama INTO Illinois, so only a FOOL would credit Lincoln for Obama becoming PRESIDENT! Right: we just didn't "understand" him. Well we "understand" that you're NUTS who think that! And those who think the war was about slavery: consider what ELSE Lincoln said when taking office: "I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so. "The power confided to me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the Government and to collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion, no using of force against or among the people anywhere." Translation: "keep your slaves, just fork over the MOOLAH-- or DIE!" Come on, tell us again how "great" Lincoln was, and how we just "don't understand" him. Liars.