Sean Wilentz mildly takes Orlando Patterson to the woodshed

Patterson, who does a better job each time he writes a column of showing his sociology education is about as deep as Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s is on New Testament studies, is like a fish in a barrel that doesn’t yet realize it’s been shot.

Wilentz fires again. Unfortunately, Sean, after pointing out how the Obama campaign has played the race card through various surrogates, is guilty of either excessive politeness or naivete with Patterson:

But it is surprising that a distinguished scholar such as Orlando Patterson should so badly misread what I wrote. In any event, his account completely misrepresents what I have said — and thereby mocks the really important issues.

Surprising, Sean? Didn’t you give consideration to the alternate idea that Patterson dealt h imself an inside straight on race-playing cards?