Don,
You must not spend much time around rich, old white folks if you've never heard anyone express displeasure at the simple idea of having a black - or any race other than their own, for that matter - President. They don't broadcast it. They don't write op-ed pieces about it. But they express themselves, nonetheless. Again, I have observed the behavior and heard the prejudice expressly stated. It is not my opinion and I am not taking it on faith. However, IN MY OPINION, the whole "birther"/Muslim nonsense has a racist undercurrent.
As for "Dole-care", compare our recently-enacted (or should that be "recently repealed"?) health care legislation to the health care plan proposed and advocated by Bob Dole when he was the GOP nominee. You won't find many differences.