The term "Politically Correct" has been dragged through the mud for so long by the right wing and by stuff like South Park that it's hard to remember that there was a period of time where the concept really did have a chilling effect on discourse and it certainly inspired a lot of self censorship that got in the way of actual progressive dialogue. But now we've had the reactionary "Politically Incorrect and Proud!" stuff for so long it's actually exceeded the era where there really was an arguably oppressive atmosphere that one had to be sensitive to all present and non-present underrepresented groups at all times. Obama actually seems to be able to diffuse some of those tensions, and that's a good thing. It would be a shame if some of that stuff came back, because it will only mean even more backlash further down the road. Americans of every political stripe chafe at being told the proper way to express themselves and the proper way to think.