I'm curious what the general political climate of Manhatten was, at the time, compared to the rest of the "silent majority".  I also wonder if the blatent racism angle hasn't been done to death and Weiner wanted to take a different approach.

What was over-the-top about the characters' reactions, besides Pete's dramatic (yet sincere) blow-up with Harry?  Everyone else seemed shocked, unsurprised, quietly wept, or otherwise didn't know how to react at all.