What Can You Wear to a Costume Party?

Driving to lunch today I heard some talk radio host discussing a story from New York.  I don't know any details beyond the little bit I heard while driving, but what got me thinking was just the general question about what's acceptable to wear to a costume party?

The story was about some New York Assemblyman who showed up at a party dressed in blackface and an afro wig.  The uber-sensitive New Yorkers were aghast.  According to the talk show host, they were so upset they accused the guy of being a Conservative!  He probably just said, "shoot me now" when he heard that one.  The host said the guy's just another New York Democrat, so the conservative accusation sounds like it's an attempt to suggest that only conservatives would do something so racist as to show up to a party dressed up as a black man.

Rather than discuss the politics and rampant PC nature of the story, this got me thinking something else.  Suppose you received an invitation to a costume party.  What costumes are "safe", and which will earn you a "racist" label?

Let's start with the blackface question.  Suppose you're a chubby dude who can do a reasonably good Bill Cosby imitation.  So you dress up as Fat Albert and show up at the party with a hearty, "Hey, Hey, Hey!".  Does that make you racist no matter what, is it racist only if your impression stinks, or is it not racist at all but merely an homage to Bill Cosby and one of his best cartoon characters?

Here's another one.  You put on mocassins and buckskins, add a headband with a colored feather, and maybe a few fingers of "warpaint" across your cheeks.  You do a reasonable imitation of Tonto as you enter the party, calling everyone "Kemosabe".  Is that racist?  If it is, then what about the ourtrageous costume worn by Johnny Depp in his portrayal of Tonto in the upcoming Lone Ranger movie?  If it's racist to show up to a party as Tonto in a less outrageous costume, then what would you call Depp's portrayal?

It just occurs to me that creating a costume for a party should not be a career-ending move.  Because I don't see any racism there.  If it somehow involves an elaborate insult to somebody at the party, which I can't imagine precisely how that would work, maybe it could be interpreted as racist.  But this guy in New York deserves a lot more ridicule for how silly he probably looked in blackface and an afro wig than being crucified for racism.  Perhaps either case might be a career-ender, but I don't see racism in what he did.  Of course I didn't see a picture of him in costume either - perhaps that could change my mind.