I have also tried adding a javascript function (using an input button) that resets the background-color of the textarea to white and the (font) color to black but with frustrating lack of desired results. Whilst it appears that I can access properties of the textarea object, I have so far been unable to change the color of the text using javascript in IE.

Can you give me some insight into how I can circumvent this Cute Editor bug? I would suggest that you don't need to apply any styles to the textarea (black Times New Roman text on a white background should be fine for the html view), but that is your concern.

I guess my question is: Am I able to modify styles of the CE textarea form object using the DOM or can I do something else to fix this?

P.S. This background/colour switching function works fine in Firefox but I don't need it to because Firefox works pretty well already.