Using browser specific css isn’t working.

I am using a browser specific css. I have it linked from my header using this:

<!--[if IE]>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css/iestyle.css" />
<![endif]-->

The problem seems to be that my default css and my IE specific css are bumping heads. My page shows up totally blank in Internet Explorer. The “body” of my css is where my background image is, However, when I removed the “body” portion from my ie css the background image shows up in Internet Explorer.

I’m just wondering if I have to set my site up to use a different id or class specifically for my ie css? And if so, how do I do that? If not, why can I not use the same id or class name?