"President Obama's Terms in Office Have Revealed the Hidden Racism in America"

[Jamaal510]

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-e-dowlin/president-obamas-terms-in_b_5646431.html

When President Obama was first elected there were great expectations placed upon him from both sides of the political spectrum. The right has held him to an impossibly high standard and they seem to blame him for anything wrong that happens, domestic and foreign from the humanitarian crisis on our border to the downing of a Malaysian domestic airliner over the Ukraine by Russian forces to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The leftists also had impossible expectations of him that no human being is capable of, black or white. It's true that Obama promised that he would "fundamentally transform the nation" (a phrase that had conservatives shaking in their boots), but he is not Superman and there were too many changes that needed to be made and there are limitations to the office of the Presidency.

President Obama has promoted progress in the recovery from the Great Recession of 2008 by helping to create private jobs while lowering the unemployment rate, got us out of Iraq (although that nation is now in peril), is getting us out of Afghanistan, killed or captured Osama bin Laden and many other high level al-Qaeda leaders, passed health care reform, passed Wall Street and credit card reform, saved GM, ended DADT, supported and promoted gay marriage, passed the Lily Ledbetter act and a hate crimes bill, boosted domestic oil production to make us less dependent on foreign countries, and recently passed a VA bill to help Veterans with their hospitalization. I could go on and on. Here is a list of 50 of his: accomplishments.

All of this was done while cutting the deficit in half and spending less than any president in modern history. Which makes me scratch my head when his opponents accuse him of being a "big government spender." It was also accomplished with the least productive congress in history for the last four years after the GOP took control of the House of Representatives.

[NOLALady]

1. It wasn't hidden

very well.

[cilla4progress]

2. Just sickening

I believe these murders of young black men are, in some cases, proxies, for President Obama.

There has long been a dynamic where "uppity" fill-in-the-blank - black men, women, other oppressed groups, must be taught a lesson, to keep them in their place, where they belong. How audacious of them, to think they can compete with, much less displace, the ruling white male power structure.

Why is it going to take the long view of history to appreciate President Obama? How much longer can we really be expected to be patient?

[Tumbulu]

4. I agree with you

and the overt racism appalls me. And if the whole African American population has to suffer these attacks because of the president being biracial, what shall we expect if a woman becomes president? Rape porn on the kiddie channels?

[calimary]

7. Answer - probably more of the same absolute total allegedly "red-white-&-blue all-American" shit.

I can hear it now. Already. I've realized especially over the past six years that I am learning to expect the least, and the worst, out of far too many of my fellow Americans. Every time I think we've begun to outgrow some of this stupid, disgraceful shit, I turn out to be wrong. Sometimes I guess we just have to force change on our country. To the racists out there, closeted or not, I would say I don't give a rat's ass about whether you don't like it that there's a black guy in the Oval Office and he isn't the janitor. Don't care that you don't like it. GET OVER IT. It's gonna happen sooner or later - and it HAS. You don't like it? TOO DAMN BAD. Things CHANGE. And if you don't like it that a woman sits behind the Resolute Desk next round, tough shit. You don't like it? TOO DAMN BAD. Things CHANGE. And THIS is gonna happen, TOO. Sooner or later. Whether you like it or not.

Heck, I don't like getting older. And that's tough shit for me. It's gonna happen ANYWAY, whether I like it or not. And I don't think I should have to accept it, either, but regardless how hard I fight it, how many facelifts I might think I need, how much Botox or tummy tucks or whatever, Things CHANGE. And I'm gonna get older ANYWAY. It's gonna happen. Sooner or later.

These folks who dig in their heels have to get it through their heads sooner or later. Things CHANGE. Things EVOLVE. Nothing stays the same. That's just how life is. The Earth TURNS. It does not stay static. It moves. That movement causes change. That movement IS change. Change is a universal. And a non-negotiable. You're FAR better off accepting it, moving with it, flowing with it. EVOLVING with it. And for those who don't want to, who insist on stopping the clock, rolling back time, going backwards toward some way they THINK things used to be or should have been, TOO DAMN BAD. That's what IS. Whether you like it or not.

America is evolving as a country. That's what IS. Whether you like it or not.
America is no longer gonna be a majority Anglo country. That's just what IS. Whether you like it or not, or anybody else likes it or not.
And if you don't like it, I'm afraid that's just tough. And I don't care that you don't like it. Whether you like it or not is IRRELEVANT.

The best, actually the ONLY thing, that you can effectively do about it is GET OVER IT.

[Tumbulu]

13. So true, I just wish they would instead of violently ruining

things for so many with their horrid hatred.

[BlueCaliDem]

3. Oh, yes. Ohhh...yes, they have.

And this needs to be said, over and over again, until we shame the racists and bigots back to silence.

They are far too vocal these days and are given far too much attention to the point that they're proud of their narrow-minded views because they can spew whatever hateful, racist, bigoted bull-excrement as they please, knowing they can do it with impunity. NO ONE holds them to account. NO ONE questions their racism. Now it appears as if openly espousing racist epithets, phrases, and words since the election and re-election of Obama is the new normal, and until we change that; until the media cracks down hard on them, it will only escalate and hate will grow in this country.

[jaysunb]

5. Hidden ??? LOL

Let's try, "ignored."

[Number23]

6. Let me guess, a white person wrote this?

They are the only ones that have ever seemed to think that racism is or ever was "hidden."

[1StrongBlackMan]

10. That was my thought, as well ...

but not just white people ... liberal white people; because conservative white people make very little bones about their racism.

[JI7]

12. something i have noticed on a few other sites , many of which arent political

but there are some white democrats/liberals that don't care for obvious right wing things like fox news, rush limbaugh etc.

but they will often look at things like ferguson, al sharpton, jesse jackson and make negative comments . they act like black people aren't going to do anything and it's al sharpton/jesse jack/fill in any other minority they don't like gets involved.

people try to explain to them about how this isn't about one shooting. it's because this is a constant thing they deal with all the time. and in most cases there are no crimes involved. but they don't listen. they will say things like "i don't like how he got shot but if he had only been.................."

but if you get some popular white person to explain it they will then maybe understand how there is more to it. often it's some white comedian like colbert , jon stewart etc . the thing is these people aren't saying anything that the black peopel were already saying.

[Bucky]

8. I love all these responses from people who clearly haven't read past the headline

[JustAnotherGen]

9. How so?

They seem in context to me? And I did read every word of that article.

This is not just about Obama - it's how many of us have experienced America during this Presidency. For those of us Gen X and older - it's showed just how far we have NOT come - and very much how the 'old rules' are in play.

The article also touches on Obama's response to every day acts of racism and bigotry that made national news - and how he was accused of being a you know 'what' (can't write it with a T around DU) because he had the gall to say to America -

Hey! I 'get' this. This is how I've experienced this country. This is how I relate.

Perhaps you can clarify your thoughts on the article?

[BaggersRDumb]

11. Of course white people think racism was hidden, because it was

from them...

When you NEVER deal with it as I NEVER have as a white person, how in the hell would I know what AA people deal with everyday all day...

I wouldnt know. But I also wouldnt be so obtuse to pretend to know that it has been hidden, either.

The one change is the real dumb racists are running for House and Senate seats...the racists that ran and held office before werent as dumb