Let's call the birthers what they really are: Racists

[question everything]

Let's call the birthers what they really are: Racists

These people are in denial about a changing America, and they shouldn't be encouraged.

By TIM WALKER
Minneapolis Star Tribune

August 9, 2009

Barack Obama was born in Kenya. His Hawaii birth certificate was forged. Fake birth announcements were planted in Hawaii newspapers in 1961. Take your pick of these crackpot ideas spread by the so-called birthers. All are false and have been debunked again and again by credible evidence. But because the birthers insist on spreading their vile falsehoods, they continue to generate media attention.

Trouble is, the mainstream news reports of the birthers have failed to answer a key question in the story: Why? Why do birthers, despite clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, still insist that Obama is not eligible to be president? To be sure, some of these folks are simply not connected to reality and share a lot with those who believe the moon landing was faked or that 9/11 was a government plot. But the simple truth is that many birthers are simply racist. They keep pushing their fictions because they cannot accept the fact that there is a black family living in the White House.

Obama's election was a dramatic demonstration of the demographic and cultural changes that have been taking place in this country in the last few decades. Most Americans welcomed this change. But to many prejudiced whites, it was jarring and unsettling to their comfortable world where they, and others who looked like them, had all the power. In that world, blacks and other minorities were tolerated, as long as they did not hold any significant reins of power. Among such people, Obama doesn't fit with the concept of what a "real" American is, so they cook up layers of conspiracies to hide their prejudices. And, perhaps more important, questioning Obama's eligibility to be president keeps them in denial about the new America that has room for people of different backgrounds and funny names.

his racial hatred is sometimes couched as a hatred for the president's politics, policies, beliefs and character, but the origin of that hatred can ultimately be traced to his race. If you don't believe this, wade (if you dare) into the cesspool of right-wing websites, blogs and bulletin boards, where, sad to say, the "n-word" is used casually.

How can we as a nation combat this racism? An important step is for elected leaders to confront the birthers and their foul prejudices. Sadly, not enough of that is taking place. A handful of Republican representatives in Congress have recently made statements that have given legitimacy to the birthers. Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, for example, said that the birther movement "has a point" and that "I don't discourage them from going ahead and pursuing that." And Republican Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri questions "why the president can't produce a birth certificate."

(snip)

To stem the racist tide emerging in this country, triggered by the election of a black president, responsible leaders must stand up and unequivocally confront the bigotry of the birthers, despite the prospect of losing votes. This false debate on the legality of the Obama presidency needs to be settled now, before it festers and divides this country any further.

(snip)

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/52691222.html

[Skittles]

1. CORRECT

it's much easier for these racist fucks to scream about a birth certificate than it is for them to scream about a black president

[MercutioATC]

2. Or maybe they're just the lunatic fringe right....just as we have the lunatic fringe left.

I'm sorry, but resorting to desperate measures in attempt to make a political point is NOT the sole domain of racists.

[havocmom]

3. true enough, but in this case, they are racists. No point in trying to find more acceptable reasons

They have never insisted on some impossible standard of proof from any other duly elected president. Gee, what's different about this president?

What "political point" are they trying to make? None. They are trying to overturn an election that was pretty soundly supportive of a guy they didn't like before they even knew him. Gee, what would make people judge a person before they even heard what he stands for, what his values are?

Racism. There is no "political point".

[MercutioATC]

5. I realize that nobody cares, but I'm going to explain how I evaluate claims of"racism".

"Racism" is a pretty strong accusation in my view. If I'm going to accuse somebody of being a racist, I'm going to be damn sure that I have more than a supposition to work with.

People who oppose Obama and/or his policies have a lot more than "racism" to draw from. I may not agree with their positions, but I believe that it's childish (and dangerous) to dismiss their opposition as being motivated by racism.

[MadMaddie]

6. Hmmmm....

I would have to disagree with you.

We saw blatant racism during the campaign even when he was only talking about "Change". He wasn't implementing anything at the time, just merely talking about it.

When the Secret Service reports that they are investigating 40% more death threats against President Obama it's not just because they don't like his policies.

If you want to naively think that this is just about policy then please continue to think so.

Sometimes life is not as complicated as we think it is. Sometimes it is as basic as black and white or yen and yang.

Just as Jackie Robinson endured the vile "racism" of his time he overcame all odds and was an above average player. It was racism...

Just as Jessie Owens marched into the Nazi stadium during the Olympics and destroyed the German and world runners he overcame all odds. It was racism......

President Obama will do the same despite all of the hatred and racism thrown his way. It is racism....

Sometimes even though it hurts, and we don't want to believe that our country, not just any country, but our country is still marred by racism we simply have to accept the truth and try to improve what is broken.

We have certain cancers in our US society, racism, homophobia, classicism and more. We have to eradicate ourselves of these ills in order for us to be a more perfect Union.

Do I think that racism can be casually thrown around and lose its truth absolutely, but in the case of President Obama I have no hesitation in saying that what we are seeing is racism.

[MercutioATC]

8. I do know people who have issues with Obama because of the color of his skin.

They usually try to attribute it to same more practical, socially acceptable reason...but the basis for their fundamental distrust has is roots in racism.

I know far more people who disagree with Obama's actions based on valid, practical, logical grounds.


Again, I'm not denying that racism is still an issue in America, nor am I denying that some Obama detractors find fault based solely upon the fact that he's black. However, one doesn't have to have racist beliefs to find some serious faults with this administration...and I believe that, off the cuff, marginalizing Obama detractors as "racists" is both counterproductive and dangerous.

[havocmom]

11. Those who are lying about him offer explanations that show they are grasping at straws

and offering as evidence against him claims which are easily refuted as being outright fabrications. When people are spreading outright, easily disproved lies (muslim, not a citizen, is a terrorist, won't say the Pledge of Alligence, etc.) that is not political discussion. That is either willful disregard for truth, or hatred deep and basic enough to overshadow reason. They dislike him, not anything he believes, stands for, tries to do, policies he offers. They dislike him as a human being. Most have never met him. But they dislike him.

Notice, I said 'dislikes him.' Those who dislike his POLICIES and/or methods of getting to change are not racist. They are, indeed, dealing with issues. That is fine. That is better than fine, as they are at least dealing with reality.

Town Hall Disrupters do not fall into that category. DISRUPTERS are not there to DISCUSS differences in policy or methods. They are not there to discuss anything. They are there to disrupt and they scream a lot of really insane, easily disproved claims to justify their screaming and 'fear'. They are grasping at straws to justify their real motivation which is: OMG! There is a black Man in the White House and he isn't there to serve ice tea to the good ol boys who rightfully should be in charge.

I have taken apart, line by line, lie by lie, the 'arguments' of disrupter types I know personally. Offer proof that their claims are fallacy and they just move on to the next fallacy like nothing was ever mentioned. They aren't interested in policy. They certainly are not interested in facts. They hear nothing that does not fit into their BELIEFS about things.

They are not political, they are being USED by political entities to raise holy hell and keep real political discussions from happening. They are ill informed about what policies are even being discussed. They are willfully ignorant. They do not let facts get in the way of their vehement opposition. That is not political, that is dogmatic response and they are being played by people who hurt them in the long run.

[kelly1mm]

7. +1

This birther thing is strange in most ways but reminds me a lot of law school discussions of "what if". While the birthers seem to dismiss plain evidence that counters their position (i.e. HI cert. of live birth and birth announcements) I will say that they have done a crap load of research. Amazingly, I do think it is a plausible argument to say just because President Obama was born of one American citizen he is not automatically an American citizen. Please note - I believe he WAS born in Hawaii so the last point is moot in HIS case but not all births by younger americans according to laws on the books AT THAT TIME. Like I said before - very interesting intellectual discussion a la law school.

[MercutioATC]

9. You'll get crucified here if you continue to say that, but I agree.

I don't believe they have a valid legal argument, but they DO raise a point of legal interest.

Granted, most of them (like most of ANY group) are just followers who have not even critically examined the issue...but that doesn't make all "birthers" racist.

[kelly1mm]

10. Thanks for the warning - I am willing and expect to get toasted

if you read my signature line you will see why. However, it is much more interesting to me to engage with people who do not share my exact political beliefs in all matters. While I understand and will abide by the DU rules I think the echo chamber would get rather stale after a while.

[question everything]

13. Please see my reply #12, below

Another thing to keep in mind - while we are willing to study their point of view, and to analyze it and to see whether it has merit - there have been several threads here - they don't. Orly Taitz claims that both parents have to be American citizens. And that "birth certificate."

[question everything]

12. One way to look at it - would the birthers had gained any traction

had Obama not been black?

I doubt it. Do you remember those town hall of McCain when someone asked him whether Obama was even an American, or a Christian? Then McCain did the honorable thing, or what a candidate should do and emphatically defended him.

Where is McCain now? Now we see his true colors.

[bkkyosemite]

4. Racists!