Obama rejects notion that racism is the main cause of opposition (excerpts from Sunday interviews)

[Indigent]

AFP: ""Are there people out there who don't like me because of race? I'm sure there are. That's not the overriding issue here," Obama insisted in an excerpt of an interview to be broadcast on the CNN show "State of the Union."" http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5get9vRIDEVIaUOE7dowIp5aOUdMQ

New York Times headline: Obama Rejects Race as Lead Cause of Criticism
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/health/policy/19obama.html?hp

This contradict Jimmy Carter's claim that the "overwhelming portion" of this opposition was race-based.

[EFerrari]

1. That's technically true but the conservatives are using racism

to stir up their extremist base. It's not the issue as much as the mechanism.

[Indigent]

2. But are they using racism more than lies about death panels and anti-government speech?

We tend to forget the other part of the story.

I believe that falsehoods about our health care have been much more predominant than Hitler posters and signs of Obama dressed like an African witch.

[Hansel]

12. The lies about death panels is part of the racist mechanism

They are using racism, some of it outright racists terms, but mostly they are using racist dog whistles. Talking about death panels is a part of this.

Glenn Beck and his ilk have, from the beginning, used Obama's being Black and his unusual name for Americans to paint Obama as an outsider. To imply or outright state that he is a terrorist. To give credence to that fact that he isn't like us (wink wink) so he can't be trusted.

Glenn Beck says that health care is "stealth reparations". In other words, Obama is all out for making up for what the Whites did to the Blacks. He also says "Obama is a racist" and "he doesn't like White people".

Sarah Palin, who came up with the whole "Death Panel" BS, told her constituents during the election that Obama pals around with terrorists. RW radio was awash with claims he was a secret Muslim and viral emails circulated saying the same.

Then Glenn Beck made the outrageous claim that Obama was building internment camps with FEMA money. Add it all up, Obama is a terrorist who wants to kill White people. Death panels is one of the method.

You can't look at any of these comments in isolation. You have to look at the big picture and everything they are saying.

[Indigent]

13. But betsy mccaughey, who started the lie, also lied about and helped derail Clinton's health plan

In the 90's. And Clinton was white. What then?

[DCKit]

3. The President has to say that. It's called diplomacy.

We, however, have no such constraint.

[Maccagirl]

4. Obama is boxed in by his position

as POTUS. The cable news outlets will continue to "debate" this over and over until it runs out of steam. Did anyone catch Roland (?) Martin's expression when he was on Campbell Browns' yakfest Thursday night with the sleazy Alex Castellanos? Brown gave the winger the last word (as always) and Martin had the look of total disgust on his face. I swear he would have slapped someone if he hadn't been on remote.

[caraher]

5. Your point (in the OP) is?

Like other posters say, Obama is not in the position to point out this racism - that falls to others, like Jimmy Carter and anyone with eyes to see. Look at the 9/12 clowns and tell me Jimmy Carter (and many others) are wrong to see a strong racist element in the way the RW "rallies the troops" against Obama.

[Indigent]

8. Well, Greenwald and Colin Powell, for example, are in a position to point out racism

And they didn't do it. They don't think it's the driving force, due to the equally hateful (or worse) during past white presidencies.

It is tempting to say "Obama agrees with me but he has to lie." But those sympathetic with Carter's view also ignore this other possibility: "Obama genuinely disagrees"

[Uzybone]

6. but he has too, if he expects to get anything done

if there is any racial violence the media will tie it to Obama if he dares engage this topic anymore. Because in America, all black people are responsible for anything that happens to a black person.

[Inspired]

7. I agree with you. He has no other choice. And it stinks.

[Metta]

9. He persists in wanting us all to just get along. How's that been working for you, O?

When will you wake up and assume the power we gave you?

[Arkana]

10. If the President of the United States had said what Jimmy Carter said,

all hell would break loose. The Congressional Republicans would be on TV 24/7 moaning and groaning about Obama while getting soft, sloppy blowjobs from their favorite conservative talking heads. Rush Limbaugh would wet his pants with glee.

Obama can't say his opposition is race-motivated, even though a majority of them are, because that's exactly what they want him to do.

[OHdem10]

11. No one has said it was the main reason. Most people believe it

is and undercurrent in the discussion.

[Indigent]

14. Jimmy Carter did n/t

[hileeopnyn8d]

15. No he didn't.

Again, is this issue the sole reason you signed up here? It appears like it. What is it you want?

Do you want us to say Carter was wrong? I don't think he was.

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