Scary black man in White House...run away, run away.

[SoCalDem]

The nut-cases are doing now, what they could not manage to do in '08....and they are doing it with the aid & comfort of the same media who shut them down last year.

What a difference a year makes.

They were unsuccessful last year because "their" candidate was un-electable, and the press did not want to waste precious time on a bunch of whiny racists. They did show the most outrageous of the bunch who shouted "Kill him" or "Traitor" at Palin rallies, but the coverage was about "free speech" and little more.

Another reason they were unsuccessful last year, was the fact that Hillary Clinton stayed in the race for such a long time, that many of the most racist of the GOP base were torn between two longstanding "hates", and probably waited too long to gin up much rabble-rousing.

There was a time when they tipped their hand though, by suddenly masking their Clinton-hate, and crossing over to actually vote for her (Texas primaries & beyond).. Does anyone really think they all-of-a-sudden "liked" her? and would vote for her over their party-chosen-hack?.. This was when they realized that a black man just might win this thing.

Given a choice between Hillary and "the black guy", they would choose Hillary.. They already hated her, and had a quiverful of arrows just for her, but would need more time to craft a barrage designed especially for a black man... they had to be careful with this attack, or they would be once again be called out on their racism. Republican racism is best left just under the surface..like a stealthy submarine, cruising unnoticed by the masses.

These are the same people who overlooked every blunder that GW made..that was a daily event, for at least 8 long years.

They were willing to suspend disbelief, as he failed to deliver on almost everything he promised them.

They willingly "gave him" their husbands, daughters, fathers, sons, grandsons, etc. to go off and fight in two wars, one a meaningless war for profiteering contractors and friends-of-Bush, the other a hastily exited, poorly executed one in Afghanistan. They were willing to trade their flesh & blood loved ones, for a few lines of text in a paper and a folded flag.

They cooed and clucked as he vacationed his way through two terms, claiming that he "needed his rest", and wasn't he quite a manly figure...with that cowboy hat & that chainsaw.

They looked the other way as he proffered yearly budgets without money for either war, and as he added bloated, yet unfunded spending legislation onto their back (and onto the backs of their progeny).

The editorialists they claim as their own, gleefully climbed aboard the war-bus, and told them all how important and necessary these two wars were, and how the cost was nothing to worry about now, because "it had to be done".

AND THEN THE BLACK GUY WON!

After the initial shock, and the obligatory pats on their own backs for "electing the first black man to be president" (even though 99% of them did not vote for him), they set out to undermine him, even if it meant destroying their party in the process. The ends justify the means.

They cannot attack his intellect..or his stage presence..or his ability to communicate....but he IS still black.

No matter how hard it is to clean up the messes left by "their guy", or how necessary it is to HAVE the mess cleaned up.....for all of us, they are still willing to do everything they can to undermine him.

The only effective tool left to them is FEAR. They have to make him scary, questionable, controversial.

Media is only too happy to comply. they were on their best-behavior last year, because they too, were worried about just how to cover the first black man running for the highest office in the country. After 8 long years of bumbling, stumbling, & stammering, they were happy to finally have a literate, composed and intellectual to cover, and they went all in. But that was then, and this is now.

They could not attack Barack, the black man..but as president, they are unfettered now, and anything goes, so they are happy to report on all the nonsensical birthers, deathers, teabaggers, town-brawlers, gun-toters..

Media coverage, to these people is like water to fish.. It's what they need, in order to exist and to prosper.

So now we are where we are.

The black man is going to scare the children..:scared:
The black man wants us all to have health care :scared:
The black man is trying to clean up the messes left to us by 30 years of neglect:scared:
His wife wears SHORTS:scared:
His daughter wears a "Peace" shirt:scared:


How dare he!

[babylonsister]

1. Yep! I regret I only have one rec to give this, which

negated some clown who unrec'd this. But you are so right!

[HowHasItComeToThis]

2. AND WORST OF ALL

WE IS INTELLIGENT

[Lagomorph]

68. When will you realize...

...that intelligence has had very little involvement with guiding the country?

[hfojvt]

3. no, you got the line wrong, and, of course, you are charging racism again

When WE reacted much the same way against Bush - with fear and loathing.

The line is "see chameleon, lying there in the sun, all things to everyone, run, run away"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHoPYLQvnQM

unless this is about rabbits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxKIJTb3Hg

[SoCalDem]

4. I was actually referencing Monty Python

but whatever:)

and we had REASON to fear Bush:)

[hfojvt]

8. second video

What, are you saying that Obama is just a harmless, fluffy bunny?

We THOUGHT we had reason to fear Bush, although many of our wolves never appeared. The elections of 2006 were not stolen. He stepped down in 2009. We never invaded Iran. Liberals were not arrested en masse (but has anybody SEEN Matcom?)

You don't convince people they have nothing to fear by calling them racists. They THINK they are gonna get attacked by wolves too.

[babylonsister]

9. You're defending idiot son, here? Good luck with that. nt

[noiretextatique]

12. for some reason

this person keeps trying to sell the ridiculous notion that the people who keep hollering "n%$#%$" and "lynch him" aren't really racist :eyes:

[babylonsister]

18. Just remember the name. And lack of defense. nt

[hfojvt]

26. what lack of defense?

I certainly did not see how you saw what I wrote as some sort of defense of idiot son. What I observed in the last four years though was that some people stirred up some hype. Hype that proved to be hollow. Perhaps their names should be remembered but only a few people admitted that they were made to look foolish by atreides mystery. Man, I have not seen him forever either. Has he been disappeared too?

[hfojvt]

25. exactly how am I trying to sell that?

If you have a crowd of people at some teabagger event and some moron in the crowd shouts those phrases, that proves that the one or two shouting morons are racists. It does NOT thereby prove that the whole crowd is just a bunch of racists. That type of guilt by association and blanket condemnation does not sell to me.

[katkat]

33. it does when the rest of them cheer n/t

[noiretextatique]

11. absolute nonsense...we had every fucking reason in the world to fear bush, inc

and any other republicon regime. and we were absolutely right to fear bush, inc. first of all, bush was a complete idiot who wrapped himself in flag and religion. i believe their fears are completely irrational...death panels, birth certificates, socialism, etc. i don't think my fears about bush, icn were irrational...he did everything i feared he would.

[geckosfeet]

47. Hey. Where IS Matcom?

[noiretextatique]

10. you are intent on your position

even though there is a lot of evidence to the contrary. race IS a component in the opposition to obama. it't not the only component, but clearly it is a part of the mix. exactly what do you get out of denying that reality?

[SoCalDem]

15. I guess there are some people who are more "charitable"

to republicans than I am :)..

I see through their code-lingo..

[noiretextatique]

16. irrational fear

is the root cause of racism. i totally get that, but it is still irrational. there is no comparison to the rational fears we had about bush, inc, and the birthers, deathers, and assorted obama-fearing lunatics. fear of retribution is a more accurate description of their fears. they are afraid they will reap what they have sown.

[SoCalDem]

17. as they should.. but we both know they can continue without fear

of being held responsible:(

[BlooInBloo]

41. Clearly they're "waiting for all the facts to come in"...

And giving them "the benefit of the doubt".

Aka, defending racism.

[hfojvt]

24. I am intent on my position because I think it is right

I think it is ridiculous for us to always cry 'racist' whenever there is opposition to Obama. Some people are upset about him speaking to children. No doubt some of those upset people are racists, but it does not follow that 'people are only upset about him speaking to children because he is black'. Because that is only true of some of them, not all of them. I think it is very obvious that many of US would have been upset if Bush had spoken to children. The main reason many of them probably do not want him to speak to their children is because they oppose many of his policies. At least that is a plausible reason.

I think it is wrong to accuse a whole bunch of people of racism just because you are sure that some of them are racists. As if that is the ONLY possible explanation.

[billh58]

28. No, racism is

NOT "the ONLY possible explanation," but other top reasons would be the burning crosses, the hoods, the Aryan Nation militia groups, the firearms and hate signs at places where President Obama has appeared, the organized disruptions and outrageous "Hitler" distortions at Town Hall meetings, the documented and rapid increase in the formation of other white-supremacist "hate groups," and the rednecked religious-right calling for his death. These are things that your "not-so-bad" Shrub never had to contend with, nor did ANY "white" male president before Obama.

So, if you are under the impression that rampant racism no longer exists in this country -- especially in the Red States, I have some swamp land I'd like to offer you at a very reasonable price. Most of these racists are also anti-semites and homophobes, and they like to spread their hatred around so as not to draw too much political attention to themselves.

[hfojvt]

32. I happen to live in a red state and there's not rampant racism here

Not above ground anyway.

And right, no other President has had to contend with 'hate signs'. I am not surprised that you have swampland to sell.

And it's also hilarious that I state that Bush did not seem to turn out to actually be Hitler or turn the USA into Nazi Germany and that somehow translates to that I said he was 'not so bad'.

It's funny, but I cannot remember very many town halls during Bush's terms nor in the 1990s. We sure would have loved it though, if our side coulda organized some disruptions and protests.

We managed some decent sized war protests, although there wasn't even a war - yet. Some rightwingers called us 'haters' and 'traitors' and we insisted that dissent was patriotic. Now the shoes are on the other feet, and dissent is no longer patriotic, it's a sign of a sick mind.

[noiretextatique]

38. where do you live?

let me show you how easy it is to prove racism exists in your state.

[hfojvt]

44. did I say racism doesn't exist? That would be quite silly.

I had one pretty openly racist co-worker. I also had a group of four black men playing cards on a front porch who refused to even talk to me. So I know there is racism in my state.

But racism is not what I would call rampant. No crosses have been burnt. No KKK parades have been held. No Governor candidates are on TV defending segregation.

I also see lots of evidence of its lack too. Our mostly white Democratic County party just elected a black man as our new County chair, and we now have a black woman as our vice chair. A street on the Fort was recently named after a member of the Buffalo soldiers, a guy who used to be the piano player in my Kiwanis club. Many of the white members expressed pride that they were able to call him a friend.

[billh58]

45. Oh Christ on

a crutch! The old, "I have a black friend," so racism does not exist, argument. When you feel the need to point out the race of people you know, or count among your friends, you seriously need to re-examine your own values. And the "reverse racism" argument does not hold very much water either. Maybe those card players just don't like the way you look. Why do assume that race has anything to do with their not talking to you?

I agree that, as a country, we are making some social progress, as evidenced by the election of President Obama. But, we are a long way from losing the "racist" label in many parts of this country, and there is no denying that parts of the antebellum South remain a hotbed of hatred and bigotry because each generation has been taught hatred by their ignorant parents.

Imposed ignorance is a mainstay of the faux religious-right, and the main reason that they fear Liberals and our call for advancement in: education, the sciences, the arts, and all other areas of social enlightenment. Racism and bigotry go hand-in-hand with radical religionists the world over. The KKK and the Taliban are cut from the same racist and bigoted cloth.

No KKK in Kansas? See this recent article:

http://newsone.com/nation/kansas-school-showcased-kkk-board-game/comment-page-6/

Wonder who taught these little Rednecks how to hate? Maybe religious-right "Creationists?"

[hfojvt]

63. Maria makes me laugh

and so do you.

Why would I assume those card players didn't like my race. Gee willikers, what would a black man assume if four white people playing cards wouldn't acknowledge his existence (and he'd most likely be just as right as I am).

Again, I never said racism does not exist. Nor did I say that there is no KKK in Kansas. However, it is certainly a fact that they don't openly advertise their existence the way they did in the 1940s when they marched right down main street in this town.

[billh58]

65. What if the

four card players were "white," and didn't acklnowledge your existence? Or, could that NEVER happen in your world? You logic escapes me, and that's not really a laughing matter...;-)

[hfojvt]

67. I still would attribute that to bigotry. Probably classism.

Unless they know me and have some reason in their mind for not liking me and thus snubbing me, then it is pretty clearly some type of bigotry.

Kinda funny though, because now our roles are reversed, and you are the one denying what I think is patently obvious.

You just KNOW that there are NO black people with a bias against white people. White on black racism is everywhere I guess, just like chicken man, and black on white racism is just an urban legend, just a bunch of white racists projecting.

[billh58]

69. I believe that

African-Americans have every right to distrust white people, until it is proven otherwise. I believe that blaming long-standing victims of racism for the current state of race relations is a very "religious-right" thing, and is similar to blaming rape victims for not "trusting" their rapists. We are approaching a point in this country where that mutual distrust is diminishing, but it isn't gone yet. To me, that isn't "reverse racism," it's well-deserved caution -- both psychological, and physical. How many of your ancestors (only a few generations back) were lynched because of the color of their skin -- right there in tolerant old Kansas? How many times have you been stopped by a white policeman for driving-, walking-, or running-while-black? How many times have you been called "nigger" by an ignorant teenager who was taught to hate by his religious-right parents?

To deny that rampant racism still exists in the South, and other Red States, or that white supremacist groups are not spreading like wildfire, is to deny reality. I have been a part of the modern Civil Rights Movement almost since it began in the '60s, and I have seen racism up close and personal. I saw it Washington, D.C., I saw it in Texas, I saw it in Georgia and Alabama, and I've seen it in the U.S. Army, and other parts of our government. Racism is insidious, and not always immediately recognizable, but it still exists. Unfortunately, the most egregious forms of racism are apparent in the neoconservative-leaning Red States.

I have no doubt that you don't consider yourself a racist, and that you are sensitive to other's feelings. Here is Hawaii, race is not really a consideration for anything, or anyone, except for a few newly-arrived white people (mostly tourists) from the U.S. Mainland who bring it with them. Fortunately, they soon learn to leave that shit behind, or they quickly leave and return to where they can be more comfortable with their racism.

[billh58]

42. Are you

seriously trying to convince anyone that racism does not exist "above ground" in Kansas of all places? The home of the "evolution is a theory" religious-right crazies, and where the KKK (along with other White Supremacist groups) is alive and kicking? Nice try with the "hate signs" dodge too, but in fact no white president has had to contend with racist hate signs, and overt threats of violence because of their race.

Dubya and his henchmen had plenty of "Town Halls" on the taxpayer dollar, but they were "invitation only" events complete with pre-approval loyalty forms, and Liberals, Democrats, and anyone who didn't agree beforehand with the neoconservative bastards were either denied entry, or kept in "protest zones." Americans were not allowed to protest the idiot who said, "a dictatorship would be easier." And just fyi, there is a HUGE difference between passionate political dissent, and overt racist hate speech.

Puhleeeze, rampant racism and bigotry not only exists, but persists and grows "above ground" in ALL Red States, and in many Blue States as well -- just not as ingrained and inbred.

Oh, and the price of that swampland just went up...;-)

[hfojvt]

64. Do you really think you know more about Kansas in Hawaii

than I do in Kansas? Maybe I should be trying to sell you ocean front property in Western Kansas.

Are you perhaps aware that the evolution guidelines that Kansas got so mocked over were not that much different than things that were previously passed in Minnesota?

[billh58]

66. So

that makes Minnesota a paragon of advancing education and knowledge, right along with the Kansas school system? Look, I'm sure that there are decent people in Kansas, and that you are probably one of them, and if you believe that evolution is a Left-Wing, Liberal, Godless Commie invention, I apologize.

I just vehemently disagree with your assertions that out-and-out racism is not a big part of this orchestrated "indoctrination of our children, Nazism, Socialism, Fascism, Hitler-reincarnated" bullshit that has most of it's roots in the Red States.

Criticizing President Obama for not moving fast enough on Health Care, or LGBT issues, or any of a myriad of other rational arguments is not the issue here, and is perfectly fine with ALL thinking people. It is the overt and readily apparent racism from the knuckle-draggers among us that is being called out for what it is: hate speech based on race!

As another astute poster pointed out, expressions of racism and hate are perfectly legal in this country. On the other hand, so is calling attention to, and shining a bright light on, racists and their particular brand of irrational hatred for fellow Americans.

Peace...:toast:

[Lilyeye]

34. I guess you missed the "N*-Loving Communist" thread.

I think the OP is spot on. My repuke family members hated the Clintons, but when it looked like President Obama was winning they sure changed their tune. They even defended her and said if they had to have a democrat in office, they would choose her over the Muslim. :eyes:

I don't give a damn what people say, racism is at the root for many of those idiots. It makes me laugh when so many folks here still try to ignore it and say "Well Bush and Clinton had it bad too!!" or "its not because his black...its because his a democrat." This reminds me of when some folks here were actually a little annoyed that a poster said freepers were racist assholes and FR was no better than a white supremacist site. Not even a good week later, we saw the horrible sexist and racist attacks directed towards an innocent 11 year old girl. We also saw the freepers defend that bullshit and CONTINUE it even when they were called out. I bet the people who defended that piece of shit site, felt really stupid afterwards.

I guess what I am trying to say is...yes they hate Obama because his a democrat, but his skin color makes it 10 times worse. Whenever I hear repukes bash Obama, in places where they feel most comfortable, they NEVER fail to bring up his race in some negative way. I know that Bush and Clinton had their share of bashing, but at least they didn't have to go through being automatically discredited (by some) just for being born black.

[SoCalDem]

37. Exactly.. The rightwingers hated Clinton (Bill), but it was a love hate thing too

because there was a lot of jealousy there too. They knew that Clinton would be easy to deal with, since deep-down he was really closer to their philosophy than to any real hardcore liberal. He was always ready to sign onto things that he should not have..to get along..to try to make people like him. Growing up in a dysfunctional family makes people grow up wanting to be liked..to fit in..


They are NOT jealous of Obama.. they want him dead and gone.. period.

[hfojvt]

39. "I don't give a damn what people say"

I see. So you just KNOW it's racism and no amount of logic or evidence or lack of evidence is going to be able to convince you otherwise. Thank goodness you at least have an open mind about it. First be sure of the truth and then go cherry-pick some evidence.

[billh58]

43. You should really

take your own advice, bubba. Maybe get out more, and see the world as it is.

[Lilyeye]

46. LOL Ok apologist. I live around these type of people. I hear what they say.

I didn't say its racism for all, but I believe it is for many. Its fucking obvious what is going on. If you want to continue to bury your head in the sand...be my guest.


Edit: Spelling

[hfojvt]

70. apologist, eh?

I do think people should have the right to protest a President and his policies without being called scum, vermin, traitors, fools, etc. I don't just feel that way when I am the one protesting Bush and his war, and then create another standard for people who want to protest abortion or progressive taxation or world peace.

[Proudlib09]

72. Try getting some FACTS to back up your position

Well you might have a point if in FACT liberals ALWAYS cried "racist whenever there is opposition to Obama". Unfortunately for you, that is not true. Rather, people have been called racist when they have overtly or implicitly demonstrated that their opposition to Obama is race based and this hoopla over Obama's school address is a perfect example. I actually think Obama's address to school children is a silly waste of time (and the idiotic "write a letter to the President" is another example of his ego and need for adoration) but it's not anything different from what other Presidents of either party have done. So one has to ask...WHY the fanatical opposition? What's the rational basis? Your BS answer that "they oppose his policies" doesn't fly since I'm sure the other Presidents who spoke to school children also had policies that weren't liked by eveeryone AND Obama is NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT HIS POLICIES. One then has to ask...what is difference between Obama and his predecessors who have also given speeches to school children? It doesn't take a genius to look at these facts as well as the history of racism in the U.S., the ongoing racism in the U.S. and the demonstrated racism exhibited by rightwing voters during the past electionc campaign to reach the very reasonable conclusion that RACE is the motivating factor behind the school opposition and many of the other rage filled protests led by rightwingers.

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. We tuned him out. We didn't charge him with indoctrinating our children.

We respected his right to speak because, he was, afterall the President of the United States. I don't recall anyone fighting the media to shut him up. That would have been unthinkable, because, he was, afterall, the President of the United States. It may not have stopped us from protesting, but, those protests were not about shutting him up. Those protests were about setting the record straight.

[AuntPatsy]

29. I understand why your arguing the point but lets admit that the bottom line

is that it is racism pure and simple that has driven the wrongwayrighwingdanglers to the extremes that they and the base continue to climb to in their effort to ensure a black man does not remain president in this country...

they are trying to kill him..too afraid to do it themselves so they are using the underlying once dormant racial hatred that many still hide deep inside them to accomplish it by constantly stirring the crazies up in some huge boiling pot full of rotten waste, rotten to the very core and easily ready ripe in boiling over in retrospect ensuring someone gets burned in the process.....

We have always lived in a violent world..its a given..but it has been many many years since such behavior was deemed appropriate in governing a country where many feel a democracy still exists..oh it exists but it is so vague that if not fixed soon will surely fade away completely..


You cannot defend them in any way shape or form..the stakes are too high...lives are not only at stake but our once valued precious freedoms...so stop please..there is no defense at this point..none which makes sense..

[bugfragged]

5. What if I dressed up as Obama for Halloween in front of these fearful people?

The adults will probably scream louder than the children for once.

[Raschel]

19. They already dressed him up for you. That's what the painted face was all about.

To make him even scarier. :puke:

[Gregorian]

6. Do I have to take my vitamins! I don't want to eat my veggies!

Yeah, that melanin makes people do crazy stuff.

God what a bunch of goons. If they only knew. I think people are just a little ahead of baboons. And that's pretty frightening when you see baboons. Thieving, fighting, and just all around filthy. Oh well, some of the specie is quite evolved. Phew. If only we could ignore the little evil cretins tearing our house down.

[SoCalDem]

7. A baboon funny for you

[Johonny]

13. the black man wants us all to have health care

has me envisioning John Cleese's reaction to the black doctor.

[Raschel]

20. The scary Black man does fist bumps. Wingnuts think it's a terrorist sign.

:rofl:

[SoCalDem]

23. It's their "7th Sense".. terrorist recognition

:)

[windoe]

21. BUt DO NOT be afraid of that stupid white guy who is now digging a hole in his backyard

and planning for armageddon....

[SoCalDem]

48. and stockpiling weapons..

:(

[Uzybone]

22. Welcome to post racial America

lets pat ourselves on the back.

[Hekate]

27. The comic strip Candorville by Darrin Bell had "Scary, scary black man" as a tag line for awhile

You can find it here on a daily basis http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/comics/candorville.html
and of course if you do a google search you can probably find a library of back issues.

Lemont, the main character, is a kind of nerdy black Everyman -- a bit of a grownup Charlie Brown. He starts as a blogger and becomes a print journalist. "Scary, scary black man" shows up in a series about people reading newspapers, listening to talk radio, and watching MSM tv. Every time some bit of news about what President Obama is trying to accomplish starts to come on, it gets overlaid with SCARY, SCARY BLACK MAN. Sound familiar?

All too familiar.

Hekate

[Hannah Bell]

30. obama is ignoring the people who elected him, except for the dlc wing of the electorate.

that's the real problem.

the FOX-generated controversy is just an easy diversion.

[bluestateboomer]

31. Seems obviously racist to me...

He's much more intelligent and articulate than the last guy.

So far his policies for better or worse do not wildly diverge from the last administration.

But he's scarier than Josef Stalin.... or maybe just scarier than Glenn Beck and Rush....

[butterfly77]

35. Kick &Recommended!!!

[LatteLibertine]

36. Bigotry is a real problem in the United States

The reason many hate folks like Van Jones is he makes us look at it. It's uncomfortable and it's not easy to deal with. Racism is still deeply ingrained in many elements of our society. Often it's underground or a deep undercurrent that everyone senses and no one wants to discuss. Again, because it's uncomfortable and difficult to boot.

Attacking people that may make controversial statements isn't going to cure the problem, it's going to remain. The same may be said for dismissing people who are racist. Condemning them is fine and after we do that and feel good about ourselves, what do we really do? Things just go back to business as usual. No meaningful civil or productive dialogue is had.

What this county needs is open honest civil discourse about racial issues. Divisive language and finger pointing are going to cause people to turtle up and disengage. So while I agree with Van Jones on many things I think there are more tactful ways to put it. We need to look at our common ground and build a consensus/community that will "lift all boats". I'm concerned about the plight of all people in this nation, their fate is tied to mine.

As far as health care reform goes, there is no reason for a nation as wealthy as the United States not to have universal health care. Not a public option, not a "co-op", universal health care for all.

[wilt the stilt]

40. Town hall meeting

I was at the Gwinnett county healthcare town hall meeting in GA. all that was missing was the hoods.

[Pangolin2]

49. Look, a knee-jerk attribution of every single criticism of or disagreement with Obama

as racism is not only wrong, it's stupid, insulting and counterproductive. I have family members who don't agree with the administration's policies on economic matters, the continuing and escalating war in Afghanistan,
the lack of presidential pushing to end GLBT discrimination and some other issues and to some extent that does translate into personal dislike for Obama since he's where the buck stops...is that really all that irrational?
I think it's in perfect alignment with how they've loudly and publicly insulted the Clintons, Gores and virtually every other highly visible Democrat.

The thing is, most of these same people idolize many African American sports figures---especially football players. If there's racism at play there, it sure is compartmentalized. :shrug:

[billh58]

51. So your argument

is that because your family members are not racists, there are no racists appearing at Town Hall meetings, or carrying racist signs, or keeping their children from listening to a motivational speech about the importance of education, or that the proliferation of armed White Supremacist groups has not erupted (mainly in the Red States) since President Obama's Inauguration? Compartmentalized? Maybe compartmentalized to large areas of the Red States.

Your statement that "these same people idolize many African American sports figures," is a takeoff on the "many of my friends are_____" (fill in the blank) lame apologist argument that racism does not exist. Do they idolize them because they are African-American, or because they are great athletes? What does the color of their skin have to do with their athletic abilities? A few decades ago, "idolized" African-American sports figures were not allowed to drink from "whites only" water fountains, or eat in most restaurants.

Implied racism is so deeply ingrained in many parts of our society, that it almost goes unnoticed by those who most vocally deny that it even exists. Yes, we have made progress in the long, hard, fight against racism, but we are by no stretch of the imagination free of it's insidious influence on our society.

Some of the responses on this thread speak volumes about the need for more educational efforts to broaden young minds. It is obvious that old, and irrational, hatreds and racial stereotypes die slowly, and are unfortunately passed from generation to generation.

[Pangolin2]

52. My argument is simply that not every criticism of Obama and not every comment that is less than

complimentary of a minority is a de facto example of racism. Look, I know perfectly well that some people think Obama cannot or will not do anything right simply because of his race...and there are others who will insist he can do no wrong for precisely the same reason.

And how did some people become so cynical that hearing anyone say "many of my friends are ___" is proof they are liars and racists? It just MIGHT be true, you know.
A pox on all this political correctness crap. And here's one other not so insignificant point...by whatever standards a person actually might be a racist, it isn't illegal nor should it be. I'm sure you know very well not all racists are white.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

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[billh58]

56. See Ya...

-;)

[Name removed]

59. Deleted message

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[Withywindle]

50. Yup, in a nutshell.

I'm 40 years old, and I don't remember EVER hearing anyone seriously suggest there was anything wrong with schoolchildren watching a speech by the President of the United States before. Any President in my lifetime: Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II. Whether their parents agreed with his policies or not. My parents hated Reagan, but they didn't try to censor him from me - they just told me where they thought he was wrong, and encouraged me to think critically about what he said. There was no superstitious fear of subliminal ooga-booga coming through the TV set. They didn't have any tinfoil hats made in kiddie sizes.

What's so different about THIS president? Why the completely irrational, over-the-top terror coming from a certain demographic?

Oh...right.

[kumbaya]

54. D'oh! You just admitted that they hated Hillary!

And her husband? If memory serves, Willie got pretty persecuted by the Right for every. little. thing.

Oh, and was Jimmy Carter Black?

Do you really believe what you are writing or just want the attention? It turns my stomach to read deliberate race-baiting posts. We have enough examples of blatant racism that we don't need to promote any dis of Obama as racist in nature.

[SoCalDem]

57. Then , by all means, take an alka-seltzer and have a nap.

:)

[Solomon]

77. Racism deniers kill me because they often use the most

blatant display of racism to "prove" their point that it's not about race.

People are like that. I remember in the run-up to the Iraq War how so many people were going out of their way to say that it wasn't about the oil at all. I kept pointing out that every single member of the administration was a oil executive and all everybody kept talking about was oil since gas prices were so high but people kept saying "It's not about the oil."

Mindboggling to me.

[carlyhippy]

58. Good lord on a Segway, this country has gone outer limits big time

I cant believe the negative response of parents ref his speech. When has a man in power giving good advice to students turned into a devilish crime? This is the stupidest thing I swear I have ever witnessed, is this what it is going to be for the next 3 years? Every little issue is going to be picked apart by the rw. I am saddened by all this, we are going to destroy ourselves because of stupidity. How can we be taken seriously by other countries?

[RobinA]

73. Gotta Almost Agree

I'd put this at second stupidest. The success of Swiftboat was the stupidest because the guy it favored was a freakin' draft dodger fer cripes sake. This is right up there though. I have to concentrate REAL HARD on how stupid it is, because if I let myself think of it in any other way I'd have to buy a gun and shoot myself it's so damn depressing.

[astral]

60. People's problem with the President is NOT about race.

And I am really, really sick of this. People here on this forum had all kinds of stuff to say about what was wrong with our last president. It was not about race. THIS is not about race either.

[Lilyeye]

61. You're kidding yourself if you don't think race is involved to some degree.

I am not saying it is for everyone, but it is to some of these idiots. I am really really sick of people denying the obvious. Wake the hell up.

[G Gordon Libby]

62. I`m gonna go out on a limb here and assume that, to be fair,

that includes voters who cast their ballots FOR Obama based on his ethnic makeup alone, particularly those who were voting for the first time(and not because they just came of age, either).

[billh58]

78. I doubt there were

as many African-Americans who voted for President Obama because of his race, as there were white people who voted for McCain and Palin because of their race, particularly those who were voting for the first time (and not because they liked McCain/Palin). See how that kind of evens out?

[Generator]

71. What is it about then?

I don't want to ascribe everything to race either. But I cannot fathom these people. Are they so ill informed-why yes-I know many are that they really think boring, conservative do everything by the book Obama is a threat to children? My daughter knows one of his big points was turn off the tevee, turn off the video games and study. Stay in school. She thinks he's a drag!

So if you know this his message and you claim it's "evil" or disturbing-what am I to base your fear on? Stupidity? That you are insane? Or racist? I can't figure it out. It's subconscious fear-and of course the right wing has drummed that up for DECADES-fear the commie liberal. Well fearing the commie liberal-whether he's black or not leads ultimately to violence.

Because apparently "we" are trying to take their "rights"away. I saw this exact comment a few miles from me in a town nearby Portland, Oregon, McMinnville at a town hall health care "debate." How can I debate with young white men who hold pictures of the president dressed like Hitler and tell me I am threatening to take their rights away??!!

WHAT fucking right am I taking away? Yeah I;m a liberal white middle aged woman who pays her taxes. And now I am the enemy, taking away what right? The right to not have health care? Do you wonder why either we think they are insane-and this isn't the south here-this is supposedly liberal northwest Oregon-or racist? Who are these people? And what country is this? I don't get it.

[SoCalDem]

74. And, if you ever were able to calm them down long enough

and asked them just what "right" or "rights" they were losing, they would be hard-pressed to define those rights..

the right to NOT have health care? pretty dumb "right"

the right to only have white republican presidents..another dumb "right", if they believe in the constitution and elections (especially since they are no more than 28-30% of the electorate these days)..how's that gonna happen, until they gain more members?

the right to work for shit wages until they die?

the right to hope that they will always have bosses to help pay their medical premiums, until the bos send their job to Mexico, or Myanmar?..some right

the right to buy guns every month? (no one's stopping them, although SOMEONE really should)

the right to push their Jesus in public schools? then it's also fair to "push" other religions in that same public system..no?

They all scream about their rights, but no one's taking their rights.. and even if their fear was valid, they cannot even name the rights

[astral]

75. I actually didn't mean to imply that "I" was against his speech

only that people's objections to it weren't based on race. They thought it to be indoctrination or something, which happens every day at school anyway, and I personally think it better for parents to just have open communication with their kids and discuss the topic after school and let the kids figure things out for themselves.

[billh58]

76. Many people

are not objecting to the speech because of President Obama's race, and have valid and rational gripes. But there is no denying that millions of hateful rednecks are following the lead of Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh, and ARE racists. They are using terms like "Hitler, Socialism, Fascism, Communist, and of ALL things racist," as euphemisms for "ni---r." That is except for the truly inbred rednecked assholes who are actually using the "N" word.

Then, there are the religious-right crazies who are fervently praying for his death. Objections NOT based on race? This is America, where it's "legal" to be an ignorant racist hate-monger. It's also "legal" to shine a big, bright light on the ignorant assholes, so they can't hide from real Americans.

[astral]

79. There are racist people, however

the problem people had with his speech in general was they claim it to be indoctrination, like getting kids to be loyal to the president rather than the country, like being asked afterwards (so I heard) by teachers, what kids are going to do for the president, and it presented a conflict to some people.

I didn't see what the big deal was, however, and don't understand why people were in such an uproar over it, but I do not think people on this here board should always be screaming about race whenever anybody in the country has a bad thing to say about the president, because like all people, there will be disagreements as to what's a good or bad thing to do and how good a job our president is doing, and he is a human being like any other president, who will make mistakes, or else he won't be pleasing All the People All the Time.

Honest, open and level-headed discussion and debate are what we want here, not polarizing against everybody who is on the other side of the fence.

I say that because I notice here, on many issues, it seems like there is a single lock-step Right Point of View here, and of course a wrong point of view; a politically-incorrect way of thinking if it's not the Right Point of View.

I would like to say I haven't made up my mind yet whether this 'issue' had a valid point. I am curious to see what gets said about it, now that the storm has passed.

[billh58]

80. None of the responses

that I've seen on DU have been in "lockstep" with a particular point-of-view (and especially a "Right" pov), including my own. To paraphrase Justice Potter Stewart, "I know racism when I see it," and many of the Conservative over-reactions to President Obama's speech were and are a result of ingrained racism.

For those few (and by all counts, they were small in numbers) who honestly objected to the original lesson-plan put out by the Department of Education, which included an assignment to "support the president," I have nothing but respect for their views. It was a poorly worded statement which lead to a misinterpretation of President Obama's intention of asking for honest feedback from those in the audience. That is why the "support" statement was almost immediately withdrawn from the published lesson plan, but the damage had already been done, and the true racists now had a cause they could rally around: "Socialist indoctrination of our children." The term "Socialist" being a thinly-veiled radical-right euphemism for "n----r."

To deny that there are white-supremacist racists among us who will never recognize an African-American as their President, is to deny the reality of race relations in our country today. Thankfully, the racists are becoming more-and-more of a minority themselves, but they still number in the hateful millions, and are mainly concentrated in hyper-conservative "Red" states and communities. The shame is, that they will pass this legacy of hatred along to their children, and the cycle will perpetuate into the foreseeable future.

Because racism is perfectly legal (within very loose bounds) in this country, calling right-wingnut racists out on their hateful bullshit wherever it crops up, and shining a bright light on it at every opportunity, is one of the only weapons we have have against it. The same goes for extremist right-wing religious bigotry where it exists, which usually goes hand-in-hand with "white power" racism and misogamy.

[billh58]

81. Damned spell checker...

The last word should have been spelled misogyny (hatred of women, and NOT hatred of marriage).