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Race and the Right
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Charges fly that conservative critics of Obama are fueled by racism. African-Americans have been to this movie before.
The media melee is in full fury, as pundits, pollsters and even ex-presidents react to the assertion that much of the anti-Obama animus in evidence of late is motivated by—dare I say it?—race.
First, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd took South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson to task in a weekend missive: “Some people just can’t believe a black man is president and will never accept it.” Then Politico’s Jonathan Martin quoted several prominent Democrats detailing what hey see as obvious racism among many of the President’s detractors. And Tuesday, former President Jimmy Carter entered the fray, telling an audience at his presidential center in Atlanta that Wilson's scream at President Barack Obama during his healthcare speech to Congress was at its core motivated by racial animus.
In the midst of all this, I find myself a bit bewildered.
I am angered by the outpouring of racial invective that is being subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) encouraged by the denizens of hate radio and hate television, but I am not surprised by it.
I am angered by the outpouring of racial invective that is being subtly (and sometimes not so subtly) encouraged by the denizens of hate radio and hate television, but I am not surprised by it.
I am saddened to see placards at rallies and town halls depicting the president of the United States as a stereotypical African witch doctor, or T-shirts depicting him as a monkey, but I am not surprised by it.
I know of very few African Americans who are surprised. Disgusted? Yes. Angry? Of course. But surprised?
Nope, not in the least.
One of the basic facts of life if you happen to have spent any appreciable amount of time as an African American in the United States is that you become very familiar with racism.
• James Carroll: America’s New Racial Reality
• Stanley Crouch: Carter’s Charge Is a Distraction You recognize it wherever it rears its head: The store clerk who follows you—only you—around the store. The cab driver zooms past you in your expensive business suit and with luggage in tow, predictive of a lucrative fare, to pick up the college kid in khaki shorts with the backpack a block down. The supervisor who ranks you “average” in your annual review but can’t quite come up with specifics on why you didn’t grade higher.
African Americans’ antennae become attuned early on to racism in all its permutations—from screaming skinhead to dismissive diner waitress. And they also become painfully aware of one of the most pernicious realities—that in most cases, we dare not complain about many of these random acts of soul-sapping humiliation.
We know that very act of speaking out against the very racism that so debases us all too often marks us as excuse-making malcontents looking for the first opportunity to “play the race card.”
Let’s be clear: The majority of the people attending those protest rallies or disrupting congressional town halls are likely not motivated by racism. But a significant percentage are, and the architects of a lot of this hate and fear-fueled activity know that fully well.
Worse, they also know fully well that the destructive forces that they are unleashing pose a threat not just to African Americans, nor to Democrats, but to the nation as a whole. They know this, but they just don’t care.
Meanwhile, the decorum of our discourse, our commitment to the common good and the hopefulness in our hearts that has always been one of the secrets of our success as a nation are dropping like beans at a backyard barbecue.
America, surely we can do better than this.
Eddie Reeves is a strategic communications consultant based in Dallas. His previous work experience includes stints on the senior management team at Public Strategies, as a Vice President, Media Relations at Merrill Lynch, as Press Secretary and Senior Legislative Assistant for the late Congressman J.J. “Jake” Pickle and as a political columnist for the Austin American-Statesman. He can be reached at reevesreport@gmail.com.
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crngndmhm
I know that there going to be many posts shouting down this article. But I'd just like to say that instead of defending all these different groups, know that when you disregard racist comments your condoning them. So accept the fact that at least some of these people are racist and shout them down. Don't fall into reactionist behaviour think for yourself and if you have actual complaints state them don't burden us with your rhetoric and verbal spew.
Sophia72
Amen to that! Let's recognize racism for what it is - a destructive force....
neverlate
And when you conflate legitimate political discourse with racism you demean the prior and create doubt about the later. This is a no-win conversation for all.
incognito-ergo-sum
neverlate, the author took pains to make this distinction and yet it flew right by your eyes and didn' penetrate your brains.
Msbeachwood
When those on the extreme right characterize President Obama as a hitler and complain wildly about something as simple and basic as a speech to school children what other motivation could they have but racism. No other explanation makes.
Zero001
How can you say no other explanation exists. bush was compared to hitler and to a chimp. Bush was boo'd by the Dems during a sTate of the union Speech. When you have a President that cannot be challenged without being called a racist, there is a problem .
djanimaequeen
Here we go. A dismissive racist. Disagreeing with the president does not make you racist. The point is that he is being attacked for what people think he might do not what he has done. If you have a contention, then state it clearly. But all I have ever heard are random ramblings that have absolutely no basis in facts. That is why it points to racism.
For example "He's a socialist", where is the basis for that?
"He's a facist", again, where is the basis for that?
"He is gonna take away our freedoms", all of these are generalizations based on fear.
Most of the people who disagree with Obama ARE NOT RACIST, let me make that clear as the author has already done, but to ignore the obvious racial overtones is just as racist as those who perpetrate them.
innocentcitizen
i find it interesting that obama changed the text of his speech after the uproar over him addressing our children. he had to take out the part about enlisting the kids to help pass his socialist agenda. the speech he actually gave was a wonderful conservative lesson about individual responsibility and family support. reagan couldn't have said it better. obama is a politician plain and simple and he knows when to reveal his true feelings and when to keep them hidden.
incognito-ergo-sum
innocentcitizen, you can take your tongue out of your cheek now. That was funny and could almost pass as sarcasm.
sophia5
Obama's election never made the country "post racial."
The right wing, pick up driving, booger eating, rebel flag waver is overt.
The upper west side liberal who clutches the
wallet or purse when a black man approaches is " subtle. "
Veronicaxy
Republicans are attempting to paint the racism as a lunatic fringe not mainstream to the tune they now are running ads taking credit for the civil rights act. Let's look at official Republican Party labels:
"Willy Horton"
"Socialism = Healthcare" (jails, public schools, roads, levees, bridges, Social Security -- our country had strong socialist programs for decades that allowed prosperity to flourish with a sound infrastructure. I know work mostly with non-Americans who are better educated for the work we do.)
"Card carrying member of the ALCU"
"Muslim"
"Friends of terrorists"
"Terrorist"
sophia5
So the " L " word ( liar ) is now a racist term ?
Is the liberal press equating
the " L " word with the " N " word ?
Don't dare disagree with Obama's policies,
because that will be perceived by the
race baiting Maureen Dowd's of the world as "racist?"
al-nafs
I don't think that the 'L' word is being equated with the 'N' word. I'd write these words out in full, except that I don't want my post to be erased.
Was Obama lying about illegal immigrants as Joe Wilson accused?
The health care proposals include language that specifically prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving health benefits. Republican amendments to add enforcement for this prohibition have been rejected, making the language seem rather toothless and hollow. ( Max Baucus' bill includes enforcement provisions )
So was he "lying"? It depends on how you feel. Why do people *feel* so strongly so as to accuse this President of being a liar? It is a matter of trust. I think that it is possible that the reason so many do not trust Obama could be related to some deeply held emotional bias. Racism is the easiest explanation for such an emotional bias.
It doesn't mean that it is the correct explanation for every case. Some people are just scared of all these big changes, it doesn't matter if others think that their fears are rational and reasonable or not.
Witness2BS
Calling the President a liar was a demonstration of a White Senator not given the RESPECT due to the President.....since he is Black.
PhilMcRoin
liberal press? WHere did you here that term? In the press? I hate to question the absurdity of a lie that has been repeated enough times that most people beleive even those on the left for some reason... but where do you hear about the liberal media? where? in the media?
and I guess all of that race baiting I hear all over the neo-con media doesn't cause the reactions that in turn are called race baiting by the neo-con media..
go ahead and swith the L word for the N word ...I'll switch the M word for the R word.
mrmoose
The Gospel according to Comrade Reid
And the socialist people said unto him;
You are our Lord comrade Obama and he was
And our Lord Obama said unto the socialist people:
Beware the evil and corrupt Wall street executives
And the socialist people fell on their knees and said it is true
And our Lord Obama said unto the socialist people
Beware the bankers for they are evil and corrupt
And the socialist people fell to their knees and said it is true
And our Lord Obama said unto the socialist people
Beware the Auto executives for they are evil and corrupt
And the socialist people fell to their knees and said it is true
And our Lord Obama said unto the socialist people
Beware the insurance companies for they are evil and corrupt
And the socialist people fell to their knees and said it is true
And finally Our Lord Obama said unto them
Any who may oppose me are truly racist and evil and corrupt
And the socialist people said it is the truth
And it came to pass that the socialist people said unto our Lord Obama
We must sacrifice you for the Greater Good
And our Lord Obama said unto the socialist people
Whoa
Bro don't taze me
Bunx05
This post seems rather disingenuous. Obama has never said that his opposition is racist. In fact, the white house has come out and said that they don't think the opposition is racist.
And your use of biblical intonation and language offends and mocks my faith as a Christian.
PS~ Jesus was a liberal. check out the new testament.
djanimaequeen
Not to mention racist. To depict a Harvard educated lawyer who is president of the United States as saying "Whoa Bro don't taze me" is disgusting and completely insulting. So blacks are incapable of proper grammar? All we can ever speak is ebonics? You're a sad little moose troll. It must hurt your pride that a black man is better than you. Go to hell.
Witness2BS
Of course the White House would say this.......If they spoke the truth...as Ex President Jimmy Carter did, they would have more distraction over the health bill.
reardongalt
Is there still racism in this country? Yes, definitely.
Do blacks play the race card? ("You're just saying that because I'm black.") Yes, definitely.
Is Maureen Dowd an idiot? Yes, definitely.
Does Obama lie? Yes, definitely.
Was Wilson's remark racist? Who knows.
Were there racists at the tea-parties. Yes. Statistically as in the population.
Were the tea-parties motivated by race? No, definitely not.
These things have to be weighed on a case by case basis.
Noontime
Wow. I had no idea Kreskin actually existed, let alone made regular appearances in these parts!
Kreskin, aka "reardongalt," knows, without a doubt, that blacks "play the race card," the Obama "is a liar," that Maureen Dowd is "an idiot," and the tea parties were "not motivated by race.
Whew! Glad we got that settled. I was so very confused.
But on the issue of Joe Wilson's motivation, Kreskin is well...unsure.
I believe in you Kreskin, and I know you'll come up with a reason for his outburst. Im also sure you'll come up with sound, logical reasons for why parents kept their children away from Obama's address on education, or why people are bringing assault rifles to rallies.
But while you ponder all of this, I'll offer another case to evaluate...
I'm 43, black, male, professional, and educated. I'm an independent contractor, meaning I no longer work in an office. The reason I no longer work in an office is because I was told that I made some people "uncomfortable." Now, I have no criminal record, no history of violence, and I am, on most days, a rather pleasant co-worker.
But my editor told me that most of the people in my office had "never been around someone like me." Hmm...Interesting choice of words, I thought. Well, I'm 5-10, about 200 pounds, muscular, with a shaved head and a dark chocolate complexion. I also have a degree in English Literature, I'm somewhat well -versed in current affairs and I'm at ease, even popular, in most social settings-even those populated by mostly white folks. But I was asked (subtly) to vacate the premises. I implore you, Kreskin in all your wisdom and impartial spirit, was this a case of racism? (To clarify, I'm talking about subconsciously motivated racism of course, and certainly not the product of malice on the part of white folks because I'm sure you know that particular brand of racism vanished with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation)
Or am I just playing that pesky little race card?
reardongalt
"Kreskin, aka "reardongalt," knows, without a doubt, that blacks "play the race card," the Obama "is a liar," that Maureen Dowd is "an idiot," and the tea parties were "not motivated by race."
Noontime, you seem like a reasonable person, so I'll answer you directly.
I stand by all those things you quoted me on, but I also said:
"Is there still racism in this country? Yes, definitely." and
"These things have to be weighed on a case by case basis."
As far as Wilson motivation, my thinking is that Obama was in fact lying about illegals getting coverage because the Dems already voted down any atttempt at verifying citizenship. That was Wilson's whole point. He knew that without verification, illegals would participate. Since then, the issue of verification has been revisited. So, Wilson accomplished something beneficial by calling Obama a liar. Now, is Wilson a racist? How the hell am I supposed to know, who do you think I am "Kreskin".
As far as Blacks playing the race card, it happens every day just about. Jim Clyburn can't say two sentences without playing the race card.
With respect to your personal situation, I repeat:
"Is there still racism in this country? Yes, definitely."
But, believe it or not, I'm not one of them. My mother grew up in NYC in the 20s and 30s as a first generation immigrant from a European country, and was treated as a second class citizen. When she raised her children (my brothers and sisters and me) she made sure she raised us as Americans, and never once uttered a racist word in front of us.
So, personally, I'm a little shocked at how racist most Democrats are.
reardongalt
Noontime, I forgot something. The guy who brought the assault rifle to the rallie was black. CNN hid that fact. FOX didn't.
As far as why parents kept their children away from Obama's address on education, I don't really know for sure. I don't necessarily take a position on every issue. If I was to guess though (if it was me), I'd be concerned Obama might try to teach my kids how to bow down to Saudi Sheiks.
pac10guy
Noontime, I'm serious in asking this question: In your opinion do black racists exist?
djanimaequeen
I think I throw me a race card. Tag your it! Racist!
reardongalt
And you're "The Missing Link".
reardongalt
queenie, you're projecting again. Dems always project. When they cry "racist", they're telling the world that they ARE racists.
I rest my case.
Witness2BS
The main motivation of the Tea Parties is Money. The insurance companies(who are the organizers of Tea Parties) are stoking the fears of people and confusing the issues. They are using the fears of people to rally them against something that will hurt them (Insurance Company) They are fanning the flames of race hate to get people to march....
elldeen
This is a very good story. It's one of the best that I've seen on DB. It is not "playing the race card" to tell the truth about racism in America - which has reared its ugly head like never before upon the election of the first black POTUS. So anyone who says otherwise is a closet racist at best, and is in complete denial over it. These are also the same people who throw out the race card over 'reverse discrimination'.
Not everyone who criticizes Obama is a racist, and some of them are black. But there are so many who are - such as the thousands of wingnuts who waved derogatory and defamatory signs about him among the estimated 70,000 protesters at the December 12th rally on Washington. The same is also true with the wackos who went berserk when Obama wanted to give his back-to-school speech.
These people are not normal mainstream Americans or grassroots citizens, as they have deluded themselves into believing they are - and want everyone else to believe as well.. They are right wing extremists who can't stand the fact that we have a black man in the White House.
Not all right wingers are racists, but most racists are right wingers, and their racism makes them do and say extreme things, such as I have noted above. Also, the more bigoted someone is, the more extreme they are in their views. There has been so many black firsts that have made the news over the last 50 years - but they had to wait until Obama was elected before they really went nuts.
So this makes their extreme reaction to him making history last November even more absurd. Didn't they think that this could happen as well? Or did they make the mistake of assuming that most white people are just like them - and that there weren't enough of them to put Obama over the top?
MOZART
Jimmy Carter has it absolutely correct. We can deny until the sky falls, but we do so at our peril, because when we discreetly push racism back under the rock we are not doing this country any good. I live in the South and I do not know how bad it is anywhere else in the country, but believe me, Racism is alive in Texas. I am white and have lived here for fifty years. Racism is more overt here now than in the last twenty years.
roger37
I have to laugh about all these honkies, me included, that are pontificating on whether racism is involved or not, when most of us have only been exposed to our 90 year old granny mumbling incoherently about "darkies."
The author of the piece says that black people recognize racism right away, yet they know it doesn't include every white person. So I believe him.
Actually, I'm rolling on the floor laughing my ass off (there should be a way to acronym that!).
PoliticalMan
Is there racism in America? Of course! Is there racism behind opposition to Obama? I am sure there is. However, to say that what we are experiencing now, all of this anger, etc. is race driven or has race behind is preposterous. The last 8 years was filled with hate. Do you not remember Florida in 2000??? President Bush had a shoe thrown at him and most Americans were happy about it. For that matter, President Clinton didn't have an easy go of it either. For, at least, 16 years, we have seen and heard vitriol, anger and hatred. The very people who claim race behind those disagreeing with President Obama are those who are ratcheting up the rhetoric, yet again. We need to find ways to bring it down so we can have some honest dialogue about racism in America. It does exist and cannot be denied. It just shouldn't be trotted out as the rationale behind what some call newly discovered and i think decades old dislike for a President.
mcmchugh99
There has always been considerable racism on the American Right. It's nothing new. Every political historian knows about the Southern Strategy and the Republican effort to pick up white backlash voters from the 1960s onwards. That's simply a fact, no matter how much the Republicans try to deny it. They think playing the race card is one of the ways they will get to 50%, and every Republican candidate since Nixon and Goldwater HAS played it. They are still doing it now, in ways that are very familiar to historians.
They would oppose any reforming democratic President who was in office. They would be attacking Hillary Clinton ruthlessly now had she won, just as they attacked Bill Clinton, just as they attacked FDR, Truman, JFK and LBJ for passing reforms that they hated.
But they would not be saying that those white presidents were really Muslim terrorists who were not born in the United States. It would not be because of scruples, since they have none, but only because such charges against a white president would probably be too ridiculous even for listeners of rush Limbaugh.
reardongalt
Every racist I know is a Democrat. It's uncanny.
crngndmhm
Liar!
Unless you only know Democrats that's an out and out lie. Judging from your posts your very conservative, and chances are you know many people like yourself. That being said you don't know everybodies proclivity so your statement is false. If you honestly believe it your lying to yourself.
bklynblue
Every racist I know is a Republican. Equally uncanny.
djanimaequeen
YOU LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
roger37
And every Republican I know projects his inadequacies onto others. It's not uncanny, it's predictable.
innocentcitizen
obama and his sycophants have resorted to the last defense they can think of
wthout any real substantive defense of his socialist agenda. racism. what about the considerable racism of "kkk" byrd. or the considerable racism of jesse jackson, who wanted to emasculate obama for talking down to black folk. the obamanots cannot point to even one specific instance of a republican
using racism to combat obamas out of control government agenda. its the last resort of these far left wingnuts who see their brief time in power rapidly slipping away.
reardongalt
Well said. The Democrats ARE the party of racists.
elldeen
There's that damn word nig - I mean SOCIALIST again! There are a lot more racists in the Republican party than in the Democratic one - and both you and reardongalt are examples of this!
Can you say the word "Projection"?
Zero001
There is only one known klansman in the Senate I know of. He is Robert Bryd a Democrat. What other President said in his book that when things fall apart he will side with the muslims? I know many people who are very afraid of President Obama, and it has NOTHING to do with Race.
mutterhals
I don't know how anyone could deny that there is a racist element to some of the criticism leveled at Obama. That's not to say all criticism of him is inherently racist, but it should be blazingly obvious what is cogent and what is drivel. It's not a problem of racism as much as it is a problem of stupidity.
reardongalt
The Democrat Party is the party of imbecils. Did you see those ACORN characters? They ARE the Democrats. They got brought down by two kids in party costumes. ROTFLMAO!
elldeen
First you said that the Dems are the party of racists, and now it's the party of imbeciles. But this sounds more like the Republican party to me - who have been taken over by wingnuts by you!
reardongalt
"elldeen.......
First you said that the Dems are the party of racists, and now it's the party of imbeciles"
I don't think the two are mutually exclusive.
spinozai
It does seem that many on the left have begun to abuse the idea of racism to try to silence criticism in the way the Bush administration used the idea of giving aid and comfort to terrorists or of being disloyal to our troops to try to silence their critics.
Still one has to wonder if Wilson would have had the gall to have done what he did (based on his Twitter posts before the assembly I believe it is obvious he planned it and it was not a momentary lapse of judgment) with a white president. I live and grew up in the South and can attest that the level of casual racism here is quite noticeable and has become more so now that many whites feel they are losing control of this country.
MOZART
Does anyone know why Joe Wilson, when he blew a second hole in his head when Obama spoke, was not escorted off the floor by the Sargeant of Arms in the building. Nothing has been said anywhere and I am wondering why there was not any immediate reaction to the Moron Wilson.
If the Democrats want to keep control of the situation these days, and I hope they will, they need to act. not re-act!. Wide-eyed "Oh, my goodness" will not get anything
done.
Is it obvious that I am getting frustrated by the Democrats namby-pandy ways?
reardongalt
No. The only thing that is obvious is that you're a moron. Yeah, they should have brought in the CIA so Nancy could call them "Liars".
Thank you.
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