Carrie, September 19 at 11:39 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Ardee,
Obama brought the questions of his being an American citizen, on by his own actions…not being transparent like the past presidents, even though he campaigned on transparency

Oh horseshit, Carrie,please stop for a second and think harder. How on earth is Barack Obama’s misrepresenting himself as a progressive a justification for the basic racism of the mouth breathers claiming him to have been an Islamist plant, or a new Hitler , or questioning his citizenship?

This is strictly due to his being black.

“Being honest, ardee, will get you a great deal more of what you’re looking for. “

Unbelievable , especially from one of the biggest liars and phonies on this website…..

Does knowing what race you came from has to be the issue? Some people just have too much time on their hands which is how someone came up with this Obama witch doctor business.  A bunch of conservative activists from the northern Midwest, specifically from Brighton, Michigan were so bored that they have started calling President Obama a witch doctor.  Glenn Beck probably loves it, but then again, Beck tends to love all kinds of stupid and racist things, and tends to hate just about anything that does anyone any good.  Defenders of conservative causes love to claim that they have no racist tendencies, it’s just the lunatic fringe and there is some truth to that, but they don’t do themselves any favors with this kind of crap.  Instead of the Obama witch doctor stuff, perhaps they should have gotten pay day loans and a hobby.

ardee,

I am surprise to learn of your 15 Grand children. Admittedly I largely skip your posts. I mistook you as a young, undisciplined and unfocused thinker. I am taken aback.

—

Why not simply allow people their own opinions and drop the derision and insults? It’s an insipid practice.

Being honest, ardee, will get you a great deal more of what you’re looking for. Insults are easy and you debase yourself. Nothing positive is ever born from it.

AFriend, September 20 at 9:12 am #

You are not fooling anyone, AFreindless..I have seen your posts on other forums,including Common Dreams, containing the same old lies and distortions as you peddle here. They failed to go over there and will not here as well.

It isnt your ideology that sparks my rudeness, it is your belief that you can lie and distort at will. That you can ignore the posts of others when you cannot refute them, and twist what you attempt to refute to serve your purpose.

I am a senior citizen by the by, have mentioned my fifteen grandkids on several occasions, and am far to old to play your ignorant game.

By ardee, September 20 at 11:11 am #

Yeah I am sure…You take their money and despise them in private….

“them” are customers and are genuinely nice people.  I’m suprised you refer to “them” and not “us”.  It tells alot about yourself.   

I may not agree with the “support Israel” kiosk inside the Temple or the 20 year old blogging on his computer next to his IDF beret, wings and ribbon, but it is not my position to enforce the tax exempt status of religions who are engaged in political activity. 

I believe all churches, temples, mosques and religions should as taxed as well as all lobbys, foundations and non-profits.

ardee,

“I will continue to point out the lies and distortions of AFriend as well as the bigotry and hatreds of PatrickHenry. If this results in name calling, well, I can deal with that quite easily…”

—-

Exactly how young are you, small one?

In time you will learn that honesty, integrity and more patients toward others is the better way. As you get older you’ll learn that tossing insults is the easiest thing in the world. You’ll learn how you demean yourself on these pages.

You have it within you get gain what you seek.

Honesty, first and foremost, will get you the respect you crave so deeply.

PatrickHenry, September 19 at 6:18 pm

Yeah I am sure…You take their money and despise them in private….

By ardee, September 19 at 6:05 pm #

Actually, I just just finished up a contract helping building an addition on one.  Beautiful building.

PatrickHenry, September 19 at 5:43 pm

Spray paint any Synogogues recently?

By ardee, September 19 at 12:36 pm #

I will continue to point out the lies and distortions of AFriend as well as the bigotry and hatreds of PatrickHenry. If this results in name calling, well, I can deal with that quite easily…..

I know ardee, in the sea of lies and distortions, bigotry and hate you can deal quite easily…. proactively, I might add.

I will continue to point out the lies and distortions of AFriend as well as the bigotry and hatreds of PatrickHenry. If this results in name calling, well, I can deal with that quite easily…..

It’s usually mentioned, Dihey, that Pushkin was part African.  Possibly as irt being responsible for his rhythm, ho, ho, ho.  I don’t know how much you know about the history of racism in the US-you know a lot about most things- but there is no alternative to confronting it directly.

G"utless “W"itless Hitler

You appear honest and it’s refreshing.

You have me thinking in regards to my naivete. I do think you confuse a willingness to speak openly and succinctly with being an apologist, however.

I detest open bigotry while understanding its nature it’s ills and its role. I detest it so much that I am here asking some sincere and pointed questions?

Are those who see race in the foreground the “racists”? Are those you see race in the background ignorant? Are those who see it in the periphery the naive? Do some people simply have a need for it? All valid questions I think. One thing is certain. All humans put up a barrier against those unlike themselves. The truest test is how you receive others. What are the intentions?

—-

It’s hard for most to understand a claim of racism when someone tells you they cannot give an example of it. I understand how I feel differently about the first black president, however, what truly matters is how he is received. Is he given the same level of respect and deference? The same level of criticism and srcutiny? The question is not whether President Obama is being treated differently. I believe that’s a given. The question is the claim President Carter is making. In this case is President Obama being treated worse, or with less respect, than his predecessors?

I have yet to locate a single example of President Obama being treated with any more ill intent than his predecessors. In fact, even the most “liberal” of my friends concede how most in the media treated candidate Obama noticeably better then candidate Clinton. Was it the man or, was it his skin? I suspect it’s both. But most will acknowledge it openly.

Good luck to you, G.

By AFriend, September 18 at 12:05 pm #

I don’t care for insulting people, ardee. But in your case I will make an exception. You’re just too dim, small and narrow of mind to pay much attention to.

Next time try answering a direct question with an honest and direct answer. People will take you more serious. You incessant insults are of no use to anyone.

How true.  ardee has a history with many posters here of being immature, obnoxious and a prevaricator.

Obama is a pioneer for his race and I have seen a marked improvement in race relations and in school by blacks who before had nothing but contempt for the establishment now I think they feel a part of it.

Presidents from George Washington have had their detractors, some more slimey than others and outlandish in their attacks but all presidents have those who didn’t vote for them.  Obama has upset the status quo of connected white political rednecks and some are steamed over it.  They will attempt to trip him up over every issue but this is politics and being the first black president just makes Obama a lightning rod for another segment of society to vent.

“Can we agree that those not unlike President Carter and yourself will consider someones skin more than others may?”—AFriend

Sure, if we can also stipulate that perhaps just maybe it’s possible you and those not unlike you are viewing the world through rose-colored glasses.  Or shall I just concede that you have a special power that allows you to see what truly motivates others, while I have no such gift?

For the record, I too sincerely believe your feelings on race say a great deal more about you than they do about the critics of President Obama’s many critics.  I’m just not sure if those feelings are saying you’re naive or an apologist.

As for only 12% of Americans agreeing that race plays a major role in politics…. Well, I imagine most racists would deny that when polled.  Really, trotting out these poll results without considering this point further strengthens my thesis.

“G"utless “W"itless Hitler,

So your honest answer is that you can give no examples of the racism you see but, you feel it must be the intentions of others. I’m not accustomed to coming to my conclusions that way, however, it may work very well for you.

Can we agree that those not unlike President Carter and yourself will consider someones skin more than others may? You see, it’s actually you that’s thinking a great deal of color while I am certain many do not.

I sincerely believe your feelings on race says a great deal more about you and President Carter than it does about President Obama’s many critics. Every president has critics. And, by your own admission, you can give no example of the first black president being treated any different than his predecessors. But, you add, you feel different about the first black president and his critics.

I can say with an open attitude that I hold a healthy respect for the current president while at the same time I find myself often disagreeing with both his agenda and his tactics. It has very little to do with his skin.

Lastly, I was proud of Americans for electing Mr. Obama. Yes, due to his color. I am also gladdened and proud that recent polls show only 12% of Americans agree that race plays a significant role in the minds of his critics. I am truly heartened that the vast majority disagree with President Carter.

Good luck to you in all things.

“Can anyone lend us some examples of how the overall treatment of the current president differs from his predecessors?”—AFriend

Once again, you’ve missed the point.  It’s a fundamental question of motive.  The ill treatment of any president espousing an agenda that benefits the least fortunate among us will always have deep roots in racism.  Carter knows this.  The only difference now is that Obama IS black rather than just being a proxy.

“G"utless “W"itless Hitler,

Why does it matter so much to you to tell me what you personally think of me? The child-like, ardee, tends to do the same. What’s the useful point in that exercise?

You could simply answer my question. A question that cuts to the heart of the subject. Telling someone they’re wrong is not nearly as powerful, or effective, as showing someone how they may be wrong.

—-

Can anyone lend us some examples of how the overall treatment of the current president differs from his predecessors?

“As a fan of President Carter’s service to others I am saddened by the importance Mr. Carter puts on the current president’s skin color.

This sort of bigotry and racism has no place in contemporary dialog.”—AFriend

So you are, in essence, saying Carter is full of sh*t on this one.  You ain’t from around here, are ya boy? 

I think I’m gonna have to go with the former President’s insight into racism here.  I’m betting that an 84 year old politician from Georgia is going to know a lot more about the subject than you—the subject being the political motives of white people and their representatives, especially in the South.  Just a hunch I have.

Frankly, I don’t think your posts reflect a malign agenda, I think you’re just a bit naive.  But the more you try to dilute the essential truth, the more you look like an apologist.

ardee,

I’m a “right winger” for defending both Clinton and Bush 43? Your political bigotry is palpable and all too obvious, small one.

I don’t care for insulting people, ardee. But in your case I will make an exception. You’re just too dim, small and narrow of mind to pay much attention to.

Next time try answering a direct question with an honest and direct answer. People will take you more serious. You incessant insults are of no use to anyone.

Oh, and not to belabor the point ( obviously on this pasters head) but his own link shows not a single egg being hurled…..In contrast most of AFriend’s posts make me want to hurl…..

“I noticed Ardee failed to answer my question and chose instead his typical behavior of hurling unwarranted insults.
“

I notice that AFriend ( of whom, I wonder)thinks an opinion counter to his own is an insult. Further he deliberately reaches , I assume, or perhaps his limited reading comprehehnsion skills force him to, the wrong conclusions about what I wrote.

My post sought to correct the assumption of this far right winger about the hatred generated against George Walker Bush and its supposed similarity to that generated against Barack Obama….Sorry his ideology trumps his ability to read and understand.

Dear Folktruther

I admit that some of my statements were deliberately over-the-top to generate some discussion. After all the words that we use have meaning.

I do not object to using the word African-American in the context of a discussion of race relations, good or bad. What I believe to be a bad habit is to use the expression as a matter of statement such as: “Mr. Obama is our first African-American President” when it is not in the context of a discussion of racism. All that is said with that sentence is: “he looks different from all previous Presidents”. Of course that is true but it is irrelevant, so why waste your energy on irrelevant statements. All previous Presidents look different from me too. Racism begins with the thought: “he is different from me” with the implication that he is inferior to me.
Suppose that you are writing a book on 19-th century Russian poets. Would you call Alexander Pushkin an African-Russian?

Inauguration day 2001.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAp6YAPtC2c

Basically Ardee believes it’s OK to hate someone as long as one hates the same people Ardee hates. It matters none that the majority of Americans (92%) do not agree that Bush 43 stole an election.

I noticed Ardee failed to answer my question and chose instead his typical behavior of hurling unwarranted insults.

—-

Can anyone lend us some examples of how the overall treatment of the current president differs from his predecessors?

AFriend, September 18 at 5:49 am

A rather typical distortion of truth and fact from a usual source of such..unfortunate.

I do not remember an avalanche of eggs as this poster describes but perhaps one did occur. The outrage, eggs or eggless, was over a stolen election, a violation of constitutional law and the seeming destruction of an American institution, honest elections.

The amazing amount of lies and distortions we hear , and on an effort not yet even in bill form or voted out of committee, is a cacaphony, and the personal attacks on Obama, the untruths about his citizenship especially, are , I believe, unique to his race.

I am far from a supporter of the actions and efforts of this President, being a vocal and frequent critic thereof, but criticisms based on fact differ tremendously from knee jerk lies about our first African American President.

President Clinton was accused of being a potentially dangerous criminal in that he had been accused of being a rapist before and during his presidency. I’ve yet to see an example of a widely publicized charge leveled against President Obama equally harmful to a person. It wasn’t racism that began the bogus seven year, $70 million investigation of White Water. I’ve seen nothing in the treatment of President Obama that we can compare to how President Clinton had been treated during the election or his first 8 months in office.

President Bush was the first in history unable to finish his walk to the Capital on inauguration day due to eggs being thrown at his motorcade by people who hated his winning of the election. I don’t recall President Obama being subjected to that level of hatred.

Can anyone lend us some examples of how the overall treatment of the current president differs from his predecessors?

Both are Right
Jimmy calling the Teabaggers and their ‘leadership’ racists and Obama for dismissing it.
This admin hasn’t the luxury to debate Racism at this point - there are huge political lifts to be accomplished and any distraction only aid the Repugs smoke and BS agenda.
Jimmy is right to call the attacks what they are so not to dismiss it as nothing mroe than just typical politcal discourse- it’s far worse than that. Esp with the number of potential armed assasins showing up to healthcare Rallies. Let’s not miss the point that Obama, nor any in his admin, have even touched on Gun Controls. The only reference to Guns was made by Hillary who stated that Guns from US citizens had been illegally crossing the border. So why aren’t Texans having a shit fit about that sinc ethey are so worried the Drug violence may come spilling over the border- You’d think they would be out demanding stronger inspection at the crossings.Oh thats Right Texans like to have their Cake and eat it too- want unhindered gun ownership and call for secession- but want the Feds to protect their asses from the Guns they sold over the border. Texans have proven themselves to be schizophrenic Traitors. Hat ethe Fed byut demand Fed funds when ever they have flooding or fires or droughts or their eyelashes get bent.
I am a White Woman and I admit I am Racist - I hate Rednecks and HillBillies.

“G"utless “W"itless Hitler,

Again you missed the point.

An imbecile who claims Bill Clinton didn’t deserve to be president for being a rapist can be thought of just as imbecilic as the man or woman who claims Mr. Obama does not deserve to be president by way of skin color.

The issue is not whether racism exists in America. It exists all over the globe. The issue is whether or not it’s fair to claim that the majority of the president’s critics are practicing racism.

—-

President Clinton was accused of being a rapist before and during his presidency. A potentially dangerous criminal. Can you lend an example of a widely publicized charge leveled against President Obama just as potentially harmful to a person? I’ve yet to see it.

The point is this. To date President Clinton was treated far worse both before and during his presidency. It wasn’t racism that began a bogus seven year, $70 million investigation of White Water. Is it racism today because an 84 year old southern democratic white male says it’s what he believes?

I hold the utmost respect for President Carter. I simply question his perceptions on race today.

—-

We have seen the majority of regulars here harangue president Obama on many varied issues. Are most posting here based on racism? I have yet to see it. I see people who hold, what they believe to be, real grievances with policy and/or tactics. I see extensive political bigotry practiced here. Not racism.

Humans are human everywhere. To suggest that one group over another are more or less bigoted or racist will always prove to be incorrect.

“I am amazed how you so thoroughly missed my point.”—AFriend

Oh, I guess I’ve misread the subtext of your post, which makes you look a lot like an apologist for racism.

“G"utless “W"itless Hitler

“In other words, when citizens have a problem with the President because he’s black, that’s as legitimate is having a problem with the President because he’s a senile idiot, a silver spooned elitist, a slick charlatan rapist, or a mass murdering psychopath?  Wow!! And I thought Joe Wilson was the racist!”

—-

Not in other words. Those are your words. I wrote nothing of the kind, however, at the risk of being misread by you again, yes, an imbecile who claims Bill Clinton did not deserve to be president for being a rapist can be thought of just as imbecilic as the man or woman who claims Mr. Obama does not deserve to be president by way of skin color.

I am amazed how you so thoroughly missed my point.

Dihey- I am not using ‘race’ in a genetic sense, a foolish concept, but as a shorthand for ethnic, cultural or national grouping. A grouping with a common inherited background, which typically includes the genetic as well.  As James Baldwin stated, many people of the Black race have lighter skins than those of hte White race.

the concept is important, especially in the US, because the White people of the West have lower birthrates than the non-White, probably due to having industrialized historically a little earlier, and so are losing power and entitlement to the non-Whites.  This will be a factor in the 21st century as the West, and the US, loses power to Asia, Africa and latin America.

“In contemporary times, right or wrong, President Reagan was labeled a senile idiot. President George H.W. Bush was labeled a silver spooned elitist. President Clinton a slick charlatan rapist. President George W. Bush a mass murdering psychopath. A large portion of the opposition party challenged W’s legitimacy even before being sworn in.

I see no challenge to the current president that has not been leveled many times before him…”—AFriend

Hmmmmm… So being labeled a black man belongs in the same category as being labeled a senile idiot, a silver spooned elitist, a slick charlatan rapist, or a mass murdering psychopath?  In other words, when citizens have a problem with the President because he’s black, that’s as legitimate is having a problem with the President because he’s a senile idiot, a silver spooned elitist, a slick charlatan rapist, or a mass murdering psychopath?  Wow!! And I thought Joe Wilson was the racist!

Folktruther

Thanks for calling me lovable. My wife agrees.

Please scientifically define for me what a race is. Is yours based on DNA? No less a specialist on Homo Sapient Sapient than Leakey’s son has repeatedly stated that “human races” do not exist.

And then there was Winston Churchill who called every ethnic community a “race”. To him we were an “American Race” or the “Race of Americans”. He saw a “race” across every political or linguistic boundary.

Hitler’s Germany demonstrated clearly that race has always been based on people that look differently and occasionally talk differently from the discriminators. If a person was not circumcised you could always do measurements on his/her cranium to decide if he/she was or was not a Jew. It is also well known that Hitler asked for photos of Jewish persons who had applied for being “aryanized” by him. Before deciding he wanted to know whether they looked “too Jewish”. When that was the case he turned the application down.

Of course there is discrimination and worse based on how people look. Of course that must be discussed but not on the basis of non-existent races. Example: one could discuss the discrimination of Dark Skinned People or DSP’s. In fact, that makes more sense because there are numerous incidents known in which dark skinned people who were not, pardonnez le mot, Negroes, that were mercilessly beaten by “mistake” just as some “Jewish-looking” persons, some of whom were non-Jewish Americans, were mercilessly beaten on the streets of Berlin in 1933.

Race is obviously in the eye of the biased beholder and not in the DNA.

“The president does not think it is based on the color of his skin,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

Obama grows more absurd by the day . . . by the hour.

Hulk is right.  Carter is a great ex-president, much better than he was a president.  What he is referring to is primarily UNCOUNSCIOUS racism, people who are racist but not only don’t know it, but deny it consciously.  Instead they talk about welfare, crime in the streets, anti-imigration, etc, etc.  hot button issues that have a racist tint or core. The codewords that the Gops use to appeal to racism.  But the Dems also possess it, as we all do, the US being a highly racist country historically.

NYCartist,

“I’ve looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. God knows I will do this and forgives me.” –-President Jimmy Carter

—-

A great many people thought, and said, President Carter was “stupid” for uttering the above phrase. Not only do I not agree that he’s stupid (it’s not for me to judge his beliefs) but nobody claimed his numerous critics were racists.

Jimmy Carter has talked of his deep and passionate belief in God and Jesus and his savior. He has spoken on the subject of prayer countless times. I have never seen anyone on a site such as this demean the former president for his religiosity. That is reserved by the so-called “Left” to demean the so-called “Right”. It’s an example of political bigotry. Not racism.

Jimmy Carter was right.  And nobody every called him stupid.  The comments on the Guardian website were most interesting, when the story “broke”, for their
own racism and lack of info on the U.S.  No doubt, we are clueless about England and the rest of the world.
http://www.guardian.co.uk

Obama’s comments on the topic are just politics.

Maybe if Pres Carter had been as forceful back during his term as he is in these interviews, he might have fared better with his opponents - his own Congress.  Carter is dead on (even though conservatives are bashing him and mis-quoting him).  e.g. Carter NEVER said that ALL who oppose Obama are being racists - and it is more than plausible to state that a significant number who oppose Obama ARE venting their racist fears.  I have personally heard and read many of the elderly express fears about all non-whites and Obama in particular.  Old people (and I am “old”) have poor memories - most of them forget that they themselves come from immigrant stock.  Even guys like Pat Buchanan say in one breath that Irish and Italians and Catholics etc. have been targets of anti-immigrant emotions, and then, in the next, slam newer generations of immigrants, most of which are non-whites.  Talk about hypocrisy !! 
    The greatest number of Obama’s opponents, however, are just sore-asses - people who got used to being in power and cannot come to grips with the fact that they lost the last election.  Basically they’re the same people who hated the Clintons.  They are the sandlot bullies who finally got their come-uppance; they struck out at the plate for 8 years and now refuse to let somebody else take a turn at bat.

RobertinWestbury,

I will never deny that bigotry and racism exists all over the globe. But it’s important to recall how the opposition to President Clinton’s candidacy, for both Governor and president, was challenged due to the charge of being a rapist. It was said that Clinton was an un-prosecuted felon and could not hold high office. I am unaware of a similarly detestable charge against Mr. Obama.

Ronald Reagan’s presidency too was challenged from the beginning. The charge was that the man was simply too stupid to be president. Most will recall the charge that Ronald Wilson Reagan was the anti Christ. Simply not fit for office.

Politics is ugly. It has always been this way. Is this racism?

—-

John Adams accused Thomas Jefferson of being a murderer, would burn churches when president and a robber that hated the constitution.

Mr. Jefferson referred to Mr. Adams as a repulsive tyrant and gross hypocrite. It was said that Adams was one of the most egregious fools upon the continent. Jefferson called Adams a hideous hermaphrodite.

Every U.S. president has been treated the same way. Both before and during their respective presidencies. Not one of these ugly and repulsive acts and charges against each man wwas racist in nature. Why is it racist now? Only one thing has changed. The current president’s skin color.

I’m open to learn what you see today that has not been said or done in the past.

PatrickHenry, September 17 at 7:02 am #
By NZDoug, September 17 at 3:02 am #

That peanut farmer is the only honest American
politician Ive seen or heard in the
63 years Ive been on the planet.

I will second that.
==================================================
Kindly allow me to add a third.

RobertinWestbury,

I agree that being labeled a senile idiot, an elitist, slick or psychopathic are not charges that critically question a president’s legitimacy. If you look again you’ll see that I never made such a claim.

If you look back in American history you will see that every president since Adams has had their legitimacy challenged in some way. Presidents Bush and Obama are but two recent examples.

Your opinion is that W’s legitimacy was correctly challenged. Yet, at the same time, the majority of Americans would disagree with you (he was re elected by the majority). Does this make you a racist?

A small percentage of Americans believe President Obama was born in Africa. Does this indicate that the overwhelming portion of Americans who disagree with the current president must be racists?

President Bush 43 too was depicted as Curious George several times in print. Does this indicate that the overwhelming portion of Bush’s critics are racists?

Less President Washington every U.S. president has been viciously depicted in a manner, his critics believed, closely suited the man. Each past President had white skin. Is this Racism?

President Clinton’s health care proposals were shot down by the majority. In most polls President Obama’s health care proposals give the majority of Americans more than a little pause. Racism?

You see, Robert, there no example you can give to date that cannot be countered with the exact same charge against another past U.S. President. Only one has had dark skin.

—-

Humans are human. To suggest that one group of people are more racist or bigoted than another is itself an exercise in bigotry.

By NZDoug, September 17 at 3:02 am #

That peanut farmer is the only honest American politician Ive seen or heard in the
63 years Ive been on the planet.

I will second that.

ven, September 16 at 6:10 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Obama is such a sweet and classy guy…He knows what is at the root of alot protest.  He just can’t say it

In a nutshell this is what is wrong with the American electorate. ven ignores policy, ignores actions, ignores directions, ignores appointees and presumes to understand what Obama means but doesnt say. We are well and truly lost.

That peanut farmer is the only honest American politician Ive seen or heard in the
63 years Ive been on the planet.

So former President Carter is condemning the racist influences in the partisan attacks on Obama. What about the press it is fanning the flames and giving voice to the worse elements in our society. I do not believe in the broad brush that all these outbursts are coming from racists. There are many whose fears, are not so much about Obama but of the government in general and there is much to be worried about and what is being feared on healthcare are abstracts, Socialism, Death Panels, Freedom of choice. They don’t even know what Socialism is and our government spokespersons exacerbate the fear by denial. Own up and say “so what if it is” it is a social pact to invest in the common protection of all our citizens but with the exclusion of profit. So stop running away from a good thing.

Just because a few of these screwballs are racists and others are screaming foul falsely doesn’t mean I have to support or defend a president that continues to send men and women to war, occupying and killing thousands of innocent men, women and children, not to mention more American Soldiers. Or defend a president that still has not addressed the Black Diaspora from the Katrina disaster, or defend a president that Bails Out Banks, Wall Street, and Corporate thieves and fails to provide meaningful measures to protect the victims of these Ponzi Schemes. I support a real National Healthcare Program not a Forced to Pay Private Insurance premiums option. I would accept meaningful reforms to regulate the Insurance industry with a government public option that excludes no one, not even undocumented workers, as all workers pay into the system. Those who want to pay more and get less, let them, it’s no sweat off my back.

Is there racism in America, yes it is still alive but it was waning until now spurred on by rightwing talk show hosts and Fox (so-called news) but I think Obama while playing the politician he is, wants to play down the race card, does recognize it is more than just race. I have deep criticisms of the president and his administration, does that make me a racist?

What this is all about is a calculated attempt to limit criticism of Obama’s continuing Bush policies on extending the war and occupations though shifting it to Afghanistan, rendition of terrorist suspects continues, requests to extend the Patriot Act continues, NATA and CAFTA continues, the transfer of wealth to the rich continues, and so if you criticize our government it means you are criticizing Obama as a racist or a crazy right wing extremist. But it is the so-called Tea-baggers that will help solidify and squash real dissent and humane alternatives to be voiced.

I hope Obama will step-up-to-the-plate and recognize that the things people saw in him. A potential to make a great president of the people and for the people. It is the failure to act on that mandate people gave him that is driving much of the criticism and the right wing sees’ his numbers falling and are seizing the moment to pressure their demands to maintain the “Status Quo” and rebuild their base. Their modus of operation is to keep creating crisis for without chaos and fear they would be reduced to small voices pissing in the wind. And only significant social programs, such as a National Healthcare act making healthcare a right not a privilege along with the creation of living wage jobs and breaking the back of the Military Industrial, will silence the Limbaughs, the Glen Becks, the Lou Dobbs and their ilk.

But I doubt Obama is that man, but I would be happy as a lark to be proven wrong. But if Obama is not going to do it, then we will have to, have to organize the unemployed, workers, mothers, environmentalists, religious institutions, teachers, soldiers, veterans, undocumented workers and their families all in solidarity to strike, to boycott, to sit in the streets, to stop business as usual and demand (not beg) the changes we expected.

PatrickHenry, September 16 at 8:11 pm #

Nicely articulated.

Dihey, you are a dingbat.  But lovable nevertheless.  In order to discuss racism wehave to discuss races.  and the terms used are the terms preferred.

AFriend: 

Being labeled a senile idiot, an elitist, slick or psychopathic are not charges that critically question a president’s legitimacy.  They are accusations about ones character or personality traits that define for the writer or speaker their contempt for that president. 

The only reason a large portion of the opposition challenged W’s legitimacy is because of the voting irregularities, the statements by the president of Diebold that he would deliver the election, the fact that his brother was Governor of that state, and the illegal intervention by the US Supreme Court in what was solely a state issue. Those questions were quite legitimate…. 

Carrying on about Obama’s citizenship is not. 

So your comparisons IMO are not convincing. 

Now add to the equation the posters showing Obama as an African witchdoctor, posters of him as Curious George the Monkey, the use of the “N” word by protesters, conservative commentators calling him ‘boy,’ and there is in fact an element of racism that never was a factor in any previous president’s service. 

That conclusion is unavoidable if we want to be honest about it.  Not pleasant, but very true.

Clearly not all of the protestors are racist.  Maybe even a majority of them are not.  Perhaps most of them really do oppose Obama out of legitimate differences in opinion about his polices, or more likely – because they’re too stupid not to buy every wild accusation made about Obama or his efforts from all those looney emails they send around to each other.. 

Nevertheless, there is an element of racism out there.  And the media focuses on those individuals carrying the racist posters and using racist language, so it may be that it seems more prevalent than it really is.  Or not…  Who knows..

But Carter was definitely correct in his statement.  President Carter did not place importance on President Obama’s skin color, as you say.  He placed importance on the behavior and statements of those who hate President Obama because of that skin color.

I firmly believe that all of us who continue to use expressions such as “African-Americans”, “Blacks”, “Whites”, “Latinos”, etc. contribute somewhat to the perpetuation of national ethnic/racial divisiveness. I plan to stop using these words forever after the following paragraph.
Let me also point out that calling President an “African-American”, a euphemism for the very ugly “Black”, is perpetuating a classification from the slavery era when Mr. Obama, had he lived in the South, would have been considered to be a Negro. I beg you to stop this! We are Americans and Americans only without any additional moniker.

Carter and the TD truthers are quite right.  It’s good to see that we all agree on something.  Obama thinks he can diffuse it by denying it.  No way.  It is the White Christian anti-semitic racism he faces, rather that the neozionist racism that he espouses.

Excuse me!!!!  Jimmy Carter is 100% correct…Joe “Wrong Way” Wilson is a member of the Sons of the Konfederacy, a “legitimate” front org for the Ku Klux Klan—and Carter knows this.

So does Obama.  But Obama politically cannot come out and say that—it will backfire.  He even has to deny it.  This is the first time I know that Obama is lying: When he says this cracker isn’t being racist, he KNOWS that’s not true.  And so do we.

But if FORMER President Carter, as Obama’s surrogate and a White Southerner, calls Wilson out as the racist bigoted ignoramus he is, Obama can handily stay out of it.

Simple politics: good cop, bad cop. I think this “disagreement” is a set-up, an act, and .... I HEARTILY APPROVE!

As he was correct about Israel, Carter is right about this too.

Carter has been behind the scenes, he knows and has listened to the good old boys, he knows what a bunch of actors they really are.  An astute politician himself, Obama is aware of this but can’t be seen as vindictive as he is a new example to a large segment of previously ignored Americans and every nuance, every retort every photo op is placed under a microscope and dissected by the world, especially by his enemies.

Descretion is the greater part of valor.

Of course Carter is correct; the tsunami of racism
sweeping the country is obvious. Obama needs to grow a
pair.

Every president since Adams has had their legitimacy challenged upon taking office. Every president since Adams has been critically challenged by the opposition. Often in brutal and malicious ways. The current President’s situation is no exception to this 200+ year history.

In contemporary times, right or wrong, President Reagan was labeled a senile idiot. President George H.W. Bush was labeled a silver spooned elitist. President Clinton a slick charlatan rapist. President George W. Bush a mass murdering psychopath. A large portion of the opposition party challenged W’s legitimacy even before being sworn in.

I see no challenge to the current president that has not been leveled many times before him. I see a nation that elected a national leader with black skin.

—-

As a fan of President Carter’s service to others I am saddened by the importance Mr. Carter puts on the current president’s skin color.

This sort of bigotry and racism has no place in contemporary dialog.

The Obama administration has made a tactial decision that they are best off denying race has anything to do with this stuff.

I must agree with President Carter on this one. It seems that the shouting about Obama not being an American citizen would never be heard about a white President for one thing.

I do understand the attempt by President Obama to avoid making his Presidency about race but I would love to see this administration confront those who do indeed make race a central issue.  In fact, I would love to see this administration and Congress be a bit more confrontational on a number of fronts.