To disagree with President Obama is not racism
I suppose you could say I have had this rolling around in my head for several days, possibly
several months. There is something going on in America that has me very disturbed and that is the unfounded charges of racism that are being thrown at anyone who disagrees with President Barack Obama.
Even as far back as the 2008 Presidential primaries, those charges were being leveled. As I voiced my disapproval of then candidate Obama, I was accused of racism and the trend has continued. While My Take is not so important in the realm of national politics or the discussion thereof, the charges of racism against anyone who disagrees with President Obama is on the national level as well. It has now raised it’s ugly head in the discussion of South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson and his outburst of “you lie” to the President during his health care speech before Congress.
I wrote yesterday that I do not believe Wilson should have to apologize on the floor of the House and asked you, my readers, your opinion. On this issue, we will have to agree to disagree and that is okay. I thought I was finished with this issue until I listened to NPR this morning and came across an article from The Associated Press. According to NPR, the Democratic leaders of the House were willing to allow the issue to be over with Wilson’s apology to the President, but after a few days of mulling it over, the Democratic Black Caucus decided that was not enough. Georgia Democrat Hank Johnson said that Wilson’s disrespect of the President was encouraging racist elements in our society against him. If Wilson’s outburst was racist, then what does that make the booing and hissing Democrats who showed zero respect to George W. Bush? Was that racially motivated as well?
On top of these ridiculous charges comes more ignorance by none other than former President Jimmy Carter. I’m not sure why he had to join the discussion, but it is his right and privilege to do so. I just wish he would have considered his words more carefully before he added fuel to this fire. Here is what he had to say during a town hall meeting at his presidential center in Atlanta.
Responding to an audience question at a town hall at his presidential center in Atlanta, Carter said Tuesday that Wilson’s outburst was also rooted in fears of a black president.
“I think it’s based on racism,” Carter said. “There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president.”
I wish to show no disrespect to anyone, much less a former President, but is this man serious? Does he and others really not understand what real racism is? Disagreement with a person, no matter what their skin color, is no basis for the charge of racism. There is no reason for Carter’s charge against Wilson and Wilson’s oldest son said as much in response to Carter’s comments.
“There is not a racist bone in my dad’s body,” said Alan Wilson, an Iraq veteran who is running for state attorney general in South Carolina. “He doesn’t even laugh at distasteful jokes. I won’t comment on former President Carter, because I don’t know President Carter. But I know my dad, and it’s just not in him.”
“It’s unfortunate people make that jump. People can disagree – and appropriately disagree – on issues of substance, but when they make the jump to race it’s absolutely ludicrous. My brothers and I were raised by our parents to respect everyone regardless of background or race.”
I couldn’t agree more with Alan Wilson’s statement. I have a host of issues on which I disagree with President Obama, but that does not make me a racist. If I had the chance to speak with the President, I would gladly bring those issues up and to do so would not make me a racist.
The disagreements some of us have with our President are based on his policies and his very left-leaning tendencies and have nothing to do with the color of his skin or his heritage. I have to echo the words of actress Angie Harmon who said:
I’m just going to come out and say it. If I have anything against Obama it’s not because I’m a racist, it’s because I don’t like what he’s doing as President and anybody should be able to feel that way, but what I find now is that if you say anything against him you’re called a racist.
Amen, Ms. Harmon. To disagree with President Obama is not racism and it’s time our political leaders and the average American citizen realized that.
If you disagree with Barack Obama you’re a racist. If you disagreed with George Bush on the Iraq War you were un-American. If you disagreed with the choice of Joe Lieberman as Gore’s running mate you were anti-Semitic. If you disapproved of Hillary Clinton for president you were sexist. It’s hate politics and it’s disgraceful. Of course, I agree with anything Angie Harmon says — the woman is gorgeous. So call me a pig.
Joe Wilson is a classless attention hog who has done nothing in his career to distinguish himself as a statesman. He would have taken the opportunity to grab the national spotlight no matter what color or gender the President. Of course, if Angie Harmon were President, he would have called out for a date, and Mike would have had a heck of a time taking him to task!
Mike’s point is right on. We are a nation of polemics and will attach ourselves to anything that can immediately be hated. Disagreeing with the President is not an act of racism. Unfortunately, this time around, the GOP’s own behavior during the election- the things they refused to refute and actually fed- played right into the hands of those who play the card.
I agree with you on this, Larry. I recently had someone leave a comment on my blog calling me a racist. I then went to my twitter account and discovered that someone else had called me a racist again. Anyone that knows me, knows I am color blind.
This is nothing more than a Saul Alinsky attack, I think. I have to admit, however, it is an awful feeling being called a racist. Maybe that is why it is being done. Most people will fall over themselves to make sure that they are not perceived that way.
I politely, but strongly informed my two attackers that I was not a racist and they had better find something else to talk about.
Dominique´s last blog ..a different VIEW
Racism is quickly becoming outdated and the old defination redefined and the new one is”disagree with Obama and you are a racist”—-I’ll wear that sheet anyday.
Ron Russell´s last blog ..The New American Racist!
I have visited many right-oriented blogs today and have read the indignation and hurt people feel for being labeled racist because they disagree with the policies and politics of the President. The most interesting thing, though, was to go through the archives of these blogs-very recent archives- to get a sense of their own labeling and the slinging of their followers. It is amazing how many times Liberals-or even just Democrats- are demonized as “Godless”, “country-haters” “Marxist pigs” and things that I would never reprint here.
Larry, you are above reproach, but most are not. Yes, “racist”is the ugly call of the extreme Left when they want to shut down the conversation. But I have a hard time crying-even crocodile tears- for the folks who sling around their own nasty terms when they want to do the same.
I appreciate the kind words, Laurie. I really do try to keep My Take “fair and balanced” even when I disagree with President Obama or any other politician. (The only politician I have a problem with doing that is Nancy Pelosi. She really grates my nerves.) I have read a lot of comments on other blogs as well today and a lot of them have had very hateful comments about those they have disagreed with in the past. If My Take descends into that, I hope I have the good sense to just shut it down. That is not what I want for the blog.
I”ve also read thru many conservative blogs today and too many of them are wayyyyy past the racism question. These commentators are spewing HATE with every word. Perhaps it has nothing to do with the color of Barack Obama’s skin but the language used to attack this man is so full of venomous rage that I fear for us all. The country is a tinderbox and there are far too many misguided whack jobs with a match looking for their 15 minutes of fame. Those of you in Oklahoma know first hand what I’m talking about. This is really scary stuff.
Yes, we know full well of what you bring up. It was a very sad time for our state when Timothy McVeigh decided to blow up the Alfred P. Murrah building in OKC. It remains a mystery to me how anyone could think killing innocent civilians on purpose is a proper response to anything.
Mike’s right … this happens A LOT. Not just from the Left, either (he noted that Pres. Bush’s supporters derided those against the war). Remember how Romney’s people treat anyone who doesn’t recognize his greatness? Then again, Romney might well be on the Left this week. I haven’t checked on him lately. Anyway … (yes, it was a cheap shot … sorry …)
If you ever criticize Israeli policy, you might wind up being called anti-Semitic. I’ve been in that fray.
It’s a lot easier to call names than to answer substantively. While there are racists, and some of them are involved in TEA parties and rallies and such … there are many more people who aren’t racists involved in such things. That conversation, though, would require people to think and engage with each other.
Wickle´s last blog ..“North! or Be Eaten” by Andrew Peterson
Wow, Wickle. I can’t believe you slipped that cheap shot in.
It is true, no matter how funny it is.
I remember when you were in the middle of the war of words over Israel. Incidentally, you handled that quite well.
I really wish our country could get past the name calling, rhetoric, etc. We would be more likely to see results, but I am not holding my breath. That would require actual thought, as you said and I am not sure most Americans want to put forth that much effort.
I think the “you’re a racist” comments are little more than a defense mechanism for anyone who can’t become involved in an intelligent debate. My feelings are much more simplified when I say
a self absorbed egotist is a self absorbed egotist, a liar is a liar, a person who is full of crap is full of crap, regardless of skin color, religious beliefs or heritage. If you’re a politician today, you are most likely a self-absorbed liar who is full of crap
Thanks for taking time to comment on My Take, Mark. I am sure all politicians are not liars, but it does almost to be a prerequisite. That goes for politicians from both parties. I am afraid the time has long since passed that saw our politicians actually representing the people who sent them to Washington.
Mike and Larry and Laurie – I think you guys hit on something. I have been thinking there is this spirit of deception going on in America but today I was reading a prophecy for 2009 and she mentioned a spirit of hate. That really hit me because I definitely see that.
I actually had someone tell me that he signed up for my blog because he didn’t see any swearing and nasty comments on it. I never even thought someone might look at a blog to make sure those things aren’t there, especially since those blogs seem to do so well.
I think you are all right. We can have strong opinions and then agree to disagree (like Larry and I do sometimes
.
I agree with Mike on how dangerous this could become if it isn’t brought under control.
Another thing that was pointed out in the prophecy was that the healthcare issue is a smoke screen. What do you guys think about that? I keep asking myself, for what?
Dominique´s last blog ..Part One: no KNIGHTS need apply – just LEADERS.
We all have strong opinions!
Just for today, though, I am concentrating on something I think we’ll all agree on. One of our fallen service men was given The Medal of Honor today. Jared Monti’s story is extraordinary, and it should remind us all that on the today’s battlefields, no enemy shoots at a Republican or a Democrat, a Liberal or a Conservative. They shoot at Americans.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/09/as-he-weighs-the-next-step-in-the-war-of-afghanistan-president-obama-today-awarded-the-nations-highest-military-decorat.html
How very true that is. No matter what our political leanings are and no matter if we support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we are still Americans. We should support our troops, no matter what.
Thanks for sharing the article.
There is no doubt that anyone that expresses opposition to the president’s policies has been labeled a racist. Though this is typical leftist policy to demean or trivialize all those that dare take a vocal stance against their agenda, I think that they are fueling a racial fire storm in this country, the likes which we have never seen. Let’s face it, the so called main stream media, lawmakers, Hollywood, even antiquated presidents cannot report and opine that half of this country is racist without stirring resentment, animosity and eventually unrest and riots. I honestly hope that the latter never materializes but situations such as this tend to make me wonder if this isn’t the start of of a very ugly chapter in our nations history. http://bit.ly/P7Ub
Ruffedge, let’s hope the riots never materialize.
I do think that the climate of hate has been excalated to dangerous levels, and you can’t just blame the left. Just a few days ago, Pastor Steve Anderson (Faithful Word BaptistChurch-Tempe, AZ) preached a sermon called “Why I Hate Barak Obama” to a rapt congregation. In part, he stated”
“I’m not going to pray for his [the President's] good. I’m going to pray he dies and goes to Hell”.
and
“I’d like him to die of natural causes. I don’t want him to be a martyr;we don’t need another holiday. I’d like to see him dies, like Ted Kennedy, of brain cancer.”
In June, Rev. Wiley Drake (First Baptist Church, Buena Vista CA) told his congregation that he was praying for the President’s death.
Earlier this summer, Glenn Beck (an audience of aboout 5 million) called the President a racist and asserted that Obama “hates white people”.
Imagine if a bunch of black radicals said the same things in their churches and on public airways. Would not the right be demanding refutation from every prominent black politician, spiritual leader-even entertainer?
Forget racism. All I really want to know is where are the prominent conservative, God-fearing spiritual leaders and GOP politicians to decry the above statements? Cue the crickets…
Hate is ugly, and is perpetuated by both extremes.
To be honest with you Laurie, this is the first that I’ve heard of Steve Anderson or Wiley Drake. I’d like to believe that if any preacher did call for the death of anyone from the pulpit, that his congregation would get up and walk out. Hate is not a fruit of the Spirit and both of these men and anymore like them are an abomination and an embarrassment to the church of Christ.
As far as Glenn Beck goes; I’m not so sure he was wrong. He certainly made some valid points. Obama’s cry for economic justice. The fact that he sat in a pugh for twenty years and listened to a racist preacher. I’m sure that Jeremiah Wrights brand of theology had some influence on the president.It would be somewhat comparable to Anderson or Drakes brand of theology.
I would give odds that had a white Republican president came out and declared that Louis Gates acted stupidly, (which he did by the way), the so called mainstream media, the leftists pundits and the blogs would have that president labeled as the grand imperial wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. But if Obama declares that the Cambridge P.D. acted stupidly in spite of the fact that he hadn’t been fully briefed on the issue, it doesn’t even raise an eyebrow on the left.
Let me be clear, I don’t believe that Obama is a racist, but I feel his adherence to the politically correct influences that have shaped his world view are cause for concern.
Obama always tries to remain above the fray while claiming he sees no racism, but at the same time refuses to denounce many leading figures on the left who continually cry racism. Obama wants to have it both ways, but he cannot maintain this position for much longer.
Ron Russell´s last blog ..No Political Correctness Here!
Sooner or later, President Obama is going to have to get involved in the fray, as you call it. He can not stay on the fence forever.