Tea Party Rally - Photo: AP / Damian Dovarganes
Eight months into the "historic" presidency of Barack Obama, the race card is finally getting played. But not by him. The media is suddenly turning their attention to Obama's critics, and his race, and drawing their own conclusions. The president himself has consistently avoided citing race as the motivation behind any of his critic's comments or actions, and is credited with delivering the most definitive speech on race in the modern day, and placing him in the ranks with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Lincoln.
Click here for a video of the "More Perfect Union" speech delivered March 18th, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA.
These assessments were premature at the time, although there was a strong assumption that Obama would, in fact, become President, even among many of his detractors, who assumed it with dread. He did win the presidency, and created the greatest irony: his election is historic precisely because he is African American, but giving his race any credit in the win was unmentionable because it opened the door to being called a racist. 1984 vice-presidential nominee and former NY Rep. Geraldine Ferraro was the first in what is now becoming a laundry list of politicians and pundits who have faced such accusations for simply making statements about how Obama's race may have effected his campaign, and his subsequent presidency. Race is so taboo it seems even talking about talking about it triggers criticism. As early as May of 2007, CBS turned off the ability to comment on stories about Barack Obama on their website because they "attracted too many racist comments." They made no such adjustments to any other presidential candidate's coverage. Downright repulsively offensive comments were written and spoken about Hillary Clinton's gender, and yet news networks allowed them, a good deal of them originating from network commentators such as MSNBC's Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann. Not to mention the wholesale sexism of the Hillary Nutcracker. So, race was and remains a more sensitive topic than gender.
Of course any number of blatantly racist comments and behaviors toward Obama can be found with a simple Google search. The real problems come from high profile politicians and pundits who have begun to weave race dialog into their public statement and strategies. In June an important GOP activist, Rusty DePass disgraced himself by comparing First Lady Michelle Obama to a gorilla on his Facebook page. Over the summer another key Conservative activist and organizer in Florida, Dr. David McKalip circulated a picture of Obama dressed as an African witch doctor to an e-mail list serving the Tea Party organizers. Of course he apologized a day later. Now, we are beginning to see the President's opponents playing the race card, against him. Notably, well-known Conservative Fox News commentator Glenn Beck, in July, accused President Obama of having "a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture." Beck elaborates, "He has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist." As fellow Fox TV host Brian Kilmeade pointed out, most of the people who work for the nation's first black president are white. This is a creative evolution from the crude attacks on the campaign trail, when anti-Obama operatives (in June of 2008) unsuccessfully accused Michelle Obama of anti-white racism, and using the word "Whitey." Of course it never happened, she never said it, and no evidence ever came to light, but people still think she said it, so maybe the damage was done anyway. At the time, Rev. Jeremiah Wright was spewing anti-white (and anti-Clinton) hate speech seemingly at every opportunity, so just about anything would stick to the "Wright wall," if it got thrown enough times. Michelle didn't escape the smear machine anyway, facing racist slurs from Michelle Malkin, Tucker Carlson, conservative writer Byron York, and appearing on the cover of the National Review making an angry face.
The vitriol is rising as well, with many people now accusing Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) of allowing racist feelings to incite him to shout, "You lie!" at President Obama last week. Today, the House voted 240-179 to rebuke Wilson, who refused to apologize for his conduct. Wilson made a private call to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and President Obama himself has declared the matter settled. Regardless, Wilson will be given a slap on the hand by Congress, whose resolution, conducted mostly along party lines, is the mildest punishment doled out, a verbal disapproval.
Video of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer introducing the resolution to censure Rep. Wilson:
During the post-election wrangling of 2000, numerous commentators said that the fact that there weren't tanks in the streets was a tribute to American democracy. In the end, we'd settle the argument through our established institutions, and everyone would respect the results. (Imagine for a moment if Obama had won the way George W. Bush won -- with fewer votes than his opponent, and only through the employment of a combination of ruthless hardball tactics and the intercession of a friendly Supreme Court majority.) That was supposed to be what made us so admirable. It seems like so long ago.
But there are some things we're all supposed to share, including a willingness to submit to the results of democracy even when we don't like those results. For a growing number of Americans, the presence of a certain kind of person in the White House calls that willingness into question.
There is nothing we can do to escape tribalism; it is written on every page of human history. As our own society grows more complex and diverse, we become members of multiple overlapping tribes that we use to differentiate ourselves from others. We define "us" and "them" by our age, the place we live, our religious beliefs, our favorite sports, the kind of music we favor, and our taste in various consumer goods, to name but a few.
West was wrong, and should have been rapped on the knuckles. But this was hardly the sin of the ages. Not so for the droves of rightists who are waging a full blown counterinsurgency against Obama´s political agenda and Obama. They are real, hateful, and dangerous. West is none of those things. Yet Obama calls him a jackass, and not the others. Go figure that one.
It's worth noting that Obama's standing with white voters jumped 2 points last week, after he began to fight back and define his healthcare plan. It jumped again, with all voters (I couldn't find data for whites alone), after his feisty speech to Congress on Wednesday.
Rather than wring his hands over racism, Obama seems to be getting tough on his real opponents -- the corporate interests who want to see him fail -- telling CBS's Steve Kroft Sunday night that he won't sign a bad healthcare reform bill, because when it doesn't keep costs down, he'll be blamed for it. Maybe Obama has realized that genteel GOP "statesmen" like Sen. Chuck Grassley are bigger enemies to him than the small but vocal segment of frightened, uninformed voters whose racism is once again letting them be tricked into ignoring their own interests by leaders like Grassley.
Comments
Wow. Great research and excellent use of sources. What's this doing on examiner.com? I'm so used to slogging through the mindless drivel written by teabagger whack jobs who cite dubious numbers and never provide credible links to anything. Hat's off to the sane 70% of the country. You deserve a raise.
That's because he's got 2 master's degree's beotch.
1. the new civil war only it is wrong to think this one is about color (thats spin). it's about Socialism (progressive) - v - those who want to keep this country the way its founders intended
2. nancy pelosi is not black the vice pres is not african american barny frank is not colored.yet the same contempt the pres is givin is the same for them. again, the fight is not over the color of skin but against socialism.
3. this article is biased. i'm not on the left and i'm not on the right give the news and let the people make up their own minds. or is that the job of media and the gov.?
and i did read Kyle Sennett's bio. biased news is not news and helps nobody.biased news is afraid of the truth. report with integrity . trust your reader.
My first thought was those that have remained silent through the speech owed us an apology but on further thought they owe us so much more!
i agree with the gentleman above. most racists dont even know they're racist.
I don't reply to comments very often.
First, BobW: thank you. :)
Second, indPA: my blog, Totally Biased News is a blog. I write my opinion, which is by its very nature biased. This is not TBN. Also, the idea that any news article is "unbiased" is just silly. Obviously my "bias" doesn't agree with yours, which is fine. I respect everyone's opinion, even when I don't agree.
"Race is so taboo it seems even talking about talking about it triggers criticism."
"At the time, Rev. Jeremiah Wright was spewing anti-white (and anti-Clinton) hate speech seemingly at every opportunity, so just about anything would stick to the "Wright wall," if it got thrown enough times."
Rev. Wright is not anti-white, nor does he engage in anti-white hate speech. I notice despite your link you didn't point to any specific statements of Rev. Wright's. Rev. Wright was the pastor of the largest congregation in a predominately white denomination. He has been smeared just as Michelle was. As you pointed out anyone you addresses race faces criticism.
The only Rev. Wright comment on Hillary Clinton that I'm aware of is where he proclaimed that she has never been called the n-word. Rev. Wright, said it in a sermon. He was talking about how Obama could relate to the congregations life experiences better then Clinton. I've always found it odd that he felt he needed to do
Wow! Excellent report. I agree with Bob Wolfe, "what's this doing on examiner.com?" Your research is superb. Take this information outside of the Examiner for more exposure. Great job!
There was no race card, and its about time someone called a spade a spade, now I suppose thats playing the race card, wake up people, and don't be afraid to express yourselves. How about putting this health care (piece of Pelso Reid) crap to a vote of the American public, then we will see who gets the votes. Just another partisan democratic (Reid and Pelosi) craming something down our throats that we don't want in ITS PRESENT FORM. We all want health care reform but not like this.
If Obama had moxy he would tell Pelosi, Reid, and others like them to get on the ball or on the bus. I think if those two got their heads out of their CLOUDS the republicans would come to the table with zeal. But in its present form the bill is not good for the country nor the majority that have or do not have health care at the present time.
A poll just came out not long ago. It shows that only 12% believe that opposition to Obama's policies is because of racism.
That poll was released shortly after dumb*** Jimmy Carter opened his pie-hole concerning Joe Wilson's statement, and revealed just how stupid, irrelevant and totally clueless Carter is.
Give it up, liberals. Racebaiting has run its course. It doesn't work anymore. And the only ones that still use it are the Uber looney-left.
BTW,
Gibbs responded to Carter's brain-dead statement that opposition to Obama's policies is based mostly upon race.
Gibbs: race does not play a factor.
Carter is like a clown that tries to juggle but can't. He is such a poor, pathetic wretch. I almost pity him....
Seems to me that people should be more concerned about his associates, Resco, Wright, Dorn, Ayers, Acorn, and etc. If I would have associated with such, my top secret clearance would have been pulled and I might have faced a court martial. Cannot see his mindset in having associates like that. But it seems to also be a fact that he is not strong enough to rid himself of those that are hindering him. I wish him the best of luck, but am still concerned with his past.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!