because they're out of spades? but seriously, why not just call attention to the absurdity of the attack. he's a hater. haters need a place to direct their insecurities.
The Clinton attack machine started up before he was even elected 1992, that's 17 years ago. Things like "The Arkansas Project" were in gear well, well before Lewinsky even got out of High School. Before long, the WSJ editorial page was saying HIlary had Vince Foster murdered and that the Clintons had were running drugs out of an airstrip in Arkansas - I defy you to find any counter example to that on the left.
I think the problem here is that a lot of the opposition directed towards Obama is, indeed, based on race and that clouds any opposition. To say that the opposition to the first black president has nothing to do with race is laughable. The problem is not all of the opposition is based on race and a lot of genuine opposition gets lumped in with the rest and labeled as racism. Also, the notion that Bush didn't get this level of hatred is somewhat wrong. He got one break in his presidency and that was immediately after 9/11. He came in with hatred due to him "stealing" the election and it never let up. The difference here is that I don't recall a lot of left-leaning people say they were scared or frightened of Bush while I have heard that about Obama a lot.
I agree with the racist opposition clouding all opposition. I think those that have non-racist to Obama get offended and believe that their on-issue concerns are being labeled with off-issue complaints. As far as remedying the situation it's tough. It would help if Obama defenders used the qualifier "some" when describing opposition. It would also help if Obama detractors would acknowledge the racism in some of the attacks, and clarify that they don't want to talk about that, but about issue x
Agree with your whole post but want to comment on this part. I think it's true, and I remember all the Bush nazi signs here in San Francisco, and still see that and related bumper stickers left on cars. And it's true about the "frightening" thing. The left (even the fringe) was only voicing fear of policies and impacts -- not a personal fear as a boogieman sort of thing. And there does seem to be a personal fear at times with obama.
Your guess is as good as mine. People say they are "afraid" of Obama. Maybe it is the death ray that comes from his right eye at night? Or that he will magnetically attract white women away from corpulent health-care-sucking white men? I honestly do not get it.
Olbermann calling out the right's racist plays <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0yZWPowFeZw&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0yZWPowFeZw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
It's just funny that this thread exists on the same page with basso's thread entitled Pimpin da Acorn. Amazingly, the Schilling for Kennedy seat wasn't called Schilling Frontin' and Perpetratin' for Kennedy seat.
I'm pretty sure that the majority of posters on here who are making the case that the race card is being overplayed secretly sees truth in what limbough said. It's a shame when a guy like Rush,Beck,and Salvage can recite the exact same talking points that Neo Nazis and the KKK post on their website, and SOME whites will over look it as no foul. I've even heard some of these same people at the rallies say that Rush, and Beck,and were their Heros for saying what they couldn't say. I've already posted in a previous thread about the whites I talked to who said they felt like the White man is the most discriminated creatures on earth. These same people who feel this way don't actually believe their midset is actual leads to racial prejudice at all because they don't understand the term the term. If you can over look Obama death threats being up 400% above any other president within 1 day of taking office, and the rest of the overwhelming evidence that it has nothing to do with policy, then Yes! you too are possibly in racist denial.
I think the race card is underused more than overused. I wonder what would happen if a mob of guy wearing all black, strapped to a T legally wouldve showed up at a bush townhall meeting if something wouldve been done. Its still not easy for WASP males to accept that a black man is president. I think the key is having open discussion about it as opposed to acting like stuff doesn't happen. When rodney king got beat on video, the only people shocked were white people. People of color know how uneasy the feeling are when a cop pulls you over. You can be clean as whistle, but the stereotyping taes a toll on you.
I think that some black people may be too quick to jump to the race card at times, and I have a personal instance where it happened to me. I was at Memorial City mall and was walking into the dressing room where I see I black guy with the door open and shirt off. I kind of roll my eyes giving my dude shut the door look, and walk into another dressing room. As I'm walking into the other room I also notice that there is a white girl in the dressing room with him. While I'm in my room I can hear him raising his voice to his girlfriend that they need to leave this racist mall, and that there are a bunch of ignorant people here. Looking back I should have yelled back at him saying that was for him to shut his damn door, but I didnt' want to get into a thing in the mall dressing room. I mean seeing black/white couples is nothing new in Houston, and I've known friends black/white friends from high school who have dated before. I don't think people should jump to conclusions so quickly.
Question: You seem to assume the comment dealt with you . . . and not some earlier incident . . . an unrelated incedent . . . why? Sometimes. . it is not All about you. Also. You may not know how many other EYE ROLLERS he had in that mall before you got there. If 15 people intentionally step on your toe when the 16th person does it by mistake. . . you might not be so incline to beleive him. Rocket River
I think the bigger deal for black folx was . . .when the cops got off. The concept that . . . if you a cop . .. you can beat a black man without any fear of reprisal was devestating . . . . The feeling it was JUST US and no JUSTICE in the system really started to creep through the community Rocket River
No, I'm positive it was directed at me. We were the only people in the dressing room. But I also thought that there could have been some other incidents that could have led up to his reaction.. Still though, he jumped to conclusions about my reaction towards him as being racist.
See, this is what people don't understand or fail just ignore. From the campaign trail with the police guy using obama's middle name as if he's a terrorist, to that old lady calling him a arab and she doesn't trust him, a lot of stuff have racial overtones. Its ok to disagree with policy and the president, that's a right, but the scare tactics used are another thing. I've been on this earth almost 39 yrs and i've never seen a president get called a liar in the chamber like that. To me, it was like he said "you lying n***a!" Tone can say a lot about a thought process. I don't think some people will ever understand racism in america because they're scared to talk about it. I think its getting better because some of the older racist are dying and the younger people are more liberal thinking. There are still a lot of wounds that need to be healed ass well as a heavy price when a person violates another rights. When was the last time police accidently killed some white? How many of you that are not black have been randomly stopped because you drive a benz and live in a subdivision with million dollar homes? The stereotypes and profiling has always been there and will continue. People of color has just to accept it, but don't be alarmed when that Serena Williams moment comes out.
