Racism, That's All

This isn't a political statement, but it is an observation of politics at this moment in our history and involving this particular President, his wife and their family, who are African American. or black, or mixed, because he is half caucasian, or white. He's a blend. For me, the observation comes from frustration. I'm sick of the meanness. No matter what he does or says, no matter what they do, or where they go, the haters are on it, and in a way that is disrespectful, rude, crude and designed to inflame. Why? I think it's very simple. It's racism. That's all.

We're not supposed to use that word, I know. The haters have marked it as a lefty buzz word, but I'm not a lefty. I'm down the middle. Independent, registered and in my politics, too. But you have to be blind not to see the subtext of racism that comes from Republicans in general and the extreme right in particular, and not always "sub."

Speaker of the House Boehner was plain rude in the way he behaved about the President's planned jobs speech before a Joint Session of Congress, but anybody could see it coming the moment Obama asked for the date and time. Did Boehner mean to appear uncouth? Does that appeal to the base? I fear so. He's treated President Obama in this off hand, dismissive manner since he got the job. He gets away with it, appealing to this awful racial ignorance and anger that the Speaker of the House should instead be trying to erase rather than inflame. I don't know why the media don't call him out.

Nobody talks about it publicly, but it's always there. Whether Mrs. Obama takes a holiday, or an official trip, or she and the President go out to dinner, or they take a trip with their daughters, or wear certain clothing, or happen to be golfing when an unexpected earthquake happens, and on and on and on. No matter what they do they get slammed.

Criticizing a president is fair game in our system, but the GOP snipe in an unrelentingly demeaning tone, and in code, as if our president and his wife have been "uppity" and need to be put in their places. No. It's the racist complainers who need to be put in their places.

It didn't start with Boehner. It started in the presidential campaign as soon as Obama began to gain ground. The fear of him incited those who can't accept racial equality. It got wind from, of all people, Bill Clinton, and then was played to mercilessly by John McCain and Sarah Palin, a pattern later picked up by others, particularly Michelle Bachman and Boehner.

The tone the haters set came through loud and clear in the hateful rants I heard on that 100,000 watt FM station in Shreveport, where the hosts repeatedly called the President a "jack ass" a "communist" and a "criminal." I wanted to find the station, go into the studio, and unplug their power cords...at the very least. But I doubt anybody would try to get away with this talk unless they knew they could. 

Boehner and his ilk are a bunch of big racist babies. Any opportunity they get it's  "Waaaah, waaaah, waaaah, it's the black man's fault."

This is only my opinion, but please, can we have some simple human courtesy. Decency. Adult behavior. Decorum. It's supposed to go with the job as an elected official. 

LATER, an appropriate and decorous email about this post, putting the example to argument:

"I just read your column entitled "Racism, That's all." I could not disagree with you more, but you're a bright gal, and I'm sure you know how the rebuttal would go, and so, here's the punchline: I disagree with you, but I still like you!

 

"I'm sure that's a source of endless reassurance to you."

 

 

Comments

[Robin]

Carol,
Of course, you're right. Every criticism isn't racist. But the trained ear or astute reader can hear or read the difference between racially based criticisms, and nonracial critiques. The fact is, many of Obama's critics' comments are racial, and too many are shrugging and saying "What's wrong with what I/he/she/they said?" Overt racism, overt anti-semitism, overt anti-gay, are all symptoms of systemic decline. And thinly veiled racism, etc., is the precursor to overt. That is why there is an uptick in people acting on their hates from picketing and screaming, to graffiti, and ultimately, to violence.

Unfortunately, many national and local leaders, elected officials, media news outlets (entertainment) and talking heads (entertainment) give subliminal permission to their readers and listeners to act on the message. Especially with a message tailored to the most intolerant members of our society, just expressing vehement disdain is inciteful to many. Sadly, much racist rhetoric has jumped from, assumingly, behind closed doors to front, center, and in your face.

As different segments of society become stressed, they choose their scapegoat. (I.e.; If something is wrong w/my life, it is someone else's fault.) It would be easy to say these are uneducated, ignorant, or unworldly people that possess such a narrow view. While that is often true, sadly it's not the whole picture. The more often these disrespectful words and acts are heard and seen, the more tolerated they become, and the civil-prone less likely to object, giving the impression that a silent majority agrees with the vocal minority. I wonder...

When people proudly disrespect the presidency, the president and other formerly reliable vestiges of civility, we clearly have slipped backwards as a democratic society based in Judeo-Christian values.

I'm especially tired of the disrespect senators and congressmen show each other and our president. And I intend to vote out any representative, federal, state, or local that has not behaved with the respect with which I expect them to conduct themselves.

Robin

[Rick]

Racism is the least of the President's problems. He has an outright Depression on his hands, one created by Bush and the Republicans through irresponsible deregulation, debt formation, tax cuts, and stupid wars. Worst of all is his advisers do not realize that the driving force behind unemployment is the export of jobs, plants and capital investment. Also the unwillingness of K-12 to teach vocational skills resulting in too many with no job skills at all.

[Steve D.]

Here we go....

Don- I was being facetious on the Rev Al and Jesse comment. By the way, Rev. Al Sharpton is usually on his rant by now if he thought there was any racism involved,mostly on issues of crime to where I do not agree with him in most cases, but that is another conversation for another time.

I'm not so sure our Congress is being racist, but definitely they do have ego issues that need to be curbed. There has been more mud slinging and disagreements presently that it reminds me of the old Jesse Helms days in North Carolina back in the 80's.

Politics, racism, a barbed topic indeed.

[Don Savage]

Carol...as a follower of your blog for many years (love it...great reading), I hate to break it to you, but from what I've observed, you've not a "middle of the road, independent". I think once you even bragged that you "have a few Republican friends"....not usually something an "independent" has to mention. Unfortunately, it seems you've now joined that segment that thinks anything said against this "African American" President must be "racist"...not just an observation of his "competence" or what ever. I’ve been told there’s a billboard somewhere that proclaims – “You voted in a President to prove you weren’t a ‘racist’, now vote out a President to prove you’re not ‘stupid’”.

Also, I don't remember you coming to President Bush's defense when he was continuously under attack for his "stupidity"….you may have even joined in a little. Was that “racist” against a “Southerner” or a “Texan” (you’re new favorite place).

(and Steve….it’s ironic that on this topic you ask “Where are Rev Jesse and Al”…two of the biggest “racist” in public life)

[Shaun]

I agree with you to a certain extent Carol. The decorum in politics left the building years ago. I offer one counter thought...Look at the way the mainstream media has spoken about Sarah Palin, and the Tea Party (I'm neither a fan nor a supporter of either BTW) but I guess if you do support them or agree with certain points you must a be selfish bigot. What's up with that?

I've always been shocked at the way Sarah Palin has been viewed from the get go. Yes, she's brought on much herself but would a liberal women from Long Island be spoken about in the same manner a conservative one from Alaska has been? All fishing and hunting aside, I bet that would be very doubtful.

Who knows...I could be off my mark totally but I find ALL OF IT completely head-scratching.

Either way, thanks for your thoughts. Love reading this blog!

[bonnie]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting it right out there! I totally agree with you and it is shameful! This will go down as one of the darkest times in our countries history for the disrespectful, hateful, unproductive and destructive way this president and his family have been treated. It is racism pure and simple and it is a disgrace!

[Amybeth]

Carol, the president is half black and half white. Lots of people forget this. It's funny to me that we're the only country in the world to use the "P.C." term "African American." The rest of the world uses the term "black" and it's quite acceptable everywhere. Particularly to Americans who are of Caribbean decent, not African -- so really, by those measures, African American is a catch-all generalization and less "P.C" than black.

Additionally, many of the references of so-called racism are the exact same behaviors demonstrated toward every single previous president by members of the opposing party(ies). Being disrespectful and belittling politicians is not party-specific. It's simply the way people behave when their candidate is not in power.

Of course there are racist people who don't like the president -- there were also people who were very much opposed to JFK for being a Catholic as well. Racism sucks, but I don't like the fact that any time someone disagrees with this president they are automatically labeled a racist. Perhaps they simply don't like his policies and that's all.

[Steve D.]

Carol, you just might be right. This President can not roll up his sleeves and not get criticized. It really is a shame. There is a lot on a presidents plate and this mans plate is way to small that it has runneth over.

Both sides, in my opinion have forgotten who they are in office for. Us. We the people.

Plain and simple, this president has to put his foot down, get tough and lead. Lead.

My question is where are the Reverends Jesse and Al?

Racism is way too alive in this country and that before anything else has to die.

~Steve~