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Have YOU been called a racist for criticizing Obama? : Open Thread

By Carmen D. on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009, 6:44 am Comments

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If you want to have an effective racial discussion, you need to listen closely to what others are saying. If what you hear makes you squirm, that’s okay. When it’s your turn to speak you can explain your discomfort or ask more questions for further clarification. So I am here to listen on this one because frankly, I’m skeptical. I keep hearing conservatives saying, “If you criticize Obama you’re called a racist!” I am not seeing that at all. In fact, after former “Law and Order” actress Angie Harmon piped up yesterday, I cruised around the web looking for comments calling all post-election criticism of President Obama racist. I could not find those assertions. What I did find was a whole lot of conservatives telling each other that they would be called racist for criticizing President Obama. I am sure it happens, but I do not believe it’s widespread. I believe this is a case where apprehension has overtaken the facts on the ground.

If you have found yourself in the position of being called a racist for criticizing President Obama post-election, then please share your story here. Please be specific as well. If you say, “That happened to me!” Then what happened, specifically? What did you say? What was said in response? I think specifics will be critical in this discussion.

So please, tell us your story. I am listening.

  • Mike Johnson
    "I cruised around the web looking for comments calling all post-election criticism of President Obama racist."

    I don't doubt that you were unable to find an Obama supporter stating "Any criticism of Obama is racist." That's not how it's done and would be self defeating anyway since it laughably states a conclusion about all (and, to the point, therefore as yet not heard or spoken) criticism.

    Why would you look for that instead of accusations of racism where none are merited?
  • Hi Mike. Thanks for the comment. Perhaps I phrased it clumsily. What have you found? Please send links.
  • Z
    I didn't pay too close attention to the rallies, etc. but I don't like to see that kind of thing either. Like I said in an earlier post - I was brought up with an aversion to those kinds of attitudes. I am hoping my kids can grow up and be surprised there are people that think that way. Or better yet, never encounter it.

    As for my family member, I did ask why he thought it was racism but didn't get very far. He decided we were too far apart ideologically for us to talk about it anymore. I'm pretty sure we will...eventually.
  • Z
    Here is a personal story - this is an excerpt from an email I received from a family member (who's views are obviously on the opposite political spectrum):
    " I really hope you don't believe this! This is nothing but racism!
    The Bush group is nothing but for the wealthy and nothing for anyone but for them self. You need to listen to a different group."

    The comment was referring to this post:
    http://rev7v9.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/obamas-h...

    The post was a reacting to the exuberance I witnessed while at a MLK Jr. celebration and Obama's horrific stand when it comes to unborn and even recent born human life. Apparently this equates to racism. Maybe it is the presence of Planned Parenthood which was founded by a racist for racist purposes (which is also horrific). I don't know you tell me.

    I was dumbfounded by the accusation. You don't have to agree with my conclusions, but racism? In honesty this is what was driving my original post responding to this topic a few days ago.

    I will say that most accusations of racism or 'race card' playing that I found, in a very, very brief search, were related pre-election to white democrats and not the black community (Gov. Patterson, Bill Clinton, Harry Reid). Political tactics not real racism. I pasted links below with the basic disclaimer - I don't have time to qualify them and do not claim their views as my own. Most were pre-election with the exception of yesterday's AP article on the subject. I did think it interesting that Bill Clinton had to make it clear he was not a racist. That says volumes about the overall context of this debate. It points back to the pc culture.

    I think you are right about apprehension playing a big part. We have become indoctinated with political correctness that no one has to make the accusation directly. So much focus on pc and on diversity actually drives a bigger wedge I think. Less talk for fear of offending and more avoidance for the same reasons. That doesn't stop people from using it to gain political leverage. That seems to be goal of everyone's game - political leverage. Sad.

    http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston...

    http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/weblogs/afb/ar...

    http://themoderatevoice.com/23235/the-race-card...

    http://www.uslaw.com/library/Legal_Commentary/D...

    http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/31/sa...

    http://sistertoldjah.com/archives/2008/10/09/di...
  • Hey Z, thanks so much for stepping out on this one. Your experience is descriptive and specific. Nothing negative about race in the post you cite. I found it thought provoking. Did you ask the family member why they framed your post in terms of race? From their perspective Is any mention of Dr. King racial? racist?

    The Newsbusters article is also interesting. Although I disagree with several points, that AP article bugged the crap out of me when I read it. Sloppy reporting and unsupported conclusions IMHO.

    As you mentioned, the other links are pre-election. I think that was a different time and that chapter is concluded. I know the virulent racism I witnessed at several Palin rallies. I am not saying Palin is a racist, I have no idea of her racial views but I know that I was so shaken by what I saw from her supporters on a couple of occasions that I called my dear friend (who is a white, Evangelical) to pray with me in asking God to send light into the hearts of those spewing vile nonsense and passing it on to their children. Little Kid "I don't like Obama. You could never touch him because he's dirty." Ugh.
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