Not Racism, Just Politics

[okafor]

To those on the left who see every political difference with Obama as racism, understand that defending a man simply because he's black is every bit as racist as criticising him simply because he's black. President Obama has been attacked politically since becoming President, but no more so than any other politician. Obama supporters, who, in their desparation to slience any opposition at all, inevitably decry this political pushback as racism. Baloney!

The following excerpts are taken from an article in the Sacramento Bee explaining that because political criticism sometimes has racial components, doesn't make it racist, or unique to our current President. Obama is a politician, politicians get criticised, get over it.


Another View: GOP not racist; it’s for freedom - Sacramento Opinion - Sacramento Editorial | Sacramento Bee

In his commentary, my longtime friend Ken Barnes stated that because Republicans were not sufficiently outraged by a racist cartoon that "as a proud black man I can no longer be a member of the Republican Party."

Well as a fellow proud black man, let me offer a different perspective.

President Barack Obama has been subjected to the same over-the-top criticism as President George W. Bush. Yes, some of the imagery does contain racial overtones. But notice that many of the caricatures are merely remakes of those the left created to mock Bush: a Nazi, a terrorist, a pimp, a monkey and a witch doctor.

Unlike Ken, I will not run from the only political party that stands for free enterprise, individual rights, protecting innocent life, traditional values and equality of opportunity.

Like Ken, I am a proud black man. That is part of who I am. But I am also a proud man, a proud father, a proud husband, a proud Christian, a proud American, and yes – a proud Republican.

 

[Umaro]

I'm not saying the GOP is racist, but they do sort of shoot themselves in the foot when they hire an Obama impersonator to get up at their convention and tell jokes like "I celebrate half of black history month."

 

[SOAD]

To those on the left who see every political difference with Obama as racism, understand that defending a man simply because he's black is every bit as racist as criticising him simply because he's black.

This makes no sense.

 

[RedDead1981]

This makes no sense.

No, I see what he's saying. He's saying that showing preferential treatment to a black man because of his skin color (in this case, defending him solely because of his skin color) is just as racist as trashing him because of his skin color. Makes sense.

But I don't think the whole 'racism' call is as loud or widespread as you (OP) make it out to be. Yes, Tea Partiers have been accused of racist imagery and messages. But mostly because ammunition is freely given. When you see posters of Obamacare portrayed as Obama dressed up as a witch doctor with a bone through his nose, or people carrying on about how the 'blacks will take over', or the birther movement (which, as I have said, would not have gotten nearly the momentum it did if the President was white with an anglo name and nobody can tell me otherwise) what do you expect people to think?

Do I think disagreement with Obama is racism? Nope. But do conservatives often shoot themselves in the foot over it? Yep. Exercise some common sense and realize that certain images and phrases, when leveled against a black president, are gonna come off racist even if that isn't how you meant it.

 

[Kalevalatar]

I'm not saying the GOP is racist, but they do sort of shoot themselves in the foot when they hire an Obama impersonator to get up at their convention and tell jokes like "I celebrate half of black history month."

On that occasion, Mr. Brown's joke was on the Republicans, though. Which is why they cut his mic off.

 

[Nabobalis]

I'm not saying the GOP is racist, but they do sort of shoot themselves in the foot when they hire an Obama impersonator to get up at their convention and tell jokes like "I celebrate half of black history month."

I laughed at the jokes when I was reading the BBC article on the comedian having his mic cut.

 

[Kalevalatar]

I laughed at the jokes when I was reading the BBC article on the comedian having his mic cut.

Likewise!

 

[whatbogsends]

On that occasion, Mr. Brown's joke was on the Republicans, though. Which is why they cut his mic off.

Not exactly, from what i heard. First he mocked Democrats - and that was roundly approved. Then, when he began to mock Republicans, his mic was pulled.

 

[Kalevalatar]

Not exactly, from what i heard. First he mocked Democrats - and that was roundly approved. Then, when he began to mock Republicans, his mic was pulled.

That's the version reported over here as well, yes. IMO, if you are going to dish it, you better be prepared to take it as good as it gets, and not "sissy it" like the Republicans appear to have done, on that specific occasion. Hence, the joke, ultimately, "was on them." Agree?

Applies to the CF debate forums as well.

 

[whatbogsends]

That's the version reported over here as well, yes. IMO, if you are going to dish it, you better be prepared to take it as good as it gets, and not "sissy it" like the Republicans appear to have done, on that specific occasion. Hence, the joke, ultimately, "was on them." Agree?

Applies to the CF debate forums as well.

No argument here. Just trying to clarify details, which you seemed to have in order (at least 2nd-hand, like me).

 

[SOAD]

No, I see what he's saying. He's saying that showing preferential treatment to a black man because of his skin color (in this case, defending him solely because of his skin color) is just as racist as trashing him because of his skin color. Makes sense.

I see. Herman Cain says that Jon Stewart attacked him because he is black. That is a racist comment because Cain sees the attack only in terms of color of skin. Additionally, anybody who agrees with Cain is also propagating racism. More reublican racism on display

 

[FaithLikeARock]

Is anyone going to ask for Herman Cain's birth certificate?

 

[SOAD]

Is anyone going to ask for Herman Cain's birth certificate?

Now that you mention it, he does look like he may be from Kenya! I wonder if he has any foreign relatives we can tie around his neck.

 

[FaithLikeARock]

Now that you mention it, he does look like he may be from Kenya! I wonder if he has any foreign relatives we can tie around his neck.

Any unpleasant former pastors?

 

[Kalevalatar]

No argument here. Just trying to clarify details, which you seemed to have in order (at least 2nd-hand, like me).

I am not a fan of President Obama (or US Presidents is general), but I have to hand it to the American presidents that both the current president as well as his predecessor, President Emeritus Bush, can and could take it with a good deal of self-irony, something I very much admire in the American top officials. Perhaps the Republicans presidential hopefuls subjected to Mr. Brown's routine are just not presidential material enough, because by the very nature of it the office of the President of the United States of America is the one office where you have to be able to deal with the bad as well as good publicity. It is not an office for a faint heart. For all his faults -- and he did get plenty of dirt -- President Emeritus Bush still could not only take it but joke on it at his own expense. As does President Obama.

YouTube - ‪President Obama at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Dinner‬‏

 

[Kalevalatar]

Is anyone going to ask for Herman Cain's birth certificate?

According to Wikipedia, Herman Cain was raised in... Georgia, the home state of Stalin!

 

[DaisyDay]

...defending a man simply because he's black is every bit as racist as criticising him simply because he's black...

Objecting to racist criticism is not racist.

But notice that many of the caricatures are merely remakes of those the left created to mock Bush: a Nazi, a terrorist, a pimp, a monkey and a witch doctor.

Funny, I don't recall Bush as a witch doctor. Do you have any references that predate the Obama as witch doctor references?

 

[FaithLikeARock]

According to Wikipedia, Herman Cain was raised in... Georgia, the home state of Stalin!

I knew it! Herman Cain is a communist who wants to bring about the One World Government!

 

[AirPo]

Objecting to racist criticism is not racist.


Funny, I don't recall Bush as a witch doctor. Do you have any references that predate the Obama as witch doctor references?

I found this

here -->

 

[chaz345]

Objecting to racist criticism is not racist.

True, but claiming racisism in EVERY criticism of Obama is. "You don't like that policy just because Obama is black" is a VERY common objection and it's every bit as racist as the cartoons of Obama as a witch doctor.

Funny, I don't recall Bush as a witch doctor. Do you have any references that predate the Obama as witch doctor references?

Maybe not racist in nature, but the cartoons with Bush as a chimpanzee are still every bit as wrong, aren't they?