The American Spectator : Welcoming Hu Jintao

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Welcoming Hu Jintao

By Ken Blackwell on 1.19.11 @ 6:09AM

Another black mark for our Nobel Peace Prize winning president.

It was 22 years ago, in the spring of 1989, that thousands of Chinese students gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to demand democracy. The students even fashioned their own 30-foot high replica of America’s Statue of Liberty. It represented the aspirations for democracy of young Chinese. They yearned to join young people in Poland, East Germany, and the then-united nation of Czechoslovakia. It was a time when it seemed the winds of hope and change might sweep away tyranny from the whole world.

It was not to be. While Gorbachev in the Kremlin refused to send in the tanks, refused to shoot down demonstrating students in Eastern Europe, Chinese Communist cadre Hu Jintao joined those in the Communist leadership in Beijing who had no such qualms. Hu would counsel deadly force rather than relax the iron grip of the Communist Party in China.

The world watched, astounded, as a single young Chinese man, wearing a white shirt and holding an innocent briefcase, stood down an entire column of tanks in Beijing. As the lead tank maneuvered to get around the man whose name we now know was Wang Wei-lin, the young man shifted ground and stood squarely in the tank’s path.

It was a dramatic moment. The world watched, awed, at the courage and the idealism of young China on vivid display. But the clash ended quietly and out of sight of Western TV cameras. China democracy advocates who later took refuge in the West testified that Wang Wei-lin was taken into a nearby hotel where, out of view, he was quietly strangled to death.

That driver of the lead tank, a young officer in the People’s Liberation Army, was also killed by state security forces, China democracy refugees tell us. After all, if he had followed his orders, he would have swiftly run over the brave young man in the white shirt. There would have been no dramatic standoff. Thousands of Chinese students would likewise be overrun by the regime’s tanks and shot down as they fled Tiananmen Square.

Their bodies were burned. China’s rulers soon washed down the bricks of their capital’s ceremonial center.

Today, Hu Jintao is president of the People’s Republic of China. He was not voted in by the Chinese people, but chosen by the aging politburo of the Communist Party, one of the more durable totalitarian regimes on earth.

Washington is welcoming Hu Jintao. We have to roll out a red carpet for the man and the regime that hold a trillion dollars in U.S. debt. The blood-red flag of the People’s Republic of China flies on lampposts along Washington’s Pennsylvania Avenue .

Both President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have publicly muted their criticisms of China’s appalling record on human rights and on religious freedom. It’s ironic that President Obama issued his Religious Freedom Proclamation even as workers were raising China’s flag along the broad avenues of the capital.

As a result of Obama and Clinton policies, U.S. taxpayers must once again give millions to the UN Population Fund (UNFP). This UN group aids and abets China’s government as it brutally enforces its one-child policy. Hundreds of millions of Chinese women have been forced to have abortions. China’s unborn children who are tested and found to be female are at special risk. Nor is this heinous policy limited to the unborn. Female infanticide is routine in rural China, as the Population Research Institute’s courageous Steven Mosher has documented.

The Obama administration’s position is surely strange for one that professes to be pro-choice and pro-woman. But that is no stranger than seeing the 2009 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Barack Obama, wine and dine the jailer of Liu Xiaobo, who is the 2010 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize!

The Nobel Peace Prize committee says that human rights are the soundest basis for peace. As a former U.S. ambassador to U.N. Human Rights, I believe they are surely right about that. The fact that China’s Communist rulers continue to give the back of their hand to international concerns about human rights, and come with an iron hand against all domestic opposition, is a matter for concern for the entire world.

President Obama conceded in his acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize that he had far to go to merit the same prize that Dr. Martin Luther King’s work had fully earned. It is most unfortunate to see Mr. Obama treading the wrong path to peace.

About the Author

Ken Blackwell, the former mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio is Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee’s Platform Committee. He also serves on the boards of the Club For Growth and the National Taxpayers Union.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (66) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Booger | 1.19.11 @ 6:12AM

Official White House Tapes of Meeting Between Presidents Obama and Hu Jintao
19 January 2011
Commence 09:15:09 EST

POTUS: Mr. President, allow me take this opportunity to extend the warmest possible welcome on behalf of the American people, I hope that this meeting can be productive and mutually......

POPRC: Lower!

POTUS: Ummm, excuse me?

POPRC: If you are going to bow like that, do it right! Bow lower!

POTUS: Oh, okay, sorry, didn't realize I was doing it wrong. Is this better?

POPRC: Lower! And why you look at me like that, barbarian?

POTUS: Ummm, okay, I guess I can get a little lower? But aren't you supposed to make eye contact when you bow? I mean, that's how it was in the first Karate Kid movie and all that....

POPRC: Shut up! Bow lower! Can't you do anything right? All I want to see is back of your head! Okay, I guess that best you can do, stupid barbarian dog. Now let's get down to business.

POTUS: Um, okay, sure, yeah. Listen, I think we need to talk about this whole currency business. Some of my folks over at treasury....

POPRC: Shut up! What for you try to tell me about currency? You think currency is magic American credit card you just spend whatever you want and bill never comes due! Why you think you can talk to me about currency, you greedy capitalist pig-dog! I tell you, you no tell me! You understand that?

POTUS: Well, seriously, I don't think this is a good way to get started....

POPRC: Shut up! I cut off your credit tomorrow, then where you be? No Obamacare, that for sure. No welfare payments. I cut off your credit, all your own people come cut off your head! How you like that? I tell you about currency, you no tell me!

POTUS: Okay, okay, I get your point. What is it you want?

POPRC: America on gold standard.

POTUS: What?

POPRC: You hear me first time, barbarian pig-dog! I tell you America on gold standard!

POTUS: Okay, look, I don't even know if that's possible. I mean I could talk to Tim Geithner about some metals for securities swaps, if that'll make you feel better, but the gold standard? Seriously?

POPRC: Let me put this in American so you can understand! Who's your daddy? Who's your daddy? Me! Hu is your daddy! And I tell you go on gold standard and you say yes daddy Hu and do it!

POTUS: Okay, look, I think we're getting a little out of control here....

POPRC: Out of control? You have fourteen trillion in debt, you want to leave me holding the bag, and you think I am out of control? You go on gold standard or I call in all markers! No more credit! You won't even be able pay interest! No goodies for your voters! They put you out on street faster than week old dog-rolls at Benny Hana!

POTUS: Okay, but seriously, how am I supposed to make this work?

POPRC: You transfer gold.

POTUS: What?

POPRC: All of it! I not just talking about Fort Knox. We know that is rinky-dink, just tip of iceberg. You transfer all gold from Federal Reserve in New York. You also transfer rights to all gold mines in America.

POTUS: But the American people will never allow that to happen....

POPRC: Shut up! Bow again, barbarian pig-dog! You want to tell me no? Fine, tell American people no more cheap credit from China! No more welfare checks! No more health care! No more stimulus! No more bailouts! You tell them that, see where it gets you! They call you President Takes the Toys Away and impeach your skinny butt, that where it gets you! Now tell me, who's your daddy?

POTUS: Hu is.

POPRC: That's right! Now get my gold on a ship and on its way. I already have logistics schedule prepared for you. See right here, train from New York, ship from San Francisco, all out of country by next week! You get started now. Don't worry, I take care of all gold for you real fine. Now we settle currency issue, let's talk Taiwan....

More at http://beautifulletters-bls.blogspot.com/

Stephanie| 1.19.11 @ 7:11AM

Booger, that was one of your more scary ones.
I didn't laugh this morning.

grant1863| 1.19.11 @ 8:58AM

A little chuckle, of course if they don't give us credit, those 100 million newly umemployed Chinese might have different ideas about their leadership. Its a double edged sword.

I was very sadden to hear the fate of that brave Chinese man who stopped the tanks.

David W| 1.19.11 @ 9:15AM

Ah, that explains why I hear rumors of the government siezing gold from private investors. They need to pay off the Chinese so Obama won't have to bow as low.

Purpleguy| 1.19.11 @ 12:24PM

you, sir, are an idiot

Alan Brooks| 1.19.11 @ 6:17PM

The Chinese hold 14 trillion in debt because they are a titanic dictatorship who know how to make the trains run on time.
And they want our grain.

The Chinese are clever, though; they don't need to arrest recalcitrants that much, they can lock them out of their dwellings and deny them healthcare.
My cousin taught english in Guangzhou: when they wanted him to stay they merely took his passport from his room. Clever, clever.

LMajito| 1.19.11 @ 6:35AM

this article should had the pic of potus bowing to this killer jintao (or who mexicans would refer to as chingao)

i'm not a big conspiracy fan but more and more becomes apparent that the half african that leads the us was not born (because he obviously did not grow his early years) in the us...

so he never got it that american presidents don't bow to other heads of state and certainly not to tyrants.

it appears that this guy (potus) has not met a despot whom he wouldn't want to kiss his ring (even if it is in their toe)...

Will| 1.19.11 @ 6:44AM

Also interesting, is the muted response by the administration on the return of Baby Doc. One is fooled by the appearance of an "American President" when in actuallity it is something else again. The longer this regime "governs" the more the country will suffer and be at serious risk.

WTF| 1.19.11 @ 7:22AM

Another hu is welcomed and feted at the White House; he's worse than hu. Netanya-hu.

Purpleguy| 1.19.11 @ 12:27PM

Just like "don't ask, don't tell" repeal is the end of the world, talking with the Chinese is what? Treasonous? Stop resisting the inexorable march of history ... the Chinese are coming and so are the gays .. acquiesce, you will be assimilated.

Steve A| 1.19.11 @ 3:07PM

Just when I thought it could not get any worse, now I find out I have to acquiesce to a gay Chinaman. Damn

Negro X| 1.19.11 @ 6:23PM

Poor purpletroll, "look at me" look at me" "I want attention!" Crawl back into obama's anus and be gone.

BackToBasics| 1.20.11 @ 12:46AM

Eventually, the way things are going here, the Chinese will take over and kill the homosexuals as well as a lot of other people, including liberals.

BackToBasics| 1.20.11 @ 12:48AM

Should have said, also including many liberals who are not homosexual.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.11 @ 5:20PM

Dear RTF:

Here Boy, Fetch your copy of Mein Kampf....that's a good boy...let me throw it again...fetch!

Occam's Tool| 1.19.11 @ 5:20PM

Sorry... WTF.

Kevin Dunn| 1.19.11 @ 7:32AM

How would it be ifthe US Navy named a destroyer after Wang Wei-lin? Let future President Palin or whoever file that idea away for future action.

Pelligrino| 1.19.11 @ 7:45AM

Kevin D., an excellent suggestion. I second the motion.

Sad that we have to act like we like this guy or anyone in the Chinese leadership.

They are immoral stooges, part of this century's biggest and deadliest evil empire.

Can't we just give this guy a box lunch? Maybe some Five Guys take out? He deserves no red carpets, nor a state dinner tonight.

Lawrence Boccardi| 1.19.11 @ 8:02AM

Back to the comments by LMajito; You know, I never really got on the birther bandwagon. I was more convinced that The One was hiding his college records, because of his act as registering his faith as Islam. Now, the new Dem governor of Hawaii takes office, declaring the he will put an end to the controversy, by releasing Obama's long-form birth certificate. He can't find it. He states that a search of the state records fails to disclose anything definitive. Oh my, does this vacate the court appointments of Sotomayer and Kagan?

Anthony| 1.19.11 @ 10:09AM

Lawrence, Wasn't that a stunning relelation? I wonder what Katie and Chrissy Matthews will have to say about it today on their broadcasts?
I bet it's the lead story tonight on CBS (NOT).
Not to worrry, Obozo quipped recently that birthers wanted him to wear his birth certificate on his forehead, I guess that means Obozo has a copy of it somewhere, probably with his Occidental grades that got him into Columbia, his Columbia transcript to Harvard Law, and his many articles written as Editor of the Harvard Law Review.
If all else fails, Katie will dutifully report tonight that Sarah Palin stole them.

Anthony| 1.19.11 @ 10:11AM

Purpleguy| 1.19.11 @ 12:38PM

Even though completely idiotic pursuit, if Pres Obama were to be removed from office, Joe Biden would be President - I'm okay with that.

BackToBasics| 1.20.11 @ 12:57AM

And on Drudge tonight the link to the Hawaii Gov speaking about it is http://www.nydailynews.com/new.....i_gov.html

If you play his interview notice towards the end how he says, "And I was here (in Hawaii) when he was born" but he does not say WHERE he was born. He certainly does not specify that Obam was born in Hawaii. Sort of sounds like Clinton saying "It depends on what the meaning of is is."

I've been a "birther" from the start. Obam's got a lot to hide for sure, including where he was born which even his grandmother in Kenya said was in Kenya. Oh yes and Michelle Obam said he was a "Kenyan" too.

potkas7| 1.19.11 @ 8:51AM

Wang Wei-Lin did not die for nothing. I would argue that China has changed as a result of Tiananmen Square. Though hardly a modern liberal state, it's not the same as it was in the 1990s and is certainly different from Mao's day. Looking for a historical reference I would suggest that what we're seeing is the beginning of a Chinese Enlightenment.

If the Enlightenment had a theme it was finding a better way of life through the acquisition and application of practical knowledge. That seems to describe China today.

When Reagan gave his "Tear Down This Wall" speech nobody believed it would actually happen and that European Communism would end up in history's dustbin. But it did happen.

Something is happening in China today. It doesn't do any good to complain about where they've been. The more interesting and important question is 'Where are they going?' Because wherever it is we're going along for the ride. Never forget the old financial adage, "Who holds my bonds, holds my soul."

Jacob Morgan| 1.20.11 @ 4:00PM

Question is what is chaning? More material wealth, no doubt. But to the point of the article, what has changed since Tiananmen in terms of not murdering protestors and such? Nothing, in fact one could argue it is worse--because with their new-found wealth the dictators can more easily resist external efforts to liberalize, while telling their people that their better standard of living is due to their rejection of democracy and human rights.

For those who think trade solves everything, what of the alternate hypothesis--what if it does not, but instead makes a very powerful country which wants to eliminate the concept of freedom and democray from the world? Why take the risk?

Better to do what ever it takes to destabilize their position--stop buying their crap for example. There would then be discontent against the dictators and the prospect of reform from within, and their military would be starved of hard cash.

Why are we building this monstor for our sons and grandsons to deal with?

Ken (Old Texican)| 1.19.11 @ 8:56AM

Mr. Blackwell,
I'm a Tom Clancy fan. In a couple of his Jack Ryan, President series books he has Jack say that MOST of the world's "leaders" would never set foot in the same room with his children; that they were that despicable.
Booger
bit pretty close to the bone this morning. Thanks Booger. Sometimes the only way to truly shine daylight on reality...if fiction.
www.texassaidno.com

Brian Mc| 1.19.11 @ 9:33AM

Not many smiles this morning on this site. I was shocked by the picture that spoke a thousand words: the above-pic of the flag that signifies the greatest threat to goodness in the world flying side-by-side with 'Ol Glory. I never would have thought that I would awake one morning to such a sight as this. The question begs asking; would this have occurred had Obama never made it to the oval office? I am sickened and saddened by the spectacle that picture represents: the thought of just how far this republic has spiraled out of control from its principles to allow this preposterousness to occur has left me numbed beyond belief. So, this is tolerance at a new level that encourages get-alongism which breeds nausea. Can the rebellion be that far off?

Purpleguy| 1.19.11 @ 12:43PM

So, what, you want to fight the Chinese, disrespect their leader, trash their country? THAT you would be happier with? Really?
We had to deal for 50+ years with the Soviet Union and look what happened ... talking is better than war. Negotiation is preferable to snubbing.

Don't you have the confidence in your country to succeed against tyranny? I would have thought you were more patriotic than that.

ironhorzmn| 1.19.11 @ 1:29PM

'Talking', my ass.

You think that's all the US did?

Let me pay you the compliment of not being so freaking ignorant that you've forgotten the trillions we've spent on missile submarines, nuclear bombers, ICBMs and early warning systems that DIRECTLY resulted in the breakup of the USSR.

Are you really going to tell us that all we did was TALK?

David T| 1.19.11 @ 3:08PM

Touche, ironhorzmn!
When I read posts like Purpleguy's, I ask myself
yizitdatderizzomanimorhorzizazzizdenderizhorziz?

Occam's Tool| 1.19.11 @ 5:23PM

Purpleguy:

The Korean War, The Vietnamese War, The 80's Afghan War, the 1967 and 1973 Mideast Wars---these were the wars against the Soviets, either with our own troops or proxies. Tens of thousands of dead.

We didn't just talk.

Jacob Morgan| 1.20.11 @ 4:04PM

America refused to sell technology to the Soviets, America funded radio stations to broadcast the truth to the Soviet citizens, we welcomed defectors, we matched them move for move in the space race, we matched them move for move in the arms race, we helped countries who wished not to be in the Soviet orbit, etc.

I really wonder how many of these pro-dictatorship posts are coming from an IP address deep within China?

Anthony| 1.19.11 @ 9:59AM

After Obozo bowed to America's new landlord, what other supplications did the Pretender-In-Chief do to maintain good will with the new owner of the American Plantation?
Perhaps instead of dancing girls, the CEOs of GE, Micorsoft, and other crony capitalists buddies of Obozo's, danced for Hu Jintao, with gifts of American technology, that haven't been stolen already.
Maybe Hanson over at NASA, who said while in China recently, that China should take control of America and that dictatorships get things done quickly and efficiently, offered up NASA as backup to China, especially in heading off man made global warming done by nastyAmerican capitalists.
Maybe today Hu will just declare the White House his western palace.

TURK| 1.19.11 @ 10:52AM

Ken Gin up the old team(plus a healthy dose of tea party types) and go for the senate!!! I may not be able to afford quite the same contrib but will come close. How fine you would look in the U.S. Senate!

David T| 1.19.11 @ 2:58PM

Yes, indeed, Mr. Ambassador. Ohio needs you. Let's put Sherrod Brown on the chopping block! (Can I say that?)

Ray| 1.19.11 @ 11:17AM

Only Nixon can visit China. And the Chinese Premiere can never visit the US, at least not without draw the ire of people like Mr Blackwell. Now that's an interesting conundrum.

Richard Baker| 1.19.11 @ 11:17AM

It appears that the Red Chinese bought our debt for a purpose. Since so many Americans wanted cheaper goods then everyone should be deliriously happy. This mess, deficits and the Reds, happened because Americans as a population were too damned lazy to pay attention after the fall of the Soviet Union. Now, if we have to fight these guys, and many in their military press want this, we will have given them, as Lenin put it, the rope with which to hang ourselves. I hope cheap goods are worth what defeating the Red Chinese Army is going to cost in men and treasure ( for information, contact any Korean War combat veteran). From Nixon to the Kenyan, we've shown that the Chinese may have been right during Vietnam when they referred to us as a Paper Tiger. Pogo was right, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Purpleguy| 1.19.11 @ 12:45PM

Don't you have the confidence in your country to succeed against tyranny? I would have thought you were more patriotic than that.

ironhorzmn| 1.19.11 @ 1:36PM

Not with treasonous SOBs like Al Gore telling the world that Bush 'betrayed' this country, or Harry Reid saying. 'the war is lost', or Ted Kennedy saying the torture chambers of Abu Ghraib were open 'under new management; US management'.

Liberals have ALWAYS embraced America's enemies. From Cuba to El Salvador to Iran, Iraq and now Communist China, they have condoned, ignored and excused mass murder and state terror.

And for their troubles they have been spat upon, but like whipped pups they always return to their masters for more.

Occam's Tool| 1.19.11 @ 5:30PM

Mr. Purpleguy: isn't it your country, too? Or are you a Pommy scoundrel?

Ray| 1.19.11 @ 11:43AM

Has it occurred to anyone at all that in order for people, or governments, to change, we need to engage with them on a social and political level? We haven't engaged with North Korea in over 60 years, we've isolated them completely, and has that helped? No, it hasn't. The political situation in North Kora, especially in Human Rights issues, hasn't changed at all. So, please, tell me, how would isolating the Chinese help them to change in ways that we find desirable? It won't.

Let's not let our internal political bickering with our own President blind us to the real possibility of change that political and social engagements with the US can offer the Chinese people and their government. If we want the Chinese government to CHANGE their social and political polices, like acknowledging and promoting basic human rights, then we need to engage with them socially as well as politically. We should no isolate them.

ironhorzmn| 1.19.11 @ 1:41PM

Would you go to a federal prison and 'engage' with the 'Crips', 'Bloods' or the 'Aryan Nation'?

And they don't even have 10-15 billion soldiers with tanks, artillery and automatic weapons sworn to wipe out the US and South Korea.

China and North Korea are our sworn enemies and Obama is kissing their asses by doing his best to conceal this fact.

DRed| 1.19.11 @ 6:01PM

There aren't 15 billion people on earth, genius.

Jacob Morgan| 1.20.11 @ 4:11PM

North Korea has not changed because China is proping them as a buffer zone against the dreaded democracy of South Korea.

Showering the PRC with money and power and prestige will not result in any change, it only affirms what they are doing. If one wants change then challenge things.

Free trade is only free when everyone in the value chain is free. Can Chinese labor organize? Can they demonstrate? Can they speak freely? This is not free trade, and every year there ought to be an incremental 10% tarrif until those conditions are met.

In the 1980's the Japanese did make a better mouse trap. The Chinese make shoddy ones cheaply. Their singular skill is sucking money out of the US. Start turning off the tap, that is the only way to get them to change anything. If unemployment and wages drop in China the dictators would fear a revolt, and that will result in change.

Derek Leaberry| 1.19.11 @ 1:46PM

For once I will not criticize President Obama. China not only is a major purchaser of American debt but a major source for America's consumer goods. Barack Obama is forced to be gentle to Chairman Hu due to American economic submission to Chinese economic might. Perhaps more blame for President Obama's obsequious attitude towards China can be placed on those who deindustrialized America through blind support for absolute free trade at the expense of American manufacturing.

Ken (Old Texican)| 1.19.11 @ 1:53PM

Gentlemen,
ladies, there is an old saw..."If you owe the bank ten thousand dollars...the bank can bankrupt you.
Conversely,
"If you owe the bank ten million dollars...you can bankrupt the bank."

That is the "real deal" with China. They desperately need our consumers, corporate or personal.
It is purely a matter of "will".

Intelligent Design| 1.19.11 @ 1:59PM

I called the plumbers yesterday and they flew in from Beijing to fix the leak in the bathroom.

Nick| 1.19.11 @ 3:12PM

I just saw video of Hu and President Dither being greeted by hundreds of children outside,what looked like, the White House.

I'm sure all those children were forced to be there, by their stupid, bleeding heart liberal parents. Why aren't they in school?

"Who's on second?"

"No, Hu's on first. Chinese demonstrators are on second."

"Then run them over with a tank."

Louis Jenkins| 1.19.11 @ 4:05PM

My God! The picture! It appears the Red Flag is higher than the American Flag. Or do my eyes deceive me? Forgot again, in Obama's White House every flag flies higher than ours. More than symbolism at work here folks.

How much longer oh Lord?

Brian Mc| 1.19.11 @ 10:55PM

That is not the only breech of flag etiquette, L.J.

There are two more from my count. why does this individual responsible for this travesty still have a job?

Dan| 1.19.11 @ 6:55PM

It seems to me that all the talk by our state controlled media ( ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN) about human rights is just a charade. A cover up for the real problems. The unlevel playing field that makes it difficult for us to sell products in China, China's aggressive military, China's trying to replace the dollar as the world's currancy to name a few.

Possibly these things don't come up because both Hu and non citizen Obama are both Maoists and Obama is satisfied with selling our assets and children's future to the Communists. If Obama wins in 2012 our country will be in ruins by 2016.

kevin| 1.19.11 @ 8:23PM

This is a nice diversion from The Palin Massacre.

Still, who shipped our jobs to China? Was it not the GOP, in the name of being competitive in the world?

I look at the level of commentary on here. Hard to believe folks can be duped into voting against their own self interest.

And yet they are.

BackToBasics| 1.20.11 @ 1:01AM

Agree totally about Repubs betraying Americans workers and Dems have also done so in equal measure. The Tea Party better get much bigger in a real hurry!

REB| 1.19.11 @ 11:50PM

Both lying bassturds! Lock bammy up and tell chinky to go to hell,retards are gittin too big for their britches! And get that damn red bloody rag off our White House!

Steve in Pittsburgh| 1.20.11 @ 2:34AM

Actually, we can't call it a black mark, because in this context, black means bad. And it could be percieved as racist because our president is black.