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Robinson: Carter Did Us a Favor
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson argues that Jimmy Carter did us all a favor by injecting race into the national debate, though he's a bit more reserved in his perspective:
Jimmy Carter was right in essence, but wrong in degree. It seems clear to me that some -- but not "an overwhelming portion," as Carter claimed -- of the "intensely demonstrated animosity" toward Obama is indeed "based on the fact that he is a black man."
Robinson goes on to mention people who question the legitimacy of Obama, the "birthers," those holding up signs with offensive caricatures at rallies, and perhaps Joe Wilson.
His insinuation about Wlson is a non sequitur (after all, Wilson shouted "You lie!" rather than some racial epithet). But beyond that, by narrowing the argument to "some," of course, it makes it easy to point to some people who are in fact racists. However, there's really no evidence that the criticism Obama is being subjected to is more severe than any other modern president. There were loons on the right during the Clinton years who believed Vince Foster was murdered and on the left during the Bush years who thought he orchestrated 9/11. So, you can always point to nut jobs. Since there are some racists in this country, it naturally follows that some people who oppose Obama also happen to be racists, but I don't think that's really news.
Americans elected Obama by a comfortable margin and he came into office with sky high approval ratings. The drop off in his approval ratings and increase in his disapproval ratings was not caused because people suddenly discovered that Obama was a black man. ("Oh, damn, I kind of liked this Obama guy during the election, but then somebody told me he was black, and now I can't stand him!") Nor was his slide caused by any major racial controversy. The problem for Obama is that the economy is still weak, unemployment is still climbing, and many people who wanted to give him a chance are losing faith in his policies and ability to turn this thing around. Will the Robinsons of the world always be able to find racists out there if they go looking for them? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean that every time some bigot holds up an offensive and juvenile sign at a rally, we need to have a national conversation about race.
Comments
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Words mean things| 9.18.09 @ 11:32AM
"His insinuation about Wlson is a non sequitur (after all, Wilson shouted "You lie!" rather than some racial epitaph)."
Epithet -- the word you want is epithet.
BD57| 9.18.09 @ 11:32AM
I hope conservatives will be fearless in pushing back against the "racism" slur. As noted in the article, Obama (a) got elected; and (b) had high approval ratings when he started governing.
The notion that people are changing their mind about him because of his skin color, that what he says, does & proposes has NOTHING to do with it ought to be laughed off the stage.
The question is whether conservatives have leaders - especially in Congress - with the guts to do it.
Dixie Pixie| 9.18.09 @ 11:34AM
What we don't need is a “national conversation about race”. Personally I have been hearing the same conversation since the 1960's. The conversation has not improved in decades. I for one am tired of hearing about this “ national conversation about race”. The entire rhetorical maneuver is meant as a distraction from the real issue which is the Obama's administration looting of the Health Care industry.
Frank Jinkins| 9.18.09 @ 11:55AM
Rush Limbaugh had it right - we need to ask if we can realistically have an African-American as President in this country. We must be able to criticize our President, and if we can't do that without being called "racist", then we really cannot have a black man as President. Simple logic.
Tom Rowan| 9.18.09 @ 11:56AM
"MSNBC's Keith Olbermann histrionically described Todd's hoax as "a narrative straight out of Reconstruction-era, race-based fear-mongering: a black man, 6-foot, 4-inches, attacking, sexually assaulting, fondling, mutilating a young white woman."
His expert pontificator on race was The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson, who said the Pittsburgh hoax was "the blood libel against black men concerning the defilement of the flower of Caucasian womanhood. It's been with us for hundreds of years and, apparently, is still with us."
Robinson was last heard from on the subject of race crimes in his famous April 25, 2006, Post column melodramatically saying of the Duke lacrosse rape case: "It's impossible to avoid thinking of all the black women who were violated by drunken white men in the American South over the centuries. The master-slave relationship, the tradition of droit du seigneur, the use of sexual possession as an instrument of domination -- all this ugliness floods the mind, unbidden, and refuses to leave."
Note to Mr. Robinson: There's a pill you can take for that now. Makes those endless, incessant thoughts of interracial rape just go away. Ask your doctor if this new pill is right for you. " ~American Patriot Ann Coulter
Mel Watson| 9.18.09 @ 1:37PM
Quit trying to evade racial prejudice against Obama by saying, "were not racist because WE voted for him" its a weak arguement that just so happens to have BAD TIMING.
Lets be frank. Everyone voted for Obama because (A). Americans were done with Bush, and much of the Repubican party for that matter (B.) Republicans had below average campaign team to support McCain. (C.) McCain lost tons votes when he said "there is no financial crisis." (D) McCain was too old.
Yet during the campaign, McCain was sitting around and making visits like knew he already won the presidency, which says something about his assumptions too.
Chuck Norris had a better chance of winning the presidency as a Republican.
Not 2 weeks after Obama's win, out came the monkey depiction in the New York Post, which IS NOT the South (for those putting this on just the southern states).
The fact that Bush put us in this stooper, and Republicans gave him 8 years.... and they cant give Obama 150 days, says a lot about their patience, and it IS beginning to look a bit suspicious.
Nice move, but what you say and do are aeons apart.
there is no reverse racism without racism...if your not a racist, then why would you say reverse racism, when it would be just regular racism. Do you feel confident that you can speak for other White racists, in order to support your accusation. And lets be honest, if you are right in your accusation, Black racism cant hold a candle to White racism anyway. Blacks get shot by the police, denied for loans, shown substandard housing areas, and given inefficient funding for the schools in their areas....Life altering decisions. Whats the most they have done, against you, that you constantly hear about, that was racially motivated, and life altering?? What, they called them a slur in public....I was called a nigger yesterday.
So again, I like their attempt, but your a little behing in the times.
BD57| 9.18.09 @ 2:43PM
Umm ... Mel ...
are you saying the voters disgust with Bush and dissatisfaction with McCain overcame their racism toward Obama? In the "old days", that never could've happened ....
Plus Obama's positive poll numbers after election, but before governing, would not be polluted by voters feelings about Bush / McCain - by the time they were polled, the objects of their dissatisfaction were off the stage ... what was keeping the voters "real" feelings from coming out then?
Obama's in trouble because he ran as a centrist and is governing like the hard-core liberal he is ... in fact, in some respects he's left of "hard-core liberal."
"Bait & Switch" has far more to do with his current poll standing than the color of his skin.
B Hamm| 9.19.09 @ 1:44PM
BD57 - How true! It is a classic case of "Bait & Switch." In fact, I recall having a conversation with many people prior to Herr Obama being elected and the prevailing theme of the conversation was how long it would take for him to show his true "colors." As we have seen less than 6 months!!! Aren't there laws against "Bait & Switch" practices??
George| 9.28.09 @ 12:22AM
Obama won because an incompetent white man named George Bush brought white people not to their knees but left them flat on their bellies. No economic crisis would have equalled no Obama Presidency. Bush's biggest legacy was the first ever black President.
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