During an interview with ABC, Attorney General Eric Holder said that conservative criticism of him and President Obama was partially driven by “racial animus.”

Holder is singing the same old one note song. It is not first time Holder has made such assertions. During the height of the Fast & Furious scandal in December 2011, Holder also complained that criticism of him and Obama was racially motivated. Holder said, “This is a way to get at the president because of the way I can be identified with him both due to the nature of our relationship and, you know, the fact we’re both African-American.”

What a poor example to set for younger African-Americans. Holder sends the message that anyone who criticizes an African-American is doing so not because they deserve it, but because its racially motivated. Sometimes criticism is undeserved and unfair. But without criticism we don’t change, we don’t grow and things don’t get better. Claiming “racial animus” is a mechanism by which Holder (and by extension Obama) can immunize themselves from criticism by saying those who dare to offer a different view are judging them by their skin color. As a consequence, things don’t change, grow or get better.

Let me take this moment to assure Eric Holder that conservative judgment of him and President Obama is not based on the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.