The Backlash Against Obama's Blackness

FOCUS: Apocalypse Fairly Soon

FOCUS: Five Facts That Put America to Shame

The NDAA's Coup d'Etat Foiled

FOCUS: The Commencement Address That Won't Be Given

A Victory for All of Us

Dan Kennedy writes: "From Arizona to Ground Zero via birthers, the Republicans are riding a wave of white resentment. It's reckless and frightening."

Glenn Beck purportedly restoring honor to America, 08/28/10. (photo: Getty Images)

Comments

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0 # Guest 2010-08-29 20:28

the scapegoating, fear, hatred, and real violence should give us pause about the usa and where we are going with all the other issues being so firmly denied.

+3 # Guest 2010-08-29 23:08

I agree totally to this analysis of the situation here in the US. It is very difficult to live here with this hatred. Every news item gets comments from the anti-Obama folk. I saw comments that it was Obama's fault for the Katrina disaster! They forget that Bush and Republicans got us into the economic mess.

+1 # Guest 2010-08-30 00:10

Well, here's a more optimistic account. Let's hope he's right.

+3 # Guest 2010-08-30 00:34

Although I think this article is right on, why is anyone surprised? No matter what the media says, racism in America is alive and well and now, thanks to the Teaparty and other groups of that ilk, it is being brought out in the open. We were the only nation aside from South Africa, who practiced racial separation well into the last century. That kind of hatred just doesn´t die that easily.

+3 # Guest 2010-08-30 00:39

How true it is that republicans have totally been against Obama since day one...Well they will not win. They are only showing how they think they can vote against anything The President or Democrats want. That is why they will not win in November an we still have faith that our President will get the job done unlike BUSH/Cheney

+16 # Guest 2010-08-30 03:45

My only disagreement is that we are already seeing the consequence of this racial divisiveness. Since it is based on emotional hyperbole and built on fears and economic disaster for the people, this racial hatred is being used as an effective distraction. As long as people are fighting windmills they will never see the big picture which is about how our government has been bought by big corporate interests that have no respect for the people or the environment.

0 # Guest 2010-08-30 04:45

The only real question of philosophy is very simple to state: what is worthwhile to think about, i.e. what is interesting to us, why should it interest us, what is 'relevent'to us as human beings?

-7 # Guest 2010-08-30 05:26

//Barack Obama's $800m stimulus bill was not approved until three days later. Which is my point. The most notorious political movement of the Obama era, grounded in racial fears if not flat-out racism,//

To translate the discontent over the massive bail out to racism is a bizarre leap of logic to say the best - more likely a malicious lie with the intent to divide and conquer by falsely injecting racism into the argument hoping to displace the reality of government malfeasance, out right theft by printing money and violations of the Constitution which are the real causes of the discontent.

We tea partiers detested Bush/McCain Bail out - yet no one called us racist then.

+1 # Guest 2010-08-30 14:06

Yes, you are in fact correct. No one called you racist then because you weren't being racist...Bush and McCain are white...not racist...unless you aren't caucasian it wouldn't be racist...

-1 # Guest 2010-08-30 06:04

Dan, this proves once again that the only remaining tool in the left wing kit is the epithet "racist." It is getting more obvious that the Democrats hope to hold onto power by diverting our attention from the real issues. You seem incapable of writing a single sentence about people who disagree with President Obama without resorting to name-calling. Lots of luck!

+7 # Guest 2010-08-30 07:18

Rock, And the only tool the right wing has (the only tool its ever really had) is fear. The "real" issues are centuries of either overt or covert discrimination to what basically amounts to a caste system. Conservatives, of both parties, generally white males, but occasionally others who have decided "if you can't beat 'em join 'em) want to continue a way of life that's exclusive not inclusive. The Mosque in N.Y. is good example. Do we have "Freedom of Religion" yes or no? Are American service and civilian personnel conducting "Christian" religious ceremonies on Islamic turf? Tom, above you on this forum states, "we tea partiers detested Bush?McCain Bailout-yet no called us raceist then." That's because there were no "tea partiers" until after Obama was elected and took office. Republicans invented deficit spending during the Reagan years but baggers, sometimes carrying guns, didn't appear until our first Black President. Just a coincidence huh? An 800% rise in hate groups since '08. Coincidence?

+5 # Guest 2010-08-30 10:23

What is going on here is exactly what Dan said, unadulterated RACISM. The small minded people and the right wing haters are incensed, that we have an intelligent, eloquent President, who is highly educated, and a First Lady who is equally well educated and well spoken.

They seem to be a happy couple, who make time for date-nights (how great is that??) In addition, there are two charming daughters. Obviously a happy family. Our First Lady has taken the bull by the horn and is addressing a huge problem, (pun intended) our obese population. She is working to teach kids to eat right, AND TO MOVE.
She is also working to help military families. They are paying the price for the right wing's love of war.

I was so proud of our country when Obama was elected. Finally we are growing up.
It was a happy day. Sadly there are still way too many racists left

-4 # Guest 2010-08-30 06:10

Nothing substantial here.

+2 # Guest 2010-08-30 09:58

None are so blind as those who WILL NOT see. Choosing to ignore reality will not make it go away.

-2 # frank67 2010-08-30 07:17

It is flat out racism.

+1 # Guest 2010-08-30 07:51

This article is right on the mark. The fury being generated by cynical and manipulative right-wing ultra-extremists is motivated by one overarching phobia: racism. The vindictive Republican shenanigans against earlier Democratic presidents, specifically Johnson, Carter and Clinton, was nasty but not totally nihilist. Now against Obama they're avowedly dedicated to his failure, even though failure on the part of the president would be failure for the entire country. The difference? Johnson, Carter and Clinton were WASPs, and Obama is black. So much for "patriotism." This gang of destructionists must be stopped in their tracks. They are not real Republicans -- they're a vicious cabal of opportunists that has infested the GOP and robbed it of the last vestige of its history.

-1 # Guest 2010-08-30 08:15

Glenn Beck et al should be called xenophobes which encompasses their true racist perception: anti-Black, Muslim, Immigrant, Anyone NOT a Christian as per their definition. Beck, a Mormon, certainly doesn't encompass Christ-like qualities… Most Americans believe in God and know they have the right to practice their beliefs as they see fit. If they are Jewish, Muslim, Hindi, Buddhist or any other group that does not follow the tenants of Christianity why should they become targets of the so-called Christian right. Our nation was founded and came into existence because of religious intolerance, how soon we forget.

+4 # Guest 2010-08-30 08:16

9/11 is used as an excuse for bigotry and intolerance against those NOT say, WASP-ish. It is NOT fair to use 9/11 as an excuse; a full investigation is still needed as “Al Qaida” may not have been solely responsible for the twin tower’s fall. Serious questions should be asked, what part did the CIA (who created AQ to combat the Russians) have and what role was played by the Mossad (rumor of warnings to stay away from the towers on the 11th leaked within the community) or the SPEED the Cheney/Bush/Republicans moved us w/o hesitation into war NOT against terror but FOR the acquisition of oil, hence - detour Iraq!. And now, will Israel manipulate us into Iran to do their dirty work another time. Maybe we should demand Israel gets rid of its nuclear weapons! Conspiracy? Maybe? Not? Check the facts – what did John F. Kennedy know and about to publish, but he died, accident? Maybe? Not? People it's time to wake up and care! Demand objective reporting not morning fluff!

+6 # Guest 2010-08-30 08:21

The extreme right wing is simply riding what they perceive as the wave which will put them back into power. It's called American Racism, which has always been there, in the bushes, waiting for their moment of truth, when violence will rule in the form of race riots, this time inculcated by the Tea Party, Fox, Beck, O'Reilly, etc, etc, who will the sit back and mouth inane expressions, like: WE TOLD YOU SO. I humbly suggest we pin a monicker on them:
THE STUPIDS.

+3 # Guest 2010-08-30 09:25

To Tom Martin, If you are a Tea Parytier that exited before the 2008 election cycle where were you and yours when Bush was defiling as much of our Constitution as he could get away with? Where were the Tea Partiers when Bush was selling and illegal war, deregulating energy and the finance institutions, cutting taxes to the rich and so much more? As a Tea Partier to blame Obama is an attempt to remove your lipstick from your pigs...

0 # Guest 2010-08-30 09:40

What has happened to both the Republican Party & Christians........I try to think positive & recall the "good" Repulicans, but it is getting more & more difficult. I also was raised a Christian, but someone not long ago reminded me that the Christian faith is the only religion in the world w/ a torture devise as their symbol, (of what?). MM

+1 # Guest 2010-08-31 08:42

Instead of celebrating his life, they worship his death. They tell us, "He died for you." I disagree. I think that he lived for us, his death was simply the result of the prevailing ignorance. 2000 years later, ignorance still prevails!

+2 # kat2walk 2010-08-30 09:45

I am frightened that the likes of Glen Beck and Sarah Palin can attract such a crowd. I look at the power ignorance is gaining, especially racial prejudice and wonder where this will end. It seems the time machine has turned backwards and that all the old and ignorant attitudes now have the multiplier of Internet and cable TV without the brakes of good and honest journalism. I have ordered my bumper stickers "Stop Fox TV" and hope that movement gains momentum.

-4 # Guest 2010-08-30 13:16

For the American People to enjoy so many freedoms and considering America was a safe haven for all nationalities, I think that the hate demonstrated by a few really should be ignored. I also think if some of these self-righteous people, including Glen Beck and Ms. Palin traced their origins, they may not like what they discover. Remember Cheney is a distant cousin of Obama. Poor Obama.

+6 # Guest 2010-08-30 15:01

I am sick and tired of reading articles like this. I am conservative and yes- I am politically opposed President Obama. I honestly don't care that President Obama is black. He could be polka dotted for all that I care. The reason I don't agree with him is because he supports social projects that are aimed to help people but cannot effectively be applied to everyone. But why is it that any time any one espouses any such disagreements- the racism card is automatically played? In today's world why is 'race' important? It really shouldn't be. What should be important is what a person character is.

+4 # giangurgolo 2010-08-30 16:51

So the logic I follow from this article is basically a person who is white (like myself) has no right to be angry at government policies IF the head of that government is black. Thus, a black president show be allowed to impose whatever he wishes upon the people regardless of their disapproval of such ACTIONS lest they face the fire-breathing charges of racism.

+2 # Guest 2010-08-30 22:48

giangugolo. What the rightwing is doing is not voicing disapproval. They are spewing hatred. there are several who disapprove in a civil way; but Beck, Limbaugh, Palin and Fox is throwing around racial slurs and other hateful rants. They are attacking not disapproving.

-1 # Guest 2010-08-30 23:31

Diversity is strength!

And which countries GDP is growing? India? China? Right!

-2 # Guest 2010-08-31 11:33

Quoting

Diversity is strength!

And which countries GDP is growing? India? China? Right!

Enforced diversity is a sure way to fascism. If you like China and India, go and leave there. For some reason, the Chinese and Indians wasnt to come to live here. It has nothing to do with GDP.

-3 # Guest 2010-08-31 11:55

"Enforced diversity is a sure way to fascism". Wrong.

If you don't like America, then leave it.

And stop repeating everything Glen Beck says.

0 # Guest 2010-08-31 12:15

AMERICANS ARE FINALLY REACHING A DEGREE OF MATURITY. THAT WILL REALLY HAPPEN WHEN REPUBLICANS STOP USING THE WORD CONSERVATIVE WHICH MEANS--SELF CONCERNED AND SELF RIGHTEOUS AND SELFISH!!!

-2 # Guest 2010-08-31 15:56

"Enforced diversity is a sure way to fascism".

Diversity does NOT work. It is a left-wing fantasy that you can take all different races, religions and such, mix them all together and have peace and harmony. All you have is conflict and a divided society and eventual destruction of the host country.

-3 # Guest 2010-09-01 02:25

It was the first time in decades that I was proud of my country...the day Obama was elected. The embarrassment of his conservative leaning has left me cold to all politics...nothing will change in this country...ever.

+1 # Guest 2010-09-01 08:19

He's just now waking up to the fact that the US is 70% conservative. How else is he going to hang on to power?

-1 # Guest 2010-09-01 16:49

Quoting

He's just now waking up to the fact that the US is 70% conservative. How else is he going to hang on to power?

Yes, if you hang out half of your life with university folks, liberation theologists, and community organizers, it is indeed a revelation to find out that the US is 70% conservative. I prey (metaphorically speaking, I am an atheist) that the ratio will not change. Although during the 1960s-1970s there appeared a few cracks in this "conservative building," I am sure American people have enough common sense to keep this balance by diluting Left/collectivist efforts to turn this country into an European-type nanny state. Never was active in politics, but the last three (late Bush-early Obama) years forced me to seriously think about the fate of economic freedom in this country.

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