Birthers: yes, they're racist but it goes far deeper than that.

[arbusto_baboso]

Think about the issue, and about the language they are using.

The Constitution specifies one must be a "natural-born American" to be president. So, if there were EVER any legitimate issue about Obama and his birth certificate, it would center around his place of birth.

Thing is, that's not what the birther freaks SAY. They keep saying "he's not a citizen". Never mind the fact that as many have pointed out, if his mother was a citizen, so is Obama.

Yes, this does have to do with rethugs being uncomfortable with having a black president. But it's far worse than that. By centering their rhetoric around his "citizenship", what they really reveal about themselves is that they don't think ANY African-Americans are citizens. That's what they REALLY mean, but even Pat Buchanan and Lou Dobbs aren't crazy enough to say that out loud.

But the truth will out every time.

[defendandprotect]

1. Randi Rhodes is just covering this . . . a crusade by the GOP for the really, really dumb!!

[arbusto_baboso]

2. That's partially where I got the inspiration for my post.

Even she hasn't carried it so far as to see the connection between birthers questioning Obama's ciitizenship and their views on non-whites even being in this country.

[defendandprotect]

5. I don't think they can take that too far because basically . . .

"whites" -- Western Europeans were the "invaders" here --

This isn't our land, technically --

and, truth be told, I don't think anyone has ever seen a deed of transfer signed

by the Creator???

Summing up, it's all crap!

:)

[arbusto_baboso]

6. An Overdeveloped Sense of Privilege knows no logic.

But, as Steve Martin once said, "I believe that everyone who lives in this country should learn our native language: Apache!"

[defendandprotect]

7. "I believe that everyone who lives in this country should learn our native language: Apache!"

Cute -- !!!

:)

And true!!

African Americans certainly arrived in America long before many, many "whites."

[Spider Jerusalem]

57. Some Africans arrived before some Europeans; others didn't...

not that it matters, the argument of priority of arrival is rather ridiculous, since anyone NOT of native ancestry descends from someone who came to America from somewhere else, regardless of when they got here. Some of my ancestors were at Jamestown; that doesn't make me more American than someone whose family fled here from Europe before WWII.

[SharonAnn]

36. I think there really is some question about McCain's status. Born in a Panama Canal

hospital but not on a military base? Therefore, not born in the United States of America? Citizen, yes. Natural born, maybe not.

[peacetalksforall]

3. I would have never figured that out. Thanks. I guess what I mean is that I

would have never thought they would stoop so low. It's very plausible that you have figured out the truth. I've only been following this a little. I am dumbfounded. The screecher at the townhall meeting. Is that about the bottom? Makes you want to scream a question to her about health care of going hungry and homeless, under the bridge children.

[catbyte]

4. POS screecher

I'm the daughter of a Marine Raider, first wave at Guadalcanal in WWII, Pacific Theater. I'm also Ojibwa, as was my dad, RIP, so she and all of them should immediately go back to their country of origin and give us our land back. Yeah right. Dumbass broad.

Diane

Anishnabe and Proud

FREE LEONARD PELTIER

[Betsy Ross]

8. Welcome to DU.

I'll second the Free Leonard Peltier.

[catbyte]

14. Thanks, Betsy Ross!

:hi: There was something about her that just set my teeth on edge, much more than that pathetic woman at McCain's rally who said Obama was a "Muslim". How dare she assume that the USA is a "White privilege" zone. The arrogance and ignorance is staggering.

Diane

Anishnabe and Proud

FREE LEONARD PELTIER

[conscious evolution]

47. I'll third that--Free Leonard!!

[sarge43]

12. Welcome to DU, Diane

:patriot: for the memory of your dad (RIP)

[catbyte]

18. Thanks, Sarge!

Yeah, I lost my darling dad a few years ago to ALS. There is no crueler disease. It's devastating.

Thanks again for the welcome.

Diane

[Odin2005]

23. Welcome! I have many relatives who are part-Ojibwe! White Earth band.

:hi:

[arbusto_baboso]

28. Welcome to DU and all respects to your Dad.

I am a vet (Desert Storm) and I know how tough-as-nails those WWII Marine raiders were.

I also have a friend in Michigan who is Ojibwa. Good woman.

[Fire1]

50. I know what you mean!! LOL!!! I'm still waiting on my

restitution of forty acres and a mule!!! :shrug:

[peacetalksforall]

55. Yes, the European invasion of the Western Hemisphere - how presumptuous.

Northern and Western European. Instead of being humble for the welcome extemeded (initially) and fitting in (as some did), they ran over the people and the land and took it. My ancestry included in the group of Northern Europeans.

Somehow, we have to get some education into the heads of these people who think they can empirically invade and that the people who were already here (throughout the hemisphere), plus the African slaves, the Asians - the Middle Easterners, should serve the Northern and Western Europeans and bow). This is where our superiority 'complex' comes from. They skip over the parts of pledges, lyrics, government writings and speeches, prayers that include words such as brotherhood, melting pot, equality and opportunity for all - especially 'peace on earth' because the seeds of hate were firmly planted and preached.

Bless the humble ones - the ones who appreciate what they received.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

63. When that woman screeched

"I want my country back." I felt a chill go down my spine and agree with the OP. I fear we have not come as far as I thought we had.

[county worker]

9. I thought the same thing when I heard that woman at the town hall shout

that she wants her country back. Who took her country from her? No matter where Obama was born, they feel they lost their country to a Black man.

[Steely_Dan]

13. I saw this same woman on TV and...

I suddenly realized just how screwed up our country is. I mean, every time I think we have reached rock bottom when it comes to this kind of shit, I'm shocked by yet another example. Honestly, I'm beginning to lose all faith in this country.

-P

[Fire1]

61. Just 'beginning?' I commend you. n/t

[sarge43]

10. They might want to read the 14th Amendment of the USC

Oh, never mind. Look who we're talking about.

[Mrs. Overall]

11. You are absolutely correct, in my opinion.

This does go far deeper than citizenship to a terrible core of racism against all African Americans.

Frankly, I'm glad they are getting press--this ugly thing needs to be brought out of the dark and addressed.

[Steely_Dan]

16. You know....

it was when they recited the Pledge that I began to get sick to my stomach.

-P

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. Well, of COURSE they are citizens.

At least, 3/5 of a citizen.
















:sarcasm:
just in case it is needed.

[arbusto_baboso]

20. I think most of the birthers would gladly take us back to that time.

Of course, like all conservatives, birthers are just an extreme fringe of an entire group that worships an America that never actually existed quite the way they think it did....

[Mrs. Overall]

17. Is there a group now going around unrecc'ing all the "birther" threads--

either because they are birthers
or because they believe that ignoring the issue will make it go away?

[arbusto_baboso]

19. Good question. I just assumed it was some one on DU who hates my guts.

For some reason I always assume it's personal.

The trouble is that on DU, it usually IS....

[Mrs. Overall]

26. I've noticed that threads dealing with "the crazy right-wing" often get

unrecc'd and the poster gets scolded for bringing up such things on DU.

Since I have volatile right wing relatives, I know first hand how dangerous these people are and their terrible agenda. I want to see them exposed, challenged and ridiculed.

Sometimes I think people with no direct experience of conservative radicalism tend to dismiss it as just a few nuts--I think it is much bigger than that. Look at The Family and C Street for one example...

On Edit--ok, I'm bitching about nothing, suddenly. It's up to +4. My bad.

[arbusto_baboso]

27. I agree and I think you may have a point about the unreccs.

But then, I miss some of the unofficial "rules" around here, too.

[BurtWorm]

21. I heard echoes of this in Buchanan's rant about "white folks" on Maddow.

He all but said America is by, of, and for whites only.

[arbusto_baboso]

22. Yes. Pat B is a bag of liquified pig excrement.

Correction: pig excrement can actually serve a useful PURPOSE!

[emdee]

24. I believe that is a true assumption...

too many people who would have voted against the Republican party told me they would not vote for a black. I was very surprised by some of them...not at all surprised by others.

The White House page at Facebook, under the Fans message board, has an idiot who calls himself Birth Certificate who spams the page every few minutes with this Birther crap.

[arbusto_baboso]

29. I'm sure the Secret Service have their eyes on him as we speak.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[arbusto_baboso]

31. Which shows that there are nutcases on DU, too.

[KamaAina]

30. Nonsense.

They think AAs are three-fifths of a citizen, just like it says in the Comstimatushun. :eyes:

[arbusto_baboso]

52. As if any of them have (or can) read that document!

I think you overestimate them.

[damntexdem]

32. And his mother was a white American citizen.

But the Birthers don't likely believe in interracial marriage, either.

[arbusto_baboso]

33. BINGO! But again, that's something even THEY know better than to say aloud.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

34. Yes. As an African American woman, this is about an age-old stereotype

about black people and minority people of color in general: we aren't truly Americans. We aren't patriotic. We are essentially "The Other." That's what this discussion is about. If they are successful in dehumanizing the president, then perhaps they'll be effective in inciting hatred and violence, not only against the president, but against people of color in general...or ANYONE (including gays/lesbians) who THEY deem as 'The Other'.

If you remember the rhetoric during the election regarding 'Small Towns' vs. 'Cities'? Well, the masked issue was really about blacks and other minority groups who tend to live in cities versus 'the rest of us' who tend to live in small towns.

That's why I was so pissed off at Tweety with his "regular guy" rhetoric. And that's why I could not support Hillary Clinton with her 'hard-working' comments. These people know exactly what they are saying when they say it. And I was very shocked and saddened by Hillary Clinton and her husband, who know all too well about the Southern Strategy and subtly playing on racial hatred and fears. What they are doing is talking about "The Other." And in this society, anyone who isn't a WASP is characterized as "The Other," and thus aren't really Americans. Because they aren't Americans, they are a target. It's very scary, maddening and absolutely despicable!!!!

[arbusto_baboso]

39. And as a white male, I'm glad I'm not off-base with my assumptions.

See, some of us white guys "get it". ;)

[Dappleganger]

59. Yes, and it's up to us to stand up to them too.

We have to put the screws to people like that so they know it's NOT acceptable behavior.
We need to drown them out.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

62. No, you were SPOT ON. There are so many white people who do get it. My passion in this life

is to get my people--BLACK PEOPLE--to be more understanding of the plight faced by the LGBT community. It makes no sense that there should be fear and hatred in my community on that issue.

[Dappleganger]

58. Great post.

How can we tell it's racism--listen to the hatred in their voices.
That is fear of losing control to someone who's been under the white man's foot for so long. I don't even need to hear the words, just the tone in their voice to know. As a white woman I heard it far too often from my own racist father, as well as the city I grew up in (Norfolk).

Racism is the basest form of human evil--"I am better than you, so you will serve me."

[HughMoran]

35. Funny that we're actually talking about it

For some topics this would be a measure of success, but in this case it's a measure of how the insane on the right are controlling the dialog. I'm sure a lot of Republicans are cringing.

[EFerrari]

38. If the right wing was controlling the dialog, we'd be talking about his birth certificate

not about their racism.

[HughMoran]

42. Really now?

Funny how you seem to find delineations in arguments were none were implied or exist in my mind.

[EFerrari]

46. Right. You know, there is a whole world out here that isn't in your mind.

:)

[HughMoran]

48. How dare

you talk to God that way! :puffpiece:

[morgan2]

37. I think were all confused by their arguement

He's not a natural born citizen because he was born by a C-section, not a natural birth. Therefor he can't be President.

[lolly]

53. aha! The truth comes out

But he could beat the s**t out of MacBeth.

[annabanana]

40. They are ready to follow Palin and Bachman and Joe the Plumber

into war against the United States over this crap.

They are crazy and armed.

I can't tell you how uncomfortable this "movement" makes me. It's fun to laugh at them because they sound so damned stupid. But then thuggery isn't much of an intellectual exercise.

[AspenRose]

41. Correct.

Sarah Palin's "Real America" = Rural and lily white

[Life Long Dem]

43. Why even give this any attention?

This is an advertisement, and nothing more. There is no legal grounds so all they have is you.

[arbusto_baboso]

44. Why? Because cockroaches scatter when you shine light on them.

And the ones that don't can easily be mashed with your shoe.

[troubledamerican]

64. In 1990, Democrats said "Why give Rush Limbaugh any attention?"

What a smart strategy it is to ignore the people who want you exterminated. Only someone who has never been a minority could ask such a question.

[opihimoimoi]

45. its a desperate grab for a straw as they slowly sink into the quicksand

fuck reality and truth.....

Scream

Thats what they are doing....and

hardly anyone listens to those crazy Pubs these days....they are known to FOOL us...in Spain, they say

DECEPTION

[Life Long Dem]

49. Then why stop with an Amendment to the Constitution?

If it's the Constitution they are against, then would anyone be a natural born citizen? Or are they just against this one Amendment?

[RagAss]

51. Birthers.....The last Bastion of Cretinism !

[Mari333]

54. and yet, if they checked the history of DNA

they would find out that everyone on earth is an african. including themselves.

go figure.

[noiretextatique]

56. um, isn't that racist to the core?

we saw how much they believe that during katrina.

[Solomon]

60. I've said this many times to my wife since Obama

won the nomination. That white people were going to get a good look at racism. The kind that sticks out like a sore thumb to blacks, but whites always find some other reason why it's not really racism.

Reading some of the comments on this thread, I can see that this is indeed happening. And it also confirms my belief that Obama is sowing change just by being who he is. Period.