Does racism drive anti-Obama protests?

[Kadie]

Does racism drive anti-Obama protests?

by Kerry Sheridan Kerry Sheridan – 1 hr 49 mins ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A southern conservative lawmaker breaks decorum and hollers "You Lie," at the president in Congress. Protesters display guns at venues where the president is speaking. And a movement arises alleging that the president's birth certificate is forged.

To some, it is clear that the burgeoning opposition to President Barack Obama is rooted in racism, driven by whites' discomfort with the fact that the United States is now led by an African-American president.

A series of Democratic lawmakers and political columnists have pointed to the trends -- the heckling, the gun-toting, the preachers leading congregations in prayers that Obama will die -- and warned of the danger therein.

"There's something loose in the land, an ugliness and hatred directed toward Barack Obama, the nation's first African American president, that takes the breath away," wrote columnist Colbert King in The Washington Post.

To New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, the South Carolina Republican's cry of "You lie!" showed that Obama is "at the center of a period of racial turbulence sparked by his ascension," she wrote.

"This president is the ultimate civil rights figure -- a black man whose legitimacy is constantly challenged by a loco fringe."

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/uspoliticsracismobama





Protesters against US President Barack Obama's health care plan and other policies gather in Washington, DC, on September 12, 2009. To some, it is clear that the burgeoning opposition to Obama is rooted in racism, driven by whites' discomfort with the fact that the US is now led by an African-American president.
(AFP/File/Nicholas Kamm)

[Orrex]

1. Of course not. And the Civil War was all about the tariff.

:sarcasm:

[KittyWampus]

6. Even if you say the Civil War was about Slavery you are still saying it was about an ECONOMIC SYSTEM

It is absolutely not JUST Racism and reducing the Intolerance and Bigotry of the Right to JUST Racism is counter-productive.

[Orrex]

21. Who are you addressing? I never made any claim like that.

Racism is a big component of Rightwing bigotry, but I've never claimed that it's the sole component.

[johnnie]

2. It's pretty obvious

These people at these rallies are very uninformed about the issues at hand. Every time I see one interviewed they have no idea what they are talking about. If they truly are against the health care reform, they would have that on their signs, not pictures of Obama as a Nazi or some racist portrayal. Any moron can see that this is a racial issue and nothing more.

[treestar]

8. Right, they could have signs about how they want the government out of

health care without reference to the President. So far, I haven't seen any sign directed at Congress, which would be just as responsible for passage of such a bill.

[Kadie]

10. Exactly.

This past weekend there were a couple of signs against Speaker Pelosi, however, most of them were against the President. They were mostly personal attacks, not just sticking to the issues.

[and-justice-for-all]

3. Scan their crowds..they lack diversity...

and do you blame them? Their also demonize Muslims with their racist bullshit. Ali Bama?:eyes:

[KittyWampus]

7. They also demonize Gay people, for instance. It is not JUST Racism.

[BlooInBloo]

12. Please quote someone - anyone - who says it's *only* racism and *nothing* else.

Please - find me anyone who says that.

Go find The World's Most Oversensitive Black Guy if you have to - I just want to verify that this person you're arguing against actually exists.

[KittyWampus]

15. Are you kidding? Can you find ANY OP's on DU right now that talk about anything other

than Racism in regards the RW protestors ?

Pretty much EVERY post on the Teabaggers and the Protesters has done nothing else but call them out as Racists.

For example, the title of the editorial posted in this very thread, "Does racism drive anti-Obama protests?".

A simple survey of GD will prove me out.

What's odd is that DU'ers have so much trouble admitting how obsessed they are with focusing on the term 'Racist'. And also why they can't handle broadening the discussion to talk about what is at the root of these demonstrations.

[BlooInBloo]

17. Then it should be very, very easy to find a quote saying it's *only* racism.

[and-justice-for-all]

22. I am not "focused" on racism...

I just call it like I see it.

Those people are racist bigots.

[EmilyAnne]

27. Obama is black. He's not gay. I haven't seen a single 9-12 sign nor heard a recent attack on

LGBT people by Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, etc.
I have heard and seen viciously racist commentary from this guys.
Add the ACORN stuff of the week and, well, race...in particular the black race, is the major issue at the moment.

[Echo In Light]

4. Of course it plays a substantial role, but disdain for Lefties/free thinkers/unorthodoxy is rampant

...among RWers/authoritarians.

[TxRider]

18. Yes racism is factor, but a small one with only a few

The teabaggers actually are just as much against Bush's spending policies as they Obamas.

The are mainly railing about bailouts, deficits etc. devaluation of the dollar, China trade, with some whackos clinging to their fringe.

[Solomon]

28. Aw jeez. Any port in a storm will do.

Your points are bullshit. If they were against all that where the fuck were they when it was happening.

It never ceases to amaze me the corp of people who exist to jump on every thread denying racism.

If they wore hoods and whit sheets you'd still be bringing up some bullshit about why it's "other things."

Damn are you people jealous or something? If you are, you can have all the racist bullshit I've had to encounter for 55 years now. You can have it. I don't want it. Will that make you feel better?

[KittyWampus]

5. No, it's NOT JUST RACISM. It's Intolerance, Prejudice and Bigotry. It's Ignorance.

Racism is just ONE, manifestation of the Intolerance and Ignorance that drives these people's reactions.

[TahitiNut]

19. Prideful Ignorance is at the root of many social pathologies, including bigotry of all kinds.

There's a 'flavor' of ignorance stemming from close-mindedness (see my sig) and emotional immaturity that creates fertile soil for all manner of bigotries and animosities. It's a kind of ignorance that has a hysteresis effect -- it compounds itself in the attraction to false beliefs, dogmatism, and cult-like (dysfunctionally codependent) associations.

Such folks often deny being 'racists' ... due at least in part to proxy animosities dounded in dogma. ("'They' just don't know their place" is the conversion/perversion that creates the proxy of behavior in lieu of mere race.)

[trayfoot]

9. Yes, racism is what all this BS is about!

[Tippy]

11. I am just suprised we have not seen

clan members turning up at events dressed in their white robes and hoods.....

[Solomon]

30. Even if they did the same crwod would be here telling us

it's not racism. I'm sick of the denials. It's bad enough being subjected to it. Then people want to tell you it doesn't exist. There's always some other reason.

[datasuspect]

13. racism drives practically everything in american life.

[branders seine]

14. No. corporate greed drives the protests.

The root of the protests is a moneyed elite protecting their power and wealth. They are blind to every color but green.

They manipulate the people in the crowds though, and racism is fuel for many of the protesters.

[KittyWampus]

16. THANK YOU! I kiss you full on the lips for pointing out the obvious.

[branders seine]

31. wow!

Don't let my SO know!

[Emit]

20. +2 Excellent observation

[anonymous171]

23. Exactly. Racism isn't the source but it sure is making everything worse. nt

[liberal N proud]

24. But racism is the byproduct

[branders seine]

32. racism is clearly at play on a large and widespread scale.

But I don't believe it is the first cause.

[Initech]

34. Corporate greed + racism = one two blow

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Is the Pope Catholic

does the sun rise on the East?

Some may not be driven by race... but quite a few ARE... and we know a black man cannot run the country...

:sarcasm:

They should know their place...

:sarcasm:

[AngryAmish]

26. Does a bear shit where a bear shits?

[Douglas Carpenter]

29. it is a very BIG part of it!! of course they are going to hate any Democratic President

Bill Clinton was white and the most bipartisan President in modern American history - and they were determined to destroy him - by any means necessary - no matter how much it hurt the country.

ANY - Democratic President to them is a fire that must be squelched, - an African-American President with a Muslim sounding name -is a three alarm fire that inspires total panic.

[TannerBoyle]

33. In a word--YES.

The Republicans can and will come up with any excuse but the truth (their usual MO) about why they're against Barry.

But, the fact of the matter is--it's all about the fact that he's Black.

[brettdale]

35. Yes

Yes the marches are driven by pure racism, which is fueled by Faux News.

[L0oniX]

36. kick

[frogmarch]

37. Racism, homophobia and

other mindsets that come from being stupid.