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It's not about Obama being black. Was HillaryCare opposed because she was a woman?
This is quickly becoming a sort of "Godwin's Law" for the left...
South Carolina Republican Congressman Joe Wilson shouted “you lie” at the president during his address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night. Few would doubt this was a sign of disrespect that most Americans would find objectionable. But beyond Wilson's callous disdain for the office of President, it is important to understand the racial connotations involved, and the climate that gave rise to them.
We do not assert that Joe Wilson is a bigot; his personal racial at udes are, perhaps ironically, beyond the scope of this incident. Rather, the consistent branding of President Obama as “other” by his opponents has created a context within which it is perceived that Obama need not be treated as other presidents have been treated. The creation of that “otherness,” while possibly motivated by racial animosity, is certainly rendered more effective as a result of deeply held negative predispositions about African Americans.
For at least two years, his political opponents – including Democratic opponents during the primary – have attempted to portray Barack Obama as “not one of us.” He has been, at various times, referred to as communist/socialist/Marxist, elitist, corrupt, a terrorist sympathizer, foreign-born, a thug, fascist and even racist. In short, he is everything that we believe America is not. He is not “one of us.” He is “other.”
It is no surprise, then, that some parents felt it dangerous to let this stranger talk to their children on Tuesday, and it is no surprise that at least one member of Congress believed that it was appropriate to hurl an insult at him during a formal address. Keeping in mind that there is a small but vocal group of Americans and conservative leaders who continue to perpetuate the story that Obama is not a legitimate president because of his birth status, perhaps we should not be surprised that this president, then, does not command even the most minimal level of respect from some of his elected political opponents.
By and large, Whites in America go out of their way to excuse such behavior as being impolite or unfortunate, but not at all related to race. If one believes that the threshold of what is to be considered to be “racist” is that an epithet must be hurled (e.g., if Wilson would have yelled, “You lying ######!”), it is comfortable to believe that in a “post-racial” nation, such behavior is divorced from the nation's rich history of oppression and White supremacy.
A more sophisticated understanding of the way racism works systemically and psychologically renders such comforting dismissals to be inappropriate. Contemporary racism is not largely about lynching or legalized segregation. Rather, we must be reflective about the myriad ways in which we are tacitly socialized to believe stereotypes about persons of color. Those beliefs reside in our subconscious and affect our at udes and behaviors in ways that we often do not recognize. All Americans who are attentive to our potential for prejudice have been in situations where we “catch” ourselves with a racially insensitive thought that surprises and horrifies us. Other times, those thoughts drive our actions without our knowledge. If we only define “racism” as overt bigotry, we ignore the most important elements of a system that continues to perpetuate privilege for Whites.
Attacks on President Obama are not, in and of themselves, racist. They might be made without racist intent; they can even be made without racist effect if they do not find greater results because of ingrained stereotypes about African Americans. Criticizing the president for being willing to push for a clean energy bill, for example, is likely to be devoid of racial effects. However, arguing that he is lying, is corrupt, or has friends who are criminal does have a racist effect because it is easier for us to believe such claims about an African American, as they comprise the myth of the Black character.
So we need not know Congressman Wilson's heart to know that his behavior is reflective of a broader racist criticism of President Obama. In effect, the outburst was not really about Joe Wilson. Some of the folks who make racist appeals may be aware that they are doing so, but others very well may not. Irrespective of intent, however, we must be aware that a context of “otherness” has been established around this president that set the stage for him to be treated differently than other presidents this week, first by the parents of schoolchildren and then by a member of Congress.
Congressman Wilson quickly apologized Wednesday evening for his behavior. Like with all apologies, we should be thoughtful about the context that facilitated the behavior while we forgive the act itself if we seek to prevent its recurrence.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The...90910-824.html
It's not about Obama being black. Was HillaryCare opposed because she was a woman?
This is quickly becoming a sort of "Godwin's Law" for the left...
yoni...we've been over this. you shouldn't post about racism.
Why? I'm not uncomfortable with the topic.
Does Wilson's racism pre-date or post-date Robert "Sheets" Byrd's last us of the word ######?
see what i mean? listening to you discussing racism is as beneficial as listening to james earl ray talk about his secret love of black people.
exactly the same.......your views.
Why?
And, back to the topic, exactly what makes Wilson a racist?
who's talking about wilson?
I suggest you look at the thread le.
"The Racial Context for Joe Wilson's Outburst"
Apparently, the rest of us are.
the only reason it could be seen as a racial attack is its a southern congressman attacking a black president. one thing is for sure he is a hero in his place
Lmao.
Mother er. The race card is played out.
Please, please...let these idiots continue their mock outrage, and castigations of all those who oppose govt takeovers and socialism, as racists.
It worked so well when Gates & Obama tried it, they should most definetly continue.
So Joe Wilson's comments also had a hidden racial context?
YOU LIE!!!
racism does not have a good track record. it's been tried a long time. you think by now we'd want put an end to it instead of putting it under new management.
-Thomas Sowell
@ this coming from "B" girl.
The race card NEVER gets old.
slander away
really? tell us how.
Yup, Everyone who opposes Obama is definitely not a racist. Heck Democrats didn't lose majority in the south over the Civil Rights Act either. It's all lies from the Jewish Liberal Media.
really? tell us how.
nevermind. i thought you were pulling the race card crap with me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_R..._1964#By_party
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Votes in "Yay - Nay" format
By party
The original House version:
Democratic Party: 152-96 (61%-39%)
Republican Party: 138-34 (80%-20%)
The Senate version:
Democratic Party: 46-21 (69%-31%)
Republican Party: 27-6 (82%-18%)
The Senate version, voted on by the House:
Democratic Party: 153-91 (63%-37%)
Republican Party: 136-35 (80%-20%)
I have to die? What the ? You racist sonofa .
lol at limiting yourself to a pathetic box of self oppression. You would be a better person if you were going along with it even after realizing others above you are using the race card for personal gain and seeing it for what it is.
Also, when amnesty/census comes up in a year I am thinking this country is going to quit giving a about the race card.
West Coast/NE will be piling on the Midwest and South for being racist all while the knuckle draggers of this country are bailing out these pathetic excuses for strong individuals.
bla bla LBJ lost the south for democrats. old news
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