“Hate Obama ? – you may not be racist, but you will be white . ” is the title of a thought-provoking article by Michael Tomasky in the Guardian today.
As far back as August last year, this blogger was documenting the websites and pictures doing the rounds against the President.
And here’s a very good blog on how the media portrays him.
Mr Tomasky’s article says: we’ve seen an epidemic of hatred against the president that I think is safe to call unprecedented. Bill Clinton and George W Bush were hated – but not quite like this.”
So what is going on here? Is this different to the vehement criticism directed at Presidents Bush and Clinton? Do you see it as inside or outside of America’s normal political discourse?
Is it about race?
Or might there be an uncomfortable truth for those who supported him: that he’s just not turning out to be as good a President as people had hoped for.
And if you’re on the outside looking in, are you surprised by the level of dissatisfaction with President Obama? Many of you hailed him as the greatest politician of his generation.
Here are various links that are relevant:
‘Obama without his teleprompter’
‘Obama claims he’s visited 57 states’
‘Does white America hate Barack Obama?’
Toby Harden piece in the Telegraph
RSS feed
BBC World Have Your Say 
Because he’s a socialist/nazi/braindead-liberal/commie, etc… in the eyes of American conservatives: if Hillary Clinton had won the election and now wanted to push through the same reforms there would be just as much opposition against her (Bill Clinton never pushed this aggressively for reforms and never had the kind of support for them Obama has now, that’s probably the reason why opposition is so strong today.)
This “race card” (that Obama never plays, but part of the media defending him does) is just another oddity of American politics, just as misguided as calling Obama a commie or a nazi, so it would be nice if at least the British press restrained from using it, then again Britain is tabloid country no.1…
And what do people do with other people they dislike? They start calling them names that have to do with their appearance, not their character: Bush was a “dumb cowboy”, Clinton should “iron your shirt” and Obama becomes “Osama.”
When a person dislikes another person who’s part of a different ethnicity it’s not automatically racism, that’s not to say there are no racists among his opponents, because there are, but it’s not the reason almost half of Congress feels their constituents would want them to vote against Obama’s plans.
JanB,
Tell me I’m wrong, but I’d bet that you are white, have never been unemployed and never been without health insurance. Am I right?
Well said Robert. Let me see, I imagine that those that railed against the health bill were not part of the 40 million people without coverage.
Its not racism, it is change which they fear and all the unknowns and uncontrollables that potentially follow. It is human nature. It appears that the decension is so much more for Obama in that his entire existance is the American Dream that represents so much change from the America’s history.
I oppose it. I’m white 50 and unemployed. Just because something may be convenient to you now, doesn’t make it right. There are things about health insurance that need to change. As a people we spend waaaay too much. But big government will cause bigger problems, cost more and provide less. Let’s just get it marketed like auto insurance, you pick your coverage/price on a per person basis vs one size fits all at work.
What about those, who are documenting the websites and pictures, doing rounds for or in favour of President Obama? The blogger is intentionally being thought-polluting and not thought-provoking.
The concept of people “hating” Obama must be a domestic US issue. In the world outside people are certainly questioning his ability to follow thorough on his fine ideals but see it as a matter of internal resistance from the establishment and are prepared to allow him to invest more time to use his collaborative strategic approach before giving up on him. But hate him?? not likely in the world outside of the US and Europe.
I am an American who has been living abroad for several years. I am currently visiting the heartland and am a bit shocked and baffled by the level of inanity in the right’s attack on Obama and his policies. People who most need health care are against a public option and compare Obama’s plans to those of the Nazis (give me a break!). The Republicans and the right automatically block and criticize any move by Obama. And the left is disappointed because he is not a miracle worker. It’s high time we grew up in this country and started having intelligent and reasonable public discussions.
My more conservative friends commonly express hatred toward any Democratic comment, moderate Republican flip-flop, or indeed any clever idea of which they did not first think. While racial hatred isn’t beneath them, I think his African heritage is at least well down or maybe completely off their lists of reasons to despise Mr. Obama. I honestly don’t believe it’s anything personal. It might be well to ask how many conservatives detest the President, but yet have warm feelings for Mr. Joe Biden. Not too many I’d wager. They’ve just come off eight years supporting the least clever regime in modern history, Give’m a break.
g
This is purely American problem. Its media is free but surprising it is not from a dose of ignorance. Luckily, only naivettes wants to follow it. The conservertive part of that country is not satisfied with defeat even though they had their 8 years of merry-go-round which ended no where. They own the media and are now politicking ahead of the polls. I have the opinion that this is the reason why currently American policies tend to clash. Look at the senseless wars in the Middle EAst. One side proposes a solution while the other is opposing it. Americans must realize that their country is suffering from too much democracy. This can only themselves believe everything they say is right – which is utopist-egocentricity.
Lots of blacks hated President Bush, was that racism?
If the hatred was based on his being white, yes, it was racism.
No, people didn’t hate bush Bush because he was white… the hatred was because he acted like an imbecile and was a laughingstock.
That was the frosting on the cake of not having been legitimately elected, breaking national and international laws in the most horrendous of ways (Torture and rendition, indefinite detentions), subverting the Bill of Rights, subverting the federal agencies so that they were not functional as to their missions, appointing incompetents to important offices, lying to the Congress and the people, attacking other countries for oil instead of buying it, buying favor from his base with enormous tax cuts while ignoring the needs of the nation as a whole, ignoring reality in favor of the illusion that they created reality thus breaking the psyche of the nation, and he was a drunk.
@ Steve
Its not racism. We too are trying to understand the politics of the United States. It could be a case of unrealistically high expectations on both Democrats and Republicans and their followers. Its as if you guys need another strong party but that will make it worse. You have nice musicians may be its good to learn from them that music does not happen when all instruments are playing at a go with none listening. Our politics is like that and we hate it.
Since it is always a minority that comes after elections, one thing for sure to note is that it is still the old governments with a good dose of the old soothsayers on the sidelines that make change slow through too much reggae dancing in all directions.
My view on the problems is that it is a total us or them scenario. Republican and Democrat. Our politicians #1 rule is don’t loose power. #2, Gain power. #3, give the people a bit of what they say they want to support #2.
A viable third party would really help IMO.
Blacks disliking Bush was not racist. Really now, there was a hand full of presidents that blacks loved. We always said that Bill Clinton was the closest thing we were ever going to have as a black president…. up until now. My father was not an erudite, but he mad e a hell of alot of sense. Black folks liked Clinton because he did not come from privelege and because he did not, he understood and lived the challenges that underpriveleged people live.
Blacks disliked Bush because they did not ever feel that he had their interests EVER in mind. NEVER.
Face it, if Unemployment does not go down by 2012 elections, Obama is going to be a one termer. It will be hilarious to hear liberals blaming his loss on race if the economy doesn’t improve.
I know little about American Politics but was delighted when Obama became president. From what I can see he thinks of his own people first. What a pity The British Government doesn’t do similar.
I have not seen much evidence that Obama is hated more than Sarah Palin. In fact, I would say she is despised by just about everyone who is not a rabid conservative. Are women hated more than Black males then?
The real question is why has Obam lost his glow? The answer might be because change is not happening. He promised the moon and the space ship hasn’t even made it to the launch pad.
Everyone hates a revolutionary. Hasn’t history taught us anything?
Also, given the highly unrealistic expectations of him, when they obviously aren’t going to be met, will all those pe ople dissapointed be “racists”???
I was shocked to hear all the expectations had, hence his nickname, the messiah.. People are bound to be dissapointed by the high hopes they placed in a mere human who is a politician.
Some of it is racism, some of it isn’t. It almost seems the more he is liked outside of the country, the more people dislike him at home.
Re: If it’s not racism why do so many Americans hate President Obama?
This is very interesting. On Glenn Beck’s show the other day; he had “rare” black conservatives discussing their views. They didn’t “hate” Obama; they didn’t like his policies. It transcended race; except for those that did vote for Obama. They felt they owed him something and did not want to be “traitors”.
One person used the term “plantation politics” and I think it was appropriate. Keeping people dependent and down.
It’s interesting that someone brought up Sarah Palin too. Even those that didn’t support her know the way that her and her family were treated during the campaign in 2008 and even still continue to be treated. When people mention that they say, oh she should have been prepared for that treatment. Well, the same goes for Obama. It happens when you fail to bring the goods (change) as promised.
GB is just an entertainer,the black republicans are (tokens);the republican party is scrambling to get it together to win elections,not get the work of the people done.
The same can be said for the other side as far as they are focused more on being re-elected,not getting to work.
With there being a republican vs. democrate on every issue straight down party lines shows how disfunctional we are as a people.
How offensive to refer to the people who spoke out using Beck’s show “tokens”. They were certainly NOT tokens. Intelligent people discussing issues; race sat aside.
Glenn Beck is a very smart man. He’s working to bring people together on issues.
From seeing the posts here today; thats something we desperately need.
It’s become everyday to cry racism about everything. Very sad.
“It’s interesting that someone brought up Sarah Palin too. Even those that didn’t support her know the way that her and her family were treated during the campaign in 2008 and even still continue to be treated. When people mention that they say, oh she should have been prepared for that treatment. Well, the same goes for Obama. It happens when you fail to bring the goods (change) as promised.”
Obama was treated very poorly during the campaign, more so than any candidate I have seen, which is saying a lot given how badly Hillary Clinton has been slammed by the conservative far right for more than a decade. Former governor Palin did not receive any different treatment than any other candidate who ran for office, the difference between her, and Obama is that Obama has not quit his job because he’s getting “picked on”.
President Obama is hated for the plain and simple fact that many on the right are poor losers. They lost the election fair and square and just cannot stand it.
Julie, are you serious? Everyone went out of their way to make Palin look like a fool, and make Mccain look like an old man who was a fool for picking her. Everyone treated Obama with Kid gloves. Had Mccain associated with a racist Pastor, he would have withdrawn from the campaign.
Palin is a fool and Mccain is an old man. why pretend there not. 🙂
McCain and Lieberman had no hesitation in meeting and accepting endosrsment from the horrific bigot John Hagee yet McCain didn’t resign !Politics makes strange bed fellows.Some disreputable.
“President Obama is hated for the plain and simple fact that many on the right are poor losers. They lost the election fair and square and just cannot stand it.”
Ah, there’s that famed liberal tolerance. You’re a poor loser if you have a different opinion. They can tolerate everything, unless you disagree with them. Bush won in 2004, no question there, and Liberals whined for 4 years. Were they poor losers as well according to your logic?
no, silly – you are a poor loser if you cannot concede graciaciously that you lost fair and square. The poor losers who hate Obama are, – well, poor losers because they didn’t win. It has nothing to do with someone else being liberal or not.
THE BBC HAS MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE BY POSTING THIS PHOTO!
This picture doesn’t contain race because this person who graphic such a photo might be a part of Anti-Obama movement E.g Ant-Socialism,Health care reforms etc. Furthermore,the American people must also know that they are one people one country with one president & one democracy regardless of their races,i am deeply disappointed to see such a photo coming out from US.
I think America is a WORST PLACE for any Black person to live in term of racial segregation,it may sound fallacious to many but what happen before & in the US08 election of president Obama will tells the full story.
Steve, are you serious? There is the birther movement who will not stop pursuing Obama. Hell, it went so far as to reach a CNN anchor’s desk. Obama is the only candidate who has repeatedly proven he is an American, yet continues to get dogged by conspiracy theorists. He was called before the election and still a communist, terrorist, and since he won. Obama started getting blamed for former president Bush’s poor economic policies, even before he won the election and continues to get blamed for them, especially by those on the right. The high amount of smear e-mail that I have received before and still since he won tells me that there is deep seated hatred of Obama by those on the right. Palin on the other hand, did not and has not received any different treatment than any other candidate. Period.
Julie, How has he proven that he is an American? As far as I know the only thing he showed was a “certificate of life birth”, something that was also given to foreigners in those days. The birthcertficate (a different piece of paper) itself has never been seen by anyone.
And yes, he has received a lot of smear and unjustified comments. But, he has done nothing renewing other than reimplementing Bill Clinton’s agenda so far. That is also why he is so hated. He promised change and nothing happened.
Really now, the U.S. constitution or something as formidable states that you have to be a natural born U.S. citizen in order to be Pres of the U.S. POTUS to some of us. Is it really really possible in the age of FBI , CIA, KGB, MI5 an all other representative ‘ information research’ agencies that Pres Obama could run, win and take office and NOT be an American citizen. Is it really possible that they can point to the cave where Osama made his last video and NOT be able to determine if Pres Obama is an American citizen in whatever official definition there is???
wouter, how can you claim nothing has happened? And in less than a year!! Obama already has done a huge amount – not least of which is renew some faith by peoples of other countries that the USA is not completely full of idiots.
He is hated because he represents hope for change. And he is hated by those who do not want it. Simple as that. Being black just gives them an extra edge.
Denise, the last 15 years has shown us time and again just how incredibly fallible the FBI and CIA are.
One has to be both BLIND and DEAF not see the difference between Obama and his predecessors in style and substance. Obama does not belive in committing America to the path of violence in resolving International issues. It seems that some Americans do not feel safe or in control unless America is bombing and causing mayhem in another weaker state. President Obama has changed the way world looks at America now. Is this not a change?
“Ah, there’s that famed liberal tolerance. You’re a poor loser if you have a different opinion Ah, there’s that famed liberal tolerance. You’re a poor loser if you have a different opinion.”
I read this repeatedly by the conservatives on the right after Bush won the 2004 election. It is now being used on conservatives, and it blatantly obvious that conservatives can dish it out, but cannot take it. You’re a poor loser if you have different policies and beliefs than what you have according to conservatives. Calling Obama a communist, terrorist, and socialist repeatedly over and over is your proof.
From what I have seen and heard, George Bush was and is still hated, and Sarah Palin is mostly a source of amusement and scorn for those who don’t back her, not really as strong as hatred.
well, yes, and for good reason
Sure there’s racism in the United States, but Obama’s comment that he was black before he was elected president is not just brilliant but very much the point; most American voters voted for Obama. The losers of that election were ignorant and intolerant before their dismal candidates were un-elected and we can’t expect them to be gracious and patient now. As a middle-class, middle-aged white guy in the US, I struggle with my own prejudice: I am prejudiced against dim-witted white women convinced that failed governorship qualifies them for the vice-presidency and out-of-touch, cynical old white men who choose idiots for running mates, pander to their countrymen’s worst impulses and refuse to invoke the higher ideals that this country needs to thrive. Obama is simply the best man for the position at this point in history and his detractors have nothing better to offer than stupid schoolyard fuming.
Well said, Gary!!
“Had Mccain associated with a racist Pastor, he would have withdrawn from the campaign.”
McCain associated with G. Gordon Liddy who once advocated on his show that it is okay to shoot law enforcement in the head. McCain was given a free ride on that, there’s your bias in the media.
The Repulican party and the Right-wing Nuts are sore loosers.
And are using the media to stir up fear every way possible.Because anything possitive one party does,threatens the re-election of the other.
The parties have gone away from working for the greater good to fighting for power and control in the name of political self intrest.
This is an example of how the two party system is broken,the lack of true diversity has lead to a government that can agree on going to war and getting re-elected and not much else.
Rob in Florida.
Hi WHYSers!
I have deliberately stopped following the ‘Obama mania’ in the media and, therefore, have tuned out of domestic coverage of American politics to a very large extent. Part of the reason? The undue levels of excitement which seem to overcome those who cover the news, one way or the other. If that is not a matter of race, though certainly not the only part, I would be hardpressed to find another explanation.
Hating President Obama, in other words, is alright, as that seems to come with the territory. What is not alright, in my view, is the exceptionality of the coverage he has been given for no other reason than that he is who is. One entry at the top, for instance, says that people deride the appearance of those they dislike/ hate, etc. So that, ‘Obama becomes Osama’.
However, that logic does not follow. President Obama does not look like Osama Bin Laden. Indeed, what is clear is the extent to which the President has been otherised in and by the American media, even by some of those claiming to support him. He is, in their view, so different that they are still – it seems, trying to get accustomed to his ‘newness’.
That kind of over emphasis on whether his name sounds ‘foreign’, or whether he is ‘too tanned’ compared to other Presidents before him, or even ‘too young’ is, fundamentally, part of what fuels the overly zealous dislike. How can that situation be turned around? A needed admission that there are some lasting, even entrenched vestiges of xenophobia in the American psyche which even extends to some of its own people!
Yes, the epidemic of hatred against President Obama that has never been seen before against a President, boils down to one fact alone is that he is black. He has to be carefull that someone who hates so much will not shoot him along the way. Good luck Mr. President I hope you achieve whats good for The United States.
@ Julie P
“McCain associated with G. Gordon Liddy who once advocated on his show that it is okay to shoot law enforcement in the head. McCain was given a free ride on that, there’s your bias in the media.”
UI didn’t realize that associating with someone who does a show for multi years is the same as attending a racist pastor’s congregation for 18 years..
Also, Mccain was in the Navy. He was a fighter pilot and got shot down and spent years in a POW camp, and also served many years as a Senator. Something tells me that Mccain didn’t view Liddy as a spiritual advisor
America has become polarized as never before [at least in my lifetime and I’m old]. The right wingers have taken over the Republican party and the left wingers have done the same on the Dem side. Regardless of who won the election, there were going to be a lot of unhappy people. There was hope by some that Obama would bring “change” and bring people together. That clearly hasn’t happened and I don’t think the wingers on either end want it to happen. Moderation and compromise appear to be quaint concepts from a bygone era. Most of the ranting is philosophical opposition to the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda but a minority of it is pure racism, unfortunately. Trust me on this; I get those email “jokes” every day. And, as someone else noted, it goes both ways. Ask Sarah Palin.
I’m prejudiced against guys who think that sitting in camp in Vietnam qualifies them to run a country. McCain would grin and pump Ho Chi Minh’s hand if Ho had endorsed McCain’s presidency.
Not really qualified to answer this question,as I rarely see or hear,much American domestics.It appears to me,to be Republicans v Democrats.Much the same as Labour v Conservatives in the UK.They never agree with one another,and plenty of nasty accusations which extend to the partisan press.If one of the leaders was black we would undoubtedly have a racist accusation somewhere.Yes,America does have racists,including a Baptist minister.Start worrying if it becomes a majority.
This is a lot of nonsense.
People from the left hated Nixon. What was their excuse?
The race card is just a convenient hook, this time, but it’s just not there. The reason people might dislike Obama is so obvious: he is very activist. Activists will always be virulently opposed by those who disagree with their platform.
Obama is behaving a bit like a bull in a china shop, on so many fronts, that this “hatred” had to be expected. The reckless bailouts were the beginning. Health care programs didn’t help. Climate change strategies made things worse. What would anyone expect?
Bill Clinton’s great asset was in launching trial ballooons, then backing down if he saw a lot of opposition. Obama instead, more like George W., gets stubbornly stuck on an idea. This is always a recipe for disaster. In this country, the government is expected to be our REPRESENTATIVE, not so much our “leader.” We are not looking for a messiah here.
Still, having said this, I still don;t see “hatred” to any unprecedented extent. The press is just doing what they love to do: create a story even if it doesn’t exist.
Audrey
“Everyone hates a revolutionary. Hasn’t history taught us anything?” Well said because this is true. Another reason that he may be hated is that he is extraordinarily intelligent. As for being hated because he is black, you just have to look at the history of America. Most in America think a black person is inferior to a white person.
In my view, Obama’s mission is to make the world a better place. Now some people who they invented this thought before Obama did can not stand him. Let us pray and hope for the best outcome.
Conservatives are upset there guy didn’t win so they yell, cry, and make up lies about there president. Though I would bet more than half of the people that do not like him are racist.
@ David
“Most in America think a black person is inferior to a white person.
In my view, Obama’s mission is to make the world a better place. Now some people who they invented this thought before Obama did can not stand him. Let us pray and hope for the best outcome.”
David, did you conduct this little study? Can you provide proof that most in america thinks blacks are inferior?
Is it Obama’s job to make the world a better place? That’s not the role of the US president. You should look at the US constitution, where it spells out the duties, and making the world a better place is not of them.
President George Washington’s effigy was burned in so many towns and villages it used to light up the streets from north to south back in 1793 for his Proclamation of Neutrality during the Anglo -French Wars.
It goes with the Job to be hated by at least 50% of the population. The far right are very ignorant and get all there information from Sarah Palin,Glen Beck and the pulpit.
You kind of need to pity them realy!
In recent months, Obama has lost the support of moderates and independents.
I am sorry but trying to make the disapproval of Obama be centered on “fringe” is ignorant and misinformed as is making it about race. Even democrats are not pleased with Obama, the retention of many Bush policies, inexperience, etc.
It might serve you well to check out Fox news’ ratings and demographics. These are not “fringe” element or ignorant people by any means. When you go with that line you are insulting a majority of American people.
I wish people would stay focused on the issue of race as it’s very important. Yet, it reverts to some making outlandish statements that have nothing to do with the issue being discussed. In this case, it’s race. Stick to it.
Fox is all about ratings and tabloid sensationalism;it’s easy to twist the facts to suit your own agenda.
Married With Children had good ratings too,so did M.A.S.H.
Jennifer, you are totally right. The whitehouse press office does everything possible to quell critics of Obama. Fox news (although sometimes biassed) is the only channel that shows what is the real sound in the street. It is typical that the “race card” is pulled everytime Obama receives criticism. After all, nobody wants to be called a racist? This is known and heavily abuse by the critics. Yes, there is blatant racism in the US. The big problem is that racism is firmly lodged in all skin colour groups in the US. This is often overlooked.
Yeah, right. I’ll start believing Fox News when they dump Rupert Murdoch and start reporting real news, not convenient propaganda. I’ll believe Fox News (and the rest of them, for that matter) when what currently passes for “journalism” is consigned to the scrapheap and we can go back to REAL reporting, instead of each side’s spin.
We don’t get facts any more; all we get is spin. And until the 4th estate gets its act together and starts behaving like REAL journalists, I want nothing to do with any of them.
And Jennifer, “insulting a majority of the American people” is well justified, when half of the idiots in this country still think there are WMDs in Iraq and that Saddam Hussein engineered 9/11. Try turning off Fox News and go read some real news. They still manage it somehow overseas. BBC and Reuters, for a start.
To satisfy someone else, I actually made a point of watching Fox news as my main source for about a week. Quite a bit of it started making sense. Then I checked it against other sources and found they were laughably selective in what they covered and never showed all aspects of any issue. If you want that exciting buzz of paranoia, just turn off your brain, quit reading these posts and watch nothing but Fox.
I will admit they sometimes feature good stories others don’t. But since I can’t trust them to show the whole story, it defeats the purpose of watching them.
Yes,Glen Beck,Rush,and Palin are not LEADERS;they just have the attention of those unhappy with the election(still) and are scared.
They are playing on the ignorance of the un-informed.
All you have to say is someone is a communist or socialist to brand them evil.
Atleast those in socialist and communist countries can get a tooth pulled for less than a grand.
Rob in Florida.
MASH and Married with Children are news programs? They are not even opinion programs.
Do you really want me to comment on this? I hope not because I am taking it as an attempt to be funny.
Go look at Fox News viewer demographics.
Nice one Rob!
The choice in the last election was between the most intelligent candidate that America has to offer, with a voluble but likeable candidate for vice president, and an honorable but aged McCain with an alarming choice of vice presidential candidate; at his age Palin had a good chance of becoming president by default, with no political wisdom or experience to handle the world’s most powerful role. Unfortunately there are enough voters in America ready to elect her because she has a nice smile and a perky personality. It was a frightening scenario.
The bail-out following the market collapse, commenced on George Bush’s watch (how ready he must have been to retire!). In the face of economic disaster and war on two fronts, Obama was dealt the worst possible hand.
Some of the antipathy to Obama is racist, but mostly I think it is down to conservative resistance to change, and the determination of the ‘haves’ to hang on to what they’ve got. Republicans are not renowned for their compassion for the less fortunate.
Health Reform and Response to Climate Change are vital issues we resist at our peril; refusal to change in those areas demonstrates the opposition’s poor judgement.
If Obama is a one term president it will be sorely detrimental to America and possibly to the rest of the world. It takes time to achieve the reforms that America badly needs.
Eileen I like you. I like you because you said so eloquently what I feel and believe. By the way, Ms. Palin’s candidacy for VP was an insult to intelligent, hard working women in the world and it demonstrated how naive and dumb the McCain campaign thought women voters (especially Hilary supporters really were). Our girl Hilary is out so any woman will do. I have never been so emotionally upset with public shenanigans than when that woman was put on the international scene. Now she will do what smart people will do with that opportunity – Americans being the master marketers that we are – run and make the money.
Eileen, in my opinion you are at least partly right. The American people did not have much to choose from. Mc Cain did not have anything new to offer in a time that change was desparately needed. His choice for Palin showed that his judgement was a tad off. However, Obama has nothing but empty retoric to offer as well. So far his programs have done nothing but heighten the budget deficit and he does not seem to be capable of implementing plans that are actually supported by the people or have a possitive impact. His choice of advisors has proven to be at least iffy. Of course he does not have an easy task at hand. The lobbygroups are so firmly lodged on the left (mostly government funded) and right (mostly privately funded) that it is almost impossible to do anything that would not be blocked by one or the other special interest group. For example, there is an excelent tax reform plan available that would stimulate the economy fast and reliably. (the fairtax plan) This plan will never make it due to all the special interest groups that thrive under the present taxation system. This makes it extremely hard to cope with the very serious problems the country is facing. In my opinion he is too light for the tasks at hand. People start seeing trough the empty retoric and realize there is nothing to back it up with original solutions. Unfortunately his supporters are trying to distract this by calling everyone who is against his policies a racist. In that manner they form another lobbygroup blocking the solutions to the real issues.
I cant stop thinking about this headline from The Onion at the time he one the election.
Black Man Given Nation’s Worst Job
WASHINGTON—African-American man Barack Obama, 47, was given the least-desirable job in the entire country Tuesday when he was elected president of the United States of America.
poor guy.
Personally! All this BS about Race is just a waste of mental energy. I could careless what his or anyone’s race is. It shouldn’t matter and if it does to any of you, you should be embarrassed to call yourself human. As an American, I like Obama and some of the things he’s doing and I dislike others. But I didn’t vote for him. But I based my decision on 1 thing and that was his experience or lack of. I felt we needed a more mature leader in the White House for the next few years. It seems that a greater understanding of the world is needed for dealing with today’s problems and a strong hand is needed to keep the Washington riffraff under control. We should be judging him and every other leader on their actions as we should be judging ourselves. A persons color, race or sex should only matter in medical situations and when determining what cloths to wear!
Just because you dislike President Obama you’re not automatically racist! I wouldn’t care if the president was black, Asian, Indian, etc., as long as he does a good job. I don’t agree with what the President is doing but I have nothing against his skin color. I live in Pennsylvania and I like Mayor Nutter and if you live in the U.S. you may realize he is black. Was he himself racist for supporting Hillary Clinton during the primaries-I don’t think so!
Of course it’s racism. But what they don’t realise is Obama’s colour is only skin deep. In reality he is white through and through, and only a pawn in the hands of other whites. One has to be really dumb not to see it. But then …….
@ Ronald
“Of course it’s racism. But what they don’t realise is Obama’s colour is only skin deep. In reality he is white through and through, and only a pawn in the hands of other whites. One has to be really dumb not to see it. But then …….”
Ironic, you’ve made the only racist comments on here.
I am sorry that you mistook my Nazism for Racism. Contrary to your belief, I’m not anti white just anti U.S., since I happen to be one third Indian, one third Swiss and one third Brit.
The fault I’m sure is all mine for not expressing myself more clearly. But then one, in one’s ignorance believes that everybody can understand the sarcasm therein.
In naïve words all I was saying was that in spite of a coloured president, racism is only alive and kicking in the U.of S.
And for those of you who don’t care about race, religion, etc, I APPLAUD you. Disagree with anyone on policy as much as you want.
Just don’t kill for it.
Hating Obama might not be an overtly racist feeling, but in the U.S. we have a lot of covert racist feelings that people often are not even aware that they have. I cannot begin to count how many times I have heard people, usually conservatives, say to me “You know I’m not racist, but…” followed by the most horrible pronouncements about black people (and Middle Easterners, and Hispanics…)! No matter how much we declare that we are not a racist society, we still have that “but…” There is still an underlying subtext among middle- and upper-class whites that black men are violent, drug-using, sexually predatory, don’t stick around to raise their childen after they get a woman pregnant, are lazy, and feel that they are entitled to things they do not deserve. I do not recall seeing too many non-white people in the crowds of protestors waving signs declaring Obama a Nazi, have you?
The same thing is going on here as went on during the “hate George Bush” era. Claiming it to be racism–even if some, inevitably, hate Obama because of his race–is sensationalism.
Yes there is racism on the far right, but that will always exist. Al JAzeera did an interesting peice on this earlier:
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/09/2009918102535246265.html
The opposition to Obama does not seem to be led or dominated by racists. The racists may be tolerated and encouraged by the opposition only because they are on the same side.
And another reference:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/america-unmasked-the-images-that-reveal-the-ku-klux-klan-is-alive-and-kicking-in-2009-1625732.html
No, racism is alive and kicking in America
I find that its a mixed bag. Some people do not like President Obama because of his race. Those people always bring up the N word. The others are strict republicans and would not like anyone that was Democratic in his place. I am personally tired of the stupid bickering that goes on between the Dems-Reps. If a Republican puts up a bill to try and resolve a problem all the Democrats vote against it regardless if its a good proposal. And its the same thing if a Democratic representative puts up a bill all the Republicans automatically vote against the bill. If these two sides spent half the energy they use fighting each other on resolving this countries problems, we would not have such a mess on our hands. We used to be able to discuss politics even if things got a little heated. But it seems now there is alot of anger and people refuse to even listen to opposing points of view.
Oh come on, this is not racism…it is left versus right. President Obama has far-left ideologies, and the non-liberal right disagrees with what he wants to do. This is not to say there isn’t some racism, but go figure, there are actually people out there that simply disagree with him…and Nancy Pelosi, and Barney Frank, and many others from the left. This is why nothing actually ever gets debated, because when somebody disagrees they are racist, or from the other side: if somebody disagrees they are a crazy tree hugger. Why not examine each individual issue that is being argued and find out if there is veracity in the statements from both sides??
I ditto miriamhyde54.
I think a lot of it really is racism expressed on a closeted perhaps even a subconcious level.
But I’m college educated (my second degree is physics) and I highly approve of much of what Obama has done. So you can factor the education-level as well.
But we Americans are an ornery bunch. The pundits will pick a fight over just about anything over here. They’d even protest the Second Coming of Christ as just an excuse to promote a cosmic welfare state.
As Bill Murray said in “Stripes,”We’re a country of people who’ve been kicked out of every decent country in Europe.” And it shows.
–Full of Love in Lousiville, Kentucky, US.
I do not like to use the word ‘hate’ towards a political figure, especially the President of the United States.
From what I am hearing on the news, he is taking his position very seriously. I did not vote for him, but he is trying the best he can.
I herd on the news just yesterday, he is losing weight, and not eating. President Obama walked into a serious mess from the Bush administration. I am ok with a national health insurance. I am a widow with health problems and cannot afford the insurance I have been offered. I would like to see all Americans be adequately insured for health insurance.
This country is so greedy and everyone has become too selfish.
He needs some encouragement, not discouragement.
The haters do not hate President Obama. They hate themselves because they are not in positions to effect the kind changes that are necessary to make the world a better place. In fact, their efforts may have served to worsen bad national and international policies.
“Yes we can” and “change we can believe in” were watchwords that propelled an unknown politician to become the most powerful national and international political figure. The world breathed a sigh of relief when his predecessor was removed from office by the American electorate. Change oxygenated the atmosphere.
Lady Nancy Astor, the first female member of the British Parliament said, “the main dangers in this life are those who want to change everything………or nothing.”
Robert Louis Stevenson wrote “wherever we are, is but a stage to somewhere else, and whatever we do, however well we do it, it is only a preparation to do something else that shall be different.”
President Barak Obama should be encouraged to do what he was elected to do. The haters will always be envious of the fact that they are not in the drivers seat.
Unfortunately ‘Obama mania’ could be what is undoing Obama now.
He was put on a pedestal at the very beginning. He was seen as the only person who could bring hope and change to America and the world. His name would go down in history for a momentous occasion even before he took office.
He entered the spotlight at his peak – It could only go downhill from there.
Now, maybe people are beginning to think he’s just another ‘image’ politician and perhaps he’s not that extraordinary after all?
Dear Sir,
I am not an American, but i did not like Obama from the time he stood for the nomination from the Democratic Part to stand for President .
There after I only grew to totally dis like him for he is like a disgruntled dog always growling. Just listen to him talk and you will be convinced that he is definately like a dog that growls all the time. no matter what the case maybe.
He is definitely arrogant and shows off when and where ever you see him strutting along as if he wants to be aggressive but also showing his 32 teeth as if he is smiling but is not as he feels that his statements will cause a change, thus portraying him as an authority on all matters, which he is not.
He feels that what ever issue he takes up will be passed but got a snub when his tried to get the Olympic committee to have, I think it was Los Angels, an American city, to be selected for the venue for the Olympics in 2012.
This hatred that is being expressed is a sincere one and I feel that the American people will have to do something about him and his family.
Philip.
Many Americans hate Obama because many Americans are conservative at heart and to the core. And Obama is a liberal. This hatred may not be race based, but ideology and partisan based, but race also has some thing to do with this, although in a minimal and marginal fashion.
The question should be reworded. It’s a matter of economics. There will always be the haves and have nots. Cut taxes. Cut the BS.
Look back in history and read the despicable comments made about JFK after his assassination. It is the nature of the beast I’m afraid and right wing Fox radio does promote most of that despicable personal attacking of the president. Go figure as they say here?
You only have to look at the abuse Hilary Clinton was getting to see that Obama is not alone. Is it racial? maybe partly but definitely seems something not unfamiliar in coming from Republicans towards Democrats! For my part the one thing I hate regarding Obama is the over burdening placed upon his shoulders by those that support him. He seems an intelligent, committed President worthy of support, but no where near the next messiah.
I think a lot of this is a reaction to his supporters more than the man himself. I know of Americans who will readily concede Nelson Mandela as the best politician alive who will spit feathers at the mention of Obama. The other conflicting point is the charisma of the man. Amongst his followers it appears the man is made of the stuff, but his rhetoric does not follow that through. Looking back to the speech he gave at the olympic selection, he is definitely no Bill Clinton.
Because he’s got a brain and and intellect, both of which he uses – something deeply suspicious to all those shoot-first-ask- questions-later Neo-Con Americans, driven by irrational religious superstition and prejudice. Sort of kicks those white supremacist theories right out of the window – now who’s the “savage”? So may be race has got something to do with it after all.
Be careful what you say Linda, as soon as you use the term “neo con”
in a America you are labeled an “antisemite”…We never mention the
“Elephant in the Livingroom” in America…it’s not PC…Politically Correct…
Elephants are beyond criticism…
Huh? Where did you get that? I’ve been railing against the neocons ever since they were first foisted upon us, and never have I heard anything about antisemitism being involved.
Seems to me that the neocons are mostly a bunch of rich old white men who still think they’re living in McCarthy’s America. Never heard anything about whether they’re Jewish or not…
By the way–phoo on PC. I’m no fan of that nonsense, either! 😉
Obama talk too much and less action.
Here’s the deal. There was so much hope piled upon the shoulders of one man who was not George Bush and not a Republican. How can anyone live up to this idealized version of a leader?
Next, the Republican machine is big, well oiled, well funded and as many would venture, unscrupulous. There is no shortage of people who would like to see Obama discredited and out of the White House.
There is also no shortage of Americans who are more well-to-do who want to keep their money in their pockets and not buy into the idea of universal health insurance.
All of this would not surprise Tacitus, who painted a very insightful picture of the power of words , money and corruption of politics.
17. 11. 09
Dear Ros,
Only when somebody is a President or Prime Minister or a person of power he or she will have a lot of enemies. As an example majority of Indians consider America as an expansionist country and it involves in nasty wars for the sake of capitalism disregarding the suffering of the people of the country being attacked. In America’s point of view such wars were fought or are being fought for the benefit of the whole world to stop communism being spread to destroy democratic way of life, combating extremism of radical Muslims etc. Both sides are right with their own view points. However looking at all these issues from a neutral stance sometimes America is right, some other times the Indians are right. In the world of politics nobody can satisfy the other one hundred per cent. When Republicans are in power their policies are being criticized by the Democrats.
I have diffused from the question of whether Obama was criticized or cornered by his critics is because of their racist thinking? No I do not think. Every other human being who criticizes Obama and his administration’s policies has difference in opinion on the way he conducts business and when the critic is a White it is being looked at as something racist. During Clinton’s Lewinsky affair and concomitant inquiry all the people who were his vehement critics/foes were men with white skin hence it was not called racist suppose it was Obama was President then it would have been widely considered as racist especially in America where each and everything is discussed and analyzed by people called analysts who think they are holier than thou.
Ros,I would like to let you know that there is nothing but pure that comes from racism is what is happening to him.The Whites have not come to terms with a blackman or a negro being a president in the US.If I may not be wrong with the hatred potrayed by former president Clinton and his wife during the campaigns I wonder if his wife Hillary is not the true president with Obama as the ceremonial head of state.Not until the Negroes in the US come to terms with their situation and face the white man directly,they will always remain the mouth pieces of the white race and I think it is time the blackman woke up to fight for his own right in a country he calls his home but where a dog is far better of than the blackman.There is something though I would like to know from the your team,Is Obama realy a man of his own or he is merely some whiteman’s puppet?I would also like to ask you Ros to get me on air when you will be life on air about this programme today because am sure the black race is being used for the good of the whiterace.
“Neo-Con Americans”
Wow, Linda. YOu do realize that the neo-cons you describe have nothing to do with what you are complaing about? Neo-cons are the descendants of trotskyites. They are basically socialists, but with a strong foreign policy. What you are accusing neocons of, are actually paleo conservatives.
Oh, also, from the left, when they use the term “neo con” it’s their way of not directly saying “Jews”.
Sorry Steve, I stand corrected, but I’m sure you know who I meant 😉
Obama haters don’t want to admit that they are complete sheep, following corporate shills that are paid to foment hate. Yes, they are racists, elitists, and fascists. A bunch of creeps really.
I think the majority of the hatred is based on race and ethnicity.
It absolutely has to do with race. I live in Chicago now but grew up in Alabama (Deep South). Racial tensions are still high there and many friends still living in Alabama told me about how open many people were about hating Obama because he is black. It’s not something to ignore.
As for Obama being a disappointment, I think that’s people being victim to our culture of instant gratification. I heard it said somewhere that Obama is a long-thinking president–he’s planning for the future in ways most politicians don’t bother to. And there is SO MUCH to do, of course he hasn’t cured cancer, pooped rainbows, and freed the world (much less the US) of all its problems.
I think his headway in establishing diplomatic relations of a different tenor with the world, plus the work on health care reform in the US, is more than enough for me to be pleased with him only a year into his term.
I am not sure whether the hatred of President Obama is rascist, xenophobic or just hide-bound partisanism. I AM sure that it is not rational.
One example of this is the matter of his birth place. Many right-wingers claim that he cannot be president because he was born in Kenya, this in spite of the fact that his Hawaiian birth certificate has been certified as valid repeatedly, including by the governer of that state. Even if he had been born in Kenya, his mother was an American citizen. The law states that in order to become president, a person must be born an American citizen, and have lived in the USA for seven consecutive years,
That is why my nephew, who was born in Panama while my brother served in the U.S. Army there, but who has lived in the USA since he was a small child, could become President of the USA (as his birth to an American parent was registered at the U.S. Embassy in Panama shortly after he was born), and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was not born an American citizen, cannot become president.
Facts are facts. The Obama-haters don’t bother with them.
As many have previously stated, not ALL of the opposition and outright hatred of PRESIDENT Obama is racially based, however I know that much more than half of it is. Blaming his policies might be the arm sleeve reason, but underneath it all, even those whites who try very hard not to allow their racist tendencies to cloud their daily lives now find an excuse to be much more vehement and hateful in language than they would had a white president made the exact same choices! I am light skinned and often pass for white, and almost daily hear comments of extreme racist language against the President and blacks in general.My local paper, News Press features extreme racist bloggers like one called “fairandunbiased” who refers to the President as “the section 8 renter at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave”. Tell me how that in any way is not completely racist? Read the bloggers at http://www.news-press.com on the opinion pages and you will see that most of the bloggers ARE INDEED white racists who blanch when called out. Right wingers are the very definition of being hypocrites!
Also, as to the racism issue, it’s not the “I hate blacks” type of racism. It’s the “he’s different, he’s not like me” kind of racism. The accusations that he’s not a citizen or that he’s muslim or that he’s both a socialist and a fascist at the same time are expressions of this fear of the unknown. This has also lead the Secret Service to have to deal with four times the number of death threats over the wildly unpopular President George W. Bush.
It doesn’t help when our media consists of “stick a liberal and a conservative in a jar, shake it up, and watch them fight for three minutes before the commercial break”. This tends to polarize people and bring out the worst in everyone. That, and the craziest voices always get the most airtime.
Want to make it on tv? Compare healthcare reform to the horrors of a concentration camp on a huge, full color banner. Or simply strap a gun or two on, and attend the protest.
Of course, there is always the racism, but that’s the easy answer. Racism is
an American habit. More importantly, Obama was opposed by the Israel lobby
from the beginning. This lobby and their supporters believe that Obama is not
as good a friend of Israel as the former president. All you have to do watch
Fox News and the Jewish commentators on that channel. The lobby and their
supports make sure Obama is demeaned and weakened as much as possible
when ever possible. Keeping Obama neutralized keeps Israel strong and gives it
a free hand in the West Bank. Here’s a quote from a popular blogger on Huffington Post…
November 4th, 2008, 11pm, Times Square, New York City – The taxis horns are honking, the young people are jumping. Barack Obama has just been declared President-elect of the United States. Amidst the collective euphoria, a young man on a bicycle sees me and my yarmulke, rides over and says, ‘Hey man, you didn’t vote for Obama, did you.‘ Why would you say that, I ask him. You don’t even know me. “Because I’m from Israel. And I didn’t either.‘ Interesting assumption. That Jews are not applauding the election of America’s first black President. Rabbi Shmuley in Huffington Report…
we must realy agree that Clinton pretending to like Africans was some Western hypocritical plot to get the support of the blacks.Why don’t you patch together his comments during the elections campaign to tell you that a white will always remain white and we will always remain black though we try as much as we won’t to change and become their brothers.The whites will always remain our enemies and are always happy to see us down.What do we want from them?If they want us to be enemies,then be it instead of us always talking of brotherhood with the white race that wants us to remain their slaves and disrespects a brother of ours who they happen to call their president but consider him their mouth piece.Until the white race gets to know that we are equall,the blackman must not call them brothers but enemies.
Oh, for heaven’s sake. Get over yourself, and catch up to 2008, already. Quit yanking out the way-too-overplayed race card and start taking responsibility for your own lives, instead of screaming “RACISM” at every turn, if you want to be taken seriously.
You don’t want to be “disrespected”? Then start behaving in a manner that invites respect. Respect has to be earned, not given, so get busy instead of whining about how downtrodden you are.
He’s a lot more liberal than most Americans are used to. Some see this as a refreshing change, and some don’t like it one bit. This is about his politics, not the color of his skin.
WHYS: are you sure you want to open this can of worms on air?
Eileen in VA – My thoughts exactly.
I was so disappointed when Bush was elected the first time that I cried. I was stunned he was elected the second time, although Kerry wasn’t a great choice either. I couldn’t imagine Palin as president if something happened to McCain, even though I wasn’t completely opposed to McCain.
“It takes time to achieve the reforms that America badly needs.” Let’s give Obama a chance. It took years to get into the mess we’re in. We’re not going to come out of it overnight.
As far as whether racism is the cause of the hatred toward Obama, I think it has a little bit to do with it. But mostly, it’s conservatives vs. liberals.
@ Dinka Aliap Chawul-Kampala,Uganda: You said, “I think America is a WORST PLACE for any Black person to live in term of racial segregation,”
This is untrue. I come from a family that has two black, two Hispanic and one Asian branch. While there always are and always will be misguided individuals who are racist, my multi- and mixed-race family is very well integrated into society at large. The only time any one is singled out because of their origins is when we have a family get-together and strong-arm the Asian into doing more than her fair share of the cooking–but that’s cultural, and just because we all love Oriental food.
What is getting ignored is the hysteria that is produced and promoted by those on the right in the US. They promote such lies that Obama wants to take away your guns to the point that there is a run on people guns and there is an actual bullet shortage. In the mean time militia groups have been expanding and flourishing since Obama won the election. The right can attempt to write this off, but denying this reality is showing bias and pure ignorance. The right in the US is extremely afraid of Obama for no other reason than their own ignorance.
YES!,the NRA should support the president and the gun manufacturers should give Obama some kind of sales award.
It’s sad. It has to do with the same partizan politics that have been going on since the Bush administration. Our county has become so divided. President Obama is having to clean up a mess that took at least 8 years to create (if not more) and just because he is a democrat he is being unfairly criticized. No matter what he does, the far right, even though they created the mess, will have something critical to say about him.
The democrats that are criticizing him are just being selfish. They had this crazy idea that their personal issues would be addressed first and are not thinking of the greater good of the people and are complaining because they don’t want to wait for the notoriously slow political process to work. President Obama has been tackling issues that most presidents wouldn’t have touched with a ten-foot-pole in their first year of office. It has only been one year and he is a very intelligent person trying to work with the process and everyone just needs to have a little patience.
Another point that deserves to be made in the context of this discussion is that you can dislike someone without being racist. Yes, racism happens, but you don’t necessarily have to like someone because they’re different than you.
When it comes to right wing media in the US, like FOX News, which is nothing more than opinion media and not real news reporting, all that network has been doing is promoting an atmosphere of hatred at President Obama and his administration. When I watch that network all I have witnessed are people who claim to know “the truth” about Obama, et al, yet FOX never puts on an opposing viewpoint to their “insidious findings” about Obama. Additionally, while FOX is running ads for upcoming shows in one two period I witnessed FOX promoting a show that was supposed to focus on “Obama, a One Term President”. That was flashed across the screen every two minutes. When FOX was not doing that that very same show was put into their rolling feed at the bottom of the screen. Fair and Balanced? No. Extremely biased? Yes. When FOX is approached about this they scream how “unfair” Obama is and how he is denying them free speech, yet they willfully ignore that former president Bush got into a tit for tat with MSNBC. The right in the US daily shows their true colors of being anything but “fair and balanced”. Daily the right in the US, especially when it comes to Obama, daily show their fear and ignorance of President Obama.
I am sure the ignorant and brain deprived people would have liked Obama to have reversed the mess he inrerited by now. To their suprise, it will take decates even with an extraordinarily brainy president as Obama on the steering wheel. Dont take the seatbelts off yet! At the end, you will reach where you are going. but if you disturb the driver, you may never reach your prefered destination at all.
I think that the two-party-system in America is part of the problem. In such a scenario it is possible to directly lose. So naturally you would blame everything bad that happens to you on the the other party. After all, the own party isn’t in power and therefore not responsible. Blaming the figure head of the other/guilty party is the easiest way to express these feelings. Because of the two party system extremes are possible. The party is either right or wrong.
Racism is part of the problem too. But i don’t think it’s the main reason.
It is a fact that some whites are not happy with Obama being the president. the world is changing and those haters should know that.
Yes, Marissa…you can’t clean up a mess that took so many years to create.
People keep forgetting history…which we are not suppose to do…but we keep
on doing it…
One, it is racism. And two, keep in mind that there were other candidates running in 2008. But other choices aren’t allowed in “American politics.”
Several points here…
1) The Republican (rightist) mentality since Nixon (1970’s) has been to smear the Democrat who is President (or who wants to be) with unrelenting demagoguery and innuendo until “something sticks”, i.e. the skepticism is accepted by the public. In this aspect, Obama is being harassed in the same way as his predecessors with an added hint of arrogant racism tossed in for measure (just enough to get convey the racism without being able to be charged with it in court). It is disgusting, but so long as “it works” with independents, it will continue.
Another point:
2) In this age when media makes the news as much as reports it, the competitive necessity to “stir up a controversy” is compelling to boost one’s ratings. Questions as to Obama’s “success” (after 10 months in office) are fired as much by US media as by any reasonable evaluation to deem him as “failing”.
I think that bouth Obama and Zapatero (Spain) are a fake, and they know very well how to manipulate the media, that`s why so many people hate them, because they are impostors, and there isn’t anything under theirs words only air
Right now, any racist twit can literally say anything they want about Obama. And the MSM will give them coverage. If I say I’m against Israel’s occupation of Gaza, I could be sacked.
How interesting…do we detect a pattern here…We are not allowed to mention
the Elephant in the Livingroom…
I just found this blog and was wondering what people think of it?
http://current.com/118vi4c
Cheers…Paul.
Video games have been scientifically proven to desensitize people, especially young, impressionable minds, against violence and atrocities. Some people can play games and understand that that is all it is, however, this thing has the potential for becoming a reality, at least in small part. I am aware of many militias gaining in popularity around the country now, not just in the “red neck fringe”, and I fear that we are going to see people attempting to start the much talked about “race wars” here in the US. I do not think that any attempt should ever be made to censure or limit this game, but Americans be forewarned now, this is almost sure to be responsible, at least as an excuse, for hate filled individuals to act out their violent fantasies to the detriment of innocent lives!
Hey Paul,
That Patriots vs Obama game would be meaningless nonsense but you wouldn’t believe all the credence lent to just that sort of scenario by too many people I run into here in the liberal bastion of California; I can only imagine how it must be in Nevada or Alabama. Gun stores are sold-out because their customers are certain that Obama’s going to outlaw their guns. I get histrionic emails about what the government is supposedly doing to drive up the cost of ammunition. Even my most liberal, pacifistic friends have “(manure) hits the fan” contingency plans (as if one could adequately plan for anarchy). The Transition Town Movement has been accused of an almost gleeful anticipation of cataclysmic depopulation.
Okay, enough of this Obama/Racism distraction. Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to discuss all the energy that so many people are putting into their end of the world fantasies and compare it to all the energy that they are not putting into thoughtfully involving themselves to make our world more equitable and sustainable? How does this undercurrent compare to what you see in the UK?
It is Obama and his cadre of radical liberals that play the race card continiously. The wannabe comedian Jeaneane Garafalo leads the pack because she stated “It’s cool to be led by a Black Man”.
Obama exacebates this by not communicating well with the American people and now has an aura of being so scripted that he cannot talk unless there is a telepropmter in front of him.
It is not a racist or Conservative vs. liberal but the Conservative have rational logical arguments and the liberal left only has emotion, hysteria and “feelings”.
And the Conservatives have Fox News a full time, 24/7 propaganda
outlet….which is unprecedented in American media history…Who
is hysterical? How is emotional twenty four hours a day.
OK, my last post didn’t show, so I will try again – There’s nothing wrong with emotions or feelings, and the last time listened to conservative talk shows, there was plenty of emotion and feelings. And I thing both the extreme left and right have plenty of hysteria.
Dan – did you really write that Janeane Garofalo is the leader of Obama’s radical liberal pack? A 3rd-tier comedian saying that she likes being led by a black man is Obama playing the race card?
That must explain Obama following Bush’s lead on bailing-out investment banks and insurance companies, hand-outs to GM and Chrysler and sweetheart deals with Big Pharma. Everybody knows how radical liberals love big business.
Dan,
What truly scares me is that despite being presented with logical arguments so many continue to parrot the same things over and over again. Liberal/conservative/black/white. See how this conversation went from something so important (race issue) to liberals vs conservatives, fox news vs the rest, etc? Anything to prevent logical discussion of this issue. It would be funny it it were not that people seriously believe that they are “logical” in their parroting of lies and manipulations.
Like you say, the racial divide here has been exacerbated by Obama. We are now as a country more racially divided than I ever remember being. Hope you got to watch GB’s sit down. It was very informative! There are black people who look past race at ISSUES as it should be.
You suck! That’s just criticism. You suck (expletive applied only to black people)! That’s racism. I think that the morons wound-up by cynical entertainers posing as journalists would be just as unhappy with a white president with Obama’s credentials, philosophy and birth certificate but it is the same ignorance and resistance to reason that, for many of them, informs their racism. Obama, wisely, refuses to be drawn into discussions of race and his office and I think that his point might be that dignifying such ll-informed nonsense lends it power and by ignoring it the haters will just skulk back to their rooms where fuming with Rush qualifies as cardio.
Obama might have a much more serious uprising brewing if he continues to bow to powerful commercial interests – hundreds of billion$ of hand-outs to Pharma, Insurance, Wall Street, Ag) while people lose their jobs and homes. I don’t think those jobs are coming back and Obama’s most pressing domestic exigency should be to prepare his flock for a whole new world. He has suffered from unrealistic expectations that will look trivial compared to the massive, near-universal disappointment that, with all his skills and brilliant advisors, he may be unable
to mitigate.
Hey all..yeah..been a while..lol!
I’ll be the first to admit that I voted for the man because at the TIME..I thought he was best for the job..well..hindsight is 20/20….more and more each day, I am seeing how this man is acting UN-like a President (calling cabinet members CZARS?!?! Last time I checked, this is the U.S.A…not the former Soviet Union!) He also states to the world we are not a Christian Nation (even though ALL 50 states’ constitutions recognize God in their Preambles…hello!), continues to feed a war that cannot be won, a health care bill that is not going to be paid off for decades..shall I continue?
Oh yeah..the best part? He uses a so-called “stimulus package” to help the economy…really? then tell me WHY the jobless rate is 10.2%, Ben Bernumbskull tells us the recession is “over” (RIIIGHT..where..in my big toe?!?!)..oh..and let’s not forget people like me, who don’t even get counted in that jobless rate..why? I’ve been jobless for 5 months, and do NOT qualify for unemployment benefits..so are Americans SO blinded by this man that they can’t see what he is NOT doing..you know….LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?!
WAKE UP AMERICA!!
I’m curious, Michael Steele, who is the head of the Republican party, is he racist? He doesn’t agree with Obama at all. But Michael Steele is black. Hmmm. Yup, if you disagree with Ob ama, you must be racist. Nice way to try to silence any and all dissent. THat’s much worse than republicans calling people Disloyal for question Bush. Being labelled racist can completely destroy someone’s reputation.
More PC codswallop. Just because you have a different opinion or disagree with someone’s policies doesn’t mean you ‘hate” them. This is a word used by far left extremists. Racism is another word brandied around everywhere. Again, just because you disagree or have a different opinion of someone of another race, doesn’t equate to racism. Racism, hate, homphobia are just words used to try and win arguments and silence dissent.
It should read why do some people disagree or oppose Pres. Obama’s policies. The only reason why people even consider dislike of Obama as racism is because he’s half black. If he were white we would never hear anything. In the US there is a somewhat popular belief that blacks cannot be racist.
Lets have a sensible conversation about his promises and his current policies and leave the left-wing PC garbage out of it. These sort of crazy ideas lead to more divisions, not less.
Yes, it silences the racists, homophobes, intolerant. It does not silence the opposite. It opens the discussion. Why am I that? Give me an example. As a black woman, it is what I asked when I was accused of reverse racism. It opened up discussions with 2 people who have become great friends of mine, including a newspaper editor. We now agree to disagree but he knows i respect his position and he mine even if we are on different ends of the spectrum.
@David
“Most in America think a black person is inferior to a white person.”
I guess that is why a country that is approximately seventy percent white elected a man from a minority that represents approximately twelve percent of the population as their president. Yes, we must really hate blacks.
It’s just the same old Democrat vs. Republican fighting that takes place regardless of who is in office.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,661678,00.html
Uh oh, Europeans are criticizing Obama. They must be racists!
Europeans don’t count. Why should I care what they think, just like they don’t care what you think about their countries and policies. You don’t matter. From my view point, they don’t matter.
In my view, for those who dream about a safe and secure world without wars and hatred president Obama is acceptable.
His ideologies, philosophies and his views about the world are surely entirely different from other leaders. Obama may not be acceptable to those who expected something that they used to have under the rule of many other leaders they had. They are not ready to see the world on the basis of experiences that we have had so far. it is not surprising that for a true person like him with a clear mind of full of high thoughts and real ideas that how the should can be turned into a place of prosperity and peace, his paths will surely be of thorns.
It is time for us to throw out the primitive ideas such as racism or discrimination that has governed the world for years and years. Give him his own time and see the result.
If is the century where man has started going trip to the moon and there is no chance for the thoughts of color difference of human beings at all. A simple message to those who try to judge Mr. Obama in terms of his skin color or his race is that all the advancement we have right now in the world are due to the joined efforts of different people from different categories.
You provide links about hatred of Obama. There were tons of websites about Bush hatred.
http://www.aboutus.org/TooStupidToBePresident.com
Toostupidtobepresident.com is down because he’s no longer in office, but there were all sorts of animations and everything insulting him, hating him, etc. This link I have provided also provides other sites that are about Bush hatred..
Going to ignore this?
This entire issue is SO dishonest.
Are you justifying what the right does wrong by saying the left does it too? If the extreme left jumps off the Empire State building, does the extreme right have to do it as well?
I did not vote for President Bush. I did not agree with his policies but it is wrong now and wrong then to denigrate this gentleman. You can argue until the cows come home on policy. It should never get personal. It is wrong for him. It is wrong for Obama. I like George Bush. I think his wife, Laura, is a great southern lady. I could/would never disrespect either of them if I met them today. Maybe, because I was taught manners.
http://www.whywehatebush.com
http://www.americansagainstbush.com
Yup….. THis is brand new, criticizing Obama. Nobody has ever criticized a President before, therefor it must be racism!
“the Conservative have rational logical arguments and the liberal left only has emotion, hysteria and “feelings”.”
Both extremes sound emotional and hysterical to me. I have listened to some right-wing shows, and there are defintely plenty of emotions and “feelings.” Not that there is anything wrong with that…
Ros
It is not that most Americans think a Black man is inferior to a White man but there are several factors that have built up over time.
1. It seems to Americans that Blacks have exchanged Plantation Slavery to Welfare Slavery and it is more important to have babies and collect that welfare check than to work for a living.
2. Blacks rail against “White” education and give the impression of being mostly uneducated.
3. Reparations!!??..give me a break. How many slaves or slave owners are alive? It is time to get over it. No amount of money will ever change their life for the better without Blacks making a change.
4. Seperate language.
5. Drug culture. Need I say more?
6. Permanent underclass.
These factors and more are rapidly coming to a head because Obama is not causing racial healing but is fostering racial division making the problem worsew.
Uh, most people on welfare in the United States are white, not black. Also, could you point to a single time in which Obama has called for or supported reparations or a separate language?
Also, white people do drugs too. Ever heard of the Beatles or Simon & Garfunkel?
I am a black woman. i am the oldest of 5 girls to parents who were married 56 yrs at the time of my fathers death 6 yrs ago. We have degrees from Associates to Masters, in everything from teaching, CPS’s, etc. No tenn pregnancies. No drugs. No records. We have 7 children of whom 5 are adults with degrees or are working on them, also. No teen pregnancies. No drugs. No records. The last 2 are 15 and 13 and are teaching themselves to speak and write Japanese. My husband an I have 3 of the grandchildren and we would have celebrated 32 yrs of marriage the year he died. There are now 7 grandchildren. The oldest is 7, my grandson. He is in the 2nd grade. His vocabulary is that of an 8th grader and above. he was tested in the 1 st grade to read at a 5th grade level, IQ is 115 and scoring just above average in math brought it down. H e loves ‘Bookworm’. went from 0 to 69,000 points in the week of learning it and is now on the masters level.
My children are 3rd generation college. We have educators and one cousin was an attorney in the Johnson administration. Take that and put it in your meth pipe and smoke it.
As a Canadian living with Ontario health care and seeing both sides of the issue, I do believe that the US is steeply engrained in the “Capitlist” mandra. This “hate” is tied to “Socialism” and the race card adds momentum and fear
In general, Conservatives fear and detest Government “anything” and rightly so where waste is concerned.
What amazes me is the “US as the center of the Universe” notion and no one looks far beyond. Canadian Healthcare works and it’s quite efficient; albiet, underfunded because no one wants higher taxes. Look beyond our borders! The most Socialist nations are also the “healthies and happiest”! How can that make our system better?
PS. I have been living in the US for 17 years now.
“the Conservative have rational logical arguments and the liberal left only has emotion, hysteria and “feelings”.”
Of course, when I have listened to and watched right wing shows, I hear rational and logical arguments about liberals with such non-emotive words like: “Marxist”, “Leninist”, “Communist”, “Soviet Style”, “Apologist”, “Terrorist”, and “Sympathizer” to describe a liberal policy or anyone who does not agree with conservatives. Also beginning on day one of Obama winning the presidential election conservative commentators started the mantra of “I want Obama to fail”, and also put up a clock/calendar counting the days to the end of Obama’s first term in office. This is hardly logical or rational. It’s highly emotional, hysterical, and is all about their feelings, which is fear. Fear of anyone who does not tow the conservative line.
I agree.
I’ve pondered this question for several hours now and have decided I’ve no idea why anyone hates anyone else, particularly a person with whom he or she is not personally acquainted. I do suppose these sorts of feelings might originate from autophobia though, because hatred is like a cloak in that it needs a mannequin upon which to be displayed to best advantage. If no stranger is available, then one’ self must serve. Might this be why destruction of the stranger rarely destroys the hatred?
g
Anyone seen the HBO documentary from Alexandra Pelosi RIGHT AMERICA: FEELING WRONGED – SOME VOICES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL which chronicled the Republican and conservative perspective of the 2008 election? Very interesting, but not suprising.
While I don’t think that racism is the primary reason for the hatred (it sure does adds fuel to the fire though!), it’s more than obvious that in some areas of the US racism is still very much a factor in this debate. It’s naive to think otherwise.
“we’ve seen an epidemic of hatred against the president that I think is safe to call unprecedented. Bill Clinton and George W Bush were hated – but not quite like this.””
Anyone who thinks Obama is more hated than Bush is obviously living in a cave
Of course it’s racism re: Obama. And there are millions of Americans who hate and fear anyone not like them or not of their viewpoint–primitive tribalism at its worst. I would be interested to see what happens when whites become the minority in this country circa 2050 but I’m sure I won’t live long enough to see it.
I think people with progressive political ideology hated Bush just as much. If not more!
I think its interesting and disturbing that Gun sales went through the roof before Obama got elected lots of those types went out and bought up machine guns to defend them from the socialist Gay, Black invasion on the horizon as foretold by the conservative propaganda machine.
They have a mistrust of Government that is very unhealthy, never mind a Black man leading it.
Neo conservative, paleo conservative, or whatever kind of conservative word you want to call it, it really isn’t completely conservative. It is economically conservative, but socially liberal, this is called libertarian. People want to return to following the constitution that has got us this far. They are tired of politicians saying that the constitution should evolve, all the while they make the country worse off and more in debt. Libertarians believe in extremely small federal government, while states actually have some freedom to govern as the citizens of their state want, not some interest group or elitist lobbyist on the national stage. These are the people who hate what Obama is doing, but they also hate what the Republicans are doing… nobody talks about that though. Why not?
I am surprised that what I always thought as a fair minded, progressive, team like WHYS is running such a debate as this tonight. I agree with ‘Tampled’.
I think Mr Obama is the one who was going bring the US back to it’s former glory. He is a true statesman. But how can he win when his own citizens turn against him so soon in his term? And when the whole world is waiting for him to fail? He stepped into a boiling pot when he took office. He cannot solve all the problems in such a short time. Why are people not giving him a chance? This is not racim, this is suicide.
Julie P.. I completely agree!
Bush had 8 years to “earn” the hatred people have voiced for him. How many right wingers HATED Obama before he even made it into office? How many right wingers criticized his record in office after only 30 days? He’s been set up to fail. How can he “change” anything when there is so much opposition by the republican party?
Can anyone honestly tell me that Republican party has even attempted to put their politics aside to try to work with the man? Even during a time when our country has been facing some of the most diffuclt challenges it has ever faced? Even for the good of our country and for the sake of our people? Hell no. If the survival of our Nation was really that important, they would grow a pair and do what is right. They would find a way to work together.
This man never even had a chance to succeed.
@ Julie P
If you’re going to quote someone get it right. He wanted Obama’s policies to fail.
Additionally the “Marxist”, “Leninist”, “Communist”, “Soviet Style”, “Apologist”, “Terrorist”, and “Sympathizer” get defined by his proposals. It becomes a LOGICAL argument started with a premise, followed by examples and not a hysterical labeling and missating someones position.
Hey Dan,
Please give us examples of which of Obama’s proposals can be described as Leninist, Communist, Soviet-style or Terrorist thus defining valid premises and not hysterical misstatements. Thanks.
Of course, some who dislike President Obama’s approach are not racists, but thoughtful and civil Conservatives like David Brooks and Peggy Noonan have been drowned out by the daily tirades of Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh, whose followers showed up for health care Town Hall meetings this summer with loaded fire arms.
The same people marched in Washington D.C. in September, hoisting home-made signs with truly offensive/racist depictions of the President of the United States of America. When the news cameras panned across the crowds, one saw a sea of enraged white middle-aged faces.
These “tea party” and “birther” types may be driven by their anger over the fact that a black man now leads the country, but they are equally angry that they have been unable to create the white evangelical Christian Theocracy they long for…and they are still working on that one.
I think U.S. citizens who laughingly dismiss these throngs as “wing nuts” do so at their peril. Frankly, they frighten me.
@Gary
I think hatred for the “other team” is because they are in direct competition with you. A win for them means a loss for you. Go to a football match, and people of one supporting team have great hatred towards the opposing supporters, even though they are of the same city, race, religion, political views, etc.
If you up the stakes into politics and values, it means the other side’s values are winning and yours are losing. You are under threat, you react in any way you can to win, usually by lying (e.g. diving in football, or negative propaganda and hatemongering in politics).
Of course, some also choose sides based on skin colour.
I know from talking to my relatives that some of them are worried and angry at being characterized by the politically correct left as evil white people who spend their lives being mean to people of color. I believe it is that reaction to a perceived attack on them and people like them that is the source of any unreasonable demonstrations against Obama.
Justified or not, a lot of white people fear that people of color will seek to punish them for being white if they get too much power. It’s extremely difficult to reassure them because, if we’re honest, we know that is a plausible scenario. Obama was very aware of this fear when he was running for president.
Okay, a show of hands, how many of you who insist that it is not racism that inspires hatred of Obama agree with Dan’s list of 6 attributes that Americans assign to black people – not that we think they are inferior.
For the record; I don’t think that most criticism of Obama is racially-motivated, but if the Dans of the world believe that those 6 points apply to most blacks, yet wouldn’t describe themselves as racist, then we have a much bigger problem with racism than I would have guessed.
@Dan,
I listened to that conservative commentator. I heard it with my own two ears. He stated in plain English that he wanted Obama to fail. That is a direct quote.
Furthermore, if you are going to quote the highly emotive words that I put up there that are used by conservatives to describe Obama and anyone who does not two the conservative line, make sure you quote me correctly. I did not state, imply, infer, insinuate, or even state anyone person saying this. It is was a response to how conservatives use highly emotive language to describe their arguments as opposed to liberal. It was not aimed at any one conservative commentator. Thank you for misstating my position and proving my point about conservatives using emotion in their arguments.
Conservative (predominately white) right wingers are sore losers. It’s a strange phenominon I have watched since the election, and before. They seem to fall back on old fears and predjudices deep seated in a good ole boy white mans heart. Strong women are b&$%es. And heaven forbid a minority have some sort of status. They can’t disagree with him on an intellectual level, it degenerates to the lowest form. If he can be marginalized he isn’t so powerful. He’s just a (enter racist expletive here)
I notice the left wing wasn’t venomous to this extent when Bush was elected. Sure he was made fun of. But the degree of actual hate and how wide spread is disturbing.
Tracy
Portland, OR
I also agree with Steve. Bush was mocked, ridiculed and called all names under the sun. I am sure at one point, he was probably the most hated man in the whole world. The question of race never came into it (maybe for another debate: is it possible to be racist to a white man?)
The difference is that the anti-Obama hatred contains a militant element which makes it more extreme and dangerous When personalities like Chuck Norris (“can kill two stones with one bird”) rouse the right wing cells to the eve of battle, and former military men joining the cause, spreading rumours about concentration camps and ending gun ownership, it is a bit more serious than name-calling.
I voted for Obama but the main problem that I am having with Obama is the fact that he has the majority in both houses and does not use it unscrupulously. Why on earth would you compromise with the republicans (a minority party), when you have a clear majority? Obama needs to seize the reigns of power while he still has them.
Secondly, Obama has done a horrid job of reigning in conservative democrats. He needs to whip them into line with his policies. If that ever happened here in Canada – MP’s would loose their seats.
hello folks, do you know how I see Republican politicians; to me, they just oppose anything the Democrats try to initiate. good or not they oppose it with absolute resentment. help me out here, is this the politics of the United States or I am the one who doesn’t understand what goes on there? Democrats will not find themselves anitiating anything Republicans support indefinately- they will always question, oppose and or find a way to stop it from happening.
Change is hard and sometimes comes slow. Hatred is a strong word but if there is hatred for the current president this cannot be considered as unique. Certainly there was “hatred” for the last US president earned though it may have been. It seems that for better or worse that dynamic leaders seem to have a polarizing effect. This is as true for the Dali Lama as it is for Barak Obama or even such figures from the past as Gandhi. It is for the ability to rise above this polarization and to become a true unifier that all people look for in a leader.
Keep your vision and embrace the change Mr President! Good luck!
Obama got something like 90% of black vote. That’s not racist at all in liberal logic.
Whether you like it or not, racism in America is still very much prevalent under the surface and can be experienced on a daily basis under various circumstances. A good number of the far right conservatives are aghast and just can’t come to terms with the fact that a colored person is their leader and running the country.
These elements regardless of whether President Obama is successful or not will find ways to put him down and raise obstacles in every step of his way. This discussion is futile.
Thanks
@Mike in Seattle
Thank You. You proved my point as it took no time for the left wing Liberal apologists to come out.
BTW Simon & Garfunkel are singers and not a race.
@Dan
“It is not a racist or Conservative vs. liberal but the Conservative have rational logical arguments and the liberal left only has emotion, hysteria and “feelings”.”
Then why do conservatives use emotional, inflammatory, adjectives language to describe anything liberal. Is it that conservatives cannot have a logical debate about issues without using language that is designed to stymie debate?
It’s called politics. American conservatives have a very loud megaphone, through outlets like Fox News, talk radio, the Wall Street Journal and the blogosphere. These outlets take any and all opportunities to attack and undermine Obama because they want to see him fail. If Obama succeeds, it makes George W. Bush look even worse.
@Steve,
By associating with G. Gordon Liddy that means McCain had a friendship with him. In fact, G. Gordon Liddy helped to launch McCain’s political career by holding a coffee for him in his living room.
“I didn’t realize that associating with someone who does a show for multi years is the same as attending a racist pastor’s congregation for 18 years..”
I too didn’t realize that associating with a convicted felon who advocates shooting law enforcement in the head is okay, but since McCain was a fighter pilot that makes it alright. Had Obama been friends with a commentator who broadcasts to thousands, if not more, advocating shooting law enforcement in the head I wonder what the reaction would have been?
Sorry, meant legislative powers, but also he has no judicial powers… He is the chief executive, head of the executive branch. Congress is part of the legislative branch, we have a separation of powers here to protect the nation from suggestions like Kat’s that violate separation of powers.
“You may not be racist if you don’t agree with Obama, but you certainly will be white”.
That statement itself is racist, yet it’s not mentioned, or questioned. Part of the liberal thought that only whites can be racist. You can make a racist comment and get away with it if you aren’t white.
Notice all of those comments Ros is reading have to do with Obama’s political views (allegedly maoist, socialist) and nothing to do with his race?
Thanks for pointing this out!
In the main post!
““Hate Obama ? – you may not be racist, but you will be white . ” is the title of a thought-provoking article by Michael Tomasky in the Guardian today.”
Steve – you are not correct sorry. No it would not violate the separation of powers. I realize that there is a separation however please note that the vice-president is the leader of the Senate. The executive office does have sway over politicians in the Senate.
In terms of democratic whips in the house and senate. They exist outside of the Executive. Right now unfortunately the democratic party lacks power because they don’t have any powerful whips running party discipline.
I’m a white American, and I can tell you, most Americans are blood thirsty war mongers, and are deathly afraid of change. The majority of the country still fails to realize that you can not change the world overnight. It will take more than 1 year, it may even take more than 4 years. It took 8+ years for us to get in the mess that we are in now, and instead of pointing fingers toward the ones who are actually to blame, we continue to blame President Obama, and I feel the blame is at fault. It’s enough to make those of us who voted for him sick. We are ridiculed constantly for our vote, but I stand by mine.
George Bush and his cronies are responsible for the current economic state of our country. It took the Bush crowd 8 years to create this problem, and now these conservatives expect Obama to have fixed everything within a year? Please!
As in the past anytime a leader proposes changes that entail help to those that have less instills fear that someone may need to give up. Greed when threatened turns to hatred and violence. An odd circumstance in what some call a Christian nation.
I agree with the statement “you will be white”. I see evidence of that everyday, as I am white and people don’t hold back on their feelings in my presence. I deeply admire President Obama and I believe the country is currently volatile due to the our challenges and this only heightens the spewing-forth of negativity. The negativity directed toward President Obama is due to Ignorance and the mis-trust of those who are different from us due to that Ignorance.
I think the biggest problem here is Obama’s idealization since he took over presidency. The media and the people were quick to idealize him into something improbable. A mythical entity if you can call it such. And because of this, every action he is taking, and every policy he is endorsing feels inadequate. We made a miracle worker out of him, and now we are beginning to realize he isn’t a miracle worker – and rather than admitting our mistake, we are blaming Obama.
Having said I am frustrated with Obama because so far all he has done is make promises. His time is running out to deliver on those promises. The US economy is still in shambles, jobs are still being lost, and the general aftermath of the recession still being felt – time to step up your gear Mr. Obama, or else this is just going to exacerbate.
Lastly, the racial element is ALWAYS going to be there – especially from white radical conservatives. I mean come on, a little over a 145 years since slavery was abolished and you have an African American president – the first in the US’s history. It sounds cynical but this is how it is – this isn’t a fantasy where everyone is living happily with sparkles and rainbows around them. This is real life and you have bigots everywhere in real life. However, I would like to hope that the race card isn’t the primary cause of this hate that is being directed towards Obama.
Regards,
S
This has nothing to do with race. People ridiculed President Bush; that was not racism. People are frustrated because Pres. Obama came in promising that “pie in the sky.” But we do not see the “pie” coming down from the sky. Our President is going around “resetting all the buttons.” I do not like him going around “apologizing” to the world.
As a European, I don’t understand why Americans have turned against President Obama. However, I recognize it. The Russians also preferred President Jeltsin to President Gorbachev, and I didn’t understand that either.
I think this comes down to a level of polite behavior demonstrated by the left that is completely ignored by the right. Don’t get me wrong, both sides have their zelots, but it’s becoming pretty evident that what is happening now is a disturbing level of ilogical sophistry.
What is sad is the idea that people are falling into nationalism, racism, mccarthyism and seem to forget that these things are all dangerous.
The UK has a substantial population of racial minorities, such as asians, blacks, and people from the Indian subcontinent. NONE of them have ever become the Prime Minister of the UK, yet the US is the racist nation? Okay..
Yea, why don’t all these haters of American system elect a Hindu or a Muslim to be their PM? Here we have elected one and still they are calling us racists. Who are the racists here – those who elected a Black American or those who do not elect one of such at all? Come on stop this mess. Stop attacking my country and its system. You go to the Arab countries, the racist hatred in in the air; you can smell it and feel it. Yet these people brand us as “racist.”
This sort of attention is totally unprecedented. It’s normal for a president to have approval ratings in the 60-40% range, but I’ve never heard of the citizenship of Presidents Regan, Bush, Clinton and Bush
questioned before.
Look, I don’t care what you think of Obama’s policies but I don’t remember such a high rate of death threats against the president, and I certainly don’t remember people bringing guns to protests.
Finally, can we stop being so lazy about our political analysis? If the population is feeling so anti-tax, why where the tax limiting propositions in the states of Washington and other states all soundly defeated? Yes, a few governorships were won by the Republican party, but two House seats flipped to the Democrats.
The fact that we know that the executive can discipline two houses of government – case in point – look at the successes of the Bush Administration. They ruled the policies, procedures, and mandate of the United States of America. They controlled every single republican holding a seat with a tight leash.
Does his Administration violate the separate of powers principle?
It is my personal assessment that much of the vitriol and hatred is indeed based on racism, and is otherwise totally irrational.
A majority of the American people voted for systemic change, after eight years of the worst administration – and arguably the most criminal – this country has ever had.
Mr. Obama is sincerely attempting to initiate the very change that we need – and for which we voted. Much of the irrational frustration expressed is based on clear and utter misunderstanding of how the government functions, and ignorance of the fact that it is largely the Republicans that are preventing President Obama from succeeding in his initiatives.
A too large segment of the American public is simply ignorant and ill-informed, a clear symptom of our declining educational system, and a clear warning sign that our Democracy is in danger.
@Steve,
Did you notice the lead in question for the thread?
“If It’s not racism, why do some Americans hate President Obama so much?”
Could it be that people are staying on topic and that not everyone is going to be fixated with race? It really seems to me that you want someone, anyone, to make this make this thread about race. It looks like you’re alone on that one.
Made there points clear? All they’ve said is that they disagree with his policies. what policies, please be specific.
Racism is a small part of it. The bigger issue is religion. As evangelicalism has taken over the Republican party, it has brought with it a sense of paranoia and anti-intellectualism, and a paradigm that says, “It’s good vs evil, and we’re obviously not evil, so therefore…”
A side effect of this is that attempts to have a reasonable discussion about topics are seen as a threat, and conservative comments about Obama’s eloquence as a speaker are evidence of this: “A slick enough talker can convince you of anything, so don’t listen to them.” A few years ago a co-worker actually said to me, “Anything a Democrat has to teach me is something I don’t need to learn.”
The end result is that the rank-and-file of conservativism has become insular and dependent on gate-keepers for their information: Fox News, conservapundits like Limbaugh and Beck, and ministers like Pat Robertson
The only optimistic part of this is that occasionally one of those gatekeepers utters such a whopper that a small percentage of the conservative public think, “That’s not right. I wonder.” Examples: Robertson blaming 9/11 on abortionists and lesbians, or Glenn Beck talking about the hidden Marxist conspiracy emanating from the artwork at 30 Rockefeller Center.
It seems the only thing Obama is really good at is giving a great speach. He is trying to do too many things at one time and none get done effectively. Much of the problem goes beyond Obama and is the fact that our system is broken. It is all directed by big money and lobbyists and does not serve the common citizen.
Bentley
Portland OR.
Ros, the hatred toward Obama is really a mix of racism, misinformation, myopia and competitiveness.
We “progressives” are not given to hate, but we are very disappointed in his continuation of unprincipled US foreign policy, perpetuating the internationally illegal assault on Afghanistan and continuing submission to Israel and its lobby in its land theft and brutal occupation of Palestine.
There is without doubt NO evidence to suggest it is racism. Do you think Mrs. Clinton would be liked more at this point if she were president? People who make the racism claim can’t be serious. I wish they would use the same scrutiny for this topic that they would apply to others.
Actually, people who suggest all of Mr. Obama’s problems are racism are going to cause him to fail. This does him terrible harm.
The difference as I see it that during the much maligned G W Bush administration, the liberal opposition held rallies, posted blogs and went door to door to get change. On the other hand, the Rush Limbaugh-fed ultraconservatives, tend to have a much more violent response when faced with opposing views. Most of the significant political violence in the US has been directed against liberals or those representing agendas that conservatives oppose, e.g. MLK, JFK, RK, Malcolm X, Harvey Milk, abortion providers, etc to name a few.
Its the hawks vs the doves.
I as a physician, strongly support what Mr Obama is trying to do with healthcare and international relations.
Henry Dorn MD
High Point NC USA
Denise in Chicago: Many conservatives don’t expect Obama to have done anything to fix the problem. Complaining about the failure of his policies is just the noise they feel the need to generate. Those conservatives believe Obama is literally evil and out to destroy the country. Don’t be fooled by anything the far-right evangelicals say that resembles a conversation – they’re merely talking out loud so that God knows they’re on His side. Joshua 24:15 gets quoted a lot in this country.
The epidemic hatred against Obama is real and far more virulent than anything directed against Bush. It is all about racism, heightened and supported by economic anxiety and, above all encouraged by, a single national propaganda network called Fox News which supports the racists through a myriad of coded messages… what we call dog whistles… signals that the racists all understand and that encourage their behavior and ugly actions. We’ve had racists before, but this is the first time when they’ve had an entire national news network like Fox to organize their thoughts and actions.
It’s about politics- black people are more likely to be liberal. White people could be either. I think people that hate Obama disagree with his policies and are scared of his competence, efficiency and ability to actually effect change. He’s done more for this country than president in a while. It’s just bad luck that he got a country in such bad shape. I think Obama’s the best thing that happened to this country in a long time- I am white and liberal.
I am glad you brought this subject to light, it really needed to be discussed. I am only regretful that it is not heard by more people in America who make accusations such as the ones you listed. Both of the original guests were spot on. I am far from racist, I have a friend who I consider my brother, and he happens to be black. However, I disagree with some of the major things that Obama wants to put into legislation. There are racists, but the people with rational opposition to Obama’s propositions are not all “war-mongers”.
It was the white people who voted for him. How could then they be racists now against him? Where is that change? That is the problem. The liberals are failing and they are now crying foul “racism, racism,” because they know the ground is cracking beneath. The midterm election is just around the corner. That is why they are “resetting the racism button.”
Frankly I am appalled by the kind of hatred I see coming from a small but very vocal and loud group. This hatred is focused on Obama, but extends to all democrats and even main line republicans. It appears that the group is addicted to making hateful and blatantly untrue remarks about the government no matter what the subject. They all sound like Limbaugh and even worse. We had such a group marching in our 4 of July parade. They were downright joyful about being full of such hate. Their signs and behavior was so far off base that the audience stared in dumb founded silence. This group enjoys being hateful, disrespectful and disruptive. They love to be out shouting expletives at people passing buy. Their is little logic, or facts in their propaganda. Their are addicted to being hateful and will not give it up for logical reasons. Hating others rewards the hater with a feeling of superiority, of rising above everyone else. It gives a false sense of self importance. Until the rest of us, and especially the media learn not to provide these hateful people the attention they crave they will not be set free, but only become more alienated and extreme.
I do believe President Obama is being treated differently because he is black. Much the same way as a strong male supporter of an argument would be considered “strong” while a similarly strong female supporter is considered obnoxious by many men. A white person with the same views would most likely face much less criticism.
There is another issue here. The Cheney administration was not willing to engage the other side, whatever the other side was. Obama is willing to engage the opposition, which means, to many liberals, that he is not strong. He is compromising too much on what he (and those who elected him) said he would do, and so the liberals are backing off on their support.
People unwilling to compromise, such as Cheney/Bush, Hitler, name your favorite bad guy, are deserving of hatred. But you have to give them credit – they got things done.
Reagan received the most hate mail??? What we’re hearing is opinion not fact or truth. Where’s the evidence, please cite the source so that we can fact check.
From the Right, the hate-mongering against Obama is an updated version of the tactics used against Bill Clinton; now made more virulent by an undertone of racism & xenophobia.
From the Middle, there is puzzlement & disappointment as Obama seems to be less effective a leader than he was as a campaigner
From the Left, there is increasing disillusionment that Obama is repeating the same fundamental political mistake as Bill Clinton; namely trying to placate ideological opponents bent on his destruction.
The problem Mr. Obama is having, is he is trying so hard to appeal to everyone, that he is appealing to no one (figuratively). He is watering down the brand!
He is not sticking up for the sound ethical ideas of the democratic party. He is selling-out democratic principles for diplomacy and making-nice.
@ Jack
We “progressives” are not given to hate, but we are very disappointed in his continuation of unprincipled US foreign policy, perpetuating the internationally illegal assault on Afghanistan and continuing submission to Israel and its lobby in its land theft and brutal occupation of Palestine.
—
So “progressives” support terrorism. Nobody but terrorism supporters didn’t think Afghanistan was justified.
The difference is: George W Bush earned the vitriol against him. It was a rational response to his horrible policies, over the years, that put America in a much worse position than before he became president.
Obama has yet to earn the hate that some have for him, it is too early. We don’t know how his policies will turn out as of yet.
George W Bush deserves his reputation as one of the worst presidents in American history.
I admit my bias, I think it does have to do with race but maybe that is because I’m black. If race has nothing to do with it, then I agree with one of the guests, its because there are two different views of America emerging and conservatives have one view and liberals have another. Conservatives want America to be what it has always been even when its wrong, and see anything progressive as socialist. I don’t have a problem with any of the President’s policies so far: capitalism has its merits but so does ‘socialism’. These same people ‘ conservatives’ love capitalism….until it bits them – but they don’t have the intellect to fix it. On the other hand they don’t like socialism. Americans haven’t figured out what they want yet: so instead of figuring it out in a mature fashion….this is what we get.
An addendum:
I feel the VAST majority of conservatives are peaceable and reasonable, but a vocal minority seems to be feeding this perception of universal hatred.
@ Sarah
“It’s about politics- black people are more likely to be liberal. ”
Is making such generalizations racist? And how do you define liberal. If I were to make a generalization about blacks, most are opposed to gay marriage. Does that make them liberal?
These conservative guests are crazy. MSNBC isn’t calling Bush Hitler or Stalin, or claiming vast socialist conspiracies. MSNBC didn’t host or organize rallies against bush. That’s preposterous.
I’d have to agree with Kelly in Chicago. The South is still a racist part of the country. Luckily!, when my father died my mother moved us to west Texas to get away from all the racial problems. She was just as embarrassed with my fathers family that we lived close to as I am now. I don’t socialize or contact them for the main reason that they are racist.
As for hating the President. I think their number one job title should be scapegoat. You either love them or hate them. No President will ever be popular again, in the same way they were 100 years ago. Today’s technology makes it to easy for everyone to get their non-important opinion to potentially millions of people. From here on out it’s going to every person trying to reprogram everyone else.
Here we go again, ‘The president must man up. Our allies need to be able to depend on . . . ‘ Blah, blah, blah. Opinion, Opinion, Opinion.
Please, please, please – cut these opinionators off!
I’m not surprised that there’s another American President who’s having to deal with a lot of hate. What is surprising is how loud these voices are, and how personal a lot of the attacks are.
The same new media outlets that were used so well by Obama to come to power are now simply being used by his detractors. The number of vitriolic anti-Obama blogs, YouTube videos, facebook groups is just shocking. Maybe it’s just easier for us to see the hate directed at Obama now.
Just look at the number of blogs and comments online criticising him for being courteous to the Japanese Emperor….
The attacks on the President from the conservatives are far, far worse than those leveled at George W. Bush by the liberals. Your guests and the American corporate media will tell you it’s equal but they are either lying or ignorant of the real world. I would also point out several of your guests are anything but objective and they themselves have leveled criticisms at Obama that when leveled at Bush just a few years earlier brought responses of ‘move to Cuba’ or ‘leave America if you don’t like it’ or ‘you’re not an American’. The security services themselves expose the quantitative differences in the threat level why is it so hard to believe adding racism makes this a qualitative difference also?
Obama has repeatedly reached out to Republicans on health care, the wars in Iraq/Afghanistan, and federal judge appointments only to get slapped in the face and he does this with a clear majority on both houses. If Obama wanted he could ram all of his changes through without any cooperation from the right.
Frankly, it’s this lack of decisive leadership by the President that has his base restless. We voted for change and all we have seen coddling of the Republicans since day one and we’re tired of it. The Republicans FAILED to lead the previous 8+ years it’s time to change these failed policies.
Also where are the guests from the progressive side of the aisle? All these guests are what I would consider far-right radicals whose opinion reflect the uneducated, low information, minority of the United States.
I don’t go out to bars very often, but I’m all over the internet and I, for one, have never heard anyone hating the president because of his being black. I work with many white republicans, and they have never talked about his being black, only about his policies. There will always be a percentage of ignorant folk who just spout out the first thing that comes their brains, like his happening to be black, but as for the bulk of America, it’s just not the case.
I’m out a lot, not necessarily in bars, and the majority of the hatred I have heard for the president is based on race and because he is perceived as muslim. I agree that racial issues are more of a problem in the south, but I suspect people just feel freer to say it in the south.
What will the slogan be in 2012? Reelect Obama or you are a racist? Whoever won in 2008 was doomed to be a one termer, as this unemployment will be permanent. We lost so many manufacturing jobs, this will be the norm. I bet Mccain is happy he lost, because nobody taking the role of President would be able to fix the problems we have here.
Half-Not is right: if Clinton had won the 2008 election, she’d be just as hated now. The only reason the anti-Obama talk now appears so much more vile than the anti-Clinton talk did in the 90s is that the religious right have taken a decade to entrench and to frame the conversation.
I think the vitriol directed at Obama is new, and I think its based in a combination of racism and a bizarre demonization of “liberals” promulgated by Fox News, Rush et al.
The two guys who led the show focused a lot on “its not about skin color.” I mostly agree. I think, however, their types are bringing accusations of racism up at least as much as the accusations are being made. Both sides seek to discredit their opponents without addressing their best arguments.
Really I think the Obama hatred is about a delusional ideological purity test that apparently a good 20%+ of our population subscribes to. I suspect the folks engaging in this demonization have very poor understanding of the workings of anything beyond their immediate lives. We enter a recession, their lives spin out of control due to factors they not only can’t control but can’t even understand, and they search for simple answers. Sarah Palin is their hero for good reason.
What about the poll that found nearly all of this right wing hysteria is concentrated in the South?
It barely registers in the rest of the country. Does that correlation mean anything? Racism or poverty?
It is impossible to discus this subject in public, the radio, TV or otherwise…
As I US citizen I must say from experience, that in the public, outdoors, in plain sight of others, that it is nearly impossible to get a straight, honest answer on race from most any White American. Why? Because I, believe that most White Americans don’t understand the depths of their own racial prejudices.
However, behind closed doors, there’s a different sorry…
Mr Brown
California
Your guests are RIDICULOUS in saying that anyone would be “pulling” a race-card right now. We are only highlighting something which IS happening! Should we NOT talk about it? White or Black, anyone who has his or her eyes open will see that race IS playing a factor. The amount of Hatred just in the short amount of time he’s been in office should be key indicator number one.
Just look at the “Birther” movement for the example of those who are Racist and see Obama as an “other” and will attempt to remove him through any technicality they can imagine!
It’s not a fair criticism when the issue being criticized isn’t real.
Obama was criticized for allowing “death panels”, for being a “secret muslim” and for “not being a citizen”. I hear all this stuff about policy, yet there was no Republican budget, and it wasn’t until last week that the Republicans came up with their own health care plan.
It’s not criticism when the issue is made up from whole cloth.
I voted for Obama, and I’ve been both pleased and dismayed by some of his actions. I still give him all of my support, but I’m reserving judgment until some actual time has passed. I didn’t vote for George Bush, but I didn’t call him Hitler 2 months into his 1st term. People are doing that to Obama. Before a year had passed people were nonchalantly comparing him to the greatest villains of the last 100 years, and talking about getting him out of office.
Sure, I am sure that most criticisms of the President are policy based, but the panel’s charges are really strange to my ears… most radical president??? Bush was more moderate??? Bush Left-wing on spending??? Perspective is a strange thing. I think perhaps America’s perspective on right, left and center is scewed.
But I do think that your panel is also not being very honest about race in this country. Especially the idea that the socio-economic split in this country just happens to divides along the race line, like that has nothing to do with the history of this country.
Ana in California
I totally agree with Sarah: the right conservatives really hate Obama not because of his race, but rather because his ideology. He tries to shift the country from following the ‘jungle law’, where every one survive on his or her own and where the fittest wins, to the more humane, civilized, and yes, a really Christian law, where people put their neighbors and fellow countrymen before themselves and their narrow interests.
The amazing Negative media and hatred towards president Obama is indicitive of the Republican Party. Their message has been for almost a decade one of hatred and anger.
The media talking heads for the GOP have rallied their party by stirring up hatred and anger, this leads to the incredible negative attitude by those in the right. This is compounded by education and knowledge of the majority of the GOP party, as a rule the right is comprised by a majority of lowly educated members who support their party based on some hotpoint issues such as abortion and gun control.
The incredibly negative message of the right media along with the fast paced speed that news and media reach the public and their short attention span has led to a huge rise in hatred towards Obama and the change that he represents.
It is a true shame that this party believes that hatred and disrupt is the only route they have to achieve their political goals.
Oh and the left is generally more influenced by facts and figures than by emotional reactions. This is why the hatred for Bush even though he was a much more dividing and controversial president was muted in comparison.
It’s not as simple as racism. It is more accurate to say that it is, as a whole, ignorance and fear. Ignorance of the complexity of economics, and fear of Obama’s openess to other cultures. People are intolerant of the time it takes to make lasting sustainable change (something Bush or any other Republican recently have never tried). Those people who are angry at Obama thinks he should have changed the country now and cannot accept the fact that it will be years before we climb out of this economic ditch-created by years and years of unchecked greed.These same people won’t accept a candidate who asks people to make change for the better of the country ie: green causes, health care-pay into a universal system etc. They call it radical changes!! I just heard someone say his policies are radical. Huh?? He has moderated most of his campaign promises and just about totally caved on a public health care policy-something that would benefit most of the haters! There are certainly racists in this country who hate Obama but they are so small a minority they are irrelevant. Plenty of people hated Bush, possibly not with as much venom, but hate none the less.
How about this:
NO MORE 24hr. NEWS NETWORKS FROM ANY MEDIA COMPANY.
rob z: An idea with merit.
This conversation seems very one-sided. The only voices I’m hearing are conservatives who want to take another opportunity to bash not only Obama but all liberals. There are plenty of liberals and moderates who voted for Obama and are unhappy with him for not dealing with things the way they would like, or for flaking out on things like climate change legislation, or for trying to reason with the republicans on health care. Why aren’t any of these people on air? Why are we only hearing from people who have NEVER agreed with Obama and simply want to undermine any effort by liberals to make this country more reasonable?
THIS is the difference with this president – I don’t know if it’s racism or just religious/political craziness, but the right wing of the American media is stirring up dissention. Yes, the left does this as well, but not to the extent of encouraging violence. Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow were mentioned earlier, but they never encouraged people to take out Bush or anything, they just said “let’s vote for a democrat next time.”
Ross…do you have any idea how much racism exists in Kentucky??? GEEZ!
Americans hadn’t expected President Obama to help the poor so much.
perhaps the increase in death threats is a testament to this president’s popularity. with the explosive growth of media access around the world, more people have the opportunity to voice their opinions these days. this issue could perhaps be fueled by the acceleration of information, not necessarily by race.
I’m to the left of Obama, and voted for Nader/Gonzalez. Obama took tens of millions of dollars in contributions from Wall Street, insurance companies, and real estate lobbies. He supported the disastrous Farm Bill. He supported warrantless wiretapping, and the Patriot Act. He’s a disaster, but of course, he’s an improvement on Bush. Call me racist all you like. We need better policies.
I am sick of white people, no matter where you are, telling us, black people what is and what is not racism. You do not get away from the discussion by calling something said or someone racist, by denying it. You open the discussion by asking why you feel that way. Not scoffing. The danger is not to recognize what is. You do not recognize it because it isn’t you. I know the difference. I feel the difference. They may joke about the Irish, whites, etc., but not one of you were every lynched. Not one of you were told you could not live some place because of your race. You were not burned alive because you were black. Your children blown up in a church. civil rights workers murdered and buried in a dam. Death threats. Showing up at any one of his venues with weapons. don’t take me for an idiot. Do not discount vapid racism in this country. They called his wife a b***h on Christian radio. He is lying through his teeth. He isn’t changing anything. That’s another ridiculous lie. I am a 60 yr old black woman and all you white people are insulting MY intelligence.
There is no better explanation for the observable hatred by some American people on Obama. He is simply black and this is an unforgivable crime that he has committed. But that is not his fault, nor is it a tag for non-venture into the white house.
He is not the worst American President. I do not wish to mention names, but it is still fresh in the minds of many Americans the ugly moments of the recent past administration of the United States. For Africans, it is simply a nightmare not worth remembering. Little wonder Obama swept the votes that led him to the White House.
I think the world would be a better place with less of this attitude, especially in the light of Americas’ role as world example in virtually everything.
Adi Whyte
Calabar, Nigeria.
I’m sorry, what are your guests talking about? In the first term of the Bush presidency, there was the largest tax cut in American history! It added trillions to the deficit! Where were the protests back then?
Whites can cry & cry that these threats against Obama aren’t race based and harmless…
…but when we weigh the history of how Whites have treated Blacks in America with lynching, murdering, the systemic apartheid laws (Jim Crow laws), what are we left to think? Sure they may not like Obama’s policies, but they also don’t like this race as an added bonus. The two can & do exist in the same universe.
Mr Brown
California
This has probably been posted already, but it is absolutely absurd how many people are upset that Obama has not fully accomplished goals he set forth…Remember when he was in office for less than 1 year? Yeah, that time is now.
I disagree with a multitude of things that President Bush did, including most of the Patriot Act, putting his hand in the economy, and generally spending way too much of our money. Like Ros said, Obama is perpetuating some of the same spending, which I also disagree with.
@Half-Not
The Democrat Party has principles!!?? Wow….that’s news. Certainly not the high principles of FDR, HST, JFK and Bill Clinton.
This is killing me. It’s the sore loser right wing republicans who are making all the noise. Get over it. Your boy lost the election badly and America spoke. The Bush admin screwed the country up so badly and now Obama has the job of trying to clean up the mess Bush left behind. It’s gonna take more than a year to clean it up so give him time. Nuff said
Where were Ben from Kentucky and his Tea Party friends when Bush was starting two wars of choice, burning through a budget surplus, ignoring all types of corporate corruption by refusing to even apply the smallest amount of oversight or running up record levels of debt by giving tax breaks to the very smallest minority of the wealthiest Americans?
I will Mike M. runs an OPINION radio show where the callers are heavily screened and reflects an absolute minority of Americans.
Ana from California
People who hate Obama are not necessarily racists. Playing racist card obscures the whole issue: Obama haters are just the people who belong to the past, just as their free market wild capitalism, which might have been an effective vehicle of freedom and progress in 200 years ago, but which we all have seen is not working any more.
The animosity for Obama is no greater than it was for George Bush for for Bill Clinton. It may appear greater since Obama was greeted with such high hopes. I believe one of the reasons for the vocality is that the american public is frustrated with the government which is going in directions not suported by the majority of Americans. Thus they see thier elected officials, that should be representing the views of their constituents, ignoring them and taking the attitude that the public is ignorant and therfore should be dismissed. This has been fostered by the biggest supporters of Obama, the ultral liberal left like Nancy Pelosi and therefore reflects back on Obama.
This is further added to by a number of misteps by the Obama administration; for example allowing the federal deficit to expode, not planning ahead for a strategy in afganistan, not addressing the unemployment issue and a number of additional issues where he has not shown leadership.
As for the issue fo racism Obama tried to deflect criticism with claims of racism before; but it did not fly and was abandoned in favor of blaming the conservative press. There will always be people who judge someone by race , but not the majority in America. This is and remains one of the most accomodating countries to all races , creeds and cultures.
Obama represents intelligent, positive change with fairness to all races irrespective of colour. Those advocating racial hatred and colour bar are trying to turn the clock bar. Grow up Americans. Respect real calibre. Obama is a gem of a man
What a waste of time! This hour could have been spent better on a discussion on what it is these folks feel are the socialist/communist policies, not to say ‘anti-american’ policies. There is so much of a lack of appreciation of the historic nature of the situation we find ourselves in, of the long building train-wreck we are in the process of going through, that folks who are blaming one (or two) presidents are truly missing the boat. However, instead of probing truly interesting questions, BBC wasted this hour on tabloid style journo. Congrats –
and the least educated in America are the core of the white southern based Replican base.
D.R. II from Virginia
You wrote :
and the least educated in America are the core of the white southern based Replican base.
Is this comment based upon your own personal affiliation?
This seems to me that anyone opposed to Obama and his policies are now playing the victim card, its the easy way out of making a valid point.
I agree .His critics offered nothing by noise and derision .The Republican Party is thoughly bankrupt ,devoid of constructive contributions .In a time of national crisis they resort to obstruction and back biting TheUS political debate has deteriorated into partisanship .More grieviously, the polictical institutions ,Congress, in particular, arecorrupt bought lock stock and barrel by special interest lobbies America needs urgently needs wide sweeping political reform.to revitilize the democracy..Inherent in Obama’s election was that promise which is not being kept.
I think it was the first guest today (Mu apology for not remembering his name.) who laser-speed tossed out a statement and concern regarding “forces” that are influencing/controlling President Obama. Inferences that feed conspiratorial and incendiary thinking disturb me, so I ask that the guest actually speak to WHO/WHAT are these ‘feared’ influences. Don’t just infer them, speak them.
I personally think President Barack Obama is doing a good job. He is a very smart, intelligent man, and has a compassionate heart. We Americans would do well to give President Obama some breathing room and respect.
the united states may have a two party system but the different number of races, creeds, and colors is uncalculable.
Why focus so obsessively on the race issue? Of course it’s about race! But race isn’t a tin of black polish applied to someone’s face. Race means a different experience of things. President Obama NOTICES the tens of millions in dire need of health care, and often live-saving health care. That’s race. Personally, I’m glad he’s black. It makes him a better person.
Policy disagreements help to provide a platform for people who have difficulty understanding Obama because of his skin colour, and for people who have racist sentiments.
Listening online in New Hampshire, USA
I see some racial tension coming up in discussions of the President but when I examine the motivations it seems mostly to be born of frustrations the speaker has for which s/he has no other focus or outlet. I remind those speakers that the financial situation in not President Obama’s fault and that it was the previous president’s policies and actions tha have led to those frustrations ( unemployment, disappearing pensions and dsavings, worthless stocks, futures destroyed, etc. ) most, when I point this out, suddenly stop the racial nastiness and come to their senses. I think I would be to the point to remind evryone that truth is the better thing to look at than the colour of a person’s skin. i also think President Obama inherited an incredible, awful legacy and if any negative feeling is to be expressed it should be put upon those who left him that legacy.
Incompetence, after all, knows no colour….
Did I just hear someone say that only poor uneducated people are racist? Apparently you don’t have to be “poor and uneducated” to be an idiot.
I’ve been able to listen to this discussion only sporadically, so I don’t know if this has come up, but if you look at polling data in the United States, you will find that Obama’s popularity ratings in the Deep South — i.e., the former Confederate states — are abysmally low, disproportionately so, and so much that they essentially skew nationwide polling data on Obama’s popularity. If you look at polling data from where the majority of people actually live, he’s not nearly as unpopular as the data might suggest. Also, I think the host made a good point, which is that nobody in the United States seems to be openly racist, or speaks openly with racist comments …. until the microphones are turned off. Then you see and hear the truth, and it is ugly. (I might ask the black man who attended the Tea Party: Do you actually believe anyone there would have told YOU that they hate Obama because he’s black?) Yes, Obama’s policies are opposed as a matter of principle by many people, but beneath that, among many of them (not all of them), there’s a current of racism and bigotry that is undeniable.
David,
I guess your point in mentioning the “Deep South – ie the former Confederate States” is an attempt to say the only reason someone living below the Mason -Dixon line opposes President Obama is that they secretly wish for a return to pre 1865 Slavery ? I have lived in the state of Georgia for 8 years now and still have not met one person who has a family who lived in the South more than 1 prior generation. Most, like myself come from other states primarily from the North. I doubt that I could pick up the “plantation owner mentality ” that you seem to assign to everyone based upon where they now live.
Nice David. I think the discussion of racism was dreadfully shallow. I’d like to suggest that most racism doesn’t exist as vocal vehement hatred, but internalized deep-seeded prejudice that many people aren’t ready or willing to investigate in themselves. For members of the so called “tea parties” to suggest that there was no racist intent or undercurrent is so absurd I don’t know where to start except to say this: It is not the intent of your actions but how those actions are received and interpreted that matters.
If you don’t live in the U.S. your opinion has no validity, it is just an opnion. For those of us who live here – we don’t like his policy – it was HIS choice to lean on his black side and not his white – that makes no difference, he is leading us into incredible problems on every front….we are losing our freedoms – and being forced to like people or groups we don’t – that is not freedom.
@ Carol B
If you don’t live in the U.S. your opinion has no validity, it is just an opnion. How arrogant and stereotypically “American” thing to say. Of course opinions from other people in the world are valid. It’s that type of mentality that gets the US in trouble. Historically, we’ve only payed attention to our own interests. I can’t think of a major issue that is currently affecting the US that ISN’T affecting the rest of the world (Afghanistan, Iraq – did we ask what they thought before we invaded their countries?).
Carole, your attitude saddens and scares me. How can anybody force you to like “people or groups” you don’t like? If you are a racist, you can continue to be a racist, and depending on where you live, you can be very vocal about it. But this attitude of the rest of the world’s opinion not having validity, only your own…. it’s embarrassing.
“I notice the left wing wasn’t venomous to this extent when Bush was elected. Sure he was made fun of. But the degree of actual hate and how wide spread is disturbing.”
I agree.
Bush got off lightly since he was viewed with contempt by those who saw his stupidity,a fool beyond anything more .A dangerous emotional and mentally deficient abberation who was worthy of scorn who under another system would have been deposed.That he was not driven from office was a source of astonishment among my European friends The US voters were having a party cateredby Bush and Greenspan and now Obama is stuck with bill.
I do not know if this will get thru but if you remove the Black vote that went almot exclusively for Obama (and that’s not racism) the Obama would have lost.
Still he is my President and it is our sacred duty as an American to speak out when we belive his policies are wrong.
Too bad they attacked Bush personally and each and every liberal must do pennance for that.
Pennance? Is that Ebonic for penance? Each and every liberal? Once again Dan,
with which specific policies do you disagree? All those black voters are Americans and their votes count same as yours and mine.
Your on-air guests loudly and eloquently presented opinion and unsubstantiated anecdotes which really diminished an important topic, as evidenced by all the postings, above.
Obama’s current approval rating is very close to the percentage of votes by which he was elected suggesting that the people who didn’t like him as a candidate still don’t like him. His opponents are frustrated and since they can’t assail him on policy or ideology they resort to the subtle instruments of class and race. I still don’t think that most of his critics are racists, but I think that they don’t mind consorting with racists to the extent that it furthers their political agenda. Look at the lunacy that mainstream media legitimize with credulous air time: Secret Muslim, non-citizen, death panels, abdication of national sovereignty to a Copenhagen treaty, socialist, Stalinist, for crying out loud!
@Dan,
“Too bad they attacked Bush personally and each and every liberal must do pennance for that.”
Wow! Thank you for reminding me why I was so delighted and continue to be delighted to see the backside of gone along with his party, with logic and beliefs like this the Republican Party needs to remain banished to the wilderness. I’m sorry, but I find that logic very twisted.
I believe President Obama is a good man who is doing his best to fix the major problems our country faces. I went to a tea party here in Ohio just out of curiosity and I was saddened by the hatred and ignorance that I found there Conservative Republicans would like us to believe that its not about race, that their anger is because we are headed toward socialism. I don’t believe them. Where was their anger when President Bush gave close to a trillion dollars to wealthy people last fall? Obama’s desire to fix our health care system is justified. I’m an insurance agent and approximately 25% of my income comes from the sale of private health insurance.I tell my customers that they should fight for universal health care because it is both morally right and financially necessary. We cannot sustain the system that we currently have and the solutions offered by the Republicans are nothing but bandaids. I would gladly give up part of my income to see justice for my fellow Americans who are without health coverage. And to those of you who say you are happy with your current plan-just wait, your time will come, too, because the price for healthcare will soon be unsustainable for all.You are hating a man who is trying to do something good for you,but you are too blinded by something to see it. If not racism, then what is it?
Honestly, Bush was attacked much more violently. He was burned in effigy, constantly called BusHitler, there were plays about his assasination, etc. Anyone who thinks it’s worse with Obama, is either blind and deaf, or simply choosing an alternate reality. I can’t stand President Obama’s policies. He’s driving this country into socialist poverty, and I’ll fight his policies to my last breath. But race? C’mon. The race card is cheap, and it demeans real issues of racism that still exist in every country to call the dislike of the President “racist.” Unfortunately, with this kind of rhetoric, it becomes darn near impossible to call out real racism. The word has no meaning anymore.
People have a right to their opinion and have just as much say as an American citizen who lives in the USA. I voted for Mr. Obama and I live in Canada – what I say is just as much as an opinion as someone from the UK or Canada. This is after all a blog forum on the BBC which is located in London, England.
I am of an age where I can vaguely remember JFK and LBJ. I must say that the only President who I can say looked vaguely “Presidential” was George H.W. Bush(Bush 41). Perhaps it’s the cynicism that age brings, but I can see no one in the world today that is up to that considerable job. Perhaps Obama is suffering from the “over the top hope” that he engendered and a backlash against the hard realities he has faced so far, and chosen to act upon.
In listening to the broadcast this morning I heard one of the participants claim that GeorgeW. Bush suffered just as much “hate” speech from voters as has President Obama, so of course that means that the hate speech about Obama is not primarily racist.
In my experience, as a U.S. citizen and voter, over 70, and white, I started receiving hate mail and racist materials about Obama as soon as he became a viable candidate and long before he was elected president. On the other hand, I think George W. Bush only started receiving such feedback following several years in office, years of failed and unpopular policies – war in Iraq, etc.
I think it’s naive to underestimate the amount of racial prejudice against people of color in our society, and also to underestimate how some politicians, whether they themselves voice racial slurs, are more than willing to pander to the racists among us.
Obama must be viewed in the context of a US in social and political upheaval as the economy ,wars and fear are squeezing Americans and destroying the dllusion that as “Lotus Eaters” they were immune from the pain of reality.He has come to power as the Captain of near Titanic where the passengers have been are confused and miserable after years of revelry.Race may influence his critics but his youth and lack of experience are not giving the gravitas that a bewildered nation needs in this crisis.I have serious concern about his choices as advisors,Clinton ,Emmanual who may have a personal agendes..His priorities are confusing as the two greatest problems were the economy and the Bush wars in the Mid East He got side tracked on the health care reform which will balloon the deficiet and allowed a quagmire to develop in Afganistan.He has been ignored by the Isreali PM over the settlements and not closed Gitmo as promised.He created unrealisic expectations that he cannot meet.in the short time span of the Voters who seemed to want to wish away grave problems and resume their self indulgent folly.Only Hercules and Solon could resolve this Orestian riddle. He has my sympathy !
“They may joke about the Irish, whites, etc., but not one of you were every lynched. Not one of you were told you could not live some place because of your race. You were not burned alive because you were black. Your children blown up in a church. civil rights workers murdered and buried in a dam. Death threats. Showing up at any one of his venues with weapons. don’t take me for an idiot. Do not discount vapid racism in this country. ”
You do realize that whites have been lynched before. Right? The Anti Defamation League was created because Leo Frank, who was wrongfully convicted of rape and murder, and was taken out of prison by a mom, and lychned. White civil rights activists were murdered during the civil rights movement. Activists in all sorts of countries have been murdered. Not just blacks. Plenty of whites have been told they cannot live in places. Jews were deported to death camps, Germans were expelled from the Czechoslovakia, east Prussia. Synogogues have been bombed in many countries like Turkey, Tunisia, Argentina. JEws were systematically murdered, 6,000,000. Millions of Armenians were killed by the Turks. Millions of people were murdered in Cambodia, and in Russia during stalin’s purges. At the Arizona Obama rally, the person who showed up with a gun was black himself. You act like blacks have been the only oppressed group on earth.
Let’s not be obtuse, shall we? We are speaking of black and white. We are speaking of America. Period. That’s what people like you do. Evade the issue. We were made less than human by constitutional decree. I know the history. I know of Mr. Frank and the terrible wrong done to him. The irony of this is a black man could have actually killed the girl. They lynched in the west for cattle rustling, too. They lynched us for ‘looking’ at you wrong. Walking down a dark road. Whistling at a white woman. They blew up our homes. Our churches. They walked into a black home, chose a victim and took them out to do their dirt. I know the history of the holocaust. Which begs the question, why the world was in such celebration for the ‘wall’ coming down and seems to convieniently forget why it went up in the first place. Yes, the man was black and the one interviewed on CNN was white. Forget about him? How many black people have killed or tried to kill a president? This country was founded as a democracy. That is the difference from a lot of the rest. Anti-semitism is here, too, and on the rise. I thank Jews and whites like Viola Liuzzo who fought and died for my rights and I will fight for theirs, also. I do not forget who was there when we needed them most. I am not Jessie Jackson, with selective memory loss.
I still don’t buy that it is hatred. Hate is a strong word. SOME people may actually hate him but they are extremist lunatics e.g. KKK. The article as written just incites more anger. It should state something ‘why has Obama lost a lot of his support.” People are only too willing to use the word hate and racism to instill anger.
I still think Obama is doing a good job – considering all the problems he inherited. People don’t hate him and they don’t hate him just because he is black. We must use hate, racism, phobia in their correct contexts, not to either stir up the sort of angry comments we see here, or to silence anothers point of view.
It is not racism, because he got elected didn’t he. Maybe, they don’t like him because he has been backtracking on lot of issues. He is more a lame duck President than George W.
I just thought of something. I can’t seem to think of anyone in any minority, that has risen to the top of their field, that is viewed as bad because of them being in that minority. I know there are always a few that will see only race, but they are a very small, but sometimes vocal minority. People seem to focus bias on those nearer to their level.
LET’S GET ONE THING STRAIT OBAMA IS NOT BLACK. HE IS MIXED RACE AND IT IS RACIST TO CALL HIM BLACK, WHEN HE IS HALF WHITE AND HALF BLACK.
THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF OBAMA’S POLICY IS BEING SHAPED BY THE MEDIA IN AMERICA HE WHO CONTROLS THE MEDIA CONTROLS THE PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF OBAMA. AND WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE HATING HIM IT IS BECAUSE THE MEDIA HAS CREATED THIS IMAGE OF OBAMA, THE MEDIA HANGMAN ARE THE RACIST AND THEY ARE BREADING THE RASCISM.
You have a link to “I Hate”Obama” merchandise.
There others far more worrisome, even to the point of dangerous.
Search “Psalm 108.9”. Up will come numerous sites that refer to this. These groups are fervently praying for the utter demise of the President. Read a couple of other verses surrounding it; hopefully, you will be as shocked as I was.
@ Joane
But you keep on saying “people like you” and then accuse me of changing the subject. I proved you wrong. Plenty of whites have been lynched. Whites were lynched for deserting the confederate army, or for helping slaves escape. You simply are wrong. The tuskeegee institute has researched, showing an 80 year period, saying 3,000 blacks were lynched and 1300 whites were lynched during the same period.
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/shipp/lynchingsstate.html
Again, you are acting like blacks have been the only oppressed group in history. There are other groups that wish, wish they “only”had done to them what was done to the blacks, which was horrific, but blacks do not have a monopoly on being oppressed.
Also, Obama is just as white as he is black. So how can this be just black vs. white as you say? And the shows topic was about racism. Racism doesn’t exist exclusively against blacks or by whites. Did you read the washington post article about the half chinese half black girl on a TV show in china? Do you know how she was treated by the Chinese? Look it up.
Mark,
It’s race. Anyone who comes up with anything else more complicated is fooling themselves.
M-
America needs a strong leader to give them a wakeup and make hard decisions. Bush destroyed the Republicans economic credibility by spending too much. That left Hillary and Obama. Neither had much individual political or more importantly economic experience. Whoever won wasn’t going to be successful. Better candidates were available in the primaries but were overlooked because they were white males.
Were the people who opposed the previous incarnation of ObamaCare – HillaryCare – sexist? What utter slanderous nonsense some of you are peddling. This so-called Health Care Reform for which so many of you are condemning people for opposing will not only cost more than we’re spending now, but will not, in fact, cover people as promised. If any of you did your homework (don’t expect the BBC to inform you, because they are only interested in reproducing White House press releases on the subject), there could be an honest debate.
Too bad slander is the preferred method of discussion from the BBC and the Left.
It is a media insanity. I agree with a few other postersit is a small percentge of haters and the
media/foxnews brainwashed portion. I am shocked at the level of the rage .
I am not a political person but support Pres. Obama for trying sort this mess out best he or anyone can and half he inherited from the last president. Pres. Obama is one of the most reasonable and bright presidents we have had in the house for awhile.
All I have to say is people are brainwashed ad trained by the media and reality shows and to pump up the rag and make a spectacle. I quit cable tv
15 years ago and I can clearly see people being led around by sensationlistic
american media. America is also nation of haters to hate for hates sake.
Americans also tend to be vry short sighted and icapable of seeing the big picture. We are a yound nation compared to most.
I am ashamed to be an American at this time. Empty nester baby boomers still stuck in “protest everything” rage are back in the frontlines too. I am just behid that gen and know a few and they are on the on the rage train again. I have lost them to their rage. So count in a huge group of people who ned to protest for protest sake and we are in approaching the age of one ginat senior mement here.
Why do so many journalists refer to him asObama and NOT President Obama?
And the accusations have been flying that the “decision” to change mammograms is part of “Obama-care”…yeah, that makes sense, too.
I confess, there are some things that I’m disappointed that some things haven’t been accomplished. But I’m smart enough to ask why. There answers are evident, and it’s not all about spending.
On additional element to consider is the gross superficiality of the US media .which has a record of mis-information ,selective reporting and distortion .The over-paid celebrity TV types are responsible for mis-leading the guilible US public with shallow analysis and sound bite nonsense.Disappointment with Obama is real but I doubt if “hatred”is a reasonable assessment of the current mood..He is not the prototype minority having been raised in a multi-racial family ,educated in Ivy League schools and clearly has the inner fibre to transcend venal prejudice .Nevertheless , the criticism should remind him that promises made should be kept if he is to have any credibility.However if he is to accomplish anything he has to resist the pressure to compromise away his principles The world needs strong leadership to cut the Gordian knot of economic and geo-political problems.After his current PR phase he should accent his strong associates weed out the hacks and assume the role of President as too much exposure dilutes his impact.
Rephrase the question. And the answer is…racism. These people can’t stand the idea that a BLACK guy is President. Many of them wanted Hillary. So what did Obama do to appease them? Made Hillary Sec. of State.
FYI: The Sec. of State is fourth in line of succession to the Presidency. You knew somebody would work the Hillary in 2012 angle into this.
I thought all the hype, expectation and build up in the beginning would come back to bite him. Now he is having to back step on a lot of stuff and it’s dissapointing people. Oh well, he let it happen, he could have helped keep people grounded but he started believing his own press.
Just shows the fine line between love and hate. Fine as the edge of a dollar bill. LOL
I can say as an American that in FB discussions, etc. I see levels of sheer hatred and vitriol directed against Obama, his policies and the entire left-of-center agenda of an intensity that I never saw in relation to Bush. Whether it is racism or not may be immaterial: it is there, it is deeply coarsening the fabric of American life, and it is deeply disturbing. I fear for the future of our nation.
Like with militant Islam, it’s only a tiny minority of Muslims. And I think with hatred of Obama, only a tiny minority of it has to do with his race, the m ajority of it has to do with his far left policies which don’t go down in the US the same as they do in europe.
I’m American Hawaiian, I don’t like OBAMA no because he’s black is because he is anti-American have no respect for the constitution he’s working for his own piece of history. His priority’s are for the world not for American’s yes!! health care is a huge problem in America but frist you clear America from ILLEGALS that abusing and using the services that belong to American’s they working and American’s not.so please give a break!!! he play so good the race card since he come in power.
He’s black and he’s the most powerful man in the world…need any more reasons? 😛