We need to call it what it is: overt racism

[kentuck]

We cannot surrender to those people that think the President is trying to brainwash or propagandize their children. They are racists, plain and simple. We have to confront them. There is nothing else we can call it.

They never complained when the first President Bush warned school children about drugs. Even George W Bush was reading "My Pet Goat" in front of school children when the events of 9/11 occurred. This is not the first time the President has tried to give guidance to school children. It is not a bad thing. It is good.

But these knuckle-dragging, red-necked racists must be called on the carpet for what they are. We can not and we will not accept such tactics. It is dangerous rhetoric that must be stopped. Racism will not win. We know their numbers. We know their leaders. And we know their Party.

[horseshoecrab]

1. Absolutely

You're right kentuck.

Last night on various tv (MSNBC) shows I heard people complaining that they won't let "some politician" propagandize their children. I think we can safely say that calling the President of the US "some politician" is an attempt to minimize what the man is doing for a living now.

They SO wish that he wasn't there and that's the truth of the matter. Their abject hatred is pretty transparent. They can dress it up anyway they want -- it is racism.

These outbursts of hate are taking a toll on our national dialogue, I fear. You're right, we must not surrender.


horseshoecrab

[Hadrian312]

7. The boy who cried wolf

So does this mean that everyone who disagreed with Condoleeza Rice's stupidity is also a racist? There are plenty of real racists in this country....labelling anyone who disagrees with someone of a different race as "a racist" is a dangerous precedent to set.

[scheming daemons]

11. No.. not everyone.... but these teabaggers protesting the school message are

[intheflow]

12. Seeking to censor the President of the United States

from speaking to school children seems racist, yes, considering these same people had no problem with Bush reading "My Pet Goat" to schoolchildren while the Twin Towers were burning and collapsing.

[Strong Atheist]

13. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[quiet.american]

15. True enough, however, it's not about disagreement. That's why it smells of racism.

What parent could disagree with their children being encouraged to study and excel by a person of high achievement?

At best, these parents' objections are based on malignant delusion -- they're objecting on their wholly invented grounds that Pres. Obama is seeking to indoctrinate their children with socialism.

At worst, it is blatant racism -- wanting to deny the rightful President of the United States the respect he deserves simply because of his race.

I believe a bit of both is at play here.

[bushisanidiot]

16. Repukes who are pulling their kids out of school because they

don't want them to hear the President of the United States speak to them are complete idiots.
They expect to send their kids to public schools, but they don't want to pay taxes to fund those schools, or the teachers, or use of the busses, or the fire department, or the police station, or the bridge/highway builders, or the social security and medicare workers.
No. They want it all for free and at the same time rant and rave that President Obama is a "socialist", or a muslim, or not born in the United States, or whatever crazy thing that pops into their puny brains.

They can't stand that they LOST THE ELECTION and that the President of the United States of America is a black man. They can't stand that the First Lady of the United States is a black woman. And they can't stand that the children playing in the oval office are black children. The race of the President and the First Family is the major reason why the wingnuts hate him and they don't want their little white children listening to a word he says.

[jasi2006]

26. There 'ya go, trying to reframe the issue to suit your position.

Wake up people, it's the old re-frame, re-name, divert attention tactic. Condi has nothing to do with the OP's post. Not even close.

[MichiganVote]

28. Have you even read the comments of these racists? No, didn't think so.

[MajorChode]

2. I'm not sure it's all that smart to pull the racism card for every attack on Obama

Now that doesn't mean Jim Greer is or isn't a racist. I suspect strongly that he is, but you can't really derive that from his latest comments alone.

I think his comments are best described as moronic. Even though racism and stupidity pretty much go hand in hand, they aren't synonymous.

Calling every attack on Obama racist does not serve the cause of race relations in this country, and I highly doubt if Obama himself would support such an accusation based on Greer's comments.

[ensho]

3. this attack is racist

nt

[On the Road]

5. Perhaps it *Is* Racist

for a lot of the critics of the speech. But all anyone has to ask is "can you substantiate that?" It makes you end up the person making unfounded accusations.

Much better to address the idiotic point on the basis that it was made rather than something that you attribute it to that can't be shown.

[MajorChode]

9. Exactly

The GOPhers were saying the same kind of mindless shit when Clinton was president. Everything Clinton did or said was "socialist". It didn't matter that he did or said or even if there was or wasn't anything resembling an analytical method to draw such a conclusion. In their small minds they were convinced he was a "socialist", therefore everything he said or did had to be "socialism".

Even though Bush's policies were much closer to fascism than any Democratic Party president has been to socialism, you still didn't see too many Democratic Party officials accusing Bush of being a fascist. In that regard(and others) the Democratic Party is head and shoulders above the GOPhers.

I don't think it serves any purpose to assume that everything a GOPher says or does is racism, even though there's a pretty good chance they are a racist. Throwing around such labels without a clear basis just destroys any chance of reasonable public discourse. I don't really want to waller around in the same mud pit the GOPhers are in.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. Concur

n/t

[reflection]

17. You're right.

Even when it is racism, you have to engage these people and let them walk right into their own trap.

Point out the inconsistencies in their stances between what they accepted from a white President and what they will not accept from a black President, until they paint themselves into a corner.

Then nail them.

[spanone]

4. i'm so proud of these people passing on their racism to their children...a fine heritage

:sarcasm:

[OllieLotte]

6. It isn't racism. They are afraid of what he might say.

It's a bit different that he wants to make a speech like this. That's all. Everyone can judge the talk after he gives it. He should stay on topics that everyone pretty much agrees with that are relevant to schoolchildren. Stay in school, get exercise, eat healthy etc. He should do fine and the naysayers will look like Chicken Little after it is over.

[horseshoecrab]

8. So, do you suspect

that he won't stick to topics that are relevant to schoolchildren?

Certainly those who are so against this don't think that he'll stick to relevant topics. I wonder why.

BTW, I don't see what's so different about it. The man is the father of two daughters in elementary school. I don't find it at all surprising that he's doing this.


horseshoecrab

[OllieLotte]

22. I think it is a good opportunity to send a positive message.

I think he should be as careful as possible to avoid even the slightest appearance of any political partisanship, which I expect that he will do. I'm surprised that this hasn't been done before, to be honest with you.

[MichiganVote]

27. Baloney. Its racism and they made up their minds the day he was elected.

[countingbluecars]

14. It is racism.

The public school system has failed many minority students. The first African American President of the United States wants to speak to students about working hard and staying in school. Those that oppose this speech are denying all students, but especially minority students, an invaluable
lesson.

[hfojvt]

18. not meatloaf, again

Apparently we always need to call racism. It's our favorite tactic - insult the voters.

Accoding to an article I read this morning some Democrats did complain when Bush Sr. spoke to the kids. I don't remember a huge furor though, but I probably didn't have a TV at the time and I certainly didn't have the internet.

edit: as for a school visit, there have not been lots of complaints when Obama did it.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8625312&mesg_id=8625818

[SammyWinstonJack]

20. +1 nt

[Cleita]

19. Yes, it's very obvious that this is what it is and it's really coming from a

minority of jackasses, who unfortunately are in power and can own the bully pulpit. A majority ordinary Americans elected Obama President so we know it's a minority of Xenophobic RWingers who are doing this.

[librechik]

21. oh yeah

fearmongering racists made us stand and salute their militaristic fuckhead prestender, but now they want to pretend Obama's NOT "THEIR" president????!!!

you bet it's racism--and the kids who are being exploited by their pea-brained parents are the ones who will suffer.

[kentuck]

23. I do not say that everyone that disagrees with the President is a racist.

But this is not just about "disagreement". They think the black President is going to propagandize their children. They think he is going to persuade them to become socialists. They don't want their children to listen to the President of the United States! I can think of no other word to describe them except "racists". Sorry.

[elleng]

24. Its an opty for cons/reps to work on their numbers;

they win 'awards' for p.r.

[Scruffy1]

25. Really?

If you haven't figured this one out by now I would love to visit your planet. How else can you explain 45% of the voters voting for an old incompetent whore with a whack job one heart beat away from having her hand on the nuclear button.
I was at a town hall in my Billionaires for Wealthcare outfit and never met as many ignorant whackos in my whole life. I asked one if he protested when Bush handed out the trillions to the rich out of our treasury, etc. He kept giving the answer that he wasn't aware then. I finally left him with the comment that "you got satori when a black man got in office." Holy shit-I heard that our money was illegal-the old Posse Comitatus rant which was deeply tied up in anti-semitism and racism. Every kind of ignorant babble there is. Not one word about Insurance Companies or anything relevant. These ignorant peckerwoods
couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the directions were printed on the heel. It's pointless to even talk to them-I was just doing some fun street theater. They were born in a cave and will die in one.
We need to spend less time worrying about them and more time pushing on Congress. They may have the media but we got feet on the ground and lots more votes.