Proving that the left cannot tell the difference between "racism" and "criticism," the AP posted a lengthy March 30 story confusing and conflating the two as it pertains to attacks on President Obama. As far as the AP is concerned it seems the whole country is running around with burning crosses and wearing pointy hoods aiming to cast racial epithets at Obama at every turn. It may as well still be the year 1860 around here.
The AP starts its piece by informing the reader that "racial slurs continue" against the president "despite" his "historic achievement." But the main problem with the piece is that much of the report details political attacks that aren't really racial in nature but are instead just those normal sorts of political attacks we see against any president. Granted they are tailored for Obama (like his citizenship and religion questions) but they aren't really "racial" attacks per se. Still, the AP illegitimately lumps any and all attacks against Obama under the rubric of "racial slurs."
Initially the AP approaches assumption instead of relating fact in the interpretation of the very first example it lists in its second paragraph.
In Obama's first two months in office, a New York tabloid took heat over a cartoon appearing to portray the president as a monkey; a California mayor resigned after distributing a picture of watermelons on the White House lawn; and an e-mail making the rounds refers to Obama as "the magic mulatto," with exaggerated ears and nose.
That political cartoon the AP mentions WAS NOT a portrayal of President Obama. It was a riff on the chimp attack that had been in the news that week. It had no intention of portraying the president as a monkey. An overreaction by race-baiters does not automatically equate to racist intent on the part of the original source.
Then the Obama birth certificate question is branded as an "untruth" despite that it hasn't really successfully been debunked.
Disproved and disputed claims about his religion and citizenship, namely untruths that Obama is a Muslim and isn't U.S.-born, zip across chat rooms and dominate the blogosphere. Fringe critics largely are responsible for perpetuating the lies, but even elected officials have raised them.
What ever you believe about Obama's country of birth and its importance to his election, it cannot be said that it has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was born in Hawaii. The question remains murky because an original certificate of live birth has never been made public. Still, that issue is beside the point here because the AP conflates the birthplace question with racism when it has nothing at all to do with race.
Here is the AP's central thesis for this piece:
All that underscores how the accomplishment of one man who broke the highest racial barrier hasn't entirely changed the dynamic of a country founded by slave owners. It also shows how far the nation has to go to bridge its centuries-old racial divide.
"All that" underscores the race conflicts in this country? All what? Thus far in the piece the AP only gave two examples of actual racism with the rest being political attacks that aren't necessarily racist at heart. The religion question has little to do with racism -- after all, we are at war with radical Islam -- and neither does the birthplace question. But the AP persists in its own fallacious conflation.
In truth, Obama probably will continue to be dogged to some degree by entrenched stereotypes and viral fallacies.
Now we are talking about "entrenched stereotypes" and "viral fallacies" from the Internet. Notice how they lump the two together, notice this conflation? The AP is quite misleading, though, because a "viral fallacy" is not necessarily race based. Sure they can be race based, but viral Internet rumors aren't by nature racial attacks. Every single political candidate out there is a victim of these Internet fallacies at some point in their candidacy or career. Heck, there are even Internet attack sites built to attack me, for Heaven's sake. Clearly the AP is saying that every political detraction cast at Obama is racism.
Here is another amusing sleight of hand indulged in by this AP article:
"There's certainly no lessening of racially charged barbs aimed at the president," said Anita L. Allen, a University of Pennsylvania law school professor who has studied race relations for years. "In fact there may be more, some vicious and cruel by his enemies and some distasteful and playful by his friends."
Ah, I see. So "friends" are only engaging in "playful" racial slurs, huh? But wait, isn't it taken for granted by race-baiters that any racial slur is a vicious attack? Yet, here the AP is giving their lefty friends a break by grading their racial slurs as a lower, less important brand of slur. It makes me wonder when is it that we are supposed to get mad at a racial slur? Should it only cause outrage when the president's enemies indulge in racial epithets? Should we just smile and ignore it when "friends" of the president engage in that "playful" brand of racial epithet?
Gosh, fellas, I am confused. Are racial slurs bad or not?
I must say that the AP did, at least, seem to belatedly realize that the "far left" unduly attacked George W. Bush while in office. That is some progress toward balanced reporting, anyway.
Overt and subtle attacks on Obama's race, religion and patriotism -- true or not -- are certain. Some opponents on the far right try to undercut his presidency, much as the ultra left attempted with George W. Bush.
But, here is the thing: presidents get attacked. Often with innuendo and slurs on character that are half truths or outright lies. Bush was called a "privileged white boy" by many on the left. Should we rail about that "racial" slur? It would be silly to do so.
Unfortunately for the AP's race-based thesis, a large portion of the examples it presents as "racial" are simply political attacks that have little or nothing to do with race and everything to do with undermining Obama's administration on a political basis alone.
Finally, there is no question that many people will attack Obama based solely on his black heritage. But it is just as sure that many blacks attack white politicians just because they are white. In fact, individual attacks, while annoying, are not meaningful when stacked up against the prevailing cultural conditions and freedoms enjoyed by blacks in America today.
One can always find a racist somewhere, we all know (I'd point to Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Jeremiah Wright and their ilk as examples). But how a minority is treated in society as a whole is far more germane to conditions of racism than what individuals do. Blacks hold the highest offices in education, entertainment, business, and government. Middle class blacks are many and numerous and growing. The law sees no difference between the races. These are the facts that makes stupid racial FaceBook comments by a "police detective in Harrison, N.Y." irrelevant. These are the facts that makes the AP's little attempt to keep whites and blacks at each other's throats quite illegitimate.
But one thing that might be said of this piece. It is quite successful for making excuses for the Obammessiah and for trying to drum up sympathy for the president. It's easy to assume that this was the goal all along.
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Comments Policy
Generation gap
March 31, 2009 - 03:14 ET by chaosmongerWhen the election was over, my mother and father-in-law (both democrats and 75 yrs. old) were patting themselves on the back for voting for the first black president. I told them that race is not an issue with my generation (I am 38) for we pretty much grew up without all of the old, dirty racism that they did and when I look at Obama I don't see his skin, I see a man I didn't want as president.
After telling them this, they both looked at me and for the first time had nothing to say.
I am so sick of the race card in this day and age and it is odd that when it is mentioned it is mostly from the left. Not once in my circle of friends, whom cover all spectums of the political landscape have ever mentioned race during the election. I understand where the older generation is coming from, but it isn't the 50's anymore.
Did AP mention this was an OP-ED?
The AP is RACIST. There I
March 31, 2009 - 03:54 ET by Jack BauerThe AP is RACIST. There I said it.
And here's why. Senator McCain had HIS citizenship and place of birth questioned and scrutinized. Last year and in 2000. Many times. It even became an issue in Congress.
Governor Palin had her (and still has) her religion vilified, mocked and slandered. Many times.
But they are WHITE. No problem then.
However, when the same standard is applied to Obama (whether legitimate or not) that suddenly becomes unacceptable. So what's the difference? Well, stating the bleedin' obvious, he's black.
So the AP applies a discriminatory (lower) standard to a member of another race. In any book, that's Institutional RACISM.
In fact, it's classic racism of the worst paternalistic kind, as it assumes that a black person should be offered a lower standard of political scrutiny.
Therfore the "white man" as exemplified by the AP has to "protect" the black man, as he is incapable of standing up to the same level of political heat as a white person.
Spot on and very well said.
March 31, 2009 - 07:53 ET by SeashellSpot on and very well said.
Therfore the "white man" as
March 31, 2009 - 08:06 ET by motherbeltTherfore the "white man" as exemplified by the AP has to "protect" the
black man, as he is incapable of standing up to the same level of
political heat as a white person.
Damn skippy!
George W. Bush called that "the soft bigotry of low expectations."
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
This from the
March 31, 2009 - 04:03 ET by MidAmericaThis from the article:
Exit polls from the election between Obama and Republican John McCain, who is white, found that 19 percent of all voters and 17 percent of white voters said the race of the candidates was a factor in how they voted. Of those whites, nearly two in three voted for McCain.
17 per cer cent of white voters and 19 per cent of all voters said race was a factor in their voting choice. hhmmm... since the overall voter per centage was higher than those of just white people that means there was a larger group of non-white voters voting based on race that brought the overall percentage up higher than simply white voters. Gee... what non-white racial group could that be that thought voting acording to race was very important?
The left isn't angry that
March 31, 2009 - 04:07 ET by SlicksterThe left isn't angry that they are racist, they're angry because the remarks are right. Still waiting for the magic negro to perform something more than cheap parlor tricks.
"Proving that the left
March 31, 2009 - 04:48 ET by notonmywatch"Proving that the left cannot tell the difference between "racism" and "criticism,""
Yes they can Warner; you know they can. You know they intentionally try & blur the line.
Pieces here have been watered down since Olbermann's "right wing" attack, which is exactly what he was trying to achieve. Don't think watering comments down will stop the attacks. The attacks are not based on reality. By watering things down you just enable them to get away with this stuff again & again.
What are you talking
March 31, 2009 - 07:17 ET by motherbeltWhat are you talking about???????
I haven't seen any "watering down."
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
This is new?
March 31, 2009 - 05:03 ET by DragonsbreathI think it has been this way since before the election. All I would hear was if you did not like the One or say anything against him you are racist.
They just do not want to hear the truth or hear free speech.
Proof Obama is not Jesus. Jesus could actually build a cabinet
Dragonsbreath...
March 31, 2009 - 08:49 ET by Georgia GirlLOL.
Well said!
Another Distraction
March 31, 2009 - 05:19 ET by FranksamBHO is running out of time to achieve his goal of socializing our country. His cohorts will continue to invent distractions like this and the AIG bonus 'scandal'. Magicians call it 'sleight of hand'.
>>>a country founded by
March 31, 2009 - 06:40 ET by seanrobins>>>a country founded by slave owners
This is the most preposterous bit of the article.... "founded by slave owners"? I don't think so. At least not for the major part. Were the first western settlers slave owners? Just whom does the AP believe "founded" this nation? The founding fathers? Sure some were, but many weren't. Many who did,were among the first to set theis free, to denounce slavery, and to fight against it. But to dismiss the entire nation as simply one "founded by slave owners" is nothing more than the usual AP anti-American slam.
sean robins
blog.seanrobins.com
slaves
March 31, 2009 - 08:15 ET by DontFeedTheTrolls>>>a country founded by slave owners
I noticed that too, a deliberate slur or sheer lack of knowledge. If I remember my history correctly, the Founding Fathers (as you stated, many of whom were NOT slave traders) fought bitterly over how slavery should be treated in the founding documents.
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
World Slavery
March 31, 2009 - 08:43 ET by AgnosticSomebody needs to do a comprehensive book on the history of slavery in the world. I have done much reading of history from a self-described socialist in Will Durant and even he chronicals slavery to the earliest African cities and a major part of African history prior to the white man. This 'white man's burden' crap has merits only so far as racism still exists in the individual and their guilt is not mine. Those who feel guilt need to figure out why they hold racist views and learn to treat and think of all people as equal and their guilt will diminish.
BTW, the American Indians might have a few things to say about abuse in the United States. In fact one of the chiefs that entered into negotiations with the US pointed out a problem with dealing with the American Government that we still face right now, you only deal with the president who is now and in a few years who knows whether the government will honor its promises or deal in a fair manner the treaties once signed in good faith.
A person may be won over with logic and reason but the masses must be bought with spectacle and platitudes. - 2008 Elections
Yeah, it's an interesting remark....
March 31, 2009 - 08:41 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnsonobama is 3/8ths Arab (noted slave traders), 1/8th African Black (may have raided other tribes and sold themto the Arabs),
4/8ths evil Caucasian (well known for buying and selling slaves)
So, to shorten that down a little, obamas entire ancestry was responsible for the sheer number of descendants of slaves in this country.
But they voted in lockstep for the color of his skin.
He is NOT a descendant of slaves, he has no history of living in ghettos or the discrimination from his early years throught 8th grade when he was educated in countries known to be unfriendly to the United States.
But, it is solely the color of his skin that caused so many minorities to vote for him.
I voted against him strictly because I did not knowwho was writing the words that appeared on the teleprompter, and THAT is the person that was running for president.
I can't be a racist because I don't know the race of that person.
http://gjresult.com
"This is the most
March 31, 2009 - 08:42 ET by ckc1227"This is the most preposterous bit of the article.... "founded by slave owners"?"
Not only that, but there's the implication that America is the only nation that engaged in slavery.Why is it that America is the only nation struggling to overcome its "centuries old racial divide"?
Wow. No one saw this
March 31, 2009 - 07:15 ET by motherbeltWow. No one saw this coming, right?
\sarc
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Camps
March 31, 2009 - 07:18 ET by nadadhimmiDems and news medis(the same entity) feel that resistance to socialism is "racist" and therefore must be punished to exalt the great leader. In fact, the re-education camps appear to be just around the corner. Criticizers of kind leader must be re-educated to the new, glorious socialist norm for their own good. We must not allow them to abuse themselves by refusing to accept the light from the savior. For their own good you understand they must be forced to worship the great one. The next train to the Gulag leaves in 5 minutes. (sarc off)
Liberal Are Racists
March 31, 2009 - 07:43 ET by The Smokin FrogThe most racist person in a long time to appear is Obama. He was he only one bringing race into the campaign and apparently it worked well for him. Racial slurs are the only thing I'm not hearing, except from liberals. I am getting the impression they think Obama is incompetent so they must keep protecting him. I do believe liberals are serious racists. They are the only ones that think Black people can't make it on their own. Conservatives don't agree with that, it's racism. The AP is racist, they look down on Black people.
And of course the input is, that racism is the only sin there is. Really? Get rid of this sin and you'll uncover a boogyman you won't recognize in the mirror. Obama is a sinner just like everyone else and a racist one at that. I too would point to Jackson, Sharpton and Wright for examples of racism. And the majority of the Black community follow these blood suckers. So who's the racist?
I say keep criticizing him and make him prove his competence and love for this American Republic just like everyone else. That would show no racism.
I see that Angie Harmon is
March 31, 2009 - 07:45 ET by WolfremI see that Angie Harmon is tired of the race card issue. Spotted this on Drudge this morning.
"Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." - George Santayana
"So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause." - Padme, Star Wars 3
Saw Angie, too...
March 31, 2009 - 08:53 ET by Georgia GirlI saw her comment the other day as well. I think she pretty well sums it up for those of us who feel like this "PC" stuff has gone so far that we have no ability to speak thoughtfully and critically anymore -- it's called analytical thought, Lefties! It's truly unfair. The race card is being played so much because it works for the Left to try to shut up any opposition, and it's become ridiculous.
Same old same old.
March 31, 2009 - 07:56 ET by general companyThis is the obligatory article that vilifies his critics and glosses over reality. The epitome of old media today.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Break it Down
March 31, 2009 - 07:58 ET by rightwingidiotUh, um, duh, um, (just a sec, I'm having an Obeyme off-prompter moment), uh, uh, uh, duh, uh, does anyone remember what percentage of blacks voted for Obeyme? Like 90%+.
Given the fact the Obeyme won the election, doesn't that mean that a whole bunch of white folks (whiteys as we are generally referred to in the Obeymenation) had to vote for him?
So, who are the racists?
I didn't vote for Obeyme because he's half-black. I didn't vote for him because he's a lying sack of crap socialist terd.
RWI...
March 31, 2009 - 11:44 ET by Georgia GirlOK, that is just the funniest one yet -- "Obeyme." Very clever. Thanks for making my day. It says it all!
No confusion there
March 31, 2009 - 08:02 ET by Blogger Guy00001There is no confusion. They know what they are doing. In the distorted mind of a liberal, anything that a person of color does is all-right, even if it's violent, racist, hateful, or stupid.
In the distorted mind of a
March 31, 2009 - 08:12 ET by SeashellIn the distorted mind of a liberal, anything that a person of color
does is all-right, even if it's violent, racist, hateful, or stupid.
Rap music is a prime example of that.
and if you
March 31, 2009 - 08:42 ET by Arelcall them out you are labeled a racist. Amazing how that works isn't it?
obama and racism
March 31, 2009 - 08:09 ET by rowdygirlIt's been pretty obvious for awhile now that anyone who has criticism for the president is going to be considered a racist. What's surprised me is when it comes from a black person, it's being ignored. This just proves again that racism is only considered wrong when it is coming (or perceived to be coming) from a white person to a black person. Racism is wrong in all forms, no matter what. I'm white and I don't like Obama and I didn't vote for him. Guess what? It has NOTHING to do with his color. His arrogance, pro-choice stand, elitist attitude and his socialist leanings are the reason I dislike him.
This is supposed to be America, where you can speak your mind and not be censored. Yeah, right..... If George W. had done even a 1/4 of the things that Obama has done in only 2 months, he would be hanging on the White House lawn. The next 4 years are going to be scary simply because no one will want to stop him, no matter what he does. They will be afraid to be seen as racist. I guess that means he has free rein to preside as he wishes. Simply because he's a black man. Wow... he must be so proud.
The Ap is not confusing anything....
March 31, 2009 - 08:32 ET by MortimerThe writters and staff at the AP are not confusing racism with criticism. The Ap and many other outlets in the "news" are tooling up, and/or just maintaining thier inventory of tools in an attempt to silence the critics.
This news piece was more of a 'keep it up-front' type article than anything else. If the left allows anyone to be critical without pouncing, they may not get the payback they expect.
We the people are the forth branch of government, and if they can silence us with such a cheap and easy tool then we may surely be doomed.
As time passes newer and better tools will be used to hide facts. Unfortunatly these newer tools will be much more harmful when used. The threat of jail, or other even more severe means will soon follow. Yelling racist will only serve for a short time, once that tool is worn out, one of the newer stronger tools will be deployed.
A man should be upright, not be kept upright - Marcus Aurelius
A P
March 31, 2009 - 09:27 ET by jessieHJessie R. Hamby I guess i am a racist. I think Clinton was an ass, Kennedy was a joke, Carter was a nut, Nixon was not a crook, & Obama is clueless. I think what I want & say what I want. Why? I live in a free country. I have the right to speak my mind. Call me what you want. I think Obama will destroy this country. I don't give a rat's ass what color he is. I think he, along with Frank, Pelosi, Reid, & Dodd should be in prison for treason.
Reparations Coming
March 31, 2009 - 09:54 ET by slickwillie2001By the way, I expect that reparations are on the Affirmative Action President's list of things to do. There's a resolution in the House to create a partisan commission to study slavery, which some suspect will lay the groundwork for reparations. Ref: Reparations
I expect we will be in the reparations battle just in time for black history month of 2010. Even if, God forbid, we fall for this, that won't end the race huckster industry. There's too many people that depend on it for their livelihood.
racial slurs
March 31, 2009 - 10:20 ET by jessieHJessie R. Hamby Does any one remember their history lessons from school? Egypt enslaved everyone. Africa enslaved the Dutch. Germany enslaved the Jewish people. I have never enslaved anyone. How can I be a racist? You don't have to be black to be a race. I belong to the race of human beings. How long are the blacks going to milk this? I don't riot & steal, just because some white guy got beat by the cops. How about just forget about the slurs toward the non white race. CRACKER, HONKY & many more have been laid on me! Isn't that racist? I don't call mexicans wetbacks. Who are these people who go around giving racial slurs toward the blacks? Would it stop if we killed them all? GROW UP & STOP WHINING ABOUT THE PAST! NOT ONE PERSON ALIVE IN THE U.S. HAS EVER OWNED ANOTHER PERSON, WITH THE EXEPTION OF THE GOVT.....................How can we expect the congress to live without the mexican gardeners & cooks? They can't do these simple tasks. They are inept.
Liberals Hate Individual Citizens
March 31, 2009 - 11:34 ET by Retired GeekComrades! We must abolish the cult of the individual decisively, once and for all." -- Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev, addressing the 20th Congress of the Soviet Communist Party, 2-25-56
"The unity of a nation's spirit and will are worth far more than the freedom of the spirit and will of an individual; and that the higher interests involved in the life of the whole must here set the limits and lay down the duties of the interests of the individual." -- Adolph Hitler
"We need to stop worrying about the rights of the individual and start worrying about what is best for society." -- Hillary Clinton
"...we understand only the individual's capacity to make sacrifices for the community, for his fellow men." -- Adolf Hitler, 10-7-33
"We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good." -- Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, June 28, 2004.
"To be a socialist is to submit the I to the thou; socialism is sacrificing the individual to the whole." -- Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, National Socialist German Workers' ("Nazi") Party
"...true patriotism also means a willingness to sacrifice for our common good..."
Barack Obama July 6, 2008
The AP isn't confusing
March 31, 2009 - 12:37 ET by celatorThe AP isn't confusing racial slurs with criticism. The are defining criticism as racial slurs, as ordered by Emmanuel.
No citizen's right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, or property is safe as long as Obama is President of the United States.
Truth
March 31, 2009 - 15:22 ET by old1This is not about RACE! It's about country of origin. BHO Sr. was a British Citizen, Under British Common Law if he married a alien female (Stanley Ann Dunham) and they had children, those children under British Common Law would be a British Citizen at birth just like their British Father. The only thing American Law could add to this would be to cause BHO Jr. to hold the title Dual Citizen. Being a British Citizen or a Dual Citizen, BHO Jr. can not be considered a Natural Born American Citizen. Look up John Jay's letter to George Washington, John was instrumental in adding the requirement of being Natural Born to our Great Constitution as a requirement of both President and Vice President. Forget the Birth Certificate, the Certificate of Live Birth, and the place BHO Jr. was born. Being born a British Citizen he is not now, nor was he ever, a Natural Born American Citizen. An interesting question is; Is he even an American Citizen as he occupies the Oval Office this very day?