Last year, when an overwhelming number of Americans voted to put Barack Obama into the Presidency, the pundits praised the election as an example of how America has moved beyond the racism of the past.
Obama stormed into office with overwhelming approval numbers but -- as past Presidents learned all too quickly -- approval can be a fleeting thing and his popularity waned as his mistakes and missteps increased.
No President in recent history has fallen so far so fast. With his job approval rating hovering just above the dreaded 50 percent mark, more and more Americans wonder if the agent of change they thought they elected isn't just a lackluster political hack.
This, of course, doesn't sit will with die-hard Obamacons, so they drag out the race card to explain why their guy has become mortal.
It's just racism, they cry. Too many Americans dislike Obama because he's black.
Hogwash. An increasing number of Americans distrust Obama and question his actions because he has backtracked on too many promises, told too many lies and proven to be just another opportunistic politician.
South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's inappropriate shouting of "you lie" from the well of the House during Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress last week was an unacceptable breach of Congressional decorum.
But Obama was lying when he claimed none of the health care reform bills under consideration would give government-paid health care to illegal immigrants. The language was vague enough to allow immigrants to get health care and Democrats scrambled after the speech to change that language.
The false claim about immigrants is not the first lie to spill from Obama's lips like so much political diarrhea. It's just the latest example and there will be more.
Barack Obama is not a bad President because he is black. He's a bad President because he's just another political con artist who will say anything to get elected and then morph into a President with a hidden agenda.
Obama is a hard-core liberal who sees big government as a cure for all ills. He benefited from a Republican party who let George W Bush and Dick Cheney run amuck for eight years and then offered up John McCain and Sarah Palin as replacements but he was -- like most candidates for President -- the lesser of the evils on election day.
It's not racism that will kill the Obama Presidency. It will be his own stupidity. If he continues on his present course, he will join other Presidential failures in the dustbin of history.
That's not racism. It's called political reality.
Technorati Tags: 
Well it's a no-brainer really.
After all, why would so many people NOT be racist when they voted for him and then suddenly turn racist when he becomes prez? It doesn't make sense. Racists wouldn't have voted for him in the first place - unless their dislike for Bush was more intense than their in-built racist feelings. Which could happen I suppose....
Anyway, it's pretty much irrelevant because the main reason most people voted for Obama was because he wasn't Bush and wasn't Republican. Plus, of course, the people yet again actually believed a politician's pre-election promises - which as we all know are no more sincere than a teenage boy telling the girl he has the hots for that he loves her! When will we learn? The lust for power is as powerful as sexual lust but with far more dangerous results. And politicians want that power so much.
But there is another theory, and that is that Obama actually meant everything he said with the utmost sincerity - but then he was 'got at' by shadowy 'others' after he got in to power. And right now, that's what I think happened...
Does anybody think that there are more racists now than prior to the election of Obama?
Or is the racial climate created by media to push reader and viewership numbers higher? I would have to assume that media, in all forms, have to deal with economic setbacks like many other industry...and this is a period where they're not collecting billions from political ads.
Or is it possible that many who voted for Obama are simply pissed because he didn't turn out to be the second coming of Jesus and perform miracles and/or lack of meeting election promises such as cleaning up the mess that's been created the relationship between our government by special interest?
One Observation:
The odd thing is...most of Obama's campaign promises were made over the course of nearly two years prior to the crash of the financial and market institutions. There were a completely different set of social issues that existed up until around the date of the Democratic Convention. So, the Jesus like expectations by the voters turned out to be not enough...Obama needed to have even more power than Jesus to begin to take on issues that hit just 3 or less months prior to election day. And then comes the witnessing of his performance and methods of dealing with it all. He already had over 60 million voters who opposed him being elected...so add all of the other potential burdens...and I think the ante of staying in the game went up a hundred fold. So, the overall appearance seems to be that his abilities can't override the electorate and political oppositions...and the super serious social issues at the same time.
Or is it possible that with the state of our financial and economic chaos that's occurred over the past year that any person in the presidency would be under incredible pressure and criticism by angry citizens that aren't usually as vocal or visible when social issues are less crtical? There's serious situations going on across the nation with millions who have found themselves insolvent in a matter of months and are forced to make drastic lifestyle changes.
Or could it be all of the above?
I believe that if McCain were president, in my opinion...he'd be shutdown, incapable of managing the humongous challenges imposed on a sitting president over the past year. Obama is in conflict with his own party members, which a fair number are battling against his attempts to create or implement his policies. Can you imagine what it would be like for a Republican president with the house and senate majorities as they exist today? What would be the climate for McCain. Would he be considered a dribbling, babbling geriatric president who is seen to be mentally unfit, and who needs to be in a nursing home? My guess would be, "yes".
When it comes to politics, there's all types of bigots who rear their ugly heads and attempt to make life miserable for any elected official, regardless of their post, performance, or public persona.
I sure as hell wouldn't want the job of president. Egos are usually really huge with those who seek the presidency, but in the November 2008 election, I wonder how many that ran and failed to win the presidency was elated given the circumstances. _________________________
SUPPORT A GOVERNMENT FOR AND BY THE PEOPLE
Traveling At the Speed of Life
Thanks Yall - Gregg
I don't know if Wilson is a racist but what he did was wrong! Gregg's post is excellent and covers all the basis. I posted here several times, during the two years BEFORE the '08 election that no matter who the next President would be, they would not and could not solve all of the problems. The problems created during the Bush/Cheney reign were so enormous and rampant, that it would take several more elections and many administrations to clean up the messes being left behind. (the financial melt down included though hidden at the time)
Well folks, here we are now, 10 months after the '08 elections dealing with the messes the way we do best
..furious with the new president and seemingly surprised that he had no magic wand to wave.
All of you who think you have all the answers, let me just say..."You don't" nor,do you know all the problems. I don't know if Obama will turn out to have been a good president, that will take years to determine. What I do know is that there is no one who has a magic wand...and in the end, they too would have only thoughts, hopes, and promises and a disillusioned, furious public to deal with!
Things to ponder....
"You can't sprint your way through a marathon and expect to finish the race"
"Rome wasn't built in a day"
Nice post Judy. This takeover by one party over the other reminded me of the CERN accelerator where two atoms hit and we had no idea if we would all end up in a black hole. No compromise has been seen between either side and anything done by one side would never be accepted by t'other. President Obama has shown a remarkable leadership and the GOP is fading fast. I am thrilled to be able to discuss this mess at CHB where intelligence rules the waves.
Sandy
Hi Sandra Price,
It's nice hearing from you again. I thought you might have had a health setback etc. Welcome back to CHB. : )
We've had our differences of opinion on occasion, but just the same I value your thoughts as everyone's on CHB and RR.
Carl Nemo **==
I liked Gregg's comment more than the article itself. It is easy to call names, point out failures, emphasize deficiencies. But when the truth be told, the buck really does stop at that famous oddly shaped office in the gleaming White House on a soft green patch of Washington, DC.
I never cared for Obama, and I found myself voting for what I considered the lesser of two evils as I have in every Presidential Election since JFK. I voted for JFK, my only "For" vote. All the others were against the candidate I did not like, not for his opponent. How sad that sounds until you consider 1. I did vote; 2. I could vote; 3. At times my single vote really made a difference; 4. There were many, many millions of Americans who also went to the polling places and freely and safely cast a vote for President of this Great Country.
We are so lucky. Sure we need universal health care. No person should be asked to decide whether they get an operation or lose their house to pay for it. We owe it to ourselves to take care of US, We The People. Not Them the Congressmen. It is time to clean house.............and to clean Senate as well.
"Does anybody think that there are more racists now than prior to the election of Obama?" I don't. I do think the racists feel more empowered to express their hate. The Fox freaks and hate radio has ratcheted up the volume, the frequency, and vileness.
When the first few town halls takeovers were successful and the vile offense signs were televised around the country, the KKKlowns were empowered.
I also think Thompson misinterprets the poll numbers. As Public Policy Polling pointed out a couple of weeks ago, while he's down slightly moderate independents - from 64% to 57%, the big drop came from the 'Conservative Indies' (down from 31 to 16) and the 'Conservative Repugs (down from 10 to 5) I have no doubt the visible racists come from the conservative Indies & Repugs. http://tinyurl.com/PPPtabs
While not all of the President's opponents are racists, I agree with President Carter: “I think an OVERWHELMING PORTION of the INTENSELY DEMONSTRATED ANIMOSITY toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man..." And there damn sure “is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president.”
The reason why I voted for Barack Obama is because I wanted TRUE CHANGE in my government. Feeling that Barack was young and energetic and could ACTUALLY change the course of our nation was the reason why I voted for Barack.
...it wasn't because Barack WASN'T McCain or Republican.
Right again Rick! He was the lesser of two evils and it had nothing to do with his color. The Republican Party has embarrassed many of us over the last 8 years and McCain/Palin did nothing to overcome the reputation of stupidity in their party.
I believe Obama's actions may have proven beyond any doubt that color and partisanship had nothing to do with our problems. We are simply on the wrong track. Obama made some bad choices and he will correct his agenda.....I hope
Sandy
NO ONE SHOULD EVER YELL 'LIAR' IN A CROWDED ROOM
One professional politician calling another a 'liar' is the pot calling the kettle black. (No racial allusion there...)
—W—
No, it's not necessarily racism to call a liar a liar.
It's just more rank hypocrisy by the GOP partisans. Back when idiot Bush was President, we were all supposed to "respect the office, not the man." Now, that the Democrat holds the office, it's fine to interrupt a Presidential address to Congress, compare our President to Hitler, and bring guns to Presidential speeches while wearing shirts quoting Jefferson's "blood of tyrants" line.
Joe Wilson, Serena Williams, Kanye West, have all helped to raise the ugly head, and magnify the voices of racism that unfortunately exist. Think about it...and realize that these prominent individuals from the broad fields of politics, sports, and entertainment, each felt they were entitled to purge their feelings and unwittingly cause the race card to be played over and over by their fans. This should not be tolerated by this already on the brink society.
Meanwhile, I will continue holding onto the hope that when all is said and done, Obama will be able to correct any mistakes he's made and at least begin the change in the ignorance that perpetuates racism. ***note..my hope does not mean I am holding my breath
I tend to disagree with this. While it certainly isn't racist to call Obama a liar, and people, both Senators and Representatives called both George Bush and Bill Clinton liars in a manner of speaking at various times, no one ever would have yelled "you lie" during a speech George Bush or Bill Clinton gave during their terms of office. They were both roundly booed during their speeches when the opposing side disagreed with them, but I don't recall any yelling or name calling during a speech either one of them gave. I think with some individuals on the opposing side, there is a certain level of disrespect for Mr. Obama, and frankly I think it has to do with the fact that he's an African American. That level of disrespect led to this unprecendented shout out, as noted not only by the shocked looks of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, but the startled looks of the people surrounding Joe Wilson also.
Is it racist? I don't know. But I could place a bet on it. And I might just win.
Obama is the latest "lesser of 2 evils" politician to live at the WH, a useful idiot for his string pulling shadowy overlords.
IMO one reason his popularity has taken a crap; thus far he has shown himself to be nothing special. Like many GOP or DNC clowns before him, lofty campaign promises have evaporated into thin air, he has offered no new or clever problem solving solutions.. it's DC business as usual.
McCorpse / Palin could have delivered dull mediocrity... if Obama could turn his speeches into reality, that would be change.
As South Park eloquently put it: elections are always a giant douche -Vs- a turd sandwich.. because a vote for turd sandwich, is a vote for the future.
http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103888
All this concern on whether racism motivated Wilson is silly. Wilson's shouting was disrespectful, and it was wrong to do so during a joint speech to Congress. But he was accurate while the President maintained the lie. Shouldn't the President also have to retract what he said and apologize for lying to Congress and the nation?
Don't you wish one single Democrat would have had the nerve to say the same to Junior Bush?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Congress is elected to represent, not to direct, the people.
Obama's lower popularity is mostly generated by progressives who are disappointed by his moderation and attempts to reach across the political divide. (Very few conservatives have switched from "Obama Lovers" to "Obama Haters"!)
So he's irritating both conservatives and progressives by trying to be inclusive. If he just rammed a pre-written health care reform bill through Congress, like the Clintons attempted, then the progressives might be happy but eveybody else on the political spectrum (including Doug, I suspect) would be up in arms.
Obama is using the process he learned very well in his Senate seat: You have to let all the different cooks pee a little in the broth, until they like the flavor. Then when you get all the bill versions through all the Senate and House committees, the majority leadership writes a reconciled version that can contain pretty much anything they like from all the various versions. If you have the votes to pass it, and the President signs it, then it becomes law. (So even if the Senate Finance Committee version doesn't have a Public Option, it could still get into the final bill.)
Sorry folks, but that's just how it works. It isn't pretty, and it isn't ever fast. A little patience with the process will help us all avoid writing things that look silly in retrospect.
We don't do patience. We want him to fail NOW! And we hate our country and we want it to fail now. And we hate our fellow citizens who are less fortunate than we are because if they had worked harder and had better educations which we kept them from getting through separate but equal for generations, opportunities, etc., they would have more but not as much as we have because we're white and most of the losers aren't so we want to keep them poor and beholden to us white folks who are naturally the leaders. It's their fault they are homeless, unemployed, uninsured. (Gazelle channels Limbaugh, Hanratty, Coulter, etc.) Please cease with the voice of reason.
PIA. In many areas on the internet there are Conservatives (religious social types) who have turned against any Liberal who is running for any office. I have tried to ask them what their agenda would be if they really wanted Senator McCain to win the White House. Not one of them came up with a single agenda they could sell to Independents; so sorely needed by both parties.
Candidate Obama filled all the creases in his speeches that gave America a chance of getting away from the Social Conservative agenda of President Bush. Even the most active Republicans had grave worries about McCain and Palin.
But after his win, President Obama began spending our money like a drunken sailor. He could not even discuss getting our troops out of Iraq and now he is planning more troops into Afghanistan. He appears to be a third term for President Bush.
Many of the Social Conservatives do not recognize the facts that President Obama is still supporting the Bush Administration. The GOP has lost everything and has nothing left to build upon during the mid term House election in 2010. Many of the current GOP House members have been caught with their pants down or a possible indictment for pay to play.
The GOP is dripping in corruption and makes the Democrats look like boy scouts. I've been a Republican for yearly 50 years and there is no one in the party who can clean up the morals and speak up for the Fiscal actions that are needed last week. I read your posts at Reader Rant and know you understand this.
Sandy
gazelle, you certainly summed up the repubs in a nut shell! How do these people get so nasty and impossible - are they just born like that or does the moniker 'republican' automatically turn them that way?
Sandy - SO GOOD to see you back - I've really missed your great posts!
You know, it took Bush/Cheney 8 years to create all these catastrophies and people are upset that Obama hasn't solved them all in 8 short months! Give him a break.
I think we will get a health care bill, just hope it's a better one than they seem to have hammered out trying to appease the republicans, who aren't going to vote FOR anything regardless. I say, leave the darn republicans behind and get on with what needs to be done for we the people that are behind you!
colocritic
Welcome back Sandy..Sorry I forgot to mention that in my 1st post. I have missed your posts, even though I don't always agree, I have great respect for your knowledge and points of view.
Gazelle... I so enjoy your posts well.
Woody..Can you please show me somewhere, where there is proof that Obama was lying during his address to the joint member of congress. I don't believe he was lying or could have been lying because at this point, the bill is not ready and is still in committee. BTW..I appreciate your posts even though I am often at opposite poles from you (not always however)
Specifically it was the illegal immigrants getting coverage that caused Wilson to yell out "you lie" during the speech. There are some loopholes like treating all family members as one "unit" in which an illegal alien might use a US born child to get coverage. Illegals may also be able to purchase coverage from any government run co-op or public plan. While many don't see this as a problem, I believe the public or co-op plan would use tax money to enable them to sell below market costs so an illegal alien could get reduced cost health coverage at our expense.
Now you are right, there is no final bill. But Obama was saying these things will or won't be in the final bill. So do we take his word on it since he's been so forth right and kept every campaign promise?
Or do we look at current legislation in the works that Obama already said he wanted passed before last July or else our economy would not recover?
So did he lie?
Maybe not anymore than Junior Bush or Bill Clinton. Maybe a little less than Dick Cheney or Colin Powell.
I'm sorry but I won't take this President on his word any more than I did Junior Bush and it has absolutely nothing to do with racism and everything to do with his track record.
Also note this quote from Doug above:
Calling Obama a Politician is certainly more derogatory than calling him any racially derogatory name.
—W—
What's really bugging me about the Wilson situation...along with the many reported incidents of public displays of hatred for Obama by other individuals and groups is:
1. Racism: Intolerance coupled with the belief that one race is superior over another.
2. Bigotry: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.
Which is it? Is Mr. Wilson a racist, a bigot, both, or neither?
So herein lies my questions. Is it possible that Joe Wilson isn't at all a racist, but more likely be defined as a a bigot? Before you answer that...is there anything other than circumstantial evidence based on his behavior during the president's speech that confirms that Mr. Wilson is either/or/or both a racist and/or bigot?
I don't recall, nor have I read where Mr. Wilson has publicly stated, or has been reported as saying that African American's are inferior to Anglo Americans. Now, just because I haven't heard or read that Mr. Wilson hasn't made those types of comments...doesn't mean he hasn't...I don't know. Do you know?
I don't have personal knowledge of Mr. Wilson's intolerances for others based on ..."just because". I'm not a Joe Wilson expert...so do you have any knowledge concerning Mr. Wilson as it would relate to his behavior that might define him as a true bigot?
Or did Joe Wilson just frickin lose it...given the intensity of the political wars that have existed for eons between the Repubs and Dems?
I don't have a clue...you tell me. I can't argue for or against any character flaws that Mr. Wilson possesses.
I think that all too often that the perception or understanding of racism and bigotry is wrongly identified or classified and creates more problems.
My point:
I believe that it would be completely irresponsible to misuse the words "racism" and "bigotry". More importantly, I believe that the misuse of these two words can completely destroy any chance of genuinely defining problem(s), much less work on solution(s) to problem(s) as they relate to racism and bigotry.
Thanks Yall...Gregg
Doug, great post. Sorry much of your common sense approach was clearky lost on the kool aid crowd.
I was surprised to see Obama's popularity has held pretty steady among the base among Dems. I too would have though there would have been a big drop there.
Public Policy Polling went into the polls and found he is down:
5 points among conservative Repug,
5 points among conservative indies,
7 points among moderate independents - from 64% to 57%.
15 points among conservative indies - from 31% - 16%
Full discussion at: http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/2009/09/wi...