I wanted to post this, because it's got right-wingers frothing at the mouth. Yeah, this. Incredible, isn't it? If someone like Barack Obama can generate this degree of hysteria, what must ordinary African Americans face every day?
For example, here is what Todd Starnes, a Fox 'News' host, posted on his Facebook page:
President Obama is now our Race-Baiter in Chief. His remarks today on the Trayvon Martin tragedy are beyond reprehensible.
Did he even listen to the speech? But the racists are cheering him on. Indeed, they're out in force on YouTube, as well. It's really pathetic.
I get frustrated with President Obama because he always bends over backwards trying to appeal to Republicans. But can you imagine the hysteria in this country if he didn't? Can you imagine how frantic the racists would be if he actually came across as the "angry black man" of their imaginations?
Remember when Clint Eastwood debated an imaginary Obama at the Republican National Convention? Well, they all do that. They all fill that chair with an imaginary black man. And they're all scared to death of that figment of their own imaginations, which bears no resemblance to the real person.
They're doing it again here. When this kind of speech gets the lunatics this worked up, when the haters throw tantrums even at something this mild and balanced,... well, clearly we have a long way to go when it comes to racism in America.
Haven't been here in a couple of weeks,WCG. I was on vacation in Georgia visiting some friends. Very Southern Baptist, very Republican, and they hate Obama with a passion...yet they get a "supplement" for their bread. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteThe subject at hand: the right sure has a fascination with the phrase "race-bait" don't they? Of course, you and I know that's one of their "talking-in-code" dog whistle buzzwords.
To me, the sick part of this whole thing was Trayvon wasn't even "cold" yet and the right started hating on him. Some of them even said that he "got what he deserved."
I agree with you that we still have a long way to go in terms of race relations. Obama said that each generation is getting better as time goes on. I hope he's right.
Welcome back, Jeff. You haven't missed much - not here, at least. I've just been too busy.
DeleteGeorgia, huh? In July? If you had to put up with right-wing Christian Republicans in the Deep South, couldn't you at least have made it in January? :)
I do think we're getting better. I think that's quite clear. But this Trayvon Martin incident has unleashed a torrent of the most vicious racism I've heard in years.
Yes, they've hated Barack Obama, too - vehemently - but they've mostly couched their racism in those dog whistles, for plausible deniability. Or they've gone with "socialist" or "Kenyan" labels, as a disguise.
But they seem to have become too hysterical for that right now. I guess it's hard to watch your language when you're frothing at the mouth, huh?