Jimmy Carter Racist?

[fisher]

My face is sore after that spew, eff yourself.

You are correct. That was uncalled for. My apologies. I deleted the post but cannot delete your copied version.

 

[Geo]

When it is blatant I agree. But, when you ascribe racism to a comment such as You lie, you are going way beyond what is blatant and reading way, way too much into the comment. There is no way you can read racism into the comment, you lie. If so, every singly person in the entire world is racist. Who has not used the words, you lie, or he lied or she lied..., at some point in their lives.

The libs need a serious reality check on this one. Even Obama agrees with me and most other sane people.

Fair point- in that "you lie" is not intrinsically a racist statement. However, we don't live in a vaccuum. Many people in this country were led to believe they should fear Obama. All the scary labels came out- he is a Muslim (gasp), a socialist (yikees), he is indoctrinating our kids, etc.

In most presidential elections, folks who voted for the second place finisher disagree with the policies of the first place finisher. But nonetheless, they deal and move on after their candidate's loss. This time around is different. Too many feel they still know better and need to protect us from "that one".

This is what fueled a congressman's outburst. The fear. And whether conscious or not, it is very likely that race is an element of that fear. And if it isn't, there is nothing at all absurd or implausible about questioning if it is.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Fair point- in that "you lie" is not intrinsically a racist statement. However, we don't live in a vaccuum. Many people in this country were led to believe they should fear Obama. All the scary labels came out- he is a Muslim (gasp), a socialist (yikees), he is indoctrinating our kids, etc.

In most presidential elections, folks who voted for the second place finisher disagree with the policies of the first place finisher. But nonetheless, they deal and move on after their candidate's loss. This time around is different. Too many feel they still know better and need to protect us from "that one".

This is what fueled a congressman's outburst. The fear. And whether conscious or not, it is very likely that race is an element of that fear. And if it isn't, there is nothing at all absurd or implausible about questioning if it is.

I agree, Geo. And, I think this is what President Carter was referring to...not that the comment, "you lie" was a racist comment, but that the mind set that allowed a U. S. Congressman, on the floor of the House, during a formal speech, given by the Head of State, to shout out such an inappropriate and juvenile attack, was fueled by a racist attitude.

One only need look at Cong. Wilson's other behaviors to see that it is certainly possible that he could hold some racist thoughts.

Has anyone else wondered about the construct of his comment (probably not, I guess it's the writing teacher in me, but...) why did he shout "You Lie"--instead of "Liar"? I wondered about it until I saw it is a line from the Teenage Ninja Turtles...so middle school behavior, I guess

Hopefully Cong. Wilson will disappear back into the woodwork somewhere along with Senator Allen...and a truly dedicated, adult person can be elected to represent the people of South Carolina.

While IMO there is certainly room for questioning policies and doing so in a determined way, more can be accomplished when the questioning is done from a point of view that is constructive rather than destructive.

 

[Winnie]

Fair point- in that "you lie" is not intrinsically a racist statement. However, we don't live in a vaccuum. Many people in this country were led to believe they should fear Obama. All the scary labels came out- he is a Muslim (gasp), a socialist (yikees), he is indoctrinating our kids, etc.

In most presidential elections, folks who voted for the second place finisher disagree with the policies of the first place finisher. But nonetheless, they deal and move on after their candidate's loss. This time around is different. Too many feel they still know better and need to protect us from "that one".

This is what fueled a congressman's outburst. The fear. And whether conscious or not, it is very likely that race is an element of that fear. And if it isn't, there is nothing at all absurd or implausible about questioning if it is.

I don't buy any of that.

First, some not many think or thought President Obama is a Muslim and/or socialist and is indoctrinating our kids. His approval rating in January was something like 83%. Certainly that number includes some Republicans. Some people use the term Socialist to describe liberal policies, not as a literal label.

Second, how long did I hear that President Bush "stole" the election and is "not my President?" There are people who never get over their candidate losing an election. No more this time than ever before.

This charge of racism and fear is ridiculous. I only ever hear racism when it is brought up by Democrats. Senator Reid called President Bush a loser and later a liar. Was that racism or fear? No, it was typical of the opposition. That's just the way politics rolls. One side fears the other side is doing the wrong thing for our country - that's the only fear.

To explain why conservative Republicans object to the policies of a liberal Democrat President with a liberal Democrat House and Senate as somehow racist is completely absurd to me.

 

[Geo]

I don't buy any of that.

Agree to disagree...

EDIT: But for the record, I am not saying that Republicans (or anyone else) who disagrees with Obama's policies are racist. That would be completely absurd just as you said. Consider this-

Many progressives do not agree with his policies. I don't see their disagreement being racially driven. So this discussion is NOT about disagreement...

I am simply saying that fear and mistrust of this president has been injected into American minds and that I personally believe race is part of it (whether conscious or not).

 

[Winnie]

Agree to disagree...

I am simply saying that fear and mistrust of this president has been injected into American minds and that I personally believe race is part of it (whether conscious or not).

Fear and mistrust is not uniquely directed toward the current President. I just read on another thread on SoWal where someone stated that they don't believe "anyone who worked in the deceptive Bush Administration." I doubt race has anything to do with this statement either.

It degrades political debate to assign race as the cause of disagreement. It implies the argument itself is not valid, so there must be an underlying, unrelated reason for disagreement.

 

[mtlinscomb]

All I know is the President is going to look like a dumb@ss if Wilson's statement was accurate, and something tells me if there is a public option it will cover both illegals and abortion. Just my opinion.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Is this thread still going? I have no idea why. Some people give too much credibility to the comments of journalists and radicals.