Sep
16
Who Are They Trying To Convince?
Filed Under American Politics
Jimmy Carter has now jumped on the racism bandwagon. Democrat Hank Johnson has evoked images of the KKK riding out into the night (did someone say fear-mongering?). The Democrat and liberal response to any criticism of Obama has become one of knee-jerk cries of racism. It seems that whenever a liberal blogger or commentator refers to the President in the context of criticism, suddenly he has become the “black President”, something I’ve never seen used in the right wing blogosphere.
Some of the criticism has been racist, either subtly or overtly. Water melons in the White House garden, a blacked out picture to represent Obama amongst the other Presidents and the witch doctor image. But these are exceptions. One of the allegations of racism levelled against the 9/12 protesters was the number of “take back our country” posters. But the left spent the last eight years using that very phrase. Howard Dean, the recent DNC chairman wrote a book entitled “Win Back America”. That particular allegation doesn’t wash.
But leaving the facts of whether or not there is racism explicit or implicit in the criticism of Obama (some but not all by a long shot), I think the more important question, is what are the Democrats trying to achieve by stoking up the race wars as they are? And more importantly, who are they trying to convince? Because at the moment, the answer is not very many people.
In a Rasmussen poll, they asked whether people thought that criticism of Obama was racist.
Only 12% of likely voters thought that the criticism was racist. 67% disagreed. If the Democrats are trying to paint Obama opponents as racist, they are failing miserably. Breaking it down further reveals the impotence of this line of attack:
Eighty-eight percent (88%) of Republicans reject the notion that most of the opponents are racist. So do 78% of voters not affiliated with either major party. However, just 39% of Democrats share that view.
Even amongst Obama’s strongest supporters, at best there is parity who do think attacks are racist and those who don’t:
Among Obama’s strongest supporters, those who Strongly Approve of his job performance, 35% say most opponents are racists, 32% disagree and 33% are not sure.
Among African-American voters, 27% say most opponents are racist, 25% disagree, and 48% are not sure.
Fifty percent (50%) of white Democrats reject the charge of racism, but 15% say it’s true.
The truth is, this is a feeble effort to discredit the right. They are convincing no-one, and are more likely to turn off the more independent voters and white Democrats that always disliked the racial divisiveness of people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
Barack Obama had the right idea, to portray himself as post-racial. That is why he sought to put the Rev. Wright controversy behind him so quickly. And to his credit, Obama has not got involved in this very petty politicking. On this, he is a decent man. It is a shame he is being let down so badly by his party and his supporters.
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64 Responses to “Who Are They Trying To Convince?”
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Ah Rassmussen!!!
If ever was needed a poll for vindication of a right wing viewpoint we know who to call!!!
Surprised you didn’t just quote one from Fox’s website or free republic.
Israel, perhaps we can be told under what circumstances one might criticize Mr Obama and not be called racist. Just so we can all work from the same rulebook.
Hello Rhonda!!
We haven’t been introduced.
I’m the guy on the left who gets a bit more bullish than Ronnie. If we interact more you may see it happening, but on to your point.
Maybe if your side would refrain from doing things like this:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/mitchell/watermelon_white_house.jpg
this:
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/08/27/rep-lynn-jenkins-calls-for-great-white-hope-to-thwart-obama/
and well, this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/15/tea-party-leader-melts-do_n_286933.html
Maybe, just maybe, decent people wouldn’t think you were acting like a bunch of racists whenever you have a critisizm.
Have you seen the latest piece of stupidity from one of your lot?
SOMEBODY ELSE’S HOUSE!?!?!?!?!?
That’s not from a knuckle-dragger with a teabag on his head or some increasingly deranged tin-foil hat wearing, hate-mongering bigot on the republican tv cable channel, this is a sitting member of Congress acting as if the President of the United States is some refugee house guest who has eaten all the cheese in the fridge.
If your lot didn’t keep doing it, people wouldn’t have to keep pointing it out.
Rhoda:
My comments in reply to you are awaiting moderation. Hpefully it will appear soon because i’m not writing it again!!!
BTW Rhoda, why do you need to be told which circumstances are acceptable?
Just use the standards that your lot employed for eight years of Bush.
America is still at war in Iraq and Afganistan and according to all the right wing pundits like Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly, Malkin, the three stooges on F**kwits and friends, former RNC leader Ken Mehlman, various republican lawmakers and all of the right wing blogosphere you should NEVER criticize the Commander In Chief in a time of war.</strong
My lot? The GOP has been a great disappintment to me. I have however not heard that standard, can you back it up? I know for sure O’Reilly frequently criticized Bush. Still does. But then he is registered independent.
So, when may I criticize Obama and not be called a racist?
The rule I am aware of is you don’t go abroad and crticize the President. You may criticize the CinC in time of war except where it is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
Ronnie,
Sorry…In past presidential elections, Rasmussen polls were the most correct…by far. Gallup was the most off and leaned left.
This just proves to me that the far-left will do anything to win…even if it sets racial relations back years…they simply don’t care. They’ve got a liberal agenda and nothing and no one is going to get in their way. They will try to bury any opposition to their liberal agenda with racial slurs.
Carter is doing such harm…I detest this petty, destructive man.
Israel,
I can only speak for myself…when I see Obama I see a far-leftist who has an agenda, if accepted, will destroy the country I love. It always surprises me when people mention his color…I’m sure it’s there but its the last thing I think about when I discuss him because it is unimportant to the importance to what is happening to my country.
Rasmussen was not the most correct “by far”, in fact they tied with Pew for the 2008 Presidential run with several others close
I’m looking for accuracy in the Congressional races…Interesting that the Daily Kos polls were more accurate than Fox.
Though in all honesty…this is only considering the last polling by each group.
Looking at any significant swings coming up to election day would be interesting.
http://www.fordham.edu/images/academics/graduate_schools/gsas/elections_and_campaign_/poll%20accuracy%20in%20the%202008%20presidential%20election.pdf
No Racism from the right, listen to their leader
Boss Hogg goes in for a bit race bating
“[I]n Obama’s America, the white kids now get beat up with the black kids cheering”
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200909150017
Morgan,
Do you really think comments like your last one raises you in people’s estimation…if so, think again.
THX,
You think telling the truth about an event is racist? How about it being the simple truth. A black kid beat up a white kid and the black kids cheer…So? the truth bothers you. If that was your kid, would you like him having the hell beat out of him while the others egged the thug on…who BTW is old enough to be treated like an adult.
An American:
It was a comment, with link, regarding polling results..how could you take offense to that?
You obviously are feeling a bit angry today…best of luck.
An American
“You think telling the truth about an event is racist ” Of course not!
But jumping to the conclusion that it was racist because it was a black kid beating on a white kid like Limbaugh did is racist.
I don’t disagree that it was an outrageous attack but how do you know it was racially motivated ?
The video is below :
http://is.gd/3lAIl
The police don’t think it was racially motivated
“After having reviewed the video, it doesn’t strike me nearly as racially motivated,”
But who am I to disagree with Boss Hogg
Morgan,
Keep that knife handy. I’ve tried to have civil relationship with you…but guess that’s your problem…not mine.
THX..I agree, the comment regarding “In Obama’s America…” was bait..Sometimes Rush just can’t help himself.
Unfortunately, the following is also happening in OUR America:
“The beating of a black female Army reservist outside a Georgia restaurant is being investigated as a possible hate crime, federal authorities said Wednesday.
Tashawnea Hill was kicked and punched by a white man Sept. 9 as he screamed racial slurs outside a Cracker Barrel in Morrow, about 15 miles southeast of Atlanta, police said. Troy D. West, 47, became enraged when Hill told him to be careful after he nearly hit her 7-year-old daughter while opening the restaurant’s door, police said.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hR8u-3L-X0zQSQJmUx7pMknBBR2AD9AOIP603
We all should find both of this events saddening.
THX:
I must respectfully disagree…While I’m not ready to scream “Fire” regarding that video..the fact that it appears that the young man did nothing to warrant the attack makes me believe that there may be more to the story. I’m certainly not going to dismiss the possibility of racial motivation until we hear of witness statements.
Regardless of motivation I hope they make sure that others are protected from the thugs (and yes, that’s what they are) pictured in that video.
Everyone just to lighten the mood
For all us blogger, the pay off is right at the end
http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=225797&title=insulted-by-rednecks
I luv Futurama, Could it be better than The Simpsons. Sacrilege, I know but sometimes I think so.
THX, I agree with you…on Futurama.
THX:
I started watching that off and on about two months before returning to the U.K..
It has its moments
For pure sickness there’s the one with all of the different cartoon characters..a pig, a superhero..is it “Drawn Together”???
I think you’ve kind of lost the plot tonight An American. You’re yelling at me about polls and I haven’t said anything on this thread. The red mist has decended.
Anyway, since I’m here now, don’t start talking about liberal agendas being forced down peoples’ throats, we had to suffer the neo-con agenda for long enough and they killed more people. So far.
Furthtemore, where some criticism of a black president is demonstrably racist then it should be described as such, where it isn’t it shouldn’t. Clear?
The apologists on both sides should back off and try to regain some self-respect and untwist their knickers.
Rhonda:
Are you f**king kidding me?
Are you f**king kidding me?!?!?!?!?!
You never heard this standard?
Really?
I give you this link of major conservative figures (including O’Reilly) making the exact staement you seem to think is not the standard response:
http://crooksandliars.com/node/27032/print
These comments go back to 2004, but of course, you will not have heard any of them what with the major disappointment you felt at the republicans.
So how many anti-Bush tax-cut and TARP protests did you go on?
Rhoda at last we have found an area of agreement …. Hurrah
Did you watch the clip? Really it’s us lot.
Ronnie,
I apologize…I made a mistake and thought it was you instead of Israel.. And I wasn’t yelling…I wrote a perfectly lucid comment…
The only person who yells here is Israel…Don’t worry Rhonda, he yells at all of the lucid among us.
Ronnie,
I agree…this racial crap is destructive as hell…and I wish everyone on both side would lay off of it.
But there is an ulterior motive in this coming from the left…and the right will not stand by and be called racist when they’re not…this is the height of hypocrisy…and its a losing scheme for the lefties.
Its Rhoda!
Rhonda is a valley in Wales.
Ronnie,
So I have to apologize for my poor typing too? You and Morgan are a great match…two of a kind.
Rhonda was also a beautiful movie star from the 40’s.
An American.
The Right have been racist for as long as I can remember. It’s part of being on the Right in the same way that invading other countries and not bothering to count how many foreign civilians have been killed is part of being on the Right.
If its hard for them to shake this off when they want to seem less racist then I have little sympathy.
‘Rhonda was also a beautiful movie star from the 40’s.’
An American, be that as it may. Our correspondent’s name is Rhoda.
Israel called her Rhonda too and I didn’t want it to stick. We’d all end up looking like a bunch of geriatrics in Shady Pines otherwise.
‘What’s that you say Rhonda?’
‘Are you talking to me Ishmael?’
‘What are you smirking at KFC?’
It could all get out of hand.
And ‘apologize’ should be spelled with an ’s’.
Ronnie….maybe I should just apologize for for being alive….
And we spell apologize with a z in the US…if you’ve not noticed, Americans and Brits use s and z differently in some words.
Now you can apologize to me for being a jerk.
Ronnie,
I think your comment about the right always being racist is pretty damm ugly and unfair of you…
You are in an incredibly nasty mood today…over and out.
Ronnie:
Not to enhance a stereotype but now l want some chicken!!
Apologies to Rhoda for getting your name wrong, l hate it when it happens to me.
Ronnie, have you seenthis from Beck?
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/glenn-becks-facade-starts-cracking
Looks like “Lonesome Rhodes” Beck is starting to realise what is happening with his career.
An American
Don’t forget the Beach Boys Song
“Help Me Rhonda”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9SmT6cXGFQ
Rhoda is cool, we have had plenty of battles over on the Coffee House, I really hope she stays
THX,
That’s right…what is it about the Beach Boys that their songs stays in your head?
Yes, I hope Rhoda stays too…she’s a smart lady.
Brian Wilson was a genius for melody and harmonies.
Shame about the drugs.
An American/Ronnie:
Had a great day yesterday at work.
Found an old mp3 disc l had made a few years ago which had a copy of “God Only Knows” on it.
As l had to reformat my harddrive a few months back due to a trojan (which should really be called Greek as they were the ones with the horse) l didn’t realise at the time that l had not backed up my music properly and l have deleted that and most of my 60’s non-soul collection.
Happily l now have it all back.
Off to bed now, l have to go to Milton Keynes in the morning.
Bye all!!!
THX,
Yes, he’s ended up quite wounded…it is a shame. But drugs seem to be a mainstay in the music business. You know the music business because of your wife…have things improved in that catagory or not?
Israel,
Thanks for the chicken remark…lol
I watched Beck the other day…and I’m afraid he may be going ‘postal’, I hate to say. The words are right but he is too incredible animated. I’m worried about him.
An American.
I think it would do you good if you could go out and sit in the evening air of New Mexico and consider why it seems so easy to wind you up.
I am perfectly aware of the studied strangeness of American spelling and your media’s habit of turning nouns into verbs through laziness.
I am also perfectly aware of the casual racism that informs many ideas, actions and policies of the Right. That is one of the reasons that I have been active against the Right most of my life.
You, An American, are not the Right. You are one person who happens to be a Conservative. Nor am I the Left for that matter. I do not owe you a personal apology, this is a general political debate where we should be prepared to dish it out and also take it in equal measure.
An American/THX.
I never quite got the Beach Boys. My top band for melody and complex arrangements is ABBA.
Now I hope that isn’t sniggering I hear over there.
I just hope that it is clear to Beck what he is talking about. In his position and with his style its easy to become a parody of yourself.
Ronnie:
Musically, growing up, I was more into Motown…and later groups like the Chi-Lites, Stylistics, etc..
Even when very young I was listening to the oldies..though oldies now are what we were hearing when I was in Jr. High and High School
Just about to log off and my eyes spied this from right winger Rod Dreher:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2009/09/rush-limbaugh-hits-racial-bott.html
One of the quotes from it:
Looks like l was wrong, ther ear esome conservatives out there who see what is happening in their name and are speaking out about it regardless of the abuse they know they will receive. He replies to some of the blowback here:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2009/09/in-liebermans-america.html
and here:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2009/09/anti-obama-criticism-racist-bl.html
Drudge does his best to give the racist, obese, mysogenistic, sex-holidaying, thrice divorced, half-deaf drug addict a reach around with this headline:
http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/09/race-baiting_at_drudge.php
and Ta-Nehisi Coates weighs in:
http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/09/flip_and_pop_my_collar_like_the_fonz.php
Enjoy.
I like the Beach Boys. I saw them at the Hammersmith Odeon, 1967, except for Brian, who didn’t gig.
Rhoda Klapp is a made-up name. For those who haven’t clicked, it’s a kind of spoonerism. Or chopstickerism, to be more accurate.
I kind of agree with where Beck is going, but it’s hard to stand the schtick, the mannerisms, the mugging. I have no way to judge just where Obama stands, Beck’s closet commie or his own reasonable centrist, I have no idea. I am fairly sure he likes to spend OPM, and that I am not too keen on.
Israel, I live 35 miles to the left of THX (on the real map, not the political one) so I don’t have a dog in the fight, dems vs repubs, but I don’t like big, intrusive government.
Rhoda, it could have been worse. At least you chose Rhoda.
Well Morgan, I was a punk and the American bands I liked were Television and Talking Heads. But I was always a clash fan moving through Magazine, The Smiths and now Radiohead.
The Beach Boys, Motown etc leaves me…lets say unmoved.
The Beach Boys actually played at my husband’s high school (he’s a few years older than me) before they became THE Beach Boys.
Ronnie
I love all those bands too and have been slagged off many times on the Coffee House for my musical tastes.
If you like the Talking Head you should check out the fabulous new’ish band, also from NYC.
LCD Soundsystem- North American Scum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaQgg4uUkwk
Don’t worry the title is ironic
Magazine are playing at the Roundhouse in Camden as part of the BBC electric proms season I think I’ll get a ticket
Saw Radiohead last summer it was a fantastic gig. Back in the day I saw The Clash & The Smiths many times and have original posters from the first Clash album and The Smiths single This Charming Man.
I could talk about bands all night
Rhoda, real name or not I hope you stay.
The Smiths “This Charming Man”..I’ll have to check it out on YouTube.
Morgan
It’s not about Glenn Beck
I’d loved to have seen the Beach Boys
THX..no it isn’t..but a cool performance. Live in Hamburg..1984. Thanks for the heads up, I love getting other people’s musical inspirations.
My concert history is a little all over the place.
Best small venue..Roy Orbison before he came back big. He actually sent me roses..which was rather naughty of him because I was waaay to young for him at that time..but you know those Southern musicians
He was seriously incredible…
Morgan
Pretty Woman
Gotta go to bed but I still buy and see tons of music perhaps 5 cd’s and 2 or 3 gigs a month.
If people were interested I could post downlodable mix tapes and cool new album’s on this blog.
Gosh, Morrissey looks so young.
I liked the song Panic.
God Bless THX:
“See” you tomorrow.
Hang the DJ!
You are a good man THX. have you heard Interpol, also from NY?
Morgan
Please don’t do it. The Smiths will have you slitting your wrists before you know it. Dull and morose. Eho wants that from their music. Give me some good ol’ fashioned rock and roll.
Cabbie We don’t agree about anything do we
The Smiths are a great band, how can you say they are “dull and morose”, listen to that wonderful Johnny Marr Guitar and the fabulous witty & ironic Morrissey lyrics. They are out new PM to be’s Dave’s fav band too.
Ronnie I know Interpol well, something of the Joy Division about them. Lots of great bands coming out of NYC at the moment MGMT, Animal Collective, Yeasayer & TV on the Radio
Cabbie.
That is blasphemy!
Sorry Ronnie
I’ve always hated the Smiths. Although I will agree with THX, Johnnie Marr was a great sounding guitar player. If only they could find someone who, you know, could actually sing and not send me to sleep.
There’s a period in the 80s when I wasn’t paying attention. So happily I missed not only the Smiths but the whole madchester thing. Then I had a son who took up the guitar, so I got acquainted with a later generation, Foo Fighters, Chilis, RATM. Tom Morello is one hell of a guitarist, and Timmy C and Brad make the best rhythm section around. Strange that the singer is so far left, but I don’t let my political bias affect my musical choices. I don’t much rate anybody recent, except Muse (Bellamy is a superb guitarist) and my son’s band, of course.
Cabbie.
Politics is one thing but this is an absolute outrage!