White House: Criticism of Obama Not Based on Race

[sabra]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House says President Barack Obama doesn't believe he's being criticized because of his race.

Spokesman Robert Gibbs said Wednesday that Obama -- the nation's first black president -- doesn't think that criticism of his policies is ''based on the color of his skin.''

Gibbs was asked about the topic following comments on Tuesday by former President Jimmy Carter.

Carter said that Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during Obama's speech to Congress last week was ''based on racism.'' Carter also said ''There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president.''

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/16/us/politics/...

[Ron Green]

1. Goddamn it, is Carter STILL the only President who will tell the truth?

[Richardo]

2. Who didn't see this coming?

Bueller?

[StreetKnowledge]

4. Even he could see that. n/t

[StreetKnowledge]

3. Gibbs is certainly right to play it down, but Jimmy has it right.

This is based on race, for most of those sorta idiots. Now, whether that dumb fuck Wilson is a bigot is an open question (though people claim he once anted to fly the Confederate flag at his office, and he was once an aide to a segregationist), but there wasn't a lot of debate that those 9/12 idiots were racists. Most of them were, period.

[dflprincess]

9. Yesterday I would have bet that Carter would have cleared his comments with the White House

as the administration can't come out and say what he did. If Obama or Gibbs said what Carter did they'd be accused of playing the race card and that's also why Gibbs is downplaying it today.

Carter is right, and no one knows that better than Obama does, but the White House is being smart playing it this way.

[No Elephants]

76. Not an open question at all. You need to check his history.

[Quantess]

5. It's wise of the White House.

Too many people are in denial of the racism, so it would be worse to draw attention to it.

[Spazito]

6. The White House will continue to say this and rightly so, imo....

It is up to the public and high-profile people outside the Administration to call this what it is, rabid racism being practiced against an African-American President.

[bluestateguy]

7. They have to say that

Let others tell the truth.

[TerribleLarryDingle]

8. It's best the WH stays out of the argument

Give 'em (R) enough rope.

[Lorien]

25. +1

[Feron]

74. I agree and give you this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&hl=en-GB&v=BHqL7dNuj...

[road2000]

10. The White House pretty much has to take that stance.

Carter does not. But my God, I am proud of Jimmy Carter's bravery, his pluck, and his way with words.

[Gin]

12. I agree...Obama cannot mention race ...but everyone

else can....I believe race is mixed in with anger and frustration about being robbed and feeling frustrated about everything....can't believe race is the only issue....but it is there...and I am not surprised.

[No Elephants]

79. Of course race is not the only issue. If racists never had to deal with with

minorities in any way, we'd never notice their racism. But, the bailout happened under Bush, as did wars he lied us into that have lasted longer than WWII and may never end, which have transferred most of our Treasury to Bush friends Blackwater, Halliburtion, etc. And the stimulus package was made necessary by the mess in which Bush left the economy. So how come no one wants to tar and feather that "boy" and his Party?

[EmilyAnne]

11. No way in hell could President Obama say anything about racism. That would be playing the dreaded

"race card."
It would also make him a racist himself.
Certain right wing mouthpieces can call him a racist, but if Gibbs said such people were racist, they would use it as proof that Obama is, indeed, a racist.

[sybylla]

13. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

I can't imagine that wasn't what he was thinking when he said that.

[high density]

14. Right, what else is the WH going to say?

AP: master of the obvious

[AndyA]

15. I would have expected this to come from the White House.

I really can't see them screaming racism, as that would open up a whole new set of problems for them.

I'm with President Carter. He's a smart man, and a good man. He has no reason to say things that he doesn't believe are true.

[OHdem10]

16. The White House is in a position of must say it is not racial.

Think about it, If the WH say race, the bells will ring, the engines
will clang. Obama ia playing the race card. Obama is playing the
race card.

Believe me there are those just waiting to pounce and be able to say
Obama is playing the Race Card.

Obama wishes this was not the topic of discussion, I am sure.
Discussion of Race (may not be fair) does not help Obama.

[louis-t]

17. Then he needs to wake up.

[CakeGrrl]

30. I'm quite sure he's awake. He's not naive about how the media works, however.

Anyone who thinks the media would give the White House fair coverage if they alleged racism is being naive. They'd trot out every Republican they could to explain how over the top and ridiculous and divisive the WH was being in making those statements. The Obama administration has seen the MSM in action for many years, and they know better.

[Lilyeye]

18. I agree with the others...its really no shock.

Nowadays to "cry" racism is worst than being a racist to some.

[Lilyeye]

19. I agree with the others...its really no shock.

Nowadays to "cry" racism is worst than being a racist to some.

[msongs]

20. obama defers to white racists in his insane desire to be bipartisan above all else? nt

[Chakab]

23. It's not about bipartisanship,

it's smart politics. The faux outrage that erupted when Obama said the Cambridge PD acted stupidly and posited the history of racial profiling that targets blacks and Latinos while responding to a question about the Gates incident made it clear that it's still not possible to have a blunt discussion in this country about race. Even though there are people engaging in overt displays of bigotry, it's spun as an attack on the entire white race if you attempt to accurately assess the behavior of the crazies in recent months. I even see plenty of so-called Liberals and progressives on this site and others like it who engage in bizarre exercises of deliberate obtuseness and denial when anyone broaches the topic of race. It's a sad state of affairs, but Obama, the first black President, can't engage in an honest discussion about race without taking some major lumps.

Post racial America my ass.

[bamacrat]

21. Do they take your balls when you get elected?

It is because of race but equally it it because of stupidity. When one party is comprised overwhelmingly of people who have a highschool diploma or less it is easy to trick scare and brainwash them.

[Zorra]

22. That's BS. Gracious BS, but it's still BS.

President Carter is 100% correct in his assessment.

[humbled_opinion]

24. The Lunatics on the Right

Will be calling on Obama to publicly admonish Carter over this.

[Gin]

26. wait until a female is president...I shudder to think of what she will

be called.

[No Elephants]

81. And every time she is not flashing a smile, we will hear about "time of the month."

[No Elephants]

77. Some lunatics on the right who post on this board have already

posted to that effect on the first Carter thread.

[laconicsax]

27. White House: Lynchings, Klan Rallies Not Based on Race.

[Zorra]

29. Yep. Perfect. n/t

[One_Life_To_Give]

28. No Shit Sherlock

Not everyone who disagrees with Obama's Policies can be a racist. Does anyone here really b elieve that if only Kucinich was POTUS why nobody would bitch and the Public Option would of already sailed thru congress? Or closer to home is everyone in the LBT forum here on DU a racist?

There are some Teabaggers motivated in part by racism. Maybe even some who are motivated solely by racism. But no way is each and every person who does not support this admins policies a racist and/or card holding member of the klan.

[Indigent]

31. Jimmy Carter racism charge: Obama doesn’t agree says Gibbs

Source: Christian Science Monitor

09.16.09

Does President Obama agree with Jimmy Carter’s charge that Congressman Joe Wilson’s outburst last week was racially based?

Nope. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was continually asked that question today during his press briefing. And he continually said that the White House doesn’t buy it.

“It adds to our dialogue,” Gibbs said. “I’m just simply saying that I don’t think the president agrees with him.”

Responding to a question at a town hall meeting in Atlanta Tuesday, Carter said that Wilson’s outburst was rooted in fears of a black president. “I think it’s based on racism,” Carter said. “There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president.”

Read more: http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/09/16/jimmy... /

[elocs]

32. Gibb says simply, "I don't THINK the president agrees with him."

How informative.

[Indigent]

33. Obama will set the record straight if this isn't so

I imagine that if Gibbs misrepresented Obama's position, the latter will correct the former.

[elocs]

39. Then Gibbs should keep his mouth shut and not speculate. n/t

[Fearless]

63. I doubt it...

It's a firestorm issue that the media will pick up. We don't need that if we want health care to pass.

[monmouth]

34. What else can he say? BTW, I honestly don't know how Gibbs does

this every day. Major of Faux was the one belaboring the Carter/Racist statement and then on and on with the most inane questions/statements. To me he has one of the hardest jobs in the admin. He's really grown into the job too.

[undeterred]

37. Obama can't agree with Carter

or he will be accused of playing the race card.

[DCKit]

42. +1. He can't. It would be attempted political suicide.

Besides, he can count on Faux to speak for him on this issue. And they will, at length.

[indepat]

46. "Obama can't agree with Carter

or he will be accused of playing the race card." Kudos to President Carter for saying what needs to be said, for stating the obvious, for hitting a very ugly nail squarely on the head: I hear not-so-veiled comments almost daily that, when decoded, signify a simmering racism lives in the hearts and minds of a startling number among those who wear Jesus on their sleeves.

[Chemisse]

52. That's exactly right

Obama can't ever say that, but Carter can.

And I think it should be said. It is blatant and sickening.

[undeterred]

60. And Kudos to President Obama

for finding a place of peace within himself where he always takes the high road and never takes the bait.

[Enrique]

35. did Carter single out Wilson?

I thought he was speaking more generally about the hostile climate.

[No Elephants]

78. Both. Someone at a town hall asked Carter about Wilson's outburst and Carter

called it "dastardly." After that, he got interviewed---NBC, i think, and made more general statemments. Then he spoke about it more at the Carter Institute.

[BlooInBloo]

36. Well duh. White folks don't let black folks say anything much about racism...

That's the sole purpose of phrases like "the race card", "oversensitive", and so forth.

EDIT: And it's the height of meanness to blame black folks for not calling out racism, in this context - a bigger version of the bully hitting you with your own hands, and then asking "why do you keep hitting yourself?".


See also Digby's "The Jackie Robinson Rules":

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/jackie-robinson-...

"It turns out that a majority of Americans think that Obama was racist for saying what he said but McCain's ads weren't. It would seem that the most recognizable form of racism for most people is from those who "play the race card from the bottom of the deck." I suppose that's progress of a weird sort.

...

So, Obama is going to have to be a modern day Jackie Robinson and stoically endure the more subtle forms of racial ugliness that the right throws at him without ever fighting back or even mentioning that it is happening. If he's as good a politician as Robinson was a baseball player, he'll do it by sheer talent and force of will (and by boldly stealing home in the world series ...)"

[Uncle Joe]

38. It makes no difference whether Obama agrees or not, Carter is right.

I don't recall any other President being treated in such a manner during an address to the Congress.

Even if President Obama agreed with Carter, the office of the Presidency almost assures that he would need to take the high road and the corporate media know it.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

41. Correct. n/t

[madrchsod]

40. jimmy knows these good old boys from the south....

because barack is the president of the usa he`s staying above the fray...

[LuvNewcastle]

43. I think that one of the reasons Carter

made that remark was because he knew that Obama and the administration couldn't. He's taking the heat for them.

[Indigent]

44. What do you guys think opposition to Dennis Kucinich would be like?

If he ever became President, I have been wondering. I don't like to guess, though. What do you guys think?

[frylock]

56. plenty of opposition to DK right here on the DU..

you see all kinds of idiots here making derogatory comments about Rep. Kucinich.

[TerribleLarryDingle]

45. This has alread been posted

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[99 Percent Sure]

47. At this point in our political times, with HCR being a major political battle that the president is

determined to win, it would be politically imprudent for the "White House" to call a spade a spade, as it were, with regard to the racist "Joe" Wilson, his fellow repugs, the birthers, the teabaggers, etc. But IMO, the president did a good job on 60 Minutes a few days ago when he discussed the mess.

It is what it is - racism - and President Carter hit the nail on the head, as usual.

[JI7]

48. remember the crap Obama got for telling the truth about black and hispanics getting stopped

while driving because of their race ?

Obama just wont be able to mention much about racism against minorities without the racists and their media whores attacking him for it.

good for Carter for speaking out but i wish more would do so.

[cosmicone]

49. I wish non-political people would state the obvious ...

Where is Oprah Winfrey?

Where is Colin Powell?

What are they afraid of?

[Uncle Joe]

54. I believe Carter was the perfect messenger.

I don't believe Oprah or Colin Powell are afraid, I believe they want national/racial unity but as the primary culprit of this subliminal and overt racism rests with the white community, the responsibility rests primarily on the white community's shoulders to condemn it.

[CakeGrrl]

50. Once again: The WH is (wisely) not going to wade into this hornet's nest.

No matter how much bait the press dangles. They are not taking it.

The MSM would talk about nothing else (meaning they'd sidetrack Healthcare). And they'd distort the WH's statements and the WH would chase their tails correcting MSM spin.

They know the MSM is NOT their ally. They aren't giving them anything to work with.

Carter and others can and should continue to speak the truth. And the dialogue can be elevated by the reaction to the White House keeping a deliberate distance if need be.

[fascisthunter]

51. here's my answer... So What?

[Chemisse]

53. People watching the news may assume the wingnuts only have

legitimate political gripes with Obama.

I think it is informative to know that it is peppered with racism. It's like a conflict of interest; it makes their arguments suspect for discerning watchers.

[fascisthunter]

55. legitimate? Rarely do I see any legitimacy coming from the right wing

but I understand your point

[Chemisse]

64. LOL - I was trying to be generous - nt

[Mithreal]

59. Agreed.

If Gibbs and Obama want to argue the opposition is all about some rational differences in opinion then I really don't care what they think on the subject.

Must play well with corporate masters and Independents though.

[burning rain]

57. From the president's point of view....

it pays to choose his fights wisely and avoid getting bogged down in a controversy that would ill-serve his policy agenda, which is damn full right now with healthcare. Look at the shitstorm over his mild remarks to Lynn Sweet when she asked about Skip Gates' arrest!

[wisteria]

58. I think we all know that SOME of these "dissenters" are racially motivated,

President Carter gave an honest assessment of the situation. However, I can fully understand why President Obama can not agree with Mr. Carter's comments publicly. He needs to remain above the frey. Accusation of racism are hard to prove and getting in the middle of this type of discussion would be both a distraction and a rallying point for Republican.


I also wanted to mention that those people who are hidding their racism behind some phony outrage are not just Southerners. I live in the western part of PA and there are plenty of them right here.

[Indigent]

69. Carter said an overwhelming portion, not just "some"

There is a difference.

[gatorboy]

72. What do you think personally?

Overwhelming portion of some?

[wisteria]

73. True, but there are those who just resent any Democrat and others who just do not like the debt

and changes associated with the administration. I can not go as far as to say all those protesting against President Obama are racist.

[No Elephants]

80. No one said all. But, WHY is thte debt associated with this administration, rather than with Dummya'

Have you considered why that is? Please see Reply 79.

Besides, we were in massive debt under Bush, before the bailout and before the stimulus, both on the books and off the books. Where was all this rage on the streets then?

[rove karl rove]

61. an all-around mistake

Carter should have never said it and the media should've left Gibbs alone trying to make him answer. This puts Obama on the defensive.

[Joe Chi Minh]

62. Obama knows tackling pathological racism head-on is not the shrewdest way

to go. There's more than one way to swing a cat.

Rather like terrorism is best treated as a policing matter (not tinder for a firestorm of emotional raging and tub-thumping, however justified and cathartic), that outburst was best dealt with on the grounds that it would be behaviour unbecoming a public servant even at local level; on Capitol Hill, it was a breach of formal protocol and egregiously, historically "bad form". The language of the playground.

Of course, Jimmy Carter has long been a great champion of all groups of people innocently marginalised in any way, and some years ago, apparently, delivered a searing diatribe to a group of Southern judges - while he was their guest speaker!!!!

And it knocked HST for six. He wondered if he'd heard something Carter had said, correctly, and soon realised that, indeed, he had. From such a master of withering invective, that's some commendation.

[MasonJar]

65. Great job, Obama administration. Jimmy Carter is trying to point out

an obvious ploy by the right wing GOPers and Obama undermines him. No small wonder that Democrats are so ineffective. Carter stands very tall in every little thing that he does or says. Barack Obama had better hope he can fill shoes like those some day. Everytime we had a dem president the entire last century the GOPers brought out the big guns to trash us/him. I personally am sick of having to take it. I want a president who will face down these vermin.

[noiretextatique]

66. well-said

i am really getting sick of obama's wishy-washy strategery

[JBoy]

67. Great. Now we'll get to hear Virginia Foxx:

"President Obama, an African-American, disagrees with President Carter".

[Loge23]

68. Grow a pair, Bama

It's easy and fun - and they will help you stand up to the same morons that you are desperately trying to court.

Thanks Jimmy - you are right.

[jonestonesusa]

70. I agree largely. Obama should not stay silent while the country's

racial atmosphere takes a turn towards 1963. The Kennedys, Lyndon Johnson, even Harry Truman with desegregating the military - they all had to step up on the issue of racism and accept the political costs in order to do the right thing.

I can see how this particular situation could become too much of a one-on-one confrontation, but the president's silence on the wingnuttery that is sweeping the country cannot continue. Sure, standing up righteously for anti-racism may piss off the feckless MSM, Faux News and the Ben Nelson sympathizers on DU, but that's the price of leadership. We're certainly not going to get it from the rank and file elected Dems unless the President leads the way.

[janedum]

71. Jimmy Carter is a SOUTHERN WHITE MALE telling the TRUTH!!

Growing up down South in the 1930's, I'm sure he heard the N+ word a million times.
Thanks Jimmy.
Some people can't handle the truth.

[No Elephants]

82. Funny how people talking about racism will use sexist language without

giving it a second thought.

Testicles = strong, brave, gutsy, having a backbone, assertive and other admirable qualities

Pussy = weak, cowardly, wimpy, spineless and other undesirable qualities.

Do you want to keep reinforcing those gender stereotypes?

[FreedomTrain]

75. I agree with the president.

And here's an interesting little conundrum for those of you who are saying you don't: According to your own logic, you are then racist.

Now go ahead and unrecommend this thread. You know you want to.

[No Elephants]

83. Carter is doing a great thing. Obama is doing the ONLY thing he can do. Both are right.

[24601]

84. Let's quantify it and factor in that President Obama is in reality

1/2 black and 1/2 white. Therefore, only 1/2 of the criticism of the President's policies is motivated by race.

Former President Carter, a graduate of the semi-accredited United States Naval Academy, has an engineering background and should be able to run those numbers.

Kidding aside, the White House is closer to the issue than Mr. Carter, for whom (aside from his dubious choice of USNA for "college" I have great respect. President Obama is absolutely right and I support him on this. Anyone shouting racism from the rooftops is presuming to know the hearts of the opposition and, given the gulf between left and right, it's highly unlikely they have had any heart to heart talks and know any of them well enough to make an informed judgment.

[JeanGrey]

85. They are right. If race were that big of a factor Obama would

have never gotten elected in the first place.