Obama presidency brings out worst in many white people

[proud2BlibKansan]

President Barack Obama may not be the most disrespected occupant of the White House, but he certainly has brought out the worst in many white people.

He has been hit with a plethora of racist comments, slurs and cartoons unlike any other president in U.S. history. But unfortunately in this country that goes with being the first black president.

Not even his family is immune. The latest racial slur was directed against First Lady Michelle Obama with Kansas House Speaker Mike O’Neal criticizing her hair style, labeling it “Mrs. YoMama.” Like many others pinned for either making or distributing such comments, O’Neal has apologized and denied any offense.

But to anyone with a grain of sensitivity, such things are racist and inexcusable.

http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/obama-presidency-brings-out-worst-many-white-people/

[comipinko]

1. Real question....Are you surprised? I am not.

Ashamed, but not surprised.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Not surprised at all

This editorial is spot on.

Check out the comments. The racists STILL don't get it.

[comipinko]

4. They never will.

[southernyankeebelle]

2. Then when they are called on it then they will say sorry. But you know damn well they just don't

mean it.

[unblock]

7. it's the "sorry you feel that way" or "sorry i got caught" apology.

"sorry if i said anything you found offensive".

[southernyankeebelle]

9. You are right.

[limpyhobbler]

5. Just read through the comments below that article.

[unblock]

6. i disagree with the premise. REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS bring out the worst in many white people.

sure, we've got an historical first with a black president, but racism has been a key theme in presidential elections and federal politics going back ages. republicans railed on clinton for his friendliness with the black community, poppy nailed dukakis with that willie horton ad, and much of reagan's rhetoric was putting a smiling grandpa face on kkk-thinking. all carefully coded, of course. overt racism doesn't play, it requires that apology and back-pedalling. if you're a republican politician, dog whistle racism wins the hearts and minds and campaign contributions of bigots while costing the votes of people who weren't going to vote for you anyway.


some of the intensity of the attacks have intensified a bit, but only from a few fringe people (birthers, e.g.). that could be because we actually have a black president, but also because partisanship and nastiness has steadily increased every since about 1978.


frankly, i'm impressed that republicans haven't done more to discredit themselves, faced with a black man in office. i expected them not to be able to contain their hooded robes. that "you lie" comment was the kind of thing i expected, but far more frequently.

overall, the PEOPLE, including most white people, seem to be accepting obama as president without thinking twice about it. it's the republican politicians who spew the nastiness.

[Solly Mack]

8. He didn't bring it out - that hate was already active and being used on others.

Obama became another target of that hate but that hate was already thriving in them.

Now, Obama running for and becoming President gave the haters a wider audience but those haters were already practicing their hate on those around them. Obama just happens to be their most public target. Nobody woke up a racist just because Obama was elected. They were always racists. They're just louder now with a bigger audience.

I'd wager O'Neal (and others like him) has attacked others with his racism long before Obama was on the scene.

The 'worst' was already in them - it is just bubbling over in a more public forum is all.