[OakShannon]

What is your opinion about President Carter's comments about Representative Joe Wilson yelling, "You lie!" at president Obama during a speech about health care reform?

"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."

Of course, a number of people are crying foul and I read a headline regarding his son's defensive of him.

On Saturday, I was in a class on race and white privilege with other TRA parents. Someone mentioned this incident and other harsh criticism opposition that Obama has been facing. She said that it was related to race/racism. Not a controversial statement in that crowd. I think everyone basically agreed with her.

Then, on Sunday, my pastor said exactly the same thing during the sermon. George Bush didn't get treated that way no matter what he did. So why Obama? Because he's black. Huge applause. Not a controversial statement in that crowd either.

It's one of those times when it seems like the way it looks to you really depends upon where you are standing.

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

[aclee]

I think the fact that Obama has faced more outright disrespect from our countries citizen's and other leaders in this country is absolutely because he is AA.

It's very hard to say if the things he is trying to do are more "radical" so they get more attention (like the healthcare) or if everyone is looking at what he does through a magnify glass because he is AA. I do feel like some are "waiting" for him to fail instead of hoping he succeeds. Is it because he is AA, or is it because he is/was so "movie star" popular? Is it because he is so hopeful of making change. I would say that with different people it's different things. I think with some people it IS that he is AA.

[CaddoRose]

I absolutely believe that President Obama is being treated in such a disrespectful manner because he is black. I have never seen or heard such vehement opposition to a President before. People are opening saying they hope he fails at trying to bring the country back from the financial mess we're in. WT?? They hope he fails so the country is in deeper do-do? I think they just can't stand the idea that a black man could fix things.

[jp4ga]

I think that Obama has faced much criticisim based on his race alone. However I don't feel this comment "you lie" was racist. I think that Wilson should have kept his mouth shut and kept his thought to himself, it was inappropriate in that venue. I don't think he made the comment as a racist remark. It was out of his disagreement of the health care bill.

Now, if I were sitting next to him and heard anything said before or after the comment I might have a differnt take. We need to quit assuming that people are racist because they disagree with someone.

I work in a highly diverse school and am called racist if I give a bad grade, or correct a misbehaving student. I get so tired of "you are only failing me becasue I am "fill in race." Just last week I was called racist, because a student asked me if I missed Michael Jackson. When I said no, he said thats because you are a racist. What??? I don't understand the thought process that some use to connect the dots between what is said and being a racist.

[nickchris]

Its the big picture aspect here in regards to racism, and power. One has to look at Joe Wilson's past, and what he voted and stood for. That gives a bigger picture imo in his outburst. In addition, race or Pres. Obama's race is one of the factors.

[richmonder]

I think that President Carter does not have a leg to stand on considering his most recent actions with some middle easter terrorist groups.

I think the "You lie" statement was made not because of Obama's race, but because what he is stating as facts of the Healthcare reform are not adding up. The statement was not appropriate for the setting, but it was made on the issue and not on the man.

I do know there are many people out there that are racist, but it comes from all races and against all races, not just one. People can disagree with each other without it being motivated in hate and race.

What I honestly believe is going on is that this country has become so divided with Democrat vs. Republican that people want Obama to fail because he is primarily Democrat and very liberal. Not because of his race but because his position is so against what the other group stands for. Both Dems and Reps are slinging mud left and right. The Dems did the very thing they are screaming about when President Bush was in office.

I don't think the country has ever been this divided on issues. We are in huge debt like we have neve seen before, we are in a recession, people are losing their jobs left and right and we have the highest unemployment rate we have ever had. The money that is being spent in Washington is sickening. There doesn't seem to be an end is site and when these big issues are being ignored in favor of healthcare reform, it causes even more tension.

[nickchris]

How is fmr President Carter a racist himself? I also think Joe Wilson's disrespectful outburst had no merit based on the illegal aliens verbiage.

[SupaModel]

Originally Posted by aclee

I think the fact that Obama has faced more outright disrespect from our countries citizen's and other leaders in this country is absolutely because he is AA.
.

Aclee I TOTALLY agree and it makes me sick!

[momraine]

I actually don't see that. I saw people constantly making fun of Bush and Clinton. I think they were bashed far more than Obama. In fact I know some people that only voted for him so people wouldn't think they were racist, and others who are afraid that disagreeing with his policy's makes them racist. I am sure there are some who truly do have issues with his race, however, I am getting tired of hearing that anyone who disagrees with him is a racist. I have disagreed with something or other about every president since I have been old enough to care.

[sbaglio]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/op...dowd.html?_r=1

Already we can see in this thread, as OakShannon said, how you see this depends on your vantage point.

[crick]

I don't know if it's racism or not, (pertaining to Wilson specifically) but I do think Obama is outrightly disrespected more than any other president has been.

My family is VERY Republican, conservative and they cannot stand Obama. I got into a debate with my cousin over the health care issues and I asked her if she agreed with ANYTHING in his proposal. She said no. So I asked her if she agreed with Mccain or Romney's proposals and she said "Of course". I pointed out several areas where Mccain & Romney's ideas and proposals ARE in there. She brushed it all off saying "No, Obama changed it all." Sigh.

So I really don't know what to think about it, although I do think it's too easy to say that anyone that disagrees with him is a racist. That is not true and I think for many people it's based on the very conservative nature and any liberal president would be getting the same backlash on their ideas/proposals. Although, for some very very outspoken and vile people, I do think racism plays a part.

One of my aunts made an interesting comment though. She said "I just don't trust him". Now I don't know if that is racism persay, but I think it DOES show how our society has been ingrained to distrust the black man in general. kwim? Although she has black friends and all that blah blah blah, not racist in her life, she does not have an automatic sense of trust for him. Is that racist? Well on definitive terms, I think it is. Yet knowing her and her views, I also know that she would rather have a non liberal in office. She still talks about that "evil clinton" and "peanut Jimmy"....lol.

[momraine]

I think you will find as many reasons for liking or not liking a politition as you do people. Some people will simply distrust and not like someone because of thier party. Some becuase of their expereience or lack of it in politics, some because of gender, some because of past decision or indicressions, some because of age, (he's too young, or too old) Some love Obama, simple becuse he is not Bush. I agree with some of what he says and disagree with some of what he says. I don't think you will ever find someone in politics that is liked by everyone. I know a lot of people who simply don't trust anyone of one party or the other. I think for some it has to do with race, but for a lot it doesn't.

[Dickons]

I don't have any stake in this but it has been interesting to follow. What I cannot understand is why he has any crediblity when he has accepted so many contributions from the health care industry, the nursing home/hospital industries, and the pharmacuetical industries. Pretty much makes any of his statements null and void for credibilty for someone outside looking in. Oh and in 2003 he voted to provide illegal aliens with health care...

Kind regards,
Dickons

p.s. His first name is Addison - not Joe...

[crick]

That's true Mom...politics often have a lot to do with distrusting anyone of the opposite party. Personally I believe too that Obama is facing a lot of opposition due to mistakes made in the last 8 years. I think too that the first year of Presidency is the most difficult and the prior administration's mistakes always come into play.

I voted for Obama and do not agree with everything he says or is proposing. I did not vote for Bush and agreed with some things he did. (Which is why I'm an Independent voter because I don't agree with either Dem or Rep. views as a whole and fall in the middle on many things)

I think my horror on some things though is the lack of civility we as a society have lost. On all sides...

[sbaglio]

I was not a fan of George Bush. Far, far from it. But I never would have dreamed of calling him Hitler, or a Nazi, making an effigy of him hanging from a tree, painting pictures of him with a Hitler-like moustache...does President Obama merits ANY of this? This is the kind of thing that extremists in other countries did when Bush was in power. To see it here - and for what? Trying to provide healthcare to all Americans? - is astonishing.

I have NO problem with people disagreeing with his policies. Heck, I disagree with many of them myself. I'm also an Independent, and agreed with some of the things that McCain was advocating. But disrespecting the man and disagreeing with his policies have become conflated, in my opinion.