Obama Doesn't See Race as a Factor in Criticism

A senior adviser says Obama disagrees with those who see racism at play

By Kenneth T. Walsh

September 16, 2009 RSS Feed Print

President Obama doesn't believe that racism is much of a factor in the wave of opposition to his policies evident at rallies and other protests around the country this summer. Obama acknowledges that many Americans oppose his ideas on healthcare and other issues, but he disagrees with those who see racism at play, a senior Obama adviser told U.S. News.

Obama, the first African-American president, still feels a strong sense of approval and affection from the crowds that he speaks to, a replication of the positive attitudes he felt from voters, both white and black, during the campaign. Obama believes that any racist sentiment against him is held by a very tiny minority that doesn't reflect the attitudes of the vast majority of Americans, the senior Obama aide says. Obama tells friends that the American people have been very "welcoming" to him, and he gets the feeling that they are still rooting for him to succeed.

The media, including CNN, Fox News, columnist Maureen Dowd of The New York Times, and writers in the blogosphere, are raising questions about whether the anti-Obama movement is tinged with racial prejudice. Some critics have also questioned whether Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina would have disrupted President Obama's address to Congress last week—calling Obama a liar—if the president had been white.

Tags:
race,
Barack Obama

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the problem with race relations in this country is that despite the fact that many inroads have been made, racism still exists. The problem is that now racism is underground; people are not discriminated against openly, unless there is a person stupid enough to do or say just that. By en large, the discrimination is subtle and imperceptible. Some people refuse to see it that way, and it's their opinion. Anyone who does not believe racism comes up anytime this president speaks or does anything, must either be on drugs, or spent the last 75 years in another planet. The media, as sensational as they often are, does right in bringing the point to the forefront. This country needs to address its dirty laundry head on, and sweeping any notion that seems uncomfortable under the rug fails to miss the opportunity to resolve the issue.

Abel A. Rodriguez of FL 9:27PM September 17, 2009

I appreciate Mr. Obama's response to issue of race for motive to Mr. Wilson's comment. I like others think that Mr. Wilson did not think before he reacted. He made comment inappropriately and in the wrong venue. But I see it as nothing more than emotionalism. I do believe that Mr. Carter was very wrong for making this sort of issue public. He has no way of knowing what was on Mr. Wilson's mind or heart.

Steven L. Gregory of MO 4:44PM September 17, 2009

Maureen Dowd's column in the NY Times, "Boy, oh, Boy" was unfortunate, and by adding the word "boy" after Congressman Joe Wilson's "You lie!" outburst, a word that she only heard in her perverted head, she made his comment racial. Even worse, she admitted that her addition was made, "Fair or not..." . This is shamelessly poor journalism, pathetic and inexcusable, because in a world overpopulated with 24/7 media, it was bound to have even more unintended consequences than even her small mind could have imagined.

Now we're discussing race, when we should be having an open debate about policies. We can pretend that it's about race, but when Bush was attacked so viciously about his policies in Iraq, by Dan Rather making up stories about his National Guard service, etc. which were beyond vicious, no one said that it was about race. Of course not. Personally, in spite of the dowdy Jimmy Carter (pun intended), Congressman Maxine Waters, and columnist Dowd, I do not see or hear any racist comments about President Obama. I'm sure that there are some, there always are, but what I do hear about is opposition to his "too much borrowing, too much spending, and too much government intrusion in our lives" that the president supports. And that last comment comes from Michael Williams, a Republican candidate for the Senate from Texas (who happens to be African-American).

Were this 30 years ago, with only three networks and 30 minutes of news each day from each, and the Internet, bloggers and others did not report everything everyone said instantly, stupid, unsupported conjecture would not find a voice, a babbling ex-president would not be heard unless someone got to his memoirs. But today, with too many news hours to fill and too many columnists, things that we don't need to see or hear, we see and hear. There are thousands of media outlets now, feeding on each other, and stupidity is on display from reality shows to the news every day.

Sherlock Holmes of NH 4:20PM September 17, 2009

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