Fear Of A Black President

In response to an audience question at a town hall meeting held in Atlanta yesterday, former President Jimmy Carter stated SC congressman Joe Wilson’s Outburst interrupting President Obama’s speech was “based on racism”. Carter went on to say “there is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president.” and that Wilson’s outburst was a disturbing trend directed at the president that has included demonstrators equating Obama to Nazi leaders. Sound familiar?

The Republican response has been that Carter has played the “race card” and nothing could be further from the truth. How typical. The only thing missing from their response was for them to trot out Wilson’s Black best friend. Oh wait, Michael Steele the African-American Republican National Committee Chairman got in on the act accusing Democrats of using the race issue to shift attention away from the health care plan. The race issue? And from a Black man no less.

Why is that whenever race is mentioned as a possible cause or motivation for the actions of these conservative Republicans and their talking heads the defense is the “race card” accusation, as if racism could not possibly be involved and would be ridiculous to suggest? It’s not that they don’t see it but simply refuse to acknowledge it or acknowledge the fact that racism has distorted their view of President Obama as the leader of this country. So the debate will consist of denials of racism by the Republicans who will state that it’s the administration’s policies they disagree with. Maybe but that doesn’t explain the constant disrespect of or explain the underlying factors spurring the ongoing negative reactions against the president.

In response to Carter’s statement Wilson’s son came out in defense of his father stating, “Nothing could be further from the truth” and “he doesn’t even laugh at distasteful jokes” and of course “there’s not a racist bone in his body”. Really. In fact when Essie Mae Washington-Williams identified SC Sen. Strom Thurmond as her father upon his death in 2003, Wilson called it unseemly and a smear. As a state senator he was one of the main proponents of efforts to keep the Confederate flag waving at the state capital. The Confederate flag, that shameless reminder of slavery and segregation in the south. The flag used as a symbol of hate by many racist groups including the KKK. Not a racist?

Finally, the most telling point to come from former President Carter was when speaking of having been raised in the south he said, “That racism inclination still exists, and I think it’s bubbled up to the surface because of the belief among many white people, not just in the south but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It’s an abominable circumstance and it grieves me and concerns me deeply”. Me too Jimmy, me too.