Jimmy Carter may well have overstated his case about the racial undertones of those criticising the President, but that doesn’t mean his argument has no merit. Yes, a lot of those who object to Obama’s politics do so from reasonable grounds, even if you happen to disagree with them. But there is a significant constituency who are opposed to the President for the simple reason that he is black. Carter’s criticism has relevance because those leading the populist opposition to Obama, such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, have done virtually nothing to limit, contain or denounce this sinister fringe. To make matters worse, Rush Limbaugh is seen to be fanning these flames to pander to the racist constituency.
now we have Rush Limbaugh blaming Obama for black kids beating up a white kid on a school bus. This is what happens in “Obama’s America,” he said today on his radio show.
How low will these people go? Look, I think it’s important to talk about black male violence, or at least as important as it is to talk about any other important social trend. I don’t think we should be squeamish about discussing it in a responsible and fair-minded way, despite what the politically correct say. But good grief, Limbaugh is up to something wicked. He’s plainly trying to rally white conservatives into thinking that now that we have a black president, blacks are rising up to attack white kids! Christ have mercy, what is wrong with these people?
I won’t have anything to do with it, not even tangentially, which is why I took down the post. I can’t see this as anything other than Limbaugh deliberately trying to whip up racial fear and loathing of the president. This goes far, far beyond tough criticism of Obama. Does that man Limbaugh have any idea what rough beast he’s calling forth?
Have I suddenly become left-wing in saying this? No, just consistent. Earlier this year I made a pretty similar argument about the same thing happening on the left about Israel: an anti-semitic fringe exists that is either explained away or pandered to, but rarely denounced or distanced. This is pretty much the same argument, but applied to the American Right. In both cases, the majority of critics are not racist, but they invite such an accusation when they fail to get their own house in order and deal with the sinister underbelly of their movements. Those who do take them to task are also, unfortunately, not in the mainstream either.
Hat-Tip: Andrew Sullivan
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Rush is an abhorrent human being. He spouts incredible vitriol and slander on his filthy (but apparently most listened to) radio station. The clincher is that this man made the list of the 100 greatest Americans.
All we’re seeing here is American conservative punditry performing feats of incredible hypocrisy now that the political shoe is on the other foot. Whereas 7 years ago, Sean Hannity launched into the “traitors” and “America haters” who “dared” to defy the President’s decision to invade Iraq, it’s now America’s “God-given duty” to “take to the streets” as he cheers on teary-eyed while Fox News correspondents whip up crowds branding “Barack Obama = Hitler” signs. What about when Bill O’Reilly told protesters “why don’t you just shut up” at the apex of the antiwar movement, but is now suggesting that a liberal conspiracy is preventing reasoned debate? – (Bill O’Reilly and Reason in the same sentence – Ha!) If Glenn Beck is so in love with his country that he weeps like a sick child on network television, then why doesn’t he show his country a balanced assesment of the NHS in lieu, or at least addition, of Dan Hannan? Simple – because the journalistic skills of the aforementioned amount to nothing but mere showboating, slander, and shouting.
And on Limbaugh’s point – Yeah, as if racial tension wasn’t rife throughout American cities before an African-American entered the White House. Duh.
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