I just pulled up the first 3 links that popped up for me while searching “rush limbaugh racist quotes” and I must say it’s hard for anyone to justify slavery or justify awarding a confessed murderer a medal of honor.

**Did you know?** You don’t need to be taped saying the n-word to be labeled a racist.

These people are politically motivated and supported by their constituents. I know for a fact that there is racism and racists out there. Since the makeup of our Congress is -supposed- to represent the makeup of the general US population…some events only make me wonder…

Here’s an interesting observation I saw the other day by a “historian”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaxscHd4WnM

It seems to me like the left has jedi mind-tricked the body politic in this regard, by shifting the focus away from the merits (or lack thereof) of the health care proposals. I suspect some of it has to do with weakening the criticism by attacking the critic(s), instead of addressing head-on whatever piece of the proposal is being criticized. Wilson certainly didn’t help the discussion by his moronic outburst.

Maybe Robinson is on a list with Carter in one regard, but not on another. We could spend some time diving into that and then come up with solid distinctions. Wouldn’t our time be better spent, however, on more important issues?

We could have a philosophical discussion about to what degree Robinson and Carter see racial motivation, but they are both on the same list of publicly saying (as I put in my post) “that varying degrees of the criticism directed towards Obama are motivated by racism”

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/09/18/jimmy_carters_favor_98361.html

where he states: ” I can say in plain language that Jimmy Carter was right in essence, but wrong in degree. It seems clear to me that some — but not “an overwhelming portion,” as Carter claimed — of the “intensely demonstrated animosity” toward Obama is indeed “based on the fact that he is a black man.” ”

also linked at: http://www.brianslens.blogspot.com/

The entire issue is ridiculous.

“For many white Americans, Barack Obama is nothing more than that black guy in the White House, and they want him out of there. ”
Who’s blanketing whom Dan?

1. They are Obama supporters
2. They’ve all stated recently that varying degrees of the criticism directed towards Obama are motivated by racism.

I suspect they have a third thing in common also: They want Obama’s critics to be racists.

Please note that I said I suspect that they want it, not that they do. I am no more able to see into their hidden desires and motivations then they are able to see into Joe Wilson, or anyone else they associate racism to based on criticism of Obama’s administration.

Assigning racial motives to any criticism of Obama, however, does afford them some benefits. It allows them to feel morally superior, to look down on someone as a backwards bigot. To the extent someone is a backwards bigot, and you are not, you should feel morally superior. But only to the extent that both of those are true. If someone isn’t motivated by racism in criticizing Obama, however, and you look down on them as a racist, I think you’ve lost more than a little of your moral high ground.

It also spares them of having to deal with the inconvenient reality that whatever proposal of Obama’s is being criticized may actually make things worse. An honest, objective assessment of whatever it is may lead you to the conclusion that, in that particular instance, Obama is wrong. Really understanding an issue honestly and objectively, however, takes a lot of work. You can certainly spare someone having to do that work by dismissing any criticism of Obamacare, for example, as racially motivated.

I have no doubt there are people in America who can’t stand Obama because he’s black. But what of those who criticize Obama based on a different view of the role of government than he’s been promoting? Joe Wilson’s pathetic outburst may be viewed by some as a gift to be exploited… an opportunity to change the discussion away from the wisdom of an expanded federal role in health care to the racial motivations of those who question that role.

I agree with your second paragraph though. This kneejerk partisan reaction to everything is highly destructive. I would argue though that most, not all, of the kneejerk reaction comes from the Left. Your Bush example, and the current racism example I offer as proof.

I never said I see racism everywhere. I said that Democrats use the race card when ever it suits them. My evidence for this was Obama’s use againts Clinton and Ferraro. Hank Johnson’s recent comments, Carter’s recent comments, Jesse Jackson’s and Al Sharpton’s whole careers…there are more but I’m being too lazy right now to type them out….I know Methinks can and will come up with more examples.
I also said that, I think the real racists are the one’s that go around looking for it in every nook and cranny. Did I ever say that I go around looking for it? Your trying to imply something that I never said. Which in turn is trying to use my words to label me as a racist. I don’t really appreciate that.