Racism, Jimmy Carter and the Obama Administration

For years, we have seen the tactics of the progressive left used over and over again. Whenever someone disagrees with a liberal viewpoint, particularly when the liberal view is held by an African American, the left throws out charges of racism. Of course, there is rarely any proof to this charge. Erroneous charges of racism are as ugly and disgusting as when true racist actions occur. False racist accusations do a great disservice to blacks by diluting factual cases of racism that honestly occur.

Enter former President Jimmy Carter who once again has shown conduct unbecoming of a former President of the United States. Carter was responding to Senator Joe Wilson's "you lie" comment that was addressed to President Obama during his recent Health Care speech. "I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man," Carter told NBC News. Oh really, Jimmy? On what do you base that opinion? Does Carter have some clairvoyant capabilities that allow him to know the thoughts of all those not in favor of President Obama's ideas on Health Care Reform? Does that mean that all the African Americans that did not like President Bush's ideas and vehemently stated their opposition to them are racist? Or, does racism only work in one direction?

Carter continued "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 very deeply." This comment is truly, incredibly appalling! Personally, I never thought Barack Obama was qualified to lead our country. My views have absolutely nothing to do with the color of his skin; rather, I came to that conclusion based upon his very short length of experience! If believing that Obama is not qualified to lead our country makes me a racist, how does that fit with my support of Michael Steele as the leader of the Republican Party? Or my admiration of Alan Keyes, the black conservative? Or the fact that I am close friends with many African Americans?

My thoughts are in line with Michael Steele, the first African-American to become chairman of the Republican National Committee. "President Carter is flat out wrong. This isn't about race. It is about policy," Steele said in a statement. "This is a pathetic distraction by Democrats to shift attention away from the president's wildly unpopular government-run healthcare plan that the American people simply oppose."

Robert Gibbs, Obama's White House spokesman publicly stated that "The president does not think it is based on the color of his skin." Whew, what a relief! I am so happy to know that the President of the United States, the leader of the free world is not so shallow as to believe that anyone who disagrees with him does so because he is black!

Tragically, the left that has too often made wildly unsubstantiated charges of racism will eventually find this tactic will backfire in ways they could not comprehend. If the left is not careful, they will find their accusations have the opposite effect of what they intended to accomplish by leveling the charge in the first place.