A Conservative's Viewpoint
During President Barack Obama's recent health care address to a joint session of Congress, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-SC., stunned everyone in the chamber and a national television audience when he interrupted the president and yelled out, "You lie!" Obama had just stated that his health plan would not cover illegal immigrants, when Wilson came unglued. One can nuance whether the congressman was technically correct or incorrect in his assertion, but suffice it to say his remarks in that setting were inappropriate. Wilson personally apologized to the president and Obama graciously accepted. That should have been the end of it. It wasn't.
The House of Representatives passed a resolution citing Wilson for his breach of decorum when he refused to apologize to them. The vote was largely along party lines with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposed. Wilson felt his one apology was enough. That certainly should have been the end of it. It wasn't.
Some on the left have concluded that Wilson's remarks were racially motivated. New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote: "...fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: "You lie, boy!" Dowd goes on to justify her assertion by citing Wilson's former membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans and his support to keep the Confederate flag flying over the state capital in Columbia. "Wilson clearly did not like being lectured by the brainy black president presiding over the majestic chamber," Dowd said.
Columnist Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post said, "For the record, I suspect that Obama's race leads some of his critics to feel they have the permission to deny him the legitimacy, stature and common courtesy that are any president's due."
Last week former President Jimmy Carter could not keep from also interjecting his two cents. Carter said Wilson's remarks were rooted in fears of a black president. "I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward Barack Obama is based on the fact the he is a black man," Carter said. He continued, "...many white people, not just in the south but around the country, feel that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country."
Is Joe Wilson a racist? I don't know the answer to that any more than if asked if Sen. Robert Byrd, D.-W.VA., a former member of the Ku Klux Klan is a racist. Does racism still exist? Of course it does. Is it the root cause of Obama's recent slide in the polls? Michael Steele, the black Republican National Committee Chairman, someone who should know a thing or two about racism said, "This isn't about race, it's about policy."
A Rasmussen Poll conducted last week asked if racism is a factor in the immense public opposition to Obama's health care initiative. Only 12 percent of voters nationwide believe race is a factor, while an overwhelming 67 percent say its not. Just one week after Obama's speech, opposition to his health plan has reached a new high of 55 percent; support at 42 percent. The health care debate clearly has nothing to do with race.
When Obama was elected to the presidency he received almost 70 million votes. While 96 percent of blacks supported Obama, their 12 million votes alone would obviously not have delivered him the election. In fact, Obama's non-black votes roughly equaled the total number of votes received by Sen. John McCain, R.-Ariz.
Racism is often used by liberals against those who disagree with them, most recently as it applies to any opposition to Obama. Dissent has become the lowest form of racism. Just like the boy who too often cried wolf, folks are beginning to ignore it. Many are sick and tired of this tactic being constantly trotted out by the left. People who have legitimate concerns want to be heard, not silenced or mischaracterized because of their views. If the left continues to level baseless charges of prejudice against any and all opposition, then we may soon tragically find ourselves unable to distinguish between what is and what isn't racism.
Since Obama's election, Democrats continue to hurt any chance of a post-racial America. Perpetrating white guilt upon the masses is the last thing our first black president wants or needs. Obama has said as much. Yet many Democrats continue to inject racism into the debate in spite of the fact it's often stupid, offensive and without evidence. If anyone wants to see real proof of racism, look no further than the inner city school systems across the nation that Democrats are continuing to squeeze the life out of while offering no alternative school choice.
Questioning this president or any president is the right of every citizen. If we disagree with the direction we're being led, we have the right to dissent. Most who do aren't extremists, but patriots, and most certainly are not racists. Obama was elected because he told us he was a centrist. We've seen little evidence of that.
Last week a Gallup poll showed Obama's disapproval numbers at 42 percent, indicating he has fallen further and faster than any president in recent memory. His negatives are being driven by an overly ambitious liberal agenda, out of control spending and an often incoherent foreign policy. America has rejected liberalism time and time again, and polls to date are reflecting it's no different with this president.
Liberals know Obama's falling poll numbers have little to do with race, yet, they're hoping they can advance their agenda by once again pulling the race card. That may have worked in the past, but no more. America elected its first black president by 10 million votes last November, removing most of what remained of any lingering white guilt. Let's listen to Obama and stop pretending that most opposition to him is about race.
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