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On another board I frequent a foreign poster was trying to make sense of that protest. His comment was that from coverage he saw their signs seemed to be all over the map. "What" he wanted to know "were they protesting?"

Before I could answer someone else told him.


"Black President."

Only a million! We could rake up more than that!

Roy.

"What" he wanted to know "were they protesting?"."

That was my reaction to the first Tea Party protest, and it hasn't changed since then. No significant point that I can see. Their comments and placards suggest that they're not only all over the place with very little focus, but also have a poor grasp of facts on current issues. Complex issues reduced to inaccurate sound bytes and placard slogans by political opposition using disinformation.

So, people react to what arouses them emotionally, and not always intelligently or coherently.

Before I could answer someone else told him.


"Black President."

Ironically, as I type this, I'm listening to an NPR program discussing that very issue. It's not anti Semitic to criticize Israel, and it's not racist to criticize Obama - so long as the criticism focuses on genuine discussion of real issues. But, there's definitely a racist element in some of the opposition to Obama. Even conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, who is a guest on the NPR program that I'm listening to, has admitted that there was a racist element in the recent Washington demonstration.

The whole premise of the birthers is racist - He can't possibly be a "real" American, can he?

It's disturbing that this attitude is encouraged by mainstream politicians to the point that they legitimize the lunacy of fringe lunatics. After 8 years of Bush/Cheney questionable legitimacy - especially the first 4 years - they now want to undermine Obama's legitimacy.

Political strategy tactics for politicians, but an appeal to racism among followers.

What do Republicans have left?

The denounce every plan that comes forward but have no ideas of their own....other than more tax cuts for the rich.

Obama got 43% of the white vote. In Alabama, Mississippi and Louisana the rates were between 10 and 14%. A while back Bill Maher said that the white power structure was watching 'power be stripped from its bony hands' and they would not go quietly.

What do Republicans have left?

Nothing. But I never underestimate the opposition. Long before Obama, they became a self-righteously outraged party of shouters, and it worked against Clinton, then Gore. Well, not totally. Not without a little vote tampering and SCOTUS intervention.

The denounce every plan that comes forward but have no ideas of their own....other than more tax cuts for the rich.

As Ed Shultz says, the party of "no."

A while back Bill Maher said that the white power structure was watching 'power be stripped from its bony hands' and they would not go quietly.

I love Bill Maher, but I'd qualify that statement of his. Some people in the white power structure have a perception that power's being stripped from them, but it's a misperception. Obama didn't run as a black candidate (couldn't have won if he did) and he doesn't govern as an exclusively black president (which he could do now that he's in, but doesn't). Politically, he's an American, Democrat, and black - in that order. But, some people will always see him in this order - black, Democrat, not really American.

Digit wrote:Only a million! We could rake up more than that!

Roy.

We not only could, but should.

The issues are complex and therefore confusing to a lot of people, even before the spinmeisters distort them with disinformation.

We need to counteract the disinformation - in talk show calls, on Internet boards, in letters to newspapers and magazines.

We need a focal point of positive emotion to rally Obama's supporters around, one that motivates them enough to come forward in a demonstration that focuses attention back on real issues.

Republican leaders are using tea baggers, town hall shouts, and this demonstration to build support for the 2010 midterms. If they can gain enough Congressional seats, they can fight Obama's programs and policies in Congress.

Some people in the white power structure have a perception that power's being stripped from them, but it's a misperception.

Does not apply at all to the whack jobs who are out there demanding "their country back."

What national republican leaders are stepping forward to denounce the nut jobs? I can't think of any.

The Republican primaries are going to be a circus as each candidate tries to prove he's a bigger nazi than everyone else.

jw1815 wrote: But, some people will always see him in this order - black, Democrat, not really American.

And "not really Americans" engage in "un-American activities", and can be prosecuted and incarcerated for them. Under current law even easier, a whole lot easier!, than in the early fifties... (remember old Joe's witch hunts? [both Stalin and McCarthy, TBS]. Under current law that travesty of justice can easily be scaled up by a couple magnitudes!). And that Sword of Damocles over Obama's head is by itself probably enough to 'keep him in line'. Making him effectively a puppet, a placeholder.

Other 'interests' – read: pressures – only make doubly sure he toes the line.

Despite 'all' his blackness (it is, after all, realistically 'only' 50%), his ministerial rhetoric, and his messianic P.R. machine – a.k.a. smoke & mirrors – Obama isn't even going to make a dent in the establishment power structure. Quite the contrary, by 'allowing' (not that he has any choice in the matter) the establishment power structure to get away with its crimes of the past decade the president effectively proves and accepts its sovereignty, un-accountability and invulnerability, and perpetuates it.
Reinforcing it, instead of deconstructing it.

Forward brothers! To the revolution!

Roy.

Vive!

Better looking leader than Castro!

Roy.

Is it beards you don't like...or cigars?

I used to have a beard but prefer them on men rather than women, as regards cigars, they can be very nice, ask Bill!
Racism in my experience is learned, not inherited. Some of what has happened may be distasteful, but the fact that America has a black president shows how far they have come in the last few years.
Though many will find such things distasteful, at least the Americans can be openly racist, over here you can't say boo to a Goose without a visit from the cops or being sent for 're-education, or diversity training!'
Many Muslims in the UK stated that they could not vote for the Conservatives when Michael Howard was the leader as he is a Jew. Democracy? Racial tolerance?
No law will ever change how people think, only what they dare say!

Roy.

I used to have a beard, too. Then it turned gray before my hair and that was the end of that.

Racism here is a highly geographically centered phenomena. You can tell which southern states are the least impacted by immigration from the north. Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia Florida, and even Texas (!) are more open. There was a study on the news today which showed that Southern whites voted in greater numbers for John Kerry than they did for Obama.

There is a reason why all those Rebel flags keep showing up in their demonstrations.

Given their history Min it's not surprising. What should be surprising is that it's the Bible Belt!
Now don't start!

Roy.