It’s time to come clean.
Posted by Troy Johnson on July 29, 2009 · 5 Comments
Let me start by saying that I am not a conservative. I don’t even know if I am a democrat at this point. I am definitely not an independent. I am just an individual of the United States of America right now trying to do the best that I can. I have friends that are conservative, democrat and independent. With that said….
I think now is the time for all radical or ultra whatever conservatives to come clean on their thoughts and feelings regarding the race of the President of the United States. Now I don’t want to call anyone a racist. In some exchanges I have had with conservatives, whether it be via social media or in person, they always come back with “…how come anytime someone says anything about this President, they always have to be a racist?” OK, let’s take racism off the table then. How about we just have honest and intelligent dialog of the explanations regarding the following list of the latest tidbits of conservative complaints.
1: Republican Congressman Thaddeus McCotter has drafted a resolution that he has now put to committee for Congress to vote on a bill to force President Obama to apologize to Cambridge police officer Crowley for Obama’s statement to wit ”The Cambridge Police acted stupidly”. I repeat, “The Cambridge Police acted stupidly”. That statement absolutely did not name Officer Crowley. I believe that even the most radical conservatives will obviously agree that Professor Gates should not have been arrested. Officer Crowley stated in his report that he arrested Professor Gates because he was yelling and being a little unruly. However, the released recording from the police cruiser, as well as the police report from another officer on the scene, showed no evidence of Professor Gates being unruly. Also, the Cambridge Police Department filed no charges against Gates. They did in fact issue an apology to Professor Gates for the entire incident…..I’m refering to the period from the dispatcher call to the arrest itself. The President still thought it best to speak with Officer Crowley and Professor Gates personally and invited them both to come to the White house “for beer”. The President also held another short press conference where he stated that he could have used different terminology in regards to his comments about the incident. Was that enough for the conservative right? Apparently not. Congressman McCotter and several other Republican Congtressman are still moving forward with their resolution. Why? Not because he’s the first Black President….. right?
2: Several Republican senators and congressmen offered media sound bites and talking points fanning a flame of hate and ignorance by questioning whether or not President Obama is actually a US citizen and whether or not he was born in the United States. It has gotten so rampant that that the President had his staff get a copy of his birth certificate, his hospital of birth record, as well as the original birth notice from the newspaper of the city he was born in and had all that information posted on several different news channels. Wasn’t that enough? No, not for the right-wingers! Still the House went ahead and passed a resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of Hawaii becoming a state, as well as confirming that President Obama was indeed born there. It passed 378 votes to zero. The reason that this vote is so hypocritical is that many of the Republicans that voted yes unanimously in that resolution were the same ones that fanned the controversy via television and radio and on the House floor with talking points. Did they really believe that President Obama’s mother, father, grandmother, and also the hospital and city newspaper, had the incredible forsight to forge his birth certificate, hospital records and newspaper notice with the hope that some day he might run for President. It’s absurd…..right? Again I ask, why? It’s not because their racists right?
3: “Boss” Rush Limbaugh has repeatedly verbalized his hopes that President Obama is “doomed to failure”. Can you grasp that?….to actually wish that the President of your country fails? Does that help the country? “Boss” Limbaugh has a reported 20 million viewers a day. That is a lot of people to influence. He constantly questions the President’s patriotism, citizenship, religious beliefs, and whether or not he’s a racist or reverse racist. He constantly degrades Judge Sonia Sotomayor and makes jokes regarding her heritage and latina affiliations. He even said, ala Ricky Ricardo, that she “….had some splainin’ to do….”. Why? He doesn’t fan these flames of hate or separatism because he’s a racist, right? Then why does he do it? Is there any reasonably sane person that could say that race isn’t the driving force behind his comments? Really? Look in the mirror America! There’s a quote from one of my favorites movies that I would like to run by you. In the movie “The Godfather”, the Don says to this gangster (Solozzo) who wanted the Don to finance his drug venture, “It makes no difference to me what a man does to make a living”. I live by that same type of credo. It even extends to how someone feels about race. It makes no difference to me how a person feels about race. You can be either a card carrying stone cold racist, a closet racist, a part time racist or just someone who just isn’t ready for the United States to have a Black President. I don’t really care. I mean, you are already in the minority now. To me, that’s progress. My things is ADMIT IT ALREADY!!!! Why beat around the bush? Why lie? Why play partisan games? Can’t you stick up for your beliefs? If you can say it in private, why can’t you say it out front? Until you can, how can you expect even your followers to put any credence in what you say? Please listen to me carefully here folks. As an African American for 100% of my life, I am very accustomed to the fact that racism is real and it still exists in America. However, it is slowly but ever so slowly evaporating and it will continue to do so. Get onboard and at least have the courage to state your stance and stand by it and stand your ground if you must. The United States affords you the right to freedom of thought and speech. Don’t hide behind inuendos and bullshit talking points.
As usual:
That’s just my opiniion, I could be wrong.
Troy, I lost my mother May 6th last year and this is one of those moments that I wish I could call her and say “Momma, you gotta read this.” A week before she died, she said with tears in her eyes, “this country will never give him a chance, they will tear him apart because he is black.” Thinking about it broke her heart. When he won, I did a dance for Momma. I would be lying if I said I’ve always kept up with politics because I haven’t, but the Obama announced he was going to run for President and I started paying attention, listening. It wasn’t because he was black, it was because of what he stood for.
With that said, I have to agree with several points you’ve made here. As for the Republicans, seriously, I think they are so peeved by the idea that we now have a black president, that if they can’t find a problem, they’ll create one. In my view, they’re behaving like a bunch of adolescent children. I can’t say I’m Republican or Democrat, but if I were Republican, and following the party’s views, I’d have to cover all my mirrors
Another great article… you are an impressive man
I added your blog to bookmarks. And i’ll read your articles more often!
Hmm… I read blogs on a similar topic, but i never visited your blog. I added it to favorites and i’ll be your constant reader.
I read a few topics. I respect your work and added blog to favorites.
Wow. I can respect your feelings and frustrations and I’m sure that there is a segment of the white population who doesn’t like Pres. Obama because he is black, but I have to tell you that is not the reason why I and my conservative friends do not want Barack Obama in the White House. We do not think his policies are good for this country, period. That’s it. That is the only reason. I vote on the issues not a candidate’s skin color.
As for the racially stereotypical “jokes” and comments about the President and Sotomayor from people like Limbaugh; I think that stems from a “playground” mentality. If you feel picked on by someone or afraid of someone, you lash out with the easiest put down you can come up with. For many people that is race — that is the most obvious characteristic about a person you can easily point out “on the fly” if you are not smart enough or informed enough to come up with something else. I don’t know if that makes that person a racist or just slow. I guess the totality of their actions will tell that tale.
Just a side note on the “birthers:” I wish they would just let it go. There are bigger fish to fry — legislation to oppose and derail that requires their energy rather than tilting at windmills.
I like your site — jokes and commentary. I will be a regular visitor and I’ll see you on Twitter!