Racism in our American political culture?
Racism in our American political culture?
I was DISappointed to read the Washington Post’s report that there is a widening racial gap in our American presidential contest. Are WE THE PEOPLE of the US really RACIST? What do YOU think?
First, I urge you to read the feature by Jon Cohen and Rosalind SA. Helderman with contribution by Scott Clement, “Poll shows widening racial gap in presidential contest” published by the Washington Post yesterday.
BOTTOM-LINE: Obama has a deficit of 23 percentage points, trailing Republican Mitt Romney with 60% to 37% among whites according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News national tracking poll. This is in contrast to the report that at this stage in 2008, Obama trailed Republican John McCain by only 7 percentage points. The report cited the fact that exit polls reported that Obama lost to McCain by 12 percentage points on white votes.
WHY the INCREASED RACIAL GAP? What do YOU think?
For me, this increasing racial gap is VERY worrisome as one evaluates our American culture. I see this as REGRESSION. What do YOU think?
The article notes, “The slippage among whites is something of a setback for Obama, who campaigned on bridging the racial divide in his election and has sought to minimize rifts that have arisen in his presidency. Although Democrats typically win minorities and fare worse among white voters than their Republican rivals, Obama outpaced previous losing Democratic candidates with both groups.”
Adding, “Less than two weeks before the election, the evidence suggests that a much more sharply divided country will head to the polls.”
What’s going on?!
In our increasingly diverse society, I find it dysfunctional that the article reports, “Fully 91 percent of Romney’s support comes from white voters.” What do YOU think?
I want to underscore the articles clear warning, “There is no way to tell from these findings what role, if any, racial prejudice may play on either side of the racial gap. But the data suggest that concern about the economy is amplifying the division, as Obama’s decline in support among white voters appears to be closely linked to views of his handling of the economy. And yet minorities have suffered severe unemployment and housing foreclosures in the current economy as well.”
Additionally, “The national polling data do mask important regional differences,” so we must read carefully evaluating the REAL meanings! Forewarned is forearmed!
At the same time, one must consider, “In a rapidly diversifying country, the percentage of the nation’s population that is white drops 2 percent every four years, said David Bositis, a senior research associate at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. And even among white voters, Republicans perform best among older voters, who will age out of the voting rolls in coming years.”
Consider the historical perspective reported in this article, “In 1988, the last time there was such a prominent racial gap, white voters sided with George H.W. Bush over Michael Dukakis by 59 percent to 40 percent, with nonwhites breaking 78 percent to 20 percent for the Democrat. Were Obama to slip into the 30s among white voters this year, it would be the first time for a Democrat in a two-way race since Walter Mondale did so in 1984, losing white voters to President Ronald Reagan by 64 percent to 35 percent.”
My own concern was DRAMATICALLY INCREASED when I read Daniel Bice’s report in his poignant OpEd column on Sunday, October 14, 2012, “Tommy Thompson's son calls for sending Obama back 'to Kenya'”!
YOU can watch the video of Jason Thompson’s “birther remark.” Here is the link, “Tommy Thompson’s Son Makes Birther Remark.”
The quote from Jason Thompson is, “"We have the opportunity to send President Obama back to Chicago - or Kenya.” REALLY?!
Where did this attitude come from? I assert that this is a FREUDIAN STATEMENT! What does it mean?
The column reports that on the same Sunday (October 14) at an evening news conference in Wauwatosa, TOMMY THOMPSON initially deflected a question from No Quarter about the video, stating, "I don't know what you're talking about.”
Bice then reports, “About an hour later, however, Thompson's staff sent an email addressing the controversy. "The Governor has addressed this with his son, just like any father would do. Jason Thompson said something he should not have, and he apologizes."
Of course what he said should NOT have been said aloud. We know the US Supreme Court has held that one may THINK anything one wishes, but the CRUNCH comes when one articulates the thought! Forewarned is forearmed!
In fact, additional perspective is gained reading the rest of the Bice “No Quarter” column of Monday, October 15, 2012, “During the same Sunday (October 14) news conference, Thompson had his own slip of the tongue when talking about Baldwin.
“A reporter asked Thompson about Baldwin's statements Sunday at the Jewish Community Center in Milwaukee, responding to allegations that she has flip-flopped on sanctioning Iran.
“Thompson called Baldwin's explanation ‘the lamest excuse I've ever heard.’ He then went on to call her ‘anti-Jewish.’
“Only later did he backtrack when the same reporter asked him if he meant what he said.
"’She's anti-Israel,’ he clarified.
“Back in 2007, Thompson had to apologize for telling a Jewish group that earning money was ‘part of the Jewish tradition.’ He made the remark to the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism while running for president.”
Do these words come from persons who are sincerely and really OPEN to the DIVERSITY of our American culture? What do YOU think?
Jason did “apologized." Bice reported that articulation in his "No Quarter" column on Monday, October 15, 2012. YOU can read that column using this link, “Thompson's son apologizes for 'back to Kenya' remark.”
What a SURPRISE! I note that the report is that he apologized to HIS COLLEAGUES at Michael Best & Friedrich law firm where he works. NO BRAINER?!
Be sure to note Bice’s report of the statement issued by Lindsay, Stone & Briggs, Madison public relations firm for Michael Best & Fredrich, "Over the weekend, one of our attorneys and the son of Senatorial candidate Tommy Thompson made a regrettable comment at a campaign event for his father. We want to make it clear that the comment made at the campaign event in no way reflects the views, beliefs or values of Michael Best & Friedrich." OF COURSE NOT!
The last report I’ve read is, “Thompson campaign staffers have not said whether Jason Thompson will continue to represent his father's campaign at political events.” If you have seen a follow-up report, I hope you will post as a comment. I will be reading comments.
Are we moving to fulfilling MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR’s dream, “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”? What do YOU think?
I encourage you to read again that historic speech of August 28, 1963 in our American history at The Lincoln Memorial in our American history. You can access it online via the ABC News website, “Martin Luther King’s Speech: ‘I Have a Dream’ – The Full Text.”
I have a dream today. Martin Luther King, Jr. articulated that dream for me. It is grounded in my growing up in our American culture and the Christian faith. Do YOU have a dream today?
Here we go…
Mr. E.
John Eyster lives in the Edgerton area. He is an adjunct professor of political science at UW-Waukesha and an advocate for democracy/civics education in Wisconsin high schools. John is a community blogger and is not a part of The Gazette staff. His opinion is not necessarily that of the The Gazette staff or management.
Oct 29, 2012 at 8:27 p.m.
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The problem is compounded by the fact that the Esterian ilk who cry "racism" are able to point to the religious-wielding Right and say look what they've done with their greed, look what they've done to our economy. The Right's species of greedy bankers are a bad choice, racism aside.
Remove the Eysterian Left and the Right still needs to justify itself.
Oct 29, 2012 at 7:57 p.m.
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I've been mulling over John's post since it first came out and I realized that my first posted comment left out a detail that hadn't crossed my mind then.
In 2008, Obama didn't just represent "Hope and Change". He represented an opportunity to some folks for them to show the world that America, or at least a majority, had overcome her racist roots. He easily won the election proving that assertion in the minds of some. Little did they realize that no such credit for the death of racism in America would be given. Racism is much too powerful a tool to discard. And now that Obama's re-election is in serious doubt, that tool is being used again. The theory of those who wield that tool is that some folks who have become disenchanted with the President can be pressured by Eyster and even some of the President's people to vote again for Obama anyway rather than allow folks like John Eyster to say they were too racist to vote for the African American.
It's classic "Rules for Radicals" type rhetoric. The President may lose due to his own incompetence and the incompetence of his key appointees. They have no defense for that incompetence because it is true. So what can they do? Change the subject. So now they say that you aren't voting for Romney because you see Obama's incompetence, it's because you're a racist! That's also classic dirty politics. And since Obama hasn't repudiated this tactic since his party and its supporters are wielding it, so much for the promise he made to be a different kind of a President.
How much disappointment in a President does it take for a majority of the country to choose to elect somebody else?
Oct 29, 2012 at 11:43 a.m.
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totellthetruth - Don't feel sorry for me my good friend. Actually I lived through WW 11 and do have some health problems. Obviously I know a lot of seniors and have yet to have anyone tell me anything negative that has happened to them with what has been implemented in the Affordable Healthcare Act. The few things that have been enacted have been positive. Unless you can give me some verified facts I am going to have to say you are sadly misinformed or at this point I am going to do something I rarely do,I am going to say you are an outright liar.
I would also like to say my personal net worth is also up about 70%. So yes I am better off.
Oct 29, 2012 at 9:39 a.m.
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Thanks, Kiow.......
And, yes, the best we can hope for is to identify them as being in the category of Lenin's useful idiots.
Oct 29, 2012 at 9:37 a.m.
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fordfan:
http://gazettextra.com/weblogs/we-people...
Oct 29, 2012 at 9:03 a.m.
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"Eyster and his ilk support a terrorist state dedicated to annihilating the state of of Israel, including all its men, women, children, and babies." Can you expand on this with some facts that I can reference?
Oct 29, 2012 at 1:47 a.m.
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"There are no better examples of what is putrid about the Left and the Right than John Eyster and Rush Limbaugh. In one form or another, they best express the greed, small mindedness, and hatefulness that the human species is capable of. They will think, say, and do anything to increase their numbers and spread their vitriol.
During my better moments I foresee a day when our species will be rid of them. But then I come to my senses, and my only hope is that we and the better angels of our nature will be able to identify and point them out whenever they rear their ugly heads."
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For one of the few times on here, I 100% agree with you gazette fan. The extremes of both sides are just attention whores, and your best line was 'small minded'. I would not get my hopes up to see society rid them any time soon. People who are filled with hatred will always gravitate to the extremes. When one of those extremes achieves real power and rule, it has been the cause of COUNTLESS wars, and destruction of civilization, throughout the history of mankind.
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If people would simply look at a person as a citizen, and not do what the Democrats LOVE to do, in group everyone into block groups based on race, gender, sexual orientation, ext; we would make some real cultural progress. The true message of MLK was a future where skin color meant nothing in ones destination. Where two people could stand hand and hand as fellow citizens, not even seeing one may be black or brown, or red. Where people would be judged on CHARACTER, actions, and content, and not by the color of their skin. Unfortunately many today bastardize this great vision of MLK, and you have countless 'race baters' who make their living off exploiting racial issues, and do everything contrary to the MLK vision.
Oct 28, 2012 at 10:38 p.m.
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Eyster and his ilk support a terrorist state dedicated to annihilating the state of of Israel, including all its men, women, children, and babies.
Eyster's commentary also presents as equal, political choice and racism.
Limbaugh's penchant for equivalence is the same.
They both depend on intellectual breakdowns from their minions.
Oct 28, 2012 at 10:08 p.m.
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Comparing John to Rush is probably the most outrageous false equivalency that I have seen out here. John is a well educated and highly respected person among reasonable people even if they strongly disagree with him. Rush is…..well just a big mouth, blow hard that is getting rich from saying the most outrageous things imaginable, making that talk mainstream with the Faux News crowd, spreading racism, spreading false information and exploiting paranoia amongst his followers.
These false equivalency examples that the right keeps bringing up are so easy to identify for anyone who even tries to think. It appears be a technique that has proven effective for the right, however as they keep using the method. And talking about being “rid of them” is more than a little over them top. Hopefully it is just a poor choice of words on your part.
Oct 28, 2012 at 8:57 p.m.
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There are no better examples of what is putrid about the Left and the Right than John Eyster and Rush Limbaugh. In one form or another, they best express the greed, small mindedness, and hatefulness that the human species is capable of. They will think, say, and do anything to increase their numbers and spread their vitriol.
During my better moments I foresee a day when our species will be rid of them. But then I come to my senses, and my only hope is that we and the better angels of our nature will be able to identify and point them out whenever they rear their ugly heads.
Oct 28, 2012 at 8:40 p.m.
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In one of my previous comments I said "Please people; tell me that these are not racist comments or statements in your minds. It is a simple yes/no answer and I am betting that no conservative and bring themselves to say they are racist without trying to justify them." Is this your justification?
Oct 28, 2012 at 7:06 p.m.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UObEdF_uh...
Oct 28, 2012 at 6:42 p.m.
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apparently feduptaxpayer thinks racism is funny...put your real name out here and see what your employer thinks.
Oct 28, 2012 at 5:40 p.m.
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http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/1...
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S38VioxnB...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCpwjvVaq...
http://washingtonindependent.com/73036/n...
…and Palin’s “shuck & jive” comments about the president. Let me know if I need to find more examples for you.
Oct 28, 2012 at 4:53 p.m.
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What about the "nig" slip by rick santorum right here in janesville?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgrhJSAaY...
Oct 28, 2012 at 12:07 p.m.
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Racists seem to think they can inoculate themselves and their actions by claiming the targets of their actions are playing the “race card”. If they do not have this defense, their positions are indefensible to even themselves.
How many comments have we heard over the past few years from the conservative Tea Party movement like “Barack the Magic Negro” by Rush Limbaugh, the “halfrican American” comments by Rush, the whole birther idea lead by Donald Trump, the “You lie!” exclamation by South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson directed at the President of the Untied States and then fund raising off from this grossly disrespectful comment made in front of the whole nation, the cartoon of the chimp with bullet holes and the caption “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill” that ran in the conservative New Your Post, and I could go on and on.
Please people; tell me that these are not racist comments or statements in your minds. It is a simple yes/no answer and I am betting that no conservative and bring themselves to say they are racist without trying to justify them.
Oct 28, 2012 at 11:13 a.m.
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Eagle1: appreciate your posts and the followup of joker. It is the economy. One of the few things J.E. got right. I had hopes for the promises of hope and change made 4 years ago. Those hopes were not fulfilled. For J.E. to say that blacks have also suffered high unemployment but to insinuate that they will still vote for Obama is actually accusing them of being racist. If the color of his skin is their only reason for casting their vote for him, how is that any better than whites voting against him simply because of the color of his skin. Or how is that any different than people voting against Romney because he is Mormon? Tired of having the race card, the class warfare card, and the religion (cult) card played. If the economy had made decent improvement during the last 4 years and promises of positive change been kept, the race would not even be close. President Obama would be a shoo-in just like Clinton was in his 2nd term. "It's the economy, stupid". Regardless of the winner, our country can not withstand 4 more years like the last 4. So either a re-elected Obama or an elected Romney is truly going to have to change the tone in Washington. We can not withstand more of this my way or the highway lack of leadership by the President and the Congress. IMO
Oct 28, 2012 at 9:31 a.m.
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Did anyone watch Nightline on Friday night? The show was called The New Ku Klux Klan in America. It was very disturbing. You can go to their web page and watch it or read about it.
Oct 28, 2012 at 8:44 a.m.
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bucky12345- If I could vote for Dennis West what I be? And then didn't vote for Obama?
Oct 28, 2012 at 8:43 a.m.
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And more racism on video...
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0bXGB30...
Oct 28, 2012 at 8:38 a.m.
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More racism from the repubs
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-...
Oct 28, 2012 at 8:30 a.m.
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Republican says "my party is full of racists"
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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election...
Oct 28, 2012 at 7:44 a.m.
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totellthetruth - I can only say that I feel sorry for you.
Oct 28, 2012 at 12:09 a.m.
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The only race I see here is between Republican and Democrat. But the vitrol shown by the right since Obama won in 2008 has been out of control. I'm beginning to understand the black perspective by being liberal.
Oct 27, 2012 at 11:38 p.m.
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Racism doesn't have anything to do with it. He is worthless- should never had the job, mocked and laughed at all of us while flying around-spending our money and his wife knows it too. Special trips high priced entertainment and laughing all the time. Never spent much time doing a job in the WH just having fun and sticking it to all of us. He will go down in history as fooling the American public and the history books will say the American public got duped and deserved it!
Oct 27, 2012 at 11:04 p.m.
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Bucky12345: How do you know for sure what I think, feel or believe? You have no clue, just what others tell you to believe.
Oct 27, 2012 at 10:50 p.m.
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Bigots never think they are bigots thats why they stay bigots.
Think about what your really voting for.
"I wish my moderate Republican friends would simply be honest. They all say they’re voting for Romney because of his economic policies (tenuous and ill-formed as they are), and that they disagree with him on gay rights. Fine.
Then look me in the eye, speak with a level clear voice, and say, 'My taxes and take-home pay mean more than your fundamental civil rights, the sanctity of your marriage, your right to visit an ailing spouse in the hospital, your dignity as a citizen of this country, your healthcare, your right to inherit, the mental welfare and emotional well-being of your youth, and your very person hood.'
It’s like voting for George Wallace during the Civil Rights movements, and apologizing for his racism. You’re still complicit. You’re still perpetuating anti-gay legislation and cultural homophobia. You don’t get to walk away clean, because you say you 'disagree' with your candidate on these issues."
- Pulitzer and Tony winning playwright Doug Wright
I could not have said it better.
Oct 27, 2012 at 6:03 p.m.
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I really don't give a d--n whether Obama is Black, White, Pink, Yellow, Green, or Purple, I just happen to think he is a lousy President. And, my vote will be based on the individual not the skin tone. You can think what you want if it makes it easier for you, after all, it is the Left that brings it up at every opportunity.
Oct 27, 2012 at 5:53 p.m.
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We do have laws and IMO should be enforced to the fullest when it comes to the attack on THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!! "It should be enforced on all that do it no matter who it is directed at. Yet to allow the people of this country to disrespect out leader as they do, IS THE MOST UNAMERICAN ACT THERE IS. "
Not nearly as disrespectful as the president watching on real time as Americans are killed, and doing nothing. We have a president who has been a divider and a liar, no respect for that.
Oct 27, 2012 at 5:47 p.m.
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carlitosway
Are you not capable of posting anything without being nasty, snotty, or name calling?
"WISLADY YOU ARE RUTHLESS AND DESPICABLE"
PUTTING MANY LEGIT LINKS SO WISLADY CANNOT SAY LEFT SIDED fOX TWISTED IT TO FIT THEIR RACISM ACCEPTANCE
(LEFT SIDED fOX)????????
Maybe you should not read the comments if it gets you so upset, but I certainly have not treated you this way. Shame on you.
Oct 27, 2012 at 5:42 p.m.
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totellthetruth - You must be very young to not know of nixon or even remember G.W. bush.
Oct 27, 2012 at 3:59 p.m.
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Thank you John for this article and it was so educating as to the ignorance of some to the existance of RACISM. It is and always will be an issue until the laws hold those accountable and people step up and admit it exists and CHANGE IT.... We do have laws and IMO should be enforced to the fullest when it comes to the attack on THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!! It should be enforced on all that do it no matter who it is directed at. Yet to allow the people of this country to disrespect out leader as they do, IS THE MOST UNAMERICAN ACT THERE IS. Romney and his disrespect during the debates were sick and disgusting Yet people support the likes of these and Thompsons son and his Racist remark shows his character through the man that raised him . We are what we are taught and if we are raised with good values, we usually have good values. If we are raised to show respect, we usually do, If we are raised to hate, we usually do. if we are raised to discriminate , we usually do... if we are raised that Racism is acceptable, we learn to be RACIST... Shows me the character in the parents and nice Job Tommy
Oct 27, 2012 at 3:46 p.m.
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PUTTING MANY LEGIT LINKS SO WISLADY CANNOT SAY LEFT SIDED fOX TWISTED IT TO FIT THEIR RACISM ACCEPTANCE.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-...
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election...
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/lesl...
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2011/04/gop...
Oct 27, 2012 at 3:37 p.m.
Oct 27, 2012 at 3:10 p.m.
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EYSTER has the mind of a 4th grader, and he was a TEACHER??(shudder)
Oct 27, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.
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Mr Eyster,
I find it interesting that you linked to Martin Luther King's speech, but still think that the gap in the number of white voters is due to racism.
Remember what Dr. King said?
"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."
I will not be voting for President Obama precisely because of his character (or lack thereof), not because of race. I will not be voting for President Obama because I don't agree with his policies. I will not be voting for Mitt Romney either for the exact same reasons.
Try asking people why or why not they are voting for someone instead of making assumptions.
Oct 27, 2012 at 1:49 p.m.
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Obama said "I will help the black , Hispanics (pause). And whites"
Oct 27, 2012 at 1:49 p.m.
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Obama said "I will help the black , Hispanics (pause). And whites"
Oct 27, 2012 at 1:20 p.m.
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Poorrichard - If you can't make sense of what I was saying, maybe you find the tinman and go on a quest with him. Satire my friend!
Oct 27, 2012 at 10:43 a.m.
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we're all the same race...so any use of white/black/hispanic/asian tags are dumb, imo...why can't we all just be human? is it really that difficult to fathom, that we are all equal, regardless of color, sex, and sexual orientation? come on people...I see a lot of race cards being drawn against our president, which is definitely not cool....he's human, just like the rest of us...if you don't like him you don't have to vote for him, but don't use race as a reason in determining whom you'd vote for, because it will never matter; we all bleed red...
Oct 27, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.
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wasp2491-You make NO sense,same as Mr. Eyster.
Oct 27, 2012 at 6:37 a.m.
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No the right doesn't have a racist element in it, of course not. All you have to do is read the people denying it and you can tell right away they couldn't possibly have racist bone in their body. It's, ya know, it's the WHITE house ya see. It's just a coincidence that most of the old confederacy vote republican since the civil rights laws were passed. After all they just want to have low taxes, poor education and some of the worst economies in the country.
Oct 27, 2012 at 2:09 a.m.
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I think there is some racism that does exist, however I believe most of the time the definition is not getting your way 100% all of the time.
Oct 26, 2012 at 10:42 p.m.
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Barack Benghazi Obama is half white so does that make the dissaponted majority of whites and half whites who voted for him last time half racist??
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:33 p.m.
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Oh I see, John. If some white folks have decided to vote for Romney on the grounds that Obama has proven not to be up to the job, they're lying to themselves. That's not really the reason. The real reason is they're racists. The fact that they may well have voted for Obama the first time around means nothing, unless they do it again. They couldn't possibly have any other reason to vote for Romney. Only racism explains it. And of course the fact that African Americans will support Obama overwhelmingly and reject Romney has nothing to do with race at all. That's what John calls clear thinking, no doubt.
I guess John sees the election going against his favorites since he's already searching to explain the anticipated loss as something other than rejection of the left's agenda. That's kind of like what happened after the recall when folks like John said they lost because voters thought it was an improper use of the recall. The agenda was just fine, they said. The real reason was something else.
The fact is that Obama is sliding because of his incompetence. The economic news is poor in spite of the doctored unemployment figures released a short while ago (while unemployment claims rose!). And the Benghazi massacre facts coming out showing that Obama tried to hide, and continues to hide the truth about what really happened (an Al Qaeda attack) for political reasons proving his re-election is the only thing he really cares about.
We have every right to say Obama doesn't deserve a second term and vote accordingly without some sanctimonious jerks who are afraid Obama is about to lose labeling us as racists.
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:53 p.m.
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Well haveconcerns if we are going to "dig in" as you say the discussion is going to have to move away from the victim/perpetrator mentality so many Al Sharptons and Jesse Jacksons of the world share. They, as in the entire AA community, may need to remember that when they are busy pointing fingers at people there are three pointing right back at them implicating them as major contributors in the problem.
Oct 26, 2012 at 2:58 p.m.
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The questions are: Does Eyster and Nv.... and their ilk know what they're doing? for political reasons, presenting racism and racial as synonyms.
Or are they so infected with virulent ideology that they are speaking only as unthinking functionaries of a hate-based mentality?
This fact might be the answer: They all support a terrorist state that has dedicated itself to the annihilation of Israel and its people, including men, women, children, and babies.
Mystery solved.
Oct 26, 2012 at 2:56 p.m.
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Regardless of why people vote for one candidate or another, racism is still an issue in this country. My problem with the majority of the posts in this blog is that people are insinuating that is no longer a problem. Using terms like "race baiting," "race card," and the like, are examples of how white people like to shut down the conversation. We live in a racist society. It is systemic and institutional and is evident in our educational acheivement gap, the disparity between black people living in poverty compared to white people, the disproportionality of black males in prison and our juvenile justice system, I could go on and on. The racism that we carry is no longer (or rarely) the "in your face, KKK" racism we saw in the pre-civil rights era, but a much more subtle institutional disease. Unless we are willing to acknowledge that we may have bias and explore where that bias is and why we have it, we will never end it. Shutting down the conversation does nothing to help. Reducing racial disparities is an imperative not just for people of color, but for our entire nation. We need to get over the guilt and shame or whatever else is causing us to not want to talk about it, and dig in to this problem together... regardless of who you vote for.
Oct 26, 2012 at 2:49 p.m.
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When someone screams racism chances are they are one of the biggest racist around. Again you prove that you are no educator eyster and part of the problem with the educational system!
Oct 26, 2012 at 1 p.m.
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In 2008 many white voters were suffering deeply from white guilt which blinded them from actually looking at Obama's qualifications. After four years these voters have woke up from their folly. Even African-American voters are begin to see things differently as RAF's link discussed. I doubt as many white voters will be going to the polls to cast a vote for Obama to cleanse their guilt this time. EyStEr however likes to refer to this phenomena as rascism in an attempt to reawaken that white guilt. Ultimately if people make decisions with their rational brain they will see this as a ploy and dismiss him for what he is.
Oct 26, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.
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What percentage of African-Americans voted for Obama in 2008? Why?
Oct 26, 2012 at 12:27 p.m.
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I see us all as Americans..... As long as the govt sees us as caucasians, asians, blacks, hispanics, indians...etc.. We'll never get rid ot it. In a way its a form of control the govt has over the people.
Oct 26, 2012 at 11:37 a.m.
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Wonder why John left out these percentages in his race baiting....
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/us/pol...
Oct 26, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.
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Because we don't like Obama doesn't mean we don't like black people.Then there is the other issue of people voting for him "just because he is black" vs basing it on what he says and does.
Sigma- I will agree with you this time. The race thing wont EVER end if you give people of any color special things vs caucasion people.Why should it make any difference. An Asian person can get free schooling(born here) and the caucasion person cannot get as much free stuff.
Oct 26, 2012 at 11:15 a.m.
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What is sad John is that with all the issues on deciding an election and who to vote for you decided to play the race card. Economy, jobs, Iran, Bengazi, the whole middle east. Nowhere have I seen racism as the cause for Obamas drop in the polls. Those that are racist did not vote for him the first time. So No John the gap is not because of racism
Oct 26, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.
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Sigma40@9:31 makes a good point.
In my career I have worked with hundreds of black people who were not defined by their race. They worked lived and played in a world where their color was not an issue. I would venture to say that this is the life of a majority of blacks. Yet the media, and opportunistic politicians continue to define blacks by the worse aspects of their culture. They glorify the rappers, thugs, and self serving black politicians. (ie Jesse Jackson / Al Sharpton)
While racism does exist among a minority of white people I don't think it has any impact on this year's election. This is the key quote, "Obama’s decline in support among white voters appears to be closely linked to views of his handling of the economy."
Yes, "It's the economy, stupid."
Oct 26, 2012 at 9:52 a.m.
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Eagle1 your 7:59 post was excellent. All should go back and reread it.
Oct 26, 2012 at 9:31 a.m.
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BET, NAACP, UNCF,...etc........All these define racism in the USA. How? The separate themselves from other races. The govt continually devides people by race in censuses, studies..etc. The media prints it boldly and shows everyone that the race they singled out is different. As long as the media and the govt continually put certain races in catagories for certain things....we'll always have racism. When we are all equal the color of someones skin or where they came from will not be mentioned for any reason.
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Its like sports... if all teams where from the same place and wore the same colors people wouldnt form sides. When you bring them from different areas, different colors and then advertise it boldly you get people to form sides. Duh...
Oct 26, 2012 at 9:13 a.m.
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Really John? The race card? Are you an educator or a political hack.
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:41 a.m.
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John you have just participated in race baiting by your slanted blog. You post concern over racial decisions by only one colored group of our society, why did you ignore the others? If you really wanted a discussion on race and choices you would have also looked at all statistical numbers not just one color group. Perhaps another agenda...
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:38 a.m.
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NVgrf, thanks for chiming in with yet another lazy non thought provoking testimonial. It doesn't matter what proof somebody brings to oppose Obama a certain segment will take the easy way out to defend him. Lazy, the new American way.
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:35 a.m.
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Hey, I see that the local contingent has checked in here this morning. Shouldn't you folks be out burning some wood or blowing the dust off of your old Rockwell books? As for you, wislady, "The lady doth protest too much methinks." (Start Googling) I have now counted six Arizona bumper stickers in the last week that read, "Put the White Back in the White House!" But nooooo, racism doesn't play a part in the hatred of the President. It's all about what a baaaad President he has been. Thank God Bishop Mitt does not buy into racism!
“But let them apostatize, and they will become gray-haired, wrinkled, and black, just like the Devil" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p. 332)
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:11 a.m.
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Final debate tonight....Tommy vs. Tammy @ 8PM.
Oct 26, 2012 at 8:09 a.m.
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I guess I don't have a problem with Mr. Eyster being a "leftist". Or that he is a blogger that had leftist ideals. What concerns me is the fact that Mr. Eyster is also an educator and should provide equal perspectives to both sides. Yet it seems that everything written by Mr. Eyster leans left. Is this an educator talking politics or a politician trying to educate?
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:59 a.m.
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So now that Obama's second term may be in jeopardy America is racist, I see you are digging deep into the playbook. Forget that 4 years ago White America overwhelming supported the election of Mr. Obama. Give me a break, you are really doing the President a disservice by using the race card and even worse you are dealing any future minority presidential candidates a bigger blow by playing this card. It is bad enough any future candidate of a minority background will be compared to Obama just for the color of their skin, but to throw out blanket race card pluralities without examining why Obama has fallen out of favor because of policy and record reasons is not only dishonest but dangerous. Lets say Allen West runs for President in 2020 he will automatically be compared to Obama for their skin color and that type of laziness will fail you examine the actual differences between the men and their beliefs. We are constantly being preached to about Diversity however the way it is ‘celebrated’ through skin color rather than diversity of thought is possibly the most shallow way to do it. There is a certain segment of society that loves to use these generalizations to explain why something doesn’t go the way they want it to, it is easier to just throw out racism, sexism, homophobia etc rather than examine at least one level deeper, what is even sadder is that those groups tend to promote that line of thinking and go along with the tactic rather than self examining issues on a personal level. I realize that with the 24 hour news cycle and the Internet allowing for greater access of information means that people are desperate to put out content however this is quite a stretch for anything productive or of value. Now I look forward to the chants of racist that will be hurled my way because I dare to avoid being shallow and actually put some thought to the issue at hand.
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:53 a.m.
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"WHY the INCREASED RACIAL GAP? What do YOU think?"
The gap continues to widen, because the "race baiters" need it for an Obama win.
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:42 a.m.
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John Eyster asked:WHY the INCREASED RACIAL GAP? What do YOU think?
My thought is,why don't you find a solution to the problem of racism instead of writing about it? Some people such as yourself continue to state what we as people already see.However,very few people have a solution on how to end the problem of racism.
I, live by the rule of,I treat people(no matter their skin color)how I would like to be treated. If,I've been treated bad by someone I judge that individual person,not their entire race.
Oct 26, 2012 at 7:05 a.m.
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This "blog" by Eyster is nothing but a wolf in sheep's skin. It starts out innocuous enough, then becomes nothing more than a Thompson bashing fest. Well played, Eyster, attempting to sway voters away from Thompson and hiding it in a blog about the racial divide in the election.
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