“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, that he’s African-American.” – Former President Jimmy Carter to NBC News
Since his somewhat disastrous presidency, Jimmy Carter has become a humanitarian hero. I don’t know what the general public’s current view of Jimmy Carter’s relevency, but he is still an individual that receives significant news coverage. So, it’s very disappointing to me to read a quote like the above from someone of his stature. It is offensive to all intelligent individuals who differ with Obama’s policies that Jimmy Carter believes racism is ‘an overwhelming portion’ of the disagreement with Obama.
This statement is just as bad as calling people un-American for disagreeing with the Bush administration post 9/11. It does not help public discourse on issues when people create these either/or scenarios with those who disagree with them. Either you agree with Bush or you’re un-American. Either you support Obama or you’re a racist. This is a scary statement coming from a former President, especially from an educated individual that reportedly graduated 59th in his class of 820 at the U.S. Naval Academy. McCarthyism was dangerous during the red scare and it equally dangerous today. It’s truly sad to still hear this type of discourse in modern America.
I was pleased to see the Obama administration come out and say it did not agree with Carter’s assessment. There are many important issues facing our country. We need intelligent debate and discussion. Many rational individuals can differ on the role and size of government in our daily lives. People can disagree on the most effective manner to deal with international situations. These are the topics we should be discussing. Accusing people of racism because their individual views or beliefs differ from the President regresses us as a people.
Let intelligent debate and discussion commence and slandering and name-calling come to an end.
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