By turning a policy debate about health care and the deficit into a race war, several commentators are noting that former President Carter hasn’t done Barack Obama any favors.
Mickey Kaus, for example, is pretty blunt in his reaction:
Instant reaction: Kiss of Death. Gift to the GOPs. Remember the Carter era of smug moralizing? Anyone want to go back to that? … P.S.: A good example of how, if the MSM wants to tilt against the Republicans, it’s often too wedded to its own conventions–e.g., the desire to ‘make news’ with an ex-Pres.–to be effective. … No sophisticated campaign propagandist would say, “OK, let’s throw Jimmy Carter at them. They’ll be reeling!”
Ben Smith, meanwhile, thinks that Carter has just succeeded in creating a very big problem for the White House:
He’s succeeded, now, in making that the nation’s central conversation. And regardless of it’s merits, it’s hard to overstate what bad politics that is for the White House. There’s a reason that candidate Obama virtually never cried racism, and it wasn’t because he doesn’t believe it exists.
Time will tell, of course, but I’m thinking that Alexrod and Emmanuel are wishing that Jimmy Carter had just kept his mouth shut.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:45 am
[...] feel that a black man should not be president. The South Carolina Republican lawmaker was [...] Have Jimmy Carter’s Race Comments Hurt Barack Obama ? – belowthebeltway.com 09/16/2009 By turning a policy debate about health care and the deficit [...]
September 16th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Well, Jimmah IS an expert on bigotry…..ask the Jews.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Of course, the problem is that there are not as large a percentage of the electorate as there once was which remembers what a bumbling, stumbling idiot Jimmy Carter was in the White House.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I tend to agree that on a political level, Carter’s comments may overshadow any progress on health care reform. (But let’s be honest, serious debate of the issue was derailed by the shrillest voices long ago.) However, for Carter to remain silent in the face of indisputable evidence that many of the attacks of the president project from a place of deep fear and and racism, would have been a political move as well. For the betterment of society, we cannot allow the recognition and admonishment of racism to be swept under the rug and demonized by the cover that someone is “playing the race card.”
September 16th, 2009 at 10:42 am
James,
Fortunately, he keeps reminding us
September 16th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Jimmy Carter is by far the worst president since the Civil War. Mr. Obama is racing to see if he can match him.
Unfortunately, the Dem’s have linked opposition to Mr. Obama’s policies’ to racism. This will have a serious negative impact on Dem’s in the next 2 election cycles. After all, if you are a moderate (as nearly all independent voters are) and you are told by the press, and Democratic politicians/supporters, that you are a racist for opposing the will of Mr. Obama, you’re not really going to want to vote for him, or his supporters in elections.
But, my thesis is predicated on a massive loss by the Democratic party in the next election. I honestly hope, that the numbers of independent candidates rises sharply next year, as the Republican party has shown itself to be no better than the Dem’s. They just pay off different people.
September 16th, 2009 at 11:57 am
“the Dem’s have linked opposition to Mr. Obama’s policies’ to racism”? Really? Who, besides the recent comments by Carter, in the Democratic Party, have made such an allegation?
It does appear that there is a pretty substantial segment of the mainstream Republican party (not just the fringe) that embraces the wild, and yes, race-based, accusations such as birthers, deathers and even that president Obama is muslim. The deep-seated passion on display at town-halls, and at the DC rally, is seems too intense to be policy based. Especially since many of these conspiracies gained a foothold even before the election. And while there are legitimate, conservative counters to Obama’s policies, they are being out-shouted by the radicals. A la Beck.
September 16th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
zen,
http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/09/09/keith-olbermann-anyone-who-opposes-obama-is-racist/
and
http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/08/29/democratic-congressman-if-you-oppose-obamacare-youre-racist/
and
http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/08/18/oppose-obamacare-youre-a-racist/
and
http://belowthebeltway.com/2009/08/11/democratic-senator-compares-town-hall-protesters-to-the-kkk/
September 16th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Thank you for those links, Doug. So, let me ask if you completely disagree that race plays any part in the opposition to Obama’s policies? Or better still, what role does race play in the criticism?
September 16th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
zen,
Are there racists out there ? Of course.
The birthers are clearly racist, as are the “secret Muslim” crowd.
But it’s intellectually dishonest to claim that everyone who opposes Obama’s policies does so because of the color of his skin. Trust me, the same people who are protesting health care reform now would be doing it if Hillary Clinton was President. Of course, if that had happened the left would be accusing them of sexism instead of racism
September 16th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I think Hoover was the worst President and he is from my home state.
September 16th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
“it’s intellectually dishonest to claim that everyone who opposes Obama’s policies does so because of the color of his skin” I agree. Please don’t view my comments as attempting to argue that point.
But I do find that racism is, as Carter’s argument goes, being encouraged by those that that oppose the president’s policies. It could be unintentional, as I believe Wilson’s actions likely are. But in the case of right-wing, mainstream media outlets, people like Limbaugh, and recently on Drudge (“WHITE STUDENT BEATEN ON SCHOOL BUS; CROWD CHEERS”), there are concerted efforts to foment racial animosity. Why? I believe to help defeat the executive agendas. Those who oppose my enemies are my friends, type of thing. It may not be as blatantly racist as calling the president a slur, but it still serves to plant fear of “the other” into the active, vocal base.
I think it’s undeniable, and it’s incredibly irresponsible. It plays to the worst instincts among our society. And for those that casually dismiss any mention of it as “playing the race card,” do so at all of our detriment.
Again, it is not just the wild fringe minority of the Republican party that are birther, deather or “secret muslim” conspirators. There are elected members of congress that fit promote these race-based fantasies. They are cancers to conservatives, and in the least for the sake of balance, us all, which the grown-ups of the party need to purge from their ranks. Else, it will be the duty of rational people, including Dems, to appeal to voting Americans. Which, seems fine for Republicans as this provides fodder for “the race card” cliché.
September 16th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
All the screeds about being racist if one opposes Obama is having a saluatory effect — I’m becoming politically active for the first time in my life. Thank you JC. Thank you zen. Thank you very much.
September 16th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Clearly ‘Let’s Be Free’ didn’t need any encouragement, based upon the complete contradiction of what I actually just stated.
September 16th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Maxine Waters has just come out with the same line. She thinks the press should be looking into these people who are attending the town halls and tea parties. People who are opposing the Presidents agenda must be racist. With all the statements by the left the past couple of days concerning racism(which by the way is a term being used incorrectly)it appears to me to be a coordinated plan to discredit those in opposition to the liberal agenda.