Jimmy Cracked Steele (And I Don't Care)

Jimmy Carter

A few days ago, I was watching CNN (which nowadays is coming close to topping HBO as my cable station of choice but still, I think HBO has the slight edge) and I saw Former President Jimmy Carter being interviewed. He said, "Racism... still exists and I think it has bubbled up to the surface because of a belief among many white people, not just in the south but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country."

He was speaking about the behavior of some people at the town hall meetings and the recent outburst of Representative Joe Wilson (R-South Carolina) during the president's address last week. He went on to say that Joe Wilson's outburst was a part of a disturbing trend directed at the president that has included demonstrators equating Obama to Nazi leaders. He said, "Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care. It's deeper than that."

Michael Steele

Anybody with any common sense can see that what the former President had to say was absolutely on point and correct. In fact, I would say that President Carter was just stating the obvious. However, Rush Limbaugh and Michael Steele weighed in from the nether world and stated that President Carter was absolutely wrong in his analysis and that his comments were in their eyes baseless.

Coming from Rush, I'd expect this but, Michael Steele. Republican or not, I have to ask him in all sincerity... "Brother, what world are you living in?" No, seriously... Where has this man been living? He's seen a few more summers than I have and I know he couldn't possibly believe what he is parroting for his Republican bosses. I might add, his bosses were ready to toss him out on his rear end a few weeks ago for a radio talk show host. I guess Brother Steele has a short memory.

I have seen these people who claim that they just disagree with the president on his policy portray him as a monkey, a black Adolf Hitler, and as an African witch doctor. If Michael Steele and other black Republicans can laugh and not find that racially offensive, I don't understand them. I have friends who happen to be Republicans. No, I kid you not. One of my frat brothers, an ex-girlfriend, and a family member (who I will not name) are card-carrying members of the G.O.P. I don't begrudge them that... I just wonder how they can be part of a party that draws a lot of it's voting muscle from crowds of folks who clearly don't like people who look like them and who are capable of harboring and displaying this kind of racially insensitive propaganda. (Think of the McCain-Palin rallies in the "heartland" last summer.)

I heard someone saying on the radio today that "If anyone dares criticize Obama, you'll be accused of being a racist." I don't think anyone really believes that but, carrying Photo shopped pictures of him looking like Hitler and him dressed like an African witch doctor seems to go beyond a mere ideological difference, don'tcha think?

The corporate fat cats who are frantically trying to defeat this health care initiative are using racism to divide people. They would like for white people to feel as though this is a "Black" issue but, it's not. Are Blacks and Hispanics the only ones uninsured? I think not. Ironically enough, some of the poor white racists who are involved in all of these hateful outbursts at the town hall meetings are the very ones who are uninsured themselves. Who's interests are they fighting to protect? Not theirs.

This is not a "Black" issue or a "White" issue... it's an American issue and everybody has got to be on board for this. That's exactly what the insurance companies and the HMO's don't want so, they pull out the fearful and the stupid to do their bidding, like they always have.

President Carter hit the nail on the head with what he said and I just admire his courage in doing so. I just wish that Michael Steele would show some courage and admit to himself that he's on the wrong team.