dagblog - Comments for "How Obama Talks About Terrorism and Racism"

Dr. Cleveland - I agree

HSG — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 12:47:01 +0000

In reply to How Obama Talks About Terrorism and Racism

Dr. Cleveland - I agree wholeheartedly with your column. But, I don't think President Obama is above reproach in the area of race relations. There is tremendous frustration in white working-class and working-poor America which has been exploited by race baiters on talk radio and Fox. Obama should have foreseen this and tried to focus the anger among poor and working whites against their true exploiters - big bank CEOs, job exporters, Republicans But he's always been a uniter not a divider.

You've made such a great

Michael Maiello — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 23:25:23 +0000

In reply to How Obama Talks About Terrorism and Racism

You've made such a great connection here.

The problem is that the people who criticize Obama for not criticizing Islam are, typically speaking, the very same people who have already decided that "white culture is under attack" in America. So what they actually want is rhetoric that will further radicalize the Islamic right the same way that so much of our rhetoric further radicalized the cultural right at home. I was going to say this is ironic but, if memes function like genes, maybe this is simple survival and procreation at work?

Makes sense to me. Obama has

Ramona — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 21:35:00 +0000

In reply to How Obama Talks About Terrorism and Racism

Makes sense to me. Obama has to be so careful--acknowledging that racism exists without seeming to be the "black president". It's a fine line and he draws it well, I think. Which means he probably offends both sides at times.

His careful use of the word "Muslim" without equating it to terrorists is equally admirable, but again he manages to offend the side that wants to believe all Muslims are terrorists. He stays above the fray and is true to what he believes in both instances.

He knows he'll be called a Muslim-lover, or a Muslim and not a Christian--which is not such a terrible thing in any other universe but the one we live in today.

He also knows if he says anything in support of blacks, he'll be accused of favoring them over whites. Or if he doesn't say enough to support blacks, he'll be accused of favoring whites over blacks. He can't win--but he must have gone into it knowing that's the way it would be.

Good piece, Doc. It makes me admire his take on the presidency all the more.

Succinct, to the point,

MrSmith1 — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 18:16:27 +0000

In reply to How Obama Talks About Terrorism and Racism

Succinct, to the point, incredibly logical and seemingly obvious ... Which, as we all know, means your observations will most likely fall on deaf ears for all those whose cable boxes are hard-wired to Fox News. Thanks for it anyway. It's always a pleasure reading your thoughts.