Is Obama Racist? Does it matter?

I don't think he is because he wasn't raised that way. And a lot of us were raised to be bigots and we still aren't - because we figured out along the way that it's stupid.

As far as Rev Wright, I have no idea ... and don't care (glad Obama gave him the heave-ho)

He is absolutely a racist and a sexist and it would impact all policy decision and staff appointments. wouldsuddenly white feredal employees be passed over for promotion in favor of black person? would prorams for Hispanic bilingual children be cut? What formula would be used for distribution of college financial aid? What about our military? would qualified white generals and admirals be forced into retirement to be replaced with black leaders? How does Obama intereact with white European leaders? Hispanic South America leaders? Will we put more aid into programs in Africa than other continents? How will he interact with white business leaders? bankers? Will minority owned companies get more government contracts? Will states with a higher propotion of blacks get more federal funds from FEMA or from Homeland Security? etc. etc. Don't be a fool, here are millions of ways racism can be carried out without breaking the law.

I don't think he is. He had a very international upbringing by a mother who transcended matters of race, gender, and nationality. Also, from what I've read, her parents had a big influence on his upbringing as well. I think it's impossible to know for certain what goes on in someone's head. Unless they spew racist remarks, it's hard to know if someone is racist or not.

I don't see anything about him that indicates he is racist. I think anyone who does is looking to find it, and if you look hard enough, you will find something to substantiate your beliefs, no matter what those beliefs are.

I think he is racist and is ashamed of his white heritage.. Here is the thing that you hear though, if you dont vote for Obama You are racist... but yet he claims his white grandmother raised him and she said things about Black people that made him shutter... Why, would he paint his grandmother as a racist, just to defend Wright? Why, does it seem to be he is black, but never he is white... He seems to embrace with open arms the black side but not the white... This would make him a racist...
I can remember watching Montel, he had someone make a racist remark , they were black people who didnt like whites, he quickly pointed out, he was not going to tolerate this kind of talk, his mother was white. So he was part white as well as black... I didnt hear Obama defending anyone that was white, when Wright made his racist remarks....

He is racist and it does matter because by the time people really realize that he is, it might be too late. We are forgetting one important thing...he was a huge advocate and a lifelong member of REV. Wrights preaching....you are telling me that this REV made this his only time??? I think not, the only reason Obama left the church is because he was afraid it would hurt his campaign, not because he DOESN'T believe what was said....which I think he does....

Woah boy - get ready for the "Whities Only" drinking fountains, folks, Obama yo mama is on his way.

He went to and supported a racist pastor for twenty years. Does that not tell you something about his values or lack of character. I think he is a racist and an elitist. He is also the most liberal senator in congress.
His associates speak volumes about his character.

I agree Don B that he is extremely liberal.

I do not necessarily agree that he is racist because of his associations.

The fact that he has white relatives does not mean he has the same white experience I have. And the fact that he looks more black does not mean he has the same black experience of someone born black in a predominantly black neighborhood. My guess is that Obama gets mixed messages from both races due to his mixed heritage.

As to his association with his church; is a Lutheran anti-Semitic because of their association with that church? Or is a person that associates or goes to Bob Jones University also automatically racist?

I have a bit of a problem making that automatic judgement in these instances and also in the instance of Obama.

I may be concerned and suspect; because of what he may be being taught, but who of intellect totally accepts everything they taught to be gospel? Even at church we have to use discernment.

Who know what others feel about that subject, but it doesn't matter at all what others think. How one behaves on the subject is all that counts, and from his behavior I see only OK behavior, which is fine by me.

If he listened to racism for 20 years,sat and kept listening with his family,some must have sunk in.And his wife seems worse than he is.

I can listen to bigots all day and it doesn't make me think like one. I have lived in "The South" since 1982 and heard more than my share of racial slurs, raised a son who has been assumed to be of "mixed heritage" and therefore the subject of racism myself as people assumed that I had conceived my son with a black man. I am as impartial now as I was prior.

Sometimes, being around bigotry (or any other opposing view) simply strengthens your opposing opinion. I am proof of that.

"Sometimes, being around bigotry (or any other opposing view) simply strengthens your opposing opinion. I am proof of that. "

I had an uncle that was one of the biggest bigots I know. We spent two or three weekend days a month around him and his family for years and I agree with Julie; when you realize they are ignorant in what they are spouting off; you often determine to go a different path.

Let me cite another example; Fuzzy Zoeller made a comment years ago after Tiger Woods won a big tournament about "now I guess they will have watermelon and soul food on the menu." Fuzzy was known to be funny; he said something funny but not wise and certainly not politically correct. I really don't think Fuzzy Zoeller is a racist, even with saying this comment.

I don't necessarily think Mel Gibson is anti-semitic. I think there are a lot of heat of the moment times which we may express our ignorance and prejudice. I don't think everyone that slips up is racist. I do think they are wrong in their thinking and to have this in their heart; but we all sin, we all have things in our heart and mind that we generally or wise not to share.

Have I ever told an off colored joke or said the N word in anger. Well, the N word is not a word in my vocabulary, so hey score one for me; whoppee. But I admit I have told off colored jokes in my lifetime; some using the N word. Most using the word Pollock or Blond.

Have you told a Blond Joke, Pollock Joke or Redneck Joke? Then maybe you are also a racist or misogynist too?

Richard is right - behavior and actions of the individual are more indicative of their positions than who they may be friends with or go to church with.

Do we have cause for concern with Obama - there are questions and who really completely knows another person, even the president.

In my opinion there are a lot of other concerns and fears I have about Obama; racism is probably at the bottom of the list. In fairness, McCain also has a list going of fears and concerns going also. I wouldn't want to marry either of them; hopefully they won't do the country too much harm in four years. Part of me thinks they may be better than the last crew.

Is Obama racist? I don't know.

Would he allow us to learn whether he is or not? Not if he's any kind of politician - and he appears to be slick as oiled grease.

Does it matter? Maybe. But not nearly as much as his ultra-liberal leanings. Obama makes Bill Clinton look like Ronald Reagan by comparison.

One thing I am somewhat surprised by is the media's lack of attention to the similarities with the election of 1976. Perhaps it's just because Obama & HClinton have been beating up on each other and it hasn't had time to settle yet. Time will tell. But I find the similarities very troubling:

1976 was two years removed from an unpopular war (Vietnam) that was still being fought in the court of public opinion. Ford was president by default, but Nixon was the elected president.

Nixon was a hated Republican who even divided his own party and was not personable in any way. Ford also divided his own party by pardoning Nixon almost immediately upon taking office.

Under Nixon the FBI performed illegal wiretaps. The Homeland Security team has given others this same fear, even though those affected for the most part have been non-Americans.

Deportation is a big issue. In 2008 it's primarily an economic question. In 1976 it was issues of perceived subversion, including the most famous deportation hearing - John Lennon, an outspoken critic of the Nixon administration and the Vietnam war.

Add to that double-digit inflation, lay-offs, American jobs being lost to Asian counterparts and a recession.

Sound familiar? Now it gets really interesting.

Out of nowhere comes a charismatic governor with little prior experience and little practical plan. All Jimmy Carter had going for him is that he was not Nixon, he was not Ford and he was not LBJ. In fact, that was the reason given for electing him. According to his campaign slogan, Carter was "A Leader, for a Change."


What happened? Jimmy Carter was elected, and things changed - for the worse. It took until Reagan's second term to overcome the "changes" that Carter offered. I remember it because I lived through 21% interest on mortgages; an inflation rate that jumped to over 13% while wages increased by negligible amounts - for those who were working and did not lose their jobs to overseas competitors. The unemployment did drop temporarily - but only because of the numerous jobs funded by public money in a 70's version of the New Deal and putting a backbreaking load on the American taxpayer. When those were not renewed, the rate roared back to 7%.

Note - while I tend to side with Republicans because I am conservative, I am not a Republican bigot. Many of the positive reforms put in place by President Reagan were undone by the first President Bush. It took Bill Clinton to lead America out of that darkness. How many Republicans will you hear talk abotu the good things Clinton did?

It's not like Carter was the stupid peanut farmer the media played him up to be. If anything, he was the opposite. He was a learned man - a nuclear physicist. But his presidency stands today as one of the worst presidents in our history. The Camp David summit where a peace accord between Israel and Egypt was signed, is the only thing that salvages his presidency.

But his legacy is eerily similar to Obama. Many have heard the old Santayana quote that those who do not recall the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them (paraphrased). To paraphrase another quote (Yogi Berra) we may be looking at deja vu all over again....

I don't have time to comment like I wish but I will say this: Obama going to a church with a racist pastor for 20 years?! Come one, racism is not Christian-like, first off, and second it is a tender issue and really, Obama should have moved his membership to another church that was not racist, especially where he is politically. But no, he did not, only when Rev said something publicly....fishy to me. Can I say without a shadow of a doubt that he is racist, no. I don't know the man personally, but he sure smells fishy.