Critical Thinking: Is President Obama being naive?

Hello Tamara.

Considering the fact that President Obama is not the first President to address our children. President Obama is not the first Pro-Choice President. President Obama is not the first President to run up the deficit. President Obama is not the first President to push for health care for all Americans.

I'd like to know what is really going on here? Why so much hatred? Hatred to the point where some have openly called for his death. What did President Obama do to generate such hate and divisiveness?

In McCain campaign ralles, before the election, people were shouting, "Kill him," referring to candidate Obama. But instead of confronting the psychotic sociopaths in their ranks, the republicans are encouraging them. No republican "leader" (as if there are any) has the guts to challenge the likes of limpbaugh or beck.

What did President Obama do to generate such hate and divisiveness?

He won.

You said it perfectly, Jan.

Well if they don't like that fact that President Obama won the last election, then why can't they do as we did and offer up a candidate for the next election cycle and vote him into office? Why do everything in their power to undermine and weaken our duly elected 44th President.

It really does sound like a bunch of sore losers.

Because they have nothing but attitude.

You may just be right. They have offered up nothing but obstructionism. I haven't heard a reasonable plan for solving the heath care crisis here in the United States.

Their attitudes and beliefs are that they are the Party of Fiscal Responsibility, yet they condone uninsured Americans using their local hospital emergency room as their primary physician's office when the cost of treating an ear infection cost nearly 1000 dollars as opposed to going to a primary physician's office where the same treatment cost under 100 dollars.

EITHER WAY, YOU THE TAXPAYER WILL PAY. GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULLS!!!!!

They support GOP hypocrites in the House and the Senate whom have the best TAXPAYER funded health care in the nation, yet refuse to allow those same TAXPAYERS the same type of health care.

These people have no clue when it comes to finding common sense solutions to the many issues facing the American people. They only hope that the President fails, thus hurting the country in which they reside.

Go figure.

Former president Carter spoke the truth. I don't think President Obama is naive - I think he is seeing this as a distraction from his primary agenda - fixing the major problems we face as a nation: energy, health care, the economy, etc.

Democrats investigated and held hearings when the first Bush spoke to school children. this is the first president to have an avowed communist as an adviser. It is not his color that worries me...it is his policies and the people he surrounds himself with.

Sorry Paula. This started long before he took office and long before he filled any executive office positions.

The President is well aware of the racism in this country. But he also recognizes that there are things that need to be done.

Carter has insight both as an ex-President and as a Southerner. He has a right to his opinion. And we all have a right to agree or disagree.

However, we also have an obligation to be honest with ourselves.

Are we?

I live in the deep south. I hear private conversations. Those, who doubt that racism is a large part of the profuse hatred of Obama - those are the naive ones.

You don't have to live in the Deep South to hear stupid racist remarks all the time.

Those people hate our president for two main reasons: 1. He is a Democrat.
2. He is black

.
More and more seem to want him to fail and work for that failure. Shameful.

thanks for your comments. This is to Lloyd I have no idea why there is so much hatred for President Obama but what i do know is he is not just apart of the black race but also the white race. However it is the color of his skin that most are judging him by verses his intelligence and his experience.

"However it is the color of his skin that most are judging him by verses his intelligence and his experience."

Hello Tamara. It's really not most, it's a hysterical, lunatic, fringe element that is causing all the chaos and divisiveness we've seen since the inauguration of our Duly Elected 44th President.

They just can't come to grips that all their efforts to undermine and weaken Barack Obama during the Presidential campaign did not work.

It's called being a sore loser.

http://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=621

tamara I'm not justifying any of the idiots out there but I found this a little eye opening as to how many time the death of Bush was called for. Check it out.

Why is so much hatred being hurled toward President Obama? That's a no-brainer!

He's a Kenyan born Arab terrorist who wants to bring DEATH PANELS to this grand and glorious land of ours so he can pull the plugs on Granny and Gramps.

HE'S A LEFT WING SOCIALIST whose education was funded by the American Communist Party, MoveOn.Org, Barbara Streisand and Ed Asner.

He named his daughters Sasha and Malia - YO! WHAT'S UP WITH THAT???

He would prefer to have dinner with Mahatma Gandhi over Ronald Reagan. RONALD REAGAN!!!

He wants to start a TROTSKY FOR TOTS program for our children.

He's just an evil person!

EVIL, I SAY! My fellow Americans, heed my warning,

The Big, Black, Bolshevik Bogeyman is gonna git'cha!

It has not a thing to do with race.

I am a white person. I would not lie to you.

But seriously, folks....

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

Yikes!

It is getting harder and harder to recognize satire because extremists are getting so....well....extreme.

I agree Peregrine. Tom's satire almost sounds like the reality on the Right. They really need to take a look at how the majority of Americans perceive them.

More from the Right.

"He Pals Around With Terrorists".

"He Hates the White Side of His Family".

Nothing could be further from the truth, but they believe it and to them it's reality.

They must call him something because remember..no Black educated in our U.S. schools could be that smart. And if there is anything that plucks the fine hairs of racist whites is having to defeat or dismiss a brilliant Black man...women not so much as in Condie Rice! Lookat what not who they positioned to head the GOP Michael Steele yikes that tells a deep story. I watched it unfold on C-SPAN and senators who had run for the post every year were asked, off camera, to withdraw so Steele (that poor deluded soul) could be the one to rival POTUS 44.

Black against Black just like on the plantation...the field workers were overseen by a black on many plantations to keep authoritarian rule and clean hands at the same time.

I hope they show the axe photos to the Trotsky for Tots groups. :)

Seriously, racism is only one component in the opposition. It's there and nobody should deny it.

People in power don't give it up willingly. This is what happens when powers shift.

Even though the rest of the world marveled at our peaceful transition from one political party to another and only wish that such a thing could occur within their own boarders.

Go figure. These people are acting like they live in Zimbabwe, Iran, Burma or the many countries that fail to acknowledge election results.

Leave it up to them and we will witness the same civil unrest that many of these countries saw after their elections.

Good job GOP. Thanks for taking our wonderful country to Third World Status.

What is happening now is similar to what happened when hurricane Katrina hit. America was briefly unmasked for what it is.

The nastiness isn't caused by race, but racism certainly exacerbates it. It's basically the same reaction the same people had when President Clinton was elected, but the extreme right wing a little more egged on by internet lunacy like the birth certificate crap, and they're a group that already has a good many racists among them.

I wonder how you think it would serve the President politically to focus on that aspect. I also wonder how you assume that not mentioning it is the same thing as being unaware of it. Omissions often exist with greater purposes that what gets said.

I agree!

I'm conservative and I don't hate Obama, but I disagree with 98% of his plans... not because of HIM or WHO or WHAT he is, but because they go against my beliefs, or because some of the plans just have no true foundation to them. They're just floating out there awaiting roots to grow when none can.

But back to your question: with the phrasing he used, Carter's statement is only partially correct. There are liberal racists as well as conservative ones. Racists in any party or affiliation are going to oppose someone who's not of their own race. And one does not have to be white to be racist, either. But the fact is that SOME conservatives DO oppose the president because of his race... and since that is what Carter said, I have to admit that the statement is partially true, but he should have said some PEOPLE and not just CONSERVATIVES. Then his statement would have been more accurate and less inflammatory.

Remember the distinction in a racist and a conservative are not the same the reactionists are making it appear so. Individual conservatives are and can be judging POTUS 44 on agenda without prodigious yet, you must admit the voices make it difficult to distinguish a difference.

"Then his statement would have been more accurate and less inflammatory."

So you are suggesting that liberals and democrats are racist against POTUS 44? I challenge you to prove that one.

"one does not have to be white to be racist, either." Lady you are so very WRONG about that.

Non-whites can be biased but absolutely cannot be "Racist". That is, my dear a fact of Anthropology, Sociology and law--certain constructs MUST exist for the word to apply and it begins and ends with "The ruling class i.e., the majority Racial/people. Race means "People".

The politics of this country do not allow truth and popularity to exist in the same office/title. Political figures who are active and wish to continue to work do not acknowledge these issues. Notice how quiet the Black caucus has been on this Jimmy Carter remarks...they do not want to alienate any of the voters for 2010. POTUS 44 ignores it as I am sure he did at College and Harvard Law...(I am a Harvard grad and it is not a big or obvious part of college life until you get to your major in a Masters program) where there are whites there shall be a testing of the thickness of your skin to react to innuendos and the "Joke".

Tamara, Mahatma Gahndi said, "First they ignore us, then they ridicule us, then they fight us, then we win.", and since these wise words have been shared with us, and as it seems to be - That time AGAIN, I am wondering just where do You think we are in that statement?. The name-calling, the vain attempts to ridicule without reason, and the avoidance of issues originally introduced, do not help with an understanding dialog. And No way does it allow the level on conversation to be raised, rather it seems to be sinking below the 'regular' mud-slinging of some politicians campains. This IS NOT the first time President Carter has 'played-the -race-card'. Check him out as canidate for Governor, 1970. I Love Jimmy Carter! Have Always had respect for him even knowing of his disappointing display in 1970. And my darling mixed son, Chaz, might attest that I should hardly be tagged as 'biased', in any way. The Abuse of the use of 'race' as an issue now is truly regrettable, and it does So much to detract from the real issues before us, that it compells me to respond. I shall not try to defend against such a ridiculous charge, for to do so would only continue our downward sprial of 'communication'.
We should first finish the discussion that is in play before unfounded rhetoric derails it.
I have but one issue, American Freedom. It is not an issue that includes any other component. Gods first Gift to Man is Free Will. No person -And absolutely No government- has any business or right to anothers Free Will, inalienable Rights, or American Freedom. This is for each alone to decide. So Be It.
Should you decide to forfiet any, OR ALL, of your inalienable Rights to whatever, so be it.
Your business. Don't ask for mine, Nor my childrens: you have no right. Don't expect that we shall forfiet even one of our God given Rights to any government, not even this government, by the people, for the people, which I Love. Not happening.
I understand the health care dilemma quite well and I do not think it is the tragedy that is being portrayed to us. Further, Many of the 'problems' with our 'system' ARE THE CREATION of our government! Like, now, after regulating the industry near to death, They are going to fix it for us!?. Right they Will! So we have the illusion of an imminate 'train wreck', and then they give us this promise of their 'miracle cure', and for that delusion we only need forfiet every inalienable Right. It may be no problem for some; it is a Gross Imperial GOAT, to me. And I shall Not comply even if they pass this unconstitutional "law".
from John F. Kennedy, Who has been My Hero for near 50 years;
"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie-
deliberate, contrived, and dishonest, but the myth-
persistant, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths
allows the comfort of opinion, without the discomfort
of thought." God Bless you John, R.I.P., and, Thank You!

We are smart enough to KNOW,
that what they promise, is impossible.