It's because I'm Irish isn't it?

[quantumcat42]

And this is one reason why blanket accusations of racism are bull.

[FreakyBoy]

"I have a black friend" is not defence against accusations of racism.

[quantumcat42]

Overwhelming support for a candidate is not "I have a black friend".

[Kea]

Let's look at the polls, eh?

Among all Republicans, 45 percent believe he was born in another country, as do 45 percent of Tea Party supporters, the poll shows.

(Freaky's point was that it's perfectly possible to have negative perceptions of black people as a group while believing that a select few are exceptions to the rule. It's the "Gays are disgusting, but Jim's all right" phenomenon.)

[quantumcat42]

So, opposition to an individual proves racism, while support for another individual is irrelevant. Makes sense.

[Kea]

Believing in birther conspiracies is in no way the reverse equivalent of supporting Herman Cain's tax policies. A vigorous hatred of Obama's policies and leadership? Fine. Crazy birther stuff? R-A-C-I-S-T. And nor is it exactly a fringe movement when it has 42% support among registered Republicans. And another 22% unsure about Obama's origins. That's a fringe like the late Princess Diana's wedding dress's train.

Especially when you remember that not too many years ago, the Republicans were perfectly willing to entertain the idea of revising the Constitution to allow presidential candidates of foreign birth when the politician in question was from Austria. But a politician of partial Kenyan ancestry? Suddenly he's part of some 42 year-long conspiracy to plant a sleeper agent into the highest office of the land, and state legislatures are passing laws demanding that presidential candidates provide proof of birth.

[Jorodryn]

While I wish people would let it die, the birther issue is not racist. And the Austrian/Kenyan debate is not the issue I believer that would be Republican/Democrat. Because let's face it, the parties are extremely short sighted. Look at what happened when Reagan became president. All of a sudden the Republicans wanted to repeal the 22nd amendment, was that racist? No, they just wanted their guy in office longer. I think you are confusing partisan politics for racism. Heck from what I have witnessed any move against Obama by any republican is racist. I'll bet if NBC could get away with it they would say running against Obama for president was racist. Yet his vice president can say he is articulate, but that is not a racist comment at all is it? no sir.

I know it is hard to imagine for some of you, but there are quite a few people in the country that would oppose anything that the democrats do, just because they are democrats. I would venture to guess that this is the crux of the whole matter. it is partyist. not racist. (I don't like the word partisan, makes me think of people in fields with guns.)

[Kea]

Actually, I think what Joe Biden said was racist - or at least thoughtlessly prejudiced. (Cue Avenue Q song) At least he apologized for it.

I do agree with you that some figures in the Tea Party are milking the birther conspiracy for all it's worth purely out of partisan advantage, however something like this wouldn't get much traction unless a certain segment of the population already had a readiness to receive racist tropes. (Secret African Jihadist sleeper agent? Totally playing on latent xenophobia and fear of Muslims). They would've found something else to attack Obama with. With Clinton, it was sex.

As far as I'm concerned, the fact that certain Democrats like to cry wolf with accusations of racism* doesn't make Birtherism not racist. Sometimes there really is a wolf there.

* Republicans are perfectly willing to play that game too, when it suits them. See Justice Sotomayer.

[quantumcat42]

Kea, what portion of that 45% would you say accepts the birther story because they oppose Obama's politics, and what portion opposes Obama because of the story?

[Jorodryn]

I know that the republicans would do the same thing. If Herman Cain were to get elected every opposition to his policies would be called racist by the right, even if it is just to do it because the democrats did it. I swear it is like a bunch of kids on the playground, "but he did it too... "

[Dodger77]

What did Joe Biden say that was racist?

[Jorodryn]

"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man."

[drachefly]

Duuude. Even if he meant 'among serious presidential candidates', that's pretty danged racist.

[inspiration]

Locking a 10-page thread: hopefully not racist!