Turning Point the Past Ten Days

For a week or 10 days, in the wake of the DC 9/12 March, "raaaaaaaaaacism" was the cry from all quarters against opponents of the Obama administration's agenda.

All at once, though, the cry has stopped. Why?

Obama: racism not at root of criticism:

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama does not think racism is "the overriding issue" in the fierce debate on health care, but said in interviews to be aired Sunday that tempers were rising over the proper role of government.

"Are there people out there who don't like me because of race? I'm sure there are. That's not the overriding issue here," Obama told CNN in excerpts of an interview to be broadcast on "State of the Union." ....

Clinton: Racism Not Behind Health Debate:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton says that while some barbs aimed at the White House are motivated by race, healthcare reform concerns are not.

Clinton, speaking Monday on CNN's "Larry King Live", partially agreed with an assessment by another former U.S. president, Jimmy Carter, that some of the vitriolic opposition to President Barack Obama is because he is black. But Clinton did not count the opposition to healthcare reform among some Americans as evidence of racism.

"I believe that some of the right-wing extremists which oppose President Obama are also racially prejudiced and would prefer not to have an African-American president", Clinton told King. "But I don't believe that all the people who oppose him on healthcare -- and all the conservatives -- are racists. And I believe if he were white, every single person who opposes him now, would be opposing him then."

The former president added, "While I have devoted my life to getting rid of racism, I think this (healthcare) is a fight that my president and our party -- this is one we need to win on the merits."

Translation of both: Pull back! Pull back! It's not working anymore! In fact, it's making us look bad! Pull back! Pull back!

This is, I think, a great turning point: now, for the first time in forty or fifty years, they see the name calling isn't working.

So... what's next?

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Wed. 09/23/09 10:38:33 PM
Categorized as Media & Political.