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The American Prospect / By Michelle Goldberg
comments_imageCOMMENTS: 520

Tea Party Movement Returns Christian Right to Its Racist Past

For years, the religious right tried to lose its racist image, reverting to homophobia as its hatred of choice. As it joins the Tea Party fray, it may once again have to own both.
October 2, 2009  |  
 
 
 
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Now that popular conservatism has given itself over so avidly to racial resentment, it's curious to remember how hard the right once tried to scrub itself of the lingering taint of prejudice. Indeed, for a decade and a half the Christian right -- until recently the most powerful and visible grassroots conservative movement -- struggled mightily to escape its own bigoted history. In his 1996 book Active Faith, Ralph Reed acknowledged that Christian conservatives had been on the wrong side of the civil rights movement. "The white evangelical church carries a shameful legacy of racism and the historical baggage of indifference to the most central struggle for social justice in this century, a legacy that is only now being wiped clean by the sanctifying work of repentance and racial reconciliation," wrote Reed.

"Racial reconciliation" became a kind of buzz phrase. The idea animated Promise Keepers meetings. "Racism is an insidious monster," Bill McCartney, the group's founder, said at a 39,000-man Atlanta rally. "You can't say you love God and not love your brother." The Traditional Values Coalition distributed a video called "Gay Rights, Special Rights" to black churches; it criticized the gay rights movement for co-opting the noble legacy of the civil rights struggle.

Throughout the Bush years, homophobia and professions of anti-racism were twinned in a weird way, as if the latter proved that the right wasn't simply still skulking around history's dark side. At a deeply surreal 2006 event at the Greater Exodus Baptist Church, an African American church in downtown Philadelphia, leaders of the religious right invoked Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks on behalf of gay marriage bans and Bush's judicial nominees. At the end of the evening, several dozen clergymen, black and white, joined hands in prayer at the front of the room. "Black Americans, white Americans," said a beaming Tony Perkins, leader of the Family Research Council. "Christians, standing together." The whole premise of compassionate conservatism -- which shoveled taxpayer money towards administration-friendly churches like Greater Exodus Baptist -- was that the right cared as deeply as the left about issues like inner city poverty.

What a difference an election makes. Even if you believed that compassionate conservatism was always a bit of a con, it's amazing to see how quickly it has vanished, and how fast an older style of reaction, one more explicitly rooted in racial grievance, has reasserted itself.

Today's grassroots right is by all appearances as socially conservative as ever, but its tone and its rhetoric are profoundly different than they were even a year ago. For the last 15 years, the right-wing populism has been substantially electrified by sexual anxiety. Now it's charged with racial anxiety. By all accounts, there were more confederate flags than crosses at last weekend's anti-Obama rally in Washington, DC. Glenn Beck has become a far more influential figure on the right than, say, James Dobson, and he's much more interested in race than in sexual deviancy. For the first time in at least a decade, middle class whites have been galvanized by the fear that their taxes are benefiting lazy, shiftless others. The messianic, imperialistic, hubristic side of the right has gone into retreat, and a cramped, mean and paranoid style has come to the fore.


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Michelle Goldberg is a senior correspondent at The American Prospect. She is also the author of Kingdom Coming and The Means of Reproduction.
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no point
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Posted by: johnwinthrop on Oct 2, 2009 1:00 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
No proof. no point. What are rightist groups doing now against blacks? Nazi and racialist groups exist. Why not mention them? The religious right may be ridiculous; on the whole it's not racist and no evidence other than a couple of "leaders" dealt with David Duke many years ago. Stick to the issues. Obama is sinking because of poor policies and inept implementation. Not because of race.

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» RE: no point Posted by: adp3d
» RE: no point Posted by: Lara1967
» "Democratics"? "bloody stupid"? Posted by: leafsong1
» RE: no point Posted by: Natasha_W
» RE: no point Posted by: login@bugmenot.com
» RE: no point Posted by: Marlena
» RE: no point Posted by: Lara1967
» RE: one point Posted by: Crazy H
» RE: one point rating Posted by: Crazy H
» Bollocks! Posted by: chariotdrvr14
» RE: no point Posted by: qwertyu
» Red Herring Posted by: LeaderofMen

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Alternet is Getting Freakier and Weirder By The Day
[Report this comment]
Posted by: rtdrury on Oct 2, 2009 1:07 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This author is trying to defend the class hierarchy by lumping elites in with bums as victims of right-wing bigotry. Screw the class hierarchy. Let the bigotry stand if it stands critical of the class hierarchy. If you want to defend the lowest classes, you don't have to defend the freakazoid elites at the same time. This article only reinforces my view that Alternet is home to a very bizarre liberal extremism. How do liberals think they can get away with it in an age of crisis? I just don't think they have much of a grasp on reality. Then again they really don't need reality while basking in the lap of petro-luxury, ehh? This suggests that petro-luxury is the root problem - enabling all kinds of idiocy to fly.

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» RE: Is this what you meant? Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Is this what you meant? Posted by: Basenjis
» 11,776,112,848,656.17 in Debt Posted by: snowhound
» Adolf Hitler loves Guitarbill ! Posted by: Benn_Miller
» STONEWALLING again, @$$face? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Adolf Hitler loves you Guitarbill. Posted by: Benn_Miller
» RE: I left you a questioning message Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Who Broke Wind? Posted by: desidid
» RE: Are we having fun yet? Posted by: Crazy H
» RE: Are we having fun yet? Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Are we having fun yet? Posted by: Crazy H
» That's not completely true. Posted by: maxpayne
» Mr. Bill's alter-ego, Shey Posted by: MaxBridges
» The Alex Jones Deception Posted by: GuitarBill
» Adolf Hitler loves Guitarbill ! Posted by: Benn_Miller
» STONEWALLING again, "prophit(0)"? Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: defining terms; bums, elites Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» CynicI Posted by: Basenjis
» What do you mean? Posted by: leafsong1

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Little Threat ...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: mmckinl on Oct 2, 2009 1:46 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Religious Right is fractured and fragmented and the Church of Colonel Sanders, Kentucky Fried Tea Baggers, won't sort 'em out ...

The one thing we all have in common, including myself, a Progressive, is a deep distrust of politicians. We think they are corrupt ... Wow! what a radical position! ...

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Cristian ethics as usual
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Atheistno1 on Oct 2, 2009 2:18 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Excellent paper by Michelle & highlights the very nature of discrimination that is practiced in the fundamental political environment. A couple of months back, Obama, who was put into the white house by the religious nominations, made a statement that "any fool can father a child but that doesn't mean that any fool can be a father"; I responded in an Email that Obama had turned his back on the human genetics for the benefit of religious manipulation of the family law system & discrimination against men. The reply was not directed to me but was that, "they needed to word things differently". Discrimination is regarded as the key to political support for religion & the ongoing deception for political decision making & that is proven to be a lie on it's own.

Michelle has explained things very well when it comes to alternative figure of speech & the manipulation of public cognitive thought.

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Please support the following organizations to assure America does not become a Theocracy
[Report this comment]
Posted by: corey on Oct 2, 2009 2:42 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Please support the following organizations to assure America does not become a theocracy, by keeping religion and politics separate, which will help end hatred, racism, oppression and stop the destruction of this great country Fundamentalist Christians have been trying to destroy !!!

American Humanist Association

American United for Separation of Church & State

Council for Secular Humanism

Freedom From Religion Foundation

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Interfaith Alliance Foundation

Military Religious Freedom Foundation

Secular Coalition For America

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The real racist
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Posted by: 4America on Oct 2, 2009 3:59 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It seems by the events of the past year the real racist are not only on the right but left.. Gates affair is but one example. African americans voted overwhelmingly along racial lines is another.

The election of Obama has done nothing for race relations except drive a divide into it!

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» RE: The real racist Posted by: 4changenow
» RE: The real racist Posted by: login@bugmenot.com
» RE: The real racist Posted by: 4America
» RE: The real racist Posted by: fred_53_99
» RE: The real racist Posted by: 4America
» You prove the other side's point Posted by: chariotdrvr14
» RE: The real racist Posted by: reelectnoone

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Michelle Goldberg is a fool! A disgrace to her parents.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: AJR Journal on Oct 2, 2009 4:36 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How dare she pour gasoline on this simmering national political fire! Does she not see how her words only makes it worse. I am sure if she understands how her little Green actions help make the World a cleaner, greener place, she will understand how her mean, bigoted, insensitive words only work to enlarge the flame.
Even if she is all worked up, she should choose her words more wisely.

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» RE: http://www.ajr.org.uk/ajr-journal Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» My reply to your comment. Posted by: AJR Journal
» well, I'm not Max Posted by: Drclaw
» you continue to show Posted by: Drclaw
» RE: you continue to show Posted by: leafsong1

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I don't see the connection
[Report this comment]
Posted by: lclark on Oct 2, 2009 4:42 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The author is saying the "Tea Party" movement is a racist movement?I thought it was about citizen resentment of an overbearing government.

I have noticed that Alternet will eventually ascribe to people opposed to a certain set of social goals as being racist. It could be illegal migrations or what the Tea Party represents.

Consider health care reform. What's in the law? Don't buy a product and you face fines. We all suspect that as soon as that is law most companies will drop health coverage and more of our ( decreasing ) earnings will be given over to the rich and powerful by legislative mandate.

I think many people:
- are disgusted with both the Democratic and Republican parties and see them as both corrupt and servents of a corportocracy.
- see that citizens are managed rather than represented. Powerful private groups with wealth and agendas select who runs for public office and who gets media exposure and the kind of media exposure they get and that the democratic process is an illusion. Who funds Alternet?
- see that are productive capacity has been sent overseas and the basis of our middleclass exported.
- see the poor quality of public education. Many graduates do not have basic mental skills nor manual skills not civic skills but are exposed to extensive social engineering.
- see the "private-public" partnerships is about transferring public assets and wealth to private hands.
- see that giving public money to religious institutions is contrary to the founding principles of this country
- see the concentration of wealth into the hands of fewer people.
- see more and more we are subject to ways we have to "show our papers" to travel in our own contry, weather its at the airport or driving on public roads.
- see "free speach" zones replacing free public expression.
- see police use devices developed by the military deployed against public protest, i.e., "sonic cannons" at the late G-8 meeting in Penn.
- see all these foreign wars and transnational treaties as a scam to grab more public wealth and weaken nation sovreignty and dismantle the national unity.
- see the rise in gangs in urban areas as a breakdown in community that reflects a broader gangsterism that government has come to reflect.

Oh, and see if some group is not in agreement with the agenda of who gets publushed in Alternet eventually that grouping will be label racist.

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» RE: I don't see the connection Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» Take your racist filth elsewhere! Posted by: Illiteratilumen
» Alternet is an echo chamber Posted by: suprmark
» RE: I don't see the connection Posted by: crashgrab

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I just don't want to replace one set of haters with another.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Nitestallion on Oct 2, 2009 5:04 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My problem is I have never been a joiner in this life. Joining things got me killed more than once in other lives. Fornicate religions and the whore they rode in on, but never lose sight of the fact that they (Organized Religions) took on an impossible job and solved seventy percent of it. Except when they would screw the pooch and then brother look out here comes Pogrom.

Just because a man's views are weird or unpopular doesn't mean that they are incorrect. Don't go on a hay ride just for the frills and thrills. It took me forever to learn to say no, and understand that was alright! Say no not to religion: say no to fuzzy thinking, deliberate lies, and irrational acts. Religions can be fun and good if they serve a county picnic with music and comestibles. If they start preaching call the men in the little white coats!

In caricature religious philosophers are strictly bovine. Would you want to learn the square dance from a Holstein? Or perhaps integral calculus from a Guernsey? Your spirit is your own your body is the temple. Do not let Pulpit Pounders paradiddle a tympani on your skull. Learn to do your own thinking and pay your dues to living your own way with the beating of your heart. And NEVER but NEVER let a church take control of governance!

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Alternet is a front group for the NWO
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Posted by: snowhound on Oct 2, 2009 5:28 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Alternet continues to try and divide our nation during a time when people must come together against runaway government. Like MSNBC and FOX, they divide the people in order to prevent the call for Freedom and Liberty. They are a tool of the New World Order.

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» OMG! NWO! WTF? Posted by: zipper696
» RE: OMG! NWO! WTF? Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Your ignorance is showing Posted by: maxpayne
» Coincidence? Posted by: MaxBridges
» RE: OMG! NWO! WTF? Posted by: desidid
» RE: OMG! NWO! WTF? Posted by: crashgrab
» Alex Jones and David Icke can bite me Posted by: chariotdrvr14
» Runaway capitalism Posted by: slugsucker
» RE: unaway capitalism Posted by: Benn_Miller

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Clogging the boards with denial doesn't disprove it
[Report this comment]
Posted by: chariotdrvr14 on Oct 2, 2009 6:37 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
While this article might be a tad superfluous it doesn't mean that it's lacking in validity.

Why else in the verified account of a dramatic rise in a number of white nationalist organisations' membership lists? The rise of threats to the president coinciding with increasing emotional racially charged rhetoric from leading rightwing bloggers like Matt Drudge, radio talkshow hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck who use incidents of racially related schoolfights to attack President Obama and his supporters?

You can argue that Obama's policies are inciting the rightwing but the reactions of everything from heckling him during major congressional speeches to encouraging people to bring guns to his appearances run beyond the pale of simple disrespect of his office (which they've never done to any white president...even the liberal ones)

I think all that speaks for itself.

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Religion..............
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Spiritgirl on Oct 2, 2009 6:42 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If your premise is that the Tea Party movement helped turned the Christian Fundamentalists toward racism, I'd have to disagree with you. Christian Fundamentalists while they may have been less open about their racism, never let it go - they just weren't as out in the open about it as they had been previously! Religion has been and continues to be used to justify all manner of heinous behavior that includes: slavery, to justify the second class status of white women, the westward expansion of America, the Crusades - you name it, man has justified a whole host of ills in the name of G-d!

It has been said that "religion is the opiate that's fed to the people" - now more than ever is that being applied. The people have been dumbed down, and are ignorant of the facts: our politicians have been bought by the Corporate Oligarchy, in turn they have rewritten and abolished the laws that were in place to help the average American. In these tough times, when the masses are afraid because the Government is not responding effectively enough for WE THE PEOPLE, the carpet baggers (Rush, Glenn, Hannity, et.al) have always used the fear of the people against other, to keep them in line for their aggrandizing agenda! It's just too bad for those that support the loudmouths, they are to ignorant to realize how badly they are being used against their own self interest!

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» RE: eligion.............. Posted by: bukweat

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Great job Michelle
[Report this comment]
Posted by: daw13 on Oct 2, 2009 6:44 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The negative comments are fascinating, and the lack of positive comments even more so. Even the left seems inclined to define survival along color lines. Z Magazine for the past few years has carried plenty of articles deploring the conditions little white people face, and given extremely short shrift to the worsening condition of poor people of color. Other Left journals have followed suit. The Black Agenda Report finds itself a strong but lonely voice insisting that race is still relevant. I wish they'd attack Obama less and critique the silence of the Progressive left more. The Right is exactly what Michelle says it is. But where is the Left?

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the wingnuts are out this mornin'!
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Posted by: DaBear on Oct 2, 2009 7:09 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What Goldberg relates squares with my extended fundie Xtian family's expressions of late. There was always latent racism in them but when the tea-party fuckers came out, the kid gloves came off and all manner of white supremacist bullshit began to spike (and the protestations, "I'm not a racist, I have black friends" came out). So much so I'm no longer on speaking terms with nearly all my east-coast bigot inlaws and I can barely even talk about the weather with my fundie Dad because he keeps pepperin' it with racist jabs at Obama, the myth of climate change, the glorious revolution to come, the glorious American "spirit of competition" and global capitalism's coming shrugging off of the "nigra socialists" and other xtreme bullshit nonsense. Do I really share that asshole's genes? Fuck! It's damned insulting let alone embarrassing.

To see so many denialists on the comments just reinforces it for me. But for the Xtians and the owning-class we might have a decent space to live, work and defecate.

Welkum to 'Merkuh, I guess. Jeebus fuck, I need coffee.

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» Right on with what you say. Posted by: outsideagitator
» RE: the wingnuts are out this mornin'! Posted by: popeurbanxxiii
» RE: Love Your Spirit! Posted by: desidid

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Oh yeah, one more damned thing
[Report this comment]
Posted by: DaBear on Oct 2, 2009 7:14 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The in-laws fundie-Church attendance suddenly became priority #1 (where before they barely attended the local mainstream church) when the tea partiers came out.

Coincidence? Um, yeah... no.

If'n people can't see the clusterfuck closin' in, they're just too god damned fuckin' stoopit to live. Like watchin' dipshits watching the F5 tornado bearing down on the front porch, "Willi, git me nuther beer, will ya? This here video's goin' be awesome... gonna win me sup'n on that yootoob, by jayzis!"

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True!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Evelyn on Oct 2, 2009 7:22 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The anti-government sentiment that is at the base of all conservatism has its roots in resentment by the states of the confederacy against the evil northerners who interfered with its way of life. When the federal government began supporting civil rights, all the old resentments rose back up. The opposition to taxation that Reagan capitalized on, with his images of "Welfare Queens," is racism by another name. Today illegal immigrants are the face of why we don't want the government taking over our health care, but scratch the surface and you will find that they are stand-ins for the old bogey man of shiftless blacks living off the hard work of good white people. And if Jews with all their money happen to be on the side of the government, well that just fits right in.

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I am a recovering conservative and I am glad that I left the Republican Party.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: MichaelGoodhart on Oct 2, 2009 7:26 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The conservative Republicans are just getting desperate and want nothing more than attention like a 5 year old.

I used to be a rightwing nut as a disgruntled left out kid and thought that the conservatives were beaming me up. After Terri Schiavo and Hurricane Katrina, my conservative spirit began to wane. I used to buy into rightwing economics as well until I faced eviction upon getting into debt. I am still a moderate conservative on some issues but I am not a townhall.com freak.

We can find plenty of things to bash Obama about but at least he's not too liberal. What would John Mccain or Sarah Palin have done other than piss off more lukewarm conservatives?

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Get Over Racism and Get a Life
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Posted by: tlwinslow on Oct 2, 2009 7:39 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Racism is intellectually and scientifically kaput, so get used to it. That doesn't mean that people should be unjudged on skin color either. If they're bad then being non-white is no free pass. No more games, let's judge people by the content of their characters not you know what.

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EVERYTHING IS 'LIKE' SOMETHING ELSE
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Posted by: VZEQICVA on Oct 2, 2009 7:42 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There truly is nothing new under the sun. There have always been groups who hate other groups. They have a need to call themselves whatever they chose. It's their way of setting themselves apart from the others, ususlly people they perceive to be the rabble. But I don't believe that they ever got the attention we give them recently. That's a good part of the problem. The KKK was a disgrace to our nation and eventually phased out for the most part. That doesn't mean people stopped thinking that way. It gets tiresome reading about Hitler, Facism, George Orwell, Millgram, Machiavelli, Socialism, etc. There are just so many variations on the theme. The idea is to isolate the harm these people are doing and deal with that. There's no law against looking like a damned fool. We spend so much time identifying people that we overlook what they might be doing that is wrong or possibly criminal. It doesn't matter who "they're like". ANNA

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gilhowcan
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Posted by: gilhowcan on Oct 2, 2009 7:58 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Never let it be forgotten that religion has as much history of ignorance and evil as it does enlightenment and good. All religion. From the early 4th century when the Emperor Constantine exploited Christianity to secure his political dominion, Christianity has practiced its own share of evil in crusades, inquisitions, torture, murder, and just plain brain washing.

The Christian Right in the United States today is a perfect example of "Christian Wrong!" The movement is dominated by illiterates leading illiterates. They are convinced their beliefs and practices can be forced on others and that they have some divine right to practice that enforcement.

Those of us who believe in democracy and justice must stand firmly against them. Learning must replace their illiteracy, whether that illiteracy is in history, sociology, psychology, or science--especially as all those areas shed light on the ignorance of the right.

Knowledge must overcome ignorance before any inspiration for good might inspire or enlighten anyone. That's why public education is so vital to the common good.

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Racist? Rubbish!
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Posted by: jesme on Oct 2, 2009 8:15 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Nice to see people responding to this column with the dismissive contempt it deserves. Notice one simple fact--its utter lack of facts. No data, no specifics are presented to defend her claim. Goldberg just calls the Tea Party people a bunch of racists, with no supporting evidence except a claim that lots of them carry Confederate flags. Who? How many? How representative are they of the group as a whole? Never mind, guys. She just...knows.

I'm conservative. I'm also black. I'd be outraged too, if I believed the Tea Partiers were merely a bunch of bigots. But I've seen no reason to believe that. None at all. Neither, by the way, has the president himself, who has publicly repudiated this argument. Even Jimmy Carter, who called the movement racist recently, has lately retracted his comments, and now even pretends that he never said such a thing. Sure, the man is a fool, but even he has come to realize that the charge of racism is politically counter-productive and false to boot. Clearly Goldberg still hasn't figured this out.

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» BINGO!!!!! Posted by: CynicI
» RE: Yeah Big Tent Popular Appeal Posted by: tony_opmoc
» RE: What exactly is 'your' movement? Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: acist? Rubbish! Posted by: Lilly
» Ooooops.... Posted by: ChicagoWay

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Truth Hurts
[Report this comment]
Posted by: bellabellb on Oct 2, 2009 8:20 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The article is on point. To ignore racism in America only moves us back. Where were all these people when Bush was in office? Where were all these public attacks before Obama? Come on folks let's get real. As long as corruption stays in the closet, so do its protectors. To ignore how race is operating here, only reveals ignorance.

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Organized Religion Kills
[Report this comment]
Posted by: slugsucker on Oct 2, 2009 8:46 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
and sucks.

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Forgiveness
[Report this comment]
Posted by: ClassAct on Oct 2, 2009 9:01 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The religious right can claim salvation at its convenience and that's the really slimy thing about foregiveness. One does not have to change one's behavior to earn it because it would be un-Christian to withhold it. Pogroms? Say three Hail Marys. Inquisition? Go in peace, my child. Racism? All is forgiven.

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» RE: All is forgiven. Posted by: Sister_Lauren

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Racism and the South
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Posted by: bh on Oct 2, 2009 9:02 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Racism is alive and well in this country but is their any place more racist than the south? And these racist's GO TO CHURCH! They are not Buddhist, they are Baptist. So there is a connection between the Teabaggers and our Racist heritage. Take a trip and drive through the deep south and you will find it's a third world country with Wal-Mart's. What I find sad is that we have politicians from this degenerate region that have a proven track record of failure in their own districts. And they get rewarded by going to Washington and getting to vote on Federal policy. They get the opportunity to screw up the rest of the country. And that's happening right now as I write this piece.

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The Black Man Didn't Do It - He Wasn't There - He is Innocent
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Posted by: tony_opmoc on Oct 2, 2009 9:12 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And the vast majority of Americans have proved they are not racist, by electing a Black President which is a truly Wonderful Achievement.

Of course everyone is at least slightly racist. It's a tribal thing, but it is very much less of a problem now than it was 50 years ago.

Any reversion in this progress is entirely due to the racism blatantly promoted by US & UK Governments in demonizing Muslims since 9/11.

Muslims are now the whipping boys - just like the American Blacks and Jews were...

They are Not Guilty.

They did not do 9/11

It was a White Job

Tony

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We see the enemy and it ain't us!!!!
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Posted by: jeffrey7 on Oct 2, 2009 9:31 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Alas the movement of closet queens,bigots,pedophiles,social do-gooders and now 'paid protesters' have flown their 'FREAK' flag.
The tea party folks stick up for one thing...the rich and the wannabe rich and their twisted ideas on christianity and it's role in governance. That's why they got positive media coverage and little,if any, police harrasment.
The G-20 on the other hand had protestors and they got the riot cops! Why? Because they were protesting the very element that responsible for putting the hurt on the World.

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» Using what works. Posted by: Basenjis

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Christian right = Muslim extremests
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Posted by: reelectnoone on Oct 2, 2009 9:35 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Has anyone else noticed the strong resemblance between the "christian" right and the likes of Osama Bin Laden?

Both love to hate others because they may have different beliefs. Both seem willing to resort to any means to force their belief system on "infidels"

Is it "Christian" to hate anyone? Is it "Christian" to spread hate from the pulpit, as is being done these days. Is it "Christian" to foment hate and racism against our elected leaders?

Is it "Christian" to help in the fight to deny health care to millions of Americans in order to support profits of a few corporations?

Nothing the "Christian Right" is doing is remotely Christian...they are allowing themselves to be brain washed and used by greedy CEO's and politicians who have their own agendas that have nothing to do with religion at all.

Anytime you see a preacher and a politician joining a cause...RUN because neither you nor your civil or constitutional rights are safe.

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Racism From the Right
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Posted by: Lilly on Oct 2, 2009 9:45 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Here are some samples taken from posts to townhall.com. Does anyone seriously think the folks making these posts are not racist?

Obaboo
O'Purple Lips
Mulatto Messiah
The Tan Man
Monkey Man
Power-mongering racist scum
Racist black Commie agitator
Drug dealer, drug addict
Chicago street gangster
Wants to make white people his slaves

Aunt Jemima (Michelle Obama)
Looks like a gorilla (Michelle Obama)

Welfare deadbeat sponging off taxpayers (the
Obama children's live-in grandmother)

White trash attracted to black men (the
President's mother)

"Put the 1/2 Honkey 1/2 Coon on the moon by June"

And VERY often townhall posts have said that Obama has not deserved his academic honors or high office and received them only because of Affirmative Action preferences---that he is "the puppet" of his white handlers---that he is incompetent to speak and only reads speeches from the teleprompter, and those speeches are written by white people.

My favorite: "Obama is just a happy-go-lucky black buck who likes to ride around on Air Force One. He leaves the business of government, which he does not understand, to his advisors. That is why he appointed so many."

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Great Article by Ms. Goldberg and
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Posted by: outsideagitator on Oct 2, 2009 9:46 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
and it really got the wing nuts, undercover T-baggers and just plain old ethnocentric gooney birds flushed out of the weeds. Great job.

Those of us who have gone out to t-bagger affairs or watched them on T.V. or been confronted by them at peace demonstrations, pro single payer marches or were at the anti-Glen Beck rally here in North Western Washington state recently got to see the real deal behind these despicable racist and fascist ignoramuses. They are not people one should pity or desire to reach out to. They are mean and vicious and intend to do harm. In their willfull ignorance, fueled by racist rage they are a danger to us all.

Joseph

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Always Interesting To Read The Convoluted Logic Of Racist
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Posted by: desidid on Oct 2, 2009 10:05 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Why would an organization buy a mailing list from a known racist organization?

Because they could tailor their message to those persons based on their beliefs, that is why. It really does't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

The GOP (God's Own Party) has injected racist images and rhetoric in their campaigns since Barry Goldwater ran for office, and probably before. They have associated blacks with welfare, even though the facts always supported the argument that whites were the largest abusers of the welfare system. I grew up in a white suburb and the welfare recepients were white kids, single, drug addicted, childless, and unemployed. But the MSM never focused on them. So here we have people who are always defensive when Alternet or any news organization ties them to a racist ideology. No matter how much proof exist they always ask, "Where's the proof?" If the proof was a ton of bricks landing on them, they would still be asking for more proof.

As to the black ministers who allowed themselves to be used to fill their coffers they should be pilloried by their communities. It isn't new that there are those who will chose money and power over righteous justice. That story is as old as the Bible itself, and can best be found in this verse from Matthew:

27"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

The hypocrisy and wickedness is found in abundance in much of the posts regarding racism. Always asking for proof, without ever disproving the facts that have been presented for over 30 years. Time is up for you, disprove the premise of the article.

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» RE: You're Still Irrelevent Posted by: desidid
» RE: Not To Me Posted by: desidid

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Alternet is the new Fox News
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Posted by: dover23 on Oct 2, 2009 10:09 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Under the Bush regime, anytime Fox would harshly criticize an organized group of people with a message, it was pretty clear that Fox was acting as an agent to suppress the message itself, which was often a criticism of some policy of TPTB which obviously pulled the important strings at FOX.

It certainly appears that Alternet has been using the same tactic for the past year. Should we discuss the implications of an all too powerful central bank, corrupt politicians, an always expanding police state, and trillion dollar deficits, etc, etc, or should we just speculate on how a tiny percentage of the people concerned with these issues may be psychotic racists?

Is Alternet the new Fox News? It certainly appears they are trying their best to be, but I guess everyone's got to pay the mortgage.

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» RE: Is Alternet the new Fox News? No. Posted by: Sister_Lauren

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Democrat teabagger
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Posted by: psychologist on Oct 2, 2009 10:20 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My Family has bee democrats for a 100 years. I joined the tea baggers and have only experienced hate filled lies from left wing liberals. I and my family will be voting Republican strait down the line for the first time in a 100 years in the next election. I am not racist, nor the son of a racist. I see a left wing radical bankrupting America and idiots voting for bills they have not read. So I am a right wing racist? Your hate filled writing only drives me and others to sympathize with the right!

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» RE: Democrat teabagger Posted by: tony_opmoc
» RE: Democrat teabagger Posted by: tony_opmoc
» Thank you, Tony Posted by: Basenjis
» You're right about the bankers. Posted by: Benn_Miller
» I apologize Posted by: Drclaw
» Not fooled Posted by: Drclaw

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Between the rightwing hicks and the Obama cultists
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Posted by: Benn_Miller on Oct 2, 2009 11:45 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
which one is more dangerous? With the rightwing hicks, you can spot their intent to kill a miles away. With the Obama cultists, they stab you up close and personally. Both groups suck.

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» Viva la anarquia! Posted by: slugsucker
» Et toi, tu seras le prochain! Posted by: slugsucker
» Speak English, dumbass ! Posted by: Benn_Miller

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News Flash The IOC supports the Tea Party
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Posted by: pg on Oct 2, 2009 11:59 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I guess they are racist too for rejecting BO's self aggrandization.

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The so-called "Christian right" returning to its roots...hell, they never LEFT
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Posted by: Kym525 on Oct 2, 2009 12:49 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Before I get into that, I want to state for the record that I don't believe that a large number of the Tea Party folks are racist. I believe that they are simply tired of politics in Washington as usual and of not having their voices heard. Having said that, I have to ask where these people and this movement were when Bush and his people were in office? Most of what President Obama is dealing with can be laid directly on the failed economic policies of Bush and Company. I don't buy this sudden wave of anger against an incoming president when he's only been in office less than a year.Not to mention, if the Tea Party movement is made up of ALL Americans--as has been asserted by quite a few people--then why on earth did the march in Washington look more like a Klan rally. I think I saw ONE black woman in the crowd, and she wasn't the hired help.

Now, as to my initial comment, the right NEVER left its racist roots. Racism and Religion are like peanut butter and jelly to these people. Their entire raison d'etre is based upon using the Bible to justify their hate. Oh, they are good at coding the language (as are most of the three-piece-suited racists these days), but it doesn't take a rocket scientist (or maybe it does) to hear what they're actually saying.

What sucks about this is that both fiscal conservatives and progressives actually have a lot in common when it comes to making the government accountable for their actions (or inactions). The problem is that the Tea Party movement and its message has been thoroughly hijacked by the far-right fringe and those in the movement are too blind to see that, so they overreact and/or hide their heads in the sand. Like they are always saying to blacks and other groups--clean up your own house FIRST and get rid of the lunatics who are destroying your message.

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Once again, it has nothing to do with race. This fear, hatred, and dysfunctionality
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Posted by: maxpayne on Oct 2, 2009 1:04 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
comes from division of class. In the 1960s, it was economic populism that prevented larger segments of the white working class from turning to culture fears and wars. LBJ could not otherwise win states such as Idaho, Kansas, Tennessee, etc... that had plenty of racism even in those days. I would bet you all the money in the world that Obama's pro-elitist anti-populist leanings is what's killing his presidency. Racism exists on all sides and from all races. The same could be said of gender and religion. Why if Hillary were president, this site would be stuffed with crybaby articles on "abortion" and women-only abuses while the articles such as this one on the same old tired arguments on race being the factor would barely get any comments.

Christians are not racists by any means. Why would they waste time trying to convert Hindus, Muslims, Africans, and Native Americans all of whom are colored if Christians were racists?

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» what's the difference Max? Posted by: Drclaw
» Great question. Lots to say. Posted by: maxpayne
» yes, I do realize this Posted by: Drclaw

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AlterNet Great Place To See What The Fringe Left...
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Posted by: ChicagoWay on Oct 2, 2009 2:30 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...is thinking. Always revealing as well. And it seems not much ever changes about how the left react to political opposition. AlterNet is living proof of that.

One can always tell when the left are losing the battle too - they scream "Racist" - meaning just about anyone that disagrees with them. And the worse they are losing the louder they scream. Keep it up wingers - it just drives more independents back into the conservative camp. Keep attacking Christians/religion as racist too (80% plus of Americans). The GOP obviously needs the help.

'Hope and Change'? Not a chance. Some things never seem to change - like the hateful mind-set and sniveling contempt always on display by the far left.

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» loosing the battle? Posted by: Drclaw
» not sure what you mean Posted by: Drclaw
» That's good to hear. Posted by: ChicagoWay
» Are you a racist?? Posted by: ChicagoWay

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Like many middle of the road
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Posted by: Archie1954 on Oct 2, 2009 3:02 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Moslems, I as a Christian don't like my religion being hijacked by some right wing fringe loonies. The Moslems have their deadly extremists and the Christians have their own deadly lunatics, which in the latter case are represented by many way out cults too numerous to count. I don't think we should allow them to usurp the Christian title as it evokes a certain set of beliefs that these weird cults have no interest in. Let them use some strange nomenclature that more clearly spells out what thir beliefs are such as the Apocalypse Cult or the Rapture Church and leave true Christianity to the Christians.

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» Tell It To The Left Fringe Posted by: ChicagoWay
» You ARE SO FULL of it Posted by: Drclaw
» Full of What?? Posted by: ChicagoWay
» they would not Posted by: Drclaw

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Totally Unsupported Tripe
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Posted by: hughjordeal on Oct 2, 2009 5:12 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The writers' whole argument depends on one quote by Ralph Reed and a bunch of 'stories' that may or may not be true.

This 'work' is thinly veiled vitriol lacking in journalistic neutrality, scholarship and sourcing. Liberal use of terms such as 'racist' and 'homophobe' show the juvenile perspective.

Hugh J'Ordeal

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The Tea Partiers Are Not Racists
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Posted by: Eric.Arthur.Blair on Oct 2, 2009 5:34 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
They're stupid.

(Of course, racism is both a form and symptom of stupidity.)

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So the author thinks we would accept tyranny from a white pres?
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Posted by: wordmaster on Oct 2, 2009 5:56 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
First of all, please realize that with the small percentage of blacks in the population, at least 70 to 80 percent of the people who voted for Hussein Obama had to be white.

Second, please realize that no true American would accept the things Hussein Obama has done if they were done by a lily white president.

Third, please do your homework and find that out of every dollar going to those "oppressed" people you are so worried about, only about 13 cents actually makes it to a poor person. The rest is swallowed up in an overgrown government. No, if there is a problem of too much tax money going to those in need, it is not because we are helping those needy too much, it is because a wasteful government is stealing too much.

Fourth, please do just a little very simple homework and you will find that Hussein Obama is not a black president, he is just as much white as he is black. If someone hates him it is a fully qualified equal opportunity hatred. If that hatred is racially motivated, you must be referring to hatred by orientals... certainly not hatred by whites as he is as much white as he is black.

This article is one of the most silly ones I have seen in a long time.

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» tyranny Posted by: YogiBear

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So many bigoted fools
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Posted by: willymack on Oct 2, 2009 8:17 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
So few meteors.

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Why is it when people say they hate both parties...
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Posted by: YogiBear on Oct 2, 2009 11:34 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
... Democrats are always listed first? Pay attention to the news. Whenever someone wants to say something bad about Republicans, they feel they have to say "Both sides are bad" and then list Dems and Republicans. Always dems/liberals are listed first. A guy was on Larry King or some junk the other night claiming that people who get violent and rise up with guns exist across the political spectrum, which is bunk.

There's plenty vitrol on the left, but very few gun-toters or violent types compared to the right unless you count college kids throwing rocks at police barricades. Keep an eye out, you'll see it; the middle is terrified to mention bad things GOPers do without lumping Dems in with them.

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Back In 1968 When We Lived In Germany It Wasn't Uncommon For Germans To Look For Our Tails, Because
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Posted by: desidid on Oct 3, 2009 7:00 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
white Americans had told the Germans back in WWII blacks were descended from monkeys. I found out what they were looking for from white American kids who spoke German. Imagine American soldiers were telling the enemy that about their black comrades and countrymen. So when you people claim that calling Obama a monkey isn't racist, I need to know on what do you base that lie. So few of you even attempt to read any history, past last week's Alternet article.

You make statements as if they are based in some fact when in reality they are nothing more than opinions. They aren't even well thought out in many cases, they are like spaghetti, you blurt it out and hope it sticks. From defending the monkey comparisons, to defending the brutality of Christianity, which supported the slave trade, as nothing more than over zealous proselytizing is at best offensive. At worst it gets to the heart of why racism still exist. Because there is a large number of not only white people, but a smaller group of blacks who buy anything they're fed. And they have no intention of reading any history that confronts their uncomfortable ignorance.

Why don't I recall those who rail so against AA ever expressing the same vitriol against Bush the under achieving AA baby? I've come to realize that many of you think a level playing field has me at the bottom of the hill while you're at the top, and any time I start to make the climb up, you feign some injustice has been perpetrated granting me some advantage. The verbal contortions offered to disguise your true intent and nature are as diabolical as anything found in history.

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» RE: You're Still Irrelevent Posted by: desidid
» RE: More Proof Posted by: desidid
» RE: You Better Look Again Posted by: desidid
» RE: Still Irrelevent Posted by: desidid

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To hijack anothers history to advance your own agenda
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Posted by: Caleb Darkstar on Oct 3, 2009 7:38 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Seems somewhat racist to me.

I doubt the author actually believes the things she has written herself. It is just another example of USING minority factions in this country to advance an unrelated ideology.

In this case the author wants desperately to create hatred against two groups, the religious right and the tea party tax protesters. To do this she needed an adhesive to bind the two.

Racism probably seemed the logical choice, however her argument was weak at best and full of inconsistencies and conjecture. Judging by the responses so far the average Alternet reader is not quite as ignorant as she believed them to be.

Minorities and blacks in particular have been USED in some capacity and to varying degrees throughout this nation’s history.

They have been USED for their labor, USED for their votes; sadly their historic plight is now being exploited by many to further their own unrelated agendas. Much like the hijacking of the Muslim faith by terrorists.

If the author has ideological differences with the two groups mentioned. She should make her argument on sound reasoning and strong facts. Not on the backs of a group of people that have been used enough.

Start carrying your own water; I'm sure the black man is tired of doing it for you.

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What the maxium capacity for those of Color on the Rapture bus??
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Posted by: Purple Girl on Oct 3, 2009 7:49 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
We know that the Jewish community needs to act fast to get a 'Golden Ticket' before the 144,000 is sold out for their demographic. I assume they have a cut off for Christians of various sects and demographics as well, since it is required to adhere to The Evangelical form of Christianity to be 'Raptured'.
As much as they are using the jewish community as a means to justify and even provoke a Armegeddon like War in the Middle East, it could behoove them just as well to try to also ignite the African continent as well
These Snake oil Dealers and their self absorbed half wit followers are literally Hell Bent on destruction- They'll be the 'blessed generation' and have the chance to watch the rest of the world Burn as proof of their (self Ordained) Righteousness.
Just because the Evangelicals are willing to allow the other faiths and minorities the opportunity to stand at their bus stop, does not mean they have any intentions of letting them on.They too will be "Left Behind".Nothing more than a means to an End for the 'Charismatics'.

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Conservative racism
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Posted by: doug0202 on Oct 3, 2009 10:46 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This comment:
"was that the right cared as deeply as the left about issues like inner city poverty."
shows that liberals are just as mistaken about the issues as the conservatives.
All that either liberals or conservatives really care about is gaining power for the nesxt election. Either group will be for or against whatever issue they think will get them votes.

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Somebody Find This Writer an Editor!!!!!
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Posted by: Priam1 on Oct 3, 2009 8:55 PM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Wow, times must be really bad...Alternet cannot even come up with enough staff to help edit this convoluted piece and rein in this confused and muddled author. Check out the fact that she cannot even stick with the subject matter of the title of her piece. She opines that tea baggers are racist, but doesn't even discuss why. As a matter of fact, in the 3rd paragraph she says just the opposite in reference to the "Bush Years." Then instead of accusing the tea baggers of "Racism," she now hedges her bet by claiming instead: "racial anxiety" because tea baggers exhibited "Confederate Flags." I guess in the mind of this author the confederate flag means only one thing. It could not for example be the symbol of a people wanting "less government"? But of course she doesn't have time to discuss this theory much either since she has more important things to do--like segue into another pet theory of hers: "Producism." Which as we all know means What??????? I really hate to say this, but it reads like George Bush Junior wrote this piece--it makes no sense.

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Nonsense!
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Posted by: Prinzowhales on Oct 4, 2009 8:04 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"Racism, racism, racism, racism..." Any kind of populist opposition to the Banker Regime and their kept dogs on the faux-Left bark "racism"...its chapter and verse out of the Zionist handbook which must state: "Any opposition to Israel is anti-Semitism."

The big problem with the Tea Bag movement is that it can--and in many cases has been-- co-opted by agents of the Regime...such as the odious Glenn Beck. Its easy for a well funded, organized minority to overtake the leadership of a movement....Just look at the Bolshies...funded by the Big New York banks... or, the fact that Nationalist movements in Germany, Canada and the UK have been headed up by men who were government agents. Just look at the informants like Hal Turner in the US racist movement and those in the Aryan Nations...not to mention the KKK. One can look as well at the informants in the Black Panther Party--and the 'activists' among Barrack Obama's familiars who helped trash the peace movement. If the mob can take over a union, it would be child's play for trained agents to take over a political movement.

'Tea baggers are racists'...You are a real piece of work, Michelle...

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Nothing Racist About GOP Think Again
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Posted by: desidid on Oct 4, 2009 12:27 PM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Rush Limpdick here

Pat Buchanan here

Trent Lott here

Ralph Reed leader of Christian Coalition's new direction bear in mind that are opening the door to those who "think like they do"
"This is not your daddy's Christian Coalition," Reed said in an interview Monday. "It's got to be more brown, more black, more female, and younger. It's critical that we open the door wide and let them know if they share our values and believe in the principles of faith and marriage and family, they're welcome." Hello Michael Steele, Condi Rice, Thomas Sowell and Clarence Thomas as long as a black person is willing to absorb and dispense the message of their white policy makers they are welcome. Pretty funny how the name Thomas (uncle tom) is so common among them.

Please read the e-mails and voicemails received by ACORN employees. And remember this is a Right-wing campaign against them.
here

James Dobson here

Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)here

GOP Letter here

The Southern Strategy The Southern strategy meant much, much more than some members of the G.O.P. simply giving up on African-American votes. Put into play by Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon in the mid- to late 1960's, it fed like a starving beast on the resentment of whites who were scornful of blacks and furious about the demise of segregation and other civil rights advances. The idea was to snatch the white racist vote away from the Democratic Party, which had committed such unpardonable sins as enacting the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts and enforcing desegregation statutes.

I would say there is a case to be made to lump a certain shared ideology to the GOP. I voted 2 times for president, because I didn't like what I heard from any party. It seems to me if Republicans didn't like what they hear they too would stop voting.

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Very well. But what about both Iraq wars and Bosnia/Kosovo?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: maxpayne on Oct 4, 2009 9:47 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
African Americans happily signed up to enlist in those criminal wars. It's safe to conclude that the race issue is over on joining the military.

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RE: SEARCH FOR BLACK SOLDIER'S TAILS IN VIETNAM WAR
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Posted by: desidid on Oct 4, 2009 11:55 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It wouldn't surprise me to find out that some white American soldiers are in Iraq or Afghanistan still promulgating these racist lies. I mean why would they behave differently overseas than they would at home?

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Words From A Civil Rights Warrior Maxpayne
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Posted by: desidid on Oct 5, 2009 1:51 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I already did and yet you kept acting like a rightwing motherf**ker on race baiting.

[Report this comment] [Ignore this user] Posted by: maxpayne on Oct 5, 2009 1:20 AM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 You're the fucking asswipe who can't talk about issues except race bait. Why, if you were my wife I'd have pounded you hard as hell. You're the f**king racist and race baiter in one.

Please if anyone can find a post where Maxpayne has actually offered support of his positions in links please direct me to it. In my opinion all he offers is personal attack. I could be wrong but the above post is the quality of most of his responses to me. Not very informative just a lot of ranting namecalling.

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Derail Tea Parties' health-reform obstructionism: send this E-mail to Pres. today!
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Posted by: Newstime on Oct 8, 2009 10:00 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
That's not British tea they're dumping. That's American tea.

One objective of the illegitimate "tea parties" is to deprive uninsured taxpayers of their Constitutional rights to the same health protection the Medicare payroll taxes withheld from their wages (and the income and other taxes they pay) provide for others. America's Founding Fathers would, of course, denounce unreformed Medicare as a publicly-funded health-benefits plan for private benefit--such taxation without representation.

For a sense of accomplishment today and to be doers more than talkers, let's all rally on health-care reform.

We all like this Website, don't we? Why don't we all do Alternet a favor by exercising our combined influence on the Obama Administration? It will show advertisers that Alternet's Website is really the place to advertise.

Let's copy and paste the suggested E-mail form below--do not modify, if inclined to, so much that our combined influence is reduced--use the convenient link below to the White House Website contact form, and E-mail President Obama. Our goal: We want E-mails from Alternet users and visitors piling up on the President's proverbial desk all day long tomorrow, so Mr. Obama has something to think about starting the weekend and to act on.

By Charles Hampton Savage/Editorial Columnist
Continental Features/
Continental News Service, Inc.


And save a copy of one of these E-mail forms--a more detailed option is posted at the comment, "Alternet users/visitors, rally on health-coverage reform: E-mail the Pres. today!" under the Health Care Reform in Home Stretch article--in your drafts folder, so you can follow-up. I've sent my E-mail already.

Option 1:

Mr. President, I have read a summary of the so-called second Aiken Memo, the Democrat-to-Democrat communication sent to the White House through Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' E-mail address more than a week ago. The summary of that E-mail is enclosed below for your convenience. The sender seemed perfectly willing to publish the White House's reply, if there were one. Please provide the White House's reply.

"President Obama will rarely enjoy greater advantage or exercise as much control over a public-policy outcome as he can on health-coverage reform right now. He needs to take matters by their smooth handle, as President Thomas Jefferson advised, and suggest to Democratic judicial appointee Ann Aiken in the Oregon District that she made a mistake and that she should concede, by way of corrective action on the judicial-misconduct complaint filed against her, that equal health protection is, indeed, a Constitutional right for uninsured taxpayers required to pay for the government health benefits of others, and complete strangers no less, while they are forced to do without."

I think you can guess, Sir, where my Democratic friends, family members and I stand on universal health care. When a course is right, simple and easy, we expect that course to be taken. Thank you.

Here is the link to the White House Website contact form:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

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practice
[Report this comment]
Posted by: fredtowson on Oct 16, 2009 10:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]

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re
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Blackpool Hotels on Oct 31, 2009 5:09 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have just read this story and I recently stayed at a Blackpool hotel the Norbreck Castle Hotel and enjoyed my hotel stay in Blackpool. Norbreck Castle is part of Britannia Hotels which has many popular hotel accommodation such as the Britannia Hotel Manchester.

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Alternet Comments:

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no point
[Report this comment]
Posted by: johnwinthrop on Oct 2, 2009 1:00 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
No proof. no point. What are rightist groups doing now against blacks? Nazi and racialist groups exist. Why not mention them? The religious right may be ridiculous; on the whole it's not racist and no evidence other than a couple of "leaders" dealt with David Duke many years ago. Stick to the issues. Obama is sinking because of poor policies and inept implementation. Not because of race.

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» RE: no point Posted by: adp3d
» RE: no point Posted by: Lara1967
» "Democratics"? "bloody stupid"? Posted by: leafsong1
» RE: no point Posted by: Natasha_W
» RE: no point Posted by: login@bugmenot.com
» RE: no point Posted by: Marlena
» RE: no point Posted by: Lara1967
» RE: one point Posted by: Crazy H
» RE: one point rating Posted by: Crazy H
» Bollocks! Posted by: chariotdrvr14
» RE: no point Posted by: qwertyu
» Red Herring Posted by: LeaderofMen

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Alternet is Getting Freakier and Weirder By The Day
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Posted by: rtdrury on Oct 2, 2009 1:07 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This author is trying to defend the class hierarchy by lumping elites in with bums as victims of right-wing bigotry. Screw the class hierarchy. Let the bigotry stand if it stands critical of the class hierarchy. If you want to defend the lowest classes, you don't have to defend the freakazoid elites at the same time. This article only reinforces my view that Alternet is home to a very bizarre liberal extremism. How do liberals think they can get away with it in an age of crisis? I just don't think they have much of a grasp on reality. Then again they really don't need reality while basking in the lap of petro-luxury, ehh? This suggests that petro-luxury is the root problem - enabling all kinds of idiocy to fly.

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» RE: Is this what you meant? Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Is this what you meant? Posted by: Basenjis
» 11,776,112,848,656.17 in Debt Posted by: snowhound
» Adolf Hitler loves Guitarbill ! Posted by: Benn_Miller
» STONEWALLING again, @$$face? Posted by: GuitarBill
» Adolf Hitler loves you Guitarbill. Posted by: Benn_Miller
» RE: I left you a questioning message Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Who Broke Wind? Posted by: desidid
» RE: Are we having fun yet? Posted by: Crazy H
» RE: Are we having fun yet? Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: Are we having fun yet? Posted by: Crazy H
» That's not completely true. Posted by: maxpayne
» Mr. Bill's alter-ego, Shey Posted by: MaxBridges
» The Alex Jones Deception Posted by: GuitarBill
» Adolf Hitler loves Guitarbill ! Posted by: Benn_Miller
» STONEWALLING again, "prophit(0)"? Posted by: GuitarBill
» RE: defining terms; bums, elites Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» CynicI Posted by: Basenjis
» What do you mean? Posted by: leafsong1

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Little Threat ...
[Report this comment]
Posted by: mmckinl on Oct 2, 2009 1:46 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Religious Right is fractured and fragmented and the Church of Colonel Sanders, Kentucky Fried Tea Baggers, won't sort 'em out ...

The one thing we all have in common, including myself, a Progressive, is a deep distrust of politicians. We think they are corrupt ... Wow! what a radical position! ...

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Cristian ethics as usual
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Posted by: Atheistno1 on Oct 2, 2009 2:18 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Excellent paper by Michelle & highlights the very nature of discrimination that is practiced in the fundamental political environment. A couple of months back, Obama, who was put into the white house by the religious nominations, made a statement that "any fool can father a child but that doesn't mean that any fool can be a father"; I responded in an Email that Obama had turned his back on the human genetics for the benefit of religious manipulation of the family law system & discrimination against men. The reply was not directed to me but was that, "they needed to word things differently". Discrimination is regarded as the key to political support for religion & the ongoing deception for political decision making & that is proven to be a lie on it's own.

Michelle has explained things very well when it comes to alternative figure of speech & the manipulation of public cognitive thought.

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Please support the following organizations to assure America does not become a Theocracy
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Posted by: corey on Oct 2, 2009 2:42 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Please support the following organizations to assure America does not become a theocracy, by keeping religion and politics separate, which will help end hatred, racism, oppression and stop the destruction of this great country Fundamentalist Christians have been trying to destroy !!!

American Humanist Association

American United for Separation of Church & State

Council for Secular Humanism

Freedom From Religion Foundation

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Interfaith Alliance Foundation

Military Religious Freedom Foundation

Secular Coalition For America

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The real racist
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Posted by: 4America on Oct 2, 2009 3:59 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
It seems by the events of the past year the real racist are not only on the right but left.. Gates affair is but one example. African americans voted overwhelmingly along racial lines is another.

The election of Obama has done nothing for race relations except drive a divide into it!

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» RE: The real racist Posted by: 4changenow
» RE: The real racist Posted by: login@bugmenot.com
» RE: The real racist Posted by: 4America
» RE: The real racist Posted by: fred_53_99
» RE: The real racist Posted by: 4America
» You prove the other side's point Posted by: chariotdrvr14
» RE: The real racist Posted by: reelectnoone

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Michelle Goldberg is a fool! A disgrace to her parents.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: AJR Journal on Oct 2, 2009 4:36 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How dare she pour gasoline on this simmering national political fire! Does she not see how her words only makes it worse. I am sure if she understands how her little Green actions help make the World a cleaner, greener place, she will understand how her mean, bigoted, insensitive words only work to enlarge the flame.
Even if she is all worked up, she should choose her words more wisely.

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» RE: http://www.ajr.org.uk/ajr-journal Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» My reply to your comment. Posted by: AJR Journal
» well, I'm not Max Posted by: Drclaw
» you continue to show Posted by: Drclaw
» RE: you continue to show Posted by: leafsong1

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I don't see the connection
[Report this comment]
Posted by: lclark on Oct 2, 2009 4:42 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The author is saying the "Tea Party" movement is a racist movement?I thought it was about citizen resentment of an overbearing government.

I have noticed that Alternet will eventually ascribe to people opposed to a certain set of social goals as being racist. It could be illegal migrations or what the Tea Party represents.

Consider health care reform. What's in the law? Don't buy a product and you face fines. We all suspect that as soon as that is law most companies will drop health coverage and more of our ( decreasing ) earnings will be given over to the rich and powerful by legislative mandate.

I think many people:
- are disgusted with both the Democratic and Republican parties and see them as both corrupt and servents of a corportocracy.
- see that citizens are managed rather than represented. Powerful private groups with wealth and agendas select who runs for public office and who gets media exposure and the kind of media exposure they get and that the democratic process is an illusion. Who funds Alternet?
- see that are productive capacity has been sent overseas and the basis of our middleclass exported.
- see the poor quality of public education. Many graduates do not have basic mental skills nor manual skills not civic skills but are exposed to extensive social engineering.
- see the "private-public" partnerships is about transferring public assets and wealth to private hands.
- see that giving public money to religious institutions is contrary to the founding principles of this country
- see the concentration of wealth into the hands of fewer people.
- see more and more we are subject to ways we have to "show our papers" to travel in our own contry, weather its at the airport or driving on public roads.
- see "free speach" zones replacing free public expression.
- see police use devices developed by the military deployed against public protest, i.e., "sonic cannons" at the late G-8 meeting in Penn.
- see all these foreign wars and transnational treaties as a scam to grab more public wealth and weaken nation sovreignty and dismantle the national unity.
- see the rise in gangs in urban areas as a breakdown in community that reflects a broader gangsterism that government has come to reflect.

Oh, and see if some group is not in agreement with the agenda of who gets publushed in Alternet eventually that grouping will be label racist.

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» RE: I don't see the connection Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» Take your racist filth elsewhere! Posted by: Illiteratilumen
» Alternet is an echo chamber Posted by: suprmark
» RE: I don't see the connection Posted by: crashgrab

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I just don't want to replace one set of haters with another.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Nitestallion on Oct 2, 2009 5:04 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
My problem is I have never been a joiner in this life. Joining things got me killed more than once in other lives. Fornicate religions and the whore they rode in on, but never lose sight of the fact that they (Organized Religions) took on an impossible job and solved seventy percent of it. Except when they would screw the pooch and then brother look out here comes Pogrom.

Just because a man's views are weird or unpopular doesn't mean that they are incorrect. Don't go on a hay ride just for the frills and thrills. It took me forever to learn to say no, and understand that was alright! Say no not to religion: say no to fuzzy thinking, deliberate lies, and irrational acts. Religions can be fun and good if they serve a county picnic with music and comestibles. If they start preaching call the men in the little white coats!

In caricature religious philosophers are strictly bovine. Would you want to learn the square dance from a Holstein? Or perhaps integral calculus from a Guernsey? Your spirit is your own your body is the temple. Do not let Pulpit Pounders paradiddle a tympani on your skull. Learn to do your own thinking and pay your dues to living your own way with the beating of your heart. And NEVER but NEVER let a church take control of governance!

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Alternet is a front group for the NWO
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Posted by: snowhound on Oct 2, 2009 5:28 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Alternet continues to try and divide our nation during a time when people must come together against runaway government. Like MSNBC and FOX, they divide the people in order to prevent the call for Freedom and Liberty. They are a tool of the New World Order.

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» OMG! NWO! WTF? Posted by: zipper696
» RE: OMG! NWO! WTF? Posted by: Sister_Lauren
» RE: Your ignorance is showing Posted by: maxpayne
» Coincidence? Posted by: MaxBridges
» RE: OMG! NWO! WTF? Posted by: desidid
» RE: OMG! NWO! WTF? Posted by: crashgrab
» Alex Jones and David Icke can bite me Posted by: chariotdrvr14
» Runaway capitalism Posted by: slugsucker
» RE: unaway capitalism Posted by: Benn_Miller

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Clogging the boards with denial doesn't disprove it
[Report this comment]
Posted by: chariotdrvr14 on Oct 2, 2009 6:37 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
While this article might be a tad superfluous it doesn't mean that it's lacking in validity.

Why else in the verified account of a dramatic rise in a number of white nationalist organisations' membership lists? The rise of threats to the president coinciding with increasing emotional racially charged rhetoric from leading rightwing bloggers like Matt Drudge, radio talkshow hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck who use incidents of racially related schoolfights to attack President Obama and his supporters?

You can argue that Obama's policies are inciting the rightwing but the reactions of everything from heckling him during major congressional speeches to encouraging people to bring guns to his appearances run beyond the pale of simple disrespect of his office (which they've never done to any white president...even the liberal ones)

I think all that speaks for itself.

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Religion..............
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Spiritgirl on Oct 2, 2009 6:42 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If your premise is that the Tea Party movement helped turned the Christian Fundamentalists toward racism, I'd have to disagree with you. Christian Fundamentalists while they may have been less open about their racism, never let it go - they just weren't as out in the open about it as they had been previously! Religion has been and continues to be used to justify all manner of heinous behavior that includes: slavery, to justify the second class status of white women, the westward expansion of America, the Crusades - you name it, man has justified a whole host of ills in the name of G-d!

It has been said that "religion is the opiate that's fed to the people" - now more than ever is that being applied. The people have been dumbed down, and are ignorant of the facts: our politicians have been bought by the Corporate Oligarchy, in turn they have rewritten and abolished the laws that were in place to help the average American. In these tough times, when the masses are afraid because the Government is not responding effectively enough for WE THE PEOPLE, the carpet baggers (Rush, Glenn, Hannity, et.al) have always used the fear of the people against other, to keep them in line for their aggrandizing agenda! It's just too bad for those that support the loudmouths, they are to ignorant to realize how badly they are being used against their own self interest!

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» RE: eligion.............. Posted by: bukweat

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Great job Michelle
[Report this comment]
Posted by: daw13 on Oct 2, 2009 6:44 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The negative comments are fascinating, and the lack of positive comments even more so. Even the left seems inclined to define survival along color lines. Z Magazine for the past few years has carried plenty of articles deploring the conditions little white people face, and given extremely short shrift to the worsening condition of poor people of color. Other Left journals have followed suit. The Black Agenda Report finds itself a strong but lonely voice insisting that race is still relevant. I wish they'd attack Obama less and critique the silence of the Progressive left more. The Right is exactly what Michelle says it is. But where is the Left?

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the wingnuts are out this mornin'!
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Posted by: DaBear on Oct 2, 2009 7:09 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What Goldberg relates squares with my extended fundie Xtian family's expressions of late. There was always latent racism in them but when the tea-party fuckers came out, the kid gloves came off and all manner of white supremacist bullshit began to spike (and the protestations, "I'm not a racist, I have black friends" came out). So much so I'm no longer on speaking terms with nearly all my east-coast bigot inlaws and I can barely even talk about the weather with my fundie Dad because he keeps pepperin' it with racist jabs at Obama, the myth of climate change, the glorious revolution to come, the glorious American "spirit of competition" and global capitalism's coming shrugging off of the "nigra socialists" and other xtreme bullshit nonsense. Do I really share that asshole's genes? Fuck! It's damned insulting let alone embarrassing.

To see so many denialists on the comments just reinforces it for me. But for the Xtians and the owning-class we might have a decent space to live, work and defecate.

Welkum to 'Merkuh, I guess. Jeebus fuck, I need coffee.

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» Right on with what you say. Posted by: outsideagitator
» RE: the wingnuts are out this mornin'! Posted by: popeurbanxxiii
» RE: Love Your Spirit! Posted by: desidid

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Oh yeah, one more damned thing
[Report this comment]
Posted by: DaBear on Oct 2, 2009 7:14 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The in-laws fundie-Church attendance suddenly became priority #1 (where before they barely attended the local mainstream church) when the tea partiers came out.

Coincidence? Um, yeah... no.

If'n people can't see the clusterfuck closin' in, they're just too god damned fuckin' stoopit to live. Like watchin' dipshits watching the F5 tornado bearing down on the front porch, "Willi, git me nuther beer, will ya? This here video's goin' be awesome... gonna win me sup'n on that yootoob, by jayzis!"

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True!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Evelyn on Oct 2, 2009 7:22 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The anti-government sentiment that is at the base of all conservatism has its roots in resentment by the states of the confederacy against the evil northerners who interfered with its way of life. When the federal government began supporting civil rights, all the old resentments rose back up. The opposition to taxation that Reagan capitalized on, with his images of "Welfare Queens," is racism by another name. Today illegal immigrants are the face of why we don't want the government taking over our health care, but scratch the surface and you will find that they are stand-ins for the old bogey man of shiftless blacks living off the hard work of good white people. And if Jews with all their money happen to be on the side of the government, well that just fits right in.

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I am a recovering conservative and I am glad that I left the Republican Party.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: MichaelGoodhart on Oct 2, 2009 7:26 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The conservative Republicans are just getting desperate and want nothing more than attention like a 5 year old.

I used to be a rightwing nut as a disgruntled left out kid and thought that the conservatives were beaming me up. After Terri Schiavo and Hurricane Katrina, my conservative spirit began to wane. I used to buy into rightwing economics as well until I faced eviction upon getting into debt. I am still a moderate conservative on some issues but I am not a townhall.com freak.

We can find plenty of things to bash Obama about but at least he's not too liberal. What would John Mccain or Sarah Palin have done other than piss off more lukewarm conservatives?

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Get Over Racism and Get a Life
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Posted by: tlwinslow on Oct 2, 2009 7:39 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Racism is intellectually and scientifically kaput, so get used to it. That doesn't mean that people should be unjudged on skin color either. If they're bad then being non-white is no free pass. No more games, let's judge people by the content of their characters not you know what.

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EVERYTHING IS 'LIKE' SOMETHING ELSE
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Posted by: VZEQICVA on Oct 2, 2009 7:42 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There truly is nothing new under the sun. There have always been groups who hate other groups. They have a need to call themselves whatever they chose. It's their way of setting themselves apart from the others, ususlly people they perceive to be the rabble. But I don't believe that they ever got the attention we give them recently. That's a good part of the problem. The KKK was a disgrace to our nation and eventually phased out for the most part. That doesn't mean people stopped thinking that way. It gets tiresome reading about Hitler, Facism, George Orwell, Millgram, Machiavelli, Socialism, etc. There are just so many variations on the theme. The idea is to isolate the harm these people are doing and deal with that. There's no law against looking like a damned fool. We spend so much time identifying people that we overlook what they might be doing that is wrong or possibly criminal. It doesn't matter who "they're like". ANNA

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