There are some people who believe if you don’t for Barack Obama on November 4th that you have committed an act of racism.
Sadly, these are not the views of people one might characterize as part of a lunatic fringe.
Congressman Jack Murtha doesn’t think many of his own constituents will vote for Obama and stated “western Pennsylvania is a racist area.” Murtha later backed off his comments and said he meant to say the area was “really redneck.” Perhaps Murtha’s constituents don’t accept Obama’s characterization they are “bitter” people “who cling to guns and religion” as if responsible gun ownership and religious devotion were things about which they should be ashamed. Clearly, Murtha has a great deal of contempt for the people who have sent him to Washington since 1974.
In an article written last August on Slate, Jacob Weisberg argues if Obama loses the election it is due to racism. “But let’s be honest: If you break the numbers down, the reason Obama isn’t ahead right now is that he trails badly among one group, older white voters. He does so for a simple reason: the color of his skin.” (
Slate.com)
Weisberg then writes about voters in Pennsylvania two months before Murtha put his foot in his mouth:
In the Pennsylvania primary, one in six white voters told exit pollsters race was a factor in his or her decision. Seventy-five percent of those people voted for Clinton. You can do the math: 12 percent of the Pennsylvania primary electorate acknowledged that it didn’t vote for Barack Obama in part because he is African-American.
But if we accept Weisberg’s premise he mysteriously fails to mention that he is referring to Democratic voters, not Republicans. The Pennsylvania Democratic Primary is open only to Democrats. Maybe Democrats are not as liberal as he would like to think. Yet it does not deter Weisberg:
His defeat would say that when handed a perfect opportunity to put the worst part of our history behind us, we chose not to. In this event, the world’s judgment will be severe and inescapable. The United States had its day but, in the end, couldn’t put its own self interest ahead of its crazy irrationality over race.
How does one begin to dissect the sheer stupidity of Weisberg’s analysis?
For starters, aside from its sanctimoniousness, his statement assumes Obama could not run again in 2012 or 2016. The man is only 47 years old. Richard Nixon didn’t get to the White House on his first try either.
It is also worth noting that in 2006 the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Pennsylvania was Pittsburgh Steelers legend Lynn Swann. The NFL Hall of Fame inductee was one of two African-American Republicans seeking a governorship that year (the other was Ken Blackwell who ran unsuccessfully in Ohio.) Swann lost decisively to Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell garnering less than 40% of the vote.
Did Weisberg ever write an article lambasting Pennsylvanians for having an opportunity to put the worst part of their history behind them but choosing not to? Did Weisberg ever write that by failing to elect Swann that Pennsylvania couldn’t put its own self interest ahead of its crazy irrationality over race?
I think you know the answer to that.
Suffice it to say, if Barack Obama were a conservative Republican there would be no one for Jacob Weisberg to lecture.
If one truly gives the matter some careful thought it is truly extraordinary to suggest that a critical mass of white people won’t vote for Obama simply because he is African-American. Such a statement blindly assumes that for most white people race is their sole criteria in selecting a candidate for high office. Do the Democratic Party and the liberal media really think most white people are that hateful, contemptuous and shallow?
I guess so.
Suppose you find yourself in a conversation about the election with someone who is supporting Obama, whatever their race, and in the course of that conversation you reveal you will be casting a ballot for John McCain. For your trouble you are called a racist.
What do you do?
Now I think it is safe to say that most white people in this country are not racist and bear no animosity to African Americans and other racial minorities. It is also safe to say most white people would not like being called a racist because it does not accurately depict who they are let alone why they happen to be voting for McCain.
Most people would react defensively and say something along the lines of, “I’m not a racist.” But one might as well deny being a murderer for all the good it will do. There are times when you must stand up for yourself. Falsely being called a racist is certainly such an occasion.
So here are five things you can say to an Obama supporter if he or she sees fit to call you racist because you don’t see fit to put your faith in The Anointed One at the ballot box:
1. By calling me a racist you cheapen the meaning of racism and therefore you have cheapened yourself.
2. I want to congratulate you for having rendered the term racism completely meaningless.
3. How is my vote for John McCain an act of racism?
4. You can do better than to call racist those with whom you disagree. I am very disappointed in you.
5. You have judged me by the color of my skin not the content of my character. Shame on you.
Do not be angry when giving these responses. Be firm but polite. If possible have a smile on your face whilst conveying your disappointment with their misguided behavior.
By no means is this an exhaustive set of responses. I am sure there are some of you out there who can come up with more clever retorts. Please feel free to send them along to me.
But I think these are responses the person who accuses you of being a racist is not expecting. By putting forward a firm response you put your accuser on the defensive. Suddenly, that Obama supporter is now in the awkward position of having to explain their characterization of you as a racist.
Perhaps they will become even more agitated and threatening in their behavior. If so then calmly explain that if they choose to resort to violence you will have no trouble calling the authorities.
Perhaps they will simply walk away in silence. One can only hope they will think about what you said.
Perhaps they might even do the decent and honorable thing and apologize. Yes, such an outcome is probably unlikely. But if an apology is offered it should be accepted.
Whatever their response you should not accept being called a racist just because you happen to think John McCain is better suited to be President of the United States than Barack Obama.
Racism is after all a serious matter. People in this country have been grievously harmed because of it and many others have lost their lives needlessly and senselessly. Barack Obama’s supporters are going to have to do better than to call people who plan to vote for John McCain racists.
Aaron Goldstein was a card carrying member of the socialist New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP). Since 09/11, Aaron has reconsidered his ideological inclinations and has become a Republican. Aaron lives and works in Boston.
