President Obama is an extremely gracious man.

By saying that not everything is about race, he is giving an extreme benefit of the doubt to people who are small-minded, petty, and hateful.

Maybe for some of them its not entirely about race, and for others it is. By taking the high road, by choosing to treat his enemies with total respect for their differences (even more than they deserve), Obama is really setting an exceptional example. The stronger person takes on the hurt. Graciousness is the opposite of pettiness. Hopefully a few will rise out of their smallness to a higher plane and stop the hate.

smart man.

who can view matters objectively.

It's so refreshing to have that sort of leader again.

I really think the majority of the country doesn't understand this sort of wisdom and maturity in the arena of government.

And I'm sure people are projecting a lot of other stuff onto him because they don't understand him. But I think someday they will.

righties will never stop pouncing on it.

a very young age. His mother didn't live very long, but she certainly instilled as high sense of self in him and accomplished a lot as a parent in a short amount of time..

perspective to the equation. He's just High Roader.

They loved him deeply and took care of him when she was away...

that it is possible for BLACKS and WHITES and mixed Race Families to get along.

He is also young so the race issue, the marches etc. were important to him because he is smart enough to understand the struggle and the pain.

He defines the NEW way of the world -- the better way to get along

In 8 years the teabag generation will be over the hill and their children(I hope) will not have the same narrow vision of RACE in America.

I'm African American and lived through all the marches and hate. It pains me to see grown people act like 1960. It hurts so much.
They are truly "Lost in the 60's."

But ~ if President Obama can set an example for all the world to see ~ it will be a beautiful achievement.

I'm glad Carter said what he did, and I'm sure he's right. And Obama couldn't possibly say it. It seems like Obama has thought through all these things a long time ago, so he instinctively reaches for higher ground.

Carter did.

His graciousness was almost a weapon during the election. It made his adversaries look awful as in the cheese stands alone.

a mere weapon.

I never thought of it quite like that but its true.

:thumbsup:

That's why I get sick of the whining about why he doesn't "hit back."

He will always, no matter what happens, leave the door open to bi-partisanship. The moment he doesn't, he melts like the wicked witch of OZ doused with water.

He's cleaner than they are, so it's too his advantage to always stay on the high road.

So much our comrades here don't get. So much we could share were the wall of denial and protection racket broken down... I can dream, can't I? ;-)

They want him to overreact. They want him to lose his cool. They want him to freak out and go after them, because they want to be able to play the poor, hurt, persecuted victims.

If nothing else, history will look kindly on Barack Obama for bearing such vicious, hateful opposition in stride the way he has.

and his grace is firmly rooted in his essential character, never fails to surface in any circumstance, not an affectation of grace as we have too often seen in our elected officials in the past.

:toast:

don't think this incident illustrates those traits. he is taking this position probably out of perceived political necessity.

Jesus on a fucking toaster oven. Good bye!

:rofl:

and Lord Knows, I try!

wrap their heads around. He doesn't walk on water but he IS exceptional!! THIS man is not your run in the mill, ordinary politician. HE CAN'T BE because he is not afforded the luxury of telling white republicans and or bluedogs to kiss his ass!! President Obama HAS to have a different strategy. HE CAN'T BE PROGRESSIVE and I thought these people who are now saying they were duped KNEW better than that! Where have these people been living?? In a TUNNEL???

He knows that whatever, or whoever was in charge of making this kind of change in health care would be getting the same type of treatment.

It's not about him, it's about fear of change which means loss of profits.

:sarcasm:

I beg to differ that all reactions to Dems are equal. There's an extra undeniable element of race with Obama, and while the degree to which it affects the debate is a matter of opinion, and while he may not take the bait on playing it up, I'm quite sure he and the Secret Service are not oblivious to it.

If it weren't for the race thing, this whole argument would probably be a lot more civilized...like back in the 90's when they (health care companies) just scared people.

Remember when they said Clinton was running drugs and killed people?

I do not believe that the Secret Service has a 400% increase in threats on the President's life because he is trying to reform health care. It is largely a response to a black man being in charge.

Let's not go down the path of saying that segregation was not based on racism, which is the logical conclusion to the OP.

Carter Cites 'Racism Inclination' in Animosity Toward Obama

Updated 11:01 a.m. 9/16/09
By Garance Franke-Ruta

In remarks decried by Republicans, former president Jimmy Carter told NBC's Brian Williams in an interview Tuesday that he believes race is at the core of much of the opposition to President Obama.

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African American," Carter said. "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shared the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans"

Continued Carter, who is famously from Georgia: "And that racism inclination still exists. And I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of the belief among many white people, not just in the South but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."

Carter made the remarks in Atlanta. He was interviewed in connection with his 85th birthday; the network plans to air more from the interview later.

The 39th president also predicted that Obama will be able to "triumph over the racist attitude that is the basis for the negative environment that we see so vividly demonstrated in public affairs in recent days."

The remarks seem sure to renew the controversy over South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst that might otherwise have faded following passage of a House resolution Tuesday rebuking him for his affront to decorum by shouting "You lie!" at President Obama during an address to Congress last week.

Carter spoke directly to the Wilson matter and the 9/12 anti-government protests during a forum at the Carter Center in Atlanta, also on Tuesday.

Video at link: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/09/15/carter_cites_racism_inclinatio.html?wprss=44

"Let's not go down the path of saying that segregation was not based on racism, which is the logical conclusion to the OP."

:wtf: Either you didn't bother to actually read the OP or your reading comprension skills are non-existent.

But only so far. When push comes to shove, President Obama will in fact get the biggest things he can out of congress, and sign them into law.

The answer to racism is to ignore it, stay healthy, be effective, and simply change the Country, one chunk at a time. Being a successful and effective President is his strongest reply. This is his "in your face" argument, just keep doing the job well.

He's still trying to get republicans to vote for his healthcare. Political games.

One appeals to racism, hate and paranoia. The other treats the American people like rational adults. Ultimately, the one who is most correct in their assessment of the American people will prevail.

And nobody thinks *everything* is about race, anyway.

be an sbolute distraction to healthcare reform - and would kill any chance of a public option.

credibility on BOTH sides of the isle b/c there are not enough progressives to support aggression or progression.

If he said everything was about race, he'd be running the risk of coming off as a whiner and that's the last thing one wants to be. There are plenty of other people who can say, but the President has to be careful what he says and he said the right thing.

that President Obama might actually take this Christianity thing seriously.

Thanks, all!

:pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: :pals: