The Racial Divide in the Upcoming Elections

The Racial Divide in the Upcoming Elections

The politics of elections can be even more daunting and more corrupt than the time between elections.  With the start of the 2012 elections already looming on the horizon, the political sides are lining up.  Race seems to be the dividing line.  Don’t they know elections are red and blue, not black or white?

From a conservative standpoint, which is where I stand, the policies of this administration during these past two years are a pathetic platform from which to run a re-election campaign.  While the president is well liked, his policy decisions have been questionable and so far, have not really helped the sagging economy, thereby, leaving the president without a lot to offer in his campaign.

He ran the last campaign with a promise of change.  A change we got, for sure.  However, it turned out that the majority of Americans are not so fond of the kind of change that Obama had in mind.  Turns out, we like people to be responsible for their behavior and we believe that those who work hard and ‘make it’ should be allowed to keep most of it.  Confiscating even more of the wealth of our successful citizens to fund projects ordained by government officials, otherwise known as redistribution of wealth, isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.  Maybe it would be worth considering if the money taken from the rich actually went to help the poor, but when the government gets their hands on it, there is no guarantee of that.  Who can forget the millions spent to save some mice in Pelosi’s district? I mean, really?

Anyway, since these polices are still in place and aren’t changing for the better, the Democrats will certainly have a hard time trying to convince the country that these are good policies while we can plainly easily see that they are not.  So what are the liberals to do?

The defining rhetoric has shifted from one of policies to those of race.  If you don’t like the policies of this administration then you must be a racist.  Sort of like the Jeff Foxworthy and his …. You might be a red-neck if, analogy.

• If you are a white person and mention the president playing basketball, you must be a racist. Never mind that the president is often filmed playing basketball, and that many white people play basketball, the simple fact of mentioning the president playing basketball is racist.
• If you dare question the history of a president who has taken pains to hide the records of his youth, then you must be a racist.  How dare you question the only black president and not the white presidents who had already provided proof?
• If you are a presidential candidate and you attack the policies of the president, who is black, then you must be a racist.  Never mind that that the candidate did not personally attack the man but just the policies, that candidate must be a racist.
• If you, as an average citizen speak out against the corruption in Washington and call for a return to traditional American values, you must be a racist.  If you carry a sign, you could be a terrorist.
• If you legally own a gun and advocate for protecting our 2^nd amendments rights, you could be a racist.
• If you call for a return to the Constitution, you are a racist because of the original language before the 13^th amendment.
• If you are proud of this country and enjoy the feelings of nationalism and patriotism, then you must be a racist.
• If you call the president any kind of name that is even slightly derogatory, then you are a racist, even if you called the previous president the same name.  How many times was Bush called stupid?  Don’t use that term anymore – it’s racist.

The list could go on and on.  Those screaming racism over every statement put out by conservative candidates have no argument to back up their statements.  They use the term racism to defend the president and the unpopular policies and now target the candidates and their businesses for boycotts and persecution.

Let’s face it, if the policies that Obama initiated had helped the economy, he would be a 2-term president, no doubt.    But blacks alone did not elect Obama to the White House.  To turn on the white voters who did vote for Obama and call them racist because they aren’t impressed with what Obama has done so far, seems counter-productive.  But if you can’t defend the policy, what is the Obama campaign supposed to run on?

What cause is left that he didn’t have the opportunity to fix?  He had the entire Congress and could have passed anything he wanted to whether conservatives liked it or not.  That the Democrats chose not to is not the debate.  We know why.  Such unpopular and one-sided decisions do not allow much room for re-elections.  Yet the president will still try.  And all those opposed are racist.

If this is the president’s view of America, then how does he think he got elected in the first place?  If it is not his view and simply his supporters using any argument they can to belittle the opposition, then shame on all of them for allowing this racial rhetoric, this nasty name calling to continue.

A black man is running in the GOP campaign for president.  He is even gaining some traction as his message of fiscal responsibility and conservative values strike a common chord with many mainstream Americans.  Where does that leave the racial debate?  If Republicans and conservatives are so racist, why would a GOP candidate who happens to be a black man, draw this much attention?  Does that throw the race baiting rhetoric out?

With as many difficulties that are pressing this country at the present, clearly we have more important things to discuss than the color of a man’s skin.  Opposition to policies is a protected right here in America and truly should be expected with such a diverse people.  Such opposition doesn’t mean racism; it means you disapprove of policy. It has worked that way under every other president, why should it be considered as anything different now?

The previous administration endured vitriolic hatred from those with opposing views yet that was considered good for the debate.  Should having a black president stop such lively debate?  While I don’t believe it is the president who is taking this opposition debate as a personal racial assault, I do believe he is not doing enough to end the racial rhetoric and close the ever growing racial divide.  My focus is only to those who scream racism over every attempt to rebut current policy decisions.

Also read:

The Politics of Using Racism