Racist Charges Against Obama’s Opponents are Scurrilous

Several of President Obama supporters, including sitting Congressmen and political pundits, have shamelessly suggested that anyone opposing the president’s stance on health care reform or other issues is a racist.

This suggestion is scurrilous on its face, and is a desperate attempt by his supporters to demean his opponents and/or change the subject away from the issues at hand. It is unfortunate that informed politicians or members of the elite media are so quick to throw out such an inflammatory name, because it really demeans their own standing.

This tactic, used by Obama himself during the presidential campaign, lowers the discourse between opposing sides of an issue and adds an unnecessary diversion from an honest discussion of the pros and cons of a particular issue such as health care reform.

Following the logic of this argument, any black person that opposed President BushPresident Bush or any white President over the last several decades would be labeled a racist. It’s time for politicians and political commentators to cool down the rhetoric and speak to the important issues facing our country without prejudicing anyone’s opposition or intentions.