THE USUAL SUSPECT - AT 11:47 A.M. ET:  The Politico reports this morning that some of President Obama's allies are starting to suggest that race is the motivating force behind much of his political opposition:

AUSTIN – Eight months into Barack Obama’s presidency, as criticism of his administration seems to reach new levels of volume and intensity each week, the whispers among some of his allies are growing louder: That those who loathe the nation’s first African-American president, and especially those who would deny his citizenship, are driven at least in part by racism.

Look, there are no doubt some racists out there.  But the whole premise is wrong.  By definition, as you look at the poll numbers, Obama is losing support among those who previously supported him.  Are they racists?  If they're racists, why did they support him in the first place? 

True, the mass demonstrations consist mostly of those who have always opposed Obama, but what's remarkable is how little racism we see.  Opposition, except among a fringe, seems based on the president's policies, and policies similar to these were rejected by Mr. Obama's opponents long before he was on the scene. 

“As far as African-Americans are concerned, we think most of it is,” said Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), when asked in an interview in between sessions how much of the more extreme anger at Obama is based upon his race. “And we think it’s very unfortunate. We as African-American people of course are very sensitive to it.”

Johnson is a somewhat-reserved, nine-term member of Congress, more gracious southern lady than racial bomb-thrower.

Wrong.  Johnson is very much a bomb thrower.  When she was head of the Congressional Black Caucus, and major-league whack job Cynthia McKinney was defeated for reelection to Congress, it was Johnson who suggested that McKinney's opponents had no legitimate right to campaign against her.  She is a racialist.

“It’s hurting the spirit of this country,” Johnson said, citing concerns about what the rest of the world may think about a powerful nation where a significant segment of the population does not accept their elected leader as legitimate.

I wonder if Johnson thought this way when a major segment of her party refused to accept the legitimacy of George Bush's election.  I wonder why the reporter didn't ask.

Said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) about the race factor: “There are some issues that have been swept under the rug and we’re not witnessing them come out.”

This reporter certainly gets interviews with impartial observers.  Lee, the only member of Congress to vote against military action after 9-11, is an outspoken supporter of Fidel Castro. 

Of course we should be sensitive to legitimate concerns about racism, and we should also be understanding about the apprehensions of African-Americans.  But these charges just don't hold water.  The president has made mistakes.  He's pursued policies that don't have wide popular backing.  He often appears detached, and at times aloof.  His campaign style doesn't play well in the White House.  Those are the reasons he's lost support.  The racists have always opposed him.  He hasn't lost support among them because he never had any.

September 14, 2009