I have been writing for some time that the most disappointing and damaging failure of Barack Obama’s leadership has been the marked deterioration in racial trust, respect and communication during his administration. I raised the alarm regarding trends that began making themselves evident during the 2008 campaign, before Obama was elected. The use of race-baiting to silence political adversaries and critics. The shift of the news media, in its efforts to get the first black President elected, pound on racial fault lines while openly dismissing John McCain, a decent man, as old and white, and therefore irrelevant. Obama’s close ties to the racist Rev. Wright, and his self-evidently disingenuous denials that his “spiritual advisor’s” bigotry had any effect on his own views about America raised additional suspicions. After Obama’s election, his overtly and intentionally racialist Justice Department repeatedly signaled that racial neutrality was not a goal, with predictable resentment following from many white citizens, as it should have. The tactic of tarring his critics as motivated by racism continued, with the tea party, conservatives and Republicans being routinely compared to racists for levels of critical rhetoric that were neither excessive nor undeserved.
Then came Obama’s disastrous comments on the Trayvon Martin killing, as he chose to take sides as an angry family, race hucksters and an irresponsible press claimed that white men with guns were stalking and hunting down young black men and “children” like Trayvon because they were black. Obama, who had run for election on the promise of healing divisions, had through his leadership incompetence—no, I do not believe he intended to tear the nation apart along racial lines–sent race relations hurtling backward. So much societal carnage has resulted, including the cataclysmic candidacy of Donald Trump, the rise of Black Lives Matter, and a frightening explosion of anti-white racism and advocacy for segregation on college campuses. That this has happened during Obama’s Presidency, of all Presidents, is nothing less than a tragedy.
Naturally, the liberal mainstream media adamantly refuses to confront this, even after manifestly absurd statements by Obama that he believes race-relations have improved. Conservative critics, for their part, have no credibility on the topic, since they are presumed to be blind to Obama’s virtues. They are also too gleeful about the President’s failure; for example, conservative pundit Glenn Reynolds posts this old tweet routinely…
…it’s mordantly amusing in its irony, but still not funny. Again, this is tragic.
Many readers here, including African Americans and Obama supporters, vehemently object to my assessment, which is undeniable on the facts and impossible to rebut. After a recent post, “Wait, I’m Confused: I Thought Racial Segregation Was BAD….”, about black activists demanding campus spaces that are “safe” from whites while enabling, guilt-racked white administrators give such racist arguments legitimacy that would never be tolerated were the colors reversed, commenter Zoltar Speaks! authored this Comment of the Day in response to a protest by another veteran reader.
Here it is:
I’ve heard some of my nearly life-long black friends opinions shift in dramatic ways that I never would have expected, and it’s all happened since Obama was elected President. The change in attitude and rhetoric has been absolutely astounding. I think I’ve had no less than a dozen of my black friends unfriend me on Facebook for reasons that they never would have 10-15 years ago, and some others have just ceased to communicate. Some of these people have been friends from 25 to nearly 50 years – yup long before Facebook and computers when people had real face-to-face conversations and shared our lives offline. I still consider these people to be my friends and I miss their company, but some of them have built impenetrable walls between us and gone to a very dark place – racism is a very, very dark place.
Maybe the last 7+ years have unleash some dormant feelings in some of them; maybe what some of them used to consider racist behavior from blacks has become so common place that now it’s somehow “popular” to be a black racist; I’m absolutely positive that one of them bowed to peer pressure; maybe some of them that I used to go out to dinner with on a regular basis have just moved on in life; but one thing has been perfectly clear with most of them – any disagreement with an Obama policy was immediately deemed racist even when they knew full well that I had been against the same kind of policies in the past but yet my opposition in the past wasn’t considered racist. We’ve agreed and disagreed over the years on may things but nothing has changed their attitudes and rhetoric as it has since Obama was elected President. Furthermore; it has been abundantly clear that some of them completely flip-flopped long-term political views on some policies simply because Obama supported the opposing view.
“Something’s happening here”
…ya damn right there is…
“What it is ain’t exactly clear.”
…it’s clear to me…
What it is, is divisive racism brought on by continual race baiting that has been “inspired” and ignored by Obama, pushed by the political left, and now dominates the psyche of many blacks across the country and, to top it off, the media fuels the fire with unchallenged illogical justifications of the nonsense. The propaganda related to race baiting is a very dominate feature in our society now and that is new since Obama was elected President! Did race baiting exist before Obama, yes, but its wide-spread usage in the political theater and the negative consequences of it’s wide-spread usage is new since Obama’s election and the cannot be denied! Racism is now viewed by some as a means to an end – whatever end they choose – racism is now viewed as a power to dominate; demonize the opposition into absolute capitulation by using deflections that paint them as racists. It is complete “the ends justify the means” moral bankruptcy!
I want the divisive racism to stop and I want my old friends back!
Unfortunately, I fear that some of those old friendships “might” now be irretrievably broken. It’s truly sad.
Just wait till Hillary is elected and the blatant sexism baiting starts.
Ethics Alarms 
I’m with you, Zoltar, angry and mourning the loss. It’s one of several reasons I barnacled onto this blog in the first place. That and guilt. I voted for the man once.
The intellectually reasoned notes have been sounding so loud and clear it’s been hard to hear the lower muffled tones of personal grief. I started to change that last word to something less dramatic and then recalled the names and faces of once close friends, from teenage on up, gone to live in their safe spaces and locked the doors behind them.
Agree. Friends of all races. I’m praying that the centrists of both parties–if there are any left–will sit down together and pick apart the issues. All we see now are noisy posturing and preaching to the choir.
I completely understand; but these days, centrists are considered fence sitting cowards that are unwilling to stand up for principle. If you’re not with the extreme crowds, you’re almost an outcast.
“Just wait till Hillary is elected and the blatant sexism baiting starts.”
Wait no more, from the always even-keeled Gloria “where the boys are” Steinem:
“Gloria Steinem: Hillary’s Approval Ratings Are Low Because She’s a Woman.”
http://www.mediaite.com/print/gloria-steinem-hillarys-approval-ratings-are-low-because-shes-a-woman/
Mercifully, my opinion of someone that makes Bernie Madoff look like a choir boy has been sufficiently debunked thanks to being “leftysplained.”
So I predicted it on August 12th at 11:09am “just wait till Hillary is elected and the blatant sexism baiting starts” and the political tool (or hack) Gloria Steinem proves me right at 3:38pm the same day; so within four and a half hours of my prediction, the prediction came true, it just came true a bit sooner than I predicted.
Now I ask readers, how is it possible that I could have predicted such a morally bankrupt thing in advance?
Is it just mere coincidence that the prediction came true so quickly?
Does Gloria Steinem read Jack’s blogs?
Did it happen because I predicted it? (que Twilight Zone music)
Inquiring minds want to know.
“Is it just mere coincidence that the prediction came true so quickly?
“Does Gloria Steinem read Jack’s blogs?
“Did it happen because I predicted it?”
None of the above, c’mon, you’re Zoltar after all; Zoltar spake, how could there be any other outcome…?
It’s hard not to appreciate the way your mind works!!! 🙂
So I’m assuming the author if the blog is a Right-Libertarian given the links he has here. I am a Left-winger and Latina who lives with her White boyfriend.
I think the commenter just feels entitled for things not to change, who doesn’t want their friends to never leave them, and they are upset at rejection naturally even though you know people change. You know many non-Whites have White friends who espouse mildly racist ideas they put up with but they can only deal with up to a certain point. (And his canard about no opposition being allowed to Obama is ludicrous. The Far Left has been very critical of Obama.)
And you pointing to Obama as a race baiter LOL. Obama bent over backwards to treat the Republican Congress and politicians as if they were willing to compromise and they were most certainly not. He is a most civil man. Much of Black America is disappointed it took so long for him to say anything about race. The level of Black protest was not because Obama led it but it happened because Obama avoided dealing with race for so long in his presidency and Black citizens realized a Black president wasn’t going to do much for dealing with systemic racism and that they had to lead their own protests.
I think most of you are confusing people exposing existing fault lines in society with creating them. It’s like you all do not understand the structural effects of residential segregation that was entrenched decades ago. You probably do not know many Black people well (more than a handful) if you did not realize there was deep anger just beneath the surface. I grew up in a Black and Latino neighborhood and most Whites just did not grow up around as many non-Whites or go to school with so many and how would you see what someone’s daily life is like if they are not your neighbors in any great numbers? Pretending difference doesn’t exist doesn’t help make society more cohesive. It just make people who don’t usually have to think about it feel more comfortable.
Until there is a reckoning in the United States that the country was founded on violence towards Native Americans and that much wealth was created by slavery, of course there will be racial tension. You can’t just ignore it. White folks and libertarians will want to ignore it but history doesn’t allow people to ignore it.
I don’t want to be harsh on your first post, so I’ll let pass the fact that you violated several rules of commenting here, several principles of competent commenting on an ethics blog, and several other things that if repeated constantly, would get you banned. So: here’s a response:
1. Read the comment policies.
2. This not a partisan or ideological site. If you label yourself, I fear you are already crippled by partyism. You can’t discern anything from me by my ethical analysis, because it isn’t political analysis. When you say you are a “left-winger” you are saying that you are biased, and incapable of objective analysis, and decided on issues according to what your group or opinion-makers say is the “right” thing to think. That’s not very smart. Don’t insult me by attributing the same knee-jerk thinking to anybody here.
3. I think the commenter just feels entitled for things not to change, who doesn’t want their friends to never leave them, and they are upset at rejection naturally even though you know people change. You know many non-Whites have White friends who espouse mildly racist ideas they put up with but they can only deal with up to a certain point.
I have no idea how you get that from this post. And I don’t even know what you think you’re saying.
4. The fact that fellow liberals and progressives can criticize Obama without being labelled racists and biased just proves the point that it is a cynical and undemocratic method of dissent suppression of Obama’s opposition. The far left may be critical, but they are supportive. And some advice: saying “no it isn’t” is not an argument.
5.“Obama bent over backwards to treat the Republican Congress and politicians as if they were willing to compromise and they were most certainly not.” This is factually untrue, and a persistent talking point manufactured to cover Obama’s incompetence. He does not know how to compromise, and won’t. Even Chris Matthews, in a rare moment of candor, admitted that Obama won’t and can’t deal, which is his job. I don’t accept talking points here. Obama could have accepted GOP measures in Obamacare and didn’t; he had a “grand bargain” with the GOP House on the budget, and backed out. There are chips all over the place to trade: vote on my SCOTUS nominee, and I’ll stop scaremongering on guns. I’ll drop opposition to voter ID if you support my immigration policies. A million ways to cut it. He rules by edict or not at all. Incompetent.
6. Who said Obama wasn’t civil? he’s civil. He’s also divisive and often unpresidential in his rhetoric.
7. Riots aren’t protests.
8. LOL is banned here. Do it again and you’re gone.
9. Part of the anger is black America’s stalled economic progress under Obama’s inept economic policies. More African-Americans are on food stamps and assistance, unemploymet rates are unacceptible. Rather than place accountability on 1) their own conduct and 2) the failures of a President whom they voted for 96% based on his color, they blame “systemic racism.”
10. The divisions exist. Before 2008, we were making slow progress to repairing them. The decision was made to, instead, exploit them and exacerbate them.
11. Yours is an ideological and political screed. Not permitted. Also not thoughtful or original. Open your mind, stop using labels to dismiss facts you find uncomfortable, and support what you say with specifics not generalities. Do better, or get lost.
Do not worry I have no interest in ever commenting on someone’s blog who links to several partisan sites like Volokh Conspiracy and Reason but expects people to never speak of politics. Hypocritical as it gets.
Ah! You’re an idiot then! Good to know! 1) I link to websites that are non-partisan, intelligent and fair. Many have ideological tilts and interests: that doesn’t invalidate them. the VC is part of the Washington post, and has commentators that are legal scholars with various political orientations. Calling the VC a partisan site is just ignorance personified, and the same goes for Reason, a libertarian site with integrity and no partisan slant at all. 2) You also apparently can’t read. This blog speaks about politics as well as many other areas in which ethics are crucial. Talking about honesty, integrity, responsibility and other values (or the lack of them) is not the same as just mouthing talking points. You don’t see the difference. Got it. Idiot.
I just checked, since your accusation annoys me that much. There are at least 10 certifiable left-leaning blogs among the link—11, before I deleted Snopes for cheating and lying. Most are neutral. There are fewer clearly conservative sites in the links. As I thought.
Rocio,
There is something distinctly familiar about what and how your write; I can’t quite place it, yet.
As for your opinion; I think you were primarily referring to what the “commenter” wrote, not necessarily what Jack wrote; am I correct? I’m going to assume I’m correct and respond as such.
Rocio said, “I think the commenter just feels entitled for things not to change, who doesn’t want their friends to never leave them, and they are upset at rejection naturally even though you know people change.”
You are making assumptions that are nonsense and basing your opinion on those assumptions and not on fact. Try again, if you like.
Rocio said, “You know many non-Whites have White friends who espouse mildly racist ideas they put up with but they can only deal with up to a certain point.”
I get the distinct feeling that you are subtly calling me a racist; you know not that which you speak of; you’re building your argument on assumptions again.
Rocio said, “And his canard about no opposition being allowed to Obama is ludicrous.”
Now Miss Ricio, I didn’t say opposition was not allowed, I said opposition was met with outright false accusations of racism. It’s not a canard; it’s a fact!
Since you’re new here, I’ll stop there and give you a fair chance to respond. Please be cautious how you choose to respond, and remember the old adage, think all you speak, but speak not all you think!
Rocio,
Did you give up already?
He has, but he wouldn’t get a comment posted if he made one, after his self-banning last comment.
Also I think it’s worth pondering: what are the race and gender of your commentators? And why? A White male friend of mine linked me to your blog is how I found it. Some people think that is irrelevant information and that ideas are unrelated to the people who express them. I think it’s irrelevant on an individual level usually but when it becomes patterns on a collective level it’s worth wondering why do these people tend to believe this and those people that?
It is irrelevant information. Our opinions should not be dictated by our color, gender or tribe.