A Neat Little Comparison Chart

[metis]

I honestly don't believe that questions about Obama's birth certificate or his citizenship had anything to do with his race as much as his national origin.

I agree with your post except with the above, as there was little questioning about McCain's citizenship even though he was not born in the States. And yet the questioning of Obama's citizenship went on for years, as well as a question of his grades in college. It's typical of the "he's not one of us" syndrome that is often a byproduct of nativism and/or racism.

 

[Stevicus]

I agree with your post except with the above, as there was little questioning about McCain's citizenship even though he was not born in the States. And yet the questioning of Obama's citizenship went on for years, as well as a question of his grades in college. It's typical of the "he's not one of us" syndrome that is often a byproduct of nativism and/or racism.

But by the same token, other African-American candidates (such as Jesse Jackson) were never questioned or scrutinized in this way, since there wasn't any doubt that they were born in America. So, I don't really believe that race was a factor.

But you may be correct about the nativism, which, again, may not be due to race as much as national origin. In McCain's case, national origin was never in question, as he was born on US territory. His father was born in Iowa and was a four-star admiral in the Navy.

In contrast, Obama's father was not even a US citizen, and he was an official with a foreign government.

 

[metis]

But by the same token, other African-American candidates (such as Jesse Jackson) were never questioned or scrutinized in this way, since there wasn't any doubt that they were born in America. So, I don't really believe that race was a factor.

But you may be correct about the nativism, which, again, may not be due to race as much as national origin. In McCain's case, national origin was never in question, as he was born on US territory. His father was born in Iowa and was a four-star admiral in the Navy.

In contrast, Obama's father was not even a US citizen, and he was an official with a foreign government.

That's all fine & dandy but it doesn't excuse the fact that this went on for years, not just with Trump but also with a majority of Republicans even as late as Obama's 2nd term, according to polls back then.

I'm sure ignorance played a hefty role with this, but I'm also inclined to believe that many knew he was a U.S. citizen but still used this to denigrate him. We have never seen this happen before with any previous president, and remember that this also included even many questioning his college grades, and I never remember that happening to any other president either.

Racism is still around, and I have seen this type of prejudice and discrimination happen locally as well over and over again.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

One think even conservatives have to admit is that Obama had a squeaky clean presidency. No criminal activity, scandals, or even affairs (that we know of).

Those are the facts. The ALTERNATIVE facts, however, have Obama indicted for running a child prostitution ring out of his golf mosque, where he and Michelle would both go to meet their gay transsexual lovers, between games of Muslim golf.

 

[Stevicus]

That's all fine & dandy but it doesn't excuse the fact that this went on for years, not just with Trump but also with a majority of Republicans even as late as Obama's 2nd term, according to polls back then.

It's kind of fuzzy to me now, but as I recall, they were clamoring for Obama to release his birth certificate but were met with constant refusals to do so. Once that was finally done and people got a chance to actually see it, then the matter ended for the most part, other than the few remaining hardheads who claimed it was a forgery. That doesn't validate what the Republicans were doing, but it could have been stopped much sooner.

I'm sure ignorance played a hefty role with this, but I'm also inclined to believe that many knew he was a U.S. citizen but still used this to denigrate him. We have never seen this happen before with any previous president, and remember that this also included even many questioning his college grades, and I never remember that happening to any other president either.

Politics is about questioning and attacking the opposition. One side will study the opposition and try to find weaknesses, vulnerabilities, character defects, etc. in order to use it to their advantage. I think it's happened to other candidates and presidents, too, although it might involve different issues. McCain wasn't attacked over his birth certificate, since his origins and family history were well-known. But he was attacked over allegations involving his time as a POW in Vietnam.

I'm not sure why college grades would become an issue, but don't presidents and other politicians/candidates generally offer that kind of information on their political resume?

Racism is still around, and I have seen this type of prejudice and discrimination happen locally as well over and over again.

Oh, yes, I'm well aware that racism is still around. It's local to my area too, and it's even worse in other areas of my state which has led to Arizona getting some kind of national reputation.

In some ways, at least as a country coming to terms with its racist past, we still seem to have some work to do. I think we've made great strides in reforming and trying to do the right thing, but there's been this veneer of falsity about it that seems difficult to overcome. A lot of people might play the game well and put on a good pretense, but then they get drunk or something and a whole bunch of racial expletives come out of their mouth. Or even liberals who are ostensibly "trying to be nice" might still come across as condescending without realizing it.

 

[metis]

It's kind of fuzzy to me now, but as I recall, they were clamoring for Obama to release his birth certificate but were met with constant refusals to do so. Once that was finally done and people got a chance to actually see it, then the matter ended for the most part, other than the few remaining hardheads who claimed it was a forgery. That doesn't validate what the Republicans were doing, but it could have been stopped much sooner.



Politics is about questioning and attacking the opposition. One side will study the opposition and try to find weaknesses, vulnerabilities, character defects, etc. in order to use it to their advantage. I think it's happened to other candidates and presidents, too, although it might involve different issues. McCain wasn't attacked over his birth certificate, since his origins and family history were well-known. But he was attacked over allegations involving his time as a POW in Vietnam.

I'm not sure why college grades would become an issue, but don't presidents and other politicians/candidates generally offer that kind of information on their political resume?



Oh, yes, I'm well aware that racism is still around. It's local to my area too, and it's even worse in other areas of my state which has led to Arizona getting some kind of national reputation.

In some ways, at least as a country coming to terms with its racist past, we still seem to have some work to do. I think we've made great strides in reforming and trying to do the right thing, but there's been this veneer of falsity about it that seems difficult to overcome. A lot of people might play the game well and put on a good pretense, but then they get drunk or something and a whole bunch of racial expletives come out of their mouth. Or even liberals who are ostensibly "trying to be nice" might still come across as condescending without realizing it.

Yep, as I don't see it as an either/or thingy, so racism was involved with some but not with some others.