How is it that a “Southern gentleman” who failed miserably as a leader of this great country continues to be a big hairy thorn in our backsides? Once again, Jimmy Carter has decided to step up and give the United States another black eye with his divisive words, this time by playing the 'race card' and trying to give President Barack Obama a built-in excuse for failure and exemption from criticism…
Oops, I said ‘black’ eye - does that make me a racist, Jimbo?
If you haven’t heard, former President Jimmy Carter has come out and condemned South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson’s now-infamous “You lie!” outburst by labeling it as racism, pure and simple. Was Mr. Wilson (hold your ‘Dennis The Menace’ jokes) out of line? Absolutely. Was he rude? No doubt. Was he being a racist? Abso-freaking-lutely not.
What Carter is doing is making excuses for Obama (even when none are really required…yet). He’s trying to give Barack a preemptive “Get Out Of Jail Free” card to use if he doesn’t fix the economy or if he messes up the health care system; according to Jimbo, our current President can’t be taken to task for his mistakes because anyone who would do so would be an out-and-out racist…
Dang it, I used the word ‘jail’ while talking about an African-American - am I a racist now because Mr. Carter would (incorrectly) see my ‘Monopoly’ analogy as an implication that all black people are criminals?
Simply put, this ‘race card’ garbage needs to stop now on ALL levels. It’s particularly embarrassing when it comes from a former President, but the mass media are just as guilty. Look at the disgusting comments made by African-American tennis champion Serena Williams in the semifinals of the 2009 U.S. Open. She threatened to kill a female Japanese line judge and was given the equivalent of a slap on the wrist by the USTA and the U.S. Open (a whopping $10,500 fine for a multi-millionaire). Where’s the indignation and outcry for justice from CNN, ESPN, the Japanese community, and the American public at large? Can you say double standard?
Silly me. I forgot that playing the ‘race card’ isn’t a two-way street. No wonder I’m so bad at poker…
(For CNN’s story on Jimmy Carter’s comments, follow this link:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/15/carter.obama/index.html)
