Let's get this straight.
If you disapprove of Obama's policies, fine. If you think the individual mandate or any other part of Obamacare is bad and say so, then great. That is part of a healthy dialog. If you think drone strikes, or his immigration deferred action or anything else is bad then you just are being a productive part of civic discourse in a free society.
If you think Obama is a horrible president and you wouldn't vote for him in a million years, then great. That doesn't make you a racist.
In fact, there are millions of Americans that I strongly disagree with, but respect. They aren't the racists.
However.... there are things that people are saying here and elsewhere that clearly cross the line from civic discourse, to racism and hatred. For example...
Quote:The concept that he wants to destroy the US is what is scaring the hell out of me. His mindset is so foreign to anything that most people in the US have experienced, that most people cannot even comprehend it.
Quote:This philandering, inebriated African socialist, who raged against the world for denying him the realization of his anti-colonial ambitions, is now setting the nation’s agenda through the reincarnation of his dreams in his son.
This whole Obama isn't American thing is really out of line. Just to be clear I am fully behind people's right to say such things. It is free speech. But people who brandish their rights to attacking President Obama for being a foreign manipulator shouldn't whine when they other people call them racists. Free speech cuts both ways.
I also want to point out that there has been very little of this behavior from the left. Romney certainly has a family background that some find strange (it is ironic that Obama is being attacked because his ancestors were polygamist). I don't see anyone going after Romney this way... if if they do, I will be the first to denounce it.
There is a difference between political discourse and racism. You can't express strong disagreements and disapproval without stooping to hateful conspiracy theories and attacks on people's core identities as Americans.
Right now, a number of people from one side of our political divide seem to be having trouble with this distinction.