"I need to say that it has been pointed out that cataloging racism is a sight below the standards of this blog. I sort of agree. But over the course of the Obama presidency I have become convinced that no single force exerts a greater pull on his presidency than white racism. Not white resentment. Not white populism. White racism. I don't know how else to explain a health care denounced as reparations, the rather continuous disrespect, the sense that he is a Kenyan illegitimate or all of the attendant theories. I do not know how else to explain a state like West Virginia, arguably the most racist in the country, where delegates are now refusing to endorse the president. There will be more on this in the coming months. I don't want to scoop myself. But my point is I can only stop talking about racism, when it ceases to be a significant force in our politics. When the mere act of being white gives Obama's opponent 'a home-state advantage nationally,' I can't stop. It would be deeply wrong to stop."
-- The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates
I gave Coates the Quote of the Day honor because I'd rather have his thoughtful and passionate rebuttal put front, center and above the actual repugnant comment he was responding to, which was this -- from Arizona conservative talk radio asshole Barbara Espinosa:
"I don't believe in calling (Barack Obama) the first black president. I voted for the white guy myself. I call him a monkey."
Are all Republicans racist? No, of course not.
But make no mistake: The GOP as an institution has fomented, tolerated, enabled or exploited racism within its ranks for far too long, and it's never been more blatant and sickening than during the past three-and-a-half years of the Obama presidency.
If you deny it at this point, you're either lying to yourself or you're an idiot.
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