for attempting to take the "racial sting" out of the health care issue ... of course, most people won't accept it and will continue to say "if you are against the President's health care plan you are racially biased" but I've got to give you credit for trying ...

Obama: Health care anger not motivated by his race
Fri Sep 18, 8:19 pm ET

WASHINGTON President Barack Obama said Friday that angry criticisms about his health care agenda are driven by an intense debate over the proper role of government and not by racism.

"Are there people out there who don't like me because of race? I'm sure there are," Obama told CNN. "That's not the overriding issue here."

The nation's first black president spoke about the issue of race during a battery of interviews on Friday. In a media blitz aimed at pounding home his health care message, he taped interviews with ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Univision to be shown during the networks' Sunday morning talk shows.

Some excerpts aired during Friday night broadcasts.

Time and again, Obama was asked about whether the tenor of the health care debate turned nasty because of undercurrents in racism. Former President Jimmy Carter raised the point prominently this week when he said the vitriol was racially motivated.

Not so, Obama said.

"There's been a long-standing debate in this country that is usually that much more fierce during times of transition, or when presidents are trying to bring about big changes," Obama told CNN.

To NBC News, Obama put it this way: "It's an argument that's gone on for the history of this republic, and that is, What's the right role of government? How do we balance freedom with our need to look out for one another? ... This is not a new argument, and it always evokes passions."

Obama said most people across the country are just trying to follow the debate and figure out how proposed changes would help them.

"Now there are some who are, setting aside the issue of race, actually I think are more passionate about the idea of whether government can do anything right," Obama said told ABC News. "And I think that that's probably the biggest driver of some of the vitriol."

Some health care town halls over the summer had bitter moments of confrontation. And South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson shouted "You lie!" at Obama during the president's address to a joint session of Congress last week. The White House has said for weeks that such moments are not representative and overblown.

Obama told CBS News that the media was partly to blame.

"The 24-hour news cycle and cable television and blogs and all this they focus on the most extreme elements on both sides," Obama said. "They can't get enough of conflict. It's catnip to the media right now."

Obama also is visiting David Letterman on Monday, the first appearance ever by a sitting president on Letterman's "Late Show."


Take care.
Blessed Be.
Alice

"Politicians are like diapers. They should be changed frequently and for the same reason." From the movie, "Man of the Year"

I think his analysis here is right. Furthermore, I think it's quite counter-productive to toss the racism accusation in people's faces. All that does is make people angrier and less likely to engage in any real discussion.

you are absolutely 100% correct on this issue.....

I think his analysis here is right. Furthermore, I think it's quite counter-productive to toss the racism accusation in people's faces. All that does is make people angrier and less likely to engage in any real discussion.

You are exactly right....but in response to Alice's post...I don't know if congrats are in order for him.  I am not convinced he doesn't harbor some resentment....but that is my opinion only.

1.  People use the racism argument because they don't have any other facts to back up their position.  I am not saying there aren't any facts...they just don't know any, they get frustrated, and they sputter.

2.  Throwing the racism charge around most definitely weakens the real thing.  If they keep it up, people will roll their eyes when a valid claim is sought.

3.  People do not like to be unfairly judged.  And to be judged on something like this unfairly is pretty distressing, because no one knows your heart.

4.  People who accuse others of being racist as it pertains to Obama simply can't reconcile the fact he was elected by both democrats and republicans who are WHITE.  His poll numbers have dropped...they didn't suddenly wake up one day and decide to be racists...

5.  If criticism of him is because he is black, how do you explain criticism of Pelosi, Reid, Kennedy? 

~~life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain~~

Yeah, it's kind of hard to get people to see your way of thinking when you are calling them names. Jimmy Carter has nothing to lose, but Obama at least recognizes the danger, even if he believes it. 

~~life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain~~