Carter had an openness in his administration that no president in recent memory has been able to match. Born again and transparent, honest and ineffective; that was good ol’ Jimmy. I admired him for trying to rise above it all and for his attempt at morality in politics. I disliked him for his pompous bearing and wrong-headedness.
It’s the policy that Obama presents to the public (forged in large measure by white liberals) that is so distasteful to many on the right, not his race. Most of my liberal friends acknowledge this; those who do not are recognized by their zealot nature, and their ignorance or disdain for conservative principals. They are the hardcore and have this know-it-all, moral certitude about them, just like Jimmy.
Here’s the rub. They will not call me racist; in fact, they assure me that I am not. It’s the “others” who are. The “others” with whom they don’t care to speak. The “others” they have objectified or who have been objectified for them. The “others” who’s purpose is to serve as their foil, as an outlet for their projections. They do not know these people! This objectifying strips away their political opponent’s humanity, their individuality. When unknown “others” are no longer individuals, all sorts of evil intent can be attributed to them. Go to the history books.
State propaganda works ok but the self-inflicted variety works best. So when Carter says he thinks the animosity towards Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, I believe he believes that what he is saying is true. Years of projecting, pontificating, pandering and posturing have set a schemata in this man’s head that cannot be dismantled.
