Maureen Dowd on "You Lie"

The New York Times published an op-ed piece by Maureen Dowd, entitled "Boy, Oh, Boy." In it, Ms. Dowd pulls no punches in assigning racist motivations not only to the unprecidented outburst of Congressman Wilson, but to the the general animosity being shown President Obama.

The outburst was unexpected from a milquetoast Republican backbencher from South Carolina who had attracted little media attention. Now it has made him an overnight right-wing hero, inspiring “You lie!” bumper stickers and T-shirts.

The congressman, we learned, belonged to the Sons of Confederate Veterans, led a 2000 campaign to keep the Confederate flag waving above South Carolina’s state Capitol and denounced as a “smear” the true claim of a black woman that she was the daughter of Strom Thurmond, the ’48 segregationist candidate for president. Wilson clearly did not like being lectured and even rebuked by the brainy black president presiding over the majestic chamber.

This is exactly where conservatives have veered from the path of acceptable debate and disagreement. And attempts to justify Rep. Wilson's actions by saying Bush had received much of the same, are the height of rationalization. Here's an example, read the comments.

In debating the gun enthusiasts and being continually surprised at the depth of their ill will towards President Obama, I suggested it was due to his gun politics. This was roundly denied, most pro-gun commenters claiming that his gun control sympathies are only a small part of what's wrong with Obama as president. I had another idea which I dared not mention. Maureen Dowd has dared though.

I’ve been loath to admit that the shrieking lunacy of the summer — the frantic efforts to paint our first black president as the Other, a foreigner, socialist, fascist, Marxist, racist, Commie, Nazi; a cad who would snuff old people; a snake who would indoctrinate kids — had much to do with race.

I tended to agree with some Obama advisers that Democratic presidents typically have provoked a frothing response from paranoids — from Father Coughlin against F.D.R. to Joe McCarthy against Truman to the John Birchers against J.F.K. and the vast right-wing conspiracy against Bill Clinton.

But Wilson’s shocking disrespect for the office of the president — no Democrat ever shouted “liar” at W. when he was hawking a fake case for war in Iraq — convinced me: Some people just can’t believe a black man is president and will never accept it.

What's your opinion? Is the fact that Barack Obama is a black man, the unspoken problem? Do you think that plays a role in what we've been seeing in the news? Is there anyone commenting here with the guts to admit this, either about themselves or the others? As politically incorrect as overt racism is, perhaps integrity and honesty might overcome the inhibitions, and some would be willing to admit it.

For two centuries, the South has feared a takeover by blacks or the feds. In Obama, they have both.

What do you think?