Mary Shaw

A few days ago, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter noted that racism is likely responsible for much of the anti-Obama sentiment that has monopolized the media in recent weeks.

That seems pretty clear to me, too.

But the right-wing mouthpieces are denying that race has anything to do with it. Racism, you see, is not something most Americans would want to publicly admit to these days.

According to the New York Times, Rush Limbaugh mockingly responded, "Today, it's all based in racism - the criticism of Obama's health care plan or whatever." This was quickly backed up by Newt Gingrich, who added, "I think it's very destructive for America to suggest that we can't criticize a president without it being a racial act."

But that's not what anyone is suggesting, Newt. The giveaway is not in whether you criticize the president, it's in how you criticize him.

As Media Matters for America recently pointed out, the Rush Limbaugh who is trying to deny accusations of racism is the same Rush Limbaugh who has said things like:

"[I]n Obama's America, the white kids now get beat up with the black kids cheering."

and

"How do you get promoted in a Barack Obama administration? By hating white people or even saying you do."

and

"[T]hey're finally hearing me. 'He's an angry black guy.' I do believe that about the president. I do believe he's angry. I think his wife is angry."

And, of course, this is the same Rush Limbaugh who has entertained his radio listeners with a tune called "Barack The Magic Negro".

Then there are the signs spotted at various "tea party" protests around the country:

"Obama's Plan: White Slavery"

and

"Save White America!"

Then, when they run out of anti-black slogans, they go back to emphasizing the president's Middle Eastern middle name: Barack HUSSEIN Obama

And these loud and rowdy critics are inspired by the likes of Glenn Beck of Fox News, who has publicly accused President Obama of being a reverse racist with "a deep-seated hatred for white people."

But it's not about race, they tell us.

Really???

Who lies?

Mary Shaw is a Philadelphia-based writer and activist. She is a former Philadelphia Area Coordinator for the Nobel-Prize-winning human rights group Amnesty International, and her views on politics, human rights, and social justice issues have appeared in numerous online forums and in newspapers and magazines worldwide. Note that the ideas expressed here are the author's own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Amnesty International or any other organization with which she may be associated. E-mail: mary@maryshawonline.com