Morgan Freeman: Obama Made Racism Worse

[moderate libertarian]

Freeman's view is overly racial and he completely ignores a strong dislike for Obama among many due to his policies. Many critics of Obama also felt very strongly about Bill Clinton back when he was in the White House. But to an extent Freeman has a point, an elevated disgust for Obama in some cases have carried over and affected lives of some black celeberities like Tiger Woods, Kanye West and has made race relations situation bit worse ( famous Dr Laura , Palin reload radio clip is another example).
His criticism of Tea Party is also grossly exaggerated when he flatly suggests it's all about "race" when that is only a factor for probably a small sub-section of Tea Party that is a very diverse group.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2011/09/23/morgan-freeman-obama-has-made-racism-worse-tea-party-will-do-whatever#ixzz1YnWDliVr

[Microsecessionist]

I always predicted that Obama would make racism worse. I also believe that if Dr. Paul runs against Obama, the latter will be shocked when the exit polls show that he set a record for lowest percentage of black votes earned by a Democrat. After all, Dr. Paul got 30% of the black vote in the 2008 GOP primaries. That was 6x the general population.

[erowe1]

That reminds me of this column from 2008.

http://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2008/03/26/is_obama_ready_for_america/page/full/


Some pundits ask whether America is ready for Obama. The much more important question is whether Obama is ready for America and even more important is whether black people can afford Obama. Let's look at it in the context of a historical tidbit.

In 1947, Jackie Robinson, signing a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers, broke the color barrier in major league baseball. He encountered open racist taunts and slurs from fans, opposing team players and even some players on his own team. Despite that, his first year batting average was .297. He led the National League in stolen bases and won the first-ever Rookie of the Year Award. Without question, Jackie Robinson was an exceptional player. There's no sense of justice that should require that a player be as good as Jackie Robinson in order to be a rookie in the major leagues but the hard fact of the matter, as a first black player, he had to be.

In 1947, black people could not afford a stubble bum baseball player. By contrast, today black people can afford stubble bum black baseball players. The simple reason is that as a result of the excellence of Jackie Robinson, as well those who immediately followed him such as Satchel Paige, Don Newcombe, Larry Doby and Roy Campanella, there's no one in his right mind, who might watch the incompetence of a particular black player, who can say, "Those blacks can't play baseball." Whether we like it or not, whether for good reason or bad reason, people make stereotypes and stereotypes can have effects.

For the nation and for black people, the first black president should be the caliber of a Jackie Robinson and Barack Obama is not. Barack Obama has charisma and charm but in terms of character, values and understanding, he is no Jackie Robinson. By now, many Americans have heard the racist and anti-American tirades of Obama's minister and spiritual counselor. There's no way that Obama could have been a 20-year member of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's church and not been aware of his statements.

Wright's racist and anti-American ideas are by no means unique. They are the ideas of many leftist professors and taught to our young people. The basic difference between Sen. Obama, Wright and leftist professors is simply a matter of style and language. His Philadelphia speech demonstrated his clever style where he merely changed the subject. The controversy was not about race. It was about his longtime association with such a hatemonger and whether he shared the Reverend's vision.

Obama's success is truly a remarkable commentary on the goodness of Americans and how far we've come in resolving matters of race. I'm 72 years old. For almost all of my life, a black having a real chance at becoming the president of the United States was at best a pipe dream. Obama has convincingly won primaries in states with insignificant black populations. As such, it further confirms what I've often said: The civil rights struggle in America is over and it's won. At one time black Americans did not have the constitutional guarantees enjoyed by white Americans; now we do. The fact that the civil rights struggle is over and won does not mean that there are not major problems confronting many members of the black community but they are not civil rights problems and have little or nothing to do with racial discrimination.

While not every single vestige of racial discrimination has disappeared, Obama and the Rev. Wright are absolutely wrong in suggesting that racial discrimination is anywhere near the major problem confronting a large segment of the black community. The major problems are: family breakdown, illegitimacy, fraudulent education and a high rate of criminality. To confront these problems, that are not the fault of the larger society, requires political courage and that's an attribute that Obama and most other politicians lack.

[moderate libertarian]

That reminds me of this column from 2008.


Obama's success is truly a remarkable commentary on the goodness of Americans and how far we've come in resolving matters of race. I'm 72 years old. For almost all of my life, a black having a real chance at becoming the president of the United States was at best a pipe dream.

http://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2008/03/26/is_obama_ready_for_america/page/full/

I have not read the whole article, so my comment just applies to this line that caught my eye. Obama's "success" or election victory had more do with people looking for a way to repent for sins of Iraq than anything else. His "success" was mostly a result of Iraq guilt cashed in using a masterful hollywood media campaign. Without Iraq blunder and resulting bloodbath, there would have been no Obama.

[donnay]

Morgan Freeman Blasts Tea Party as "Racist"

Morgan Freeman laid down the chips on the Tea Party in a new interview with Piers Morgan that is due to air Friday night.

The Oscar-winning actor sat down with the British TV host and, amongst other things, discussed his belief that the right wing Tea Party's anti-Obama stance is rooted in racism.

When asked by Morgan whether Obama's presidency has made racism in the United States better or worse, Freeman, who once played apartheid-defying South African president Nelson Mandela, frankly stated that his time in office has made it worse, as he has become a target of the right's aggression.

"Their stated policy, publicly stated, is to do whatever it takes to see to it that Obama only serves one term," the actor said. "What’s, what does that, what underlines that? 'Screw the country. We’re going to whatever we do to get this black man, we can, we’re going to do whatever we can to get this black man outta here.'"

Declaring once again that "it's a racist thing," Freeman said the group's rise has shown the hate still lingering in America.

"Well, it just shows the weak, dark, underside of America," he said. "We’re supposed to be better than that. We really are. That’s, that’s why all those people were in tears when Obama was elected president. “Ah, look at what we are. Look at how, this is America.” You know? And then it just sort of started turning because these people surfaced like stirring up muddy water."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/morgan-freeman-tea-party-racist_n_978123.html

[klamath]

Morgan Freeman obviously is a lot poorer charactor that the charactors he plays on movies. I will never see him the same in the movies again. Now I will only see a black racist.

[acptulsa]

Bah!

Obama broke the ultimate glass ceiling.

It was the only good thing he has accomplished so far, but it was one hell of a good thing!

[klamath]

Bah!

Obama broke the ultimate glass ceiling.

It was the only good thing he has accomplished so far, but it was one hell of a good thing!
No we have to elect Maxine Waters to break the ultimate glass ceiling. A black WOMAN.

[Pizzo]

Morgan Freeman Blasts Tea Party as "Racist"

Morgan Freeman laid down the chips on the Tea Party in a new interview with Piers Morgan that is due to air Friday night.

The Oscar-winning actor sat down with the British TV host and, amongst other things, discussed his belief that the right wing Tea Party's anti-Obama stance is rooted in racism.

When asked by Morgan whether Obama's presidency has made racism in the United States better or worse, Freeman, who once played apartheid-defying South African president Nelson Mandela, frankly stated that his time in office has made it worse, as he has become a target of the right's aggression.

"Their stated policy, publicly stated, is to do whatever it takes to see to it that Obama only serves one term," the actor said. "What’s, what does that, what underlines that? 'Screw the country. We’re going to whatever we do to get this black man, we can, we’re going to do whatever we can to get this black man outta here.'"

Declaring once again that "it's a racist thing," Freeman said the group's rise has shown the hate still lingering in America.

"Well, it just shows the weak, dark, underside of America," he said. "We’re supposed to be better than that. We really are. That’s, that’s why all those people were in tears when Obama was elected president. “Ah, look at what we are. Look at how, this is America.” You know? And then it just sort of started turning because these people surfaced like stirring up muddy water."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/23/morgan-freeman-tea-party-racist_n_978123.html


When Dubya was president, we constantly heard how dissent was the highest form of patriotism, which isn't wrong. But now apparently dissent is the highest form of racism.

[Original_Intent]

It's the socialism/marxism, stupid!

Morgan, pull your head out.

[phill4paul]

Morgan Freeman exhibits an ugly form of collectivism.

"Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans only as members of groups and never as individuals. Racists believe that all individual who share superficial physical characteristics are alike; as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called "diversity" actually perpetuate racism. Their intense focus on race is inherently racist, because it views individuals only as members of racial groups."

http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul68.html

[donnay]

When Dubya was president, we constantly heard how dissent was the highest form of patriotism, which isn't wrong. But now apparently dissent is the highest form of racism.

It's getting caught up in the false left/right paradigm. There are psychological words to shut people up; racist, anti-Semite, Homophobe, Conspiracy Theorists, Anti-American--etc... The thing is, far too many people shut up when they are labeled any of those psychological words for fear of reprisals--that is why it is so effective and why we are constantly losing our first amendment rights!

[specsaregood]

i've noticed just the other day that it is now "ok" for white comedians to make racist jokes about blacks again. thank obama!

[apropos]

No we have to elect Maxine Waters to break the ultimate glass ceiling. A black WOMAN.

Somehow, I'm sure her hypothetical election would be construed as evidence that racism is still alive and well and must be battled with even more anti-racism fervor.

[Rael]

This illustrates the problem with the black community in general. Government policies have led to most blacks being professional victims, blaming all their problems on someone else. Even being a rich successful actor is not enough to cure this mindset.

[BlackTerrel]

Not really. I think we're less racist than we've ever been. But it has brought it out more into the open - which I actually think is a good thing.


Freeman's view is overly racial and he completely ignores a strong dislike for Obama among many due to his policies. Many critics of Obama also felt very strongly about Bill Clinton back when he was in the White House. But to an extent Freeman has a point, an elevated disgust for Obama in some cases have carried over and affected lives of some black celeberities like Tiger Woods, Kanye West and has made race relations situation bit worse ( famous Dr Laura , Palin reload radio clip is another example).

I can't tell if you're trolling or just making a bizarre non-point. But neither Kanye or Tiger Woods have anything to do with Obama. Tiger ruined his "family man image" and Kanye is the most popular musician in the country right now.

[BlackTerrel]

Morgan Freeman obviously is a lot poorer charactor that the charactors he plays on movies. I will never see him the same in the movies again. Now I will only see a black racist.

What was racist about what he said?

[phill4paul]

What was racist about what he said?

Morgan Freeman believes that the Tea Parties underlying principal is to get rid of Obama because he is a black man as opposed to his policies. This in effect is saying that the Tea Party is exclusively made up of white persons with racist overtones. As we have seen there are many diverse individuals within the Tea Party. By making these statements Mr. Freeman is exhibiting his own brand of collectivist mindset.
See post #11.

[specsaregood]

Kanye is the most popular musician in the country right now.

based on what metric?

[klamath]

What was racist about what he said? I consider anybody that trys to use the name calling of racism to win a political point a racist. He blanketly condemed RP and every other person that doesn't agree with BO, that in my opinion is the same as a redneck saying blacks are hoods because he saw some blacks saying kill the crackers.

[BlackTerrel]

I consider anybody that trys to use the name calling of racism to win a political point a racist. He blanketly condemed RP and every other person that doesn't agree with BO, that in my opinion is the same as a redneck saying blacks are hoods because he saw some blacks saying kill the crackers.

That's not at all the same thing. Morgan Freeman didn't say anything about all whites or the majority of whites. Fact is there is a decent portion of the opposition to Obama that comes from a racist place. I think most of the "Obama wasn't born here" as falling in that category - even when those people deny it.

[BlackTerrel]

based on what metric?

Just my own opinion. Just like arguing about who is the best basketball player there is no purely objective measure. You could make an argument for a couple others as well.

Regardless I do think the OP's claim that Kanye's popularity is suffering due to Barack Obama to be strange though and possibly trollish.

It would be the equivalent of saying as Bush's numbers fell less people listened to Pearl Jam since they're both white.

[specsaregood]

Just my own opinion. Just like arguing about who is the best basketball player there is no purely objective measure. You could make an argument for a couple others as well.


ok, just wondering as i dont think i've ever heard a song by him

[klamath]

That's not at all the same thing. Morgan Freeman didn't say anything about all whites or the majority of whites. Fact is there is a decent portion of the opposition to Obama that comes from a racist place. I think most of the "Obama wasn't born here" as falling in that category - even when those people deny it.
All you have to do is look at a tea party rally and you know what he means. Fact is there is a decent portion of black Obama voters that are racist and voted for a black man for president just because he was black.

[BlackTerrel]

ok, just wondering as i dont think i've ever heard a song by him

Aw man


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8AyHupByuU


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sHpHQTuZC4

and then of course there is this


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6-8AKZJJMU

[BlackTerrel]

All you have to do is look at a tea party rally and you know what he means. Fact is there is a decent portion of black Obama voters that are racist and voted for a black man for president just because he was black.

That's not really true though. Obama maybe got more black people to vote but he didn't win much more of the black vote than Clinton did. Blacks voted for Obama for the same reason that Asians and Jews did - they're people who tilt more liberal.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090615-210616/Did-Asian-Americans-vote-for-Obama


In its multilingual exit poll, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (Aaldef) found that Asian Americans voted for Barack Obama by a 3-to-1 margin, with a majority registered as Democrats.

The detailed results of the polls, which were released Monday, noted that over 76 percent of Asian Americans polled voted for Barack Obama for President, with 23 percent supporting John McCain.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/menachem-rosensaft/why-american-jews-voted-f_b_143947.html


In 1996, Clinton won 78% of the Jewish vote - same as Obama this year; Al Gore won 79% in 2000, with Joe Lieberman on the ticket; and John Kerry 74% in 2004.

[Kludge]

I suspect it'd be easiest to blame MSM for their constant inflammatory language for ratings.... like Piers Morgan. MSNBC, FNC, CNN, and ETC are the ones who've manufactured the idea that the '08 election was about race, every single policy debate being about race, and now the '12 election will be said to be about race. They'll blast it in our ears so often, it'll be accepted, as it is for so many.

[NewRightLibertarian]

When Dubya was president, we constantly heard how dissent was the highest form of patriotism, which isn't wrong. But now apparently dissent is the highest form of racism.

Many of these people (not just black people, all Obama supporters really) will support Obama regardless of what he does. They'll be remembered about as fondly by history as Hitler supporters were IMO


Fact is there is a decent portion of the opposition to Obama that comes from a racist place. I think most of the "Obama wasn't born here" as falling in that category - even when those people deny it.

Nah, it's just a canard that Obama supporters use to justify their tyrant's reign of terror. There are assuredly individuals out there who are racist and hate Obama, but they are greatly overstated by all of the people who worship Obama in order to protect him from rightful criticism. And there's no proof that the people who think he's from Kenya are racist too.

[klamath]

That's not really true though. Obama maybe got more black people to vote but he didn't win much more of the black vote than Clinton did. Blacks voted for Obama for the same reason that Asians and Jews did - they're people who tilt more liberal.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090615-210616/Did-Asian-Americans-vote-for-Obama


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/menachem-rosensaft/why-american-jews-voted-f_b_143947.htmlbut what you forgot is the turn out numbers. A greater number of blacks turned out voting for obama because they refused to vote whitey in other elections. Percentages don't tell the whole story.

[erowe1]

but what you forgot is the turn out numbers. A greater number of blacks turned out voting for obama because they refused to vote whitey in other elections. Percentages don't tell the whole story.

It's a good thing we have you here to tell us the whole story about why people voted for Obama.

[GunnyFreedom]

That's not at all the same thing. Morgan Freeman didn't say anything about all whites or the majority of whites. Fact is there is a decent portion of the opposition to Obama that comes from a racist place. I think most of the "Obama wasn't born here" as falling in that category - even when those people deny it.

I don't know man, it kinda looks the same to me. "Tea Party must be racist because all I see in them are white faces." That in and of itself is a racist assumption. Maybe I'm just hanging around the right crowds, but in my experience only about 2% of the opposition has anything to do with race. Less, actually, if you count digital. If you assume any white face you see is probably a racist, well, that's kinda racist, isn't it?

[GunnyFreedom]

ok, maybe 2% online too. :mad:

[ForLiberty2012]

I wanna see Lupe fiasco and Morgan Freeman discuss this!

[-C-]

When will RPF goons understand that the only card left this president has to play, is that of the race card. Expect it, soon he'll have a whole deck of nothing but race cards to play.

[klamath]

It's a good thing we have you here to tell us the whole story about why people voted for Obama.
Sorry buddy but racism goes both ways. I have experianced black racism against me and I have heard black voters state the racist reasons for voting for Obama. I don't and never have in this thread called every black obama voters racist. A small percentage are just like a small percentage of teaparty and RP voters are. My point is how Freeman tarred the whole teaparty as racist because of a few just as it is wrong to call all black Obama voters racist because of a few.

[Revolution9]

//double post

[Revolution9]

Just my own opinion. Just like arguing about who is the best basketball player there is no purely objective measure. You could make an argument for a couple others as well.

Regardless I do think the OP's claim that Kanye's popularity is suffering due to Barack Obama to be strange though and possibly trollish.

It would be the equivalent of saying as Bush's numbers fell less people listened to Pearl Jam since they're both white.

Kanye sux wind. He uses LogicPro presets. His ego trip is too much to bear witnessing for myself. I can't stand poser musicians.

Rev9

[erowe1]

I have heard black voters state the racist reasons for voting for Obama.

You actually heard people say that they'd never voted before because they refused to vote for whitey.

How many people told you that? Be honest.

[moderate libertarian]

Just my own opinion. Just like arguing about who is the best basketball player there is no purely objective measure. You could make an argument for a couple others as well.

Regardless I do think the OP's claim that Kanye's popularity is suffering due to Barack Obama to be strange though and possibly trollish.

It would be the equivalent of saying as Bush's numbers fell less people listened to Pearl Jam since they're both white.

To cut through the mumbo jumbo:

Are you in argreement with Morgan Freeman that Tea Party is mainly motivated by racism?

Let me expand on my previous opinion, not only Tiger Woods and Kanye West's careers suffered because of elevated disgust for Obama resulting from his incompetence/failing agenda and worsened race relations among other things, Oprah Winfrey's career also suffered because of Obama.

http://www.mbc.net/mbc.net/English/Image/MBC%204/september%202009/oprah-AND-obama_L.jpg

A surprise: Oprah pays a real cost for supporting Barack Obama

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/oprahobama.html

Is Obama to Blame for Oprah's Ratings Tumble?

http://www.npr.org/blogs/newsandviews/2008/05/is_obama_to_blame_for_oprahs_r.html

Kanye West pretty much called President of US a racist in his national TV outburst while Bush was in White House and his career was not affected really. But when he suggested Video Music Awards were being given based on racial preference during his VMA TV outburst while Obama was in the White House, he was taken to the shed by media, music industry and his career almost ended. Very recently he has started to make a come back because he did make some hit music.

Kanye West APOLOGIZES For Calling Bush A Racist, Blasts Matt Lauer (VIDEO)
First Posted: 11-10-10 01:31 PM | Updated: 11-10-10 01:43 PM


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/10/kanye-west-apologizes-for_n_781655.html


Kanye West: 'I Bled Hard' Over Swift Debacle

West unleashed a torrent of emotions on his official Twitter account Saturday, acknowledging once again that he was wrong for jumping on stage, grabbing the microphone from Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards and saying her trophy should have gone to Beyonce.

But the rapper-producer said that he has experienced enormous pain, been the subject of death wishes and suffered tremendous setback to his career.

"How deep is the scar ... I bled hard ... cancelled tour with the number one pop star in the world ... closed the doors of my clothing office," he tweeted.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/09/05/kanye-west-bled-hard-swift-debacle/#ixzz1Z08Y6aZ0



Tiger Woods had been playing around with models, waitresses for years well before Obama came to office, do you think he suddenly became sloppy a year after Obama took office and all these news were leaked? I think he also suffered because of increasing disgust with Obama.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef01156f507a94970c-500wi


BTW, what does BlackTerrel signify?
Does it advertize poster's race with name on an otherwise color blind media? If so, I think it is equivalent of playing race card and bit strange if not trollish.

[MRK]

It is interesting that Freeman is bringing up the topic of racism, when in 2009 his solution to get rid of racism was to "stop talking about it." I suppose he got the signal to start circling the wagons ahead of the election.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGEDxS5Q4W4

[moderate libertarian]

It is interesting that Freeman is bringing up the topic of racism, when in 2009 his solution to get rid of racism was to "stop talking about it." I suppose he got the signal to start circling the wagons ahead of the election.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGEDxS5Q4W4

Nice find!

Double standard on display.

[BlackTerrel]

To cut through the mumbo jumbo:

Are you in argreement with Morgan Freeman that Tea Party is mainly motivated by racism?

No


Let me expand on my previous opinion, not only Tiger Woods and Kanye West's careers suffered because of elevated disgust for Obama resulting from his incompetence/failing agenda and worsened race relations among other things, Oprah Winfrey's career also suffered because of Obama.

http://www.mbc.net/mbc.net/English/Image/MBC%204/september%202009/oprah-AND-obama_L.jpg

A surprise: Oprah pays a real cost for supporting Barack Obama

Oprah suffered because she supported Obama not because she is black. Your original point was absurd. Of course a mainstream personality taking a partisan position will cause them to lose some support with people on the other side of the issues. That is nothing new.


Kanye West pretty much called President of US a racist in his national TV outburst while Bush was in White House and his career was not affected really. But when he suggested Video Music Awards were being given based on racial preference during his VMA TV outburst while Obama was in the White House, he was taken to the shed by media, music industry and his career almost ended. Very recently he has started to make a come back because he did make some hit music.

Kanye never made a comeback he has remained popular throughout. If it did suffer it was because of his actions, not because his race is similar to that of Obama.


Tiger Woods had been playing around with models, waitresses for years well before Obama came to office, do you think he suddenly became sloppy a year after Obama took office and all these news were leaked? I think he also suffered because of increasing disgust with Obama.

Tiger Woods was exposed when his wife found text messages sent by one of his mistresses - allegedly chased him out of the house and he crashed a car into a pole. Not because of the blackness of he and Obama. I'm not even clear what you are suggesting here.

[MRK]

Nice find!

Double standard on display.

I remembered the video well because it gave me respect Freeman for his sensible words. I had even brought it up as an example when explaining to someone why as soon as people use collectivist terminology to differentiate groups of people, the human mind is left to associate characteristics to define the differentiation and will inevitably be lead to mischaracterizing individuals within the group.

[BlackTerrel]

It is interesting that Freeman is bringing up the topic of racism, when in 2009 his solution to get rid of racism was to "stop talking about it." I suppose he got the signal to start circling the wagons ahead of the election.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGEDxS5Q4W4

You can't take two 55 second sound bytes and try to find a contradiction. Morgan Freeman is a pretty bright guy with diverse view points.

I agree with him on some issues and disagree with him on others. Mainly he's an actor and I don't concern myself too much with his politics

[MRK]

You can't take two 55 second sound bytes and try to find a contradiction. Morgan Freeman is a pretty bright guy with diverse view points.

I agree with him on some issues and disagree with him on others. Mainly he's an actor and I don't concern myself too much with his politics

The interview I linked was more than a soundbyte. It was an informative exchange of several questions and answers from both participants, complete with examples as to why it is counterproductive to place people into different categories if you are trying to eliminate racism. Freeman wished to do away with Black History Month because black history is American history. The interviewer did not want a Jewish history month either. Freeman went on to respond that to get rid of racism you would have to stop talking about it. It is the categorizing and differentiation that pry the mind to create definitions of what makes one group different from another that leads to judging the characteristics of different groups, that leads to racism. This is why Freeman did not want Black History month and why he didn't want people to bring up the topic of racism: it keeps people segregated.

[Todd]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y0I4i8mWr8

[The Midnight Ride]

I wanna see Lupe fiasco and Morgan Freeman discuss this!

Yes!