Obama Is Not American! 

By Paul I. Adujie

In 2007, events in the United States moved me to wonder publicly, whether race relations were actually getting worse as opposed to, progressing? I asked then and I ask again now, whether “Race Relations Is Regressing in America? What with the return to slavery era language? What with a return to tactics of that ignominious era? Brandishing of weapons, guns, knives, fire, fists, clubs, stones and the pinning of mustache on Obama to portray his as fascist and even as Adolf Hitler?

Last Saturday, crowds of mostly racists, illiterates and bigots besieged Washington D.C. in their thousands. And they chanted USA, USA, USA, they claimed that they are the “real” Americans; self-proclaimed “Nativists” who were saying that this is a matter of self-preservation, against socialists and communists, arguments cloaked in identical façade during battles against slavery and segregation when racists claimed that they were trying to preserve their race or its “purity” They mostly spoke in code words often used by racists and xenophobes. Those Minuteman types, who never worry about terrorists coming into the USA through Canada, as have been the case, but, they rather paranoid about hardworking immigrants coming into the United States from Mexico. Racism, bigotry and prejudice is written all over the current attacks against President Obama, by these chortling crowd.

This is all about Obama’s color! Some Americans are labeling President Obama Adolf Hitler, Al Quieda sympathizer, a September 11, 2002 hijacker, an advocate of Eugenics, a Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro identical policy twin! Ignorant protesters with a herd mentality, they are so illiterate, so much so, they confuse feudal Russia with Czars, with communists who overthrew the feudalists! So that the appointment of czars (heads of government agency) to enforce policies is synonymous with the introduction of communism into America by Obama, so that, transport czar, internet security czar and narcotics enforcement czar, are all harbingers of the onset of communism into America through Obama!

The protesters were mostly nuts and simpletons, who are being choreographed by the inanities of political handlers and some ratings conscious members of the so-called mainstream media, who are milking the advertised idiocies of these nuts, for high ratings. There are willful exploitation of these multitudes of illiterate Americans by Machiavelli like politicians and journalists, who are polarizing the American populace for monetary benefits. President Obama is falsely accused of planning to confiscate privately owned properties of individual Americans as well as planning to impose Islam on unsuspecting Christians in America.

Since the presidential campaign in 2008 during which the term “real Americans and real America” was made a recurring term by that incongruously ignorant Sarah Palin of small town, in Alaska, it has become a euphemism for those with the nonsensical conspiracy theory regarding whether or not Obama is ineligible to be elected or to have been elected president of the United States. Those conspiracy theorists, better known as “conspi-racists” for their “conspi-racism”, have become so loud, and they are also now, alternately referred to as the “birthers”

Harsh racial politics of South Carolina is historical. A South Carolina Congressman once brought a cane to whip state of Massachusetts US Senator Charles Sumner, on the almost to death because Sumner was an abolitionist, and an advocate for the end to slavery… and all this happened on the floor of the US Congress.

In proper perspectives therefore, historically, South Carolina, has been perennially backward, in racial matters… it is no surprise that Joe Wilson, the “Con-gressman” for SC would, on the floor of the US Congress shout-down President Obama, in Wilson most outrageous manner. South Carolina is also one of the states in the South, which still proudly hoist the “Con-federate” flag… which celebrates confederacy, with all its pungent putrid history of slavery, segregation, Jim Crow laws and institutional racism etc

On the floor of the US Congress, the following statements were made by US Congressman James Henry Hammond

"All this leave one to wonder what would happen next, would South Carolina and their fellow con-federates with shared racism seek secession from the United States as they did in the past? A South Carolina Congressman, James Henry Hammond once said, “Although I am perfectly satisfied that no human process can elevate the black man to an equality with the white - admitting that it could be done – are we prepared to face the consequences which then must follow? Are the people of the North prepared to … place their political power on equality with their own? Are we prepared to see them mingling in our legislatures? Is any portion of this country prepared to see them enter these halls and take their seats by our sides, in the perfect equality with the white representatives of an Anglo-Saxon race – to see them fill that chair – to see them placed at the heads of your Departments; or to see, perhaps, some Othello, or Toussaint, or Boyer, gifted with the genius and inspired by ambition, grasp the presidential wreath, and wield the destinies of this great republic? From such a picture I turn with irrepressible disgust”

This was hundred of moons ago. We all thought that these sorts of mindsets and racists attitudes were behind us” But no!

There is so much idiocy going on in America these days. Racism is alive and well, but it now too often wears fine clothes and expresses itself in impeccable grammar wrapped in robust syntax. These  season of unreason and idiocies by racists, (and their facilitators) have been exacerbated in recent times, as more and more racists are  expressing their crude umbrages because a man with darker hues, unusual and unknown in the “traditions” of the Oval Office, in the presidential building of the United States, which is also known as the White House. Why would any sane American compare President Obama to Adolf Hitler? It is the case that Obama has been called Marxist, fascist, socialist, communist and his upper lip adorned with a mustache reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s mustache, how egregious!

Many American racists are obviously pained and sorely disappointed by the fait accompli of having, this colored-man at the helms of political affairs, in the United States! Who would have thunk-it?! That there is a biracial man, who now parades himself as president of the United States! What has the world turned to? And they seem to hide and seek refuge in the open, with their base racists commentaries against Obama, even as the cast themselves as being merely interested in critical examinations of Obama’s public policies.

These strident and most vociferous critics are no critics at all; they are really bigoted attackers of President Obama. Their racial prejudices cannot be concealed, despite their most ostentatious efforts at obfuscating their real motives and intents, in all of this. What does any reasonable person make of those who remain adamant and persistent insistence, in their conspiracy theories regarding President Obama’s place of birth and religious adherence? ” Despite incontrovertible evidence, and available facts, the Birthers” continues to assert that Mr. Obama was not born in the United States! And clearly, this is an attack as to his qualification to be president of the United States. If these shenanigans were merely at the fringes of public debate and the American society, it would have been easy to dismiss it.

 But, when so-called journalist such as Lou Dobbs, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and many more on the television, are continually and continuously giving pedestals and podiums for psychotic debates about Obama’s citizenship and religion, the prejudice and bigotry rises to a din and uncomfortable decibels. These persons are using the same sorts of language and crudity, which propels anti abortion protesters to murders and maiming of innocent people, and their facilitators and those who spur them to violence are then quick to feign a lack of responsibility, when violence ensues from their useless rhetoric which they spew for profits!

Tea Party, Freedom Works, Lou Dobbs of CNN, Ann Coulter, Glen Beck and his 9/12 Project and now, Congressman Joe Wilson, have demeaned and denigrated the president of the United States in terms and manners not seen since the 1800s. And were harm to befall Obama, these folks here who are endorsing idiocies and outrageous behaviors now, even if endorsing only coyly and in some cases, tacitly, would pretend unawareness of logical consequences that are now apparent and clearly foreseeable, as outgrowth of the poisons which the are currently peddling in the media

President Obama inherited two foreign wars, and a third war at home, here in the US, the wrecked economy, with attendant joblessness and frayed nerves, were the doings of Obama’s predecessor. Former President Bush burned billions of dollars, a trillion dollars and counting, in foreign wars, in his wrong-header policies and pursuit of phantom terror wars. And Obama is not even at the deck for 8 months and he is being blamed for the mess which he inherited!

Attackers of President Obama rallied in Washington D.C this past weekend, and their pronouncements, their placards, their composition, their sponsors, organizers all point to the unsavory motives of the rally and the participants. The rally was not about Health Care Reform or about any public policy. But instead, it is clear that they were motivated by vile and hatred. Just imagine those who picked quarrels with the present speech to students who were returning to school. This president is not the first to have given pep-talk to American youngsters. However, some racial baiters and racial racketeers, found it fit to suggest that President Obama was in the process on introducing their children to socialism, communism etc. They accused the president of the United States of planning to indoctrinate their children, and these magnificently ignorant attackers of the president, chose to withdraw their children and wards from school, as if the president was visiting schools, oozing with contagious diseases, maybe Swine-Flu?

I think it should be clear that the undertones of this “revolt” against President Obama’s pep-talk to American school kids, was an unstated retort, “I do not want this Negro to indoctrinate my children into socialism and theories about wealth redistribution; My child should not have to hear anything this Negro has to say” The truth of the matter is, even for those who disagree with Obama, can agree that he has the antecedents which makes him a good example or role-model for children everywhere! And I do not understand why any parent would tell a child not to listen to such a compelling example? Or why the fixation of about risks children being indoctrinated by the president. This is all about total disrespect and devaluing the presidency because of the individual who now occupies the position. There are concerted efforts to demean the current occupant of the White House.

Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, brought this to the surface last Wednesday, when he behaved like a thug in the hallowed halls of the US Congress, he shouted epithets at the Negro who is parading as president of the United States!

There are, sadly, too many Americans, whose patience have been tested in the past several months, tested by the singular fact of having to call a man with a natural tan, the president of the United States! The events have been unfolding in sequence. There are those who have argued forcefully that Obama was not born in the United States, and that if he is an American citizen at all, he does not qualify, as a matter of constitutional law, to hold the presidency, as a matter of law, only citizens by birth, and not by naturalization or registration, qualify, to be elected president of the United States.

Then, there were those who were so affronted and miffed, at the prospect of this Negro and charlatan, posturing as president of the United States, and using such “false” claims, as pedestal, podium or platform to teach American children about anything! Not even a Pep talk about how to succeed against all odds? And certainly not about personal hygiene in foreboding possible Swine-Flu! Don’t you talk to my kid! No Negro talks to my kid or tells my kid how life works, never! Say the racists. And just when you were convinced that the birthers and their ilk are deranged conspiracy theorists, mostly at the fringes of the American society, a confederate soldier showed up and bared his fangs in the hallowed halls of the US Congress, he disgracefully, unabashedly and shamelessly interrupted the president mid-speech to the nation, on prime television no less, while the world watched!

You may not be as rattled as some of us are about this sequence s of events. But please be reminded that Obama was mentioned in the same sentence with guns and assassinations during the presidential campaigns in the United States in 2008. Kindly be further advised, that the Health Care Reform debates have been hijacked by persons who have demonstrated vehemence beyond impolite and cantankerous hectoring-heckling of anyone a scintilla of support for any health care reform measure.

There have been occasions when some opponents of the reforms have felt the “need” to show up with weapons at Town-Hall meetings or such other venues, just to add toxins and “gunpowder” to the needful health care reform debate. All sorts of bizarre extremisms have been employed by attackers of Obama’s Health Care Reform, among which is the falsehood, that the contemplated reforms, includes Death Panels, which would summarily decide who lives and who dies, as features of the reform rules.

We have witnessed the theatrics of the so-called Tea Party or anti tax opponents of President Obama. It has become clear, if gradually, that there is a taint and tinge beyond the pale, all these cloaked attacks on President Obama, even though many a racists still pretend to have finesse and freedom of expression sheaths, over their racially sharpened swords.

The opposition by these racists, steeped in their resentment, in having to “endure” the tenure of a president, whose color operates as an unmitigated shock to their intelligence. Congressman Wilson impulsive outbursts is proof, that racism directed at Obama since his election, is not isolated, nor should it be dismissed infinitesimal or inconsequential chatter by those in the political fringes of the American society. Those in the business of protecting President Obama should become robust and rigorous in his security and safety precautionary measures. Mr. Obama’s security team are now sufficiently on notice, that there are those in the United States, who would do Obama harm, physically, if Obama’s security detail slips.

All these are clearly indicative of the fact that racism remains an albatross around the neck of the United States. We only need to just look at the “Tea-Bagers” pretend Tea Parties, then The “Birthers” Con-gressman Joe Wilson outrageous outbursts and now, these marchers consisting of one peculiar hue; even as they wrap themselves in their CON-federate flag… what does all this tell us?

Only last week, we all witnessed the silliness of those who did not want President Obama to give their children pep talk about how to stay in school and succeed in life against all odds. Some clearly did not want their children to listen to whatever that “Negro” has to say!

I will have to assume that everyone can see clearly now, that we do not as yet, live in a color-blind society! Or live in the nonsense which some call a post-racial society, especially, since President Obama’s election!

Racists are alive and well, and sadly, in huge numbers!

During this tumultuous week, the only speech to which its listeners did not behave like a bunch of children was actually the speech by Obama to school kids. This was quite unlike the speech to the US Congress which met unsavory reactions, such reactions, as from those who mechanically clapped, or stopped clapping midway or the Joe Wilson outrageous outbursts as he castigated the president a liar!

Robot  # 1 | 15.09.2009 07:42

...Read the full article.

Gladiator  # 2 | 16.09.2009 10:14

I was an instant admirer of Obama from his speech to John Kerry's Democratic Convention in 2004, but I was also an early doubting supporter when his Presidential campaign for the White House first showed realistic signs of bearing fruit in the early primaries of 2008. To say that I was overwhelmed when he pulled it off in November 2008 would be an understatement. However, in the back of my mind, perhaps influenced by experience of living amongst and observing Western societies at close quarters I felt that this time would eventually come for Obama, but I didn't think it would come this soon nor did I think that it will become this bitter and filled with such putrid hared. Having observed his duels with Palin, McCain, the Clintons, as well as the media-inflamed "incidents" involving Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, and recently Prof. Henry Louis Gates one is left with a distinct sense that President Obama's race is barely disguised as an issue that America as a country still does not know quite how to handle. That he is clever, articulate, bright and as intelligent as they come is not in doubt but somehow America simply cannot get its' collective head around the fact that their duly elected President is black (an "African-American" in US parlance). Nonetheless, I would like to believe that he and his closest advisers have picked up on the clear but unmistakable undertones of the language and tactics that have been guilefully deployed by the "opposition" to his proposed health care reforms. The subliminal messages of the "oppostion" are clearly directed at simpletons, bigots and like-minded would-be attackers to partake in they hope to soon become open season on Obama to vent all their pent-up anger and deep disgust at the indignance and the effronetry of a "n***er" daring to occupy the position of President of "their" country. This crude appeal to racially-based instincts is one that could consume America for time to come if not checked soon. The big difficulty for Obama is that he cannot be seen to acknowledge the existence of this real but increasingly growing and dangerous movement, as doing so would invite a diversionary debate from his flagship policy proposals on health care to a bitter and divisive argument about race and colour. Moreso, because if handled incorrectly it would immediately turn large chunks of indifferent white fence-sitters into instant enemies as they would feel any criticism from him as an attack upon the white race collectively. But here is the conundrum; somehow and at some point he MUST deal with it, and I'd suggest sooner rather than later. How he does that is one big question, but I suppose that is why he is the politician in the hot seat and we are not. One question that can be answered is; where is Joe Biden (remember him) in all of this? One would have thought that he would have been wheeled out as the counter-attack dog to take on this pernicious drive by the right-wing bigots. I just hope we are not about to enter an even darker phase of US history. We'll see. P.S. BTW isn't this the same writer that wrote Obama-bashing articles about his visit to Ghana?

Rose  # 3 | 16.09.2009 10:31

Thanks for repeating what we all know and "feel", President Carter! Carter: Racism plays major role in opposition to Obama Wed September 16, 2009 CNN) -- Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that racial politics played a role in South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress last week and in some of the opposition the president has faced since taking office. "I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American," Carter told NBC News. "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shares the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans." "That racism inclination still exists, and I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of belief among many white people -- not just in the South but around the country -- that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply," Carter said. Carter made similar remarks at an event at his presidential center in Atlanta, Georgia, The Associated Press reported Tuesday, pointing to some protesters who have compared Obama to a Nazi. "Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care," the former president said at the Carter Center, according to AP. "It's deeper than that." He grouped Wilson's shout of "You lie!" during Obama's speech in that category, according to AP. "I think it's based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president," he said. "The president is not only the head of government, he is the head of state. And no matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect." The House voted Tuesday to formally disapprove of Wilson's behavior during the joint session of Congress. The resolution was approved largely along party lines, with Republicans calling the measure unnecessary partisan politics. Wilson apologized to the White House last week, but congressional Democrats said he owed the chamber a similar statement of regret.

I Love Nigeria  # 4 | 16.09.2009 11:05

Mr. Gladiator, I think you completely missed the point of my article then, and you most probably are missing the point on this present article! To satisfy your curiosity, you may want to Google this writer's surname and Obama's and you will surprise yourself! This writer was an avowed Obama campaigner/supporter. AND, this writer was not the only one who saw the shortcomings of Obama's July 2009 Lectures in Accra and New York City. I am not an Obama hater. I am not hater, period! I write honestly about issues and I write my feelings. In case you missed this Gladiator! Obama’s Health Reform The Scare Tactics & The Fear Factor Are Anathemas To Change http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/paul-adujie/obamas-health-reform-the-anathema-to-change-is-the-fear-factor.html

I Love Nigeria  # 5 | 16.09.2009 11:15

Rose Thank you for your comments. I continue to worry though, that Nigerians and other continental Africans are somewhat slow, to examine the continuing impact of race on how life is lived in America. Someone was just saying this same thing in another Nigerian Forum... (NaijaPoliticsYahooGroup) Some Nigerians (continental Africans) seem to always make excuses for clear cases of racism... which everyone can see from miles away. I am particularly delighted that someone as important, prominent and high profile has added his always forthright voice to this issue! I am resisting the temptation to saying, I said it here first! What can anyone ask of Mr. Obama? Harvard educated lawyer, from impossible humble beginnings, and against all odds, he made it, and yet, too many racists cannot see through his skin color? This president has inherited three wars... 1. Iraq 2. Afghanistan 3. American economy wrecked by the Republicans (the Repugnant Party) and Mr. Obama is doing his possible best... and yet, he gets these distractions from all manner of bigots and racists!

MsWoman  # 6 | 16.09.2009 12:17

All I know is who the he-ck is this Mark Williams guy? See this is the problem that I have with this country where because people are oyibo, they fail to realize that their actions are purely based on racist intentions. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, how can anyone tell me that Jimmy Carter was wrong in his evaluation of the “multitudes” evaluation of how Obama is doing?! I swear I done said it, say it now and will continue to…….oyibo people are dangerous oh! Men, was I ticked on AC360 last night?! I felt like strangling that Mark Williams who did his best to look for some merry-go-round excuse and pretty much stating that racism does not exist. In light of what Carter said, eni a wi fun ko gbo (anyone who has ears to hear, let him), a man of 85 years of age, has lived during significant periods in the U.S. and being Southern, is able to decipher when people’s acts are based on racism. Why is it that he is able to see it and others like this dunce Williams guy can’t? I mean is it so hard to see or are people just generally stupid? Knowing this country, some of these racist bastids as Rose likes to call them probably knowingly voted for him so that they can be the first to carry placards and tattoo themselves outside all in the name of denigrating the poor guy and stating that he’s a failure. How can you judge someone within 9 months of office and state that he’s not capable. When awon G-dubya (GW) first screwed up the country over a period of 4 years, where were these scoundrels? Why didn’t they wear t-shirt, carry placard, and tattoo their ar-ses all in the name of standing their ground and insisting that G-dubya screwed up in his first term. Instead nooooooooooo they went back again and voted for his behind because oti oh, he was an oyibo! And after the harm has been done, and the country went into recession, and things are very bad, they expect one man, because he’s Black to come and fix all the errors and damage of 8 years within 4 months. Awon oloshi! (Wa-ka to all them!!!....please God forgive me oh)! I swear, this thing really bothers me, just like Carter said! It really does! Carter couldn't have explained it any better when he said, Joe Wilson's so-called uncompelled outburst from the other day, was purely racist! If it were one oyibo presido would he even think about trying it?! Maybe Next Level will change gears now and accept that MOST I repeart MOST oyibo's will do things to Black people only because they are Black and that if they were white, certainly wouldn't even try it! Meanwhile, I totally disagree with what Kanye did, but here is the world mostly consisting of white people, stating that what he did was outrageous! Some-badi aks me, how? Over ordinary MTV awards? They are all mad! So can you compare what he did to what Joe Wilson did to a whole president? How many oyibo people (apart from the CNN clan) have voiced out their concerns about how rude Joe Wilson was and how that was really stupid of him? Ra-ra (Noooooo) they probably don't see anything wrong with it because he's a bout-it-bout-it, oyibo person like them! Chineke na kpu...... all of them together! (God punish.............)!

Gladiator  # 7 | 17.09.2009 08:39

=I Love Nigeria;388215>Mr. Gladiator, I think you completely missed the point of my article then, and you most probably are missing the point on this present article! You not only "think" wrong but your response to my comments show a glaring tendency for what I can only describe as "selective objectivity". In one breath you praise and accept comments from Rose which simply consist of one sentence from her and a reproduction of text that was culled from CNN's website regarding President Carter's intervention on the Joe Wilson incident in Congress where he said (quoting from the above comments) =Rose;388202>"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American" How does the "point" being made here by President Carter that you agree with "differ" from the point I made in my comments here? =Gladiator;388199>Having observed his duels with Palin, McCain, the Clintons, as well as the media-inflamed "incidents" involving Rev. Wright, Bill Ayers, and recently Prof. Henry Louis Gates one is left with a distinct sense that President Obama's race is barely disguised as an issue that America as a country still does not know quite how to handle. That he is clever, articulate, bright and as intelligent as they come is not in doubt but somehow America simply cannot get its' collective head around the fact that their duly elected President is black (an "African-American" in US parlance). If you still insist that I miss the point then logically it means that Rose and by extension President Carter miss the "point" too. Perhaps only you truly know the real point of your article. But may I point you to this: "Carter On Racism: White House Disagrees". Any objective observer will acknowledge that this response which came long after my comments were posted here is in complete harmony with my postulation where I said: =Gladiator;388199>The big difficulty for Obama is that he cannot be seen to acknowledge the existence of this real but increasingly growing and dangerous movement, as doing so would invite a diversionary debate from his flagship policy proposals on health care to a bitter and divisive argument about race and colour. Moreso, because if handled incorrectly it would immediately turn large chunks of indifferent white fence-sitters into instant enemies as they would feel any criticism from him as an attack upon the white race collectively. But here is the conundrum; somehow and at some point he MUST deal with it, and I'd suggest sooner rather than later. Again Mr Paul I. Aduje what "point" have I missed, or didn't you read this part? =I Love Nigeria;388215> ... AND, this writer was not the only one who saw the shortcomings of Obama's July 2009 Lectures in Accra and New York City. I am not an Obama hater. I am not hater, period! I write honestly about issues and I write my feelings. As you claim, you may very well not be a hater and your honesty is something that cannot reasonably be objectively tested in this forum but your article "Obama Publicly Shames And Ridicules Us; We Are Nonetheless Overjoyed?" as a public document can be subjected to scrutiny. And in my view, the article was uncharitable, ill-judged and smacked of gratuitous self-indulgence. To remind you, I reproduce my comments to that article of yours: Shame and ridicule? It is the Iwu's, the Ibori's, the IBB's, the Mugabe's, the Mobutu's, the Omar al-Bashir's, the Dariye's, the Alamiesegha's of Africa that happily bring shame and ridicule to Africa. Events like the Rwandan massacre, the 2003 & 2007 (s)elections in Nigeria, the genocide in Dafur, the Almajiri's slaughter of 100+ innocent Abuja civilians in reaction to the Miss World Beauty Pageant in Abuja in Dec 2002 e.t.c. that shame and ridicule Africa. The idiocy of this Obama-bashing endeavour by Africans who think they know or can do better is made plain by these shallow and futile attempts to drag Obama into a sullying debate about race/colour; a debate both Clinton and McCain woefully failed to beat him at! Your other article on this topic "Obama Talks Shallow Simplistic Rubbish, Scolds & Lectured Africans As Expected!" was misguided and a prime example of your Obama-bashing with your comments and posers like: =I Love Nigeria> <*>"Obama demonstrated in Ghana... who his masters are! He pretended to be IGNORANT of Africa's past and the role of America and Europe in it! He has selective memory or he is dumb suddenly?" <*>"I rather that KKK insult me, than have Obama's condescension and public ridiculing as Obama did in Ghana! HABA!" <*>"BUT, pretending that the crises in Africa, even up to today, are self-inflicted, shallow and simplistic rubbish on the part of Obama!" <*>"He came to Ghana to insult Africa, to criticize and to be purposely undiplomatic." Yes, Mr Paul I. Aduje you were not the only person engaging in the "Obama-bashing" you had the company of Farooq A. Kperogi with his article entitled: "The Anti-African Racist Insults Obama Got Away With In Ghana", the title of which tells all! I note that you thanked commentators that agreed with the title and content of this article, which essentially accusses President Obama of being a racist!. This astonishing and wicked racist claim is something that is held in common with ultra-right wing Glen Beck of Fox TV where he said of Obama on national network tv: "a guy who has a deep seated hatred of white people or the white culture...This guy is, I believe, a racist." The titles and content of these articles would sit very comfortably with the "simpletons" and "racists" your article talks about. I do not think that the congressman Joe Wilson, Fox TV, Tea-baggers, Birthers, or the confederate flag-hugging protesters will have any problems whatsoever with "Obama Talks Shallow Simplistic Rubbish" as a banner to protest against his health reforms! =I Love Nigeria;388215> To satisfy your curiosity, you may want to Google this writer's surname and Obama's and you will surprise yourself! This writer was an avowed Obama campaigner/supporter. I notice that you use the past tense "was", does this mean that you are no longer a supporter or were simply referring to the election period? Because your articles "Obama Talks Shallow Simplistic Rubbish, Scolds & Lectured Africans As Expected!" and "Obama Publicly Shames And Ridicules Us; We Are Nonetheless Overjoyed?" certainly do not qualify as "avowed Obama" support. Before you rehash your rehearsed arguments about how it is the supposed "double standard" of Obama's perceived attitude and tone towards Africa vis-a-vis other groups or countries I would simply reproduce my comments in response to another Obama-bashing article: Is Obama Free Or A Modern Day Slave? =Gladiator;373877> ...Obama was democratically elected by Americans to preside over, protect, and promote the American interest; so far he appears to be doing a good job. He was NOT elected by Africans by proxy to tend to Africa's myriad of intractable problems; most of which are both self-induced and self-perpetuating. The irony that seems to go over the head of many African commentators is that as things stand today, it is next to impossible for an Obama to be democratically elected President in an African country (not even his own father's land where the Luo's are "not allowed" to hold such office). The fact is, whether we like it or not Obama's visit to Ghana in both substance and scope was formulated primarily to promote the constituency which he politically represents. That is his job description, period. And no "elevated" sense of pan-Africanism from African commentators can change that fact. Secondary purposes and other corollary objectives may have also been served by his visit but the most symbolic and inspiring for ordinary Africans was the fact that a man of African descent as the most powerful man in the world had come to Africa, and the effect of this is immeasurable. Is this writer seriously suggesting that Obama should have come to Ghana to present well articulated and thought out policies and programs to tackle Africa's problems when he has not even begun to properly tackle the insurmountable mess that the Bush administration left behind in Washington? What would the American public who elected him just a few months ago have to say about that? Probably; charity begins at "home". The fact that Obama made this visit to Africa in the infancy of his presidency is of itself significant and most commendable, and it shows that he has an affinity for Africa. This is especially so given the fact that he would irretrievably open himself up to accusations from the right-wing American conservative hawks of caring more about the interest of his African heritage than what is supposed to be his sole and primary constituency; the interest of United States of America. All American presidents before him including both Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton only visited Africa in the twilight of their presidencies when they had "finished" with their "domestic" tasks which suggests that Africa was one of the last items on the "to-do" list before they left office. To suggest that Obama is a modern day slave because he did not come to Ghana and fulfil the role of Africa's long-awaited "Messiah" is not only disingenuous but most mischievous in the extreme Finally, I'd suggest that you need to re-read my comments and not just focus on the post scriptum comment about your previous articles and then you just might want to review these comments of yours.

I Love Nigeria  # 8 | 17.09.2009 11:08

Gliadator, you slicing and dicing apples with oranges. There is racism... Mr. Obama knows that... if he did not, he knows by now. He should be measured in confronting or addressing racism... he has to remain presidential, poised and conciliatory and be above the fray. He should maintain the moral high ground and not wallow in the mud like those racists who continue to attack him. There is a new article Obama Dared By Israel’s Toxic Arrogance! http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/paul-adujie/obama-dared-by-israels-toxic-arrogance.html in which I discuss how Israel, with her special relationship or friendship with the US, receiving more foreign aid from the US more than the 53 nations of Africa.... and yet, Israel does not and has never the US to influence her policies foreign or domestic. Israel refuses to free settlement expansions in Palestine territories occupied by Israel, judge by the US, the UN and the entire world to be illegal...past and present American administrations, deal gingerly with kid gloves when it comes to Israel... how about some tough love and bitter truths for Israel for a change Mr. Gladiator? America cannot reserve lectures for the weak... the weak which gets not help... but, ignore Israel to which the US pour so much money! Israel's Prime Minister is in New York City soon, the world is watching how Abbas, Netanyahu and Obama interact at the UN and how they move the Palestine-Israel peace process forward... how they advance it...any bets that Israel will insist on expanding settlements? Israel is also planning unilateral actions against Iran, in my assessment... and what is the US doing about that? AND, as to double standards in his dealings with Israel, Russia, the Pope etc compared with how he spoke to continental Africans while addressing the Parliament in Accra Ghana and his address of NAACP in New York City, I STAND BY EVERY WORD I wrote!

I Love Nigeria  # 9 | 19.09.2009 11:40

September 19, 2009 Obama Rejects Race as Lead Cause of Criticism By JEFF ZELENY http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/health/policy/19obama.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print WASHINGTON — President Obama said Friday that he did not believe his race was the cause of fierce criticism aimed at his administration in the contentious national debate over health care, but rather that the cause was a sense of suspicion and distrust many Americans have in their government. “Are there people out there who don’t like me because of race? I’m sure there are,” Mr. Obama told CNN. “That’s not the overriding issue here.” In five separate television interviews at the White House, Mr. Obama said he did not agree with former President Jimmy Carter’s assertion that racism was fueling the opposition to his administration. He described himself as just the latest in a line of presidents whose motives had been questioned because they were trying to enact major change. Mr. Obama will appear on five Sunday talk shows — an unprecedented step for a president — to promote his health care plan. The television networks broadcast brief parts of their interviews on Friday evening, all of which focused on a question the White House has sought to avoid all week: Has race played a role in the debate? Mr. Obama, the nation’s first black president, said “race is such a volatile issue in this society” that he conceded it had become difficult for people to tell whether it was simply a backdrop of the current political discussion or “a predominant factor.” “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,” he told ABC News. “And I think that that’s probably the biggest driver of some of the vitriol.” The president spoke to anchors from three broadcast networks, ABC, CBS and NBC as well as the cable networks CNN and Univision. He conceded that many people were skeptical of the health care legislation making its way through Congress. “The overwhelming part of the American population, I think, is right now following this debate, and they are trying to figure out, is this going to help me?” Mr. Obama said in one of the interviews. “Is health care going to make me better off?” But even as the White House sought to push it aside, the issue of race persisted through the week, with some critics saying it was the reason a Republican lawmaker was disrespectful to the president last week, calling him a liar as Mr. Obama addressed a joint session of Congress. The television interviews on Friday were the first time Mr. Obama had weighed in. “Look, I said during the campaign there’s some people who still think through a prism of race when it comes to evaluating me and my candidacy. Absolutely,” Mr. Obama told NBC News. “Sometimes they vote for me for that reason; sometimes they vote against me for that reason.” But he said that the matter was really “an argument that’s gone on for the history of this republic. And that is, what’s the right role of government?” The president said the contentious health care debate, which came on the heels of extraordinary government involvement in bailing out banks and automobile companies, had led to a broader discussion about the role of government in society. “I think that what’s driving passions right now is that health care has become a proxy for a broader set of issues about how much government should be involved in our economy,” Mr. Obama told CBS News. “Even though we’re having a passionate disagreement here, we can be civil to each other, and we can try to express ourselves acknowledging that we’re all patriots, we’re all Americans and not assume the absolute worst in people’s motives.” The president used the media blitz to add his own commentary about the news media. He said he blamed cable television and blogs, which he said “focus on the most extreme element on both sides,” for much of the inflamed rhetoric. “The easiest way to get 15 minutes of fame,” Mr. Obama said, “is to be rude to someone.”

Gladiator  # 10 | 21.09.2009 09:31

=I Love Nigeria;388476>Gliadator, you slicing and dicing apples with oranges. There is racism... Mr. Obama knows that... if he did not, he knows by now. He should be measured in confronting or addressing racism... he has to remain presidential, poised and conciliatory and be above the fray. He should maintain the moral high ground and not wallow in the mud like those racists who continue to attack him... ...AND, as to double standards in his dealings with Israel, Russia, the Pope etc compared with how he spoke to continental Africans while addressing the Parliament in Accra Ghana and his address of NAACP in New York City, I STAND BY EVERY WORD I wrote! This seems to suggest that your selectiveness knows no bounds. Apart from stating and repeating the blindingly obvious you completely fail to see the fallacy of your "I STAND BY EVERY WORD I wrote" vis-a-vis your now apparent anti-racist stance in defence of Obama. Firstly, can you not see a correlation between your own Obama-bashing and the behaviour you now complain of regarding Joe Wilson and co? If not, I remind you again. In addition to your own Obama-bashing articles: "Obama Talks Shallow Simplistic Rubbish, Scolds & Lectured Africans As Expected!", and"Obama Publicly Shames And Ridicules Us; We Are Nonetheless Overjoyed?"you "cheerleaded" and posted your Thanks to commentary appended to the objectionably entitled article: "The Anti-African Racist Insults Obama Got Away With In Ghana".This article accusses President Obama of being an anti-African racist!. So, essentially you agreed then that Obama is a racist! And particularly telling of your approach to this general issue was your explicit support and your recorded thanks appended to these obnoxious comments attached to the above article: =agbonizuanghwe;373378>...Obama proposed no new solutions either and disdains us openly for having none. He afterall is an 'African' and he made it to the top of his game in spite of his tainted genes. This crude reference to Obama's genes as "tainted" in which ever context that it was meant is most offensive in the extreme and I humbly submit down-right nasty! Again Mr Paul I Adujie, how is the anti-African racist charge as espoused in the above-mentioned and supported by you any different from the ultra-right wing Glen Beck of Fox TV where he said on national network tv: "<Obama is> a guy who has a deep seated hatred of white people or the white culture...This guy is, I believe, a racist."? What is the difference? That one is from a white American and the other from a black African?, or may be one is justified and the other isn't? Apples and oranges aside, please do STAND BY EVERY WORD (it is your inalienable right), just spare us your inconsistent (if not sanctimonious) sermons on racism.

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