Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
The caption is based upon D. W. Griffith's silent film classic, The Birth of a Nation (1915). As film critic Roger Ebert notes:
Griffith and "The Birth of a Nation"
were no more enlightened than the America which produced them. The film
represents how racist a white American could be in 1915 without
realizing he was racist at all.
Willard "Mittens" Romney's Birther joke was a paen to the racists of the Tea Party who have demonized Barack Obama as a "Kenyan born secret Muslim (pick one) socialist/communist/marxist/Leninist/Stalinist/liberal." It is a belief rooted in the long and sordid history of racism in America which produced them. Did Romney realize his joke was a dog whistle appeal to the racism of his supporters?
Romney told
CBS yesterday afternoon that he doesn't question the president's
citizenship, adding, "Humor, you know, we've got to have a little humor
in a campaign…. [T]he crowd loved it and got a good laugh."
Yes, demonizing Barack Obama and questioning his Americaness by casting him as an "other" (or as a European socialist as Romney has done at other times) are humorous to Willard "Mittens" Romney. And just because his ignorant racist supporters find this funny, that makes it OK? What does this say about the character, temperament and judgment of this man?
The Obama campaign has already unveiled a new web video about Romney's joke, "America doesn't need a Birther-in-Chief." (Video below the fold).
The voice-over tells viewers, "Holding out hope Romney had a vision for
the middle class? Think again." After showing the clip of Romney's joke, the web video concludes, "Embracing unfounded conspiracy theories,
distracting from real issues. America doesn't need a Birther-in-Chief."
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Mr. Romney has few topics about which he can now speak. One by one, the substantive topics for debate are disappearing, deemed too problematic for the Romney campaign to address. Business acumen, experience as governor, US Olympics, Romney budget, women’s issues, immigration reform, all toxic. Mr. Romney is reduced to dragging out the birther baggage to pad his stump speeches and give his base a few crumbs. And to call attention away from his flip-flopping on all important issues.
But what is the single issue on which Mr. Romney has never flip-flopped? He stands doggedly firm on never, under any circumstances, releasing his tax returns.
Why?
It is not just liberals who want to see Romney’s tax returns.
It is 63% of American voters who do.
The longer Mr. Romney delays, the more suspicious it appears.
Obama released 8 years of tax returns
GW Bush 10 years
Clinton 12 years
GHW Bush 14 years
George Romney 12 years.
What is there to hide?
Release the tax returns, Mr. Romney.