Mr. President, End The Hate Speech!

A brief synopsis of the Obama Era:

Point: Washington is spending too much money.

Counterpoint: You are a racist!

Point: We are dubious of the efficiency of the Federal Government, especially in matters of health care.

Counterpoint: You are a racist!

Point: We don't want to pay our neighbor's mortgage.

Counterpoint: You are a racist!

Point: We want to secure the borders.

Counterpoint: You are a racist!

And on and on and on. The universal rebuttal. No need to bog down in facts and content and substance. Issues? Rhymes with tissues. Wipe your nose on them. And it continues to get worse. Now the president's attack dogs have launched a pre-emptive strike on tea party types. No verbiage necessary for conviction. Prove your innocence!

Calling someone a racist who is not a racist is hate speech. Arguably, it is the worst form of hate speech. We as a society reject racism, especially institutionalized racism. To pin that label and the accompanying stigma on anyone who is not guilty of racism is an act of extreme hate.

On a personal level, the racist label hurts. A lot of white families have adopted children of other races. Interracial dating is common and interracial marriage is not unusual. Most white people have friends of other races. To be labled a racist is to have a wedge driven between the victim and his family and friends and acquaintances.

False accusations should be severely stigmatized. Unfortunately, they are not. We have just grown accustomed to the noise. We accept that the race-baiters are just part of the din and the clamor and the foley. Hey ya live next to a flippin airport. Ya just gotta get used to the jets flyin over.

You, Mr. President, can stop the hate speech. No American figure in the electronic age has had the cozy relationship with the press that you have enjoyed. They are willing to spin a story any way you please. If you renounce hate speech, Mr. President, they will certainly take notice.

Your failure to renounce hate speech tarnishes your reputation, Mr. President. What does this say about your leadership skills? What does this say about your commitment to national unity? What does it say about the character of a man who does nothing to stop unfounded personal attacks against his political rivals when it is well within his capacity to stop the personal attacks? You have the power of the bully pulpit to set the tenor and tone of public discourse, Mr. President. So far you have cravenly promoted hate speech by proxy.

Mr. President, end the hate speech!