This article could help advance our on-going discussions about President Obama, racism in the Republican Party, and white privilege.
http://wearerespectablenegroes.blogspot.com/...
Ultimately, the election of Barack Obama has provided a series of object lessons in the durability of the colorline in American life. Most pointedly, Obama's tenure has provided an opportunity for the worst aspects of White privilege to rear their ugly head. In doing so, the continuing significance of Whiteness is made ever more clear in a moment when the old bugaboo of White racism was thought to have been slain on November 4, 2008.
I think the author's analysis applies equally well to the emerging Deathers.
More...
Ten Ways that the Birthers Are an Object Lesson in White Privilege
1. Just as Pat Buchanan did with Justice Sotomayor, the Birthers have sullied President Obama as being an unqualified, "affirmative action" candidate. His academic and professional accomplishments are irrelevant. The fact that he won an open and honest election are unimportant. We should know at this point that the life successes of people of color (and to a lesser degree some women) are always questionable and suspect when viewed through the gaze of Whiteness (and sexism). White men are never burdened with the question or doubt of being qualified for any job, at any time, or any place. Their greatness and ability is a fact not a question, never is it to be interrogated. This self-delusion exists despite the fact that white men have historically been the greatest beneficiaries of unearned privilege in the history of the United States. Their mediocrity has been rewarded at every turn.
[Emphases added]
I'll let the author's direct critique of the Birthers speak on that issue. But even as I type, the Deathers are trying to:
sully President Obama as being an unqualified, "affirmative
action" Commander-in-Chief. His foreign policy (e.g., +up
AfPak; Nuclear treaty w/former Soviets) and military (Somali
pirate rescue; Iraqi troop draw down) accomplishments are
irrelevant. The fact that he won an open and honest election
2 years ago is unimportant.'
Nothing he does can matter because the bearers and protectors of white privilege will not allow it to matter. Lying, cheating, encouraging assassination nothing is out of bounds for them.
But the last point in the block quote above hasn't been made more clearly in prominent events in my lifetime (if ever) than by the motley crew of Republican Deathers who are hell-bent on either crediting bin Laden's death to W; minimizing President Obama's role; and/or questioning OBL's death entirely.
GWB was patently an under-achieving C-student whose incompetence bankrupted companies, elevated thieves and liars, cost lives on 9-11 and in Katrina's aftermath, ruined a national economy. And, in our system, his less-than-mediocre performances were indeed rewarded at every turn (before Obama got Osama).
The only way the Deathers' ludicrous claims could be brought forward in a serious forum is if the bearer of such idiocy knew in advance that the playing field was not level and that s/he had an advantage. Yes, they have a media noise machine but the media is only receptive to their blather because of the blinding glow of white privilege.
3. Whiteness equals authority. Thus, any White person, at any time, can question the accomplishments of a person of color. The most mediocre of White people, the sum total of whose life has amounted to 1/100th of President Obama's successes (or that of other people of color) can feel legitimate in questioning how the latter came to find their "unnatural" position in the social hierarchy.
The article is thought provoking and there are some great links.