Racism is racism, whether it's against whites, blacks, asians, or martians. While I disagree with you as to how important the Wright controversy was, when it comes to Wright himself, he's a racist. If he had been giving his sermons 50 years ago, I might have a different opinion of the matter. At that point the white man (at least some of them in any case) were denying blacks the right to vote, to a decent education, etc. I don't have any sympathy today though, when schools are still using race to admit a higher percentage of blacks with lower grades/SAT scores (and yes I know that they're not supposed to be doing that anymore, but it's going on down at the University of Washington, so I would assume it is happening at other campuses as well). I do think that there are residual elements of racism in society, whether it just from people who grew up in a different time with different values, to the guy that would be horrified to see a black man at a country club, to the redneck that thinks that those uppity ni$$ers should learn their place. I've met all three people. The question, and the divergence of opinion (I think) is rooted in what to do about it. Legislate against it, a la Germany? Enact hate crime laws? One factor I would like to point out is CU4's recent reference to Obama's upbringing, whether it was Moslem or not. While I don't know that I would classify this as racism, it's certainly a something-ism. For CU4, the issue wasn't whether or not Obama's upbringing was relevant, but how it could be used to paint him negatively. I realize that this is probably an extreme minority of conservatives, but it illustrates my point as to how people use racism and/or ignorance to further their own agendas. And I think that this goes on on both sides of the aisle. A long winded ramble to a rather simple question I know, but my fingers are in the mood today for some reason.
As for the second part of your query: I've seen what you're speaking of and I think that your complaint is valid. In an earlier post in a different thread, I spoke about the means becoming the ends, and I think that's what you're seeing here when liberals call conservatives racists (I think this is more of a liberal vs. conservative issue than Dem vs. Rep, but that's just my perception). The liberals have become so tied to their programs (which are well meaning) that they have begun to use those programs to identify themselves. Any cut or reduction in those programs equates to a cut or reduction in their perception of self, so they immediately cry "RACIST". What they don't realize though, is that they're like the boy crying wolf, and one day when there is a REAL racist threat, their warning will have little effectiveness. The other side to this point of view is that some conservatives are racists or at least pander to racists or prejudiced notions. It isn't monopolized by either ideology. Both ideologies have had good ideas and have done things in regard to civil rights and race relations. The liberals, by enforcing the Constitution, enacting Civil Rights legislation, and enforcing desegregation in Jim Crow South in the 50's. The conservatives, by ending affirmative action quotas (which allow blacks to better themselves through competition rather than through entitlement), and working to end preferences in housing and welfare that create a false sense of entitlement. As I said, both have their pluses and minuses.
Would the media let a Republican get away with it? I hope not. I would hope that the media would call it whenever it happens regardless of ideology. But the cynic in me says that it's better that they catch one side on it than let both slide. It's wrong and a bit messed up I know, but that's my cynical side. Ideally though, it would be pointed out whenever it happened.
