Today's Huffington Post covers a story about Tucker Carlson calling for Mike Vick to be executed - all the while excoriating President Obama for praising the Eagles for giving Vick a second chance!
"I'm a Christian, I've made mistakes myself, I believe fervently in second chances," Carlson said. "But Michael Vick killed dogs, and he did in a heartless and cruel way. And I think, personally, he should've been executed for that. He wasn't, but the idea that the President of the United States would be getting behind someone who murdered dogs? Kind of beyond the pale."
Carlson - a long-time conservative hack, carried water for the Bush administration - and in an interview, regarding the Bush Administration's lies or incompetence regarding WMDs, resulting in invasion and mass death for Iraqis (and thousands of deaths and injuries for US troops) - this is what he had to say:
My trust evaporated after no WMD were found. That was kind of it for me. I hope to regain it again someday but haven't yet.
Carlson hoped to give the Bush administration a second chance - after all, what's billions spent killing Iraqis and US troops compared to Mike Vick killing a few dozen dogs? (And I love dogs.) But worse, Carlson could care less about Mike Vick or tortured dogs. This is another opportunity for his subtle racism to express itself. It's beyond the pale (no pun intended, Tucker?) that Obama - in a call to the Eagle's owner, mentioned his appreciation that Vick has been given a second chance. Beyond the pale! Bomb Iraqi children for no discernable reason? That's bad, implies Carlson - but not bad enough to call for impeachment - much less execution!
Is it possible that racism drives Tucker's indignation? Is it possible that a top-notch black athlete and our first black president are judged under different standards than lilly white President Bush (by lilly white Tucker Carlson)?
Mind you, I find this subtle racism from the far left, as well: what drives their intense hatred for Obama? it was one thing to hate Bush - a rich kid slacker who got what he wanted via his last name and his white skin privilege, who then went on to enrich himself and his wealthy white buddies - but can we say the same about Obama, a middle class kid of color who worked for everything he ever had, and excelled along the way, only to gradute a prestigious law school and give back to other people of color in Chicago's slums? Even if we didn't get the public option?
It's one thing to disagree about policy, and Obama has earned reprobation, but the vileness that is expressed towards this man is not driven by politics or policy. It's racism, plain and simple...