Gibbs: Obama Protesters Not Motivated By Race (VIDEO)

On CNN Sunday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said he didn't think the protests against the president are racially motivated.

Host John King asked Gibbs about signs that said "Bury Obamacare With Kennedy," describing the sign as "distasteful." In reference to a column by the New York Times' Maureen Dowd, King asked if the president thought his race had something to do with such vitriol.

"I don't think the president believes that people are upset because of the color of his skin." Rather, he said, they were upset by the financial collapse and the economic crisis.

"I do think... this rhetoric often just gets way too hot," Gibbs added. "I think if we have a debate that's based on fact, and not based on hot rhetoric, or what gets us on TV each and every day... we can actually solve a big problem for the American people."

King also asked the press secretary about some more famous opponents: Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

On Wilson, Gibbs said the president accepted his apology and that the incident was a good lesson in civility for his six-year-old. As for plans to censure Wilson, Gibbs he would "let the House figure out how to deal with that."

After playing a tape of Obama saying death panels are "a lie, plain and simple," King asked, "Does the president believe that Sarah Palin is a liar?"

"Despite many media outlets saying that what former Governor Palin was saying wasn't true, she continued to say it," Gibbs responded. "I'll let Webster define what one calls her. I think in the absence of fact... sometimes what happens is we fill the void with stuff that quite frankly isn't true." He said Obama helped fill that void in his speech Wednesday night.

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Comments

[RobertHenryEller]

Mr. Gibbs, President Obama promised us candor.

How about, in honor of the troops, you quit making things up?

Not about racism? Right.

[nicole473]

They can not acknowledge it. If they do, they will get NOTHING done for the rest of his term. You are way off.

[Cycadeoidea]

Absolutely. Once that genie is out of the bottle it'll be racism 24/7.

[RobertHenryEller]

I can't agree nicole, either with you or with Cycadeoidea.

It's already racism 24/7, because that is precisely what the Republicans are up to. And it's not going to stop.

Check back 6 months, or a year from now. We're going to be exactly where we are now. This IS the Republican and special interest long-term strategy. They are not going to let up, until they neuter this administration, and get back in power. The President and the Administration do not have to help these people.

Obama's platform looks more and more like "let's be polite," rather than "let's get something done."

The administration will not stop what's going on by pretending it's something other that what it is.

Neither will the rest of us.

[Shammie2000]

I also noticed several of the Mega T.V. preachers prompting this kind of nonsense, yet, they were
quite about the made up war and many other failures of (W).

[profitforless]

I like Gibbs he’s a real gentleman.

[Ron44]

Why ask for comments if the truth is censored and not shown??? That is not freedom of speech!!

[Chris]

Show me in the constitution that private business can not restrict speech?

[nicole473]

He can't, and like so many of these ignorant_wingers, he confuses the 1st amendment, which applies only to the government's ability to restrict free speech, with that of a business's right to restrict free speech. As you are obviously aware, a business has every right to do so.

[Bronxdude]

Something is amiss. Bush and his evil puppet master – Dick Cheney – lie to manipulate American patriotism to justify invading Iraq, and conservatives are silent. Bush inherits, then squanders a $759 billion surplus, and conservatives are silent. Bush appoints a horse trader to head FEMA, hundreds die of thirst in the aftermath of Katrina, and conservatives are mute. Bush guts the Geneva Conventions, authorizes torture, and conservatives are silent. Bush condones risky subprime mortgage derivatives, America dances on the precipice of economic annihilation, and conservatives are silent. Bush razes the Fourth Amendment, authorizes warrantless eavesdropping, and conservatives are silent. Bush signs $1.2 trillion Prescription Drug Bill, a federally subsidized give-away which balloons the deficit, and conservatives are silent. Bush diverts $1 trillion from the counter-terrorism struggle in Afghanistan, making America significantly less safe, and conservatives are silent. Bush signs unfunded NCLB legislation, the most intrusive federal education law in history, and conservatives are quiet. Bush delays processing of disability claims for Iraqi war veterans, and conservatives are silent. Bush deregulation exposes 2.5 million children to toxic toys from China, and conservatives are silent. Birthers delegitimize the first black president, choosing instead to ignore 8 years of Bush inflicted plunder and ruination, and conservatives are silent. Obama talks to school children about being successful, conservatives slash their wrist. Bush rambles incoherently while addressing school children in Florida, and republicans anoint him God. Racism, bigotry and hypocrisy: cherished planks in the republican platform.

[Chris]

Except many fiscal conservatives were disenchated with Bush but feared Mr Kerry's policies even more.

[Golfer59]

Chris.....­..........­.bull_ _ _ _!!!!

[smithonpolitics-com]

WOW! Don't mind if I post your comments on my blog. This is the best written summary of Bush's failures (many of them, anyhow) that conservatives are "silent" about. But not only are they silent, they are protesting Obama moves that have not the impact Bush! Spending? PLEASE! First, 50% of the stimulus are TA CUTS. So, FACT: President Obama, a DEMOCRAT, passed the largest tax cut in American history. That is a FACT! Second, Obama is proposing the re-regulation of the financial sector, which several Republican Presidents and their advisors have squarely fought against. Example? Alan Greenspan, saying his 30-year push for deregulation was a mistake! MISTAKE? These people have bankrupted this country morally and financially and I'll be damned if I (or we) let them take power again. Change is hard; polls numbers dip, but if there's one thing I know, Obama is laying the seeds for a real American renewal and I'm proud of him. Perfect? NO. Several things anger me about him, especially with his botched healthcare reform push, and backing down from the public option. But he has already be a good President. If he passes healthcare, he will have already had a spectacularly succcessful Presidency that eclipses even Bill Clinton's.

[Bronxdude]

President Obama truly cares about the prosperity and well-being of every American—regardless of class or race—and is offering this country healthcare stability and security. Afraid of the impact Obama might have on unifying America, republicans are villainizing, dehumanizing and delegitimizing him to advance their exclusionist, racist and elitist agenda. Since Obama is not part of the entrenched Washington establishment or the elite upper crust, he feels no pressure to return favors that would unnecessarily sacrifice precious political capital he’ll need in the future to strong-arm self-serving politicians. Republicans are singularly fixated on maintaining the status quo to ensure their continued generational access to wealth, influence and power. Similar to segregated country clubs, republicans are concerned primarily with separating and distancing themselves from members of the working-class. After all, the purpose of the working-class is to serve the wealthy by cooking their meals, rearing their children, cleaning their homes and doing whatever tasks deemed essential to ensuring their existence is awash in luxury, simplicity and overindulgence. Working-class conservatives have been duped into believing that their concerns are championed by republicans, a political party heavily comprised of aristocrats. In reality, the GOP is only concerned with advancing their own self-serving interests, which is why they exploit the working-class, oppose worker rights and want to keep America angrily divided by class and race. Universal health insurance would elevate the standard of living for working-class Americans, something republicans vehemently oppose.

[Bronxdude]

I attended a hate filled town hall meeting. People quoting the Bible, toting guns and professing their Christian virtues were waving derogatory placards equating President Obama with Hitler and the “N” word. Several signs held by small children compared Obama to an ignorant cartoon character in blackface. One woman held two signs: the first called Michelle a “welfare queen,” and the second proclaimed that the Obama girls would be pregnant before age 16. Outrageous! Inside the meeting, Birthers were screaming that their country was being taken over by immigrants and minorities, and that America needed to return to the traditional values “our founding fathers” envisioned. During the question and answer period, one tea bagger shouted that she was against government run healthcare, but was satisfied with Medicare. Several attendees questioned the President’s citizenship and argued that the government had started “socialist reeducation camps.” Most of the attendees were grossly misinformed and it was fairly easy to see that they were relying exclusively on republican manufactured lies propagated by Fox News pundits. Obviously, republicans have a hidden agenda—with racial overtones—and are not interested in civil debate. That’s why they are resorting to shameful, salacious and bigoted scare tactics. The “fix” is in to defeat reform, and degenerate insurers like UnitedHealthcare are buying republican Senators like cheap underwear. I want access to the same affordable options enjoyed by Congress, the military and 8.5 million federal employees. Public option now!

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

...the term: "pig-headed" was not coined yesterday.

[Ron44]

Mr. Obama had better wake up! Conservatives cannot stand the fact that there is a black man in the Office of President of The United States of America and a black family in the White House!

[Chris]

Really thanks for telling me what I iihnk. I guess I learned something today thanks. All along I thought my discontent for Mr. OBama's polices were centered around expansion of government (dido for Bush) for blatant diregard for debts (Bush as well) and never meeting a spending bill he did not like (dido for Bush).

[freddiefreeloader]

Government is not the problem, Corporate America is the problem, Corporate America is the ones exporting all the manufacturing jobs out of the country, The Government didn't cause the economy to go bad, it was corporate America.

[Bronxdude]

In an attempt to divide Americans by race, defeat health insurance reform and unite Birthers, Tea Baggers, Tinfoil Hatters, compassionless Christians and other bigoted malcontents – the new republican base, soul-less prostitutes Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Phil Gingrey (R-Georgia) are ginning up fear, advocating hate inspired civil disobedience, rejecting fact-based discourse and condoning violence as an acceptable change agent. Similar to Klan rallies, idiots like Gingrey are openly encouraging people to bring loaded guns to town hall meetings. The Limbaugh led Republican Party has evolved into an insidious, compassionless and implacable evil force totally committed to social injustice; starting with Reagan, republican ethics have slowly devolved into a seething mass of callous and destructive self-centeredness a notch below child molesters. Reagan demonized Medicare and sought to end reduced-fee lunch for students barely surviving in abject poverty. The notion of quality, affordable health insurance for every American is not complicated, especially when contemplated as a moral rather than a business decision. Health care is a fundamental right, not an expensive privilege decided by class, lineage, race or wealth. With Ted Kennedy gone, the marginalized, downtrodden, exploited and disenfranchised – manipulated like pawns and denied access to the political power necessary to influence constructive change – no longer have a standard-bearer, a voice at the table. Since soul-less republicans have collectively abandoned their moral reasoning, who among the democrats will emerge to save America and replace the “Lion of the Senate.”

[jsgaetano]

Conservatards would act this way even if Edwards or Hillary were President.

They are insane. Which is not to say they aren't racist... but that's not what's ultimately driving them. Their insanity runs so much deeper than that.

[liberalOrgonian]

Makes one wonder what the political environment would be now if the south had successfully seceded.
I for one do believe the fire storm out there is about the color of President Obama's skin. We as a nation have not moved very far forward. In this case ( racism) we seen to have gone backwards.

[warlover]

These are not your average American citizens, All you have to do is look at them or listen to them, These are hard-core hate mongers that are being motivated (exploited) by controlled media spokespeople and executives who are paid by corporate America.

[republicrat1]

The smarter thing you've ever said minister of misinforma­tion..let'­s get pass the disgusting race card..it's all about ideologies.

[WhatHaveWeBecome]

Political Correctness is not called for in this situation.

3/4 of the people know that these people are racists and we are disgusted by them.

The numbers are on your side Obama so grow a set and call them what they are - racists.

About time we put these Southerners in thier place.

Sherman will rise again!

[Grunty1]

Political Correctness is not what this is about.

[nicole473]

[are you as tired as I am of repeating something along those lines? :) ]

[MyNameIsJames]

Amen - It is time for Sherman to rise again. Southern Political culture is the GREAT AMERICAN CANCER! It has always degraded our better instincts as a nation.

[noudidnt]

Yeah....yo­u know Obama can only condescend to blacks(ie give "tough love"....L­'affair Gates should have taught you that.

[MyNameIsJames]

Another good point.

Here is the bargain that Obama should make with America

Since he will NOT directly confront the issue of race in the United States - he should also cease and desist from his "tough love" messages to African Americans

Just pretend that race doesn't exist

[bilmardre]

The President can do nothing to remove the racism from peoples hearts. He can however encourage black folks to do better. I don't see a problem with that.

[RoveRoveRoveYourBoat]

...burn Atlanta every 3-years just on principle.

[Cakey4814]

Censors in full mode today i see..