This place in many ways has gone off the deep end. RE: Used car salesman

[MADem]

171. I read that post, and it didn't "claim it was racist."

IIRC, it said that that's the kind of thing a racist would say.

It didn't say the specific phrase was racist. That's a distinction and a difference, IMO.

Here's the specific language of the thread title:

Constantly referring to President Obama as a "used car salesman" is expected of a RW racist.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if a RW racist said that sort of thing--that would be one of the more milder, "made for TV" type slurs, but it wouldn't be a shock to hear that kind of insult at all coming from someone who didn't like POTUS because of his heritage. In fact, that's the kind of thing that would be expected.

Racists do often nibble round the edges. They don't come right out and hit ya with that "N" word, they denigrate from the side. They come in with this snide remark and that, and the purpose of the remarks is to create an impression of the person of color as someone who is "LESS THAN," who is "second rate," who doesn't quite measure up in terms of quality or intelligence or whatever measurement is under consideration....it's one of those "know it when you see it" type things. Dog whistling, if you will. It happens to people who aren't "the majority" in any culture, it even happens in foreign lands. The nail that sticks up must be hammered down--by letting that damn uppity nail KNOW it's "not as good" as the "mainstream." And make no mistake, that kind of language is what is often used to hammer that nail down but good, to keep that nail--be it out of the ordinary in terms of race, cultural heritage, orientation, or gender--in its place.

Again, the poster of that OP didn't call ANYONE here a "RW racist." She said that's the kind of thing she expected from one, and that she didn't expect to see that kind of thing here, on DU. I believe her exact phrase was It should not be acceptable on a site promoting Democrats.