What happened to post-racial politics?

And post-partisan government? At this point in time, we were supposed to be a pretty happy country, with all the promises of the ’08 elections unfolding into ‘a new day in America’ and a new era of cooperation for the common good.

We’re more divided now than we’ve been in a long time. I really didn’t want to talk about this purely political stuff, but it’s getting in the way of….just about everything else. Washington seems paralyzed, and the wheels have come off the wagon of the major media. News is transmitted through language, and it’s being distorted in high and influential places, by politicians and communications media. Blatant falsehoods are being presented officially as truths. Somebody with power says something they want to be true (or perceived to be), and it becomes de facto true.

So what to make of this new frenzy over racism in America and the mounting charges that opponents of President Obama’s policies or principles or statements are racists? It’s stunning, frankly.

It recalls the atmosphere in Chicago back when Harold Washington governed as mayor, and contentious battles in City Council over political differences erupted into the notorious ‘Council Wars’ of that era. It became a routine that anyone who raised legitimate differences with Mayor Washington’s policies was labeled a racist. It’s intended to deflect attention and shut down opposition.

Which is happening now, at a time when we need attention on what health care reform may require if passed as currently proposed in HB 3200. Just this morning, Michigan Democratic Congressman Bart Stupak was on television stating unequivocally that his bill to prevent federal funding of abortion has been voted down, and the threat still exists that the pending health care legislation will provide taxpayer dollars for abortion, no matter what the president or congressional leaders say to refute that fact.

This is not about race, but it’s clearly about politics.