July 4 parade float mocking Obama draws accusations of racism

[Jazzy]

A Fourth of July parade float in Nebraska that showed a dummy standing outside an outhouse labeled "Obama Presidential Library" is drawing cries of racism from local residents and the Nebraska Democratic Party.

The float, in the annual Independence Day parade in Norfolk, Neb., was affixed to trailer being towed behind a blue pickup truck. The dummy was clad in overalls, standing by a walker next to the outhouse.

In a statement, the Nebraska Democratic Party called the float one of the "worst shows of racism and disrespect for the presidency that Nebraska has ever seen," according to the World-Herald.

Glory Kathurima, a black woman living in Norfolk, attended the parade with her nine year-old daughter. She told CBS News Omaha affiliate KMTV she was outraged by the float and disgusted that her daughter witnessed it.

"I'm ashamed, I'm appalled," she said. "You see people laughing and pointing at it, smiling, looking positive about it. I immediately felt sick to my stomach...I knew what that meant, and I knew there was no sort of political statement being made by an image like that."

Norfolk City Councilman Dick Pfeil told the World-Herald that the city "doesn't condone" the float.

But one of the parade's organizers, Rick Konopasek, told the Lincoln Journal-Star the float was intended to be no more offensive than a political cartoon. He said the outhouse was the most popular float in the parade, and that it earned an "honorable mention" from three judges.

"It's obvious the majority of the community liked it," Konopasek said. "So should we deny the 95 percent of those that liked it their rights, just for the 5 percent of people who are upset?"

Source with picture of the float

Your thoughts about this parade float?

 

[DrLeftover]

If the ignorant are offended by anything, it is deemed inappropriate, no matter how accurate it is.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Thats fantastic! Call me a racist at this point I dont care. Its a badge of honor from such law breakers running our country.

 

[beowulf]

how on earth is that rascist? if the dummy had an obama mask i still wouldnt call it rascist...............its political sarcasm!

people need to grow up, and stop playing the race card at any oppertunity

just cos youre 'offended' by something dosnt mean you are right.....if you are 'offended' by something like this it means you are an idiot

 

[Fatal Dawn]

If there's a racial undertone, I must be missing it. The float appears to be no more than an oversized political caricature. To wit, when people became dissatisfied with the Bush administration, such characterizations became commonplace -- as is often the case with numerous political leaders who gain widespread unpopularity.

Without race-baiting, the mixed-race scapegoat classification baffles me, as though his bi-racial identity negates the prejudice. The man has been called the n-word, has had racial slurs thrown at his family, and has inspired even greater levels of racially-charged reactions following his re-election.

Are some criticisms of Obama based in racist attitudes? As a black president (Obama identifies himself as “black”), it is not completely unexpected. I don't consider this case, though, to necessarily be that. At first blush, the vast majority of criticisms I hear against Obama is politically and ideologically based.