Michael Steele: Opposing a radical political agenda is not racist

Voicing opposition to the president’s policy proposals is not being a racist. It is being an American. Such assertions by leaders of the Democratic Party are a pathetic attempt to shift attention away from the president’s wildly unpopular government-run health care plan that the American people simply oppose. Injecting race into the debate over critical issues facing American families does not create jobs, reform our health care system or reduce the growing deficit. It only divides Americans rather than uniting us to find solutions to challenges facing our nation.

It is becoming increasingly clear that some in the Democratic Party need a serious history lesson. Slavery was racist, Jim Crow laws were racist, segregation was racist – opposing a radical political agenda is not. Americans of all races and political mindsets applauded the election of America’s first African American president; it was a proud moment for every American. But our pride in electing an African-American president does not override our right to disagree with President Obama’s policies. It is obvious certain politicians are attempting to exploit racial anger to make up for their own policy failings.

Americans have an obligation to stand up for what they believe in and that is exactly what they are doing. As a whole, Americans are exercising their First Amendment rights and are rejecting President Obama’s massive government-run experiments. They want common sense reforms and economic security. These principles are not found in the Democrats’ health care plans. The Democrats’ health care plan is the antithesis of these ideals.

President Obama’s campaign promised to move America beyond the bitter divides of yesterday. But for leaders of the Democrat Party to characterize Americans' disapproval of the president’s policies as being based on race is an outrage and troubling sign about the lengths Democrats will go to disparage all who disagree with them. Playing the race card shows that Democrats are willing to deal from the bottom of the deck. Our political system has no place for this. President Obama should join me in calling for an end to these attacks by members of his party and a renewal of honest debate.