Racism and the Democratic race

Re “Racism’s resonance,” Opinion, April 16

Only someone actively looking for racism in Hillary Rodham Clinton’s comments could make the large leap from “elitism” to “uppity.”

You could also leapfrog from “elitism” to “pretentious” to “snobbish,” which can be applied to the rich and powerful of any color who look down on the lower class. This is what I, and probably most people, interpreted Clinton as saying -- rather than crying “racist” because her comments were aimed at a black man.

Robert Battig

Tujunga

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What every black knows, and every white cannot admit, is that racism is institutionalized in this nation. Privilege based on skin color remains.

David K. Shipler’s summation of the subtle racial codes is well done, taking us back to Thomas Jefferson setting the American tone with his racist attitude toward captive Africans.

However, the belief that Clinton and her campaign managers are not racist denies the underlying mind set in America -- that blacks are the “other.”

Mildred Pitts Walter

Los Angeles

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Let me get this straight -- Barack Obama can spew stereotypical hogwash about typical white people and gun-toting Bible-thumpers clinging to religion, and if I disagree with it, I am the one who is labeled the racist, and he gets a free pass? Liberal America and its double standards at their best.

Mathew Leedholm

Simi Valley

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Why do people who wish to move beyond racism always bring up the race card when one of their own is rightfully criticized for saying something stupid at best and condescending at worst?

Shipler has the right to express his support and defense of Obama, but please, spare us the psychobabble about “subterranean biases” and “otherness.”

Yes, people of color are sometimes characterized by different standards and labeled accordingly. But the same can be said about women. Substitute “woman” for “black” in Shipler’s examples of negative labeling and the message will be the same.

Rey Tuazon

South Pasadena

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As a 56-year-old white male, I resent this attempt to explain why voters of my ilk refuse to vote for Obama. For the record, I would vote for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Rep. J.C. Watts or former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele in a heartbeat. Why? They share my political philosophy and usually take similar stands on issues. I don’t care what color their skin is. It looks like Shipler needs to do more research.

Mike Bennett

Rowland Heights