Opponents of the president - who question not just his birthplace but also his faith - seem to be more overt today in their racism than during the 2008 campaign.

As I noted earlier this week, The American Spectator's loyal readers left a serious of racist remarks and other comments tinged with religious bigotry on on yet another article questioning the president's faith.  I've already published a few examples of those comments but here are some additional remarks concerning the president from The American Spectator's website left in the same ugly spirit:

• One thing I can say with 100% assurance; Obama is NOT a Christian. His actions speak loud; he is the anthesis of everything Christ taught. Obama is a disciple of Satan who is the "father of lies". Obama is wrapped up in black liberation theology, Marxism, Islam, deception, anti-Americanism, an advocate of murdering children through abortion, thuggery, criminality, immorality, corruption, and an extremely pathological liar.

• You do realize that if he is in fact Muslim it would be perfectly acceptable for him to lie about his faith and intentions by the doctrine of al-Taqiyya? Such has been used by Muslims since the seventh century to confuse, confound and divide their enemies.

• Everybody knows that all black people are perfect. Therefore, anyone who criticizes a black person about anything can only be a racist. What could be clearer?

• And when it comes to Our Lord and Savior Barack Hussein Obama - whose very existence is perfection itself - it is simply astonishing that some people don't see a god; they see an incompetent, ignorant, bigoted, angry, petulant, puerile, tyrannical piece of shit.

• Obama's genetics aside, his behavior invites a lot of questions and thus curiosity and scrutiny. His apologia to the Muslim ( and rest of the world ) his remarks about the GZ Mosque, his hostile policies towards Israel, and his background of connections with radical and even terrorist types make one feel suspicious. I don't know if Obama himself knows who he is. But on any given day he could grow beard like Karx Marx or perhaps wear full Imam regalia with Koran on his right and Das Kapital on the Left hand. The this is not a coincidental.

Here's another example:  this time from an anti-gay blog that can now be fairly labeled as racist as well.

From the Gay Christian Movement Watch:

On Wednesday, an unusual gaggle of  “leaders across the ideological spectrum”  released an open letter type statement rebuking anyone who questions the so-called “faith” of the Saviour of the United States (SOTUS). The Democratic party aligned media agency hired by the “70 prominent religious leaders” contends that anyone who questions whether Barack Obama is a real Christian is misrepresenting his faith.  The letter wanted to make the point that [the president's] faith isn’t a political matter. I beg to differ.

What’s even more outrageous is the demand to prohibit the free speech rights of any American who may question Obama’s religious teleprompter faith.

“…we urge public officials, faith leaders, and the media to offer no further support or airtime to those who misrepresent and call into question the President’s Christian faith.”

Among the signatories: Bishop TD Jakes, Brian McLauren, Kirbyjon Caldwell and Rev. Chuck Currie...

People have a legitimate right to question any president’s public declarations of  the religious nature. Why is Obama exempt? Over and over he’s preached to the nation, lectured us on what the bible says ( from his progay-black liberation theology point of view), and couched his unpopular policies behind cherry picked scriptures.  He has, without question, done much more for the religion of death and violence (Islam) while sabotaging and deriding his own so called faith. And so, we are not supposed to question whether its right or wrong? We’re just supposed to shuffle our feet, give a big watermelon grin and pray for his continued success?

A "big watermelon grin..."  That's not even veiled racism. It's an obvious attempt to invoke a racist caricature of African-Americans.  Check out this doctored photo of the president available on the internet:

(Update:  It has been pointed out to me in an e-mail tonight that the author of the Gay Christian Movement is a man named DL Foster, an African-American who says that he experienced "deliverance from homosexual sin almost 20 years ago."  It is particularity tragic that a black man would seek to reinforce a caricature of African-Americans.  Furthermore, The American Psychological Association has noted you cannot turn gays into straights.  As Rev. Foster attacks gays and African-Americans, one can't help but be reminded of the recent news that Ken Mehlman, the chairman of George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign that played on anti-gay bigotry, came out this week as gay.  There were, of course, some African-Americans who opposed the civil rights movement.  We can only speculate on the motives of such people but I see no reason to do that here.  That fact remains that Rev. Foster pedals hateful rhetoric whatever his personal motivation might be.)          

Rhetoric like we're hearing today from those on the far right is meant to undermine the legitimacy of Barack Obama's presidency but also to divide Americans based on race and religion.  We've seen a lot of this and the Tea Party movement has been at the forefront of fostering such division.

Last summer, as the debate over health reform raged and town hall meetings deteriorated into near brawls, the National Council of Churches issued a statement urging civil discourse.  The statement speaks to today's national mood as well:

Individuals cannot express their best hopes and acknowledge their deepest fears within a climate of intimidation and character assassination, and all too often this climate is the product of racism and xenophobia.  Too much is at stake for the good of our society for us to continue down this dangerous path.  The essential nature of our national compact, to enfranchise the views of all, is imperiled in a hostile and suspicious environment. In this moment, then, we call the members of our churches, our political leaders, and all people of good will to somber reflection on the ways we might restore dignity and civility to our national discourse both as a matter of social ethics and to bolster the highest traditions of democratic process.

The prophet Isaiah (1:18) declares God’s message to the people to “Come let us reason together”. This injunction might serve us well in the present moment.  Reason, (yakah), in this passage does not refer to a dispassionate meeting of the minds but, rather calls for convincing, persuading and presenting a case for a point of view. Vigorous, principled debate advances our thinking and clarifies the challenges before us. Respect for neighbor strengthens the fabric of our communities.

Let us then, as a people, draw from our deepest traditions of faith and heritage to gain a renewed sense of community marked by honesty and mutual respect. Let our moments of rigorous debate be tempered with a profound sense of the dignity and worth of each person. Let us debate ideas on their merits and exercise restraint in expression of our own best conceptions. Such a disciplined dialogue holds great promise, honoring our differences and confirming our perception that we are a people joined in our mutual aspiration to live the lives for which we were created. 

Let us as member churches and brothers and sisters of other living faiths model the civility to which our sacred texts command.  Throughout its history, the conciliar ecumenical movement has provided a common venue for persons to express and debate differing viewpoints in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Let us make clear to ourselves and others those marks of civility that represent the best of our faiths and that can serve as foundational to rigorous, honest public discourse for the common good.

Obviously, we must speak out against racism and against those who would seek to use race or religion to divide the American people.  Such means to achieve political ends cannot be tolerated.

The test that we face in the face of such hatred and racism is how we respond.  Christians must always we concerned not just with justice but also for the need for reconciliation because justice is just a far off dream if we remain divided.