Princeton professor and Nation contributor Melissa Harris-Lacewell and Rachel Maddow discuss the charges of racism being leveled at President Obama from prominent right-wing radio and television hosts. Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh have implied in recent days that Obama is angry at white people, and Harris-Lacewell and Maddow debate whether this is political strategy or whether it is simply an irrational “emotional tantrum” at no longer being the assumed center of all power. Harris-Lacewell notes that the difference between how white and black people perceive issues can be used as a wedge by the right to drum up white resentment at Obama.

—Sarah Jaffe

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