“And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher. But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken. I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son. ” – President Barack Obama, July 14, 2013
Was President Obama’s statement after the George Zimmerman verdict a “racist” “expectation of violence” that was tantamount to saying “those barbarians can’t contain themselves.”
It seems like a provocative and absurd question, but reflect for a moment on the admonitions from none other than self-appointed race experts Touré and Don Lemon (from MSNBC and CNN, respectively.)
Days before the Zimmerman verdict was announced, both talking heads used their cable news soap boxes to criticize journalists and pundits who speculated or raised concerns over potential unrest if Zimmerman was acquitted.
On July 13th, Touré called Fox News Channel’ Bill O’Reilly’s statements regarding possible unrest “racist” and likened him to accused murderer Zimmerman:
“This is racism. This expectation of violence. And this is what George Zimmerman applied to Trayvon Martin in the dark. Well, he surely will be violent! He is planning violence! He’s a burglar, he’s going to get us! I must stop him! And here, [Bill] O’Reilly and these other lunatics come in to say, all of you are the same.”
On the same day, Lemon intoned:
“No one should ever be violent about anything, and especially in this particular case. And I want to say this as judiciously as possible. I’m not just saying this because I’m African-American. But to hear people come out beforehand and talk about the possibility of violence and not rioting, it strikes me as, ‘those barbarians can’t contain themselves.’ And it strikes many people as that as well. I don’t remember any talk about this surrounding the Jodi Arias verdict or the Casey Anthony verdict.”
I don’t remember President Obama calling for calm and respect for the jury’s verdict after the Jodi Arias trial either, Mr. Lemon. So, why did President Obama make this statement after Zimmerman was acquitted? Was he saying “those barbarians can’t contain themselves”?