Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

According to Andrew McCarthy, Barack Obama refused to release his birth certificate because "he knew that he would not be held to the same standard as other politicians." And why would he not be held to the same standard? Because—I'm talking here—he's black (actually, half black). That's racism, folks. Racism consists in employing a double standard, one for members of one race and another for members of other races. Isn't this deliciously ironic? The editorial board of the New York Times (to take one journalistic example) accuses "birthers" of being racist, when in fact it's the board members themselves who are racist. Could there be a more invidious form of discrimination than not holding blacks responsible for their actions? How is that not degrading? How does not that reduce blacks to the level of animals? How is that not disrespectful, in the Kantian sense? How is that not racist? If I were black, I would insist on being held to the same standard as white people. I would not want a pass simply because of my skin color or ethnicity. I would expect to be criticized to the same extent, and on the same terms, as everyone else, including white people; and I would protest loudly if I were not. It speaks volumes about Obama that he willingly accepts the double standard. He lacks self-respect. More specifically, he trades his self-respect for political advantage. That is downright pitiable.