He is America’s first African-American President but in his first few months at the White House, race and race relations have often taken the centrestage.

Now for the first time since former US president Jimmy Carter opened up a pandora’s box by declaring that racism was a major factor behind the hostility towards Obama. The President has spoken out, and not surprisingly, he disagrees.

To those who say the nasty tenor of the health care debate in America is because of racism, Barack Obama says – not true. America’s first Black President says criticism against him is due to his policies not race.

“Are there some people who don’t like me because of my race? I’m sure there are. Are there some people that vote for me only because of my race? There are probably some of those, too. The overwhelming part of the American population, I think, is right now following this debate and trying to figure out, is this going to help me?” said Obama.

Obama has pointed out that the harsh rhetoric against him is no different than that hurled at other presidents in the past. In a country where the first amendment protects even the most inflammatory statements, George W bush has been compared to Hitler and J F Kennedy. He has been called a communist and a traitor.

“It’s a useful political tool for his opponents. If they can make this about race they will turn him into a Jesse Jackson or a civil rights type of person as opposed to a president who happens to be black,” said Jay Dapper, political analyst and journalist.

The Obama administration has now gone on the offensive. On Sunday, President Obama will appear on five different news networks in an attempt to turn the page on race politics and bring the focus back to his health care plan, for already precious time has been lost. On Tuesday the Senate Finance Committee will begin voting to remake of the nation’s health care system.

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