President Obama used the "N" word on a podcast yesterday trying to make the point that there is still racism in America despite some progress.

Politico:

“The legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, discrimination in almost every institution of our lives, you know, that casts a long shadow, and that’s still part of our DNA that’s passed on. We’re not cured of it,” Obama said in the interview, posted in full on Monday. “And it’s not just a matter of it not being polite to say ‘n——-’ in public. That’s not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It’s not just a matter of overt discrimination. … Societies don’t overnight completely erase everything that happened 2-300 years prior.”

Addressing last week’s attack at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina, Obama reiterated his point that “no other advanced nation on Earth … tolerates multiple shootings on a regular basis and considers it normal.” In Australia, Obama noted, there was a mass shooting in Tasmania that was “so shocking” that the country changed its gun laws.

“But I think part of the point that I wanted to make was, it’s not enough to just feel bad,” Obama added. “There are actions that could be taken to make events like this less likely, and one of those actions we could take would be to enhance some basic, common-sense gun safety laws, that by the way, the majority of gun owners support.”

After the Newtown massacre, Obama said, “gun sales shot up, and ammunition shot up. And each time that these events occur, ironically, gun manufacturers make out like bandits. Partially because of this fear that the federal government and the black helicopters are all coming to get your guns.”

What's the point?  Did he say it because he thinks he can get away with it because he's black?  Editor Lifson points out that because it was a podcast, Obama didn't have to deal with FCC issues related to the use of the word.  That would mean that the president planned to use the word deliberately – to what end is a puzzlement.

In that statement, Obama's habit of setting up straw man after straw man and then knocking them down was on full display.  What percentage of people buying guns after Newtown were afraid the government was going to swoop down in black helicopters and take their guns?  Close to zero.  But how is it paranoia when leading gun control activists openly advocated banning certain weapons and ammunition? 

And again, we see a straw man argument: the idea that any proposal he has made regarding gun control would have prevented the shootings in Charleston is rank absurdity. 

As for the "N" word, Obama just wanted to get everyone's attention.  His views on race relations reflect the dominant liberal theory that until white America apologizes for slavery (and the unmentioned addition of paying reparations), black America won't be satisfied.  It's an unrealistic view of race relations and guarantees that the issue will continue to be unresolved and used as a political weapon by Democrats forever.