--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Barack Obama happens to be the first…" description: "\"Barack Obama happens to be the first African-American, and so criticism of him is and always was gonna be racism, and therefore not permitted.\" — Rush ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/rush-limbaugh-28_african-american_barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-afr_2934668.jpg" --- # Barack Obama happens to be the first African-American, and… ![“Barack Obama happens to be the first African-American, and so criticism of him is and always was gonna be racism, and therefore not permitted.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/rush-limbaugh-28_african-american_barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-afr_2934668.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/rush-limbaugh-28_african-american_barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-afr_2934668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/rush-limbaugh-28_african-american_barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-afr_2934668.jpg) > “Barack Obama happens to be the first African-American, and so criticism of him is and always was gonna be racism, and therefore not permitted.” [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker claims that any criticism of a historic figure is automatically labeled as racism, thus silencing dissent. **In simple terms:** Criticism is dismissed as racism. Key Takeaway Question the labeling of criticism. Themes politics race free speech Mood defensive critical Type political controversial When to use this quote - public debate - media analysis - political discourse Key Concepts media bias identity politics Questions to Reflect On - Is all criticism of a public figure racist? - How does labeling affect open dialogue? A Different Perspective Criticism can be legitimate without being racist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) ## Related quotes > [When I first heard that Barack Obama was going to be the first black president, I wanted to do the smallest, biggest tribute in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-wigan/when-i-first-heard-that-barack-obama-was-going-to-be-the-first-black/) [Willard Wigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-wigan/) > [Well, the chairman of Federal Reserve just made his move to rescue Barack Obama. We're gonna have QE3. We're gonna print some more money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/well-the-chairman-of-federal-reserve-just-made-his-move-to-rescue/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Is it a coincidence that in 1998, Barack Obama talks about a majority coalition of welfare recipients and in 2012 we got a record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/is-it-a-coincidence-that-in-1998-barack-obama-talks-about-a-majority/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Barack Obama doesn't think this country should be number one. If it were number 35 it'd be fine with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/barack-obama-doesn-t-think-this-country-should-be-number-one-if-it/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [If you want to know what the biggest thing in your way to an improved standard of living, higher pay, a more rewarding career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/if-you-want-to-know-what-the-biggest-thing-in-your-way-to-an-improved/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It is Barack Obama who is at war with this country. Recent events prove it. This is not a cliche. It's not a figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-is-barack-obama-who-is-at-war-with-this-country-recent-events/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [For the last five years, we have been presented with the idea that Barack Obama is superhuman. Barack Obama is unlike any of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/for-the-last-five-years-we-have-been-presented-with-the-idea-that/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Barack Obama, foreign policy wizard. I just have to laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/barack-obama-foreign-policy-wizard-i-just-have-to-laugh/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-think-an-overwhelming-portion-of-the-intensely-demonstrated/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [When people see Barack Obama, they don't necessarily see an African-American president. They see someone who is a child of immigrants. They see someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-meng/when-people-see-barack-obama-they-don-t-necessarily-see-an-african/) [Grace Meng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-meng/) > [“(On Barack Obama) "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/on-barack-obama-i-mean-you-got-the-first-mainstream-african-american/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [There's an African-American professor at a noted Ivy League school who is saying there's three kinds of white people, and only one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-an-african-american-professor-at-a-noted-ivy-league-school/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [As a big, you don't want to be the first one to shoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevon-looney/as-a-big-you-don-t-want-to-be-the-first-one-to-shoot/) [Kevon Looney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevon-looney/) > [I wanna be myself and be the first Jason Jordan. I don't wanna be the second Kurt Angle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jordan/i-wanna-be-myself-and-be-the-first-jason-jordan-i-don-t-wanna-be-the/) [Jason Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jordan/) > [I thought I'd be the first to introduce herbal tea to Patna. White tea, ginger tea, rooibos, camomile. No one touched it. On subsequent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitava-kumar/i-thought-i-d-be-the-first-to-introduce-herbal-tea-to-patna-white-tea/) [Amitava Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitava-kumar/) ## More by Rush Limbaugh > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. The thing about this that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-can-t-see-the-democrats-working-with-donald-trump-on-tax-reform/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [People from all over the world came to America and assimilated into a single culture rooted in the founding, which is rooted in individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-from-all-over-the-world-came-to-america-and-assimilated-into-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Explore all 2,819 Rush Limbaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) [Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Barack Obama happens to be the first African-American, and so criticism of him is and always was gonna be racism, and therefore not permitted.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rush Limbaugh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-african-american-and-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "African american" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-african-american-and-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/rush-limbaugh-28_african-american_barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-afr_2934668.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/rush-limbaugh-28_african-american_barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-afr_2934668.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/rush-limbaugh-28_african-american_barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-afr_2934668.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Barack Obama happens to be the first African-American, and so criticism of him is and always was gonna be…” — Rush Limbaugh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rush Limbaugh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Barack Obama happens to be the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-african-american-and-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/barack-obama-happens-to-be-the-first-african-american-and-so/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```