I\'m sure that some of the president\'s opponents are racists. I\'m sure that some conservatives have subconscious racist tendencies, and don\'t know it. However in this case I don\'t agree that this is an obvious case of mass racism.
I think many conservatives are simply uncomfortable with President Obama because he\'s too smart. They don\'t like the idea of a charismatic individual arguing for positions they disagree with, and doing it with eloquence they could never hope to achieve. The height of eloquent debate from some conservatives is limited to shouting down the opponent and repeating long disproven falsehoods.
They would rather have a rube or a hayseed in office so they can feel superior to him. If you\'re an ignorant idiot, would you want your children to hear a speech from a smart man who can present an argument clearly and persuasively? That might turn the kids against you!
Of course Obama didn\'t present any political agenda to the students, but that\'s beside the point. The point is they were afraid that he would, and that his argument would be too persuasive. Defenders of the Faith! We must protect the children from the truth! See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.