Letters: Obamacare repeal effort driven by racism

In 1964 Democratic President Lyndon Johnson proposed the “War on Poverty” to assist all poor Americans. Republicans, fearful that Johnson’s efforts might unite poor people, formulated the “Southern Strategy” to convince whites that blacks profited more from governmental programs. In 2016, enter Donald J. Trump’s run for the presidency fueled by his pledge to repeal Obamacare — the new Southern Strategy.

Obamacare is saving lives. Repealing it would be like bulldozing a mansion because of a leaky sink. A white woman in rural Kentucky stated that her sick husband would be dead if not for Obamacare — but in the same breath she said she voted for, and continues to support, Donald Trump. The woman’s statement is illogical, but racism is illogical. The “flaw” with Obamacare is that it bears the name of an African-American man.

The opioid addiction epidemic is most prevalent in white middle class neighborhoods. Members of the General Assembly are already speaking of opioid abusers as “victims.” But those elected officials have not softened their tones about the abusers of crack, a vicious drug that has ravaged black communities for more than 40 years.

America is gagging to death on racism.