EA Soundcheck: Scott Lucas with BBC Scotland on Race and The Attacks on Barack Obama

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This may be one of the most depressing interviews I have ever heard, let alone been a part of. BBC Radio Scotland, using yesterday's news that former President Jimmy Carter had said race played a large part in attacks on the Obama health care and economic proposals, spoke with former US talk radio host Charlie Wolff and me.

I tried to set out the line that race is not the key issue here; rather it's only one element in the replacement of reasoned discussion of important issues by the shouts, led by talk radio and TV outlets like Fox, of "liberalism","extremism", "Communism", "fascism", and "socialism". All of this is aimed politically at crippling Obama as the Republican Party searches for someone to lead the Presidential challenge in 2021; rhetorically, it's even more damaging, portraying anyone who wants to make significant changes to address issues like health care as "un-American".

Unfortunately Wolff, who is talented enough to avoid issues and throw around labels like acid confetti, got the last few minutes, taking (and proving) my point to new, depressing extremes.

The exchange, which is up for seven days, is at the 1:40:00 mark of the programme.

EA Special Announcement: Today in Tehran

I'll be on the road today, as my parents arrive for their 50th anniversary celebrations. You're in good hands, however, with Mike Dunn leading the EA team and with our link-up with Josh Shahryar ("The Green Brief") and Anonymous Iran. There will be regular updates on the Supreme Leader's address at Friday prayers, and I'll rejoin the team this afternoon for a snap analysis.

EA Soundcheck: Scott Lucas on BBC about Obama's Health Care Speech

Video and Transcript: President Obama’s Speech on Health Care (9 September)

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I spoke at 0900 GMT with the BBC World Service's World Update about last night's speech by President Obama on health care, the video and transcript of which are in a separate entry. Jonathan Freedland of The Guardian of London was the other contributor. The item is at the start of the programme, which will be up until about 1000 GMT on Friday.

It's getting lonely in the coffee shop...

…as Western media coverage of Iran is drying up. As most of Enduring America’s readers will know, yesterday was a dramatic day, with security forces raiding the offices of the opposition and knocking their websites offline.

Coverage of these important events is now limited, and even missing, in the English-speaking mainstream media, so Enduring America finds itself at the forefront of Iran coverage. With the help of sources in Iran and elsewhere, as well as our excellent readers, we are almost always well ahead of the major outlets for both news and analysis.

We think, with the Iranian Government's attempts to shut down coverage, that it’s even more important that we continue this effort. So that is why we’re approaching those of you who can help. Whether you buy us a coffee to keep us going or donate something more, every penny is hugely appreciated --- and will be spent expanding and improving Enduring America’s coverage of Iran and beyond.

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