Racism didn't go away. It just went underground. Jake is right that they more in the open now. They're very cowardly and the internet has given them a cyber white sheet to hide behind.
Obama has not "chosen sides" or really addressed racism any ore or less than most other presidents.
There have always been some who just have to blame others for their own actions, their words and more than anything else, their failures. Blame Obama, blame Hispanics, blame Blacks - its easier than getting off their fat butts and doing for themselves.