Just saw this on CNN, no link. It came out in some book that Reid said Obama should run for president and would win because he is "a light skinned negro" who doesn't speak "in negro dialect," "except when he wants to." (Very last part cracked me up.)
Obama has come out strongly in support of Reid, as have all the important Democratic negroes. No lasting political damage, just a fun little story.
To be fair this is not unlike the argument John McWhorter made a number of times during the campaign.
Was there anything factually incorrect about his statement? :hmm:
Same book claimed that Sarah Palin didn't know the difference between North and South Korea. Apparently she was chosen by searching online for female candidates. Her background was one lawyer checking the net. I suspect it was Barrister.
Quote from: Razgovory on January 12, 2010, 02:51:30 AM
Same book claimed that Sarah Palin didn't know the difference between North and South Korea. Apparently she was chosen by searching online for female candidates. Her background was one lawyer checking the net. I suspect it was Barrister.
I'm pretty sure he knew who she was before this.
Quote from: Sheilbh on January 12, 2010, 12:32:24 AM
To be fair this is not unlike the argument John McWhorter made a number of times during the campaign.
You can't say Negro! There is a double standard! This is just as offensive as wishing that Thurmond had won in 1948, to avoid all those "problems". Whatever those "problems" are.
Or at least that's the GOP's stance.
Most of the fuss I'm seeing seems to about Clinton which is really wtf stuff, "A few years ago he'd be making us coffee", what kind of idiot saw that as racist? Pretty obviously just agist.
Quote from: Razgovory on January 12, 2010, 02:51:30 AM
Same book claimed that Sarah Palin didn't know the difference between North and South Korea.
Her and Ide both.
Quote from: katmai on January 12, 2010, 02:53:24 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on January 12, 2010, 02:51:30 AM
Same book claimed that Sarah Palin didn't know the difference between North and South Korea. Apparently she was chosen by searching online for female candidates. Her background was one lawyer checking the net. I suspect it was Barrister.
I'm pretty sure he knew who she was before this.
:smarty:
Cool, another Dem gets on the "Exempt" list. Thought it was gonna be one short whenever Byrd kicked the bucket.
After that he should be happy he was not forced to resign. Why he wasn't is a mystery to me.
Quote from: Valmy on January 12, 2010, 12:44:29 PM
After that he should be happy he was not forced to resign. Why he wasn't is a mystery to me.
Given the fact that they are on a mission to save the country with their healthcare reform, the Dems decided it would be less disruptive to leave him in & do what they can to suppress the story. And it will probably work.
Quote from: derspiess on January 12, 2010, 12:48:40 PM
Given the fact that they are on a mission to save the country with their healthcare reform, the Dems decided it would be less disruptive to leave him in & do what they can to suppress the story. And it will probably work.
The Senate already saved America so they can go ahead and unlead Reid then :P
Quote from: Valmy on January 12, 2010, 12:44:29 PM
After that he should be happy he was not forced to resign. Why he wasn't is a mystery to me.
Why should he be? Because he said negro?
Quote from: Faeelin on January 12, 2010, 12:50:40 PM
Quote from: Valmy on January 12, 2010, 12:44:29 PM
After that he should be happy he was not forced to resign. Why he wasn't is a mystery to me.
Why should he be? Because he said negro?
Are you shitting me? I mean saying the word negro is pretty bad but the substance of the statement was pretty racist as well.
Quote from: Valmy on January 12, 2010, 12:53:00 PM
Why should he be? Because he said negro?
Are you shitting me? I mean saying the word negro is pretty bad but the substance of the statement was pretty racist as well.
[/quote]
Actually, I don't think the substance was necessarily racist-- I thought it was generally accepted that Obama was not "too black" to be a successful candidate but that he was sufficiently so to get the black community fully behind him. It may or may not say something negative about U.S. society as a whole, but IMO that's a fairly objective statement.
It was all in the delivery. Who says "negro" any more, anyway. I think my grandma even stopped using the word at some point before she died.
Quote from: Valmy on January 12, 2010, 12:53:00 PM
Are you shitting me? I mean saying the word negro is pretty bad but the substance of the statement was pretty racist as well.
You think it's racist to suggest Americans wouldn't elect Obama is he sounded or looked like Al Sharpton?
Who is the blackest living American anyway? The Gangsta of Golf Tiger Woods?
Quote from: The Brain on January 12, 2010, 01:05:29 PM
Who is the blackest living American anyway? The Gangsta of Golf Tiger Woods?
CdM during the summer months.
Quote from: derspiess on January 12, 2010, 12:34:42 PM
Cool, another Dem gets on the "Exempt" list. Thought it was gonna be one short whenever Byrd kicked the bucket.
He said something offensive, that's all. Lott seemed to suggest that the continuation of segregation (possibly its intensification) would have been a good thing and have avoided 'those' problems. Those are two very different things. It's the difference, say, between making a remark about Hillary only getting where she is because of her husband with a slightly sexist term and suggesting that actually Hillary's indicative of the 'problems' you have once you give women the vote.
Quote from: Faeelin on January 12, 2010, 01:04:08 PM
You think it's racist to suggest Americans wouldn't elect Obama is he sounded or looked like Al Sharpton?
I would say it is more what Al Sharpton said that made him not viable rather than what he looked or sounded like.
Quote from: Valmy on January 12, 2010, 01:56:45 PM
I would say it is more what Al Sharpton said that made him not viable rather than what he looked or sounded like.
I disagree. They all matter.
I'd add that I agree with McWhorter that from my exposure to Americans a 'black accent' isn't any longer just a racial thing it's an age thing. Either younger generations don't care about the racial element or, I think this is more likely, aspects of black culture have become so tied to big bits of youth culture that what an old white man like Reid hears as a 'black accent' is increasingly an accent that all young Americans have or can have.
Quote from: Sheilbh on January 12, 2010, 01:59:32 PM
I'd add that I agree with McWhorter that from my exposure to Americans a 'black accent' isn't any longer just a racial thing it's an age thing. Either younger generations don't care about the racial element or, I think this is more likely, aspects of black culture have become so tied to big bits of youth culture that what an old white man like Reid hears as a 'black accent' is increasingly an accent that all young Americans have or can have.
Clearly that exposure was limited. :mellow:
Quote from: Sheilbh on January 12, 2010, 01:56:43 PM
Quote from: derspiess on January 12, 2010, 12:34:42 PM
Cool, another Dem gets on the "Exempt" list. Thought it was gonna be one short whenever Byrd kicked the bucket.
He said something offensive, that's all. Lott seemed to suggest that the continuation of segregation (possibly its intensification) would have been a good thing and have avoided 'those' problems. Those are two very different things. It's the difference, say, between making a remark about Hillary only getting where she is because of her husband with a slightly sexist term and suggesting that actually Hillary's indicative of the 'problems' you have once you give women the vote.
That's the spin but I'm not sure I buy it. Reid's comments could be spun as well, while Lott's comments could be said to be merely a compliment to an old, retiring Senator. Kind of depends on how someone wants to pursue the issue, or make a political agenda. Also, the Bush admin didn't stand up for Lott, possibly because Lott had a lot of clout and wasn't so easy to work with. Getting rid of Lott took some of Bush's Repub opponents down a notch. That's what was being discussed about that today on one of the news shows. Here, Obama is supporting Reid, certainly part of that is due to needing Reid to push the health care and other bills. And both Reid and Obama called for Lott to resign over his comments. So now I say they need to live up to the same ideals. They and other Dems didn't feel Lott should remain as leader with a tarnished reputation. Same could go for Reid since we're playing that game, and the Repubs are making a lot more out of this.
I'd rather see this hyper sensitivity over Racial issues end. We drive ourselves nuts about hyping up some of these issues, while there are legitimate issues still. But since the hype still rears its ugly head when the "wrong" type person says something, then everyone should pay the same price, I guess. Maybe that way, as we see how insidious and damaging it is, we'll start to come to our senses over this hyper sensitivity.
Quote from: KRonn on January 12, 2010, 02:28:44 PM
That's the spin but I'm not sure I buy it. Reid's comments could be spun as well, while Lott's comments could be said to be merely a compliment to an old, retiring Senator. Kind of depends on how someone wants to pursue the issue, or make a political agenda.
I'm sorry but I'm not spinning and I think this is bullshit. Enoch Powell was a great MP, a great Parliamentarian and a very intelligent man. I can say all of that and compliment an old politician. When I say that maybe we should have listened to his 'rivers of blood' speech to avoid a lot of problems over the last 40 years I'm straying into very different territory. I'm not complimenting the man but seeming to endorse his racist agenda 40 years ago, that's what Lott did.
QuoteSo now I say they need to live up to the same ideals. They and other Dems didn't feel Lott should remain as leader with a tarnished reputation. Same could go for Reid since we're playing that game, and the Repubs are making a lot more out of this.
When Reid tries to suggest the continuation and possible strengthening of segregation would be a good idea then I think they're on a level playing field. Reid's statement seems to me to be at 'Obama the magic negro' level of offensiveness. That is nowhere near what Lott said.
QuoteI'd rather see this hyper sensitivity over Racial issues end. We drive ourselves nuts about hyping up some of these issues, while there are legitimate issues still. But since the hype still rears its ugly head when the "wrong" type person says something, then everyone should pay the same price, I guess. Maybe that way, as we see how insidious and damaging it is, we'll start to come to our senses over this hyper sensitivity.
History doesn't end. After several hundred years of slavery and both legally enforced and sort-of informal segregation being present throughout the US within living memory I think asking for an end to 'hyper sensitivity' is, frankly, insensitive - not to mention impossible.
Asking for an end to hypersensitivity is almost tautologically a reasonable request. Whether this story or the Lott story are examples of hypersensitivity is another question.
Sheilbh, I'm not saying your spinning. You're trying to be reasonable, as are most of us anyway. I'm saying that the groups finding excuses for Reid, his party faithful, NAACP and/or other groups is some spin. They may believe it, or not and just be trying to support someone who they feel is more supportive of their views, same party or what ever. But that gets close to or is a double standard, and is worrisome. As we see them being called on it.
Quote from: derspiess on January 12, 2010, 12:58:45 PM
It was all in the delivery. Who says "negro" any more, anyway. I think my grandma even stopped using the word at some point before she died.
If she kept usining after her death, it might have been newsworthy.
Quote from: KRonn on January 12, 2010, 02:28:44 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on January 12, 2010, 01:56:43 PM
Quote from: derspiess on January 12, 2010, 12:34:42 PM
Cool, another Dem gets on the "Exempt" list. Thought it was gonna be one short whenever Byrd kicked the bucket.
He said something offensive, that's all. Lott seemed to suggest that the continuation of segregation (possibly its intensification) would have been a good thing and have avoided 'those' problems. Those are two very different things. It's the difference, say, between making a remark about Hillary only getting where she is because of her husband with a slightly sexist term and suggesting that actually Hillary's indicative of the 'problems' you have once you give women the vote.
That's the spin but I'm not sure I buy it. Reid's comments could be spun as well, while Lott's comments could be said to be merely a compliment to an old, retiring Senator. Kind of depends on how someone wants to pursue the issue, or make a political agenda. Also, the Bush admin didn't stand up for Lott, possibly because Lott had a lot of clout and wasn't so easy to work with. Getting rid of Lott took some of Bush's Repub opponents down a notch. That's what was being discussed about that today on one of the news shows. Here, Obama is supporting Reid, certainly part of that is due to needing Reid to push the health care and other bills. And both Reid and Obama called for Lott to resign over his comments. So now I say they need to live up to the same ideals. They and other Dems didn't feel Lott should remain as leader with a tarnished reputation. Same could go for Reid since we're playing that game, and the Repubs are making a lot more out of this.
I'd rather see this hyper sensitivity over Racial issues end. We drive ourselves nuts about hyping up some of these issues, while there are legitimate issues still. But since the hype still rears its ugly head when the "wrong" type person says something, then everyone should pay the same price, I guess. Maybe that way, as we see how insidious and damaging it is, we'll start to come to our senses over this hyper sensitivity.
The Bush administration didn't stand of for Lot because they were actively pushing for him step down. They wanted their own guy in that spot (Frisk). Democrats had nothing to do with it.
Quote from: derspiess on January 12, 2010, 12:34:42 PM
Cool, another Dem gets on the "Exempt" list. Thought it was gonna be one short whenever Byrd kicked the bucket.
Oh you poor babies. :console:
If Obama had a good ole gullah accent and was black as night there's no way in hell he would have been elected.
Reid is correct.
Quote from: Fate on January 12, 2010, 07:05:28 PM
If Obama had a good ole gullah accent and was black as night there's no way in hell he would have been elected.
Reid is correct.
AFAIK not a single person on the planet has said he was wrong.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 12, 2010, 07:07:38 PM
Quote from: Fate on January 12, 2010, 07:05:28 PM
If Obama had a good ole gullah accent and was black as night there's no way in hell he would have been elected.
Reid is correct.
AFAIK not a single person on the planet has said he was wrong.
Eh. On This Week George Will agreed with Reid. Elizabeth Cheney spent the entire segment yelling racciss. Crocodile tears for sure, but the argument was put forward...
The argument that Reid said something racist or that Snoop Dog could get elected president if he ran?
Actually Snoop is pretty light skinned. Make that Fitty Sen.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 12, 2010, 07:17:17 PM
The argument that Reid said something racist or that Snoop Dog could get elected president if he ran?
I'd vote for Snoop Dog
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 12, 2010, 07:17:17 PM
The argument that Reid said something racist or that Snoop Dog could get elected president if he ran?
Here's the thing... I'd vote for Snoop Dog, even though I didn't vote for Obama. :smoke:
"Mr. Presidizzle, how do you intend to deal with this North Korean aggression?"
"S'all co holmes, Doggy gon git sa fine ass bitches ship off ta Kizzim like a mufugga!"
NYT headline the next day:
U.S, NORTH KOREA FORGE A LASTING PEACE
President Snoop brokers the "Fine Ass Bitch Accords", Putin ROFLs
Quote from: The Brain on January 12, 2010, 01:05:29 PM
Who is the blackest living American anyway? The Gangsta of Golf Tiger Woods?
Leonard Marshall