Obama Bucks: Paying for Racism

Filed in National by on October 16, 2008

For the past week or two we have been talking about how the race card has been played by the McCain Campaign.  We have been attacked, saying that we see racism everywhere.  Have no doubt, some in the Republican party believe that race baiting is a winning strategy.

In California, a Republican Women’s group has come under fire for sending out an email to its members depicting Senator Obama’s face on a food stamp surrounded by fried chicken, watermelon and ribs.

She said she doesn’t think in racist terms, pointing out she once supported Republican Alan Keyes, an African-American who previously ran for president.

“I didn’t see it the way that it’s being taken. I never connected,” she said. “It was just food to me. It didn’t mean anything else.”

Some of her best candidate are black.  The part of the story that broke my heart was this:

Sheila Raines, an African-American member of the club, was the first person to complain to Fedele about the newsletter. Raines, of San Bernardino, said she has worked hard to try to convince other minorities to join the Republican Party and now she feels betrayed.

“This is what keeps African-Americans from joining the Republican Party,” she said. “I’m really hurt. I cried for 45 minutes.”

This is why we see racism.  Because it is there.  No, it is not the only reason that people dislike Obama, but now we know why African Americans vote Democratic, the other side just doesn’t get it.

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  1. pandora says:

    Oh, they get it. They just don’t take their actions seriously. It’s always, “I was only kidding. Where’s your sense of humor?”

    Today it seems like racists deliberately play stupid, and then plead ignorance when someone calls them out. I call bullshit on this “new” technique.

  2. RSmitty says:

    Nothing like portraying more than one stereotype and then trying to plead ignorance.

    I, too, feel bad for Sheila Raines. You work hard and fight hard to promote what is good and then the wingnuts kick you in the balls and remind everyone of the bad.

  3. Duffy says:

    What? Why so offended? I just happen to like wearing pointy hoods. Is there….oh *that*, yeah it kinda does look like one of those outfits. I never thought of that. That’s not a burning cross, it’s a plus sign. I just hate math that’s all.

  4. liberalgeek says:

    That’s why you are a good egg Smitty. Come to the dark side…

  5. liberalgeek says:

    Very good, Duffy.

  6. RSmitty says:

    ‘Geek, I am just the anomoly in your life that you will never figure out.

  7. liberalgeek says:

    You had me at RINO.

  8. mike w. says:

    Yes, some people are racist and some of those people (like this woman) happen to be Republicans.

    Your insinuation that racism only exists among Republicans because the woman who created this racist & tasteless “ad” is a Republican is a ridiculously stereotypical generalization.

    Yes, racism exists in this country, but that doesn’t change the fact that certain Obama supporters see racism everywhere.

    You say “some in the Republican party see racism as a winning strategy.” Of course. Any party will have it’s share of intolerant bigots. That said, this racist ad is no more representative of all Republicans than DelDem’s call for “All Republicans to be lined up and shot” is representative of the views of liberals.

    That said, I find this womans “excuse” pretty sad. She basically said “Well this isn’t racist because I voted for a black guy once.”

  9. RSmitty says:

    You had me at RINO.
    8)

  10. liberalgeek says:

    Mike, your words don’t taste good in my mouth. Stop putting them there.

    Which Democratic racists did you have in mind?

  11. anon says:

    That is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard – How could she support Alan Keyes?

  12. G Rex says:

    Yep, that’s racist, and exactly the kind of garbage McCain has been telling his supporters to knock the f*#k off.

    It’s also the reason why Republican women need to stay in the kitchen, fixing me a turkey pot pie!

  13. pandora says:

    Mike doesn’t get it.

  14. RSmitty says:

    Was that GRex or Cartman?

    anon12: so wrong, but LOL!

  15. cassandra_m says:

    “I like wearing pointy hoods” — you owe me a new keyboard, Duffy. THAT was funny.

    And I feel really bad for Sheila Raines too — just because she’s a republican doesn’t mean that she is immune to insulting and demeaning rhetoric. The Republican Party cannot survive if it is going to tolerate the demonization of black and brown people.

  16. anonone says:

    “Today it seems like racists deliberately play stupid, and then plead ignorance when someone calls them out.”

    Like mike ‘the racist’ w.

  17. anonone says:

    “The Republican Party cannot survive if it is going to tolerate the demonization of black and brown people.”

    I hope you’re right.

  18. “Like mike ‘the racist’ w.”

    What a pleasant debate-ender, you ass.

  19. Pooping Left Wing Troll says:

    My poop is brown, does that mean Republicans hate my poop?

  20. anonone says:

    Such a wit you are, Mr. Matthews. Your clever repartee makes me see all the errors of my ways. Thank you, oh Wise One. I wonder why, with your amazing brilliance, that you couldn’t get a teaching position. I’d sure like my kids in your classroom.

  21. Dude,

    You know nothing about anything. To wit, fool, I was offered a half-dozen positions three weeks after I started the radio gig. Needless to say, I declined.

  22. anonone says:

    Tis true, Mr Matthews. I know nothing about anything. I know anything about nothing. And I stand in awe of your immense shadow.

  23. Immense it is! On that we agree!

  24. Culver says:

    I heard there was also a push poll in that county that asked, “Would you vote for Obama if you knew he had an illegitimate white child?”

  25. Al Mascitti says:

    Good one, Culver. Unless you’re not joking.

  26. Culver says:

    Joking, Al.

  27. Al Mascitti says:

    Whew. Good to know. It’s getting so I can’t tell anymore.

  28. Culver says:

    The ironies are thick. But the constant is racism.

  29. mike w. says:

    “Mike doesn’t get it.”

    Awesome response Pandora! Truly breathtaking I must say.

    “Which Democratic racists did you have in mind?”

    Are you asking me to list Democrats who are racist? Racism is a problem that’s not party specific, nor do the words of one racist within a particular party speak for everyone who shares that party affiliation.

  30. Dominique says:

    “Which Democratic racists did you have in mind?”

    We can probably start with Jesse “Hymietown” Jackson. Then there’s Louis “Jews are bloodsuckers” Farrakhan. Let’s not forget Robert Byrd. I’m sure there are plenty of racist Dems living, working and shopping right in your neighborhood. Racism is not exclusively Republican anymore than poor hygiene is exclusively Democratic.

    The ad was almost as ridiculously offensive and inappropriate as the lame excuse the creator made, but we’re talking about an organization that boasts “over 200 members”. It’s hardly the RNC peddling this shit. It’s ridiculous to turn this into a “Republicans are racist” screed.

  31. liberalgeek says:

    Dom – with all due respect, no it is not. I don’t know if you have caught on yet, but that is how these things get spread. My church-going Mother-in-law delivered a screed to her sister in MO a list of things wrong with Barack Obama, including that he was Muslim. This was a list that had been photo copied, faxed, mailed, disseminated by probably just one person.

    He probably just sent it to a few of his friends, who sent it to a few more friends… I’m not saying that McCain put this woman up to it, I’m saying that there is a critical mass of people in the republican party that do believe this crap. These people bulldoze inroads to minorities as fast as they can be built.

  32. pandora says:

    The truly shocking thing is how comfortable and open these people, and the ones in all the videos, are with their racism. It’s almost as if SOMEONE has given them permission (fanned the flames) to feel/act this way.

  33. Dominique says:

    Ironically, it gets spread by the very people who are most offended by it. Instead of this being a completely inappropriate mailing that went out to a very small group of people, it gets splashed all over the blogs and discussed on left-leaning shows and the hand wringing continues.

    It’s the same thing we see with the “Kill Him!” people. We’re talking about a few stupid people in a sea of thousands but they’re the lead story for an entire week on the news so the wackadoo with the arsenal in his basement (who doesn’t likely attend political rallies and would never have known about if not for seeing it on the news) hears it. FTR, I’m not of the belief that someone inclined to harm a politician is just sitting around waiting to hear encouragement from a dirtball at a political rally to do it.

    Your claim that there is a ‘critical mass’ of people in the republican party that believe this crap is not only completely baseless, it’s proof that you should consider getting out among those with different points of view a little more often.

  34. Dominique says:

    “It’s almost as if SOMEONE has given them permission (fanned the flames) to feel/act this way.”

    Who? The Founding Fathers?

  35. pandora says:

    Nope. Sarah Palin, with John McCain’s permission. Keep pretending not to see what’s going on, Dom. I’m not dancing around this anymore.

    FTR, I don’t think John McCain is a racist. I think he wants to win and will do anything to achieve that goal – even sell his honor to Karl Rove tactics; tactics that were once used to destroy his chances in an election.

    And no one is saying ALL Republicans feel this way, but it would be nice if the many decent ones stood up and put an end to this crap.

  36. anonone says:

    Mcinsane may not be a racist but he’d rather see your mother, sister, or daughter die than be allowed to have an abortion. Remember what he said in the debate: a women’s *”health”* is not important.

    So go ahead and vote for the sexist old man, Dom. Maybe you’re too old to ever be in the position of having to face death or infertility because you’re pregnant. So go ahead and vote for the this crazy guy – to hell with other women’s health. It just doesn’t matter to you. Like you wrote, “The only thing that’s really going to change is the name of the president.”

  37. kavips says:

    Oh, it’s horrible…..

    Instead of the malicious rumors spread of a white candidate adopting a black child,….today’s Republicans are rolling out, tsk, tsk, that Obama is rumored to have fathered two black children in wedlock….

    It just can’t get any worse…..

  38. mike w. says:

    “And no one is saying ALL Republicans feel this way, but it would be nice if the many decent ones stood up and put an end to this crap.”

    Why should it be the responsibility of other Republicans to shut up bigots? Not only that, but don’t they have a right to spout their ignorant, bigoted crap? This is still a free country, PC-ness and cries about the need to ban “hate speech” notwithstanding.

    I’ll stand up for your right to say anything, no matter how despicable I may find your words.

  39. Duffy says:

    Thx LG, Cassandra.

    Anonone,

    “Remember what he said in the debate: a women’s *”health”* is not important.”

    The problem he was trying to point out is that Democrats say only in cases of “rape, incest and health of the mother”. The word “health” includes, financial health, mental health (not in the clinical sense but in the “I would be sad if I had a baby right now” sense) etc.

    Pro-life people frequently agree insofar as it should be “rape, incest and the *life* of the mother”. i.e. she has cancer and needs chemo to fight it and that would be made impossible by being pregnant.

  40. nemski says:

    Hey Duffy, I’m pro-life but I support a woman’s right to choose.

  41. pandora says:

    “Why should it be the responsibility of other Republicans to shut up bigots?”

    Gee, I don’t know. Why do a lot of Republicans/conservatives call on black leaders to denounce rap music and absentee fathers?

  42. nemski says:

    Or Obama to repudiate Rev. Wright or Lewis.

  43. Duffy says:

    Nem,

    “right to choose”

    School choice? Choice to carry a weapon? To take whatever drugs they want? To sell their body? Religious choice? Working for the wage of their choice?

  44. cassandra_m says:

    The word “health” includes, financial health, mental health (not in the clinical sense but in the “I would be sad if I had a baby right now” sense) etc.

    This would not be a mainstream D understanding of the idea of the “health” of the mother. Plus you have to factor in getting a physician to buy off on such reasons which is fairly difficult unless you walk in the door with a pile of cash. The traditional and mainstream definition of “health of the mother” is a very specific clinical definition of that — physicians doing 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions have alot at stake otherwise, including hospital privileges AND malpractice insurance.

  45. G Rex says:

    Choose whether or not to join a union without a goon looking over your shoulder?

  46. anon says:

    Choose whether or not to join a union without a goon looking over your shoulder?

    Is that what you call your boss?

  47. mike w. says:

    “Gee, I don’t know. Why do a lot of Republicans/conservatives call on black leaders to denounce rap music and absentee fathers?”

    Maybe because a huge number of black children are born out of wedlock. (something like 7 out of 10 IIRC) As far as the rap music. Maybe they realize that it is culture that causes the violence we see in inner cities and that something which constantly glorifies and encourages such violence among young people only perpetuates violence on the streets.

  48. anonone says:

    O.K., Duffy, I’ll play:

    Conservative position: Only the big government has the right to decide what a woman’s “health” is. She does not have that right, nor does she have a right to privacy with her physician. And it doesn’t matter if she or her physician thinks that a pregnancy might damage her health, it is up to the government to make that decision for her. Even if it kills her.

    Liberal position: The government should stay out of women’s decisions about their health. It is private between her and her physician.

  49. pandora says:

    Mike, do you not see how you just contradicted your first argument? You apply standards to one group that you refuse to apply to another.

    So a successful black man has a responsibility to denounce a certain element of his society simply because of skin color, but successful white republicans are off the hook for their supporters because… encouraging violence is okay?

    Talk about double standards, and a very ugly one at that. Don’t bitch when the name calling starts. This last comment of yours reveals a lot.

  50. cassandra_m says:

    It isn’t exactly a double standard, Pandora, but a vivid view into the business of white privilege.

  51. anonone says:

    To the Delaware Liberal Editors:

    How long are you going to continue to let the racist mike w. continue discussing black people and racism on this site? Why is the racist talking-point garbage posted in #49 considered appropriate here? That post is flat-out offensive.

    As Pandora wrote, “Today it seems like racists deliberately play stupid, and then plead ignorance when someone calls them out. ” That is mike w. exactly.

  52. pandora says:

    True, Cassandra. I was a little hot under the collar after reading Mike’s comment. I honestly couldn’t believe he spewed such nonsense.

    Let’s look at the 2 comments, shall we everyone?

    Comment 1: Why should it be the responsibility of other Republicans to shut up bigots? Not only that, but don’t they have a right to spout their ignorant, bigoted crap? This is still a free country, PC-ness and cries about the need to ban “hate speech” notwithstanding.
    I’ll stand up for your right to say anything, no matter how despicable I may find your words.

    I then asked: “Gee, I don’t know. Why do a lot of Republicans/conservatives call on black leaders to denounce rap music and absentee fathers?”

    Comment 2: Maybe because a huge number of black children are born out of wedlock. (something like 7 out of 10 IIRC) As far as the rap music. Maybe they realize that it is culture that causes the violence we see in inner cities and that something which constantly glorifies and encourages such violence among young people only perpetuates violence on the streets.

    Are you kidding me?

  53. Duffy says:

    Anonone,

    Libertarian position: Pro choice on everything.

  54. JohnnyX says:

    “that something which constantly glorifies and encourages such violence among young people only perpetuates violence on the streets.”

    So, mike, what would you propose that we do about this music? BAN it??? But, but, libertarian, no, can’t ban things…unless they’re things that black people like and I don’t…in which case who really minds?

    In one post you talk about standing up for people’s rights to say something no matter how despicable you may find it…and then in the next one you condemn rap music for “perpetuating violence on the streets.” Hmm.

    I see your true colors, shining through…

  55. anonone says:

    Fine, Duffy, but there aren’t likely to be Libertarians in the White House or Supreme Court in the next 4 years.

  56. anonone says:

    Pandora,

    “I’ll stand up for your right to say anything, no matter how despicable I may find your words.”

    Fine, let him do it on his own blog – why let him do it here?

  57. Duffy says:

    I think Mike’s first point is that no one should silence anyone . The second point goes more toward “policing one’s own house”. I think everyone has a responsibility to do that. Muslims need to denounce suicide bombers who claim to be on their team. Republicans need to denounce racist crap that comes from their party. Democrats need to denounce the death threats (real or not) against their opponents. etc. etc. etc.

  58. anonone says:

    Duffy,

    “Democrats need to denounce the death threats (real or not) against their opponents”

    Democrats need to denounce things that never happened? Yeah, that makes sense.

  59. cassandra_m says:

    mike w’s post is flat-out offensive and is, frankly par for the course.

    mike w is here not to exchange ideas, but to put his ignorance on display, like some really bad performance art. This — attention Dave Burris — is the kind of input that is the equivalent of gang tagging. He is putting his mark all over this site in an effort to show that he was here, but not in an effort to actually contribute something.

    It would be really good if we could be disciplined enough to just ignore him. You already know he isn’t contributing anything, so just scroll over and respond to commenters who interest you.

    If you own a piece of property that has been gang tagged, the common wisdom is to get rid of it ASAP so that they don’t get the idea that you tolerate such behavior. Just ignore this fool. Really.

    I wonder if there is a wordpress plug in that functions as a bozo filter — so individual readers can block folks they’d rather not see.

  60. JohnnyX says:

    I won’t argue with mike’s first post – totally in agreement on the free speech position.

    But the second post is just – a trainwreck.

    “Maybe they realize that it is culture that causes the violence we see in inner cities”

    1. Define “culture”
    2. Cite some example, some study, some sort of evidence supporting the idea that whatever it is you define as “culture” actually CAUSES violence in inner cities. Please keep in mind while doing this that CORRELATION does not necessarily imply CAUSATION.
    3. It’s an unfair generalization to say that ALL rap music glorifies an encourages violence among young people.
    4. Again, find me evidence of at the very least a correlational link between rap music and inner city violence. Make sure it controls for every other variable besides this amorphous “culture” of which you speak and shows that this “culture” fueled by rap music is closely connected to violence. If such a study exists, I’ll be happy to read it. But don’t spout off this stuff like it’s a cold hard fact without anything to back it up.

  61. X Stryker says:

    Mike W: “Why should it be the responsibility of other Republicans to shut up bigots?”

    As a Jew, I feel uniquely qualified to answer this question. The answer, Mike, is because next they will come for you (or someone you love), and you will regret not having spoken out earlier.

  62. X Stryker says:

    >>>>4. Again, find me evidence of a correlational link between rap music and inner city violence. If it exists, I’ll be happy to read it. But don’t spout off this stuff like it’s a cold hard fact without anything to back it up.

    Violence is down almost everywhere since 1990. Maybe Gangsta Rap actually helped. Or maybe it was Joe Biden’s crime bills. Who knows.

  63. nemski says:

    cassandra_m wrote It would be really good if we could be disciplined enough to just ignore him. You already know he isn’t contributing anything, so just scroll over and respond to commenters who interest you.

    Hear, hear.

  64. cassandra_m says:

    The second point goes more toward “policing one’s own house”. I think everyone has a responsibility to do that.

    This is true, but all too often folks having on about unwed mothers or the effects of rap music or denouncing terrorism have no idea what a community may be trying to do because the have absolutely no visibility into that community. In the case of rap music (notwithstanding that most of its customers are while kids), there are very many voices in the black community asking for better behavior. There has been an effort on black colleges for the part year or so to stop buying the obviously violent and misogynistic stuff. There was a big effort to get BET to clean up its act. There are whole blogs (start with What About Our Daughters) that exist largely to call out AND to call on people to some activism to put a stop to the worst of it. And almost none of this gets any visibility where the folks who hold dear their stereotypes might have those stereotypes challenged.

  65. Dorian Gray says:

    I was going to refrain from calling Mike a racist and stick to fucking cunt-faced asshole cocksucker. Nope he’s a racist.

  66. G Rex says:

    What Duffy said. Furthermore, if they do not denounce such activities, they shouldn’t be surprised when their failure to do so is interpreted as tacit support. We use to rely on the media to point out such lapses on all sides, but that’s no longer the case. Has the Obama campaign taken ACORN to task for wholesale voter registration fraud? Not to my knowledge. Has anyone other that Fox asked why not? Not to my knowledge. QED, the Obama campaign tacitly supports ACORN’s efforts, because they will be the beneficiaries.

  67. cassandra_m says:

    Has anyone other that Fox asked why not? Not to my knowledge. QED, the Obama campaign tacitly supports ACORN’s efforts, because they will be the beneficiaries.

    Congratulations on contributing more absolute bullshit that has nothing to do with this thread, but everything to do with today’s manufactured outrage from you guys.

  68. Duffy says:

    Anonone,

    “Fine, Duffy, but there aren’t likely to be Libertarians in the White House or Supreme Court in the next 4 years.”

    Or 40 years. Or 400 years…

    “Democrats need to denounce things that never happened? Yeah, that makes sense.”

    No, I meant that some are real threats and others are just fantasies of foaming at the mouth Bush haters.

  69. RSmitty says:

    This — attention Dave Burris — is the kind of input that is the equivalent of gang tagging. He is putting his mark all over this site in an effort to show that he was here, but not in an effort to actually contribute something.

    WTF is that, tying Burris into this? Opportunistic blaming? You don’t have to like the guy, but sheesh.

  70. cassandra_m says:

    Sheesh — you could follow a conversation some, Smitty.

    A few days back Burris and I had a back and forth over what constitutes a Bubble and the state of banning at this site. I pointed out that comment to Burris to note the continuity with my previous posts.

  71. G Rex says:

    “…more absolute bullshit that has nothing to do with this thread…”

    Unlike rap music and abortion, you mean?

    On the contrary, it has everything to do with it. The “Kill him” story has been all over the media, and McCain addressed it. Obama has failed to address the ACORN story, other than to muddy up his past connections with the group. Perfect parallel.

  72. cassandra_m says:

    Hope you are happy with your manufactured outrage of the day. But repeating the talking points is apparently all you’ve got left.

  73. RSmitty says:

    Ah…my bad. I don’t get to hang out as much anymore, so I missed all of that.

    BTW, as long as they’re not clogging the site or spamming it, let ’em comment. It’s a perfect way to let people see how f’ed up they are. Of course, I did make a comment that it is your site and you do as you see fit; you owe nothing to anyone with this blog.

  74. shortstuff says:

    On the contrary, it has everything to do with it. The “Kill him” story has been all over the media, and McCain addressed it. Obama has failed to address the ACORN story, other than to muddy up his past connections with the group. Perfect parallel.

    KILL HIM is the same as ACORN? Are you serious?

    What a sad parallel GRex. For starters, while going to High School, I can’t begin to tell you how many times wanna be KKK and white supremacists tried to take me out as well as just your common down home racists were all willing to do me bodily harm just for the simple fact that I’m not white. No, I wasn’t a thug and no I actually had great grades and graduated with honors. To compare an illegitimate attack at Barack Obama such as ACORN is not even remotely close to what I had to deal with. Number one, quit watching Fox News since all the other News channels have in fact said that there is NO DIRECT LINK WITH ACORN whatsoever. Furthermore, IF, “IF” there is such a connection, even if he was trying to “FLOOD” the registration, you cannot VOTE unless your identity can be verified. Fact of the matter is there isn’t. It’s a tactic to try and gain sympathy and a move to have a “review” of all VALID voters before the election is coming. YES, racists chants have come up in McCain rallies and I have witnesses that WERE Republicans up until that point. So McCain can now rely on the fact he will have 4 less votes on November 4th.

    Now let’s get to the root of it. Stop making excuses. As a “public servant” who’s motto is “Country First”, YES it’s your responsibility to get your RUNNING MATE under control and your rally UNDER CONTROL. I didn’t think it was funny when I was in High School and I don’t think it’s funny now. My sons are “mixed”. Their mother is white. My sons just had to deal with it this summer at summer camp when they were being called “Pablo” or “Juan Valdez”… Where do you think those kids got that from? From their parents that mouth off the same thing. I’ll have to admit that I went off the deep end since this is something that I thought, “THOUGHT” was in the past since it’s been 14 years since I graduated but I told my kids that it’s ok. Those are kids that have no concept of reality. Brainwashed by ignorant parents. My kids know how to protect themselves, I teach them so I’m not worried about them getting trounced on. What I’m worried about is the fact that years have passed and as a society we haven’t made much ground.

    I could have told my sons to blast back but You know what I did tell my sons though? “Guys when you’re in High School, You’ll Thank me that you look like what you do… Girls will be all over you…”

  75. nemski says:

    Good stuff, shortstuff.

  76. Dominique says:

    You guys have clearly lost all capacity for objectivity and rational thought during this election season. I cannot freaking wait until November 5th. Hopefully, you’ll simmer down by then.

    How you connect Sarah Palin saying he “pals around with terrorists” to somehow encouraging hate speech is beyond me. It’s kind of like saying that Obama saying Hillary is ‘bringing out the claws’ or ‘throwing the china’ at him somehow encouraged people to yell “Hillary is a cunt” or “iron my shirt” at rallies. Before you jump down my throat for the millionth time, I’m not saying those comments are on par with “kill him”, I’m just saying it’s ridiculous to blame either Sarah Palin or Barack Obama for the behavior of others.

    For the life of me, I can’t understand why all of you have your panties in such a twist over this. It’s not like Obama’s behind or there’s even much of a chance he’ll lose. He’s going to win in November. Why don’t you guys just relax and try to enjoy it instead of hurling your stupid charges of racism every five minutes. It’s getting almost laughable.

    BTW, mike w’s comments were in no way racist. He’s absolutely right. In fact, when Al Sharpton went on his crusade to tone down rap music, he essentially said the same thing about the correlation between the music and the violence in the black community. Face it, you’ve all decided you don’t like mike so you just automatically jump on everything he posts. You’ve pre-judged him. Hmm…that’s prejudice, isn’t it?

  77. mike w. says:

    “mike w’s post is flat-out offensive and is, frankly par for the course.

    mike w is here not to exchange ideas, but to put his ignorance on display, like some really bad performance art.”

    And now what have you done with this comment Cass? You’ve put your own ignorance on display and called my comment out as “offensive” without qualifying your statement in any attempt to engage in an “exchange of ideas.”

  78. mike w. says:

    “The second point goes more toward “policing one’s own house”. I think everyone has a responsibility to do that.”

    Thank you Duffy. I see my comments turned this post into a clusterfuck, sadly. I’m sorry for that.

    I don’t mean to be insensitive, but who are young blacks more likely to identify with and listen to, a young black man (like Obama, who I’ve heard speak to young blacks with a message that is excellent) or some stuffy middle aged white guy?

    Just like the mindset of suicide bombers and young terrorists must be changed (within their communities) to actually win the war on terror, inner city violence is best combatted by changing hearts and minds and by changing that which leads people to a life of crime. (A lack of positive male role models is a HUGE part of the problem in the black community) And actually I think that’s an area where Obama’s success in this campaign is a tremendous positive even if he doesn’t get elected.

    I do not think it’s racist to say that there’s a culture of violence (really a subculture) that exists in inner city communities. Most of the violence in this country is perpetrated by blacks against blacks. It may not be PC to state that but it is a fact. I say that this is a subculture because it exists within the black community but is absolutely not representative of the black community as a whole. To claim otherwise would be a racist stereotype of all blacks when in fact the problem is confined to a small subset of that community.

    When your community has incredibly high incarceration rates and generations of fatherless children there’s a problem. Many black leaders have attempted to address this at the source, at a personal level by reaching out to young black men. And even there it’s a subset of young black men that are responsible for the violence.

    THAT is the culture that must be changed. It seems to me that the best way to reduce violence in any community is to address and attack the violent subculture at it’s roots by instilling values that contradict it.

    – Where did I say we should ban rap music? I didn’t and I wouldn’t.

  79. JohnnyX says:

    Mike W. – post #80 = good job. Much better argument than the previous post, and assuming that you truly believe what you are typing I take back any assertion on my part that you’re a racist.

  80. liberalgeek says:

    Dom – Here is the difference between what Obama said about Hillary and what Sarah Palin said about Obama. If you were waiting for a plane and someone point at a person and said “That guy hangs out with terrorists,” would you get on the plane? No, and you might even feel a moral duty to keep him from getting on the plane by any means necessary.

    Now, if instead the person pointed to a woman and said, “that woman is a complete f’ing bitch.” Would you have any problems getting on a plane with her? Would you feel any need at all to keep her off a plane?

    And actually it isn’t prejudice if you are basing your opinion of a person on their individual behavior in the past and the present. That is referred to as judgment. Many people have had plenty of time to make judgments about Mike and it is completely valid to interpret Mikes current comments through the lens of past experience. Ain’t no “pre” in that “judice”.

  81. Miscreant says:

    “KILL HIM is the same as ACORN? Are you serious? ”

    Of course it’s not the same. The alleged “KILL HIM” incident has been thoroughly investigated by the Secret Service, and has been proven to be unfounded and baseless… it was a lie by a biased reporter… , and Obama’s connection to the ACORN scandal are well documented and disgraceful.

    Big difference.

  82. cassandra_m says:

    Actually, only the Scranton incident has been cleared — the Florida ones are still there.

    And there is not documentation of Obama to the ACORN registrations.

  83. pandora says:

    The problem is the thread wasn’t about the troubles plaguing the inner city black population. It was about Republican leaders speaking out against the threatening language displayed at Palin events. Turning this thread into the problems that exist in certain segments of a particular community IS the problem.

    Why go there?

  84. anonone says:

    “Most of the violence in this country is perpetrated by blacks against blacks. It may not be PC to state that but it is a fact. ”

    The problem is that this site has become a megaphone for racists like mike w. spouting hateful lies and stereotypes like the one above while the editors do nothing except acquiesce to his insults and intimidations.

    Ignoring hate won’t make it go away. Doing nothing is complicity. It cannot be engaged with reason. How can you complain about Mcinsane and Palin’s rallys or repub literature when you can’t or won’t control the racism and hate speech on your own site?

    Hats off to Domsquishy or DV who at least tried to do something. And apologies to readers like shortstuff who understand the horror and consequences of hate speech.

  85. liberalgeek says:

    anonone – If you would like administrative control of a blog, there are a number of sites where you can get your own for free. For now, you are stuck with us handling things the way we see fit.

    Personally I believe that we would have been deprived of some of your best insight if there was no Mike W for you to attack.

  86. cassandra_m says:

    Ignoring hate won’t make it go away. Doing nothing is complicity. It cannot be engaged with reason.

    Outright banning hate speech or ignorant invocations of stereotypes doesn’t make it go away, either. It just goes somewhere else to continue with that very bad behavior. You can complain about McCain and Palin because they are deliberately fanning the flames as a specific political strategy. You can complain about McCain and Palin because there is no way that in the 21st century should we have leadership that tolerates crowds trying to conjure up the ghost of George Wallace. mike w leads nothing and is in no position to lead anything. mike w influences nothing and is in no danger of influencing anything. mike w is not credible on anything that I know of and is in no danger of being especially credible.

    He is a bigoted and uninformed fool and the world is not aligned to treat these folks kindly. Unfortunately, folks like mike w will never have enough self awareness to know how they are complicit in their own issues. I mostly ignore him and I urge everyone else to do the same. When you see The Stupid just think for a second how much energy you’ll waste engaging with him. Because you already know he doesn’t hear you, he doesn’t respect you, and he doesn’t give a damn about your positions on anything. He is here for selfish and foolish reasons and continuing to engage the guy just gives him fuel for his selfish and foolish reasons.

  87. Dominique says:

    Wow. You guys are something. Mike posts reasoned, well-articulated opinions and you come back with “he’s a bigot!” “he’s a racist!” ” he’s a tool!” “he’s ignorant!” “he’s The Stupid!”. I don’t know if you guys are aware of this, but it’s possible to disagree with his opinion without attacking him personally.

    Cassandra, it’s especially disappointing coming from you. You’re probably the most intellectual, well-informed one in the group (even tho I almost never agree with you, I will give you a tip of the hat for your research and your eloquence). In #88 you were doing just fine until you launched into the unsolicited personal attack portion. You lose a little credibility when you do that. It’s one thing if someone attacks you first, but to respond to an opinion with a personal attack says more about the person attacking than it does about the one being attacked.

  88. mike w. says:

    Thank you cassandra and pandora for your usual ignorance and general asshattery towards me. You two are both pretty sad.

    JohnnyX – Thank you. I appreciate that from someone who can actually read my comment, think critically, and form an insightful response. Cass simply cannot do so and cannot respond to me at all without petty personal attacks like the comment above.

    Cass – If you want to address something I’ve said then do so. Otherwise shut up. No one really cares what you think of me and rants like the above add nothing whatsoever to the debate.

    Pandora – I was called racist by a few of the idiots here and I responded. Rather than read or respond to my response you had to whine about it. I responded and did so with a well thought out and respectful comment. I’m sorry if that offended you, but you should really think before you type.

  89. mike w. says:

    “he’s a bigot!” “he’s a racist!” ” he’s a tool!” “he’s ignorant!” “he’s The Stupid!”.”

    And of course Dom they cannot back that up with anything.

  90. mike w. says:

    “And there is not documentation of Obama to the ACORN registrations.”

    There’s plenty of documentation linking Obama with ACORN. Not to the current fraudulent registrations but he was definitely associated with them in the past, even though his website “fight the smears” says he was never associated with them.

    FLAT OUT LIE on Obama’s part.

  91. Dominique says:

    Unfortunately, not backing the black candidate is akin to racism on this site and many others. It’s kind of sad since they don’t realize that when they do that they water down the definition of racism.

  92. Wrong, mike w. The Fight the Smears website does say Obama was linked with ACORN, but not in a community organizer fashion. Obama represented them in a lawsuit ALONGSIDE the US Dept. of Justice.

    Of course, it could just be Obama spin, as I’m sure you believe.

    Click here

  93. anonone says:

    “Unfortunately, not backing the black candidate is akin to racism on this site and many others.”

    No, it is using racist hate site talking points as facts, among many many other things.

    But since you’re obviously mentally-challenged, Dominique, as evidenced by patently ridiculous statements such as “The only thing that’s really going to change is the name of the president”, it is easy to understand why anything Mike the Racist says you accept as gospel.

  94. Dominique says:

    Isn’t that cute! Anonone goes out of his way to demonstrate my point about how launching an unsolicited personal attacks just makes the commenter look weak and desperate. Thanks, anon!

  95. falnfenix says:

    lol. not voting for a black candidate is automatically racism? so what, not voting for the guy with the female VP is sexism?

    god some of you people are utterly ridiculous…no wonder this country’s gone to shit. grow up, the lot of you.