Thanks, JV. I'll say this. 1. I've read that Morrison book, which is quite good. Morrison in interviews said has said she took a racial epithet that whites use for young black girls and tried to make it something good, strong, by the end of her narrative (at least for her community and characters.) I had to write about the book in college so remember it pretty well. 2. Fair point about "hard sciences," and I take no offense at all. I've got a very odd educational with lots of creative and journalistic writing training to go with science stuff. I have a better-than-average appreciation of lit. for a scientist, but I don't pretend to understand the social sciences. [sarcasm] But as you can tell, I am brimming with "outrage," (so astute, Duncan Mcdonuts!) so I should probably cool off. I mean, wow, I have never been more angry than I am right now. [/sarcasm] And glad_ken, thanks for sharing that. Nothing like a bunch of white guys arguing on the interwebs about what should or should not offend black people, huh? Oy. Personally, I trust Toni Morrison and glad_ken and their experience of the term over some politician from Colorado. But whatever, I'm done here after saying the following: those that claim all Obama criticism/dislike is racially motivated are nuts, and those saying that race places no part in some of the Obama criticism/dislike are also nuts.
How is it not the same? Both use a term that have racist connotations. I concede that the usage of "tar baby" could have been a subtle jab at Obama's race, but the context he used it in was clearly in the other meaning. You can't claim it was racist. People are outraged because they want to discredit Lamborn's position and party. It's merely a political move made to paint him as a racist and invalidating his opinion, rather than actually giving any thought to what he said. The same was done by that Asian organization when Miley Cyrus had her picture taken with her eyes slanted. They were "offended" merely to get their organization into the headlines. The rest of the world dismissed that organization's claim of racism, just the same as when the Spanish Soccer Team made slanted eyes in their calendar. I can guarantee you that no Asian was truly offended by either of these events.
To be sure I'm clear, I was joking. I know it would make for an awkward meeting to say that out loud in the office. I could use it in a paper becuase the environment there is better controlled. Maybe the guy's problem is the mode of communication more than anything.
No doubt there is a political current to this discussion: one side of the political spectrum are criticizing while the other side is defending/justifying. While reviewing his past statements and taking his audience into consideration can help understand his intentions, it is virtually impossible to say he was a racist based on the statement. But the reality is that Lamborn's position and opinion was invalidated by his poor use of words, regardless if they were racially motivated or simply insensitive, inappropriate, or out-and-out stupid.
Probably doesn't help that that's the coolest black guy party ever. Charles Barkley and Chris Rock? I hope they took pictures cuz I'll hang a poster of that **** on my wall.
John McCain and Mitt Romney also used the term "tar baby" to describe a situation they found hard to get away from. Lamborn used it to describe the President. He said that he didn't want to be associated with him, because it was like touching a tar baby. How is that not offensive? I think it's telling that all of the men using the term are Republicans. It's not something you hear Dems or liberals saying, because they're intelligent (or maybe just honest) enough to avoid a common black slur. It's just not something you say. I don't care if it has innocent roots. Common use of that word is anything but innocent. And concerning the "Grow a spine" comment- Does growing a spine mean overlooking racism? Or does it just mean hardening yourself against racial slurs by supposedly educated politicians? Either way, I'll keep the spine I have.
I don't think that most Republicans are racist, but I do think that most racists are Republicans. And I don't think the GOP bosses are unaware of that or unwilling to capitalize on it. It's called 'the southern strategy,' it's been around since Nixon at least, on through Atwater/Willy Horton, Rove/McCain/South Carolina, and voter suppression efforts which grow more intense with each election cycle and always to the detriment of the black vote. That doesn't mean I think Republicans are racists, but I do think the party has taken advantage of those who are. Incidentally, as someone else (maybe B-Bob) already said, I believe it is crazy to blame criticism of Obama on racism but I think it is equally crazy to suggest there's no racial element at all. Three years ago, people throughout the country wondered if the election of a black president was even possible. That makes sense since it had never happened and since let's face it, race relations have been strained from the time the slave ships left the coast of Africa to today. Racism is not okay anymore in this country but that doesn't mean it doesn't still exist. And, since it does, it makes sense that there would be some element of racism in the opposition party.
The first one was disgusting, the second was blown out of proportion, and Al Sharpton shouldn't even have his own show, so he has no room to judge.
Absolutely, and don't forget the ardent attempts here in Texas by the GOP legislature to suppress the Latino vote with the Voter Photo-ID Law passed in May, and depress both their influence and their chance at gaining seats with the redistricting map passed this past session. Most of the growth over the last decade in the state came from the Latino demographic, yet the districts created are designed to split their vote so they have reduced influence in numerous districts, with less chance of winning seats, and the Republican legislature also put large majorities of Latinos in some districts, concentrating their vote to limit the districts they have a reasonable chance of winning. It's incredible. I can think of few things worse, politically or otherwise, than attempting to deny reasonable representation for a minority by both applying intimidation (the voter ID bill and, aimed at Blacks back in the day, the poll tax), and gerrymandering districts to limit representation in our government. For those who believe the legislation to give Blacks equal rights in all things in America "fixed" this problem, it did not, neither for Blacks, nor for Latinos. That, folks, is outrageous. Truth! Thanks, B-Bob.
It's not the same for many many reasons. One.. most notably, this incident actually happened. Another, this was perpetrated by a congressman. On your side of things, it was similar in that both are or would be poor statements that could not be absolved of being racially motivated, but that goes against your "This isn't offensive, it's just partisan posturing" argument. Personally, I hold Congress to a slightly higher standard than Miley Cyrus (Why, I am not sure sometimes). That is to say, I might care what they think and say, where as I don't care what the achey breaky teen product does or says. If he wanted people to hear his words and consider his ideas as valid, he should have known to refrain from such volatile imagery. Lastly, I never feigned any outrage, I merely can't agree with someone who portends that this was not a poor choice of words that would be taken by many, rightly in my eyes, as a racist statement coming from a party that at least pretends they would like to shed that image, and has a long history of questionable positions regarding racial equality.
Agree. I knew that when Obama won the presidency that the true nature of the so-called Conservative - Republican - Tea Party would come out and so I was not surprised to see the animosity and disrespect toward him on numerous occasions. In fact, I find myself "surprised" that Rush Limbaugh hasn't called him a nigg*r more than once by now. It makes me wonder if this country has made any progress. I mean if a black man who is educated, articulate, principled, dedicated to family and country can be disrespected and demonized in this manner, just what chance does someone like me or my son have? Hell, I lived through the 50s and 60s and I haven't seen this level of hatred and bigotry directed at gays and minorities (especially Latino) in nearly 40 years. And this is coming from someone who grew up living under segregation, attending segregated HISD schools and watched his father being called "boy" and "nigg*r" to his face in front of his family constantly.
LOL, why would either one of them apologize. It's fairly clear that they wanted to "bait" obama into a war of racial words. It's like they were poking obama and saying you know you are still a spook. If i were obama i'd just laugh it off and have no comment. LOL a couple of white guys trying to be Alexandra Wallace with a century old term. Call me when they use the N-word. Then we will talk. Until then, this isn't news.
Rush Limpbaugh calls the President "Barack the Magic Negro". I think it speaks volumes about the tolerance for racism in this country.
