http://www.chicagodefender.com/page/national.cfm?ArticleID=7069 Texas candidate Kinky Friedman under fire for another remark criticized as racist by Kelly Shannon, AP September 21, 2006 AUSTIN, Texas - Gubernatorial candidate and professional wiseacre Kinky Friedman was accused Wednesday of making another racially offensive remark _ this time in a year-old interview in which he said sexual predators should be thrown in prison and forced to "listen to a Negro talking to himself." The independent candidate already was under fire for referring to Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Texas "crackheads and thugs." Some black politicians from Houston took that remark as a slap at black victims of the storm. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Houston Chronicle have reported on an interview with Friedman that aired on CNBC last year in which the country singer and comedian was asked what to do with sexual predators. "Throw them in prison and throw away the key and make them listen to a Negro talking to himself," Friedman said. He also called "Negro" a "charming word." State Rep. Garnet Coleman, former chairman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, said the remarks are unacceptable from a candidate for governor, and sound more like something uttered by someone running for "class clown or the grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan." Share your thoughts on this story on the ChicagoDefender.com message board. Friedman's spokeswoman, Laura Stromberg, said Wednesday: "Texans who know anything about Kinky know that he's not a racist, and they're going to see through all of this political correctness very soon. This is what they've got? Bring it on. Texans can see right through." Democratic candidate Chris Bell said he was offended by Friedman's remark, and added, "I just don't think those types of comments have a place in this campaign." Mark Sanders, a spokesman for independent candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn, said such "divisive language has no place in this campaign. Carole's campaign is about uniting people to get things done, not about dividing people." Republican Gov. Rick Perry's campaign declined to comment. Friedman was traveling to New York for a fundraiser Wednesday and was not available for comment. He told the Star-Telegram on Tuesday that anyone who is offended by his comment should vote for one of the other candidates. "If I've got to lie to people, sweep the truth under the rug and worry about offending people, I'm not going to be very effective," Friedman said. His spokeswoman said part of the "Negro" line was derived from a book Friedman wrote in the late 1980s that was being discussed in the CNBC interview before Friedman used the phrase. "The United Negro College Fund doesn't have a problem with the word Negro," Stromberg said, adding that Friedman does not use the word in everyday conversation. Friedman also took some heat recently for a remark about ethnic politicking. "I don't eat tamales in the barrio, I don't eat fried chicken in the ghetto, I don't eat bagels with the Jews for breakfast," said Friedman, who is Jewish. "That to me is true racism." AP
I don't know the man's heart. So I'm not gonna call him a racist. But man he makes some unfortunate comments that I'm really not comfortable with.
I can't read his mind but I have my suspicions. Regardless, careless remarks like this prove his isn't fit to lead the state of Texas. Like I've said before, a vote for Kinky is a wasted vote. You may as well throw your ballot in the trash. Let's get rid of Rick Perry by voting for the only candidate that actually has a chance of beating him, Chris Bell. I find it curious Perry's campaign had no statement. They are probably waiting to see how the wind blows before commenting.
Kinky is not a racist, and the line from the CNBC interview in question was taken completely out of context. They had been talking about a book he wrote that includes an essay on racism. The fact that Kinky's opponents are stooping to pulling one-liners out of interviews and trying to smear him proves that they are running scared, and they should be.
Kinky is doing better at this point then Ventura was doing when he won in MN. Kinky supposedly didn't have a chance at even being this close in the race once Strahorn entered, yet here he is. The only thing that prevents him from being able to win is people thinking he doesn't have a chance, and not voting or voting for another same ol' same ol' politician.
It doesn't bode well for our state to have a loser like Friedman running the show. We'd become the laughingstock of the nation. I'd choose Bell, since he seems more level headed and rational. That, and Kinky is basically a conservative.
That article fails to point out that Coleman has already endorsed Bell to be Governor. Most other versions of this story include that information. I get the feeling this race is going to get very ugly.
If you've read any of Kinky's books, you'll realize how far he is from a racist. He says unorthodox things to get people riled up or entertain, but that is it. The man has a true vision for the state. And if you think voting for Kinky is throwing away a vote and that Bell has a chance, you are truly delusional about the state of the Democratic Party in Texas.
Let's put it this way: If the pope, George Bush or George Allen said the same thing, what would the answer be? That being said, with the Texas Governor basically having no power, I don't see how having Kinky in charge would make us the laughing stock of the country.
Just as a reminder, Kinky's band name was "Kinky Friedman & The Texas Jewboys". Kinky is of course Jewish. Think about why someone who is Jewish might name their band that and you might get an idea where these remarks are coming from. The fact that Kinky doesn't 'play the game' of worrying about being excessively concerned about every little personal sensibility is where his appeal starts. I find it interesting that the two most impassioned denouncements in this thread as well from this BBS in the past come from people who have very obviously aligned themselves with the Democratic Party. The way it comes off makes the Texas Democratic Party and its supporters seem very petty and bitter. The arguments have some of the partisan vibe that I get from Karl Rove types. The way the hardcore Democrats line up to bash Kinky makes me less likely to vote for the Democratic ticket.
Word. When Kinky's first couple of records came out in the early 70s, Jews of my parent's generation were horrified. They didn't understand it. A few years later, I had my folks read the lyrics to "They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore". They understood it all after that.
His finest song, along with ******* from El Paso, for me at least. Well, a redneck nerd in a bowling shirt was a-guzzlin lone star beer Talking religion and-uh politics for all the world to hear. they oughta send you back to russia, boy, or new york city one You just want to doodle a christian girl and you killed gods only son. I said, has it occurred to you, you nerd, that thats not very nice, We jews believe it was santa claus that killed jesus christ. you know, you dont look jewish, he said, near as I could figger I had you pegged for a slightly anemic, well-dressed country n-----. No, they aint makin jews like jesus anymore, They dont turn the other cheek the way they done before. He started in to shoutin and a-spittin on the floor, lord, they aint makin jews like jesus anymore. He says, i aint a racist but aristitle onassis is one greek we dont need And them n------, jews and sigma nus, all they ever do is breed. And wops n micks n slopes n spics n spooks are on my list And theres one little hebe from the heart of texas is there anyone I missed ? Well, I hits him with everything I had right square between the eyes. I says, Im gonna gitcha, you son of a b****, for spoutin that pack of lies. If theres one thing I cant abide, its an ethnocentric racist; Now you take back that thing you said bout aristitle onassis. No, they aint makin jews like jesus anymore, We dont turn the other cheek the way we done before. You could hear that honky holler as he hit that hardwood floor lord, they sho aint makin jews like jesus anymore!
Thanks Buck. More proof positive that while Kinky Friedman likes to say things that ruffle people's feathers, the last thing he is is a racist.
Just wanted to forward what the Kinky campaign thinks about all the fuss regarding those statements that have recently come into the spotlight:
If the press and the party politicians take every off-color joke Kinky makes and try to blow it up into a referendum on his character, Kinky will be in the headlines every single day until the election.
