Bill Bennett: Obama's win means 'You don't take excuses anymore' from minorities
By David Neiwert Wednesday Nov 05, 2008 6:45am
Bill Bennett last night on CNN put the most sickening spin possible on Barack Obama's victory (which at that point was only looming):
Anderson Cooper: I mean, if he does become president, and it still is an if, does anyone know what this means in terms of change of race relations in the United States, or perception of?
Bennett: Well, I'll tell you one thing it means, as a former Secretary of Education: You don't take any excuses anymore from anybody who says, 'The deck is stacked, I can't do anything, there's so much in-built this and that.' There are always problems in a big society. But we have just -- if this turns out to be the case, President Obama -- we have just achieved an incredible milestone. For which the rest of the world needs to have more respect for the United States than it sometimes does.
Wow, Obama is even more powerful than I thought. I guess his election just wiped out all the remaining institutional bigotry -- particularly the persistent job discrimination against black men -- with a magical wand. Whoda thunk?
I guess Bennett wants us to forget that this "milestone" was achieved over the strenuous opposition of people like himself. Funny how he seems to want to claim credit for it.
Fortunately, David Gergen (who has been a consistent voice of conservative good sense throughout this election, actually), chimed in to observe: "I don't think we have taken care of the issue of racial prejudice."
Nonetheless, I'm sure we can count on the wingnutosphere reiterating this little nugget a lot over the coming four years.
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What the Hell were all those Repuglicans doing on my TV last night? Channel surfing after 8pm west coast time revealed nothing but R's doing damn-age control & spin. I am so sick of this in our media...
He's right to an extent. Now, I'm not saying that there aren't racists in positions of power ready to deny a black man a chance, but the anti-man, I can't get anywhere because I'm black meme is dying. Before when you said you could be anything to a black child there was an asterix, that asterix is gone now. Hard work, perserverance and personal excellence can overcome the petty racist barriers erected by narrow minded phobics and racists.
I'm sure I'll be flamed for this comment, but frankly it does sicken me by the degree that some use racism as an excuse for personal failure.
But Bennett wasn't merely admonishing people who use racism as an excuse for personal failure. Bennett was claiming that institutionalized racism is no longer a barrier - a claim which, for most people of color in many parts of the country, does not square with reality.
I am just up on the line looking to move it. It makes some uncomfortable, but not Obama. He's with me on this one.
sir, you are correct.
John Amato is worrying me. I think he got some chills up his leg one too many times =x
is being raised in the "white culture", something Obama had growing up, but even then he had to struggle to incorporate both sides of his heritage.
The plight of minorities in America is not only their race/ethnicity but cultural differences. When America finally accepts the cultural differences and doesn't insist that everybody be "alike", institutionalized racism will disappear. The truth is that when anyone is focused on and drives toward excellence, unless they get a helping hand from the existing power structure, it isn't likely they'll be able to break out of the trap.
America still has a LONG way to go in solving the race problem.
Because Bill Benett with his background of disowning to his failures can be the one to lecture about personal responsibility.
Yes to extent, it's just you couldn't help but notice he was not a happy 'Dan Quayle' camper (sorry had to pun) as he said it. Oh what a cold pill for Bennett
Racist degenerate gambler Bill Bennett should never, ever make a comment on so long as his well nourished ass waddles on this earth.
P.S.
The rally in grant park last night was astounding.
I think it's easy to judge people you feel "...use racism as an excuse for personal failure..." because you haven't got a clue. And that's OK. Most white people really don't. But don't shoot your mouth off about it. It makes you look stupid. Really. Bone. Stupid.
you saved me from losing my religion.
:<[)
Don't be such a predictable liberal. The converse of a predictable conservative. The man has a point and you don't need to get all screechy and insulting.
This election proves a lot of people wrong, including those who going around saying how racist white people are all the time.
I was canvassing in Nevada, very poor neighborhoods. One trailer park had extremely poor elderly white people, in their 70s, 80s, and even 90s. They kept what little yards they had, trimmed and neat. Everyone we talked to was voting for Obama. Enthusiastically. A 94 year old white woman and her husband said they have voted every time before, but didn't think they could make it this year because they couldn't drive anymore. We set them up with rides and they were grateful. It nearly brought a tear to my eye. They were voting for Obama.
Also went to the subsistence housing, what looked like a nice condo complex from afar with a pool, lawns mowed by the owner. The people were all black, and their apartments were often horribly run down, junk in the front, and people drinking straight vodka and malt liquor at 10am on a Monday. I asked them to help volunteer, given that a lot of help was needed, especially assisting other voters. They couldn't be bothered. I imagined trying to raise a kid in that environment. It clearly wasn't institutional racism holding these people back. It was at best a symptom of poverty, and at worst, a lack of self-respect.
I am as progressive as they come. But I think it would be wise for the cause of progressives to start listening with open ears to people on all sides of the political spectrum. We have the opportunity to unite the country the way it was after 911 before Bush squandered it. It requires being respectful.
but that would destroy your vision of me as a 'predictable liberal.' I think telling you to shut up is much more screechy and insulting than telling a few home truths about the way things ARE, not as the way the OP wants them to be.
And thanks for your little racist "The old white people were neat and heart-warming, the old black people were filthy drunken slobs that disgusted me" story. Because that serves to bolster all the racist bullshit that white people promulgate against black people in this country
That's the epitome of rational 'liberal' politeness, exactly like yours. "I'll help, but you are smelly ingrates who don't deserve it." Very passive aggressive. You think those black people were too dense to pick up on your disdain? Don't help next time. Really. At least, not the black people. They don't have a chance with you.
That little anecdote not only rested the case I originally made, but pretty much made it not necessary to send it to the jury.
And if you have to say "I am as progressive as they come..." while attempting to slap me down, then you aren't.
You are part of probably part of one of the biggest problems facing this country today -- not speaking the truth, speaking around the truth, holding your truth to be the only truth, and the worst, denying the truth is there for all to see. Don't bother me again with your bullshit.
Reality is racist? It wasn't my interpretation, it was reality. Poverty has a different face when it comes with self-respect and when it doesn't.
I am actually boldly speaking the truth while you are just pointing fingers and making excuses. Thanks for being such an ironic contrast, and for undermining your argument.
I never told you to shut up. I told you to actually LISTEN to people and stop littering your arguments with useless insults. I guess you don't have the maturity level to argue on the basis of facts and reality. Pretty sad. I think you are the type of liberal who undermines liberal causes by demonizing everyone you disagree with. Truthfully, I don't call people like you liberal because you're not guided by liberal values, but by a selfish concern to the people that liberal policies tend to benefit. If you were rich and white, you'd be a conservative. You'd be Rush Limbaugh. I actually have a set of philosophies that I stick to. One of those is to say it how it is. The old white people were just as poor as the young black people, and look at how they treated their surroundings. Why is it racist to communicate reality to you? Because you don't want to hear reality. Calling people racist is your cop out.
If you want to deny being a racist you shouldn't use the number 88 in your name.
You guys are parrots of each other. Go ahead and call anyone that disagrees with you a racist. But what are you going to do when you come across real racism and you've worn the word out?
When I see someone standing in the yard of an apartment complex drinking straight liquor and saying they hope Obama wins so they don't have to be counting their pennies anymore, I don't sit there and think white people are their problem. And to perpetuate that BS, and not talk about real problems, forces all the kids growing up there to have to endure that environment and continue the cycle.
People use excuses to get out of hard work. By saying racism is holding minorities down all the time, you keep arming them with excuses. I'm sure there are real examples of discrimination that hold people back, but I'm sure there are a lot more examples of people using it as an excuse to get nothing done.
88 comes from my birthday. I had to Google it to find out the significance. Just an unfortunate coincidence, I guess. Kind of obscure though.
And why can't we tell it like it is without fear of being called racist? Why does everyone discussion on race have to get stifled by someone trying to stigmatize someone else? I am so sick and tired of it. Maybe we could actually learn something if we talked like adults, and gave each other the benefit of the doubt. I guess this isn't the place for that--real discussion, is it? It's just a sensationalist troll parade.
I didn't call you a racist. I just made a suggestion.
Your words speak for themselves. Fluently.
You guys love being self-righteous. Even with people who have the same politics. It's weird. I wonder what you actually contribute to progressive causes besides pissing people off, and intentionally misunderstanding people so you can be disingenuously offended.
Reread the comment:
You don't take any excuses anymore from anybody who says, 'The deck is stacked, I can't do anything, there's so much in-built this and that.' There are always problems in a big society. But we have just -- if this turns out to be the case, President Obama -- we have just achieved an incredible milestone. For which the rest of the world needs to have more respect for the United States than it sometimes does.
That's a whole lot more reasonable than "You don't take excuses anymore from minorities". But Crooks and Liars, people like you, love to twist everybody's words so that they sound like boogey men. it's because you don't have an argument. You can't argue. You fail at convincing anybody of anything with adult conversation, so you take the juvenile shortcut of vilification, stigma, insults. It's pathetic.
That is an unfortunate, and unintentional coincidence.
I am not a racist. Or a neo-nazi. Or a terrorist. Or a Muslim. Or godless. Or homophobic. Or homosexual. I am not a child molester. Or a traitor. Or treasonous. I am not unpatriotic.
I am just trying to have a real discussion.
So what do you use for an excuse for personal failure?
If the people that disagree can refrain from calling names we can be better than the right. Obama himself took flack for admonishing blacks and Him and I most likely have a similar viewpoint. So tell me how liberal you are and how pro-obama then tell Obama he doesn't know anything because he is half-white and is being stupid. Really. Bone. Stupid.
http://www.gbmnews.com/articles/3508/1/NAACP-...
I totally agree with you Mike. I was saying the same thing to a friend last night.
I'm getting really sick and tired of the left's penchant and need for total political correctness, and btw, you can't get more left and liberal than me. But there are things about the republican right that need to change and the same goes for the liberal left.
How is what Bennett said so despicable? Racism in some form, will always exist, but you can't blame it, anymore, for your shortcomings and failings.
We need to get out of this denying of all personal responsibility mindset and get back to merit and hard work. I can remember when the factory that my dad worked at (in the 60's) went on strike. He was out of work for many months and not once did he take any kind of government hand out. No food stamps or anything. He worked odd jobs for cash and we got through. He didn't whine or piss or moan or blame it on 'the man' or expect anyone but himself and his own hard work to get us through.
That's what we need to get back to. When I go to the grocery store and I'm penny pinching and looking at prices and going without and I look to the person ahead of me in line, with boxes and boxes of soda pop and junk food and she's paying for this with her Link card it infuriates me.
You DO NOT HAVE TO DRINK SODA. It's like the concept of scrimping and saving and working hard doesn't exist. And, here is me...going without the things that I"d like to have so that I can pay my bills and I AM THE ONE paying for this Link card so this person can sit at home and eat soda and junk food and have baby after baby after baby and not even consider the concept of personal responsibility.
Things have got to start changing. I voted for Obama, and I am really hoping that his example will bring epic change to the psyche of this country.
I would like to see progressives and liberals like you and me start leading the conversation. Let's end the racist witch hunts, and accusations of sexism, the apologies for laziness when it's really laziness... Let's make the conversation real again and lead an agenda of guaranteeing a base level of education, health care, dignified retirement, pro-small business policies, an economy that rewards hard work and innovation--not laziness, greed, merely being rich, scamming, etc. Let's stop the name calling and the PC bs and actually try to have a respectful conversation for once.
life has insulated you from the degradation and oppression that is being on the receiving end of racism, and yet you feel qualified to judge the way others experience/react to it?!
this may be beyond your capacity for empathy, but please try to imagine what it would be like to live every day of your life in a society where, at any moment and in any place, you run into one of those "petty racist barriers" . . . and, please, remember that some of those barriers carry with them the threat of violence, very often at the hands of those persons responsible for serving and protecting you . . . now, imagine someone telling you that you must take personal responsibility for your failure to thrive in that world
sickened yet?
Everyone has issues in their lives. Everyone should be encouraged to confront those issues with boldness and proaction. Your portrait of this radically racist white America that incapacitates anyone of color was shattered last night, and that is Bennett's point. And it is a good point.
I think you are missing my point.
"Yves Hood, a 32-year-old African American from Austin, Texas, who was attending the convention, said: "It's the right message at the right time. After seeing that it's possible for someone of color to achieve the success he's achieved in the political realm, people are ready to see more African Americans step up and start doing more than what is expected of us. So people are ready to hear that message."
So this obviously black person must be full of shit too, and Obama?
think about what I am saying before you let your reflexes move your mouth.
Are you sickened by your white guilt that absolves young men and women from personal responsibility? You are obviously part of the problem, lets just put all the poor black people aside and coddle them and tell them it's not their fault for dropping out of high school, for not learning to read, for rejoicing in the drug or gang banger culture.
Poverty, more than racism is IMHO responsible for many of the ills felt by the AA community. Remove poverty and you will make leaps and bounds in the amount of hidden or blatant racism in this country.
If I had a choice I would rather be black, educated and middle class than poor, uneducated and white.
None of which disproves the fact that there is still deeply entrenched racism in this country that stands as a barrier for people of color. You guys seem to think that just because it isn't an ABSOLUTE barrier, then it isn't a barrier at all.
Think of it this way: all things being equal, would America have elected a BLACK idiot like George W. Bush? No. Our first black president had to be someone so incredibly intelligent, so accomplished, and so careful not to make missteps that we almost couldn't help but elect him. So while one message to black youth is "you can become president" - and a great message it is - the corollary message is "...as long as you're at least twice as good as the white guys running for the same job."
Sure I can concede that their are in fact some very very racist people. However, last time I looked owning blacks was against the law, they can vote, and they cannot be discriminated against legally. This is a far cry from where they were just 2 generations ago. So maybe petty was a bad word choice, maybe surmountable would have been better. Besides maybe black women are racists too, because they have a problem with lazy black men too. Listen anyone can be ignorant, but when it's a black being ignorant and you say so it's racism? The fatalistic approach that many in the AAC have is not doing anyone any favors. When a black is discriminated against I'll call racism, but if it's some gangster good for nothing,baby daddy with a hustling drug business, I'll call him a loser and a thug and you'll call me a racist.
Since you can read my mind I guess I don't actually need to type this, but in case anybody else is interested:
It is possible for the following two things to be true simultaneously:
(1) there are black losers, just like there are white losers, and
(2) there is still honest-to-goodness racism that has actual effects on real people.
If you don't believe the second one, please come on down to Mississippi sometime.
innocent bystander,
How dare you think you know what MY experience is or what I went through growing up. I have a son who is half Asian and don't think for a minute that he hasn't experienced racism. After the Virginia Tech shooting for several weeks after that, there were many black kids at his school bullying him and calling him racial epithets. One of his teachers referred to him as a gook.
Throughout his life, whenever he comes up against this kind of behavior, our response is pretty much "We know better than that". We don't ever let it become an excuse for not being a productive human being.
Racism will always be here. Racism exists within races....look at the caste system in India. Look at England's past: the whole "Upstairs/Downstairs" society. It was impossible to break barriers in old England. People will find something inferior about other people no matter what...even if the whole world had the same skin color there would be some form of institutionalized racism.
My whole adult life I've been a bleeding heart liberal to a fault but I've finally realized that it's stupid and non-productive to think that way.
There is NO excuse to not get up off one's ass and work hard. No excuse whatsoever.
The world does not owe you or anyone a single thing.
You owe it to yourself to work to get what you want. The age of entitlement must end here.
typical GOP racist bullshit.
"douchebag" these days.
Unfortunately, just because a black man won the White House does not mean that all this racist bullshit will disappear.
Obama is one man - and one man only - who has the support of hundreds/thousands/millions of people who have aided him in reaching this goal (in addition to his own talent and skills).
While his story is an inspiration to all of us, it does not completely erase the bigotry and hand-wringing over race that the US still engages in.
Bill Bennett is a twit for bringing this up - but at least we know where he stands on the race issue now and why he should not be associated with education in this country.
I think that Obamas historic victory will just make the bitter racist douchebags, even more bitter, even more racist, and dare I say it...more douchebaggy!
And damn straight...Bennetts racist ass shouldn't be allowed anywhere a position of authority in education.
for racial incidents, especially those involving black men. my state trooper friend told me that the police expect it. and considering some of their attitudes, I expect an increaee in vehicle stops and provocations.
With his gambling background, he should be out extolling the "virtues" of states' lottery systems for education funding...
Better lotteries for education funding than for selective services.
This guy thinks it's African Americans who are part of the problem, here is part of his racist speech admonishing blacks especially black men.
"You and I know how true this is in the African-American community. We know that more than half of all black children live in single-parent households, a number that has doubled - doubled - since we were children. We know the statistics - that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime; nine times more likely to drop out of schools and twenty times more likely to end up in prison. They are more likely to have behavioral problems, or run away from home, or become teenage parents themselves. And the foundations of our community are weaker because of it.
How many times in the last year has this city lost a child at the hands of another child? How many times have our hearts stopped in the middle of the night with the sound of a gunshot or a siren? How many teenagers have we seen hanging around on street corners when they should be sitting in a classroom? How many are sitting in prison when they should be working, or at least looking for a job? How many in this generation are we willing to lose to poverty or violence or addiction? How many?
Yes, we need more cops on the street. Yes, we need fewer guns in the hands of people who shouldn't have them. Yes, we need more money for our schools, and more outstanding teachers in the classroom, and more afterschool programs for our children. Yes, we need more jobs and more job training and more opportunity in our communities.
But we also need families to raise our children. We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception. We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child - it's the courage to raise one."
-Barack Obama
...when you make a good argument.
There should be no double standards in dialogue. If Obama can say that, then anyone can say that regardless of the color of their skin.
The really annoying part is that those of us who have a real concern for poor communities are called racist for trying to speak honestly about the problems. Without an honest look at these issues, what will get done? The self-righteous accusations of racism do nothing but bring juvenile pleasure to the people who lodge them, and I believe that they actually undermine any attempts to improve those communities. Progressives need call out these people who use the word "racism" as an argument deafening weapon.
Museum of Natural History Set to Open a ‘Republican Exhibit’
:<[)
May I respectfully suggest Bennett go f**k himself?
not for this shitbag.
Unreal. The freepers are flipping. Good. I want to see them demoralized and rejected. In 2004, I was yelled at, called a sypathizer to terrorists and called immoral. Now we have a African American president. 'Revenge is a dish best served cold.' Klingon proverb.
Actually that was Pierre Ambroise Francois Choderios de LaClos, who wrote in his 1782 book Les Liasons Dangereuses: "La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid."
The idea is to wait enough time to put your enemy off-guard.
I wish these conservative idiots would just shut up.
Tell you what, Bill, when we have 43 more non-white-males as presidents, we'll ease up on the complaints and criticisms...or, "excuses" as you like to call them.
President Obama has been tough on AA's. Telling them to take care of their kids, pull your pants up and go to school.
There is change already. The reaction around the world is extraordinarily positive. It is a new day in America. The Taliban will negotiate and the wars will end.
In this country, we finally received accountability for the gop failures and outrages.
The people have spoken in a huge way. We are going in a new direction with new policies.
Let us support President Obama and pray he can clean up the gop mess.
It Sounds
GoodGREAT doesn't it? President Barack Obama !!It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
President Barack Obama !!
Or did he go EAT some of his dead comrades. Talk about bigoted and hateful, he took the Cake (and obviously ate that also)
Four hundred years of institutionalized racism wiped out in a single day? Gosh! Obama really IS a magical negro!
Obama's got a magic wand?
S'cuse me while I whip this out...
Oh, boys!..! Look what we got....
Where all da white voters at?
Please call [Deleted. Site Monitor]
Thanks!
Or Recruiting office?
BUT THIS PAGE IS A JOY TO READ!!
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/05/tears...
yEEEHAAAA!!!!
This is the kind of know-nothing, ignorant-hack, republican's place in government positions. Former Secretary of Education; what a joke!
I would bet this guy couldn't explian one major educational issue and how it relates to actually learning, except for the standard GOP bullshit talking points that they memorize!
This asshole thinks privatization = knowledge.
Furthermore, as far as his ignorant, gambling addicted fat-ass is concerned, the only people I don't want to hear excuses from - are FUCKING CONSERVATIVES!
Your days as Czar have long since passed. Your party is dead. You mean as much now as the AP NCAA football poll -- absolutely nothing.
What's Bennett's EXCUSE for being a pretentious, moralistic, obese bigot?????!!!
All you have to do is look at the results in my home state of Tennessee to know that Bill Bennett is full of horse manure. But we knew that already.
For the first time since Reconstruction--140 years ago, people--both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly are controlled by Republicans. I could just weep for my state.
I do believe the south is once again devolving.
I cannot fathom how these people have witnessed the OBVIOUS destruction of our country by repukes, but yesterday they showed up at the polls again and said loud and clear; "yes, we would like another GOP shit sandwich. Hmmmmmmmm. Can't get enough." WOW!
And the despicable Sally Kern was reelected! Also Jim Inhofe. Sheesh. The people of Oklahoma won't rest till we're back in the Stone Age. If I didn't have deep family roots here, I would consider getting the heck out. Might anyway, when I retire.
Mr. Crisco (fat in the can) can go back to his gambling. He is a has been, washed up and no use to anyone. He is relegated to the dustbin of dirty politics and an occasional gig on Fux Snooze.
Bill---get a clue. Maybe it's a Neocon requirement that you define everything in simplistic sound bytes, (perhaps because your simpleton droid followers are mentally challenged) but for thinking people, like most of the public for example, your statement is utter bullshit.
Small wonder your party of authoritarian white men went down to defeat---you need to reconnect yourself to reality instead of arrogantly boasting about the inherent political superiority of your bankrupt paradigm. Did you not hear the voice of the 95% of African American voters that voted for Obama nationally? Those people aren't victims or martyrs---they took action by sending ignorant asses like you a message. Racism is all solved now you think? Really? You Neocons are really that stupid and condescending, aren't you!
Have fun being marginalized, you bastard. You and your trash talking party got exactly what they deserve.
Good-bye to these pigs. Their days are numbered. Their extinction is welcome.
We won! And we won't be complacent until the last of these pigs are gone.
what did he ever do as sec of education
a man who writes a book on morals...then breaks most of those morals
shit....look at him
what he doesnt spend at the track, he wastes at mickey d's
Since he knows absolutely NOTHING about education, this made him an obvious republican choice for the post.
Look the other way while your agency flounders in ineptitude and incompetence, then say "government doesn't work," so you can justify eliminating your own agency, and give yourself a huge tax cut.
Oh, and don't forget to throw $25 bucks at the republican retard base, so they will forget the whole thing, and go along with your self enriching scam.
Clearly his dominatrix is going to be working overtime.
http://www.kqed.org/assets/img/food/bab/chill...
GFY Bennett
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 07:03 — RancidVenison
Your days as Czar have long since passed. Your party is dead. You mean as much now as the AP NCAA football poll -- absolutely nothing.
Don'tcha mean XFL?
I mean the AP football poll. It doesn't count for anything. The XFL is extinct, yet this assclown still walks. It's a meaningless existence, but, like the AP poll, he exists, nonetheless.
The AP football championship, is STILL considered the more prestigious of the championships! That's why they didn't want their poll being used in the asinine B.S.- in mean BCS rankings.
You know, the idiotic rating system that put a Nebraska team in the title game a few years ago, after they lost their last game of the season by 63 points.
I don't care what your opinion is. AP means nothing to the NCAA, period.
John Bolton on the BBC, to me, was far more repellent.
William the Bloody on FAUX
FAUX in general, now and in the foreseeable future...
Pat Buchanan on MSNBC.
The risk/benefit of allowing such empty, spiteful, arrogant, insufferable BLOWHOLES face and voice time on our public airwaves
is needful of attention.
Gathering around the basin, washing their hands of the whole mess MUST not be allowed to happen.
Free up some space on the dockets and bring the criminals and their criminal enablers to justice. You don't get to walk away with the lovely parting gifts and you certainly don't get any parting shots.
"If you wanted to reduce crime ... if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down."
-William Bennett
You repulse me Mr. Bennett.
I wouldn't know, he's never blown me.
no way does saxby chandlis win...look at how many were purged in georgia
no way does coleman pull it out over franken
and how in the hell does bachmann the faux christian, beat a real minister?
Republican Suicide Hot-line.
also; [Deleted. Site Monitor]
Public Service announcement
Thanks!
??
Put them on hold!
This is a good day. I feel good. These Republicans are going to bitch bitch bitch until the cows come home except that the cows are not going to come home.
Ignoring the irrelevant morons like Billo and Savage, Bennett and Buchanan can piss me off more than any of the other conservative rent-a-pundits.
It's said the best revenge is victory.
< huge SEG>
... and all those crowds yelling 'he's a terrorist!' and 'kill him,' the cowardly racists who left caskets outside polling places, put Obama stickers on monkey dolls, faked and promoted stories about a 'scary black man' attacking an innocent white campaign worker ...
We'll just sweep that under the carpet.
You're a piece of work, Bennett. But we're not talking Michaelangelo - more like a colossal, explosive shit from an elephant with the runs.
incompetent white men no longer have an excuse and they need to start earning their keep just like every body else.
BTW, did anyone listen to this piece of shit exit comment from his CNN duty last night? He literally did not even acknowledge Obama, and went off talking about McCain instead. Why was this toad on TeeVee last nite.
And also, who is the name of the black republican they had on the CNN panel last night? I don't think I have ever seen a person with a worst case of self hate since I read about a jewish nazi storm troopers in WWII.
After a long emotional investment in this overly-long process I feel both elated and kind of empty. For someone who became REALLY invested in politics for the first time, or for a long time, I worry about where to put my focus now. Having been out of the country for a month, I saw how interested the rest of the world is in what is happening in the U S. and they are really rooting for us. Seeing the spontaneous crowds in celebration last night makes me want to stay focused on making the Obama Administration successful. Some observations:
1) The sooner that we get off Obama being an "African-American" and being an
"American" the better!
2) Republicans need to move on from the rigid Neo-con philosophies and move away from the evils of Bush/Cheney.
3) The religious Right needs to do some real Soul searching, and realize that this is 2008, and that dogma needs to be reviewed and softened, and meet the needs of the people.
4) These will be tough times and the extreme Right is now in the catbird seat, where their agenda will be to undercut the "unready" Obama. He needs to surround himself with the very best people out there to give him/us the best chance to succeed.
5) We still live in a pretty darn great place and it's nice to be reminded of that from time to time!
You mean big fat white guys who gamble too much, right, jackass? Just remember, you said it.
I'M THE FIRST NUT (Ode to Dubya)
(I'm a Nut. Leroy Pullins)
WilliamBanzai7
Sing Along With the Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqsauoDmgDo
Beedle-dee-bah, beedle-dee-bah, beedle-dee-ree-pa-DUMB.......
[Chorus]
I'm nut, I'm a nut
My Presidential legacy don't amount to much, whoopa-whoopa-whoopa-whoopa
The head on my shoulders is sorta loose
And I ain't got the sense God gave a moose
Lord, I ain't crazy, but ...I'm the First Nut
Is is wetter under in the Potomac, if you're in it when it rains?
Is it shorter to Camp David, than it is by a plane?
Between myself and I, I wonder who's the dumber
Is it hotter down in Crawford, than it is in the summer?
[Chorus]
I drove my Cadillac to Wall Street to satisfy my lust
Wheelin', dealin', left ol' Wall Street on a Greyhound bus
I should'nt have set the markets on fire while I was there
But remember only forest fires prevent Bears
[Chorus]
The poverty war was almost over, until I began to fight
If it took a dime to go 'round the world
I'd cut taxes out of sight
I don't mind to take the Bankers out
If they don't mind to go Dutch
Makes me feel like 700 Billion Bailout Dollars
And I bet the Treasury ain't worth half that much
[Chorus]
Oh, crazy man! I'm a nut!
Oh, Lordy, Lordy Lordy, Lordy
I'm crazy, I'm the First Nut!
faux noise is irrelevent. hopefully, it'll be off the air soon.
I said the same thing in 2000. Let me find my exact quote.
"The election of George Bush now allows us to stop listening to complaints from losers, idiots, stupid-fucks, and simpletons that the decks are stacked against them in this country. Now they have no excuses if they don't prosper".
You don't take any excuses anymore from anybody who says, 'The deck is stacked, I can't do anything, there's so much in-built this and that.'
I wonder if he means Joe the Plumber? Or the assholes who say they're going to have to lay people off or go out of business if taxes go up? Or the fvckwits who think that white people don't get treated fairly? Or the pricks who claim that Dems want to punish people for being successful? Probably not.
Soooo......according to Bill Bennett, hundreds of years of slavery, beatings, hangings, Jim Crow and other injustices are wiped away. Say three Hail Marys and we can all go to heaven. How very typical. They just don't get it. Maybe the right-wing brain is hard wired differently.
Billy Bennett is a twerp.
Kurt Vonnegut defined a twerp as someone who wears dentures in his ass and bites the upholstery buttons off of the back seats of taxi cabs.
That makes billy doubley obsolete.
Poor, poor, porcine racist twerp Billy Bennett.
the election is over
the best man has won
let's get behind him
so he can get the job done
let bygones be bygones
let's forget the past
i'll hug your elephant
and you can kiss my -ss
That's perfect!
in alaska....where berkowitz had been leading young in the polls throughout the campaign
but come the election...those israel loving right wing christians, just couldnt bring themselves to vote for a jew
thems the facts mr bennett
your party is filled with racists and biggots...nothing can change that
Oh that's who jabba is. I saw him on cnn but never cared enough to find out who he was. Although I'm sure his name was up there I didn't notice it.
I think what the win actually means mr. jabba is that minorities don't have to take any more excuses from people like you.
This tub of lard seems to put on another 50 lbs everytime I see his putrid puss.
I have NEVER had any respect for this "condi in white" "heck-of-a-job brownie" fat ass. I still can't figure how he ever ended up getting Sec. of Ed, when he seems to have had NONE himself?! What a neocon pig.
Once again....who cares what this trash talking jack off has to say about anything? It's just more of his narrow minded thoughts blurting out into the sunlight to demonstrate over and over what a dumb ass hole he really is.
He's right up there with brownie, bolton, rice ...as another cronnie with zero qualifications but the "gold old boy" club. Lights on....nobody home.
Bill Bennett's facial expressions last night, I noticed that he repeatedly looked stricken. His expression seemed to say, "What the hell is happening to my country? I'm a big white guy in an expensive suit, and I have to sit here listening to these women and minorities give their opinions, and pretend I care?" These are tough times indeed for guys like Mr. Bennett. Let's give them a while to adjust.
I noticed that he left the panel early, around 11 Eastern, just before the final result was announced. I think he just could not emotionally take the news. His crowd has clearly lost the 'moral high ground' spin and has nothing to say anymore.
at 11:30 pm...
Maybe he was just looking for a nice quiet place to die.
Why CNN keep bringing up the race crap?
I guess not all black men are the same. I'm surprised Bill fatso didn't say that Obama won cuz he's half white. WTF? Why does he get to leave last nite? Cuz he's a repug? LOL. Good riddance.
That's something I noted to my husband. I do realize it is historical but America did not just elect an African American. They elected the BEST man for the job. Period.
Young, intellegent, telegenic,articulate,etc., What's not to like?
So do we have to start worrying now every year when they have a Columbus Day White Sale?
Good old Bill Bennet, you can't criticize a man with a halo so shiny that he collects the virtues of others, binds them into a thick book, slaps his own name on the book, and voila, he's a bestselling "author" simple as that!
Thank you, Bill Bennet. Let's get this race bait on the road! Country last!! Team first! Please don't change now, Mr. Bennet! Not this late in the game!
Let me say I am AA (african-american)
He is right, and not just today, but for sometime. There are many AA who work hard and get ahead. They are usually not the focus of attention. There are many who don't want to work and wants handouts just like the general population. Anyone that denies that huge progress has been made, wants to win the lottery. The past will never be wiped away, and there will always be prejudice (racism is what is dying) there is prejudice in all of us. We just have to work to overcome it. I do think it is about time that AA start to see that they can do and fulfill dreams .
I'm AAA
Alcoholic Anonymous Apathetic.
Correct...there are many African-Americans who work very hard, and there are some who are on the hustle and game the system. I've seen that in every race.
Bennett perhaps should say something like this may prod more to step into their responsibility. Some kind of inspiring words.
Unfortunately, Mr. B is still on my sh*t list for saying something to the effect of "if you abort every black baby, you might be able to reduce the crime rate...some" (paraphrasing) I could not believe a former Sec of Education (!?) would say this...on the public airwaves. And I'm supposed to take this guy seriously? He almost looked like he was going to sliver underneath the table last night.
I'm sure he still has great ideas for this country, but in terms of race...I wish this former Sec of Education would just shut up! He is embarrassing the hell out of me. Too much more yapping like that, and he's going to start sounding as stupid as that plumber.
You can tell what a tree is by the fruit it bears.
Yes you will always have these people but what he says is true. His motives for saying it is suspect of course. Sore Loser perhaps. But life goes on and the sun rises. Deflat their aurgument not with anger or names calling (thats what they want) but see how quickly you deflat someone like him by saying 'thats true'
Bill Bennett's IQ can't be higher than room temperature. Why is that idiot being asked anything by anyone ever?
It's the minorities who no longer take excuses from people like you.
Uh, doesn't the "Bookie of Virtues" have it bass ackwards? Doesn't this mean that minorities-INCLUDING WOMEN-will say-:" I WON'T take YOUR excuses,anymore!!
Why do we care what Bennett thinks?
He should say something like this may prod more to step into their responsibility. Some kind of inspiring words. But he is still stuck in the old, dying, accusatory paradigm.
Mr. B is still on my sh*t list for saying something to the effect of "if you abort every black baby, you might be able to reduce the crime rate...some" (paraphrasing) I could not believe a former Sec of Education (!?) would say this...on the public airwaves. And I'm supposed to take this guy seriously? He almost looked like he was going to sliver underneath the table last night.
I'm sure he still has great ideas for this country, but in terms of race...I wish this former Sec of Education would just stop talking altogether! He is embarrassing the hell out of me. Too much more yapping like that, and he's going to start sounding as stupid as that plumber.
Advice bend-it received when young:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK-Dqj4fHmM
This is the same Bill Bennett who only a few years ago admitted to gambling away millions on the slots while lecturing the rest of us on morals and virtues. He had to leave the panel at 11 PM last night, the complete wipeout of Conservatism was more than he could take and he probably headed to the nearest casino to drown his sorrows. Also I noticed his huge double chin flapping as he talked, the racist white power structure has certainly allowed him to live high off the fat of the land.
Now lets get rid of all the programs that help the needy like welfare, which by the way, Bennett, is a program that helps 70% white and 30% black. then lets ditch the idea that the black man has any disadvantage in our society now that a black man has been elected president. That's right, Bennett! It's time to show them a thing or two now that they are finally graced with one of their own in the White House!
While we're at it, Bennett...why don't we demand that our leaders begin to acknowledge the gift and accomplishments of the African American peoples instead of making sorry ass excuses and obviously racially charged, derisive, ignorant, lame, dispicable comments like the one you just made!
Here's what I recommend High-Rollers:
http://www.smokersoutletonline.com/images/zig...
with Bennett's assertion is that it grants to people inclined to discriminate on the basis of race or culture the license to do so. Barack Obama was elected president therefore systemic racism does not exist therefore I am free to indulge whatever racist inclinations I might have. Pure right wing Republican.
5 to 2 that fatboy is usually wrong. Wasn't he the "Drug Czar" during Ronnie Raygun who declared the drug war over?
Can a President-elect be impeached?
I wouldn't be surprised.
Michelle Malkin will be "girding her loins" (ughhh!).
I know it's distasteful but ya gotta read this (today only!):
http://michellemalkin.com/
First assignment for fiscal conservatives in Washington:
1) Oppose the Democrats’ next stimulus boondoggle.
2) Oppose Obama’s windfall profits tax proposal.
3) Oppose new bailouts for states deep in debt.
4) Oppose new foreclosure prevention measures that will simply provide perverse incentives for borrowers to walk away and delay a needed market correction.
5) No more federal loan guarantees for corporations (especially in light of this.
from sodahead
Obama wins Presidential election: Ready to kiss your paycheck goodbye?
McCain poisoned the well so much - Barack has got an even tougher job ... I hope we all have his back
I'll bet Bill Bennett's excuse for being grossly overweight is that he has a slow metabolism/hormone problem.
...
I read that seventy percent of black California voters approved Prop 8.
You need to go deep into alternate news sources to fully flesh out Mr. Bennett's unique perspective:
Black Man Given Nation's Worst Job
hat's off to The Onion.
.
Bill Bennett said:
... So said someone known for his racially oppressive views.
This is a call to all people we all hare problems an issues that we are faced with. But after seeing someone like Obama become President is the proof that anything is now possible. There are no more excuses. There still problems that need to be rectified. The horrible no child left behind project must be ended. But we can finally move find real solution to real problems in this world. No more excuses that it is too hard or you are too lazy. This is a rallying cry to all people of all races. This is our time to get things done. This the time put away bitter partisanship come together as a planet and finally solve the problems of this world. If there are any doubbters out there. YES WE CAN!
Didn't Stephen Colbert pre-emptively show up the silliness of this idea by asking on yesterday's election special "[Because of Obama's victory]Is racism now over?".
Bennett said that Obama won "in George Bush's America" as if Bush had a positive role in the matter rather than as a catalyst of revulsion. It's like saying that Abraham Lincoln won in James Buchanan's America.
Bennett seems to want to compete with Newt Gingrich to see which can be the biggest, most self-satisfied blowhard.
Can't even concede a contest like a gentleman.
Because he is a PIG.
I just heard a caller say their motto is "Get out of our way or we will run you over!"
What a pack of bastards.
STAY ENGAGED FOLKS!!!!
Now will you all PLEASE CANCEL YOUR PAY TV SO THESE FUCKERS WILL GET FIRED FOR LACK OF PROFIT????
PLEASE??????
Ah, here's angry, bullying blowhard Bill Bennett, a little more subdued than usual. He's got a track record of troubling racial attitudes. "Ending racism" to most conservatives means "No one will call me out on my racism." That's certainly what it means to Jonah Goldberg and Rush Limbaugh, and it appears Bill Bennett as well.
The comment by Bennett is a reasonable one. And David Gergen even agreed completely with him.
...make the rules? Bill Bennett has proven to have zero credibility on race issues. Like that jackass, you can only speak for yourself. You closet bigots rush to flame bait imaginary race issues then stamp your worthless approval on it. LOL.
And provide a link where Gergen "completely agreed" with that fat, nasty, hypocritical racist.
At the end of the video (which you would have known if you had watched it, you sensationalist dick), Gergen said, "Bill Bennett is absolutely right".
So I don't need a link. See, I evaluated the evidence that Crooks and Liars served up and used my own brain to make a conclusion. You should try it sometime, robo-bitch.
And guess what? If you watched the video, you will see that Bennett even tempered his statement with "There are always problems in a big society". And guess what? He didn't say, "You don't take excuses from minorites". No. He didn't, you zealot! He said, "You don't take excuses from people who say the deck is stacked". Know why he said that? Because it's a reasonable observation. Know why you can't bring yourself to acknowledge that? Because the headline of this blog told you not to, and you don't use your own brain.
The only flamebaiting is Crooks and Liars, which I subscribe to because I'm liberal, and you calling me a jackass for making a contrarian point.
God, you're sad.
On the face of it, it looks like Barack Obama has scored a major victory for minorities. On the face of it, Obama Black face proves anybody of any color can become president. Given the strong encouraging feelings of seeing a Black face be the president of these United States, this country is still a "work in progress" when it comes to race and minority access. We are only half way there.
Obama is half white and half black. To say anything different is to deny him the fullness for which he is Barack Obama. When I hear CNN refer to only half of Obama's heritage, I am often disappointed in them recognizing only half of who Obama is -- the half that fits into their talking points.
It is so important we get the "race" issue right. Obama was very aware of being labeled solely black. At every opportunity, he made it a point to bring up his white heritage. With that being noted, we have not answered the question would America put a 100% black person in the White House.
Nothing should subtract from Obama's sweet victory. In it self, we have come closer to equalizing the playing field. We still have work to do which makes it a "work in progress."
Joseph
I think the person who needs to be highlighted in that clip was the last guy that spoke, Obama's presidency does nothing in terms of REAL day to day and SYSTEMIC race inequalities.
IN ORDER to make the case that the barriers to the personal success -ie-the achievement of their goals in the real world in real time -of african americans -are overcome by the election of one man,requires that one remove from the equation all the evidence which must be ignored to make the claim with a straight face,and to give all the other issues basically equal weight.even well meaning intelligent white folks don't really know how institutional racism really works,but they often feel reassured that whenever the impact of our country's foreign,or domestic policy impacts them negatively,its because "they" were lazy,irresponsible,etc.the stock market is tracking like a yo-yo-yo because the government forced our virtuous,civic minded bankers to make "them" loans they could not pay back."they" repay as always with jive excuses.most african americans are too busy fighting the empirically obvious,racially driven disparate impacts of those policies,to have much time left over to soothe whitey's culturally driven racial attitudes anyway.by the time "they" can draw up a definition of racism which sufficiently anticipates the majority's social-psychological needs,the damned mortgage payment will be overdue,-and so it goes-more excuses,i guess.
yet,billy boy,sits in his sanitized ,hermetically sealed radio booth spinning us with the yarn that our appalling levels of economic inequality which trail only mexico,and turkey on our tier of nations,is overcome on the personal level,by the election of one unique individual.plus ca change-noble purposes require noble lies,the bigger they are the more effective they will be.this is our moment,pal,this is our time-no excuses-lets go.
Solutions. Let's actually consider for a moment the idea that we, as liberals, actually care more about solutions than vilifying other people as "racists". I know it's hard to imagine, but let's just give it a shot.
White America elected a Black president. Bennett's point is about what is possible. If it is possible for a black man to become president in a country with a white majority, then it is possible for a black man to do anything in America. Is it easy? No. Are there legitimate cases of racism out there that make some things more difficult? Yes. Are there legitimate cases of people over-stating the racism in America in order to hold themselves back? YES! Am I a racist for saying that? You decide.
But, I will submit to you that if we can recognize invalid excuses, then we can more effectively get to the heart of the problem--which is vastly accounted for by POVERTY. Not racism.
So call me racist if you want, but I know 2 other people who have said the same thing near the ends of their lives. Martin Luther King Jr... and Malcolm X.
I know though: Crooks and Liars is not about solutions or real discussion. It's about distorting people's words and calling them racist.
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