GOP Whistling Dixie on Lott-Reid Comparison
While President Obama declared "the book is closed" on Harry Reid's past "negro dialect" comment, Republicans are using the imbroglio to reopen the book on the disgraced Trent Lott. On Sunday, RNC chairman Michael Steele and Arizona Senator Jon Kyl insisted Reid should resign his post as Senate Majority Leader like Trent Lott before him.
Sadly for the Republicans, there is no double standard at work here. Trent Lott didn't merely lavish praise on the legendary racist and segregation stalwart Strom Thurmond. Lott's 2002 reminder that the old times there are not forgotten capped a career of neo-Confederate nostalgia.
Pressured by the Bush White House (as the New York Times detailed at the time), Lott in December 2002 resigned his Senate Majority Leadership post following his public hagiography of Dixiecrat and staunch segregationist Strom Thurmond:
"I want to say this about my state: when Strom Thurmond ran for President, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."
But as I noted in "A Confederacy of Dunces," Lott has been very clear in myriad other ways that he wasn't just whistling Dixie:
Lott was a speaker in 1992 at an event of the Council of Conservative Citizens, a successor to the White Citizens' Councils of Jim Crow days. Among its offerings in seething racial hatred is a "Wanted" poster of Abraham Lincoln. Lott's also offered his rebel yell in the virulently neo-Confederate Southern Partisan, where in 1984 he called the Civil War "the war of aggression."
Still, as Michael Steele himself would probably suggest, you can't blame a brother for trying. As the AP reported:
"There is this standard where the Democrats feel that they can say these things and they can apologize when it comes from the mouths of their own. But if it comes from anyone else, it's racism," said Steele, who is black. "It's either racist or it's not. And it's inappropriate, absolutely."
Arizona Republican Jon Kyl concurred with Steele's assessment that "The reality of it is this, there is this standard where Democrats feel they can say these things and apologize as long as it comes from one of their own, and if it comes from somebody else, it's racism." As Politico reported in a hyperbolic story titled, "Reid fights for political life":
Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) , the second ranking Republican in Senate, also pointed to a "double standard" in how Democrats have treated Reid as compared to Lott.
"If he should resign, then Harry Reid should," Kyl said on Fox. "If they apologize and you know what is in their heart, my feeling is they shouldn't but in this case he should."
For their part, Democrats including Jack Reed (D-RI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), James Clyburn (D-DC), Thurmond's distant relative Al Sharpton and the President rushed to Reid's defense, with Obama noting, "I accepted Harry's apology without question because I've known him for years, I've seen the passionate leadership he's shown on issues of social justice and I know what's in his heart."
In contrast, Trent Lott's passion apparently was a fondness for the ante bellum South.
Which brings us back to today's laughable Republican claim of a "double standard" for Trent Lott. As Lott and a host of other Republican neo-Confederates like George Allen, Matt Blunt, Haley Barbour, Jim Demint, John Ashcroft and (more recently) Mike Huckabee show, the GOP is credible on issues of race and social justice in much the same way that bricks float.
Nevertheless, the embattled Michael Steele will doubtless keep up his campaign against Harry Reid. As Steele might put it, "Well, the brother is still here, kicking, you know?"
(This piece also appears at Perrspectives.)
We need to hear from the GOP black caucus!
*crickets chirping*
Since the dems aren't the party of "whites only" and the GOP can only muster one token, dems can get away with saying things the GOPhers have no business even addressing.
:)
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
When Alan Keyes gets word of this between his shifts at the local retail area that hired him, he will release a statement. Oh, please, Alan Keyes, please make a public comment on this. Yours is the comedy gold we need right now.
Short of giving the Repub mouth-breathers another notch in their gun, would it really be such a bad thing if Harry Reid were forced to resign?
Personally, I find that to be a good thing.
. . . truth is the Right wing has everything going for them at this point with the economy a total wreck and the war machine calling all the shots.
...toxic rotten fucks.
Being naturally contrary myself, I generally agree, however, isn't it interesting how yesterday most libruls couldn't get rid of Reid fast enough, but today, we're all (supposed to be) circling the wagons around him?
Strikes me as pure Rove.
I say we take this golden opportunity to throw the worthless Reid under the bus. Opportunities like this only come so often. I'm just sayin'...
though I don't think of this as a defense of Reid as an example of Repug hypocracy.
"Strikes me as pure Rove."
Then you're missing the point.
Reid probably should resign for being an inept leader.
The difference between the left and the right is that the left is much more likely and willing to call out their own.
And the right thing to do because a man made a stupid comment isn't to fire him.
I could not agree with you more. We must not play along with them no matter the purpose.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
that said something stupid, ther wouldn't be any left.
Hey, great idea! :)
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
the 2010 election. He may not be Majority Leader come December anyway.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/54286087.html
With the mega-support from his own rank and file, I'm sure we'll be better off with a GOPher taking his place from NV.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzeLoa1gwCU
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
The more these cockroaches couch faint on this manufactured bullshit the more I support the ignorant Harry Reid.
Reid deserves a pass if only for pissing these rotten bastards off...and again, fuck you GOP.
He doesn't deserve a pass. He should be held to the same standard as every other politician.
I get it...Reid sucks as Senate Majority Leader.
Don't allow your hatred for Harry to make you a whore for racist republican hypocrites.
I wrote that Reid should be held to a higher standard - as should every official holding a public office. Regardless of their party affiliation. This opinion does not warrant such a presumptive and insulting response. I never said I hated Reid. I never said I was Republican. Don't put words in my mouth.
Figured as much. I've noted the frequency with which you post, and yet the infrequency with you contribute anything substantive to the discourse. It's always hate [profanity] hate [profanity] hate, ad infinitum. While I appreciate your passion, frankly your methodology is for shit. When idiots like O'Reilly cite Media Matters or C&L as leftist hate sites, it's posts like yours that give them ammunition.
I have yet to come across a post of yours that doesn't contain an insult. Do everyone a favor, either learn to post rational, civil, coherent arguments, or go join the other team. Every time you open your mouth you make progressives look bad.
Get some skillz, or go back to the kids table and shut your snack hole.
The one where the right gets a pass on violating the Constitution with illegal wire taps, bankrupts the nation with deregulation, invades sovereign nations..that standard? Or the one where civil discourse is negated by obstructionism and lies?
Mickey: "It was an epiphany. Do you know what an epipany is?"
Keoni: "NOT NOW MICKEY!"
I refer to a standard in which a politician is held accountable when they stick their foot in their mouth. A standard where they own up to it, apologize, and then get on with the people's business. Or a reprimand or resignation if necessary - though this situation hardly warrants.
Your false equivalence does not apply.
Screw it. Let's push Reid out with as little fuss as possible, and put Sanders or Franken in there. Then we can tell the righties that we gave them exactly what we wanted, and be better off for it.
The senators elect their leader. They have some stupid rules and senority stuff but it is up to them.
Who do you think can "push" Reid out?
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
... it was just wishful thinking. Lighten up, it's early where I am! :P
No big dealio - just mentioning how the leader is selected in case others thought it was up to Obama or something.
I am very lightened up, "he ain't heavy he's your brother."
:)
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Good one!
We all know that Conservatives have never and will never give a shit regarding race relations...this is just another minority(Repukes) power grab...and that's how they'll spin this shit(while they continue to laugh at Democrats as they use the n-word behind closed doors).
Fuck em.
As someone who marched with Martin and worked for both Jesse and Obama, allow me to interject: One, Reid was praising Obama, in the context that held these remarks, and saying America was ready to elect this type of African-American. And don’t think there aren’t types in any racial circle. And a “Negro” dialect? Tracy Morgan, Wanda Sykes, Chris Rock and a host of out-front black personalities have been using that “dialect” and emphasizing it for years. Chris Rock, in his routine years ago, pointed out that Colin Powell was the perfect black man for president because he didn’t sound like Rock. From Eddie Murphy to Richard Pryor to Redd Foxx and countless others, the dialect, which is the sound and tone of the words, has been used to great effect. Object to the word “Negro”? Wow, have fun. Reid’s biggest mistake was saying his praise in this manner to a reporter. The second mistake is the way people are going pointlessly nuts.
“All of our interviews — from those with junior staffers to those with the candidates themselves — were conducted on a ‘deep background’ basis, which means we agreed not to identify the subjects as sources in any way.”
A comment "reported" by way of deep background - in other words - no real source.
Yawn.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Reid has called the President and apologized to him. I don't think he would have done that if he hadn't made those remarks.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
That doesn't excuse poor "reporting" based on unnamed sources.
The unnamed sources thing really SUX big time.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
The authors were on tv this morning and they take their reporting very seriously. I'm waiting to see if Bill Clinton is going to come out and deny what they reported he said to Sen Kennedy during the campaign. I pretty much trust these guys and if there is some false stuff in the book, I'm sure we will hear about it from someone.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
It isn't a matter of what is true. It IS a matter of allowing all of the reporters to report anything unsourced.
The unsourced BS is sometimes outright lies.
Maybe not in this case but generally unsourced is on shaky ground or the authors (and I use that term loosely) would source their so-called facts.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
You make more sense in that comment than anyone on tv who has spoken on the subject. Thank you so much for laying it out so well.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Ron Christie just said "what in the world is a negro dialect?" on the Ed Show.
I guess there is no such thing, cause Ron is black, so it must be true. Right?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34813... at about the 50 second mark
"we welcome that dialogue" - that'll scare off the GOPhers.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
Steele will take any attention he can get even if it makes him look bizarre as hell. Happily for him no one is talking about his "injun" comment not. The only one I heard bring it up yesterday was Chris Wallace on Fox. He gave Steele a much harder time than Meet the Press did as David didn't even mention Steele's own blunder.
Trying to compare this to what Lott said is like comparing something Rachael might say to something Colture might say.
I wouldn't care if Reid went, but I don't want it to be over this. Steele proudly commented that Reid could either resign or he would beat him in November. Steele should be an embarrassment to his party.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
How can Michael Steele embarrass the party of David Vitter, Duke Cunningham, Larry Craig, John Ensign, Peter King, Stephen King, Jim Bunning, Tom Delay...
But they can't get rid of him because he's the only black guy in the party.
in this country anymore. It sells.
Seems like he would be a perfect fit.
I obviously have to start recording the Daily Show again.
harry reid should lose his majority position anyway, before this story ever broke, this should be the icing on the cake. i don't think he needs to resign from the senate b/c of his racist remarks, but he surely should step down from his leadership position.
No matter what you think of Reid, do you think it would be fair or honest to let the republicans label him a racist just to get him out of the Senate? I think we are better than that. Everything points to him losing has seat in the mid-terms. So it seems to me it would be better to let that play out rather than feed into this bs the republicans are trying to pull.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Exactly.
but, to the umpteenth power, the GOP is dabbling in hypocrisy. actually, hypocrisy doesn't even cover what the GOP is attempting to do.
Yet, reid’s racist remark gave these assholes an opening to try to portray themselves as champions of equality. And by defending and downplaying reid’s statement the dems are only building a larger soapbox for the GOP hypocrites to stand on.
Really, though, this story as broadcast by the GOP, the msm and now the blogs only serves to distract the public from things that really matter.
Again, I don’t think reid should resign from the senate, but—for MANY reasons—he should step down from his majority leader position.
What the republicans may have missed in doing what they are doing is that many of the tea party folks probably don't like anyone in their party putting racism down. Some of those people are racist and they have no problem with it.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
If these phony assholes were truly interested in tackling inappropriate racist comments, they'd be busy working in house every Goddamn day.
Only if they can get some slaves to do the heavy lifting.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
If you piss these fucks off, I'm a friend.
i would take it one step further, a lot of the far right take pride in their racism (and homophobism, sexism... really nearly every ism and schism one could list)
would this be the same Jon Kyl of AZ who voted "no" on a Senate Resolution condemning lynching?
Hey kids! Type in "Jon Kyl/Lynching" on teh Google and see what happens!
Jon Kyl is the big-hearted Cree-yist-yin who didn't want maternal care included in a healthcare reform bill because he doesn't need it!
I think in this case as with most others, those crying foul the loudest are those most guilty of fouling.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
The GOP hypocrisy knows no bounds.
We should be very careful rewarding their rank hypocrisy by calling for Reid to step down because the GOP is really REALLY concerned with the racial issues? Really? The GOP ARE the racists. Let's not let them forget their long and recent history.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
That's what makes this whole feigned dust up so bizarre. Republicans are so upset about racism? Since when? Yesterday?
I haven't heard any of them raise hell over some of the shit that was said during the campaign, or the crap that rolled out over the inter-net or some of the signs we have seen at the tea baggin' parties. Where was their concern then? Were they grasping their pearls then? To quote an infamous attorney, "I don't recall"
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
The people who wrote the book wanted to make a dust up.
Obviously. They have an agenda or why write this? A private comment sourced on deep background.
The whole thing isn't on the up and up.
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
... the source is Mark 'Semen Hair' Halperin.
Yanno, if REID's comment is so offensive, there's really no reason Halperin should still be employed, either.
and heilman is hardly better
the book is a sad, yet accurate, example of what political journalism has become for the national media.
in this country. It's not just pale faces.
people! LOL
... I think, between Reid's comments, which support Obama's electability as a consequence of his not appearing or sounding overtly 'negro' - even though that's a rather left-handed compliment ...
... and Lott's comments, which clearly suggested the problem WAS the whole black / anti-segregation thing.
Steele's remark is offensive because it implies American Indians have a problem telling the truth.
Any way to get Reid gone is a good thing. Reid been leading the way into supporting corprate dems I don't see this as bad throw the bum out.
Looks like my prediction of a Harry Reid retirement is looking more and more clairvoyant.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
(CNN) - Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is apologizing for telling Esquire Magazine he's "blacker than Barack Obama."
"What I said was stupid, stupid, stupid," he told reporters outside his home Monday.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
For something to be a "double standard" we must be referring to things being equal. We're not in this case. As the key here is that Reid APOLOGIZED and was FORGIVEN.
When was the last time a Republican apologized for anything, let a lone for a racist comment? They don’t say they’re sorry for anything. They think it shows weakness, yet demand it of Democrats at every turn, (and usually get it too).
Republicans are complaining that Reid is actually being forgiven, AFTER he apologized and wonder why they’re never forgiven for never apologizing?
Chutzpah!
Just more pandering to the Blue Dogs.
I'm sure Max Baucus is smiling on CNN...or maybe it's just the liquor.
"Anyone that makes less than $150K in this country, has no business voting Republican."
A good breeze will whistle, if it finds something with a hole in it.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
How's capitulating to the Repukes all these years working out for you?
This is awesome O'Donnell smacked joe...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/#34803351
There's nothing more offensive to the GOP and Lynn Cheney than when someone fails to observe the proper politically correct terminology.
*remove tongue from cheek now*
"To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And,
at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between,
plus some things I can't remember, all rolled into one big "thing."
This is truth, to me. "
-Jack Handy
Hey, Rudy Gulliani was nice enough to sing for Throm.
The republicans demagoguing an issue; NOOOOO!!!! This party cares about race issues, really, somebody in that party better tell Rush Limbaugh the word Negro is off limits. What Reid said is stupid and inartful, but his sentiments were in the right place, unlike Trent Lott, whose comments basically wished I and people like me never had a place in civil society in America. But never let it be said Republicans can't demagogue any issue they think they can gain political traction from. After all, this is the party who used a dying woman's case (Terry Schaivo) to demagogue the right to life issue. I mean, how sick must you be to have the President of the US and the Congress halt their responsibilities and duties to intervene in a private, personal medical matter already ajudicated by a judge. Give me a break, these bastards care about racial issues about as much as they care about the poor and dispossessed people of the world.
Among other things, the Republican on offense hasn't changed, and needs to. The best defense is offense, and it's time for a little offensiveness to these Republicans.
Separately, this editorial sums it up.
"For Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele to compare Reid to Trent Lott, the Senate GOP leader who stepped down in 2002, is dishonest."
That is the story of the Republican - dishonest. It's the story of their propaganda arm, Fox News.
It's clear the Right finds all this racism stuff very confusing.
As I see it something is considered racist if it's derogatory and untrue. I know that's not the dictionary definition, but that's how we seem to commonly define the term.
But to someone who thinks everything derogatory said about minorities really is true, like many on the Right seem to believe, racism appears to be anything bad they say about minorities.
The "true or untrue" test is by default "on".
They don't understand why Reid saying something (while not derogatory yet not exactly complementary) gets a pass, because of it's truth.
1) Obama with one White parent and one Black parent should be able to talk with either accent, growing up with one foot in each world.
I bet when Lynne Cheney sings rap in the shower she uses a "negro dialect" too.
2) Sometimes people show bias due to skin tone, even within the Black culture.
3) The term "negro" while outdated is not a slur. United Negro College Fund.
I don't remember the Right calling for Limbaugh to quit when he called Obama "The Magic Negro".
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