It's interesting but not surprising that post-Katrina New Orleans is no longer on the radar of an attention deficit disorder nation. I will always remember reading a report that Republican congressman Richard Baker told lobbyists, "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." And remember others who hoped that only the "good blacks" would come back and said that the root of the word "Katrina" is "cleansing."
Remember New Orleans.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Frank Rich's "In Defense of White Americans"
Check out Frank Rich's piece in the October 27 NYT. He notes, among other things, the 2006 incident in which then-Senator George Allen of Virginia called a young Indian-American "macaca" and welcomed him "to America and the real world of Virginia." (This past September the GOP staged a "unity" rally in northern Virginia in an effort to reach out to minority voters. One of the speakers at the rally--former Senator George Allen. That's not tone deaf, it's completely deaf.)
Planning An Assassination
Paul Schlesselman and Daniel Cowart have been arrested and charged with plotting to assassinate Senator Obama and murder black school children. Eric Lichtblau writes in the New York Times that the "assassination was to be the culmination of a 'killing spree' that would also single out children at an unnamed, predominantly black school, federal officials said. The men talked of 'killing 88 people and beheading 14 African-Americans.'" The numbers 88 and 14 are not accidental. "The number 88 is shorthand for 'Heil, Hitler'--H is the eighth letter in the alphabet--and 14 signifies a 14-word mantra among white supremacists: 'We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.'"
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Ashley Todd Hoax
Ashley Todd of College Station, Texas (her no longer publicly available Twitter page can be seen here) falsely claimed that she was mugged by a large black man while she used an ATM in Pittsburgh, and that the assailant carved the letter "B" into her face. According to Todd, the alleged attacker told her "You are going to be a Barack supporter."
John Moody, the executive vice president of FOX News, had this to say:
It had to happen. . . .
If Ms. Todd's allegations are proven accurate, some voters may revisit their support for Senator Obama, not because they are racists (with due respect to Rep. John Murtha), but because they suddenly feel they do not know enough about the Democratic nominee.
If the incident turns out to be a hoax, Senator McCain's quest for the presidency is over, forever linked to race-baiting.
Well, it was a lie and a hoax and Ms. Todd, who had received calls from both Senator McVain and Governor Palin, has been arrested and charged with filing a false police report. As for Moody's ridiculous statement, it is not only racial it is racist. What in his mind linked the alleged attacker to Senator Obama? One thing--Moody's racialization of Obama and all black men. And where is his follow up announcing the end of the McCain campaign? Keep waiting for it, I'm sure it's coming any day now.
John Moody, the executive vice president of FOX News, had this to say:
It had to happen. . . .
If Ms. Todd's allegations are proven accurate, some voters may revisit their support for Senator Obama, not because they are racists (with due respect to Rep. John Murtha), but because they suddenly feel they do not know enough about the Democratic nominee.
If the incident turns out to be a hoax, Senator McCain's quest for the presidency is over, forever linked to race-baiting.
Well, it was a lie and a hoax and Ms. Todd, who had received calls from both Senator McVain and Governor Palin, has been arrested and charged with filing a false police report. As for Moody's ridiculous statement, it is not only racial it is racist. What in his mind linked the alleged attacker to Senator Obama? One thing--Moody's racialization of Obama and all black men. And where is his follow up announcing the end of the McCain campaign? Keep waiting for it, I'm sure it's coming any day now.
Maryline Blackburn, Miss Alaska 1984
Maryline Blackburn, who happens to be an African-American, won the Miss Alaska beauty pageant in 1984. The runner-up: Sarah Palin.
On African Americans And Baseball
Richard Justice writes: "Black players accounted for 27 percent of major league rosters in the mid-1970s. When the 1968 All-Star Game was in the Astrodome, the National League's biggest stars--Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey and Bob Gibson--were black."
"And then the decline came, first slowly, then dramatically. Only 8.2 percent of major leaguers were black in 2007.
"Reasons for the decline include economics, opportunity and marketing. Hundreds of inner-city high schools dropped baseball. Diamonds, which are expensive to maintain, were paved over."
"And then the decline came, first slowly, then dramatically. Only 8.2 percent of major leaguers were black in 2007.
"Reasons for the decline include economics, opportunity and marketing. Hundreds of inner-city high schools dropped baseball. Diamonds, which are expensive to maintain, were paved over."
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Nick Kristof's "Rebranding the U.S. with Obama"
From his column:
The other day I had a conversation with a Beijing friend and I mentioned that Barack Obama was leading in the presidential race:
She: Obama? But he's the black man, isn't he?
Me: Yes, exactly.
She: But surely a black man couldn't become president of the United States?
Me: It looks as if he'll be elected.
She: But president? That's such an important job! In America, I thought blacks were janitors and laborers.
Me: No, blacks have all kinds of job.
She: What do white people think about that, about getting a black president? Are they upset? Are they angry?
Me: No, of course not! If Obama is elected, it'll be because white people voted for him.
[Long pause.]
She: Really? Unbelievable! What an amazing country!
The other day I had a conversation with a Beijing friend and I mentioned that Barack Obama was leading in the presidential race:
She: Obama? But he's the black man, isn't he?
Me: Yes, exactly.
She: But surely a black man couldn't become president of the United States?
Me: It looks as if he'll be elected.
She: But president? That's such an important job! In America, I thought blacks were janitors and laborers.
Me: No, blacks have all kinds of job.
She: What do white people think about that, about getting a black president? Are they upset? Are they angry?
Me: No, of course not! If Obama is elected, it'll be because white people voted for him.
[Long pause.]
She: Really? Unbelievable! What an amazing country!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Newt Gingrich: Obama Would Be Like Rev. Wright
Appearing on and participating in a roundtable discussion on Sunday's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," Newt Gingrich argued that a President Obama's temperament would be like that of Reverend Wright if there were large Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. I was watching the show when Gingrich made this statement. The host, George Will, Tom Friedman, David Brooks, and Donna Brazile did not react.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
If "Black" Is A "Race" Then So Is "White"
For the Limbaughs and Buchanans and fellow travelers who are trying to reduce General Powell to (their essentializing version and warped understanding of) a black man: Have any white persons who have decided to endorse a candidate who happens to be white over a candidate who happens to be black been asked if they chose the white candidate because they were white? And if not, why not?
Powell Endorses Obama: The Reactions Of The Reactionaries
Here it comes. The usual suspects, Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan (an MSNBC commentator!!) are peddling the stupidity that General Powell endorsed Senator Obama because . . . wait for it . . . both are African American. Buchanan just spewed that filth on Hardball with Chris Matthews.
Crack News
Don Cornelius, creator and longtime host of "Sooooooooooooooul Train," arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence in Los Angeles.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Update On "Joe The Plumber": His Name Is Samuel
From Gail Collins' New York Times column: "Joe the Plumber, it turns out, is actually named Samuel and is not a licensed plumber. He has a lien on his house for unpaid taxes. While his professional life is still a little hazy, there is not much evidence he's ever going to become a small business owner. And he would be a beneficiary of Barack Obama's tax plan." And we do know, from those members of the national news media who have the time and resources to camp out at Joe/Samuel's home, that Senator McCain's plumber does not like Social Security and thinks that the Iraq War was a good thing.
"Is McCain His Supporters' Keeper?"
Click here for Professor Angela Onwuachi-Willig's answer. She argues, in part, that "Senator McCain is not responsible for the chants of his supporters (though his running mate Governor Sarah Palin has helped to incite them with statements that Sentaor Obama 'is palling around with terrorists.'). But, Senator McCain is responsible for his and Governor Palin's failure to utterly reject these crazy chants by hateful supporters and to call them for what they are: racist and revolting."
Racializing The Global Financial Meltdown
Emma Coleman Jordan discusses the "black people did it" argument.
The Obama Food Stamp
Yet another silly season example: The newsletter of a Republican group in San Bernardino County, California contained the picture of an "Obama Bucks" food stamp. A picture of Senator Obama is surrounded by a watermelon, a bucket of fried chicken, Kool-Aid, and ribs.
Racist McCain-Palin Supporters
A friend forwarded to me an account of racist statements made by McCain/Palin supporters, recorded by an Al Jazeera camera crew. The comments include the following: "When you get a Negra running for president, you need a first stringer. He's definitely a second stringer." And "I'm afraid if he wins, the blacks will take over. He's not a Christian! This is a Christian nation! What is our country gonna end up like?" (On whether the United States is a "Christian nation," see Geoffrey R. Stone, The World of the Framers: A Christian Nation?, 56 UCLA L. Rev. 1 (2008)).
Thursday, October 16, 2008
(Oh No) Joe The Plumber
A few facts about Joe The Plumber (Joseph Wurzelbacher of Holland, Ohio), Senator John McCain's repeated reference point in last night's debate:
1. Joe is not a licensed plumber. (According to a building inspection official Joe must be a licensed apprentice or journeyman plumber to work in Toledo.)
2. Because he makes less than $250,000 a year he would be the recipient of an Obama administration's tax cut.
Now Joe is being vetted and may find out the good and the bad of 15minutes of fame.
1. Joe is not a licensed plumber. (According to a building inspection official Joe must be a licensed apprentice or journeyman plumber to work in Toledo.)
2. Because he makes less than $250,000 a year he would be the recipient of an Obama administration's tax cut.
Now Joe is being vetted and may find out the good and the bad of 15minutes of fame.
More Obama And Osama Idiocy
From the Associated Press: "The official Web site of the Sacramento County Republican Party compared Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama to terrorist leader Osama bin Laden and urged people to 'Waterboard Barack Obama.'" The material and images showing Obama in a turban were removed at the request of the California Republican Party. Apparently some have no problem with publicly and stupidly slandering Obama and getting off on the violent imagery of waterboarding and torturing the Senator.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Recommended
Deborah Hellman, When Is Discrimination Wrong? (Harvard University Press, 2008)
Douglas A. Blackmon, Slavery By Another Name: The Re-enslavement Of Black Americans From The Civil War To World War II (Doubleday 2008)
Douglas A. Blackmon, Slavery By Another Name: The Re-enslavement Of Black Americans From The Civil War To World War II (Doubleday 2008)
Barack "Osama" On The Ballot
Three hundred absentee ballots printed by election officials in Rensselaer County, New York list "Barack Osama" as the Democratic presidential nominee. The Democratic commissioner of the county said "we catch almost everything"; the Republican commissioner says it's just a typo. Oops? Just a typo? Yeah, right.
Clarence Page On McCain And Palin
From Page's October 12, 2008 column in the Chicago Tribune: "But these days McCain's political attacks have grown sharper and angrier. He unleashed his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, like an attack puppy against Obama. Together they have pushed their conservative audiences further right and, in some cases, over the edge." When some fool (my characterization) yelled "Kill him!" at a Florida rally "Palin smiled her way past the 'Kill him!' shout. Maybe she didn't hear it. At the same rally, a racial epithet was shouted at a black sound technician with a TV news crew."
Monday, October 13, 2008
Racism, European Edition
1. From the October 7, 2008 edition of the Daily Mail: Dube Egwuata was wearing a Barack Obama T-shirt in London while he was making a purchase in a store. A man approached him and began shouting racist slurs ("I f***ing hate n*****s") and subsequently shot Mr. Egwuata three times with a gas-powered ball-bearing pistol. Egwuata stated that "Obama inspires me, his educational track record alone is quite unbelievable-that is why I was wearing the T-shirt. I did not think for one minute it could stir up such powerful feelings of hatred and I never said a word to [the shooter]." No arrests have been made.
2. From the October 6, 2008 edition of the Daily Mail: Lisa Ring, a nursery school teacher and supervisor and mother of two from Haverhill in Suffolk, was charged with racially aggravated harassment after she made monkey noises at an 18-month child who happened to be black as he played with a plastic banana. Asked by another staff member to stop that and other despicable conduct she was engaging in, Ring responded that what she was doing was "just a bit of fun." Found guilty by a magistrates' court, Ring was fined and was fired by the nursery.
3. From today's New York Times: Abdul William Guibre, who was born in Burkina Faso and was raised in Italy, was beaten to death in Milan, Italy by the father and son proprietors of the Shining Bar, a coffee shop. Fausto and Daniele Cristofoli believed that Mr. Guibre had stolen money and cookies from the shop; they beat Guibre with a metal rod, shouting "dirty black" as they killed him. "Although there is some debate about whether the killing was racially motivated, the attack on Mr. Guibre was the most severe in a recent spate of violence against immigrants across Italy. The attacks are fueling a national conversation about racism and tolerance in a country that has only recently transformed itself from a nation of emigrants into a prime destination for immigrants." Giovanna Giulio Valtolina, a scholar at MIlan's ISMU Foundation, remarked that "a black Italian is a very new thing." Apparently.
2. From the October 6, 2008 edition of the Daily Mail: Lisa Ring, a nursery school teacher and supervisor and mother of two from Haverhill in Suffolk, was charged with racially aggravated harassment after she made monkey noises at an 18-month child who happened to be black as he played with a plastic banana. Asked by another staff member to stop that and other despicable conduct she was engaging in, Ring responded that what she was doing was "just a bit of fun." Found guilty by a magistrates' court, Ring was fined and was fired by the nursery.
3. From today's New York Times: Abdul William Guibre, who was born in Burkina Faso and was raised in Italy, was beaten to death in Milan, Italy by the father and son proprietors of the Shining Bar, a coffee shop. Fausto and Daniele Cristofoli believed that Mr. Guibre had stolen money and cookies from the shop; they beat Guibre with a metal rod, shouting "dirty black" as they killed him. "Although there is some debate about whether the killing was racially motivated, the attack on Mr. Guibre was the most severe in a recent spate of violence against immigrants across Italy. The attacks are fueling a national conversation about racism and tolerance in a country that has only recently transformed itself from a nation of emigrants into a prime destination for immigrants." Giovanna Giulio Valtolina, a scholar at MIlan's ISMU Foundation, remarked that "a black Italian is a very new thing." Apparently.
On Lending To "Minorities And Risky Folks"
Last month on Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto host Cavuto, discussing the federal government's decision to place Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship and the culpability of Congress, said the following to his guest, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA): ""I'm just saying, I don't remember a clarion call that said, 'Fannie and Freddie are a disaster. Loaning to minorities and risky folks is a disaster." Talk about being blamed for everything. Just reporting, you decide.
On "Not Us" And Being "An Arab" Or (Not And) "Decent"
Last Friday at a McCain campaign rally a woman said to Senator McCain: "I can't trust Obama. I have read about him and he's not, he's not us--he's an Arab. He's not . . ." Shaking his head and taking the microphone from the speaker McCain said: "No, ma'am. He's a decent family man [and] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign's all about. He's not [an Arab]."
McCain has been applauded by some for his response. But that response is troubling. Obama's "not us"? The classificatory and exclusionary "us versus them" mentality revealed in and by that statement could not be clearer. As one of my colleagues mentioned to me today, no one made the point that there is nothing wrong with being "an Arab." McCain's reply left in place the notion that being "an Arab" and being a "decent" man and citizen (persons of Arab descent are not and cannot be citizens?) is an either/or and not a both/and proposition. That's disturbing on surface and deeper levels.
McCain has been applauded by some for his response. But that response is troubling. Obama's "not us"? The classificatory and exclusionary "us versus them" mentality revealed in and by that statement could not be clearer. As one of my colleagues mentioned to me today, no one made the point that there is nothing wrong with being "an Arab." McCain's reply left in place the notion that being "an Arab" and being a "decent" man and citizen (persons of Arab descent are not and cannot be citizens?) is an either/or and not a both/and proposition. That's disturbing on surface and deeper levels.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
"The Obamas Are Uppity" And More (Or Why I Never Trust Polls)
1. As reported in The Hill:
--U.S. Representative Lynn Westmoreland, Republican of Georgia: "Just from what little I've seen of [Michelle Obama] and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity."
--U.S. Representative Steve King, Republican of Iowa, on the purported relevance of Obama's middle name "Hussein": "Then the radical Islamists, the al Qaeda, the radical Islamists and their supporters, will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on Sept. 11 because they will declare victory in this War on Terror." (In case you're wondering, John McCain's middle name is "Sidney").
--U.S. Representative Geoff Davis, Republican of Kentucky: "I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button. He could not make a decision in that [situation] that related to a nuclear threat to this country."
2. From Lisa Falkenberg's recent column in the Houston Chronicle: Charles Bowers, a Yellow Dog Democrat and retired pastor: "Frankly, I was raised during the days of segregation and am not ready for a black family in the White House. . . . But I'm praying for a way out of my prejudice and think I just may be over it. If I vote for Obama, I will be over my prejudice for sure."
3. From a recent Nicholas Kristof column in the New York Times: There are "widespread theories that Mr. Obama just may be the Antichrist. Seriously." (Click here if you want to purchase a T-shirt with an "O" with horns over the caption "The Anti-Christ").
4. From George Packer, writing in The New Yorker's October 13, 2008 issue:
--An unnamed man in Glouster, Ohio, explaining why he was undecided but now supports Obama after McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate: "I just think the guy Obama picked would do better if he got assassinated than McCain's if he died of frickin' old age in office."
--Bobbie Durham, a retired fourth-grade teacher: "But I really don't trust Obama. He only says half-truths. He calls himself a Christian, but he only became one to run for office. He calls himself a black, but he's two-thirds Arab."
--Retired state employee J.K. Patrick of Inez, Kentucky: "There's a lot of white people that just wouldn't vote for a colored person. Especially older people." Patrick: "I really don't want an African-American as President. I think he would put too many minorities in positions over the white race. That's my opinion."
--Latisha Price, who runs the Service Employees International Union's office for Obama in Athens, Ohio, on approaching persons in that state's Meigs County: "Meigs County is one of the worst. . . . I have heard, pardon my French, 'Get the fuck off my porch, I'm not voting for no nigger.'"
--U.S. Representative Lynn Westmoreland, Republican of Georgia: "Just from what little I've seen of [Michelle Obama] and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they're a member of an elitist-class individual that thinks that they're uppity."
--U.S. Representative Steve King, Republican of Iowa, on the purported relevance of Obama's middle name "Hussein": "Then the radical Islamists, the al Qaeda, the radical Islamists and their supporters, will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on Sept. 11 because they will declare victory in this War on Terror." (In case you're wondering, John McCain's middle name is "Sidney").
--U.S. Representative Geoff Davis, Republican of Kentucky: "I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button. He could not make a decision in that [situation] that related to a nuclear threat to this country."
2. From Lisa Falkenberg's recent column in the Houston Chronicle: Charles Bowers, a Yellow Dog Democrat and retired pastor: "Frankly, I was raised during the days of segregation and am not ready for a black family in the White House. . . . But I'm praying for a way out of my prejudice and think I just may be over it. If I vote for Obama, I will be over my prejudice for sure."
3. From a recent Nicholas Kristof column in the New York Times: There are "widespread theories that Mr. Obama just may be the Antichrist. Seriously." (Click here if you want to purchase a T-shirt with an "O" with horns over the caption "The Anti-Christ").
4. From George Packer, writing in The New Yorker's October 13, 2008 issue:
--An unnamed man in Glouster, Ohio, explaining why he was undecided but now supports Obama after McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate: "I just think the guy Obama picked would do better if he got assassinated than McCain's if he died of frickin' old age in office."
--Bobbie Durham, a retired fourth-grade teacher: "But I really don't trust Obama. He only says half-truths. He calls himself a Christian, but he only became one to run for office. He calls himself a black, but he's two-thirds Arab."
--Retired state employee J.K. Patrick of Inez, Kentucky: "There's a lot of white people that just wouldn't vote for a colored person. Especially older people." Patrick: "I really don't want an African-American as President. I think he would put too many minorities in positions over the white race. That's my opinion."
--Latisha Price, who runs the Service Employees International Union's office for Obama in Athens, Ohio, on approaching persons in that state's Meigs County: "Meigs County is one of the worst. . . . I have heard, pardon my French, 'Get the fuck off my porch, I'm not voting for no nigger.'"
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