This is the latest in a series on the use of the race card for political gain:
A couple of weeks before the 2008 election, in one of my first blog posts, I wrote:
The suppression of legitimate political expression through false accusations of racism by the Obama campaign and its supporters is the defining theme of the 2008 campaign.
And as we have seen in this series and other posts here, the false accusations of racism have been almost non-stop ever since. Every time I say it cannot possibly get worse, it does.
With Obama sinking in the polls and the Republican presidential field beginning to sort itself out, the media is lashing out with increased fury and anger.
Ed Schultz on MSNBC was caught this week cutting off the sound on a tape in order to create a pretext for calling Rick Perry racist for using the term “black cloud” supposedly to describe Obama. This was both factually incorrect (the full audio shows that Perry was referring to the national debt as a black cloud) and more of the gotcha word games we have seen before where racially neutral or completely non-racial terms are used as pretexts for false claims of racism.
When caught, Schultz apologized for showing the clip at all, but not for the false accusation of racism. Despite the false accusation having been exposed, the next day MSNBC ran the same story again on the Al Sharpton show.
Next came Janeane Garofalo appearing on what’s left of Keith Olbermann’s career, in one of the most vile attacks we have seen, claiming that Herman Cain is a paid puppet of white political masters in order to deflect the racism of the Republican Party and Tea Party movement:
They have become their own self-parody, but they are dangerous because the constant repetition works in creating a public imagination that Republican candidates are racist.
So if you think it cannot get any worse, trust me, it will.
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Comments
Interesting. Two rich white liberals (Garofalo, Olbermann) telling Herman Cain how to be black.
If Olbermann were intellectually honest and anywhere near as intelligent as he claims to be, he would immediately have asked Garofalo whether she has any evidence that Herman Cain is being paid. She probably would have changed the subject. At that point, anybody with intellectual honesty would have asked her please to answer the question. Since she couldn’t have answered “yes”, intellectual honesty would have demanded that Olbermann cut off the discussion on the point, stating that “since you don’t have any evidence, we aren’t going to talk about that anymore.”
I don’t imagine that it’s news that Keith Olbermann isn’t intellectually honest, but he’s seldom confirmed that fact as clearly as he has here.
Iowa Jim writes:
“If Olbermann were intellectually honest and anywhere near as intelligent as he claims to be…”
If any of that were true he wouldn’t be Olbermann.
If Olbermann were intellectually honest…
My formal logic may be a bit dusty after all these years, but I’ll be darned if that isn’t a false antecedent.
Beautiful articulate response–maybe you can send a copy of it to those two loudmouths!
Prediction on the Israel Card. As Obama continues to berate Israel for defending itself, and as Israel increasingly comes under fire, look for some Americans to say enough is enough and take up arms on Israel’s behalf.
When the race card is all you have, you play it every hand.
“Every time I say it cannot possibly get worse, it does.”
I couldn’t agree more. Here is where the “punch line” would come: ‘then stop saying it! ba-dum-bum’; but this is way to serious because of the truth of what else you said:
“They have become their own self-parody, but they are dangerous because the constant repetition works in creating a public imagination that Republican candidates are racist.”
Alinsky tools and rules in action. Unfortunately, they work. And the Dems and MSM know it. The only counter to it is if there was some way to flood the truth on the airwaves.
That’s why the Internet and talk radio are so essential, so powerful.
My fear is that their next power grab will be an EO or “issued policy” that will shut down Conservative Internet sites and radio programs.
The FCC has been working on this since before Obama got elected. When will that shoe drop, I wonder? I hope I’m wrong, but after this week’s immigration overreach by the executive branch, I fear this might be next. Maybe a Homeland Security move, for our “safety” which the FCC implements via their regulations and policies. So cosy, a joint venture like that. /sarc
These are perilous times. I read something today that seems appropriate here: “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. united for harmony; Obama divides to conquer.” (I’ll find the link and update).
Divide and conquer. The President of the United States. Sowing division among fellow citizens. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” -Lincoln
The race card is a cancer on our civil society.
Found the actual quote:
“King united to overcome. Obama divides to conquer. One is the antithesis of the other.”
From the American Thinker article by Lee Cary, “Media Matters vs. the Gateway Pundit on Obama as MLK“.
The glasses, like, make her look totally, like you know, intelligent.
I predict that, in the future, first year philosophy students will study, Plato, Aristotle and Garofalo and still be confused.
The only thing funny about Janeane Garofalo is that she is labelled a “comedian.”
She is to comedy what Al Sharpton is to theology and Keith Olbermann is to newcasting. All three are nasty pieces of work.
It’s the only way the Liberals think they can win and distracts the voter from Obama’s epic failure.
1. Blame Republicans in Congress for economy & debt.
2. Stoke the class envy & the guilt
3. Regional warfare
4. Racial US v Bitterclingers
5. Stoke fear of race riots
6. Bribe the illegals and load the polls
Issa needs to blow the scandal wide open.
Who is that woman? Did she used to be famous?
Precisely my point…why should we care what this woman (or Olbermann or Ed Shultz) says? Do using the race card over an over again making less effective as a political tool? Will the average voter fall for that? Only if we get defensive about it and not have the courage to dismiss those accusations for the foolishness that they are…
Do using the race card over an over again making less effective as a political tool? Will the average voter fall for that?
Based on response from my left leaning friends. No and Yes.
I think at this point, it is more self-defeating parody than dangerous. A Black man is the most powerful man in the country — and arguably still the most powerful in the world. Phony charges of racism were wearing thin a dozen years ago. Now, every time one is thrown out, in my opinion, it solidifies a few more white voters against Obama. Worse for the Dems, when this stuff comes from the likes of Al Sharpton — who remains the most detested Black man anywhere with the possible exception of Louis Farrakhan — it does Obama further harm.
So why do they keep doing it? Two reasons:
1) They cannot help themselves. It’s what they do. For some, it is so deeply ingrained in their world view, they actually believe it.
2) It helps — or they think it helps — shore up the base, Blacks and liberals.
Ms. Garofalo’s condescension toward Mr. Cain is jaw dropping. Mr. Cain is more educated, intelligent and successful by a factor of 100 than Ms. Garofalo will ever be. In addition to being a remarkable business man, he is a mathmetician with a graduate degree in computer science. He doesn’t need anybody’s money or approval. He is a self made millionaire who doesn’t need to please anybody. He earned his millions in the marketplace which is colorblind unlike the race obsessed Ms. Garofalo and her ilk. Apparently she has no problem with racism as long as it is her brand of condescending bigotry against those who disagree with her delusional views. I don’t know what twisted Janeane Garofalo, but I genuinely pity her.
Agree. Herman Cain has been impressive and I will follow his political career closely in the days ahead.
This Hollywood moonbat Garofalo wouldn’t have the courage to call Cain or Col. West “puppets of white men” to their faces. I’d pay money to watch Star Parker dispatch her quickly in a debate.
I disagree Professor, the race card will be used so much to the point of being irrelevant, and the backlash will be more severe.
I have a diverse family, and some of them did vote for President Barry, and to say they are disappointed in him is an understatement.
And then for them to hear that they are now racists for opposing Messaih Barry, a few of them have finally acknowledged how the race card was used in 2008, and so they are basically immune to it now, the only thing that’s happening is how irritated they are becoming hearing the race nonsense again.
As for the 2 liberal idiots, I always felt some of the biggest racists and bigots were white liberals, they tend to treat minorities like pets, rather than indivisuals.
I used to watch Oblerman pretty regularly in the Bush years, now I find myself reevaluating that entire time and my way of thinking, and for this lady, I’ve actually never heard of her, so I don’t understand why what she says even matters, she sounds demented in my humble opinion, some medication might help her.
Was Pres. O set up by the “upset” Democratic Caucus recently to play a big campaign race card in September when he announces his latest plan for growing jobs and the economy?
My thinking is he’ll propose yet more stimulus monies, of course, but this time they’ll be significantly racially oriented, with major funding targeting black and hispanic communities via government assistance, social and education programs, housing, neighborhood commercial development, upgraded infrastructure, and employer incentives. Perhaps he’ll try to make the moral case for raising taxes on Peter (Brant, say) to pay Paolo.
Just the proposal will shore up his minority and Progressive base and give him a race club with which to bash the stimulus weary GOP and fiscal hawk Tea Party in the campaign ahead. Expect more Congressional show-downs. The Dems still need to spend, accuse, divide and demagogue to win elections, they got nothing else.
the race card won’t work for them this time around. *lol*
just read this: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-met-kass-0819-20110819,0,6139674,full.column
all the signs are in place that the populace is increasingly upset with 0bama and his policies…. they will not give him a second term.
the republicans just need to beat the horn on how bad the economy keeps going with 0bama’s lack of leadership and over-regulation driving out the businesses/the demonizing of the rich… which is cause massive jobs losses and almost no job creation in the private sector …so much so that about 72% of the CEO’s say they will never be hiring as long as the WH is contining it’s anti-prosperity and anti-business policies.
if they beat the issue loud enough it will completely drown out the left’s attempts to try to change the subject and use racism. (which… will keep making the left look foolish… to try to talk about race…. when the issues of importance are jobs and the economy
and they need to keep showing how obama is increasingly taking more and more vacations. ….Which upsets most people to see… that he does this in a time of economic turmoil …when the economy is declining….
it doesn’t give people much assurance to see obama take a vacation… and then another vacation, and then another one… and then another one… and then another…
I think she has an awfully ugly name. Not worth even pronouncing it .
@missmuffett: apparently there is a new EO that Obama wrote/signed this week which calls for new “diversity” rules in the federal government. Apparently there is not enough “diversity” in the federal workplace, so Obama is mandating that in 90 days a new “diversity plan” will be implemented. This might be related to his “economic plan” and buying the various minority votes. We’ll have to wait and see…..
@alex: regarding your point:
“As for the 2 liberal idiots, I always felt some of the biggest racists and bigots were white liberals, they tend to treat minorities like pets, rather than indivisuals.(stet”
I agree 100%. Democrats claim to be helping “the poor, the disadvantaged” as though they are incapable of working, thinking, helping themselves. I’ve read that, “they [Democrat liberals] think blacks are too stupid” to achieve – in various places, from various sites. Perhaps.
I believe the true racism is coming from white Democrats/liberals who want to keep down blacks; libs are just using different methods than the did prior to MLK and the Civil Rights Act. Remember – the Democrats are the party of KKK, Jim Crow, poll taxes, “separate but equal” – they just changed their tactics after losing the civil rights battle in the 1960’s.
Allen West was right. Democrats want to keep African-Americans on “the 21st century plantation” to control them in a form of slavery – psychological slavery, divide and conquer.
Pure evil.
The race card will continue to be used; it still holds enough power in many places, many minds. Whether it will have the reverse effect in 2012 is the key response. Only if people VOTE OUT those who depend on that tactic will its usefulness be neutralized.
the race card will be used so much to the point of being irrelevant, and the backlash will be more severe
I think Alex is spot-on.
The stream of vile accusations-without-foundation will eventually force a reaction. Fortunately, that reaction will most likely be delivered at the ballot box.
[…] More at Legal Insurrection: […]
This is funny . . . at Hot Air Ed Morrissey has posted video showing Kirsten Powers strongly suggesting that it was MSNBC’s Ed Schultz who was the real racist for saying that the “big black cloud” of debt that Perry talked about must have been a reference to Barack Obama. Schultz’s selective editing of the clip was her proof.
Hard to conclude otherwise!
President Downgrade’s Team Already Playing Race Card Against Perry…
Posted on August 22, 2011 by sundancecracker
“…(via Washington Examiner) Any incumbent wants to define his opponent before the opponent defines himself. The Obama campaign seems intent on painting Rick Perry as a Southern white racist — a tired line of attack that is angering conservatives and inspiring them to rally behind Perry.
Last week, liberal pundits charged Perry with racism, offering no evidence or falsified evidence. While the baseless racism charges surfaced on MSNBC, they might have originated in the Obama campaign….”
Contrast the lies of the Obama team with this truth:From 2004
“…Texas Governor Names State Supreme Court’s First Black Chief Justice Updated at 11:49 PM
Wallace B. Jefferson, a descendant of slaves and the first black member of the Texas Supreme Court, became the court’s first black chief justice Tuesday. Gov. Rick Perry appointed Jefferson to replace Tom Phillips, who stepped down earlier this month after nearly 17 years as chief justice to become a law professor in Houston.
I believe no one is more prepared to lead this court as it renders decisions of extreme importance to a great many Texans,” the Republican governor said….”
The lamestream media will go apoplectic when Governor Perry announces his running mate and it turns out that he is blacker with more ethnic credentials than obama. Ha!
Governor Perry is NOT a racsist nor a chauvinist. Try googling the salaries of Obama’s female staff members as compared to male staff members.http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/3355/sexist-obama-pays-his-female-staff-less-than-the-males/
“…Sexist Obama Pays His Female Staff Less Than The Males
On average, women working in Obama’s Senate office were paid at least $6,000 below the average man working for the Illinois senator. That’s according to data calculated from the Report of the Secretary of the Senate, which covered the six-month period ending Sept. 30, 2007. Of the five people in Obama’s Senate office who were paid $100,000 or more on an annual basis, only one — Obama’s administrative manager — was a woman.The average pay for the 33 men on Obama’s staff (who earned more than $23,000, the lowest annual salary paid for non-intern employees) was $59,207. The average pay for the 31 women on Obama’s staff who earned more than $23,000 per year was $48,729.91. (The average pay for all 36 male employees on Obama’s staff was $55,962; and the average pay for all 31 female employees was $48,729. The report indicated that Obama had only one paid intern during the period, who was a male.)…”