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politics

Mon, 04/01/2013 - 12:34pm

It may be hard to believe that people, and public officials no less, would say such terms and think nothing of them while speaking to the media.   The comment arena is basically not having any of it, and are letting it be known loud and clear. This makes racial gaff number, what, 5082 for the Republicans?  LOL.  The bigger issue here is what do we do with the sentiment that is left even after the words are no longer said.  This is why, perhaps, instead of just scolding, that we create dialogue through and through on such issues.  Seems like a digital town hall is a great place to start, no? 

What's the latest in race-related news? Alaska state official Rep. Don Young has gotten himself into extremely hot water over comments that he made while doing a recent interview. Young proceeded to tell an interviewer a story from his childhood in which he used the extremely hurtful term "wetbacks". "Wetback" is a derogatory term used to describe those of Latin descent. Young was extremely apologetic immediately after the news of his gaff hit the media, his excuse being that the word was simply a term he had heard growing up. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner has publicly blasted Young and claimed disappointment in the veteran state representative. Unfortunately, in a country where the population is becoming increasingly Spanish-speaking, an apology may not be enough?  Insensitive or just a slip of the tongue? Let's analyze public response....

What Others Are Saying...

...one more reason the Republican party has crashed and burned. They claim not just to be the party of old, rich, racist white men...but they seem to prove it daily.

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Don't let the door smack yer butt on the way out, loser...forgive him, after he resigns.

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Hilarious! GOPers being GOPers!...can't miss with these people. Just let 'em talk long enough and it happens!

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Sat, 03/23/2013 - 12:04am

Looks like the last comment sums it up pretty well.  Funny that even though respected research firms have released stats just this week on viewers turning away given a number of factors, the networks persist in the same approach.  While some in the comment-sphere are clearly tired of hearing about race, others are equally tired of being the invisible man (and/or woman).  A change is surely coming, and when the music stops, the traditional outlets will be so shocked. So now you are starting to see outlets like us.  And what's part our new tagline:  "When CNN just isn't enough." Enjoy!

What do you get when you cross two cable news networks with predominately Caucasian anchors?: CNN and MSNBC, according to some sources. The two networks have recently come under fire after a re-shuffle in programming has resulted in a lineup of white males. CNN's core African-American anchor, Soledad O'Brien, will be leaving her post as anchor of one of network's most highly rated morning shows in the spring. Over at MSNBC, though both legendary civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton and resident political genius Melissa Harris-Perry both host their own shows, neither were ever offered a primetime spot. Instead, on both stations, one Caucasian man is constantly replaced with another. In 2013 and an increasingly diverse America, some media outlets are asking why aren't there more faces of color on our screens discussing current events and politics? Is it intentional or just an oversight? Check the sound off below...

What Others Are Saying...

...MSNBC is not news, its one sided political commentary...how about a diversity of opinion. There is only so long you can watch the same opinion over and over again before it gets really redundant.

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Ah..,"diversity" where the radical left is obsessed with the superficial kind like skin color instead of the deep and important kind, ideological.

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I'm not worried...If the numbers keep going the way they are we will not have to worry about whether their is a "white" guy in the prime spots or not.

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Tue, 01/22/2013 - 2:11pm

In what has been called a post-racial America, it seems that there is still much work to do in terms of truly creating a new race theory not only in the United States but in the world.  Only once we are able to move past seeing someone different as "other" that deviates from a traditionally held standard, will we be working within a post-racial anything. Currently, we are working through new values and meaning of inclusion, adoption of different voices and re-examining long-held thought.  It seems, particularly from the comment-sphere surrounding the MLK Day/inauguration day scenario, that people are aching for change and looking for a lead on it.  What they may not yet seem to realize, is that each will participate in this movement in his own unique manner - even if he/she is not yet aware of it...

Events to honor Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. slid seamlessly into celebrations of the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Not only did the holiday fall at the same time that the first U.S. president of color was inaugurated for a second term, but Obama's inaugural address rang of inclusion and diversity.   In the nation’s capital, dozens took pictures of the King statue before walking to the National Mall for the inauguration. There Obama took the oath on a Bible once owned by King, calling it a "great privilege."  In other parts of the country, visitors from as far as Europe came to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn., where King was assassinated in 1968. In Detroit, students decorated schools. Others painted murals honoring King in Arkansas, and Texas residents held rallies and donated items to a food bank. More than 500 people rallied outside the Alabama Capitol in Montgomery, where state employee Jessie Harris declared Obama’s president was a sign of “living the dream” King spoke about.  The inaugural parade also included a civil rights float. Comments abound....

What Others Are Saying...

Obama ... uses this ideology to further his political position. Here's a guy that could have a great effect on reducing or even eliminating racism, but the human magnet of appealing to Hispanics, by not doing anything regarding illegal immigration ... destroys his chances. In case anybody wonders what he should be advocating check out National Geographic...

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We could use someone like Martin Luther King Jr. today. His message of faith and love of God, hope, and family is sadly lacking in today's society. He would be disheartened to see what has happened to the black community...

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I can see no greater way to honor the work of Dr. King than the second inauguration of the first black president. Thank you, Dr. King, and thank you, President Obama...

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Sun, 11/11/2012 - 2:16pm

Okay so only 365 tweets many not be a ton, but it is a bit curious.  This situation mixed with the Harvard Google Voter Racism Study of just a few months ago that looked at considerably more tweets seemed to arrive at just about the same findings.  The interesting below is that many people want to either assume there is no such thing as racism or that racism exists without being able to identify it, while some are simply seeing the findings as par for the course.  What is really happening is that this President and digital media is providing us a unique chance to chop it up about race in a genuine manner.  But there has to be the right format for it.  Welcome once again to a non-post racial America.

Following President Barack Obama's re-election, a flurry of tweets consisting of racial epithets, and name calling, such as "monkey", were circulating the internet. Geography experts from Floating Sheep, a research group, took 365 tweets and computed the number of racist tweets in every state in America and laid them over a map. Mississippi and Alabama had the highest ratio of racist tweets, followed by Georgia, Tennessee and Louisiana. Commentators discuss this region's high prevalence of racial outcries via social media...

What Others Are Saying...

Anybody buying this story? You people are really gullible if you are. I have heard of Hurricane chasers but never racism chasers...365 tweets...you are pointing out that 0.000001% of the country is racist. I think this is a little off....

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I agree that racist people that hate black people all voted against Obama. But that does not mean that all racists voted against Obama or that all racists are GOP or that all racists are from the southeast. Racism is a world wide problem and has been since the first time two races existed together...

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Unfortunately I can't say these results really surprising anyone...so much work still remains to be done...

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Tue, 10/09/2012 - 1:54am

While some portions of the comment soup applaud Obama for his efforts, much of its sees it as trying to blatantly go after the Latino vote while also using funds that many think could be better placed elsewhere.  That having been said, obviously some group of people is getting paid to create the statue, erect and more; so some jobs are bieng created - but we do get their point.  But what's actually happening here?  The overall tone seems to be that people are further indicating that politicians are not connecting truly with their needs.  This is leading to what we here have called "leaderful" - in the absence of true leadership, people begin to take the reigns themselves.  It started with Occupy, but what might be the next event?  Let's watch and see. In the meantime, speaking of jobs; how many do you think were created for the Prez's new ad featuring Big Bird?

A little less than a month before Election Day, President Barack Obama seems to be trying to further energize the Latino vote by honoring Cesar Chavez, a farm worker and civil rights activist and leader, who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, now the United Farm Workers. The national monument is the first one since the 1700's to honor a Latino. Obama enjoys strong support among Latino voters but this move could help him keep the Lation vote in state where the race is still very close. This move could also backfire on Obama as people have expressed dissatisfaction that instead of working to create more jobs, Obama spends money on national parks. Constituents say what?

What Others Are Saying...

... A monument with our tax dollars. Although greatly deserved I think that the Latino and American public would rather spend the money ... in creating jobs not monuments right now. Stop trying to buy the Hispanic vote and work for it. ...

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... Most informed, ethically thinking people are sick of Obama. He is history, and a bad part of American Popular Culture, because that's all he ever was. ...

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Chavez ... is an American hero. It's entirely appropriate for the POTUS to recognize the incredible accomplishments of the UFW. ... [Romney] hates 47% of us. We built this country!

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Sat, 09/29/2012 - 4:00pm

Lots of heat on this one. Of course, Coulter wouldn't have it any other way - that's her brand and how she eats.  The interesting thing here in the comments is how the exchange between Goldberg and Coulter is magnified.  So does one need to be part of a race in order to speak to how certain major events have and have not effected it?  If so, might one need more than just general sentiment to come to a definitive conclusion? Academic and author of "Race Matters", Cornel West has said that empathy is not just trying to imagine what others are going through but having the will to get up enought courage to do something about it. Think that might apply to this situation?

The guest of honor on 'The View', this past week, was conservative and controversial Ann Coulter, who has recently published a book called "Mugged: Racial Demagoguery from the Seventies to Obama". Coulter began talking about her intent in the publication, which was to partly show that the OJ verdict was a success for Black Americans, and this led Whoopi to question her what she knew about being black, and how it felt. The two women kept bantering, until the entire show and its hosts were inaudiable. What are people saying about Coulter's attempt to reconcile racial law verdicts, and Goldberg's attack?

What Others Are Saying...

Ann coulter had no facts to work off of just B S in HER own head. Why do people listen to all the hate that comes out of her mouth. She lost the argument because she had no facts just theories...she was talking about her conservative, white elite viewpoints. 

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Ann Coulter is right! I notice she was never allowed to make her point. How many times was she interrupted? And of course the liberals had to outnumber the conservatives on this show. This time was 4 liberals to 2 conservatives...These ladies think they know it all...

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Pseudo-conservative propaganda! This woman is insinuating that the O.J. Simpson trial verdict was a shift in favor to ALL black people due to a history of harsh treatment and sentencing to people of color from our justice system. Insane!...Her opinion has as much credibility as that of Honey Boo Boo's mom...

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Wed, 09/26/2012 - 6:05pm

Madonna has always been known to provoke.  That's her thing. And it would be apparent to anyone that the statement does not reflect a belief which she holds. Rather it creates further discussion around a talking point that won't seem to go away. The topic of race continues to be a sensitive area in this country.  Add to it, Islam and some people go crazy.  The comment soup confirms that there are still issues to be addressed about the left-over issues of historic racism, what could be considered the triviality of race categorization and of course distance from a differing race that seems to be indignant (In fact, see the book "Things White People Like" about section that says that white people love to find an issue about which to become indignant and then express that indignation - particularly about race.  It's a scream!)  Again, we are not in post-racial anything.  This is all still about examining boundaries, beliefs and where we are going next.  Stay tuned!

Madonna, who is known to be a supporter of President Barack Obama, called him a "black Muslim." Later she said that she was being ironic. Obama opponents have spread rumors that the president was secretly a Muslim and that he was not born in the U.S. Madonna made the statement during a spontaneous endorsement speech at a concert in D.C. In her speech, as seen in a YouTube video, she says that it's amazing and incredible that there is an African-American in the White House and for better or worse there is a black Muslim in the White House. She also said people should support him because all this meant there is hope in this country and because he is fighting for gay rights. 

What Others Are Saying...

He's black and supports gay marriage. ... Let's keep him in office. Trivial things like jobs and economy shouldn't sway your vote. Go back to England ...

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If Madonna had been somewhat more articulate..and had instead said the following: It says something.. about America that despite its tragic history of slavery and segregation, and despite the 9/11 attacks, it has elected a man as President who not only is black, but whose father is a Muslim.  ...would you have felt better?

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OL YOU WHITE PEOPLE ARE SOOOO MAD.. ITS HILARIOUS! #BLACKPOWER

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Sun, 09/09/2012 - 2:13pm

Both the column and feedback from the comment-sphere indicate how deeply we are actually all involved in examining race relations and developing a new value system for racial interaction.  As stated in the book "Rise of the SmartPower Class", rather than experiencing a post-racial America; we are actually in the process of examining how and what is going to be appropriate and smart for a multi-racial world where power is more evenly shared.  Naturally this shift is bringing up fears, finger-pointing and more. Careful of those who will tend to make their living primarily from stirring up divisiveness about race rather than actual academic analysis.  The comment arena demonstrates that that direction is not one that will be valued much in the very near future at all.  People are seeking an entirely new social dynamic based on something other than "This is right, they're not".  More depth will be required. Watch this!

Touré, one of MSNBC's The Cycle's co-host and columnist for Time magazine, argues that this year's campaign speeches are full of racial stereotypes that are innapropriate and innacurate. His recent column in Time discusses the fact that he believes Republican candidates specifically use words that are intended to invoke fear in the white working class, whereas Democrats have actually risked losing white voters in an attempt to secure blacks and hispanics. The author demands that we shine a harsh light on the Republicans trying to keep their party all white, but are Americans in agreement?

What Others Are Saying...

Racial code words from Republicans? Like "Once you vote black you never go back?" No, that's a Dem button. How about phrases like "economically/historically  disadvantaged"? Leftist racial code...I can post numerous links to stories about blacks being caught and prosecuted for voter intimidation and fraud just in my state alone, since it supposedly doesn't happen...

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He says that the Republican party is 'leaning on racial appeals to survive', yet the Democrats are the ones who talk about race constantly, inject race into literally every single issue, try desperately to scare minorities into voting their way by painting non-liberals as evil racist monsters...Now whom, exactly, is 'leaning on racial appeals to survive' here?

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Why don't the Republicans just tell it like they see it instead of worrying if they'll say something that sounds racist? The Democrats say anything they want and they're not afraid! If they worry about offending Obama, like McCain did, they're gonna get beat again...America doesn't like mealy mouthed people!

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Tue, 08/28/2012 - 8:03pm

Uh-oh, first Toure at MSNBC and now Matthews.  A tip:  as the SmartPower tribe grows race-baiting is seen as less and less interesting - thoughtful discussion on race, yes - what could be perceived as over-the-top finger-pointing, not so much.  Are news organizations paying attention?  Are anchors?  Is it any wonder that citizen journalism and new styles of news reporting becoming more intriguing every day?

MSNBC host Chris Matthews sparked a huge debate on whether he should be fired after verbally attacking the Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus. Matthews criticized some Republican campaign memes that were meant to show racial prejudice. Matthews told Priebus that pulling the race card to defeat President Barack Obama was an embarrassment to Republicans. Priebus denied with Mathews immediately answering back that this was the party's garbage.  And the public says?

What Others Are Saying...

I seriously wonder if Chris Matthews has lost his mind. He ... won't let guests answer his mindless tirades ... And then after his meltdown against Priebus, he tells Michael Steele that Chris Matthews is now the new arbiter of what is racist and what is not. ... Iif you so much as criticize Obama, you are a racist.

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... He was NBC's White House correspondent during the last part of Watergate ... He should know better than to take what any politician says--whatever Party they're in--at face value. ... He knows better. I'm glad [he] nailed Priebus on this. Anyone who defends that kind of remark deserves being nailed on it as much as the person from whom it originates.

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What a further declining  fool Chris has made of himself.  He has completely gone off the cliff. ... How long will NBC allow this crap to go on? ... He doesn't draw a crowd/viewing audience, other than curiosity seeking people who have a hard time getting through his spitting slobbering ideology. ...

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Tue, 07/31/2012 - 11:38am

Well-respected political scientist at Harvard the late Samuel P. Huntington wrote that as we moved deeper into the 21st Century, we would start to define ourselves more and more by what we are not and from whom we are different. However, he said nothing about other people trying to define groups.  This is usually a big no-no and is quite telling that, if these were the exact statements made, that Romney might not be on the same page as many people and the commenters below.  Such actions continue to bring up race in the wrongfully termed "post-racial" era, no?

During his trip to Israel, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney told Jewish donors that their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the Palestinians. The comments outraged Palestinian leaders who said this was a racist statement. They added Romney was of touch with the realities of the Middle East. Romney's campaign later said his remarks were mis-characterized.

What Others Are Saying...

It just amazes me how anyone … can actually say they will vote for Mitt Romney. He will clearly say ANYTHING to get elected. He will pander to the lowest common denominator all the time and I've actually heard him switch positions on a topic several times … It is truly mind boggling that a Party that produced such great men as Abraham Lincoln … can just let this guy run rampant saying such stupidity.

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Romney is showing everyone that the referendum is actually on him and the GOP. Voting for Obama may very well be stimulated as a way to keep Romney out of the White House. … Romney would get us into more wars, increase the gap between the wealthy and the poor. …

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This certainly does sound racist … so much aid given over decades. ….Israel probably does look more “Advanced” … But this provides no indication of the two culture’s levels of “Advancement” at all—(would GNP, be a better indication instead ?)

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