From Sen Burris website:
Senator Burris Sponsors Juneteenth Resolution Observing End of Slavery in America
Today, Senator Roland W. Burris introduced a resolution observing the historical significance of the Juneteenth Independence Day. The Juneteenth Independence Day is observed every June 19th and honors the widely recognized end of slavery in America when, nearly two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves were finally told of their freedom.
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that all slaves were free. From that point on, former slaves in the Southwest celebrated June 19thas the anniversary of their emancipation.
SENATOR BURRIS: Over the past 140 years, Juneteenth Independence Day celebrations have been held to both honor African-American freedom and serve as a symbol of encouragement for the development and enrichment of cultures everywhere. In observing Juneteenth, it is important that we celebrate the end of slavery as a major step in guaranteeing equal rights for every American. We must continue to work to ensure that all in this nation have a chance to fulfill the American dream.
Joining Senator Burris as cosponsors of the bill were Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Kristen Gillebrand (D-NY), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), and Carl Levin (D-MI).
June 10, 2009
Saw an article about Wright in the DailyHerald.com – though I can’t tell who Wright made the comments to because the article doesn’t say. DAVID SQUIRES writes that Wright is attending Hampton University’s 95th Annual Ministers Conference – so I’m assuming Wright made them to the conference goers. The words and sentiments Wright expresses are nothing new – the fact that he is saying them to where they can be quoted is interesting. I’ll just list the quotes.
JEREMIAH WRIGHT:
Regret for what… that the media went back five, seven, 10 years and spent $4,000 buying 20 years worth of sermons to hear what I’ve been preaching for 20 years?
Regret for preaching like I’ve been preaching for 50 years? Absolutely none.
Of course I voted for him; he’s my son. I’m proud of him. I’ve got five biological kids. They all make mistakes and bad choices. I haven’t stopped loving any of them.
He made mistakes. He made bad choices. I’ve got kids who listen to their friends. He listened to those around him. I did not disown him.
No, but barry did him and it’s clear he’s still angry and racist as ever. Who needs to hear a single sermon when he comes right and shows his hateful, racist self LIVE? When asked if he has he spoken to barry:
Them Jews aren’t going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he’ll talk to me in five years when he’s a lame duck, or in eight years when he’s out of office. …
They will not let him to talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is. … I said from the beginning: He’s a politician; I’m a pastor. He’s got to do what politicians do.
He glosses right over the fact that barry is not a candidate anymore – that he is the president and can do whatever he wants and it seems calling Wright is not one of them. And of course he’s angry about it or he wouldn’t be speaking out. And this is a curious comment. There was a “World Conference on Racism” and barry didn’t send anyone? Where were the NAACP and the ACLU?
Ethnic cleansing is going on in Gaza. Ethnic cleansing (by) the Zionist is a sin and a crime against humanity, and they don’t want Barack talking like that because that’s anti-Israel.
He’s proud of his son but then talks like barry has no control over anything. That “they” and “The Jews” are in control.
SQUIRES writes this, which makes me wonder what planet he watched the primaries from.
Perhaps without the Wright controversy, the issue of race might not have become a part of the 2008 presidential campaign.
Without race and race-baiting, barry would not have been the nominee and would not be president. He used Wright and race to get where he is. But how important was the church vs the congregation? Wright vs Jesus? How many times has barry gone to church or any services since he began to separate himself from Wright? He didn’t even acknowledge the National Day of Prayer. And why hasn’t barry found a church to go to in Washington? Same old same old political expedience…right now it’s beneficial for him to be Muslim.
Limbaugh is going after Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Surprise. barry ought to love this. Limbaugh is specifically focused on a speech Sotomayor made in 2001 at Berkley. He called her a “reverse racist”. What in the hell is that? “Racism” is color coded? I know it seemed that way this election cycle. All the whiteys were racists and black pundits could speak from a whitey’s standpoint but whitey’s couldn’t possibly imagine what goes on in a black church, etc. The Double Standard of racism was made perfectly clear as barry took a step towards a More Perfect Union. Whiteys were racist if they voted for barry’s opponent (aka against barry) but 95% of blacks voting for barry was not racist.
I would hope that a wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences, would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life. Whether born from experience or inherent physiological or cultural differences, our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging.
Here you have a racist – you might want to soften that, and you might want to say a reverse racist.
And the [liberals] of course say that minorities cannot be racists because they don’t have the power to implement their racism. Well, those days are gone because reverse racists certainly do have the power to implement their power. Obama is the greatest living example of a reverse racist, and now he’s appointed one.”
She’s not the brain that they’re portraying her to be. She’s not a constitutional jurist.
She is an affirmative action case extraordinaire, and she has put down white men in favor of Latina women.
Robert Gibbs’ comments.
barry’s comments.
Newt’s tweets
Source: CNN
May 30, 2009
Funny how barry was quick to come to Judge Sotomayor’s defense about her racist comments when he has yet to amend any of his or defend his disgusting “joke” about the Special Olympics. He usually leaves the dirty work to others. Here’s Gibbs’ comments, Rush Limbaugh “she’s a reverse racist” comments and Newt’s tweets.
SOTOMAYOR’s comments:
I would hope that a wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences, would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life. Whether born from experience or inherent physiological or cultural differences, our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging.
I’m sure she would have restated it, but if you look at the entire sweep of the essay she wrote, what’s clear is that she was simply saying that her life experiences will give her information about the struggles and hardships that people are going through that will make her a good judge.
And his personal thoughts?
When is someone one going to actually push him to answer a question?
May 27, 2009
Robert Gibbs comments on Judge Sotomayor during his May 26th press briefing. Rush Limbaugh called her a “reverse racist”. Racism is racism. barry’s comment and Newt’s tweets.
Q What does the President think is her greatest quality for the job?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the President picked Judge Sotomayor largely based on three criteria, the first being experience — and when I say that, experience as a prosecutor, experience as a litigator, and then experience as both a circuit and an appellate court judge. In fact, we’ve pointed out that she will bring more experience on the federal branch then anybody that’s been appointed to the Supreme Court in a hundred years.
I think, secondly, obviously the President believes strongly in her approach to judging, following precedent and the rule of law. And I think, lastly, obviously the President believes that her life story is a compelling one, and that her voice will be an important addition to the Supreme Court.
On Sotomayor’s comments:
Q And just to get your reaction of one statement that seems to get a lot of attention, a quote she has from 2001 saying, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”
I just wonder — I presume the President was aware of that statement, and what is his reaction? Did he agree with it?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think if you look at the context of the longer speech that she makes, I don’t — I think what she says is very much common sense in terms of different experiences that different people have.
Obviously the President has looked at any number of these issues and believes that Judge Sotomayor is well qualified and will be a great justice for the Supreme Court.
May 20, 2009
First Rush Limbaugh then Newt Gingrich comment on Judge Sotomayor’s “racist” comments.
JUDGE SOTOMAYOR:
I would hope that a wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences, would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life. Whether born from experience or inherent physiological or cultural differences, our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging.
Gingrich brings up the very real issue of The Double Standard.
His tweets:
Imagine a judicial nominee said “my experience as a white man makes me better than a latina woman” new racism is no better than old racism
9:24 AM May 27th from TwitterBerry
White man racist nominee would be forced to withdraw. Latina woman racist should also withdraw.
9:34 AM May 27th from TwitterBerry
Is there a special way to denote tweets?
ROBERT GIBBS press briefing May 27th:
Q And are you familiar with — switching topics for a moment to Sotomayor — are you familiar with Newt Gingrich’s blog — (laughter.) You are not?
MR. GIBBS: No.
Q Okay. Well, he apparently — I’m told it is on his blog that he said, “Imagine a judicial nominee said ‘my experience as a white man makes me better than a Latino woman.’ Wouldn’t they have to withdraw? New racism is no better than old racism. A white man racist nominee would be forced to withdraw. A Latino woman racist should also withdraw.”
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think it is probably important for anybody involved in this debate to be exceedingly careful with the way in which they’ve decided to describe different aspects of this impending confirmation. I think we’re satisfied that when the people of America and the people of the Senate get a chance to look at more than just the blog of a former lawmaker –
Q He also tweeted us. (Laughter.)
MR. GIBBS: — that they’ll come to the same conclusion that the President did: that judicial experience that exceeds any nominee — federal judicial experience that exceeds any nominee for a hundred years, strict adherence to precedent — I think when people get a chance to look at her record, I feel certain that partisan politics will take a backseat to common sense and open-minded decisions based on a full examination of the record. And I think that’s what every Supreme Court and every judicial nominee deserves.
I think if you look at — again, I mentioned this yesterday — this is somebody who was appointed by George Herbert Walker Bush and Bill Clinton, approved by the Senate in each occasion. So I think she is somebody who is highly qualified, of keen intellect, and somebody that’s going to be a great member of the Supreme Court. I’ve heard a lot of people in the last couple days, they’ve mentioned intellect. I’m not entirely sure where people that make that argument — I’m not sure what number they graduated in their class at Princeton, but my sense is it’s not second.
Then he is pushed on the racial and gender aspects and he launches into his usual sarcasm. He is really unprofessional as are the rest of the frat boys who sit and laugh with him and at the person he’s making fun of. It’s not worth putting the whole exchange here – this is enough.
Q In all fairness, a follow to that — it’s not just a racial dimension, but it’s a gender dimension. And do you at least acknowledge that she did say these words? You’re asking us to look beyond.
MR. GIBBS: I can confirm that it appears likely that she intoned both of those sentences, yes.
May 26, 2009
Judge Sonia Sotomayor sounds impressive.
Editor of the Yale Law Review –
What are the chances they don’t already have everything she’s written?
Has Juvenile Diabetes –
What are the chances they aren’t in the process of getting her medical records?
And what is known about the man who appointed Sotomayor?
Here is yet another chance to see how the media (mis)treats powerful women and how they treat each of the women differently: Former First Lady and now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi…First Lady Michelle Obama…First Lady Laura Bush…Governor Sarah Palin and Judge Sonia Sotomayor. And then there’s Caroline Kennedy and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.
Race was not the enlightenment of this election – unless you want to talk about 1/3 of eligible black voters who couldn’t bother to register and how the whiteys are racists black pundits avoided the issue.
barry’s making it 100% about race was not news – it was the only way he could win.
How is 95% of one – any – demographic group not identity politics?
95% of his voters were not voting for his opponent.
Voters that the week previous had been behind his opponent.
Voters that in the interim hadn’t heard a change in barry’s policies.
How many black blue collar workers were voting for Clinton?
How many white blue collar workers were voting for barry?
A lot more than 5%.
And “hardworking” is some type of racial code word but Donna Brazile’s “Jane and Joe Six pack” isn’t?
Or Roland Martin telling Joe the Plumber to “Go fix a bathtub!”?
barry used race until he finally had to admit to it (after the usual three denials) and then switched to the “Kill Him!”accusations, which were disproved by barry’s own Secret Service, who were in attendance and heard nothing…no one did…but the reporter.
And what did concerned citizen reporter do after hearing terroristic threats on the POTUS’ life?
Did he immediately alert the Secret Service or the local police?
Nope.
They found out about it like everyone else — in the unfounded accuser’s post in a paper that had endorsed barry.
No, the enlightenment wasn’t race — it played out as planned and as implemented.
The enlightenment was the reality of sexism.
How at the core nothing has changed. How accepted and acceptable it is.
Still.
Younger men have tolerance in regards to race, religion and sexuality, but not toward women.
Sadder still, are the young women who think “Girls Already Rule!”
Not even close.
Look at the women in the above list. Take what was said and written about Secretary Clinton and insert a different name.
Imagine if First Lady Michelle Obama were referred to as “It”.
Just “It” as in “It” cried.
And if Glenn Beck were to say the same about Judge Sotomayor?
Would he still have his job?
And Rush Limbaugh is talking about “reverse racism”.
What has been made perfectly clear over the last two years is the Double Standard and the hierarchy of isms.
Will Judge Sotomayor be treated deferentially because she is a minority?
Or will she be attacked with the same old garden variety sexism?
Will she be mercilessly assaulted on all fronts like Secretary Clinton and Governor Palin or coddled like First Lady Michelle Obama?
Dear Mr President -
Is that who you see yourself as - the President of the United States - or a candidate without an opponent?
We all know that the only thing you are capable of is stumping and working the media. We all know how few days you worked in the senate and we have already seen how averse you are to staying in your workplace - it is clear you are not even interested in on the job training. The first thing you do when something comes up is head to Hollywood or swing states or Hyde Park.
Do you even realize you have a job?
Do you realize you are expected to actually do something every single day that has nothing to do with adoration? That it really isn’t about you?
Are you aware of how many people, who were once drunk with blindness, are waking up and realizing you have not a clue?
How stupid do you think The American People are?
We know exactly what you are doing: You are trying to outdo every other president’s first 100 days in pushing through your agenda without a lick of that sunlight you promised.
What promise have you kept since you ascended to office?
Name one.
Guantanamo Bay does not matter - you know that - we all know that order meant nothing.
How many people read the fine print loopholes in that?
Iraq?
The issue that got you the presidency?
A complete and utter fairy tale start to finish. and what did you do to President Clinton? What evil words and accusations of racism did you spew, oh Mr Mighty Transcender of Race?
What you did to the Clintons - painting them as racists - will never be forgiven or forgotten by lifelong Democrats - the ones who are starting to sour to your spineless wavering.
Do you realize how many lies you have told all the while using the words “transparent” and “accountable”?
Was the stimulus bill online for five days of sunlight? It was not an emergency bill because you found time to go home, chill out for Valentine’s Day and then sign it four days later to much fanfare in a swing state.
You can’t possible think we take you seriously, can you?
Your “advisors” are playing campaign games with a radio host, who does not hold elected office, and you are doing so because he has the nerve to say something about your teleprompter, your cluelessness and your many gaffes. And the fact that he makes $50M/year and has a huge radio following - all of whom seem to have the audacity to distrust you and your $9.3 trillion dollar plans - really pisses you off, doesn’t it?
You learned nothing going after Lou Dobbs and Fox, did you?
Whenever your campaign - you aren’t even close to having an administration - starts distracting with your nasty campaign tactics, it’s because you have no idea what you’re doing and want to reach out to The American People. All well and good. Just be prepared when they reach out for your head.
Chill SS and racist protectors - it’s figurative. Though why is it black folks forget barry is just as much European as her is African and that he is a descendant of slave owners?
Your first escape from the White House (besides the photo op school children, who may not be there next year without the vouchers), you went to talk to “folks who are hurting in Indiana” and proceeded to complain about Hannity.
Do you even see your selfishness? Your egomania?
Your unconnectedness with real Americans?
You want for nothing. You even have a cool jacket with an Air Force One patch on it. Congratulations. Perhaps you might consider giving it to the kids, who are going to need to “go shopping for winter coats” in March.
Your wife and children want for nothing - except the puppy that took precedence over the economy and took the place of your admission that you knew about the bonuses.
Are you ever going to tell the truth?
Are you even capable of it?
Folks do not want to hear about you - they want to hear what you can do for them. They are waiting for you to make good on your promises of change! and all they see is the same old Washington shove it in a bill, deny it, and come clean–sorta–when you get caught.
You can’t possibly believe we take you seriously, can you?
You are going to cut our lobbyists - except in your administration.
You are going to bring the combats troop home in 16 months!
You won the nomination on that lie and now it’s 19 months with 30-50K “non combat troops”. What, they won’t be equipped with guns? They won’t respond in an attack? Anyone in a country where we are fighting is a potential combat troop. The truth is you are following the agreement Bush made.
You are going to cut down on pork projects - except for the 9000 earmarks.
As Johnny Mac screams: “You cannot be serious!”
You are going to cut down on government spending - after the gazillion trillion budget passes.
Do you realize you are putting the future liquidity of the United States on the line just so you can pass your agenda? Just so you can make you r place in history?
Don’t worry - you made your place in presidential history just by running - and not because you are biracial.
How can you be so greedy?
How can you look in your fellow citizen’s eyes and lie, lie, lie, lie…to them?
Have you no soul?
You saw how angry they were with AIG - even as you were “stunned” - how are they going to react when they find out you are not qualified to be president?
And in your ignorance and egomania - did you really believe you would be able to hide it?
One month, one year, one decade - however long it takes - your daughters are the ones who are going to suffer.
How could you?
How could your wife?
And you two hold yourself up as the paragon of parenthood.
The American People are waiting for you to become a president - whether or not you are qualified - whether or not you are eligible.
They want someone who can do more than read the teleprompter message of the day.
Your speechwriters have a better grasp of the situation than you do.
Why not skip your video email and have your speechwriters send out bullet emails to your digital attention-spanned twitterers to spam and harass those in touch with reality?
I don’t think you’ve quite reached the promised moment when the earth and tide and moon rose up and you singlehandedly saved the world!!!
It seems that righteous wind at your back forces you out of your place of employment and reach of reporters when you get called out on your lies.
The cheering in the crowds has become robotic. They elected you and want to hear more than your stump lines and how the problems were there before you got there.
What did you expect?
Why did you want to become president?
To feed your own ego?
Did you not realize that these problems awaited you and that you were responsible to fix them?
Did you not realize that you would have to act without waiting for the polls to influence your decision?
That you wouldn’t be able to rely on “I agree with Senator Clinton” or “John’s right”?
Real easy to criticize what President Bush et al did wrong but not so easy to fix, eh? And we can already see how you held up under one not even tough question from Ed Henry.
There cannot be a single American, who deep down in their heart, believes you are capable of making a decision of global import in 30 seconds.
And that is frightening - terrifying - and right it should be.
Isn’t there a presidential manual somewhere that they could upload onto the teleprompter or download into your ipod?
It’s time to stop the whining and become the president.
Learn how to govern - get some advice from your pal Blago if you have to.
Stay in Washington where the press can hammer you.
Truly be accountable and transparent.
Truly implement that Change!
Whatever it is you have settled on…this polling cycle.
Everything you have done this far had been about you.
Do you think people come to hear you whine about FOX - again?
Do you think they wanted to hear you make light of the economy and AIG and unemployment rates by joking that you can do it all and go on Leno?
Because you can’t.
You can’t even keep track of your own cabinet.
Just how were you planning on cleaning up Washington? By leaving it every two weeks?
How many days have you actually spent in the Oval Office? Inside the White House?
Has a day passed without you getting your press fix?
If you want to know what presidential bearing looks like - watch some footage of your unqualified tea-sipper of a Secretary of State, who has visited more than 43% of the countries on Earth (including two more continents more than you), handle her state visits. Watch how the heads of state Madame Secretary deals with treat her respectfully as an equal and not with glazed eyes, an open-mouthed gaga and a pat on the back.
She is the only one in your administration who has been out working and accomplishing things and that fact is not lost on the world stage - nor on her ardent supporters - the ones who have already had enough of your waffling.
They are angry - rightfully so - that you have yet to talk about the oppressed and mutilated women and children in the Arab world. If that is not included in your pandering arab world I feel you because I lived in arab countries speech, it will not ever be forgiven. It is reprehensible that you said nothing in your Inauguration speech nor you first presidential interview to arab TV.
Three strikes and your out, barry.
As an American citizen - you embarrass me.
No, it has nothing to do with the fact that you lied when you said you were “stunned” about the bonuses.
No, it has nothing to do with the fact you have not - and steadfastly refuse - to prove your constitutional eligibility to hold the office and continue to lie about transparency! and accountability!
Nor does it have anything to do with the way you disrespect my fellow Americans and hide behind statements made by your minions.
It has to do with how you are allowing the military - folks who have voluntarily chosen to risk their lives for your children - to be divided on your constitutional eligibility to be Commander in Chief.
How can you do that to our nation’s bravest citizens?
How can you send them into battle - some to certain death - without easing their minds?
There is no greater evil for a commander in chief.
You ask them to give up their lives - their wholeness - their futures and you can’t even assure them that following your orders is in keeping with their oath to defend The Constitution.
How can you look them in the eye? Even be in their presence?
And you can go on your adoration tour, but you can’t find the time to make a public statement about your unbelievably disgusting comment mocking God’s special souls and their loving families?
That alone says who you really are - a coward who thinks he can do no wrong.
And it reflects on who the Kennedys have become - a silent mass, without integrity, kowtowing to a man they know nothing about. They gambled their legacy by backing you and Tim Shriver is already disgusted - but spineless. He went on TV to apologize for you and ask for a “teaching moment”. How does a teaching moment come about when the person who instigated doesn’t even apologize to prove he learned something?
Where is this Era of Responsibility you yak about?
I find this hysterical. Mr Transcender of Race decided to come forward and pretend he really intended to Unite! As usual, he waited to see the fallout before he commented.
Was there a poll re: Holder’s comments?
barry appointee Atty General Eric–I forgot to mention I dealt with impeached governor Rod Blagojevich–Holder made his thoughts known that “in things racial we have always been and we, I believe, continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.”
He was speaking to a rapt audience at the Department of Justice marking Black History Month.
He had the barry obamanating thing going on though: I believe…too many ways…essentially. He didn’t even have the moral fortitude to come right out and say: ‘I believe we have always been and still are a nation of cowards.’
Then he could at least garner some respect.
As was - he covered his bases, saying what was expected, while leaving himself some qualifiers.
That was February 19th.
My post then (with video).
March 6th is when barry decides to speak out and only because he was with Holder in Ohio.
What is going to happen to those officers when the money runs out next year? Will he go back to take credit for that, too?
And haven’t we had enough of these made-for-documentary campaign moments?
Anyway. CNN:
BARRY: I think it’s fair to say that if I had been advising my attorney general, we would have used different language.
I think..it’s fair to say…if I had been…attorney general. Never any definitive statements and he made sure not to mention Holder’s name.
I think the point that he was making is that we’re oftentimes uncomfortable with talking about race until there’s some sort of racial flare-up or conflict, and that we could probably be more constructive in facing up to the painful legacy of slavery and Jim Crow and discrimination.
And I’m not somebody who believes that constantly talking about race somehow solves racial tensions.
Only when he needs the votes.
I think what solves racial tensions is fixing the economy, putting people to work, making sure that people have health care, ensuring that every kid is learning out here.
I think if we do that, then we’ll probably have more fruitful conversations.
We’ve made enormous progress and we shouldn’t lose sight of that.
So much so, 8 million eligible black voters couldn’t be bothered to register to vote for barry.
***
Rev Lowery: “When white will embrace what’s right”
John Ridley: “Are you black enough to be part of all this?”
DL Hughley: “The Republican Convention looked like Nazi Germany”
[reposting - Burris posts just disappeared for some reason]
Chicago City Council members believe the calls for Sen Burris to resign are racially motivated. Dick Durbin used the same thing to get barry elected do he shouldn’t be surprised when it continues. Rep Bobby Rush brought that up the same press conference Burris was appointed. He must have known Burris had made some calls.
Ald Carrie Austin: To just muck up somebody's 30-plus year record of loyalty to the Democratic Party — for all of them to turn turn on him — we say it’s time for this to stop. And if it does not, we shall remember this, at the next election.
Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th), city chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, said the “anti-Blagojevich hatred” has unfairly been transferred onto Burris.
I would just suggest to those people who seek to run in the wards of the city of Chicago where there are people of color living that they should tone it down because some of us are taking notes. They will run at their peril.
I can't go to the residents of my ward and ask them to vote for someone who, they feel, has disrespected them. And they won't. Remember, we just don't vote for people. It is in our history in modern times when we voted against people. In fact, it's usually easier to get people to do that.
Identity politics are alive and well and not at all hidden. Why is it ok for blacks but when whiteys do it it's racism? Race relations will ever change until race baiting and racial threats stop and it doesn’t appear that will be happening any time soon. What was good for the president is good for anyone else. Guess that’s what he meant by post racial - no need to mince words.
And Blago is banking on the fact that they shall never forget who appointed Burris.
February 28, 2009
Republican National Committee Chairman Micheal Steele was on DL Hughley discussing the two parties and the black community. Selected quotes - see transcript for the whole show.
HUGHLEY: I really do. I think you’re a really bright guy. And they hired both of us because we have a black president.
STEELE: That’s right.
HUGHLEY: You don’t have to go any further than the Republican National Convention. It literally looked like Nazi Germany. It literally did.
[...]
HUGHLEY: You, me, Bobby Jindal, we’re all working because of the brother in the job.
STEELE: That’s right. All the brothers in the same room, right?
barry is responsible for the accomplishments of two high-ranking Republicans? It’s goes beyond ludicrous to demeaning.
HUGHLEY: A lot of the things I see Republicans do specifically are reactionary. They’ll go, you know what, they don’t like Hillary? Let’s give them Sarah Palin. They voted for Obama. Let’s give them Michael Steele. And the other guy who we don’t know who he is yet. It is always so plastic, that you go, wow, is this what they think? They think that — they’re missing the entire point of what happened during the Obama transformation. They missed the entire point.
The “Obama transformation”??
STEELE: There was a Michael Steele before there was a Barack Obama. The reality of it is, I had established — I was the only black lieutenant governor in the country at the time. I was the only statewide black elected official when I was governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. And then Obama got elected from 2005. So that wasn’t about, oh, geez, let’s do this because of Obama.
Note: Burris was Illinois’ first statewide black elected official (Comptroller) in 1979 making the way for barry, who is now totally snubbing Burris.
Steele was also was the first to be named Chairman of the Republican Party in any state (2000) and he did the GOP rebuttal to barry’s DNC speech (2004). So his being named as RNC Chairman was not based on barry.
Gov Jindal has been around the national seen as long as barry and he’s 10 years younger. They were both sworn in in 2005 - Jindal as a US Representative and barry as a US Senator. Jindal was elected governor all by himself and to somehow say it was because of barry diminishes Jindal’s own hard work and talents. He was a Rhodes Scholar and was accepted to both Harvard Medical school and Yale Law school and chose politics instead, getting his PhD from Oxford. And instead of just talking about ethics reform he is actually doing something.
It’s like Spike Lee saying time will be marked: “before Obama and after Obama”.
Hip-hop legend Chuck D then joined the discussion and brought up the “articulate” reference that is supposed to be a racial code word. In reference to Hughley and Steele’s conversation:
CHUCK D: It was so exciting, just eloquence across TV.
HUGHLEY: He’s an eloquent man. I don’t know that I necessarily agree with him but I can honestly say that I never heard — never heard the Republican agenda articulated so accessibly.
Then Hughley disses Steele to his face.
HUGHLEY: Like Rush Limbaugh, who is the de facto leader of the Republican Party.
STEELE: No, he’s not.
HUGHLEY: I will tell you what …
STEELE: I’m the de facto leader of the Republican Party.
[...]
HUGHLEY: You know what, there’s no doubt that you’re worthy of respect. But this does seem like a common situation when you get in trouble, always bet on black men. You know what I’m saying! You know what I’m saying. I’m just saying. Hey, Michael, hey, listen, they didn’t just do it to you. The whole country went, we’re in trouble. Let’s get a black guy. Always bet on black. We’re in style now, baby!
STEELE: Wait a minute, D.L., when you bet on black, don’t you win?
HUGHLEY: Absolutely! You better come to our side. Michael Steele, Chuck D.
Then Hughley showed a snippet of Alan Keyes’ made for videotape tirade about barry being a “radical Communist” and he remarked:
If you’ll excuse me, I hear the Massa calling me. This cotton won’t pick itself.
Then he proceeded to posit that the white man sitting next to Obama during the Stevie Wonder’s Lifetime Achievement Award performance at the White House - somebody he doesn’t even know or even name - somebody who is doing nothing but sitting there - is thinking:
HUGHLEY: Eight more years of this. Jesus, when did the White House turn into “Soul Train”. ‘When did the White House become Soul Train.’
And then he goes back to Gov Jindal.
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (on videotape): Some are problem the government will rescue us from the economic storms raging all around us. Those of us who lived through Hurricane Katrina. We have our doubts.
HUGHLEY: For the last time, no, I’m not the kid from “Slumdog Millionaire”!
Why are these ok?
Comparing the people in the Republican Convention to Nazi Germany? Automatically assuming that the white man can’t enjoy Stevie Wonder and that because he is white he is thinking derogatory comments? What does that say about Stevie Wonder’s music?
Hughley was making snap judgments solely based on the color of the man’s skin.
How is that not racist?
Will anyone be calling for his firing tomorrow?
Imagine if it were the other way around.
And the most curious part is how the black community continues to take credit for barry being in the White House when 8 Million eligible black voters couldn’t be bothered to register to vote for barry. That means 1/3 of the eligible black voting population did not find it important to get out and vote for progress in America. Only 2% more black voters came out after 8 years of Bush to vote for the first biracial president in history.
Where was that discussion?
The black vote made the difference in the primary because barry used the race card at every turn. In South Carolina - where barry had already prepared a memo painting ‘The Clintons’ as racists - barry’s policies suddenly became enticing? The same policies that were not attracting black voters at a >95% rate up until that very moment?
No. barry made it about race - the man who claimed to Unite! and Transcend Race! used race to win.
How was that not identity politics?
So why would 95% of white people voting for Senator McCain be considered racist?
Because it’s the Double Standard.
And until it is addressed and abolished, race relations in America will remain the same.
You can’t have it both ways.
It can’t be ok to be racist in one direction and not in the other. There cannot be an exception for one skin color over the other.
Prejudice is prejudice.
Bigotry is bigotry.
Small mindedness is small mindedness.
Making snap judgments based on the color of a white man’s skin is just as unacceptable as making comments about black basketball players’ hair.
Either both are ok or neither.
***
Rev Lowery: “When white will embrace what’s right”
Eric Holder: “[The USA] continues to be essentially a nation of cowards”
John Ridley: “Are you black enough to be part of all this”
January 20, 2009
This is what Eugene Robinson heard in the speech. He never got around to mentioning that Rev Lowery brought up that tired old argument mired in the sixties.
MATTHEWS: Eugene Robinson - What you heard from the President of the United States.
ROBINSON: What I heard was a fascinating speech in which he did a lot of things. Number one, he wanted to turn the page from what he called the tired old argument of the past that we have been mired in since the sixties. It was the theme of his campaign. He struck that theme again today.
And Reverend Lowery?
What campaign was Robinson watching? barry used that tired old race card at every turn. He finally had to admit to it when he tried it against McCain but he found the "kill him" myth instead.
When are folks going to see reality as it exists?
What is it going to take?
Inaugural Address video & transcript
Rev Lowery Benediction transcript & video
January 20, 2009
Reverend Joseph Lowery's Benediction
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand -- true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we've shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant,Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
For we know that, Lord, you're able and you're willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed -- the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.
And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.
We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won't get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone, with your hands of power and your heart of love.
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: Say amen --
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: -- and amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen! (Cheers, applause.)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pEH37JIgBU]
tionittaylor
December 26, 2008
Morning Joe
They're are talking about the campaigns - extolling the greatness of barry's campaign. He outspent and outraised Senator Clinton and they both got the same amount of votes. He out spent her in PA and she won by 10 points. He won 11 in a row and couldn't get the required amount of delegates. He never beat her. He was handed the nomination. Period.
BUCHANAN: [Sen Clinton] had one of the greatest comebacks I've ever seen in politics.
MIKA: Yeah, that was something.
BUCHANAN: April and May she's pounding that guy. [He looks at Watson] You're smiling now. You weren't smiling then.
CARLSON WATSON: Here's the truth and I hate to say this outloud. Her husband, I believe, loves her death. I think her husband wanted her to win - but I think if Bill hadn't done what he did in South Carolina, that comeback could have been complete.
And here's the greater truth. barry's camp went into South Carolina with a memo made up painting Sen Clinton as a racist. All set and ready to go before Mr Bill or anyone else said a thing. Their race-baiting strategy was going full force. He needed to get the black vote behind him and how better than to paint his opponent as a racist? How many you are aware of the memo? How about Mr Bill's actual statements and what lead up to them? What about Rev Jackson's comments that he was not offended and did not read anything into them?
It's all so tiresome and not worth going into. I'll find the links to the old posts.
December 22, 2008
I am appalled at what gay code words folks use and get away with. The bashing that occurs right out in the open. Racism is the only prejudice that has been discussed. No other prejudice is taken seriously. First sexism - whining. Ageism - punchline. Homophobia - you can't be serious. How is this a step closer to a More Perfect Union? Bigotry is bigotry. Either all are offensive or none are.
This election cycle has been a farce. barry's transcending race and partisanship? Bringing people together? Uniting the cosmos and transforming the world! Kumbaya my Lord, what are you people drinking?
Hope is an individual choice. Change! is another sunrise. Reality requires action. barry has not yet made a single unilateral decision with personal consequence. The very first time he does it will be in the White House. You ok with that? At 3am or otherwise? Do you really believe he can make a decision in 15 seconds?
Here's Pat Robertson doing what he does best while discussing Don't Ask Don't Tell with Suzanne Malveaux on CNN after he says "he's very pleased so far" with barry. So far the operative words. So far he has done nothing but appoint people. His most important appointment - his Chief of Staff - may end up being subpoenaed. barry may too...just like he was named on Rezko's indictment.
Courtesy of SwimmingPolarBear
MALVEAUX: Are you looking forward to an Obama administration, a change?
ROBERTSON: You know, I am remarkably pleased with Obama. I had grave misgivings about him, but so help me, he's come in forcefully, intelligently. He's picked a middle-of-the-road cabinet. And so far, if he continues down this course, he has the makings of a great president. So I'm very pleased so far.
MALVEAUX: What do you think of the pick as Rick Warren, the evangelical leader, as the one to deliver the invocation at his inauguration? Obviously, a controversial pick. And there are some conservatives who believe that, perhaps, he's being used as a pawn. I want to give you this quote here by Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. He says, "Let's hope that Rick Warren will use his channel of communication to the new president to press him for more pro-family policies, rather than simply being used by Mr. Obama to make political inroads with evangelicals." [One of the enlightened few.]
Do you think that Warren is being used by Mr. Obama?
ROBERTSON: I don't think so. I think Rick is an extraordinarily able person....He's a very dynamic individual. And I don't think he's going to be anybody's pawn. He has his own agenda and I think he'll stick to it. But after all, all he's been asked to do is give an invocation. He isn't asked to endorse Obama. He's going to stand up there on the steps of the Capitol and he's going to say, "God, please bless this country," and he will do that very well.
MALVEAUX: There are others who are upset by that pick. Obviously, there are some gay activists who have expressed concern about it because he's not for pro-gay marriage
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: We definitely should reevaluate it. It's been 15 years since we put in "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," which was a policy that became a law. I didn't want it to become a law, but it became a law. Congress felt that strongly about it. But it's been 15 years and attitudes have changed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Do you think it's time to put that policy aside and to let gays serve openly in the military?
ROBERTSON: Well, you know, I think I would leave that to the field commanders. And it seemed to be the unanimous decision of the military leadership that the question of open homosexuality in the barracks and showers and all the rest of it was not a good thing for the discipline of the troops...I'm not sure that we ought to change that. It's worked pretty well so far.
That may be - but not for women in the military. Female soldiers are more likely to be raped than killed by enemy fire in Iraq. Gay men in the shower is a blip on the radar, especially when it is consensual.
December 22, 2008
Morning JoeThey're discussing barry's pick of Rick Warren and the LGBT outrage.
JOE: When you call people who don't agree with you're a bigot--
MIKA: You're cutting off the conversation.
JOE: If, I disagree with somebody on same sex marriage, then I'm immediately called a bigot. The conversation ends right there.
Do they even listen to themselves? What did we hear from them during the election season? People not voting for barry were bigots. They couldn't get their heads around a black man being president. They weren't voting for another candidate they were automatically voting against barry and therefore bigots.
This exhausts me.
The Double Standard and hierarchy of -isms is alive and well. Racism has it's own rules and wins out over any other type of prejudice. What is "white racism"? Or "reverse racism"? When did racism become color-coded? Sexism, ageism and prejudice against homosexuals are ok in various forms. Women are whiny man-hating, sweatshirt and Birkenstock-wearing feminazis. Ageism is a punchline. And gays are being unreasonable because it's a moral not civil issue.
Human rights are human rights.
And barry can do no wrong. He's bringing people together...he's uniting America...he's the greatest president-elect who hides behind a federal prosecutor when they did nothing wrong.
So why the silence?
It's just another politically expedient decision. What else would it be? barry is most certainly not going to lose the LGBT vote and is pandering to the right. Didn't he used to be the most liberal senator when it suited his needs? Voting 97% time with his party with no dissenting votes of consequence? He is trying to ensure his place in history without having done anything but nominate people and the proobamedia is coronating him as the second coming of Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy and Reagan.
Name one great senator he resembles - a job he has actually had.
Anyone?
Sexual "orientation" is not universally covered as a hate crime whereas race is. Matthew Shepard was savagely murdered 10 years ago and there is still no all-inclusive bill. Since then only 8 states have added sexual orientation. The Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 passed in the Senate 60-39 on September 27, 2007. All Dems yea - plus Coleman, Collins, Gregg, Lugar, Sanders, Smith, Specter, Snowe, Voinivich, Warner. McCain not present. It was eventually dropped mainly because Bush vowed to veto it. barry says it's going to be a priority.
We'll see, won't we?
2006 DOJ Hate crime statistics
12,620 law enforcement agencies participated in the UCR Program's hate crime data collection. Agencies provided 1 to 12 months of data about bias-motivated crime, and of those agencies, 2,105 (16.7%) reported 7,722 incidents. 83.3% of the 12,620 participating agencies reported that no hate crimes occurred in their jurisdictions.
Alabama and Mississippi reported ZERO cases. That's an absolute impossibility.
51.8% racially motivated -- 64.4% anti-black
15.5% sexual orientation -- 98% anti-homosexuals (transsexuals not categorized)
Now consider that only 3% of the population identify themselves as homosexuals. So, from this data, hate crimes against homosexuals are disproportionately high and hate crimes in general are markedly under reported.
And 45 states (+ DC) have statutes covering race, religion, and ethnicity but only 31 of them cover sexual orientation.
The stats speak for themselves and the LGBT community should be allowed to speak. And to be heard. And not referred to as "fascists" like scarborough just did.
==============
You may know about the gruesome torture and murder of Matthew Shepard.
Now consider the case of the white female nurse's aide who hit a homeless black man with her car and then went home and had sex with her boyfriend while the homeless black man bled to death in her garage.
The force of impact impaled him in the windshield - forcing his head and torso inside her vehicle. His right leg was fractured in two places and his left nearly amputated.
It is unclear if she stopped and tried to extricate him. She would have had to pull on his legs.
She drove several miles home, his face inches from hers as she apologized for hitting him and he moaned in pain and pleaded for help. She ignored him. She then pulled into her garage, shut the door and left him there to bleed to death. She didn't know how long it took him to die because she eventually stopped checking on him.
He did not suffer a head injury or any type of internal injuries. He would not have died from his leg injuries. He knew what happened to him and was in severe pain. He begged her for help. She promised she would get him some. She never did - even though she continued to check on him. She did not give him the water he asked for. She did not render any type of first aid even though she was a nurse's aide and knew how to do so. She did nothing to cover him - his pants and underwear were hanging off his leg.
She let him bleed to death, naked from the waist down, impaled in the windshield of her vehicle, with his mangled legs splayed on the hood of her car.
Eventually he knew he was going to die. Alone. He knew help would never come. He knew the people he could hear inside the house weren't going to help him. He knew she had lied to his face each time she came out to see if he was dead yet. He knew he was going to die impaled in the windshield. He knew that his naked body would then have to be disposed of. He knew there was a chance his family would never know how or where he died. He knew he would never again see his son or attend his marriage. He knew he would never see his grandchildren or say goodbye to his family. He knew there was a chance his body would never be found and thus not receive a proper burial. He knew that the women who hit him and allowed him to bleed to death like an animal might never be found. And he knew that she might never be punished for killing him while withholding medical assistance and torturing him with assurances that help was coming.
I don't know how someone can be so evil. What possesses someone to do this to another human being? How could she continue to go out and listen to him beg? How could she walk away? A nurse's aide? Pure evil.
The case was broken after the nurse's aide giggled to her friend: "I hit this black man." And then she went on to say she had sex with her boyfriend while the naked homeless man moaned in agony. She later denied saying it. She said she was afraid to call for help because she was high on alcohol, marijuana and ecstasy.
The woman's attorney, MIKE HEISKILL:
[His client] not the animal or monster the police are portraying her to be. [She is] not this cold inhumane person that we've heard about. I think this is overreaching on the part of the prosecution and the police and, in the end, I believe the law will shake out that this was simply a case of failure to stop and render aid.
Read that again.
Her two male friends - both white - eventually yanked the dead homeless man's body out of the windshield - leaving behind his tissue and hair and a big pool of blood - took him to a local park and dumped him like garbage - still naked.
The coroner said he could have been rescued even after he was inside her garage. He had no other life-threatening injuries. There were no head injuries that would have rendered him unconscious. It took approximately two hours to for him to bleed to death.
Did you hear about this case?
Did you hear Revs Sharpton and Jackson or Johnny Cochran in the news raging about the reckless disregard for human life? That a white woman allowed a black man to die in her garage impaled in her windshield and then threw him away like trash?
No. You didn't. For a very good reason. Change the races on all the players. The woman was black and the man was white. It was not prosecuted as a hate crime. And if the races were reversed it most assuredly would have been.
How can a crime be more heinous? How is what she did not extreme indifference for a human life? Why should there be a difference relative to their skin color?
Her statement to the son of the man she lied to and allowed to die:
MALLARD: I am so sorry, Brandon. I am so sorry for what I have caused your family. And I'm sorry for the pain that I have put my family through.
The victim's son Brandon went on Larry King after the verdict and had this to say:
BIGGS: Well, I believe there is something good in every situation. Positively, it's making me a stronger person. It's going to make me able to speak with other people who are going through a tragedy like this and not just with sympathy but with empathy. But negatively, there are probably too many to even list. He will not be around for the rest of my life and that's -- that's a very sad thing.
CALLER: Brandon, I would like to know how in the world could your family sit back and let your father be homeless?
Sick and heartless. Brandon was 18 at the time and his father had been homeless for approximately 2 1/2 years. His father struggled with bipolar disorder but Brandon had a relationship with him - seeing him at the shelter where he lived.
KING: And what was it like for you and him?
BIGGS: Well, it was great. We did a lot of fun things together. We went shopping. We went fishing. Just had a good time with each other....He would stay in a shelter on Lancaster Avenue in Ft. Worth and he would actually pay rent there. It was kind of a place for people who were down to get back up on their feet. And so, when he told me that he was living there, I would go visit him as much as I could and we would still go do the things that we had always done.
KING: Did he -- was he able to look for work? Was he trying to get his life straightened out?
BIGGS: Yes, he was, Larry.
KING: So, you can say the two of you were very close?
BIGGS: That's right.
Brandon wants to be a pastor. He forgave the woman who allowed his father to suffer and die and be thrown away like garbage. He went to court everyday. He heard the testimony and saw the gruesome pictures. He heard how her accomplices "got rid of the dude". And he forgave her. He was 20 y/o at the time (2003).
BIGGS: The forgiveness, well, it comes because I've been forgiven of so much. And I just -- I can't not forgive other people, no matter how grievous -- no matter how grievous. Life is too short to live with all the anger and the bitterness. It's just too short for that.
She was found guilty and sentenced to 50 years. What would they have done to her in Iran?
Gregory Biggs (37) and convicted murderer, Chante Mallard (27)
