Rice: Race Still Issue Because Of U.S. "Birth Defect"

Washington Times:

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that the United States still has trouble dealing with race because of a national "birth defect" that denied black Americans the opportunities given to whites at the country's very founding.

"Black Americans were a founding population," she said. "Africans and Europeans came here and founded this country together -- Europeans by choice and Africans in chains. That's not a very pretty reality of our founding."

As a result, Miss Rice told editors and reporters at The Washington Times, "descendants of slaves did not get much of a head start, and I think you continue to see some of the effects of that."

Read the whole story: Washington Times

Comments

[urnumbersix]

Oh-Oh, She Done Did it Now!

Faux News is going to use their Most sophisticated skills to "split the baby" and condemn Rice's remarks as sin, while loving that sinner! Watch 'em go! What she said just Can't Be True. LOL!!!!

And I never thought I would write these words but,

"Secretary Rice, thank you! XOXO"

[Zuni]

Wow Condi!
So when were you first proud of this country?

[TooLooze]

Condi is un-American! I hope Bush has to answer for her like Obama is expected to for Wright!

Why is it OK for Condi to say the Constitutuion and government are defective and not for Rev. Wright to say it?

[UltraClassic]

It may have something to do with Wright saying that we are giving the black folks AIDS. Sorry, there is no excuse fo that nonsense.

[GrainOSand]

Tuskeegee experiment is not an excuse but a precedent for flawed thinking.

[khampton]

It some circles that theory is not to far from possible. there is the history of using black men as lab rats and giving them Syphilis in Tuskegee. 400 of them to be exact. this occured between the years of 1932 to 1972. It doesn't seem like too long ago does it. So, why wouldn't be plausible for some black people. It's a matter of trust and trust has not been earned.

[shades3]

The suspicion regarding African Americans and AIDS is not such a stretch if you know the recent history of the Tusgeegee Experiment which involved hundreds of indigent black men.
It took place from 1932 to 1972 and the subjects of the experiment were specimans who, already infected with syphilis and indigent were offered "treatment", a bed and a $200 stipend to be used to bury them on their inevitable death.
The purpose of the government-funded experiment was to see, on autopsy, whether black people's organs were affected differently by syphilis than were white people's.
Although shortly into the program it was known that penicillin would cure syphilis, these men were deliberately not given any, because they were autopsies-­in-waiting­.

Needless to say, since then black people have been suspicious of the government when it came to disease prevention and cure, especially for them.
An AIDS conspiracy is not such a ridiculous notion, when the history of the government's treatment of blacks is considered, with regard to disease.
Once trust in the government is lost, it takes a long time, if ever, to regain it.

[starboymikey]

Why is it OK for Condi to say the Constitutuion and government are defective and not for Rev. Wright to say it?
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­______

Wait, don't tell me. I think I know the answer to this one ... Oh, darn. I guess it slipped my mind.

[PhyloSeFiser]

If this were Barack Obama saying this, Sean Hannity would be paraphrasing this for his audience like so: "Basically, Obama is saying that America is some kind of mutant. Huh? Isn't that what he's basically saying? Wow. And some of you... some of you want this guy to be President. Unbelievable. Is that? I mean, that's outrageous. Nice guy. Calls America a mutant. Unbelievable. Unbelievab­le."

But because it's Condoleeza Rice saying that America is a mutant baby, he's going to totally ignore it.

Even as a Zen Buddhist, I have a hard time feeling compassion for Hannity and Limbaugh. All they do is try to stir up hatred for liberals.

[geobushono]

Somebody should write a book about *this* level of self hatred....­..........­......or maybe our Sec'y Of State is just that inarticula­te........­..........­..what a dolt.

[JMEB]

I'm impressed. I'm sure it's pissing off the majority of her party, who think her token presence in the administration is proof that racism is long dead.

[wsblake]

Huh,what's the word for Ms. Uncle Tom?

[BigBagel]

Whats wrong with what she said? Its true.

[anghiari]

I never use that term...i think it says more about the person who uses it than the person to whom it is directed. Condoleeza Rice made choices about her life and her politics that work for her. Who are we to tell her those choices were somehow wrong for her? To attempt to demean her by calling her name is specious and really dumb. I despise her politics, but they are her politics, not mine.

[robXdion]

Its funny how so many whites are so WOWED by her speaking on this issue. Meanwhile, she has been dismissing the concerns of blacks these past 7 + years until Obama created the public discussion on race. Please move along folks. Nothing to see here, just another Republican fighting to stay relevant and gain courage by osmosis.

[GrainOSand]

Two for two.

[athenalong]

TALK ABOUT IT robXdion!

WORD.

[SisterJ]

While I would normally agree, this is not the first time she's made this statement - just the first time they've decided to make a story of it. So she's not really riding his coattails this time. And, even the prodigal son was allowed to come home.

[transendentilist]

I think racism in America, today, is more on an individual basis. It is no longer systemic, and that was the real injustice. Besides slavery itself. With political correctness, racism left the public square and went underground.
Blacks and whites enjoy the same rights as any other American. There isn't alot we can do about individual racism. You can't make people love each other, or even get along with each other. This teaching is up to the parents and the schools. Racism has to be "unlearned­."
Why tear open old wounds? I'd say "racist America," has been pretty good to Condi, and Obama.

[asere]

That kind of talk is ' verbotten ' in her party.
Has she developed a crush on Barack and this is her way of sending him a message ?
Watch out Michelle, Condi is smitten and on the prowl for your Man.

[carmenjonze]

No, Condi, it's no "birth defect", it's taught and learned behavior.

Nurture, not nature. These people make a choice to hate minorities and push for a two-tiered society.

BTW, why isn't Mukasey or Elaine Chao or anyone else in the Bush cabinet ever called on to speak about "race in America"?

[gopSTEALSyourTAXmoney]

It surprises me also, that people like Elaine Chao, an Asian like Michelle Malkin
forget that if it wasn't for African Americans they would be relegated to laundry washing,
and other meaningless work to survive in the U.S.

[VSamuels]

True. Many Asians however are afforded the status of 'inconvenient' white by the majority of whites in America. They maintain their 'inconvenient' whiteness by displaying the same level of anomosity towards the black culture that some white Americans possess. One sees it on occasion, when some whites believing to be perceptive; will raise the academic achievement of Asians and say: see how good these minorities are, as they aren't robbing or shooting folks, they come over here to earn a living. Its disengeous historically, as Asians were not forbidden to the legal sense as much as blacks were, and still remain within society. But, they [Asians] simply do not conjure up emotionally the sense of guilt within some whites, that black Americans do when considering them as human beings.

Whites folks to a degree resemble the ersewhile mother who smiles while 'showing' off the achievements of 'little Johnny' while grimacing about 'little James'; while being ashamed of James and wishing she did not have to have him appear along side of Johnny, in the back of this mother's mind, she realizes that James is who he [is] because of her, and in spite of her opinion that it is purely James' fault.

[GrainOSand]

In terms of the people it is learned and taught, in terms of the country metaphorically speaking it is in fact a defect a flaw finding root in origin.

They are not called to speak because it is not an issue. Priority is action.

I am loving this conversation. Reverend Wright has stirred up something in his country that he loves but finds fault with. He should be proud. It took a bold perosn to raise issues that cut so deep that they stir a national conversation. What an American he is; for the good of country, for the growth of the people!

My opinion of the man may cause some to question but this race thing is deeper than you think. Dr. Rice is right it is in the Alpha of this country. The question we are facing is, what of the Omega?

[DofG]

The evil men do lives on long after they are gone!

Think about it. In order for one to make another a slave, there has to be enmity and a great disregard for their humanity. Then, you have to strip any self-perception that they may have of their own humanity, in order to have as much control as you can possibly have over them. In other words, you take a human being and attempt to make him, or her, a docile, obedient pack mule. But here's the kicker. When you've finally decided, nearly 400 years later, that slavery isn't a good thing anymore, you free the slaves. However, you don't suddenly feel any different about them. You still have the enmity, and you still think that they are sub-human. And by that time, they probably are pretty close to behaving as sub-human. Why, because that's what America wanted them to be!

In the sixties, one could hear some people saying that all blacks should go back to Africa. But that was a hundred years too late! It would have made a lot more sense, 100 years earlier, because at that juncture, America had two choices. Once slavery was abolished, America could have sent every Black person back to Africa, despite any other considerations. Or, America could have truly embraced their new citizens, by putting back all that was stripped from them, via education etc. However, for another 100 years of Jim Crow etc., America did neither!

[victoriajubilee]

This remark from a very conservative Republican can only help Senator Obama ,I notice although the story made main Head Lines in the Conservative Washington Times newspaper,not of the conservative talk radios mentioned it . Any one remembers when Condi Rice worked as a specialist in Soviet affairs for the first President Bush?. An incident happened where she was walking on the airport Tarmac about to enter a State Dept. plane, she had her ID tag on, just as she approached the aircraft ,a uniformed secret service officer approached her and demanded to know where was she going, Ms Rice informed the officer of her status and told him she was about to travel abroad,whereupon the policeman uttered " I dont give a damn who you are,you aint going on that plane". The point is he did'nt believe an african american woman would hold such a position. The officer was later fired. So her suggestions inadvertantly supports Senator Obama's speech,Yet conservative radio his beating up on Senator Obama because he said we have made great progress but together White and Black brothers and sisters can make it better.

[LECal]

Some times it's not politically correct to speak to america, we have to start somewhere.

[livesimply]

I agree. I am not a Condi Rice fan, but I appreciate her comments. She actually seems human. Isn't this what we should be doing...ma­king peace with each other?

[degjack]

Whoa!!!!..­.....Condi­!

I have respect for you for the FIRST time!!

The truth will indeed set you free!

Obama apparently has stiffened your backbone and you now elect -- these 8 years late -- to discuss race in a most profound way. I am very impressed by this interview.­...the only impressive interview in my opinion that you have EVER given, despite your vaunted erudition. Maybe you see the end of your tenure in this administration nearing, and so, what the heck....le­t loose! Whatever. There are some hard, cold, unavoidable and hurtful facts that America MUST face about its past regarding the race "issue" before it will ever heal.....a­nd you and Obama have hit it dead on! First off, however, Reverend Wright has opened the door to this debate - so kudos to that much maligned man. Everybody should make it thier business to hear or see the ENTIRE video of his 9/11 sermon to get the full context of what he said......­.which differs GREATLY from what has been plastered all over the media.

[robXdion]

Please. Condi hasn't done a dayum thing. She is a hitching a ride onto Obama's bandwagon. She had over 7 YEARS to speak on this. Courage by osmosis is NOT respectable.

[degjack]

Better late than never.

[SmellyOne]

I am wondering if many of you who scold Condi Rice REALLY understand her comments, or even read them completely.

When our Constitution was written, the Founding Fathers chose to omit anything that would deal with... SLAVERY... That omission is the "birth defect".

If anyone has taken a purely HISTORICAL stance on the issue, it is Condi. She stated the most obvious, grade-school level set of facts available to explain the race relations in this country.

Some of you can't even discuss this issue for what it is, you have to drag your political beliefs into the conversation. Because you hate Republicans and Condi with such passion, you can't help but show it whenever she is at the center of the topic.

Framing your statements in context of the Iraq war when the discussion is RACE shows a level of immaturity which makes it impossible to move forward on the issue.

You partisan hacks are part of the problem.

[robXdion]

The problem is not her comments. Its the fact it took her so long to speak out and the fact she has dismissed the Civil Rights Movement while defending an administration that has shown little regard for black people. So please don't get it twisted. This is just a stunt she is pulling to look concerned and make Republicans relevant to the public discussion Obama has created. In other words.....­she is being used as the token she is. Now THIS is truly 'just words'. She should have spoke sooner to have more authenticity.

[SmellyOne]

Just why exactly should Condi have spoken out sooner? I find it absurd that you would say her timing was off and call it a "problem".

This administration has shown great regard for black people. Just ask Sir Bob Geldof, who said "There are no votes in helping the poor of Africa, but Bush did it anyway." Geldof said the world should give credit to Bush for what he's achieved there.

You ask me to not "get it twisted", yet you dismiss her comments on the "public discussion Obama has created" as a "stunt" and even call her a "token".

A "token"? What kind of statement is that? You are judging Condi by her color, not her deeds. When you call her a "token", you are saying that her intelligence, education, and experience mean NOTHING, and it's her blackness that got her where she is. You are saying that she is purely a product of Affirmative Action and has no value other than the color of her skin. It makes me sick.

[biglover]

She wanted to keep her job. Since the job is coming to an end, I guess she feels she can speak more freely. I doubt you or any of us would say or do something to endanger our jobs either.

[GrainOSand]

That pretty much sums it up.

[SmellyOne]

So you are saying she has a duty to speak in a timely fashion on major racial issues when they come up? Why? Who else in your world is bound to such schedules?

By the way, check out what Sir Bob Geldof thinks about GW's admin and how they regard black people. (Hint: Africa).

And to call her a "token" is obscene. It invalidates her intelligence, education, and experience and gives all of her accomplishments to the color of her skin.

[livesimply]

Better late than never.

[GrainOSand]

A real between the lines analysis of what youy posit suggests that you are the one that is not getting it.

When our Constitution was written, the Founding Fathers chose to omit anything that would deal with... SLAVERY... That omission is the "birth defect".

The very fact that you think they should have included something is more the issue. They did include something about slavery and they did it in terms of property rights.

"James Madison, who was the main author of the Constitution of the United States, was also an upholder of slavery and the interests of the slaveowners in the United States. Madison, the fourth president of the United States, not only wrote strongly in defense of the Constitution, he also strongly defended the part of the Constitution that declared the slaves to be only three-fifths of human beings (that provided for the slaves to be counted this way for the purposes of deciding on representation and taxation of the states--Article I, Section 2, 3 of the Constituti­on)."

The defect was the intellect that ever entertained the idea of slavery not the intellect that did not legislate against the atrocity.

[GrainOSand]

You reveal yourself to be:

One who thinks the omission of slavery legislation was somehow the root of the problem and who misses the idea that if the founding fathers had not thought in terms of slavery (and therefore injustice just did not exist) there would have been nothing to consider ommiting.

One who thinks that grade school attempts to defame are not recognized.

A party groupie; you mention party loudly and often.

You are also human so peace and love to you and yours (I know that sentiment might be too liberal for you but it is sincere).

[SmellyOne]

GrainOSand:

If you believe your first paragraph, you should brush up on your history.

Also, I am not a party groupie, I am an independent and I dislike both parties. I did not mention party "loudly and often"; I mention party TWICE.

I am very liberal with peace and love, and most other things, too. Maybe YOU should open your mind a little and stop thinking you have everyone figured out.

PEACE.

[LoRiseAntlers]

This really begs the question of why the hell she's identified herself with people who are the reargaurd of those who have done so much to stifle the growth of equal opportunity in America?

I cannot,and will not,understand how any person of color would be a Republican­.There are no valid reasons to be part of a party that despise your very existence.

[donaldw6]

I would be very surprised indeed if Condoleezza Rice were unaware that questions of race transcend politics in America. Her comments were as sensitive as her politics are abhorrent, and I congratulate her for speaking out. If she would only apply that same common sense and depth of feeling to her official duties, she would do far more to honor the sentiments she's expressed.