Conservatives Silent After Norquist's Racial Remark About Obama

Think Progress:

Eight days ago in Jacksonville, Florida, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) predicted to a crowd of supporters that he would soon face race-based attacks from the right:

They're going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention he's black?

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[barackobama4prez]

Good luck trying to get them to even see that it's a racial remark/slur/comment.

[jupitor]

Oh we see the racial remarks alright, and we know this is diffently one! Not to get off subject but my daughter asked me why none of Mccains children stump for him or appear with him at all? Can any of you answer that for us?

[gotalife]

Just when you think the gullible, ignorant, masses blindly and mindlessly support the criminals, along come some real Americans.

"John McCain Speech Interrupted By Anti-War Protesters".

"Protester: “Your silence is consent to war crimes!”

They all deserve this, give it to them.

[Ramirez]

The goal of hecklers is to shut down political speech.

[hannitizer]

Wrong. The goal of "hecklers" is to inject themselves in the discussion. Whether they're at a comedy club, or any other gathering where someone else is speaking, they want to be noticed.

Protesters are not "hecklers" Ramirez. They are courageous voices of peace trying passionatetly to enlightened the lemmings, and convince the believers, that those in power have corrupted our government and created an immoral war purely for profit and control of oil. And, that those leaders are willing to diminish the rights of all citizens so wonderfully stated in the U.S. Constitution, without regret, in order to maximize both control and profit.

By the way Ramirez, our founding fathers were protesters. If they weren't willing to pay the ultimate price for their protests, we Americans would have never had the right. Long live the memory of our Founding Fathers and their incredible courage and conviction. And thanks to those who are willing to express their anti-war beliefs without fear of retribution

Obama 08.

[researcher]

the right wing are bottom feeders

new souls on a journey of learning love and compassion

maybe next life for them they will be a socialist

who do we borrow our money from to keep our capitalism afloat

communists, socialists, and kings: go figure

there is dumb and dumber most americans fit in the dumber part

the have mores are taking the middle class to the cleaners and they dont have a clue how

they just blame politicans not the system

[kellygrrrl]

speaking of D & D'er

how many still believe the W@r is not about O!l?

http://www.truthout.org/article/it-was-oil-all-along

[Piatt]

I'm certainly no fan of Grover's and wonder why he's still at large and able to say stupid things to the L.A. Times after having laundered money for Jadk Abramoff. But...I think we all need to be circumspect about accusing Republicans of racism everytime some fool says something stupid about Senator Obama. There are racists who will never vote for Obama...our reactions to idiotic statements aren't going to have any impact on them. There are also many Republicans and Independents who will support Obama. I fear that raising racism every time some Republican factotum says something stupid may backfire with them if it becomes part of an ongoing narrative.

We all know that it's going to get ugly between now and November. Let's save our condemnation for those times when it really matters and when we can make a difference. Grover doesn't matter.

[mypov123]

True...but they'll wait until after the convention, when he's officially the nominee to bring up the dirtiest attacks against him...but we should let these racist, right-wing idiots know that we know what their m.o. will be...

[jupitor]

Yes, but if it ain't true Piatt and the repub's don't feel this way, why have they all gone quiet all the sudden on this subject? just asking you know!

[harriscrl3]

And we shouldnt excuse comments like this by saying we are too sensitive. Either this person is a racist or he is hoping to appeal to people who are either way it should never be tolerated. If you dont nip things like this in the bud they get worse. Pat Buchanana refers to Obama as exotic on MSNBC so its not just Fox and the host did not ask wait a minute what do you mean exotic. These are the things that must be Nip in the bud. Then you have people like Lesley Graham saying Oh Obama is too sensitive as far as race not everything is about race true but this is saying someone who is AA is exotic is is derogatory. Thats what republicans are hoping that people wont see through the racism in these kinds of attack they think that we as viewers are dumb enough to think that only when you use the N word do you have racism. When you make reference to people's race in a derogatory manner it is. Just as how he said Obama is tan who do you think they would feel if we say McCain was the opposite. Obama is NOT tan he is AA. It would have gone over as bad if he had said he is jOhn Kerry only African American. Its not cute to say people are exotic or tan call them what they are or shut up about race.

Carol

[bascombe]

obama predicted they would use race. he was right. and once again it's OK with too many people, but it's no surprise to me. those who are never hurt by it can never understand that it's not just the n-word.

[clearthinker2008]

And even still, it reminds me when some white folks are like "just get over it". Maybe if it ever stops we can.

[kellygrrrl]

so people are all up in arms that any Dem would voice any criticism or disagreement with a Dem candidate's position.

would you all prefer we turned into these ReThug people who never stand up and disagree with something from one of their own?

[UhhhDude]

And Grover Norquist is a Muslim, so let's call it even.

[joeyp404]

Ummm. Yeah. People who do not support Obama should come to his defense. What planet do you live on?

[dtrain51]

we can do this we have to keep focus on the big picture, damn let's do this

[joeyp404]

And the big picture is that others are trying to portray Obama as a black man? Sorry. The one note is getting stale.

[Dachozen1]

On the surface, this statement is innocent but psychologically it may hold more dangerous implications. The constant reference to inject Barack's hue in comments directed towards him, preys on the subconscious that harks back to an uglier time in America. Most people have gotten beyond that but doubt is all the republicans need to win this election. The whole premise of their attacks revolve around Barack is not like us. America's very foundation is at risk if you elect Obama. These people are all "Political Scientist" and there is a reason the word science is in that title.

[jupitor]

Yip, if this is a innocent statement, I'll marry my aunt sophie, guys! I think most of us knew what it meant.

[clearthinker2008]

On the surface isn't innocent.

[helonias]

Grover is Jack Abramoff without the trench coat and not in jail.....yet.

[condew]

Grover Norquist is a moneylaunderer, why is he still not in jail?

[Calylily]

Obama is "John Kerry with a Tan" . . . !

I'm not sure which part is more insulting . . . being compared to John Kerry, or the racial implication. Wait, Obama is black . . . . how is this racially motivated? Honestly, is this all they can come up with to stir up the media pot? Take the summer off . . . . you're gonna need it!

[jupitor]

We'll sense he can't be talking about Obama's military record compared to John Kerry, there is only one thing left! But than wasn't it obama that said they'd come at him with race? Oh well, throw mud and try to make it stick, throw race and beat them at it. Obama is good, got to admit he's good at beating them at thier own game. But, he has to keep it up till November. Think he can?

[Calylily]

Well, having started out as a Republican and repulsed that I should have to vote for McCain, fell into the Obama camp . . . . YES! I not only think he will last through November, I think he will go onto not only re-map the United States onto the world map again, as a country that has a heart, but not necessarily enough money to solve all the world's problems and conflicts. . . .

But, I additionally think, he is going to re-mend bad relationships that the Republicans have starved or beaten to death through the years.

[CTmom13]

McCain has ZERO leadership skills, he can't control his party and will allow all the race baiting. That means McCain agrees with it and will be labeled a racist too

[mypov123]

He shouldn't have even injected skin color into this dumba$$ comment. He could have simply said Barack would be "another John Kerry" in this election, why bring up his race at all? So, if they're stupid enough to make a comment like that, why not call them on it?

[zendem1]

Because they know they have to appeal to their idiotic white base. They're seeing how it polls. Why the Democratic senators and congressmen are standing by mute is beyond me. They should be all over it.

[bluehorizon]

Ah come on... as an Obama supporter, and someone of mixed race, what the dude said wasn't bad at all. Relax..

[jurr]

There are many ways he could have said the same thing WITHOUT injecting race into his point.

[bascombe]

exaKKKtly.

[bluehorizon]

That is not to say I agree with it.... but the comment is relatively tame.

[kellygrrrl]

just getting warmed up

it is like the Ebola Virus

gotz to catch it early

[robXdion]

And that's how it starts. With small comments and then full-fledged slurs. You must one of those Californian mixed race blacks living a racial fantasy. Get real.

[condew]

The question is how much of a racial slur is OK? If they are very minor, but in every other sentence is that OK? If they are coded, such as using "elitist" instead of "uppity", should that go unremarked?