Barbara Boxer Accused Of Being 'Racial' And 'God Awful'

So, here's the story of how Senator Barbara Boxer got called a racist or whatever during today's climate change hearing. Harry Alford is the head of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. He opposes the current climate change legislation. Barbara Boxer is a senator from California who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She is in favor of the current climate change legislation. Boxer says that green jobs are being created in California, Alford says that's not true. Let's fight!

ALFORD: I've been looking - I haven't seen them yet...The last time I checked, California is an economic basket case and these green jobs aren't going to solve it.

BOXER: I want you to come with me. Let's go see these jobs you say don't exist.

So, okay! Alford and Boxer are going to take a trip to Fresno, to look at windmills or something! But then Boxer dared to reference a report that favored climate change legislation that was authored by the NAACP, and that's when everything suddenly got pre-post-racial!

"Madam chair, that is condescending to me," Alford said. "I'm the National Black Chamber of Commerce, and you're trying to put up some other black group to pit against me."

Boxer defended including the report, however, saying the report reflects a "diversity" of support behind climate change legislation facing the Senate.

"If this gentleman were here, he would be proud he's being quoted," Boxer said in defense of the NAACP support.

But Alford was working himself into a fine rant:

"All that's condescending, and I don't like it. It's racial. I take offense to it. As an African-American and a veteran of this country, I take offense to that," he said. "You're quoting some other black man -- why don't you quote some other Asian or some other... You're getting racial here."

"You're speaking on behalf of the black community?" Alford asked. "Why are you doing the colored people association's study with the black Chamber of Commerce?"

[...]

"We've been looking at energy policy since 1996. And we are referring to the experts, regardless of their color. And for someone to tell me, an African-American, college-education veteran of the United States Army, that I must contend with some other "black group" and put aside everything else in here -- This has NOTHING to do with the NAACP, and really has nothing to do with the National Black Chamber of Commerce. We're talking about energy. And that -- that road the chair went down, I think is God awful."

Now, did Boxer specifically cite an NAACP report just to needle Alford? Probably! And that's annoying, yes. As a colleague writes (for the win!): "It drives black people nuts that white people always want to hook them up with their one other black friend." But! Is that racism? Not in a week where this happened it isn't!

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Comments

[conversefive]

I'm sorry, but there is no comparison between the Sotomayor hearings and using the word "splaining" with what Boxer did to Harry Alford. Boxer's treatment and her insistence he call her "Senator" are so typical of liberals' treatment of African-Americans, as though they must be kept in their place and step in time with all others of their community. Have we gone back to the days before the Civil War? What is she thinking?

[conservatist2010-12]

BOXER...WA­LTERS...an­d the rest ARE RACISTS...the Dems only take votes from the poor and Blacks...they keep them right where they like them...POO­R....Alfor­d is the true American...I am so sick of the racism that is spewed from the left (in the form of justice)..Liberals love to make victims(because they have no substance to debate)....I am a RIGHT WINGER...I call everyone Americans....the left calls people blacks..mi­norities..­.mexicans.­..the left has stolen the dreams of our black Americans

[RomeoMD25]

The bottom line: Don't worry about global warming. It is not caused by human beings or by our CO2 emissions. The amount of warming that is occurring is normal and modest, and does not threaten the earth or human life. The estimated one degree increase in the next 100 years isn't going to melt the ice caps or put London and New York ten feet under water.

[RomeoMD25]

Instead of accurate long-term temperature information – which shows the earth periodically warming and cooling, militant environmentalists like Al Gore offer us a "hockey stick" graph fallaciously showing a steady rise in the earth's temperature for 1,000 years.

[sammyscout]

"militant environmentalists"

You repukians never run out of titles to pin on people not agreeing with you.

did God talk to you too?

[mziegler24]

Harry Alford is silly enough to think he should be respected and heard for his intellect and achievements, not the color of his skin. Barbara Boxer was arrogant and delusional enough to think she could persuade a man of such caliber with an identity argument instead of one based on fact and empirical data. It is indicative of two much larger problems: 1. Many politicians use race and identity to cause tension and further their own agenda. Those who claim the most to care about racial equality also use it to their advantage for re-election. If race conflict did not exist, neither would their political career. 2. There simply is not enough data to support this dangerous legislation and it will not pass on its own merits. They need to play politics, and dirty race politics at that, to get it passed.

[rsprog]

If you don't want the racial component exploited, don't represent yourself in racial terms...Mr. Black Chamber of Commerce.

[Nooooorm]

Why is it okay for Barb and her staff to fly around the world, destroying the environment and bringing us ever-closer to the dreaded tipping point that will lead to global doom, but it's not okay for me to drive my car to work?

http://www.legistorm.com/trip/list/by/approver/id/11/name/Sen_Barbara_Boxer/core_person_id_page/51157/page/2.html

Paris, France
Conference on Islam

Pristina, Serbia - Kosovo
Learning about an emerging democracy and sharing information on the U.S. legislative process

Punta Mita, Mexico
To participate in a conference on U.S. policy in Latin America

Kona, HI
Conference

Dublin, Ireland
To participate in a conference on U.S.-Russia-Europe relations

Kona, HI
Conference

Israel
Education mission

Bolivia
Fact-finding

Punta Mita, Mexico
To participate in a conference on U.S. policy toward Colombia

London, England
Review implementation of security measures; positive baggage match program and technology

South Africa
To attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

China
Participate in a program with other congressional staffers to become better informed about China

Punta Mita, Mexico
To participate in a conference on U.S. policy in Latin America

[n5ifi]

I think what is most annoying to me about this article is the last comment from the reporter.
I quote "But! Is that racism? Not in a week where this happened it isn't!
It references an article where a GOP Sen made a joke (bad) to Sotomayer.
We have to got to learn to get by this " words can hurt me" mentaility in this country. They can't.
When I said WE, I meant people of all races that are USA citizens.
To the reporter.....my mother and father taught me that two wrongs don't make a right. I still believe
that's true.
What's your point?

[vandegrasse]

All California politicians are nut cases!!! Why!

[ReedYoung]

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=3f34f593-8c87-46f2-bba7-f622481ecfb2
[
I come to you, not as an economist, but with a deep understanding of small and minority-owned businesses and as someone who has experience with consumer behavior.

Climate change is a vital issue that must be addressed. It will take time and cost real money to mitigate humanity’s influence on our climate. The thing that concerns me and many of the 95,000 business members of the National Black Chamber is that any legislation Congress enacts must consider the impact that costs will have on small and minority-owned businesses, their ability to create jobs and the impact on the communities that they serve.
]

His testimony clearly is that he is speaking on behalf of minorities. As the NAACP is *the* most prominent advocacy group for minority interests, their published opinions which contradict his certainly are germane. Boxer was not the one who introduced race into that conversation.

[Wake-up]

Climate change is a joke...

Even if it were for-real, Mexico, China, India and others have already said no-thanks... so what's the point?

Also, GE, Goldman Sacs and others have proven this 'climate change' issue is all about making money. Wake-up!!

[Chopin]

If you're objecting to "cap-and-trade" as nothing more than a money-making scam, you might have a point superficially. If you think about it, it is simply unrealisitc and unattainable for the ENTIRE GLOBAL COMMUNITY of all nations to go cold turkey in one giant step to wean away from oil and coal consumption to renewable clean energy consumption. That's the main pragmatic motivation behind adopting "cap and trade" as an interim solution.

When you and your family loved ones are sweating in sweltering summer heat at sizzling 100 plus degrees Fahrenheit year after year in this coming decade, perhaps you would study the facts, and begin to change your mind and attitude about "climate change is a joke".

[Schmice]

So, what's the worst that could happen if we make the changes and they don't affect the climate change problem? We would still end up with cleaner air in our cities. That might even bring some health benefits to breathers.

[Demskeepitup]

Obviously, Senator Boxer did not intent to slight the gentleman. Her error was her belief 'black' experts were needed to refute the 'black' witness. She should have select to refute his statistic; data; and theories by questioning the validity of his statistics; data and theories.

Her choice in refuting his arguments with 'color' alone, was and is offensive too many people.

Further offense results from the lack of acceptance of his position by the 'progressives'.

[RTIII]

You can tell from the 6+ minute clip that what you state was _not_ her intent. She stated that her goal was to gain insight into the diversity of opinion out in the community - specifically _not_ to refute him with opinion. Go listen again.
.

[Demskeepitup]

Listened again.

Heard her use the NAACP resolution as a counter to his testimony. She did add she wanted a diversity of opinions, but made clear these opinions were from people of 'color'. She presented no information from the resolution. She did not invite the authors of these documents to testify for this committee.

And, if you are a progressive, you are fulfilling the point in my last sentence.

[Sandmanj]

Barbara Boxer is the only Senator I could ever be proud to vote for.

[OswegoKayaker]

She is great and so is Claire McCaskill.

Alford is bought and paid for by Exxon/Mobile -- is is against almost anything green.
Even Greenpeace does not like him and has a whole page telling why.

[Cdubs]

Kooooooooo­ooooool-Ai­dddee

[sammyscout]

...from the repub trolls

drink, baby, drink

[RTIII]

I listened to the whole 6+ minute clip.

...Those who are offended are offended because they _want_ to be offended, not because what she said or did was offensive.

In fact, Alford de-positioned his whole reason for being there by acknowledging that this was not an issue of race and yet he himself was there as a matter of race. So, under his own statements it follows that he shouldn't even be there. She actually gave more power to his own voice than HE did, by explaining that the diversity that makes up the whole community was of interest in understanding the mosaic of opinion. Alford was the one being offensive by throwing up the race card as a means of distracting from the points being made on the actual subject.
.

[Cdubs]

Al Sharpton does this to every argument

[noneIn2008]

Amazing the American people continue to vote for these people in Congress. Look at the gang of looters and their contempt for all the "unwashed" masses. Barbara just let slip part of her views on a voting block. But she disrespects us all the same. Why do we continue to send them back? It is long past time for term limits. Send them all home, both sides of the isle.

[naturallight]

Darn skippy they disrespect us all, regardless of color. Have you seen the color of the people dying without Health Care? There's your sign....

It is hard for me to believe there is enough room in Washington D.C. for the Senate's egos. Have you ever seen these people talk off camera??

[Demskeepitup]

Is there data kept on the number of people dying without 'Health Care'? Are you indicating death was caused by a lack of 'Health Care'?

[RomeoMD25]

NASA has corrected its US temperature records, the hottest year on record is no longer 1998, but 1934.
Five of the ten hottest years since 1880 were between 1920 and 1940 " and the 15 hottest years since 1880 are spread across seven decades.
This suggests natural variation, not a warming trend. Plant and insect remains found at the base of Greenland"s ice sheet indicate that,
just 400,000 years ago, the island was blanketed in forests and basking in temperatures perhaps 27 degrees F warmer than today.

CO2 is vital to all life on earth. It is exhaled by all living
things and even comes from nocturnal emissions by plants. It forms the bubbles in your soda, wine and beer. Standard air has 370 parts
per million (PPM) of carbon dioxide of which 93% comes from "natural sources" which are all beyond human control.

[Grim Truth]

I just noticed this pieced isn't even linked to anymore. Must be that hard hitting "It's Official: Obamas Going To Martha's Vineyard In August" article bumping it off. Ya, that's real political. :P