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

[LauraAgain]

It's only racism when Republicans are involved.

Boxer is a Democrat.
Boxer is not a Republican, therefore, Boxer is not racist. Yeah, right.

[OswegoKayaker]

She isn't a racist she is very involved in ecology and Alford was using race to hide the fact the he has taken a boatload of money from Exxon/Mobile.

National Black Chamber of Commerce has received $275,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.

Go here and scroll down to funding:
http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/orgfactsheet.php?id=113

[Demskeepitup]

From the 'progressive' blogs I have read, she was successful in illuminating his betrayal of 'black" people.

Amazing how hatred can be so readily embraced by those with only love in their hearts.

[ImpressedByHonesty]

I've heard a lot of 'code words' in my life. And those 'code words' are not always the words, but the inflections, therefore inferences. It is tricky to say the least. But I did not hear any 'code words' in Senator Boxers comments.

[Chopin]

On a "big picture level", all parties need to get a firm grip on the real status of jobs creation and the technological nature of the jobs created. It is 100% clear in 20 / 20 historical hindsight that the era of the pre-industrial and industrial age jobs (for instance in employing horse-and-buggy in transportation) are clearly "gone with the wind", never to return, since the appearance of the first Model-T Ford (internal combustion engine vehicles running on gasoline) on the roads in 1908, one century ago. Now, exactly one century later, in 2008-2009, during another seismic technological shift in the general economy, coinciding with economic crisis and rising unemployment, the advent of green technologies (in the form of clean energies, wind, solar, and electric cars) are clearly here to stay and replace obsolete and dying technologies and forms of energy consumption using oil and coal. There is no turning back. All the hissing and hollering are not going to change that.

There's a legal adage popularized by "Law and Order" and similar TV shows:
"If you have the facts, argue the facts. If you have the law, argue the law. If you have neither the facts nor the law on your side, change the subject . . . (and argue on any other dam thing). That's what the hissing and hollering about "racism" is all about. Senator Boxer is correct --- STAY ON MESSAGE !

[Grim Truth]

I finally got to see the full video with the context, and Boxer was clearly being racial.

Alford rocks for calling her out. We need to see more of that type of thing.

[AtlasShrugs]

Hmm - she didn't throw a hissy fit when he called her m'am.

[OdysseusNemesis]

NAAC(olored)P. “Colored People” Indeed!

The name is sooooooooo last century. And how they continue to use the “C” word astonishes us all.

Further, the name presupposes that there are colorless people on earth, but is there? And if so, where are they?

Anyway, people should invoke racism only for the most severe cases, otherwise, it loses its meaning and gravity.

Senator Barbara Boxer was merely (as politicians often do) referencing what she sees as a powerful source, namely the NAACP, to help her win the argument. Maybe (just maybe) the National Black Chamber of Commerce is not a fan of the NAAC(olored)P, hence the irritations.

[Wake-up]

No... she was high-lighting other black organizations as a way of trying to win-over this man... that's just sick... Like saying, "Gays, I have a ton of gay friends..."

The woman needs to go...

[OswegoKayaker]

Here is the real reason that she referenced the NAACP (She WAS sticking it to the NBCC because they are really just a tool for Exxon/Mobil)

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."

Alford is against green energy and backs big oil. National Black Chamber of Commerce has received $275,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998.

The NAACP supports Clean Energy

NAACP Endorses Climate Change Legislation
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/15/naacp-endorses-climate-ch_n_233529.html

[RomeoMD25]

Enron recognized the profiteering potential wheeling and dealing in Climate Management.
The groundwork had been laid well, not least by entering into relationships with scientists who,
Enron expected, would further its cause (James Hansen, the scientist who? more than any other is responsible for bringing the
possibility of climate-change catastrophe to the public, was among the scientists Enron commissioned)Enron saw the importance
in silencing the scientists who didnt accept the alarmism

[mertrich]

Is there is a White National Chamber of Commerce?

[JohnDewey]

Yes, it's called, "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce."

[Wake-up]

Nice try... they're not all White...

[Hunter]

A White National Chamber of Commerce, as in singular? No.

There's more than one. Irish, Jewish, Swedish, German and whatever other flavor of "White" American person you can think of, there's a Chamber of Commerce just for them. What was your point by the way?

[dschonbe]

that is a racist comment. no arguing about it.

[flossophy]

Everyone must see the video of this exchange...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE_jGD5nZ6U

This is a perfect example of how the Democrats view blacks.

[615gal]

Thanks

[LiberalDemIda]

And you'd wonder why there's still a Black Caucus in the Democratic Party if they're treated so badly. Why don't they all just cross over to the Black Caucus in the Republican - oh wait. There isn't one on that side of the aisle, is there?

Tells you where the *real* big0ts congregate, doesn't it?

Nuff said.

[Wake-up]

This old prejudice you have of the GOP really shows you to be the bigot. The GOP/Conservatives don't look at skin color to divide people, the left does.

[Demskeepitup]

Why do 'black' members of the Democrate party need to segregate from the other members of the party?

[ImpressedByHonesty]

I don't see the racial bigotry. Not at all. Not from Barbara. Not from this clip. Or when she was the ONLY senator to stand up with the Congressional Black Caucus to launch an official investigation into the Bush v. Gore election and the fixing of black votes in Florida to swing the election.

I don't hear it in her voice, though it can be easy to mistake it that way.

[LJ354]

As a successful black busineess owner, I take offense to many of the comments posted here. I just came accross this article and I am astounded. This Senator is extremely patronizing in her remarks. Mr. Alford has every, and I mean every right to feel ashamed of this woman being so pompous towards him. He has worked hard for his rank in the business world. This is unlike the Sharptons and J. Jacksons who claim to represent me and other African-Amercans. We are tired of white woman -especially- trying to be so politically correct towards a successful black person. She apparently thinks what many non-black folks of her background think. No, I don't know every black person she can think of. She is what she is, a successful woman who probally has not had a real conversation with a black man outside of the Senate's chambers. She can't change her real feelings, but please, for all black men's sake don't you dare come to her defense for her failed remarks.

[LiberalDemIda]

Andwhatsockmightyoube?

[OswegoKayaker]

She was not trying to be politically correct. He would tick me off too because if you look at his record he has been against anything environmental and she is an avid environmentalist.

Alford's National Black Chamber of Commerce has received $275,000 from ExxonMobil since 1998. He is against almost anything good for the environment because of his funding.
NAACP is FOR green energy.

[ImpressedByHonesty]

Sorry, but he is hiding behind race and the military to throw out red meat 'noise' to obstruct the issue of climate change. He is doing what any paid shill for big industry does. And according to the posts on this topic it is so easy to fall for it.

Before she brought it up he said he speaks for all of those members in the Black Chamber of Commerce, which is highly debatable. She did exactly what she needed to do.

[RomeoMD25]

less than 2/1,000 of all CO2 is produced by human activity. So even if we wiped out every car,
power plant, jet liner, and human being from the face of the earth, there would be no noticeable effect on global CO2 levels.

The most important greenhouse gas by far is water vapor, which evaporates from oceans, lakes and rivers.
Water vapor accounts for up to 90% of the earth's greenhouse effect.

[jkminwa]

But how much of the CHANGE in CO2 production is due to human activity?

[noneIn2008]

Or how much CO2 is due to solar forcing?

[RomeoMD25]

Well.... the Hockey Stick no longer appears in the latest IPCC report. Instead they're now concentrating on denying the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age.

Talk about *rewriting history*. The IPCC is barking mad !

[RTIII]

Well, the people who now say the MWP and LIA are evidence GCC isn't happening conveniently leave out the facts - most importantly that neither of these were global and both have the Gulf Stream - movement of warm waters from the Gulf of Mexico up to the far north Atlantic - to explain them.
.

[OswegoKayaker]

Aford is a shill for ExxonMobile. His organization has accepted $275,000 from them.
Greenpeace has a whole page about/against him.

[noneIn2008]

As a shill it is not too smart. There are millions to be made being a shill for the neogreens. If in government, there are promotions. If in academics there are unlimited grants. It is not very financially responsible to oppose the greens. Side with them and take the money.

[artgurrl]

Oh please. This is so much to do about nothing on the part of Mr. Alford. The fact remains and the bottom line is that the economy is turning to a Green economy. Mr. Alford needs to wake up to that fact and that those businesses are the ones that are getting funded or tax breaks. And, it's the only sector that is growing besides the healthcare sector. It's true here in California as it is elsewhere in the country.

[OswegoKayaker]

He doesn't want green anything when his organization is being bought and paid for by Exxon/Mobile.

[flossophy]

What about your thoughts on big0ted Babs Boxer?

[artgurrl]

Boxer is my Senator. I have no problem with her. I do have a problem with Feinstein however.

[OswegoKayaker]

Alfor is got so upset because he was already bought and paid for by ExxonMobil
Greenpeace has a factsheet about Harry Alford:
http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=1094

He had already joined with conservatives to kill the Waxman-Markey climate change bill in the House. He is president of the National Black Chamber of Commerce (as noted in the story) but not noted was that his group has accepted $275,000 from ExxonMobile.
http://www.ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2009072916/harry-alfords-condescension

[Benztown]

Harry Alford represents his own interest, He sounds stupid dont He?

[CheshireCat2]

But, Boxer wasn't?

She tried to manipulate that conversation from the start. When that didn't work she tried to strong arm him.

[IamPhenom]

That is not what happened. Read the entire transcript. Don't just view one small video clip.

Alford was repeatedly trying to speak for the "black community", and going on an on about how environmental rules like cap and trade will harm the black community. He was trying to speak for all black people, not just his own sold out group. Boxer was right to point out that other major black organizations do not agree with him. For him to blow up just shows you how weak his arguments are.

Groups like Alford's should not claim to speak for the "black community", and if they do and you counter with other black community groups statements, you can't start throwing around accusations of racism and call a Senator "God awful". That shows zero class as well as a lack of respect for the office of Senator.

The statements from the NAACP and 100 Black Men of America became relevant as soon as Alford kept trying to speak for the "black community". It wasn't racist to bring those statements up anymore than it was racist for Alford to claim to speak for all black Americans.

[flossophy]

He's far more intelligent than Boxer... have you heard her speak?

[LiberalDemIda]

Opinion doesn't constitute fact, flossy, but I understand your opinion. My Senator is an unapologetic liberal and to you that alone is reason enough to patronize her so no surprise there.