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

[snesich]

Isn't this Alford guy just a shill for big corporate interests who pay his salary? No wonder he's so disrespectful to Senator Boxer.

And isn't this group of his just a shell organization set up by big corporations to make it appear that they have support in the black community?

[Lasnoe]

you mean how the Senator was disrespectful to the General who was referring to her as Mam...

[OswegoKayaker]

The General was being disrespectful of her. Watch the whole video.

[OswegoKayaker]

The military has been disrespectful of her ever since she showed us a $4,600 toilet seat that demonstrated wasteful spending by the Pentagon. They did not appreciate being told that they should be accountable with our money. Generals are like CEOs of big corporations. Just look at the military budget.

[OswegoKayaker]

Yes, he is bought and paid for by big oil.

[flossophy]

You and your big oil boogiemen... amusing.

[kepary]

boxer is an embarrassment to the state of California

[OswegoKayaker]

Alford was the one who got in a froth -- just because he had already taken a pile of money from Exxon/Mobile -- he could see that cash cow running out of the barn if he didn't deliver the Kill Green he promised them.

[flossophy]

hear hear

[LiberalDemIda]

That would be Repubs Wilson, Schwarzenegger, the CA GOP, the convicted president of the Young Political Majors, Mark Jacoby, and Republicrat Feinstein.

Compared to them, my Senator is Mother Theresa.

[ImpressedByHonesty]

Boxer is solid. The embarrassment is Gov. Reagan and flossing the state with Prop. 13 which slowly but surely lead us to this brink of bankruptcy, bankrupted our school system, and crippled the states legislative ability to effectively manage our revenues and spending.

[RomeoMD25]

our new President, despite his best efforts, has proven not to be a new and improved version of FDR, he is not JFK, he is far from Reagan, but his “hope and change” hype indeed matches the global warming hoax of the previous decade. Just as Al Gore and the MSM beat the drum for global warming to become the liberal cause of the 1990s, despite the evidence that man-made global warming is bunk, Obama has proven to be the “one,” the “savior,” or any other term for a totally perfect politician that you can imagine. No matter how many bad decisions he makes and the poor results from his actions we see, his popularity remains high. It is beyond me.

[CyrusBeaucephus]

ha ha you voted for Sarah Palin--that's awesome! now go away please

[snesich]

Well, of course it's "beyond you". Given your comments, most clear facts are beyond you.

Look in the mirror and you'll probably understand why most of everything is apparently "beyond you."

[kdublya]

Given Reagan was charismatic, won by a wide margin & spent like a drunken sailor, I'd say they're very similar.

[ImpressedByHonesty]

There is not much I can tell you that will change your mind. But there are a thousand glaring details that fail to get your attention that might color your answer differently.

[socialtalker]

rep-cons are doing their usual "you liberals saw obama as a savior" spiel, ho hum, tell me, you think if you repeat it 50 million times someone will start to believe it? very few people i know had such high expectations, we had resonables ones.
the only real, true cult of personality being built up these days is for ron paul.

[CyrusBeaucephus]

as a Libertarian/Randian/GutlessWonder/ I am willing to let Ron Paul rfule the world with an IRON FIST. First we kill everyone that we don't like, .....

[RomeoMD25]

The US National Academy of Sciences has since issued a statement that the "hockey-stick" graph was defective. Significantly, however, the UN has issued no statement of apology or correction. It continues to use the "hockey-stick" in its publications

[CyrusBeaucephus]

yoursockisquiteactivelately

[LiberalDemIda]

All socksarequiteactive today.

[BocaMom]

I was shocked to see the way she treated Harry Alford. I heard before that she was this way, but I never believe it until yesterday. What a disappointment! I think her days are numbered as our Senator.

[OswegoKayaker]

Well then I guess you just want to be owned by Exxon/Mobile like Mr. Alford. She wasn't being racial she was just saying that there are actually Black groups that actually believe in climate change because he does NOT.

http://www.exxonsecrets.org/html/personfactsheet.php?id=1094

[flossophy]

Climate change is not in dispute... it's about what's causing it, and how to deal with it.

Expanding inefficient and ineffective government... while heavily taxing commerce... only to achieve a minuscule improvement over 100 years is absurd. Especially if China & India will pollute as much as their hearts desire... it will only lead to economic stagnation for the US.

But it seems the Left has persuaded you to revile the big oil boogiemen... and you don't even consider the consequences of the policies you advocate.

And you defend this big0t Boxer...

What has happened to the Pr0gressives? It's all getting very ug|y.

[Huero]

I wonder what her answer would have been if he asked her why she didn't object to HIM calling her Ma'am.

[IncredulousGeezer]

She probably would have said that there's no point in beating a dead horse.
Just the same answer to why trolls shouldn't be responded to.

[Wolves50]

He called her "ma'am" four times and she didn't say anything. I think it reflects a particular disdain she has for the military.

[Laserbeam]

What about HIS disdain for not calling her "Senator"? It is a rank she has earned, one that is not easy to come by.

For all those Boxer naysayers: when I was one of her constituents in SF she voted the way I wanted her to vote every single time - for many years. Not only that, she respondeed to every letter I ever wrote.

I once wrote her a VERY personal, confidential letter, and she HAND-WROTE a three-page response. On 8-1/2x11 paper!

I suspect a lot of trolls are out today. They can't refrain from commenting on Boxer.

[PA Blue]

He called her Madam Chair, her proper title in this case.

[UncleSpam]

Democrats have been enslaving minorities with social engineering and entitlement programs for years, and the Republicans continue to let the Democrats portray OUR party as racists. Unbelievable.

We are for freedom, and we believe in success for everyone (black, white...purple). But the Democrats continue to spin our message and dangle the carrot of a few dollars here and there for votes. It's revolting.

[FZliveson]

UncleSpam----Very well stated.
I suggest you encapsulate that in the context of; "I am one genuine Republican and this is how I feel." So many people are poised and coiled to strike at any safe target. Attacking a group is a lot safer than an identifiable individual. If more people who choose to be Republicans would present themselves in the way you did above...lots would be done to help our society.

"Hey, you know something, people, I am not Black but there's a whole lots of times I wish I could say; I'm not White."
(Frank Zappa; "Trouble Coming" (Freak-out album) )

I'm not Republican...but there's a whole lots of times I wish I could say "I'm not Democrat."

[snesich]

Hey, "Uncle Spam", Rush Limbaugh just called. He said you're doing better than his parrot. And you're cheaper to keep around.

[Laserbeam]

Tell that to Jeff Sessions.

[socialtalker]

your party IS racist, you used code words and racial politics (welfare queen, willie horton, affirmative action, law and order, southern strategy) to get power for last two generations, well, nothing last forever, it got played out, your party are still trying to use it, hoping that if hyper-inflation hits and wrecks the economy, a second "redemption" will come to past.
ironically, the same party that is alway screaming about "take responsibility for your actions", take responsibility for NOTHING of what they have done, may the heavens curse them.

[BioLiberty]

That's a joke right?

Republican leadership has failed to live up to the Grand Old Party standards completely!
After the civil rights movement most southern democrats joined the republican party and turned it into a religious cult!

Now, republicans stand for freedom =

Patriot Act
Wire tapping citizens phones reading emails without warrants
Stop Loss of troops,
War for lies.
Exposing CIA agents
Gitmo Torture
Detaining US Citizens with reading their rights.
FREE Speech Zones

[RomeoMD25]

Contrary to popular belief, big corporations do not really oppose unnecessary environmental regulations. They favor these and other types of bad regulations because because the price for them is small to pay for what they get in return--the elimination of their competition. Its harder for small businesses to comply with complicated and unreasonable laws. It is also easier for the big corporations to cheat on the regulations, while the little guy is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for the smallest infraction. Big corporations get their lobbyists to support legislation they never intend to comply with.

[ImpressedByHonesty]

And so we need massive election finance reform or your argument stands.

[JimLarkin]

if the article is about boxer why do you use nina hartley's picture?

[bryan-a]

lol- Hilarious- I've seen better pictures of Nina "My fu*#ing wife has an a*# in her co*# over in the driveway, alright?"

[norwgn1]

The author of this article is so blatantly pro-democrat, he has to end the article with the idea that Democrats really aren't that bad, look at what republicans did this week. He links to a very light-hearted exchange between Judge Sotomayor and Tom Coburn (R). He mentions the fact that Tom Coburn imitated Desi Arnaz (hispanic) in a reply to Sotomayor, but said nothing about Sotomayor's statement that she'd like to get a gun and shoot him. How unbiased is that reporting? Sheesh.

In comparison, which he did a lousy job of, the exchange between Boxer and Alford was not lighthearted at all. Boxer was playing the race card which democrats do all the time and they get away with it. Imagine if a Republican had said this? The dems would be screaming from the rooftops.

[kdublya]

Harry Alford is the head of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. It is far fetched to believe that all black people are aligned with his organizations views.

Is there some reason that she's not allowed to bring this up?

[CheshireCat2]

She tried to strong arm his dispute.

That is fine. Why did she have to add a color to her argument?

I know the answer. Do you?

[DanSteSr]

If he was white would she have brought it up?

[CheshireCat2]

Did you see the vid?

photo

http://www.breitbart.tv/god-awful-black-chamber-of-commerce-ceo-rips-sen-boxer-for-condescending-racial-remarks/

[Veeve]

Shocker at an online news and opinion boutique with a progressive slant. (snark)

I think you may have been looking for freerepublic.com.

[Jeremiah Johns]

hey, did you know you are reading a pro-democrat blog, dumbshit?

[blueskybigstar]

Unbelievable comments here. There has to be a way to get rid of these paid for shills that come here. Absurd.

[LiberalForever]

I like Boxer. If she were male she would be considered ballsy. I like her.

[-0013]

Well she's not so she's considered something else.

[bryan-a]

if she were female i wonder what she would be considered.

[Emancipated]

Note that Mr. Alford continually addressed Babs as "Ma'am"! Gotta luv the guy!

[OswegoKayaker]

Why would I love a shill for Exxon/Mobile being disrespectful to a Senator?

[karela]

Folks, the comments are confusing accusation with reality. Go watch the video tape. Boxer was professional, calm, and reasonable throughout. Alford was using a nasty tone of voice and constantly interrupting BEFORE Boxer introduced the other statements to be placed in the record. The discussion was about JOBS in clean energy and the NAACP and the black businesmen's organization surely have a right to an opinion on that. The committee has the right and obligation to accept statements from people/organizations who are affected by the legislation under consideration. Alford was probably hoping that he'd be the only black guy talking and thus perhaps get support from the black caucus, but too bad. That's a political maneuver and it's a political maneuver to even the playing field by offering another view from the same community. Alford was angry, rude and disrespectful from the beginning. Box was professional and correct throughout. Alford was testifying, with some kind of statistical info that there weren't any jobs in clean energy. Boxer had more respected studies that showed that there were and she had statements from communities who said that they wanted and needed those jobs. Alford didn't like it. The NAACP and the black business men's organization liked it a lot because their voices were heard too. What was she supposed to do, tell one black group of people that they couldn't be represented because Alford was there talking for republicans?

[wizegeye]

You completely missed Mr. Alford's point. He was offended that Sen Boxer referred to the opinions of ONLY black organizations and one's with little or no economic support for their opinions. He asked Sen Boxer why she only used black organizations rather than using organizations that deal with small business, economics, etc. His point was well founded. I do agree that he could have addressed his concern in a more respectful manner. However, since I am not a black man, it would be hypocritical of me to criticize him for the level of offense he took at her remarks. To most people with common sense, Sen Boxer's comments were racially incensitive.

[BioLiberty]

WRONG! Boxer entered the PEW Report as well as NAACP both contradicted his BULLSHIT!

[ImpressedByHonesty]

you didn't watch the entire clip...

[IncredulousGeezer]

(See if I can sneak one by Linkins' gatekeeper. Generally can't)
Harry Alford is the head of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, not the National Chamber of Commerce, and was testifying as such.
The implication of this is that black business objects to the climate change legislation , viz.,
"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....."
quoted from, Senate Testimony Presented to: U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Honorable Barbara Boxer, Chairwoman
Presented by:, Harry C. Alford President and CEO, National Black Chamber of Commerce, July 16, 2009, Washington, DC
It would seem entirely appropriate that Sen. Boxer provide statements indicating that this was not a prevailing opinion in the Black community, but leaves moot the question of whether Black small businessmen oppose this legislation any differently than small businessmen in general.