Rachel Maddow Duels With Pat Buchanan On Affirmative Action (VIDEO)

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Rachel Maddow got into a fierce argument with Pat Buchanan about affirmative action and the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor on Thursday night.

The epic battle included accusations, interruptions, and strong feelings with Maddow incredulous that Buchanan could not bring himself to admit that discrimination might play a part in the fact that 108 out of 110 U.S. Supreme Court justices have been white.

Buchanan said he considered Sotomayor unqualified and called her an "affirmative-action appointment" by Obama. When Maddow pressed him on why he was critical of affirmative action, Buchanan launched into a vigorous defense of whites who have been discriminated against.

When asked why the overwhelming majority of justices have been white, Buchanan declined to explicitly cite discrimination, but explained that "White men were 100% of the people that wrote the Constitution, 100% of the people that signed the Declaration of Independence, 100% of the people who died at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, probably close to 100% of the people who died at Normandy. This has been a country built basically by white folks, who were 90% of the nation in 1960 when I was growing up and the other 10% were African-Americans who had been discriminated against. That's why."

When Maddow asked whether the reason that 108 out of 110 justice were white is because "white people deserved to have those positions," Buchanan answered: "A lot of people get up there for a lot of reasons."

An incredulous Maddow continued: "I would hope that you would see that picking 108 out of 110 white justices of the Supreme Court means that other people are not being appropriately considered... and the reason we have affirmative action is you recognize that the fact that people were discriminated against for hundreds of years means that you sort of gamed the system unless you give other people a leg up..."

When Buchanan began to interrupt her, Maddow said, "Hold on, I let you talk for a long time."

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Later, Buchanan compared the historically white make-up of the Supreme Court to an all-black track team or all-white hockey team, asking Maddow, "Why do you assume discrimination simply because you got one component on the Supreme Court... Where's the genius who is a woman who you think is a genius? Go for her..."

When Buchanan referenced the white firefighters who Sotomayor ruled against in a court ruling, claiming that they "are victims of that evil affirmative action," Maddow replied, "I couldn't disagree with you more."

Later, Buchanan attacked Maddow for being out of touch and seemed to slam judges who support affirmative action when he stated, "You know what they ought to do? They ought to defend the rights of white working-class folks."

Maddow cut him off and snapped, "I don't need a lecture from you about whether or not I know, what I think about working class Americans... For you to privilege race... and say that what we need to tap politically is white people's racial grievance, you're playing with fire and dating yourself."

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Comments

[katmeyster]

I was very disappointed with Rachel and MSNBC. Pat Buchanan should not be allowed to spout his racist nonsense and this is not just another viewpoint. Although Rachel challenged him, I got the impression they were going to agree to disagree and have a cocktail together later. Instead of challenging him, she needed to cut off the interview and never ask him back on her show. Pat Buchanan is much worse than Don Imus or any other run-of-the-mill racist because he believes that since white people founded this country, they get to run it forever. MSNBC is promoting him as their own commentator and I am highly offended.

[weakmesh]

That's why our commentators are the good guys. We don't shout people down, call them idiots or pinhead and scream at them at the top of our lungs. We generally don't cut mics. With the "liberal" label, it's in our nature to actually hear the other person out, and try to reason with them, no matter if it will ever work. That's the difference between us and the lizard-brains, and it's probably the reason why we usually lose elections (until the other party screws things up so bad it's nearly impossible to vote for them no matter who you are).

[teachnotpreach]

Sorry, Pat, I but blacks have fought in every war this country has ever waged, including the Revolution. The jerk doesn't know his history. He's just content to "whitewash" it.

[Deja Peterson]

your all wrong pat. this country was not built by caucasians. the slaves, indians and immigrants made this country what it is. pat can live in this neanderthal mindset if he wants but how sad it would be for the republican party to disappear for following this jacka**.

[IntelligenceQuantifier]

Don't send Pat away. The public needs to see exactly what permeates our govrnement, and boardrooms. He feels Sotomayor isn't fit for the Supreme Court, but yet he was a cheerleader for Palin as VPOTUS, and I'm sure he'd vote for her if she runs in 2012.

Please continue to give men like Pat a forum. if the Repubs think they were trounced in 2010 - forever losing the hispanic vote will relegate them to the political dungeon.

VIVA BUCHANAN!!!!

[Demarcus Jackson]

I absolutely love and respect Rachel Maddow, and I gave her performance in this debate an A+. She was on top of her game and demonstrated just how backwards, moronic, and wholly irrational Pat Buchanan is on matters of race and race relations. I feel very sorry for Pat and anyone who believes the way he does. Is Pat unintelligent? No...of course not, but even the most intelligent individual can be blinded by hate. I am positive that Rachel's very sound arguments have not changed Pat's mind, but even so, intelligent, reasonable, and thoughtful individuals must stand up against those who push ignorance, hate, paranoia, and fear.

[Davwbaird]

but why do they give beetles a chance to sprew and incite hate?

[Realitylost]

He never got to finish the sentence, but Good Old Pat started to claim that sotomayor's high grades in college were also because of affirmative action. What a guy!

[Davwbaird]

no mention Bush's daddy bought all his degrees. Bush was a c- student at best.

[reno1190]

Z IS MORE LIKE IT

[Okieborn]

I absolutely love the Rachel Maddow show !!
She is a straight shooter a class act and let's add very intelligent !!
Thank You Rachel for telling Pat Buchanan how most opf the american citzenry really feel !!
Judge Sotomayor will be a shining beacon when finally seated on the Supreme Court !
Now I feel that the poor and middle class has a fair voice !!!

[maxhnb]

What could you expect from Buchanan but to bpld-faced take on a racist viewpoint. As an unprosecuted member of the Watergate conspiracy, Buchanan was an insider to the CREP.

My question here is WHY do we care what this man says. WHY should it have any meaning to anyone.
and WHY does Rachel give him the time of day ?

[Poboy]

Because GE is shoving him down our throats.

Almost as an exclamation point in showing what they think of us, all of us.

The us that basically pays GE's bills.

[Ronp]

Will somebody tell Pat Buchanan that he needs to retire. Accusing others of being intellectually deficient and carrying on with that charade is just plain embarrassing. Notice that not one of his followers on this blog had anything substantive to say other than launch personal attacks and innuendo.
To compare 108 of 110 white male supreme court justices with an all black track team is illuminating on so many levels, beginning with playing the eugenics hand and ending with an inability to understand the meaning and context of "I'm an affirmative action baby." He totally ignored that fact that college admission is based on more than test scores; BTW I think graduating valedictorian from Cardinal Hayes HS in the Bronx compares well against anyone else in that Princeton class. It also exposes his false support of the working class (ironic!) in this country who currently stand a pittance of a chance of getting into Princeton if they didn't apply with an elite secondary school education; a system Pat would fight to keep as is. The most telling comment in that whole discussion through, is how we are without evidence to believe that half the Ivy classes awarded a cum laude, which is a slap in the face to all those who do and racist to believe that it's the only way she could have been successful. BTW only 4-5% of each Harvard graduating class are awarded summa cum laude.

Pat Buchanan today's worst person in the world!!!!!!

[reno1190]

YOU ARE PRECIOUS AGREE 100%

[IDIOTA]

Pat - release your scores and class rank. Let's see how superior you are.

[Oonagh]

Buchanan had a melt down last night and in the process we saw him for who he truly is....

[Bearangaria]

Rachel Maddow is a class act.
Thank GOODNESS!

[lmvd3]

Buchanan said: "This has been a country built basically by white folks..." Were that true, why the need to insert the word "basically"?? This is false and anyone who took an American History class in elementary school knows this is false.

Buchanan is the poster elder for grossly inadequate education.

[Aylah95]

Re: Pat Buchanan’s Delusional American History

a) Since when were Civil War battles fought by only white men? Not only were there many African American's fighting for the North but Southern men often sent their slaves to fight in their place.

b) Fourteen Comanche code talkers took part in Normandy specifically, saving lives of various colored soldiers who served throughout WWII.

c) Does Irish descendant Buchanan not know the prejudice imposed on his ancestors by people who acted like he is now? Before he paints a picture in his head of immigrant relatives who lived the dream he should remember the Irish settled into the first ghettos in America. The Irish were labeled dirty, greedy, lusty, violent, etc. by white men who literally considered them vermin. Ghettos were 'passed down' to the African Americans after the war when AA's became the unfortunate lowest rung on the social ladder, filling many of the dangerous jobs once only low enough for the Irish. (Some jobs had life expectancies of 6 months but they were desperate to feed their families.) The Irish then ascended to many public service positions they are associated with today, though it took many generations to be integrated.

Perhaps Buchanan should step off his high horse and remember his ancestors’ true place in history, under the heel of bigots like him. Maybe knowing he wasn’t one of the chosen ones with a feathered pen in hand would humble him to have empathy for others. But I doubt it.

[Poboy]

Unfortunately, he and other Irish are still having to prove to the Anglos and Saxons just how white they are. This didn't start from the Irish ghettos, but during slavery. They were THE WORST slave masters, mostly from their cruelty.

I think you can always tell them.

They try extra hard to prove themselves worthy or white.

[peskyliberal]

I would love to think that people like Buchanan are a tiny minority in America.

While I am hopeful that they are not the majority, Buchanan would not have to platform he has if there were not a lot of people that share his beliefs.

[Realitylost]

Luckily the majority of those people that share his opinion are about his age, they wont be with us long. They wont be gone, maybe ever, but its less with every generation.

[kingfishstew]

They're not the majority of Americans. But they're a loud and persistent minority. One which is growing smaller every day, but one which will persist until this country is more fully and equally intergrated. And until the majority decides to give people like Pat less cover under the idea that 'they don't exist in the 21st century' or its just 'freedom of speech to call for the repression of racial, religious, minorities, or anyone really.