The Stimulist:
In the increasingly ugly health care debate, "socialist" has come to have a few different meanings.... But after listening to many of the birthers, as well as ugly voices at some of the GOP town halls (where the idea of lynching recently seemed to be applauded), I wondered--let me repeat that: wondered--whether "socialist" was being used as a code word for the N-word, an outlet for racist anxiety and anger.
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1st it was the N word, then it was Gangster, now it's Thug, but since white media could not call Pres Obama a "thug" they now use "Socailist" not surprised at all. Also have you noticed that most media ( Fox, CNN) will not call him President Obama it's just Obama while they use President Bush 24/7 .. just go on youtube & search both names & you'll see. HATE is going to KILL this country whites HATE blacks so much they would see this great land destroyed ..
YES. I noticed that. They refuse to show him respect and ALWAYS refer to him as "Obama." They do it with the First Lady as well. On broadcast media, and even here on Huffpost, you will usually hear/read "Michelle," as opposed to "The First Lady" or "First Lady Obama." Just disrespectful.
I have strong suspicions about someone who invests so much effort into convincing somone of their race. I suspect you only play a black man on HuffPo. Otherwise, you wouldn't make such unbelieveable assertions.
Perhaps there is a wino moderating tonight. My comments were responses to someone else's comments (Tyco and whats-his-handle)....not sure how they've ended up free-floating here.
So, according you you...and others who think like you (Thank God all Caucasian people do) the only options black people have in this country is to accept the racism...or move to Africa? Move to Africa?! Why? Most black people in America don't know anyone in Africa, never have lived in Africa, have no idea of how to live in Africa, so what exactly would we be going back to? Who would we be going back to? So, according to you, black people of accomplishment have only done so because test scores have been lowered to accommodate their inferior intellect? Wow....I'll bet black people from George Washington Carver to Maya Angelou would be interested to hear that it's only thanks to the generosity of white America that they've become as successful as they have. I'll bet even the first black president of the Harvard Law Review would be interested to hear your take on why he is so successful.
After all the contributions of black people to America, from slaves to the Buffalo Soldiers, to Martin Luther King to President Barack Obama...this is the best you have to offer? You can take your lowlife, r@cist, $hit-kicking offer and go and marry the sister of your dreams. And I'm not talking about a black woman, either.
Trying to exploit the issue so that you become a voice and have an edge can backfire Carlos...remember what goes around....comes around...so be careful what you send around....man in the mirror sir..
Peace & Freedom
I too "wonder"...just like during the campaign the word " Elitist" kept popping up and I 'Wondered" if that wasn't code for 'Uppity N-word",,, I say we let Texas succeed and become the new hangout for the "Los Zetas" drug running operation..see how fast Texas comes running back to this "Socialist country" and its "Elitist " president....
Let's get on the same page with these code words. How about "rutabaga" for an Irish person? And as for the Dutch let's not call them anything, let's just ignore them.
Carlos, i always knew you were smart. I am glad you went THERE.
Speak the truth and set yourself apart from the wus*sies who are too afraid to speak out in fear of losing A JOB.
Spot on my fellow Miamian.
The entire mantra of the Pubs and the right wing is: "I do not want any share of American wealth with the N*^^#%$." That is all.
Liberals advocate the Welfare State.
The Welfare State is Socialism.
The Communists tell us that THEY are the only true Socialists.
Therefore Liberalism is Communism.
I don't know how many times i have to repeat this, socialism has changed drastically since the fall of the URSS, no relevant socialist party in Europe belives in nationalization anymore, they of course, love freedom, democracy and multiparty system.
They're not against capitalism, that would be communism no socialism and even the communist partys know that communism is not a realistic option.
They're just the party of the workers fighting for more rights for the people, no benefits.
Of course you can say they only want to tax and expend, and the fact is that like 40 to 50 % of the economy in Europe is driven by the state, (mainly is money for pensions, healthcare, unemployment and other social spending) but that helps prevent the crumble of the economy if the people suddenly stop spending, like in the US.
(Part 2 )
I know you are going to say that the goverment control our lives, if is for telling us not to smoke or that we have to have mandatory health and car insurance i'm gonna give it to you that, but we're as free as in the US, just go to the nudist beaches.
There's 25 countries in europe and some of them have a lot of states that can make laws too, so if you search i'm sure you will find some crazy law that tell people not to drink in the streets, not to work on sundays or that you have a subsidy after your unemployment ends just for being human.
Basically what i mean socialism as an economic system doesn't exist, just socialist partys with social agenda that works inside a capitalist system. And it's not that bad.
I repeat, right is good for bussines and the rich and oportunists, and left for the poor and people making under 100.000, and we have both of them in Europe, nevertheless as the left have been more time in power in the last 50 years we've more "socialist" things like universal healthcare but nowadays in Europe neither the right want to privatize healtcare neither the left want to nationalize bussiness. And yes, you can still choose aditional health coverage throught private insurers. Is that clarifier?
I agree that both "socialist" and "I want my country back" are words and phrases for the N-word most definitely.
Of course it is. Many of these people can't even come up with a cogent argument, and just spit out "Socialist!" Many cannot even define the word. Most just regurgitate talking points originating from Frank Luntz, like "government takeover," and "tort reform." While many people on the right and left have genuine concerns in regards to the level of change proposed on the healthcare system, this fringe minority are uneducated, racist and tremor at the changing demographics and black president. Socialist is just a new word as they just can't come out and say n****r. Think for yourself people before you vote against your own interest!
Here's why Carlos is right:
During Hardball last night, O'Donnell interviews the red-faced screaming woman from the Arlen Specter townhall yelling she "wanted her country back." When she is given the chance to be heard during a quiet solo interview, she fell apart like a cheap lawn-chair. She was inarticulate, didn't know what socialism was, and could not string together two sentences to explain the basis for her anger at the townhall. So, this begs Carlos's question and mine:
Where was her outrage when our country went to war with a country that never attacked us? Where was her outrage when the Patriot Act gave the govt power to track your internet, telephone usage and your travel? Where was the outrage when Bush gave tax cuts to the wealthiest 1% of Americans during two wars, ran up the biggest deficit in modern American history? Where were all of the teabaggers, town-hall protesters and birthers protesting these big government, deficit-soaring policies implemented by Bush? You want to know where -- celebrating their whiteness! The protester even admits during the interview that after 9/11 she was focused on herself and family. In essence, when the country was in the hands of a white man, regardless of how unqualified he was, she could not be the least bothered with matters of national security or national crisis. But put a black man in charge and all HELL breaks loose. You tell me who's playing the race card!
I like Carlos. I've added the 11am to Noon hour to my watch list on MSNBC.
He is factual and tries to hold his guests to the facts.
After that I wait for Keith and Rachel to come on.
Sometimes, I catch Mathews but he is hard to take most of the time.
The rest of the MSNBC line up is an epic fail.
I think Carlos Watson is a terrific fresh face on MSNBC. He doesn't let the guest get away with talkin' smack, but he calls them out in a prefessional way.
I disagree that socilism=N word. However, I DO believe the Republican phrase "I want my country back" IS code for the N word (sort of like "our way of life.") Who is the "my" and who is the "our" referring to?
It would be one thing if the Republicans and their brown shirts were actually being denied their rights in some way, but with the exception of blocking 50 state concealed carry reciprocity, government has done nothing differently in terms of policy since Bush left office.
Challenge to Conservatives: Name one right or privelage you have lost since the first black president took office.
He said he wasn't suggesting that the use of Socialism was replacement for the N-word, he was just "wondering'.
Even wondering such a thing out loud is race baiting IMO. Perhaps I was just naive, but I never imagined having a black man in office would spark racial tensions...my best friend is black and he warned me not to expect racial reconcilliation as a bi-product of Obama taking office. He was right...it's gotten worse. He saw something I clearly didn't understand.
It seems as though every opposition to an Obama policy is taken by too many as opposition to black men in general. It makes me "wonder" if Obama will be both the first and last black president. At least for a long, long time. ugh.
There's no need to race bait, it's right here in our faces with all this blatant racism!!
The right has done nothing but 'race bait' since Obama was elected President.
Where exactly have you been?
Take off the blinders...
hoopesaz, you are exactly right, it's become so easy to just call people you disagree with a racist, and god forbid you should disagree with President Obama, that automatically qualifies you to be one. When people have no arguement, or facts to base their opinion on, they just toss out the word. No one wants to be thought of as a racist, so it justs shuts the conversation down.
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First Posted: 08-12-09 09:29 AM | Updated: 08-12-09 12:12 PM