Whitlock’s Anti-Fab Five Column Proves One Thing … He Is A Bitter Buffoon

I’ve never been much of a fan of controversial columnist Jason Whitlock, who has positioned himself in the national spotlight by taking contrary positions on race … I believe strictly for the purpose of notoriety.

Whitlock, who shows his narrow-minded prejudice in the very beginning of this column, is back at it with a column taking shots at the Fab Five ESPN documentary (this is not at all unexpected considering his past connections to the Fab Five of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson, Juwan Howard and Jimmy King, and my comments above).

So, I will lay out some of the points Whitlock has made and make rebuttals.

Whitlock point:

With the help of the Worldwide Leader, Rose took baggy shorts, black socks, bald heads and trash talk and created the illusion the Fab Five were some sort of transcendent, revolutionary freedom fighters cut from the same cloth as Jackie Robinson, Jim Brown, Arthur Ashe and Muhammad Ali.

Rebuttal:

This is a classic case of gross overstatement to set the stage to tear down the product. By insanely invoking Jackie Robinson, Jim Brown, Arthur Ashe and Muhammad Ali, Whitlock reveals himself as more of an irrational buffoon. This is less of a commentary on Jalen Rose (executive producer of Fab Five) and more of a statement about the lack of credibility coming from Jason Whitlock.

Whitlock point:

The legacy of the Fab Five is that they were on the cutting edge of America’s unashamed embrace of style over substance.

When Rose ended the documentary waxing about how no one knows the names of the starters on North Carolina’s 1993 national championship team and everyone remembers Rose, Webber, Howard, King and Jackson, it dawned on me the Fab Five were the original Charlie Sheen.

 

Let me make this clear: I do not dislike the Fab Five. I made my bones as a journalist covering the Fab Five for the Ann Arbor News.

Rebuttal:

The last part is akin to “I’m not racist … I have black friends.” Whitlock’s entire column reveals a dislike for the Fab Five or some aspect of the Fab Five he never truly reveals (either by ignorance or cowardice). By the way, Whitlock never challenges the truth of the point about the naming of the starters.

Whitlock point:

The Fab Five are taking credit for the real accomplishments of John Thompson’s and Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown Hoyas.

It was Thompson’s all-black, Ewing-led teams a decade before the Fab Five that shook the foundation of college basketball, changed the complexion of starting lineups across the country, opened coaching doors that had previously been closed to blacks and paved the way for black sportswriters at major newspapers.

It’s easy to forgive Rose for his lack of self-awareness. It’s America. In this country, self-awareness and common sense are our most rare commodities.

Rebuttal:

Whitlock thinks it’s all about race. It’s not all about race, Jason. This was as much about culture, hip-hop, rap music, etc. It’s not all about race, Whitlock. It’s not easy to forgive Jason for his lack of self-awareness. It seems that Whitlock is stuck on the race aspect of it and misses the point of the influence the Fab Five had … stunning considering he was actually there, supposedly.

Whitlock point:

Five super-talented black kids enrolled at a prestigious, white university to play for an inexperienced, piss-poor-at-the-time white coach and, 20 years later, had the audacity to embark on a media tour preaching about black Duke players being Uncle Toms.

Are you kidding me?

Are we really this lost as a people?

Let’s end the facade that Rose’s words about the Duke players are being taken out of context.

Rebuttal:

Here’s Whitlock playing the so-called race card. He takes a shot at Steve Fisher who took the Fab Five to two Final Fours and won a national championship. All that and the guy was a “piss-poor-at-the-time white coach. Sounds racist, huh? I guess I will have to watch the documentary again because I thought the Uncle Tom thing (not that I condone it) was in reference to how they perceived Duke when they were college freshmen.

Whitlock point:

The Fab Five clearly believe Coach K and Duke didn’t and don’t recruit inner-city black kids, and they believe race/racism/elitism are the driving forces behind the philosophy.

Rebuttal:

I believe this is a micharacterization of what the Fab Five guys were talking about in the documentary. It wasn’t about race or racism … maybe elitism. I think it was more about classism and trying to project a certain kind of image that appealed to the kind of audience that likes Duke … an elitist largely white audience (truth be told). People felt this way when the Blue Devils played against UNLV.

Whitlock point:

During the three-year run of the Fab Five (one season without Webber), Duke beat Michigan all four times the schools met while winning two ACC titles and one NCAA title. During the same span, Michigan won zero conference or national titles. In addition, Webber’s interactions with booster Ed Martin put the program on probation and caused Michigan to forfeit all its games.

Rebuttal:

True, but Duke should have beaten the Fab Five. Duke had more experienced teams with about as much talent. The Fab Five were freshmen and sophomores. The Webber-Ed Martin thing is well-documented for the harm it caused Michigan and Webber.

Whitlock point:

Coach K probably thought the same thing I thought watching the Fab Five play: They’re immature, arrogant, interested in playing for a coach they could ignore and incapable of putting together the consistent focus and effort necessary to win a conference championship.

Two teams consistently beat the Fab Five — Duke (4-0) and Indiana (4-2).

Let me translate that for you: Structured, disciplined, well-coached teams beat Michigan.

Rebuttal:

If Coach K thought that then he was an idiot like you. He would have been disrespectful of how good Ohio State and Indiana were at the time. He also would have been too ignorant to realize how amazing it was for five freshman to accomplish what these guys accomplished. Two teams consistently beat Michigan, Whitlock writes. He cites structure, discipline and coaching. What this moron doesn’t cite is experience. Is that an accident? If it is then he is a complete tool. If not then he is corrupt as a journalist.

Whitlock point:

While making money for their white university and allowing their incompetent, white coach to learn on the job, the Fab Five were not man enough to harness the courage and focus to outduel — in their minds — inferior, racist teams.

Rebuttal:

Steve Fisher was a lot of things, but he has proven over the long haul that he is a pretty damn good coach. His accomplishments stack up nicely against a lot of other coaches. Is Whitlock to stupid to realize that these guys were freshmen and sophomores? This last comment from Whitlock shows how much of an idiot he is as a writer and analyst.

Mickelson’s Success, Struggles Of Woods Brings Out The Inner Racism In Some

This was bound to happen as Phil Mickelson claimed victory in the Masters on Sunday in Augusta, Ga. at Augusta National Golf Club – home of the legendary tournament. Mickelson clearly is a feel-good story with what his wife is going through with cancer and the stand-up way in which he has carried himself through these trying and challenging times. So, as Mickelson won, a lot of us could not help but think – at least a little bit – about the racial factor in his victory. Some, thought about it more so than others and some thought about it more viciously than others.

The Southern Poverty Law Center‘s “Hatewatch” picked up on one such individual who celebrated Mickelson’s victory by launching a vicious racist attack on Tiger Woods.

Here is how it begins:

Count James Edwards, host of the Memphis-based white nationalist, anti-Semitic radio show called “Political Cesspool”, is among those likely celebrating Phil Mickelson’s victory at the Masters golf tournament on Sunday. Not because Mickelson is a feel-good story, winning the green jacket as his cancer-stricken wife watched, but because Mickelson is not Tiger Woods. That is to say, Mickelson is not black.

Yeah, you can see where this is headed:

The Masters “is civilized. All civilization channels basic desires and instincts into something higher and nobler. Lincoln and the abolitionists did their best to put an end to it, and the Jews and liberals are trampling down what remnants are left.”

Edwards was still warming up.

Then along came Tiger Woods, a “mixed race Negro with the skills to break down the last sport of white refuge, golf, and its citadel, Augusta National,” Edwards lamented. “He was the black messiah of sports. The long awaited one who would tear down the last remnants of segregation.”

Most would see that as a good thing. Not Edwards, of course. He cited a litany of rancid racial stereotypes to explain why.

“He’s got the sexual mores of the most stereotypical ‘nigger’ that even the most hardened, bigoted cracker could imagine,” wrote Edwards, who opposes “primitivism,” homosexuality, loveless sex, feminism and abortion. “Oh, and he apparently only wants white women. From his Nordic model wife to the dumpiest diner waitress, all of his trysts are with white women.”

“Segregation in the old South was all about maintaining racial integrity and civilization,” Edwards continued. “About keeping our wives and daughters safe from sexual animals like Tiger. About building up and maintaining what is noble and good. If the ‘black messiahs’ like Tiger Woods and Martin Luther King Jr. are such animals, what about the mere mortals among them? Do we want to find out?”

Contained in that lengthy excerpt would be all of the racist stereotypes generally used against black men over the years. All tied up in the neat little package of your classic racist.

Harris Poll Shows Just How Nutty Those On The Far Right Are With President Obama

A still fairly recent release of a Harris poll that put into sharp focus how ignorant some Republicans are when it comes to their views on President Barack Obama. Some of the revelations in the poll show the depth of the hatred that some close-minded Republicans have for this president. And, that hatred started long before he was president and long before he became the official nominee for the presidency in 2008. The hatred started before this nation knew much of anything about Barack Obama.

The findings of the Harris poll continue to reflect the hatred that exists in the dark hearts of some of these Republicans. Below are summaries of the Harris poll results as compiled by Media Matters for America.

According to the Harris poll, conducted of 2,320 adults between March 1 and March 8, a majority of Republicans believe President Obama:

• is a socialist (67 percent);
• wants to take away Americans’ right to own guns (61 percent);
• is Muslim (57 percent);
• wants to turn over the sovereignty of the United States to a one-world government (51 percent); and
• has done many things that are unconstitutional (51 percent).

It goes on:

• large minorities also believe Obama was not born in the United States and is therefore ineligible for the presidency (45 percent);
• many believe he is a racist (42 percent);
• and many believe he is doing many things Hitler did (38 percent)

There is your Republican party (still believing in thoroughly vetted and debunked garbage. It basically shows that everyday Republicans and tea baggers are like storm troopers from the Star Wars movies. They operate like robots taking their marching orders from right-wing extremists like Roger Ailes, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity.

Hannity Once Again Provides Jesse Lee Peterson A Platform To Attack Black People

I would never insult a house Negro by calling Jesse Lee Peterson one. Peterson is far worse than a house Negro.

Jesse Lee Peterson is a slave-catching Negro who takes pride in doing the dirty work against other black people for his master (in this case it is Fox News right wing talk show host Sean Hannity). With great joy, Hannity sits back and watches as Jesse Lee Peterson launches racist attack after racist attack against black people. Hannity, I would imagine, sees himself as inoculated against any backlash because he has his black man on there to do the dirty work. Back during slavery, the white slave master or slave catcher could sit back and let his black slave catcher do the hard work while he kept his hands physically clean from the horrors.

In one of his latest appearances on Hannity’s Fox News show, Peterson had this to say:

PETERSON: But to be honest with you, this whole thing is — I remember, George Washington built America based on truth. Barack Obama is destroying America based on lies.

This thing is about the redistribution of wealth, it’s about Black Liberation Theology. Obama lied on the primaries, he’s been lying ever since. And the sad thing about it, some Americans — most Americans are starting to see it, but they don’t realize that they’ve been seduced by this man, and he doesn’t care about what is right.

We see what he’s doing, bowing down to everybody around the country –

HANNITY: Around the world.

PETERSON: And around the world. Look what’s happening in Israel right now, he’s never really supported Israel. This guy is not on our side.

He’s — Obama, in all honesty, is the Congressional Black Caucus, he is Louis Farrakhan, he is Rev. Wright, his minister, he is all of them wrapped up in one — and he’s gonna take — if we allow this health-care thing to happen, he’s gonna turn America into Detroit. And we cannot let this happen.

Peterson of course comes back to the customary mention of Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan (names designed to do little more than to scare white people and gain him favor with these same whites he adores more than he adores himself). He comes back to the same tired lines about “redistribution of wealth” and drumming up more fear with his mentioning of so-called “Black Liberation Theology.”

Sean Hannity is a disgraceful man who knows exactly what he is doing by bringing Jesse Lee Peterson on his show to attack black people.

The Young Turks on Peterson:

Peterson as a house Negro (and like Uncle Ruckus from The Boondocks):

Here are some of my previous posts on the racist idiocy of Jesse Lee Peterson:

Here, he is disrespectful of Demond Wilson and goes on the attack against him: http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/2009/07/21/demond-wilson-angered-by-rude-jesse-lee-peterson-hangs-up/

Here, Jesse Lee Peterson thanks God for slavery (maybe because he is acting like Sean Hannity’s slave): http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/2009/02/05/jesse-lee-peterson-thank-god-for-slavery/

Nigger, Faggot Among Words Used By Tea Party People To Describe Democrats

Eugene “Bull” Connor would have been proud of some of the language being used by Tea Party protesters fighting against health care reform.

Tea Party protesters, using racist and homophobic language to attack men like Rep. John Lewis (pictured) and Rep. Barney Frank (among others), went on an attack that was regretfully reminiscent of the Jim Crow era in the United States of America (a chapter many in this country thought was long gone). Rep. Lewis was called a “nigger” by members of the crowd while Rep. Frank was called a “faggot” by Tea Party protesters. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver was spat on by a protester. Sadly, this was 2010 and not 1910. This was not 1957 when the Little Rock Nine were attacked as they did their part to desegregate Little Rock Central High School (where they were viciously confronted by racist protesters). This was 2010 with a distinguished civil rights leader like Rep. Lewis treated in a way that was a chilling and painful reminder of the hatred of the Jim Crow era.

Here is an excerpt from a Huffington Post story:

A staffer for Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told reporters that Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) had been spat on by a protestor. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a hero of the civil rights movement, was called a ‘ni–er.’ And Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was called a “faggot,” as protestors shouted at him with deliberately lisp-y screams. Frank, approached in the halls after the president’s speech, shrugged off the incident.

But Clyburn was downright incredulous, saying he had not witnessed such treatment since he was leading civil rights protests in South Carolina in the 1960s.

“It was absolutely shocking to me,” Clyburn said, in response to a question from the Huffington Post. “Last Monday, this past Monday, I stayed home to meet on the campus of Claflin University where fifty years ago as of last Monday… I led the first demonstrations in South Carolina, the sit ins… And quite frankly I heard some things today I have not heard since that day. I heard people saying things that I have not heard since March 15, 1960 when I was marching to try and get off the back of the bus.”

This is sadly indicative of the hatred coming from some on the far right who have simply come unhinged since the election of President Obama, the first black man to be elected president of the United States of America.

Rep. Lewis had this to say about the racial slurs he was subjected to after leaving a health care reform meeting on Capitol Hill.

Civil rights icon and veteran Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, said anti-health care bill protesters Saturday repeatedly yelled the “N” word at him as he left a heath care meeting and walked to the Capitol.

“I haven’t seen heard anything like this in more than 40 years, maybe 45.” Lewis said. “Since the march from Selma to Montgomery really.”

“Yeah, but it’s okay,” Lewis added. “I’ve faced this before. So, it reminded me of the 60′s. There’s a lot of downright hate and anger and people are just being downright mean.”

Rep. Lewis truly is a civil rights icon who has fought for justice before and will continue the fight. I doubt it was accidental that these Tea Party people went after him knowing what he represents as far as civil rights. That is what makes it all the more disturbing.

It’s a shame more conservatives (some have been forced to) are not stepping forward to condemn these kinds of racist attacks.

UPDATE: For those of you who wonder why I am always so critical of RNC Chairman Michael Steele, this is a good example. Appearing on Meet the Press, Steele referred to protesters who made racist and homophobic statements as: “a handful of people who just got stupid.” That is disgracefully inadequate on the part of Michael Steele, but I doubt it is the first time he has been thought of as inadequate.

NRCC Words Certainly Are Racially Tinged In Attacking Rep. Charlie Rangel

The National Republican Congressional Committee is fooling no one with its weakly disguised racial attack on New York Congressman Charlie Rangel.

Rangel, obviously, is in major hot water these days. And, it’s clear that his troubles feel like ideal ammunition for Republicans to use as they launch an attack.

But, as MSNBC’s David Shuster points out, there seemed to be a racial motivation in a recent attack on Rangel by the NRCC.

Here is the transcript from MSNBC as posted by the right-wing outfit NewsBusters:

SHUSTER: I want to ask you about some of the criticism of Governor Paterson, particularly the National Republican Campaign Committee. They issued a very provocative press release over the weekend. They attacked Charlie Rangel. And we mentioned Charlie Rangel and David Paterson and the problems in New York. But, they mention Charlie Rangel as “the crooked Harlem Democrat.” They could have called him the crooked, New York Democrat. They could have called him a crooked Democrat. Why crooked Harlem Democrat? And did you see that as being racially tinged?

DOUG WILDER (former governor of Virginia): Well, this isn’t the first time that these people have reached beyond and over the top. Look at the ad that was being run by the Finance Committee, so-called Finance Committee in the Republican National Committee, depicting the President in the most unflattering capacity that they did showing his picture in grease paint, et cetera. You’re absolutely right. Were they trying to send that message? Was it racially tinged or not is not the issue. The issue is, could it be interpreted that way? And if it could be interpreted that way, don’t do it. You can say any number of things about what he’s done without having to it even have the inference of race at all.

SHUSTER: Former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder, thank you for joining us today. Nice to see you.

Here is one excerpt from a story posted on the NRCC Web site:

Notoriously corrupt Harlem Democrat Charlie Rangel’s recent admonishment by the House Ethics Committee has caused a stir among the nervous House Democrats who have accepted the Ways and Means Chairman’s tainted campaign contributions. Now, Democrats like Michael Arcuri have found themselves in the eye of an ethical storm. Not only has Arcuri accepted $14,000 in dirty campaign funds, but he has twice voted to sweep his party’s corruption problems under the rug by letting Rangel off the hook. With House Democrats quickly abandoning the embattled chairman, will Arcuri finally follow suit?

Here is the other excerpt from the same NRCC story posted on its Web site:

“Charlie Rangel has been embroiled in an ethical storm for years, but that hasn’t stopped Michael Arcuri from lining his campaign coffers with his tainted money,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Now that Rangel has finally been busted for his ethical wrongdoings, Arcuri has egg on his face for repeatedly protecting the embattled chairman. After accepting $14,000 in tainted campaign donations from the Harlem Democrat and twice voting to let him off the hook, Arcuri is tied to this scandal whether he likes it or not. Will Arcuri try to salvage what’s left of his political career and finally abandon Rangel and his campaign money?”

Are you still having a hard time with accusations of an element of race in these charges?

If Republicans want to call him crooked … whatever. But, the emphasis on Harlem (with the racial baggage that comes with it) is difficult to ignore.

Media Matters for America counters the expected argument of “what’s wrong with calling him a ‘corrupt Harlem Democrat?’”

Here is part of the counter by MMA:

This NRCC press release criticizing Rep. Suzanne Kosmas doesn’t refer to her as a “New Smyrna Beach Democrat.”  This one criticizing Rep. Michael McMahon for not calling for Rangel’s resignation refers to McMahon as a “New York Democrat” rather than a “Staten Island Democrat” — even as it calls Rangel a “Harlem Democrat.”  This release twice calls Rangel a “Harlem Democrat,” but this one about Earl Pomeroy doesn’t say anything about a “Bismark Democrat,” and so on.

It does make you wonder what was in the hearts and souls of the people who wrote and approved that NRCC press release.

More Examples Of Hate Coming From Far Right Regarding Health Care

Across this great nation, far-right Republicans and conservatives continue to engage in the politics of fear and smear with regard to health care.

Media Matters for America has begun a list to document the extremist language being used by many of those on the far right. And, not surprisingly, some of the worst offenders are Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. This is, of course, no big surprise. Limbaugh and Fox News have been working overtime defending pretty much anything coming from the far right and demonizing just about everything coming from the far left. At least Limbaugh is honest about being dangerously hateful and conservative. With him, what you see is what you get. Fox News, on the other hand, lies about being fair and balanced while being anything but fair and balanced.

Health care has driven the far right to sanity’s breaking point. The right wing has mobilized in an effort to do everything within its power (using its public relations team, Fox News, to get it done).

Here are a few of the insane comments from some on the far right:

RUSH LIMBAUGH: “Mullah Nancy Bin Pelosi … is no different” than those who “convince all these people to put bombs on their kids.”

LIMBAUGH: Democrats are “the kamikaze party.”

ANDREW BREITBART: Calls President Obama “Suicide-Bomber-In-Chief.”

MONICA CROWLEY: Health care reform is Democrats’ “suicide mission.”

Limbaugh is an unpatriotic extremist, Breitbart is a nut and an extremist and Crowley is just …. Monica Crowley (if you have seen her on Fox News you know how little she really has to offer that is positive and fair).

These are but a VERY few samples of hate speech compiled by Media Matters for America illustrating the lengths to which far-right conservatives will go to derail health care and demonize opponents.

For the rest of the ugly talk coming from conservative haters, check out the Media Matters for America page at: http://mediamatters.org/research/201003080022

Rush Limbaugh Takes Another Opportunity To Attack Black People

Far-right extremist Rush Limbaugh is taking another shot at black people and attacking them for what he sees as “black dialect” as far as the way he hears blacks.

LIMBAUGH: Did you catch — you catch that, sir? What did you — did you catch that? No, you missed it, you missed it. See, you’re listening to the substance here, you missed it this. Play it again, Mike.

[...]

LIMBAUGH: This is what Harry Reid was talking about. Obama can turn on that black dialect when he wants to and turn it off. The president of the United States just said here as a condition of receiving — and I wonder if this was on the teleprompter. Did somebody put this on the prompter? As a condition of receiving access to Title I funds, we will ax all states. Who’s he trying to reach out here to? The Reverend Jackson? The Obama criticizer? Who’s he — who’s he — now, if I used the word “ax” the rest of the day, am I going to get beat up and creamed for making fun of this clean, crisp, calm, cool, new, articulate president? Maybe we should do it and see what happens. I’ll ax my advisers, and I might even ax Governor Coomo [Cuomo], as the Reverend Jackson pronounced his name.

As we have seen over the years, Limbaugh rarely misses an opportunity to take shots at black people and to try and portray them as second-class citizens and as inferior.

And, as always, his supporters (who in privacy chuckle at such shots at black people) follow him and make excuses for his bigotry.

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/limbaughwire/2010/02/22#0039

Rush Limbaugh Making Fun Of ‘Negro Dialect’ To Attack Blacks

All of those Rush Limbaugh fans would seem to embrace his consistent attacks on black people.

Limbaugh, who has a long history of taking shots at black people, attacking black people and making fun of black people is at it again.

Once again, Limbaugh has a good laugh at the expense of black people and all his loyal listeners will continue to listen and make every excuse in the world for this man who rarely misses an opportunity to cheap shot black people.

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201002190020

Reggie Bush, A Victim Of Interracialism?

Reggie Bush, the football star of the New Orleans Saints, is gracing the cover of Essence magazine.

As a result of Bush’s image on the cover of Essence, all hell has broken loose and Reggie has become a victim of what can best be termed: interracialism. First off, for those who are unfamiliar with Essence, it is a magazine largely designed for black women from their late teens to their late 40s. Reggie Bush, the cover boy for the magazine, is not being well received by many black women around the nation. The anger over the football star’s appearance on the magazine has next to nothing to do with what really should matter about Reggie Bush as a man. The anger ignited by Reggie’s appearance on the cover of the magazine is about interracialism – specifically, the fact that Bush is romantically linked to Kim Kardashian, who is perceived by people as being white.

Were Reggie Bush in a pre-approved relationship (with a black woman) then his appearance on the cover of Essence would be welcomed who would drool over his abs (the kind most guys wish they had) rather than seethe over the racial makeup of his girlfriend choice.

Thus, we have the genesis for a new “ism” today: interracial-ism.

Here is a definition of racism:

1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

Here is a proposed definition of interracialism:

1. The belief that the racial makeup of relationships accounts for differences in character or ability and that a particular racial relationship makeup is superior to others.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on the racial makeup of relationships.

Here is an excerpt from a column written by Jenice Armstrong, a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News.

The image of Bush has irritated a long-frayed nerve that is further aggravated by the fact that Essence, a magazine many black women think of as their own, made him its cover image. It’s stirred up an old debate about high-profile black men and their preference for dating white or light-skinned women.

Perhaps, as Armstrong suggests in another part of the column, Bush was making an effort to appeal to black women a little more favorably. Or, perhaps he just saw an opportunity to market himself and thought little about whether it was Essence or some other magazine. Maybe Essence thought his sex appeal would transcend interracialism and appeal to black women. Or, perhaps Essence thought the controversy would get people talking about the magazine and sell more issues.

We’re talking about Essence, aren’t we? Would we be talking about Essence this much if it was LeBron James on the cover with the same pose? No way.

Here is one angry comment over the Reggie Bush Covergate:

“Why is there a white supremacist on the cover of Essence magazine? Because any person who thinks white women are better is indeed a white supremacists. Having this man on the cover is beyond offensive to me as an African American woman. He is just another crude reminder of all the black men who perpetuate racism against black women, by rejecting them and showing the utmost disrespect by choosing to date non-black women, Reggie Bush is even more offensive since his mate is nothing but some white trashy woman. I suspect those of you you do agree with this mess are either Aunt Jemima’s or products of an interracial relationship.”

“This Brotha don’t dig us, so why, pray tell, do we have to see his face staring back at us, on a magazine that celebrates US? This disappoints me. It’s an insult! Later for Reggie Bush and all the other Brothas who turn their back on the black woman once they are successful.”

“Why put a man who clearly prefers the bottom of the barrel of white women than a good black woman on your cover? Clearly, he has no love for the sisters. This magazine is supposed to empower black women not remind us of the disadvantages that we face in today’s society. Please don’t insult our intelligence.”

“White supremacist?” That is so nutty on so many levels it is ridiculous.

That is some powerful stuff right there. In fact, that is just downright ridiculous. The only reason I am showing this quote is to illustrate the hatred that still exists out there and the hostility that people who are in interracial relationships confront on an almost daily basis.

Now, you’ll here people say it’s not racist, it’s not hatred, it’s a magazine for black women, it’s not racial and … yadda, yadda, yadda.

Apparently, the page with comments on the Essence Web site has been taken down. From a few published reports, that number of comments had eclipsed the 1,000 mark.

It all comes back to interracialism.

There world needs a lot of things, but another “ism” is not one.

I’ll leave with these two arguments from the BET (Black Entertainment Television) Web site:

Anonymous too Said on January 13th, 2010

I agree w/ anonymous. I’m not offended at all. I also wonder why some folks are so angry. Just b/c Reggie is dating an Armenian woman (Armenians are NOT Anglo Saxon), doesn’t mean he has never cared for or dated a “sista”. And why does black love have to be between two black people? Isn’t black love any love that comes fr. someone who is of the black persuasion or who loves someone who is black. It’s a good thing for people to date and love outside their economic level, local community, culture, and yes race – it promotes understanding and ultimately leads to people treating each other better. We are all God’s children, so why keep buying into separatist, racist ideals of segregation? Let’s love each other as God loves us all.

WTF Said on January 14th, 2010

Ok people, I am tired of black women speaking out about black men dating outside of their races. Stop soundling like a bunch of bitter, hard-up females. Move on with your life and live your life to the fullest. Reggie does not want your black ass, he wants Kim’s white ass, so get over it. Alot of black women are coming off as jealous, insecure women. Find love yourself and move forward. It is obvious that Kim and her sister like black guys, hell have you looked at their body types, white men consider then overweight and black men will date any white woman as long as she has a pulse. So don’t get offended, it’s not your loss, because truth be told, black men have always wanted what white men have tossed aside. Think about it.

RoRo Said on January 14th, 2010

I am disappointed in the ignorance people possess when it comes to social issues. As a single “black” female I feel that most of the people that are going to have anything negative to say are bitter “black” single females who are probably single because they are ignorant, judgmental, angry, and put to much thought into what others do in their personal lives. They are just looking for excuses as to why they can’t find a man. For one Kim Kardashian is not white she is Armenian. Second is Russell Simmons “a sale out” I don’t recall him being married to a woman of full black decent, and he is one of the most successful “black” entrepreneurs I know. Now I know that this issue is to support love, weather it be black yellow purple or green, I get it but love does not have a color. I have dated outside my race have been in love with a black man and someone of a different race, I even have a child that is “biracial” as a result of my “interracial” dating. I think people are really immature when it comes to this issue. Think about it would Obama be here if his daddy wasn’t a “sell out” and dated his white mama, did they not at one point and time celebrate “Love”. Let’s be real and stop making mountains out of molehills.

Some of the hatred directed at Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian makes it seem as though the country has gone in a time machine back to the 1950s.

So much for living in post-racial America.

More Proof That Glenn Beck And Bill O’Reilly Are Nuts

Just when you thought Glenn Beck (pictured) and Bill O’Reilly could not prove to be any nuttier, we have this (from Media Matters for America):

O’REILLY: Why do you think there’s a level of hatred against you and against me that there is? I mean, look, I was kidding about Bill Maher before. I don’t hate Bill Maher. I like –

BECK: I don’t either.

O’REILLY: I mean, he’s not my kind of guy, but I don’t want to hurt him. I don’t, you know — I’ll make fun of him. But these people want to hurt us. They want to hurt us. Why do you think that is?

BECK: I think because that’s the only way you can win the argument. Look, I mean –

O’REILLY: But they can’t win the argument.

BECK: No, I know that. So what do you do? It is — I mean, it’s why Woodrow Wilson put thousands of Americans behind bars. If you can’t win the argument, you have to shout them down, you have to call them racist, you have to call them names. You have to do whatever it is you have to do. If that doesn’t work, the revolutionary way is as Robert Creamer – as I pointed out on the show. Here’s a guy who went to prison for embezzlement — has designed the progressive blueprint that Obama is using. David Axelrod says that. In a newspaper article when I expose him, he says that we must do whatever we have to do, whatever it takes, to shut him down. Well, what do you think that means?

O’REILLY: Yeah. No, OK, I think that’s a good answer. There’s no other reason for it — other than jealousy.

This shows that Glenn Beck is nuts.

This is the same Glenn Beck who called President Obama and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor “racist” in different rants (which is puzzling since Barack Obama is half white).

This from the same Bill O’Reilly who routinely goes on the air and calls many who disagrees with him “loons,” “pinheads,” “kooks,” etc.

This from the same Bill O’Reilly who has his tough-guy “producer” stalk women like the vacationing Amanda Terkel from Think Progress (and then later crying like  a sissy because people bother poor Sarah Palin when she is on vacation).

This from the same Bill O’Reilly who routinely uses his platform to attack NBC and anything affiliated with it (to satisfy his personal vendetta).

ESPN’s Mike Greenberg’s ‘Martin Luther Coon’ Slip … Racist Or Honest Slip Up?

Mike Greenberg, who most notably is co-host of the Mike and Mike in the Morning show on ESPN Radio (also shown on television), made a big boo-boo on Martin Luther King Day.

He referred to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr as “Martin Luther Coon” before he quickly corrected himself (minus an apology at the time although, to be fair, the apology did come later). As many of you know, “coon” is a racist insult used against black people.

Some see the significant slip as racist while others view it as Greenberg simply butchering his own words before quickly correcting himself.

As one might expect, the slip by Greenberg erupted into a full-blown controversy that prompted the customary statement of apology:

I just came home from the Knicks game and found out about the mess that was created by my garbling a sentence on our show this morning; I apologize for not addressing it sooner.

And I’m sorry that my talking too fast – and slurring my words – might have given people who don’t know our show the wrong impression about us, and about me.

I feel horrible about that, because nothing could be further away from who I am and what our show is about.

I would never say anything like that, not in public, or in private, or in the silence of my own mind, and neither would anyone associated with our show, and I’m very sorry that my stumble this morning gave so many people the opposite impression.

I suspect it was just a slip by Greenberg although a number of people see the words as a look into his heart. No one knows but Mike Greenberg.

I certainly DO NOT think this (alone) rises to the level of firing based on what seems to be known about him and this situation.

With no hesitation, I choose to give Mike Greenberg the benefit of the doubt on this one. BUT, wow was that a bad mistake on his part.

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/18/mike-greenberg-mlk-gaffe_n_427558.html

SodaHead:
http://www.sodahead.com/sports/mike-greenberg-calls-mlk-a-coon-is-mark-greenberg-racist/question-830179/

White’s-Only Basketball League: This Used To Be Our Playground

Considering the direction our country appears headed it should surprise no one to hear some of the latest news from the basketball hardwood.

Well, maybe it should surprise a little.

A new whites-only (yes, “whites-only”) league is in the works for white guys to come together and get their hoop on without being around a bunch of “people of color” who are playing a “street ball” brand of basketball. Besides, “Fans have spoken to the AABA asking to restore on court sanity to the game of basketball. Their pleas are our mission.” Those are the messages of Don “Moose” Lewis, who is commissioner of the All-American Basketball Alliance.

Look out, baby: the Moose is loose.

Here is an excerpt from an Augusta Chronicle story:

Lewis said he wants to emphasize fundamental basketball instead of “street-ball” played by “people of color.” He pointed out recent incidents in the NBA, including Gilbert Arenas’ indefinite suspension after bringing guns into the Washington Wizards locker room, as examples of fans’ dissatisfaction with the way current professional sports are run.

“Would you want to go to the game and worry about a player flipping you off or attacking you in the stands or grabbing their crotch?” he said. “That’s the culture today, and in a free country we should have the right to move ourselves in a better direction.”

The Atlanta-based league, which will operate as a single-entity owning all of its teams, is looking for local contacts to pay $10,000 to become a “licensee” in one of 12 cities throughout the Southeast. Lewis said he has already received threats from people opposed to the roster restrictions and several cities have told him to stay out of town. Lewis said he has yet to hear from any one in Augusta.

Lewis emphasized that the whites-only roster restriction is not racist. No sir.

More from the same Augusta Chronicle story:

The All-American Basketball Alliance announced in a news release Sunday evening that it intends to start its inaugural season in June and hopes Augusta will be one of 12 cities with a team.

“Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league,” the statement said.

Sure, there’s nothing racist there (if you support Moose Lewis).

Moose Lewis is attempting to start this 12-team league (based in the South), and it will be interesting to see what kind of support he can drum up for this ridiculous effort.

It would be absurd if it weren’t all too real.

But, the efforts of Moose Lewis did make me think of how he would compare to another famous and self-appointed pioneer for the rights of whites, David Duke.

I will take a few minutes here to compare some quotes:

MOOSE LEWIS: Only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league.

DAVID DUKE: Our clear goal must be the advancement of the white race and separation of the white and black races. This goal must include freeing of the American media and government from subservient Jewish interests.

Seems we have some similarities there between the messages of Duke and Lewis.

MOOSE LEWIS: Would you want to go to the game and worry about a player flipping you off or attacking you in the stands or grabbing their crotch?. That’s the culture today, and in a free country we should have the right to move ourselves in a better direction.

DAVID DUKE: European-Americans now have the National Organization for European American Rights, to actively defend their rights and heritage in the United States.

More similarities above and below between Duke and Lewis:

MOOSE LEWIS: White basketball players are essentially ‘shut out’ of conventional professional basketball due to the proliferation of non-organized play on the court.

DAVID DUKE: The civil rights of European Americans are being violated by affirmative action, forced integration and anti-European immigration policies… . We face cultural discrimination in the media and education.

It’s all about the discrimination being faced by white guys playing basketball.

Here is another quote about this new league from a related article:

He pointed to White professional players – i.e., “guys like Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, (Dirk is the last great White hope)” – who he said exemplify the characteristics he’s talking about.

Of course, Nash was born in Canada and Nowitzki was born in Germany. So, neither would be eligible for Moose’s league. But, as a consolation, they are pretty much white as far as I can tell.

Who’s going to pay (assuming Moose can find ownership backing and assuming he will charge fans) to watch minor-league basketball (in a league founded on flat-out racist and xenophobic principles) in this tough economy? I guess we will find out.

This effort by Don “Moose” Lewis is little more than a modern-day racist version of “A League of their Own.” I realize that is sort of a slur on an excellent movie, but then again, Don “Moose” Lewis is a slur on a great society.

What a way to cash out your 15 minutes of fame.

Augusta Chronicle:
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2010/01/19/nba_563760.shtml

BET:
http://www.bet.com/News/Sports_Promoter_Pushes_All_White_League.htm

Hater Rush Limbaugh Exploits Haiti Disaster, Race To Attack President Obama

Rush Limbaugh, who has built a financial fortune and a large fan base on hate, sunk to a new low (and that is saying something by his standards), with his words in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The disaster in Haiti, by the time everything is said, done and written, could claim in the neighborhood of 100,000 lives. The death toll, the destruction and the loss of life are so incredible it’s almost impossible to fully comprehend. But, that has not stop the disgraceful and hateful Limbaugh, the lowest among us, from taking this international tragedy and using it as an opportunity to score political points against and take a racially tinged shot at President Obama.

Jan. 13, on his hate radio show, Limbaugh had comments that you can check out on this video clip from Media Matters for America.

Rush Limbaugh never misses an opportunity to take a shot at President Obama and rarely misses an opportunity to use race as a wedge issue.

Still, so many people continue to support this man and so many people wonder why black people turn away from Republicans and are disgusted by so much of what Republicans stand for in this country. It’s a shame (and I’ve written it so many times on this blog) that good conservatives (reasonable conservatives) lack the character to stand up and speak out against hate speech like this from Rush Limbaugh which serves only to divide people. Instead, they either go silent or they make every excuse possible for Limbaugh and his hate speech.

Be honest, this is Limbaugh’s way of using race to attack President Obama for wanting to go out of his way to help black people (suggesting the president would not have done the same, as quickly, for white people … because all black people stick together).

I commend Ed Schultz (and the others who did likewise) for calling out Rush Limbaugh for these unbelievably callous comments in the wake of a disaster of epic proportions.

Rush Limbaugh is a disgraceful man who has no decency. Limbaugh makes his millions of dollars off such hate speech, but what about the cowards on the right who are unwilling to face him on his bigotry. What do they get out of supporting his hate and daily forms of bigotry? Maybe he speaks to what truly exists in their hearts … things they want desperately to say, but lack the courage to say it. Those are the people we should truly fear.

Always The Victim … Starring RNC Chairman Michael Steele

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele never misses an opportunity to position himself a victim and all who oppose him as hypocrites or in some other way as bad people. Steele recently was on TV to discuss Sen. Harry Reid’s stupid and racially insensitive comments (I will blog about that later) and called out the Democrats and progressives for what he feels is hypocrisy about how racial charges are handled. But, in his clumsy zest to attack Democrats, Steele showed his own hypocrisy by downplaying a recent comment that he made that many people feel was a slur against Native Americans.

Once again, Michael Steele wallows in victimhood, deflecting his own racially insensitive comment, while attacking Sen. Reid for a racially insensitive comment and calling on him to resign as majority leader of the U.S. Senate.

Here are Steele’s comments, while being interviewed by Fox News Sunday host Chris Matthews, about Sen. Harry Reid:

STEELE: I think he should. There is a standard where Democrats think they can say these things and apologize when it comes from the mouth of their own. But if it comes from anyone else, it’s racism. It’s either racist or it’s not. And it’s inappropriate, absolutely. So if the standard is the one we saw with Trent Lott as leader at the time, then I think this absolutely falls in that category here. … Remember, this is the same leader who just a few weeks ago was talking about health care in the context of slavery. Clearly he is out of touch.

As you will see in the Huffington Post account, Matthews did confront Steele about his double standard. But, the RNC chairman simply said if his comments were offended he apologized and tried to leave it at that apology (something he was not willing to allow Sen. Reid). So, where is the real double standard there, Chairman Steele? If the hypocritical Steele is not willing to resign, as RNC chairman, after his racially insensitive remarks, then why should Sen. Reid resign from his post as majority leader?

Now, in no way, shape or form can you compare Sen. Reid’s comments to that of former U.S. Senator Trent Lott, who suggested that “all of these problems” could have been avoided if segregationist Strom Thurmond had been elected president of the United States in 1948. Once again, the passion of Steele is somewhat admirable, but he is so clumsy and blundering that he takes a political issue that could be a good one and blows it because it is perhaps he who is the out-of-touch hypocrite.

Generally, when Michael Steele is confronted on his missteps (and there have been more than a few), he blames Washington, people afraid of change, Democrats, the media, etc. For the most part, he blames everyone but Michael Steele.

Republicans Refuse To Speak Out Against Racism, Race Baiting In Their Midst

I am coming to the conclusion that far too many people in the Republican Party simply don’t want black people up in their house.

The latest example of telling black people to back their black asses up is Minnesota State Senate candidate Mike Parry, who had a Twitter message about President Barack Obama that read, “Power Hungry Arrogant Black Man.” All I can say is that is amazing that Republicans will not stand up to racists and race-bating haters like Parry who use race to divide people and do it with not even a drop of shame.

Parry apparently tried to simply erase the message from his Twitter account. But, not the sharpest pencil in the bag, Parry failed go realize that when it is out there it is subject to someone screen-grabbing it and showcasing it for all to see.

Sadly, there are a lot of people who will vote for this guy.

From Huffington Post:

Confronted by reporters, Parry owned up to the Obama post and tried to explain himself — but he didn’t admit to writing, “what’s with Dems and Pedophiles?” after the passing of the Matthew Shepard Act.

“My opinion is that our president is arrogant and angry. The fact is that he is a black man,” Parry said. “Now if the Democratic Party and the liberals want to take my opinion and the fact and mix it together and use it to bring a bad light about me and keep them away from discussing the real issues they can do that all they want. They’re grasping for straws.”

Parry is telling Obama to shut his uppity black ass up.

It’s amazing how some people just let their own racism slide off of them without even so much as blinking while blaming the victims and those who call him out for his racism.

Candidate Parry was reminding people that there is an uppity black man in the White House.

A vote for Parry is pretty much a vote for racism.

Yeah, I wrote it.

ColorofChange Joins Movement To Get Rupert Murdoch To Stop The Race Baiting

This is a letter ColorofChange is having people send to Rupert Murdoch and others in power at Fox News to demand they stop the race-baiting crap on our airwaves.

Dear Mr. Murdoch:

On November 6th, you clearly stated that you believed Glenn Beck was “right” when he called President Obama a “racist.” Then, on November 10th, through a spokesperson, you stated that you don’t share the same opinion as Beck, or believe that President Obama is a racist.

Which is it, Mr. Murdoch?

Fox News, under your leadership, has had a long, deep history of engaging in inflammatory racial rhetoric: attacking black leaders, black culture, and black institutions. Now you’ve been caught defending the words and behavior of Glenn Beck, the worst of the worst when it comes to race-baiting, whom more than 80 advertisers have abandoned–because of the very comments you endorsed.

Mr. Murdoch, more and more it appears that Fox’s problem with race starts at the top, with you. If you support Beck and others on Fox News using race-baiting, say so. If you have a problem with their tactics, tell us what you’re going to do to make them stop. You can’t have it both ways.

People must stand up against the garbage coming from Beck, Murdoch and many others at Fox News and throughout the Murdoch empire.

ColorofChange petition:
http://colorofchange.org/murdoch/

Join Media Matters For America Effort To Demand A Rupert Murdoch Apology For Agreeing With Glenn Beck Calling President Obama ‘A Racist’

“[H]e was right.”
– Rupert Murdoch discussing Glenn Beck’s comment that President Obama is “a racist.”

In July, Glenn Beck infamously stated that he believes President Obama is “a racist” with a “deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture.” These comments played a major role in at least 80 advertisers dropping their support of Beck’s television program. Numerous media outlets and personalities rebuked the comments, but Fox News gave Beck a free pass. Why?

Well, the reason is now clear: Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp., the parent company of Fox News, agrees that President Obama is a racist. This is a new low even for Fox, and one we cannot let stand.

Since Murdoch refuses to rebuke Glenn Beck – we need to hold him accountable and demand that he apologize for his own hateful remarks.

Join us and demand that Murdoch apologize. We’ll deliver the signatures to NewsCorp: mediamatters.org/action/murdochapology

In an interview with Sky News Australia, Murdoch said of Beck’s notorious comment:

 

On the racist thing, that caused a [unintelligible]. But he did make a very racist comment, about, you know, blacks and whites and so on, and which he said in his campaign he would be completely above. And, you know, that was something which perhaps shouldn’t have been said about the president, but if you actually assess what he was talking about, he was right.

A Fox News host calls the President of the United States a racist, and his boss, rather than suspending or publicly rebuking him, says that his employee “was right.” We need to hold Murdoch and Fox News accountable for this incendiary, outrageous rhetoric. Please take a moment to sign our petition demanding an immediate apology from Murdoch. When you are done signing, please ask your friends to join our call for accountability.

mediamatters.org/action/murdochapology

Unfortunately, this type of race-baiting is par for the course for Fox News. As we recently documented, Fox News president Roger Ailes spent the better part of his career working as a Republican media consultant, during which time he became known for appealing to racial fears and biases for political gain. Under Ailes’ leadership Fox News routinely employs these same tactics in its ongoing campaign to destroy the Obama administration and the progressive agenda. Examples include:

• Hannity just can’t “get over” his Rev. Wright obsession. Sean Hannity — who claimed he “broke the story” about Obama’s controversial former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, during the 2008 campaign — mentioned Wright on at least 45 different episodes of his Fox News show between Obama’s inauguration and July 31.
• O’Reilly tease: “[S]hould white Americans be concerned about Judge Sotomayor?” Bill O’Reilly stated, “Next on the rundown: Should white Americans be concerned about Judge Sotomayor? Later, far-left Hispanic group says if you oppose the judge, you could be racist.” [The O'Reilly Factor, 7/13/09].
• Rev. Peterson: Obama was elected “mostly by black racists and white guilty people.” On Hannity, Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson said, “I think we all agree that Barack Obama was elected by, mostly by black racists and white guilty people.” [Hannity, 2/3/09].

Murdoch’s comments are simply the latest example of Fox News shredding the last vestiges of its credibility. Fox News is not a news organization; it is an official arm of the GOP,openly advocating against President Obama and the progressive agenda. As the cable network has shown repeatedly, no tactics are too sleazy to further its goal of damagingprogressives. Murdoch has now given his stamp of approval to the idea that the president of the United States is “a racist.”

Demand that Murdoch apologize: mediamatters.org/action/murdochapology

Thank you for your continued help in holding the media accountable.

Eric Burns
President
Media Matters for America

To sign the online petition, visit: http://mediamatters.org/action/murdochapology/