The teabaggers are it again…. and I am wondering…. where is the outrage?
(see footnote)
Oh – there is plenty of outrage on the left – just check out the #p2 hashtag on Twitter.
I am looking for outrage from reasonable people on the right – even perhaps from a few teabaggers themselves. Surely they realize that their movement has gone too far…. too far toward hateful, overt racism?
Yes – the teabag movement has always had its racists. Take a look here for a montage of posters from the rallies last summer….. or here for another group of photos.
Somehow, the teabaggers just write all of this off. Just a few crazies, they say. Or, better yet – they claim “liberuls” like me are just being too sensitive. Calling Obama a “lyin’ African” or a “Half-Breed Muslin” isn’t racist at all. Hey – maybe they are right. I bet that last poster is just decrying Obama’s fabric choices. Even I prefer my muslin curtains to be purebred – they are so much whiter that way…..
So – yeah – teabaggers have always been associated with racists.
But now it has gone farther – a lot farther.
If you follow the news, you know that the teabaggers are holding a convention in Nashville right this very minute. You can catch it on CSPAN if you like. There are a whopping 600 of them attending – paying a substantial fee to attend this for-profit event. I am indeed curious why 600 people attending a for-profit event is worthy of the national news…. but I digress.
The opening speaker at the convention was one Tom Tancredo. You may have heard of Teabag Tom before. He is a former Representative to the US House, hailing from Colorado. He briefly threw his hat into the ring as a possible GOP presidential nominee. He is pretty much a one-trick pony – that being an anti-immigration pony. That would be the ugly angry drippingly sarcastic racist anti-immigration pony.
Here are some quotes from his convention-opening speech:
“people who could not even spell the word ‘vote’, or say it in English, put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House. His name is Barack Hussein Obama.”
Tancredo goes on to propose a literacy test as a prerequisite to voting – to make sure that only the right people get to vote. After all – Obama apparently only won because – damn! – the wrong people were allowed to vote!
Maybe Teabag Tom needs a history and civics lesson of his own. Actually, I suspect he doesn’t – he knows what he is doing – but lets go there anyway. We have had literacy tests in this country before – in the Jim Crow south. Literacy tests were used to keep blacks from voting. Their use was restricted by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of these acts – literacy tests used to restrict voting are unconstitutional.
So – Tancredo wants to reverse the Civil Rights Act, reverse the Voting Rights Act, reverse Supreme Court rulings, and take us back to the Jim Crow south.
And people claim – with a straight face – that this movement isn’t racist?
Don’t worry – there is more. Tancrdo goes on to blame ”the cult of multiculturalism, aided by leftists, liberals all over who don’t have the same idea about America as we do.”
Apparently there is only one correct culture in America and only one correct idea about America. To Tancredo and the teabaggers, that is a hateful white racist idea about America.
The teabaggers can no longer claim that the racists are just a few fringe crazies. Tancredo was invited by the organizers – to do no less than deliver the opening speech of the convention. The opening speech is a big event – it is meant to set the tone for the entire convention. Tancredo’s views were well known prior to the convention.
The teabaggers cannot hide it anymore. It is a deeply hateful, racist movement. They embrace racism.
Again – where is the outrage?
———-
Footnote: I am well aware of the sexual double entendre surrounding the term “Tea Bagger” – although I must admit that I am not hip enough and had to look it up the first time it was brought to my attention. Since that time I have avoided using the term, and have called them “tea partiers” instead. Until now. Avowed racists are not deserving of that measure of respect. If they are offended – good! I am offended by them.
Tags: left-wing, liberal, political, racism, republican, right-wing, Tancredo, Tea Party, teabaggers, wordpress-political-blogs
February 6, 2010 at 2:52 pm |
Excellent post! I agree, “great minds” and yes I feel that any type of “civics” test would favor the Democrats. Look forward to browsing your blog. Tris
February 6, 2010 at 4:44 pm |
There are a few outposts of tea party groups in small towns in the midwest who have disavowed “the movement but I doubt that when push comes to shove they will abandon the right wing tide. I tweeted today that if Palin was going to put her convo paycheck “back into the movement,” why not just let the movement keep it– and got some notes from people i know are hard right wondering the same thing.
Great banner by the way!
February 6, 2010 at 7:52 pm |
Hey – always great to hear from another blogging prof!
I think you are right – there are some decent and well-meaning folks in the Tea Party crowd – but I also think they are being fed a line by their leaders. “The Movement” is all about empowering the leaders of said movement….. it isn’t really about helping the average citizen….
– hp
February 6, 2010 at 10:01 pm |
Do you really think that there are a socially significant number of reasonable people on the right left?
February 6, 2010 at 10:13 pm |
Paul – sadly I think you may be right. I have been looking all day for right-wing types to condemn Tancredo. I did find a couple – but for most of them it was only because they saw it as a losing political move – no real moral outrage.
February 7, 2010 at 12:01 am |
There are some reasonable conservatives left, and they are certainly on the right wing of the political spectrum.
My insurance agent (who I’ve been doing business with for 35+ years) is an example. He is definitely Republican and conservative, and his wife and son even more so.
As BigShot says (too many profs around here, counting me), he is the sort that will make rueful noises in private, but wouldn’t write a letter to the editor regretting what the wingnuts have to say.
February 7, 2010 at 12:36 am |
There are some reasonable conservatives – my father was one (my mother – not so much…). Right now, he would be wanting to take his party back.
– hp
February 7, 2010 at 10:25 am |
My father started out as an Eisenhower Republican; ended up saying maybe Socialism had its points.
Churchill in reverse!
February 7, 2010 at 12:29 am |
Difference between USSR Communist media and USA “mainstream media”
In Russia government make media say what they want – even if lie.
In USA “mainstream media” try make government what they want – even if lie..
…..eventually they become same thing?!
Old Russian saying You can tell same lie 1000 time but not change truth!
I Igor produce Obama Birth Certificate at http://www.igormarxo.org
Compare Obama Care vs Igor Care at Obama Care vs Igor Care
Salute Ms Sarah!!!
Only someone trying to sodomize America would call these people “teabaggers”
February 7, 2010 at 12:34 am |
Igor says….. Only someone trying to sodomize America would call these people “teabaggers”
Well, Igor – I think that only someone trying to “Sodomize America” would call for a return to Jim Crow – if you are going to dish it our you had better be able to take it.
– hp
February 7, 2010 at 10:26 am |
‘Igor’ (Joe?)
Pretty feeble.
February 7, 2010 at 11:37 am |
BTW Igor…..
Your English isn’t great, and you claim to have arrived here within the last year – from an eastern-block country no less – are you sure your pal Tancredo would really want you here?
Just sayin’
– hp
February 8, 2010 at 10:31 am |
Igor (or whoever you are — methinks I smell a troll):
There hasn’t been a USSR or a Communist Party media since 1989.
For the past two decades the FSSR has been a bastion of unbridled capitalism, with control divided between the official government and the ‘Russian Mafia’; the ultimate entrepreneurs.
That’s why many Russians are becoming nostalgic for the old days, and supporting Putin’s return to monolithic control.
Your Marxo sounds more Groucho than Carlo to me!
February 8, 2010 at 12:14 pm |
Oh Paul – Igor isn’t a troll. He is a very important guy. Go to his website. He actually owns Obama’s real true original Kenyan birth certificate!!!!
– hp
February 7, 2010 at 12:09 pm |
hp I see you are back at it and I say “welcome back”. I think you are playing your sides role very well with this post and that is unfortunate as well as delicious.
The tea party/bag movement terrifies those on the left. It also energizes them to find a point of attack that they are too stupid to realize has no traction.
The movement isn’t nearly as organized as either it’s opponents or proponents would like people to believe. It is very fluid and is contrary to MSM and lefty blogger pundits claims not some monolith oozing out of corporate America and RNC agencies of doom.
It more or less is a collecting pool at any given time and place for people that are scared,concerned or angry or any combination thereof. Sadly too many on the Right and Left don’t get that.
I’d say a major point of support for that premise is the reported incidents of “disloyalty” by teabaggers. It’s not disloyalty,it’s reality.
As for your charges of racism and all the historical extrapolation you’ve committed in this post which is nothing but leftist rhetoric when you boil it down a bit.
#1. Tancredo was and is most vocal against ILLEGAL immigration.
#2. As for literacy tests I think you’ve shown yourself equal to the rhetoric of those on the far right. Literacy issues are real,predominantly benefit (D) districts,and are more in line today with legal residency issues. This is the 21st century USA we shouldn’t be voting with crayons and pictures. The citizenry really needs to understand what they’re doing in the booth. This is especially true on ballot initiatives more than candidates.there must be a trust when it comes to our elections. That cuts on both sides methinks,yes?!?
Sorry for the length.-Alfie
February 7, 2010 at 2:58 pm |
Hey Alfie!
I am starting to realize why I went on hiatus for a while – 48 hours back and this is already dominating my life again….
I understand that Tancredo is against illegal immigration. So – why is he going after the voting rights of legal, naturalized citizens?
Here is an irony: The original Boston Teaparty was a reaction to taxation without representation….. yet Tancredo would seek to strip the voting rights from taxpaying citizens.
– hippieprof
February 7, 2010 at 10:47 pm |
yet Tancredo would seek to strip the voting rights from taxpaying citizens.
How is it you say that????
February 7, 2010 at 11:01 pm |
Alfie….
Tancredo said: “people who could not even spell the word ‘vote’, or say it in English, put a committed socialist ideologue in the White House. His name is Barack Hussein Obama.”
As a solution, he proposes a literacy test – which he believes will weed these voters out of the pool. I will assume that quite a large percentage of these people have jobs or own business and purchase good in other businesses. Hence, the probably pay taxes. Yet, Tancredo seeks to take their vote away from them. Sounds like he favors taxation without representation to me.
– hp
February 8, 2010 at 10:33 am |
And of course Tancredo (strange name
is, like the founders of this country, likely himself a descendant of illegal immigrants.
February 7, 2010 at 2:33 pm |
Prof – If you’re against the Tea Bagger moniker, then you should put your principles to work and edit the post to remove references to the term, i.e. the first sentence and elsewhere.
February 7, 2010 at 3:01 pm |
Hey Ben – welcome back!
As I said in the footnote – I typically avoid saying “teabagger” – but Tancredo’s racism makes me pretty angry – and I am angrier still that the movement has embraced his rhetoric.
I will be happy to go back to their preferred “teapartier” title if they come out and condemn Tancredo’s rhetoric. But – they haven’t done that – in fact from what I have seen they have praised it.
– hp
February 7, 2010 at 3:57 pm |
Then it just serves to reduce you to their level. Good luck with that.
February 7, 2010 at 4:59 pm |
Ben said Then it just serves to reduce you to their level. Good luck with that.
Ben – Put a star by this and circle it in bright red – you aren’t going to see it often…..
You are probably right. As you know I try to avoid name-calling. That I would stoop to that level is a good indication about how angry I am about Tancredo’s remarks.
– hp
February 7, 2010 at 3:50 pm |
RE:So – yeah – teabaggers have always been associated with racists.
False claim. Supposition on your part. No basis in fact.
Another false claim: All long-haired, guitar-playing professors are active drug users.
RE:Apparently there is only one correct culture in America and only one correct idea about America. To Tancredo and the teabaggers, that is a hateful white racist idea about America.
This one is an incredible leap to a false conclusion, but it serves to promote your delusional view that all Tea Party attendees share his beliefs.
To your claim of a missing outrage, it is again, false. This past week U.S. Representative and radio station owner Dan Patrick interviewed the co-founder of a regional Tea Party group. During his radio interview with the man, he pointed out to the listening audience (me included) that the founder attended a party gathering while toting a sign with the N-word plastered across it. Patrick exposed him for what he is – a racists – and terminated the interview when the man failed to address the issue. He then explained to his listeners that the party movement is being undermined – subverted – by disingenuous participants hoping to advance their own personal agenda and who want to associate the party with those views. The next day, Patrick interviewed another organization’s leader who reported that the man showed up at their gathering. She had him escorted out by the police.
Point: the outrage IS there and there is a view-point the subversion is the work of the radicals not affiliated with the party. An example of this was seen during the August town halls where people showed up with signs showing Obama as Hitler. Remember those? Those who toted those signs are affiliated with Lyndon Larouche. Here is an article on his web-site which associates Obama’s health care plan with one of Hitler’s programs. http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2009/3622obama_revive_hitler_t4.html
While I don’t support some of the things Tancredo says, his “accusations” as you would put it, while controversial, are far from being racist. I looked again at his quotes in your post for evidence but I just can’t make the leap as you. In the end it just sort of leaves your view about Tancrado’s remarks as simple opinion.
February 8, 2010 at 9:25 am |
Ben – just realized that I never got back to you on this one……
You said…. To your claim of a missing outrage, it is again, false…… the outrage IS there and there is a view-point the subversion is the work of the radicals not affiliated with the party.
I am happy to hear this – and I hope you are right. I guess I wish that the “movement” would make it a bigger PUBLIC point to reject the racists. Frankly, you would gain a lot more cred with the centrists if you were to come out and say in a big public way that racist views are unwelcome…
The Tancredo case has a little more significance too – he wasn’t just some crazy showing up at a townhall – he was invited by the organizers to give the opening speech of the convention. Opening speeches are meant to set a tone for the convention – and should reflect the values of the organization, no?
Of course I also have a political motive for wanting Palin and others to condemn Tancredo – it weakens the movement. It is exactly the same thing as Palin calling for Emmanuel to be fired because he said “retarded” – though my outrage is sincere and I frankly don’t think hers is. Somehow, she still manages to get more press than I do – go figure….
Ben says…. While I don’t support some of the things Tancredo says, his “accusations” as you would put it, while controversial, are far from being racist.
This is where we always end up, isn’t it? People on my side make a charge of racism, and people on your side deny it. Nobody is using the N-word obviously – at least nobody sane. There is some reading between the lines here. Lets see…
– Tancredo suggests Obama was elected by people who can’t spell “vote” or say it in English. He isn’t talking about people with dyslexia or with speech impediments. He is tanking about people from other ethnic/racial groups.
– Tancredo pronounces his President’s name with dripping sarcasm – emphasizing the middle name – pointing out once again that he “isn’t one of us.” It isn’t just that he is liberal – otherwise there would be no reason to emphasize the middle name. The emphasis is an intentional ploy to highlight Obama’s racial/ethnic otherness.
– Tancredo proposes literacy tests – tests that historically were used in this country as a mechanism to keep blacks from voting.
– Tancredo slams multiculturalism – again heaping disdain on other ethnic/cultural groups.
Yeah – I have to read between the lines a bit – but not really that much.
– hp
February 8, 2010 at 6:15 pm |
RE:make it a bigger PUBLIC point to reject the racists.
Like the PUBLIC point to slam Obama for his racist overtones about the arrest of the professor on his front porch resulting in the beer fest on the lawn of the White House in an effort to make amends?
RE:Tancredo suggests Obama was elected by people who can’t spell “vote” or say it in English. … from other ethnic/racial groups.
Really? Like the horde of Mexicans walking over the border who don’t assimilate into American culture enough to learn our language? That’s racism? Please HP – you’re brighter than that. You’ve put your brain on the shelf and your operating on deep seated emotion.
RE:Tancredo pronounces his President’s name with dripping sarcasm – emphasizing the middle name
Again – it’s his name for God’s sake. Under your definition, if someone were to point to my name and my features an infer that I am of European descent it would be racism as well.
RE:Tancredo proposes literacy tests – tests that historically were used in this country as a mechanism to keep blacks from voting.
Yet another leap to an unsound conclusion. Of all people, you should be commending this. You’re logic is like saying that because early aeronautic pioneers lost their lives trying to advance a state of science we should outlaw the airplane. No matter what the reason for doing it, educating our populace will always be a positive thing which will benefit society. As a bonus, it may even cause the voting public to engage in critical thinking to the degree necessary to question and to demand quantification of the campaign cry of “change”. THAT’s what Tancredo is saying!!!!!
RE:Tancredo slams multiculturalism – again heaping disdain on other ethnic/cultural groups.
I’ll give you a maybe on this…. but it’s still a leap. Multiculturalism comes at the prices of diluting, subverting and usurping mainstream culture. It serves as an excuse to avoid assimilation. It causes government to create multi-lingual printed matter at added cost to the taxpayer. It adversely affects our education systems which, again, comes at added cost to the taxpayer. Multiculturalism should be accepted, but never promoted to the point it usurps the mainstream values which came into existence by its own virtues; i.e. because the majority valued them.
I’m going to cut to the chase here. If you have a problem with Tancredo’s point of view and leap to a conclusion they are race-based, then where where you on Obama’s comments to the police department who arrested the disorderly black professor? I see Obama’s remarks as racial, adopting a “the cracker arrested a brother” mentality reflecting the belief the professor was arrested on the basis of just being black. What bullshit that is.
Furthermore, if Tancredo’s position on English literacy is a problem for you, where were you on Obama taking 2 decades to distance himself from an overtly racist Reverend Wright? Underscoring that relationship, what would you call me if my best friend where the Grand Dragon of the KKK?
When you let that sink in and realize the POTUS is a racist, then maybe your focus will be where it should.
February 8, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Ahhh…. Ben…. I really have missed doing battle with you.
First up – just saw this. It is exactly the type of thing I have been calling for. Good for her!
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/08/mccains-daughter-questions-tea-party-movement/?fbid=s88FIvRxy_w
Second – you want me to condemn Obama for being a racist. I posted the following blog months ago – not sure you saw it (you didn’t comment if you did). You will hate it. No matter what Beck says, Obama is not a racist. In fact, I do not believe that it is possible for an oppressed minority to be racist toward the group oppressing it. Yeah – you really will hate it….
http://hippieprofessor.com/2009/09/25/ralphie-and-aldo-and-stephen-and-barak/
– hp
February 9, 2010 at 7:17 pm
I don’t care what Beck says or when he said it. I see a racist and I’ve been seeing it since the Wright association flap.
If you hang out with a racist, you’re a racist. If you sit patiently every Sunday to listen to Wright’s vile vomit spew forth from the podium, you’re a racists. There’s 20 years of evidence to eclipse your flimsy accusations against Tancredo.
Birds of a feather, man. It’s why you hang out with the ilk you do. Obama is no different and news flash; just because he’s black, it doesn’t make him magically immune to that fact.
So yes, indeed, he is and can be judged by the company he keeps and I just did it …. and without the help or input for the likes of Beck.
Period.
February 9, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Ben – I think you missed an important part of my point.
Racism = Prejudice + power
It is impossible to be racist and also belong to the out-of-power group. You can be prejudiced, certainly – but not racist.
Reverend Wright is not a racist. As a member of the out-of-power group he CANNOT be a racist. He most certainly can be prejudiced – in fact he probably is – but virtually by definition he cannot be racist.
It is perhaps easier to see when we use a different example – one farther from home. It would be absolutely absurd to say that Jews in Nazi Germany were racists against Aryan Germans. Jews were an oppressed and persecuted minority – and though they certainly held negative attitudes toward Nazis – it is unthinkable to call them racists.
You have two ways out of this dilemma. You can deny my definition of racism – in which case I will ask you to supply your own. After you do that we can apply it to various situations and see how it works.
A second strategy would be claim that blacks in this country are not an out-of-power group. In your own words, good luck with that.
– hp
February 11, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Oops. My comment above was supposed to follow this in the thread.
February 13, 2010 at 9:29 pm
My above comment belongs underneath Hippieprof’s last comment.
February 13, 2010 at 10:09 am
I agree Ben. Just because one is a ‘minority’ means jack didlly. HP is an enabler of Black Panther movements and Rappers saying “KILL WHITEY”
Over 30,000 DEAD Americans have been murdered by these ‘poor little minorities’ that come in from South of the Border, Down Mexico way.. They are NOT racist, HELL NO! Just sweet misunderstood little people, oppressed because they are miserable in Mexico, THEIR land?
GOD help us all for enabling terror.
Racism”
HATRED or INTOLERANCE of races.
February 8, 2010 at 12:26 pm |
You know it kills me to be the defense since I don’t really like Tancredo but you’re killing me.
– Tancredo suggests Obama was elected by people who can’t spell “vote” or say it in English. He isn’t talking about people with dyslexia or with speech impediments. He is tanking about people from other ethnic/racial groups.
Actually I think he is more or less trawling around the sea that is voter fraud,illegal immigration. The classic inner city booth assistants is a good example. Are you even open to that possibility?
– Tancredo pronounces his President’s name with dripping sarcasm – emphasizing the middle name – pointing out once again that he “isn’t one of us.” It isn’t just that he is liberal – otherwise there would be no reason to emphasize the middle name. The emphasis is an intentional ploy to highlight Obama’s racial/ethnic otherness.
This one is tired for sure.Obamas very being is supposed to be seen as a plus by those that want to consider it. Why is the opposite not permissible?
– Tancredo proposes literacy tests – tests that historically were used in this country as a mechanism to keep blacks from voting.
You know I’ve looked and looked and can’t find any proof that he actually proposes such tests.You got something I can’t find?
– Tancredo slams multiculturalism – again heaping disdain on other ethnic/cultural groups.
This is the best example of the Lefts insanity on the issue.Opposing illegal immigration and poor assimilation into society is somehow super duper Aryan nation s$%^.??? I think the guy is too extreme for my personal liking but to think being pro American is somehow racism is a sick stretch. For instance many of his anti ILLEGAL immigration stances/comments were made in line with exposing how illegal labor actually hurts blacks. thats a sad economic reality
I’ll leave you alone HP
February 8, 2010 at 12:52 pm |
Oh Alfie – political discussion is always about putting the other guy on the defensive isn’t it? Hell – Socrates was all about putting the other guy on the defensive….
If you don’t want to defend Tancredo – then don’t. I do hope you keep visiting and commenting – all kidding aside I do value our input.
As for proof that he proposes such tests, there are dozens of news reports about it – here is the first one to come up:
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20100206former_gop_rep_tancredo_civics_literacy_test_should_be_required_to_vote/srvc=home&position=recent
– hp
February 11, 2010 at 4:45 pm |
I remember my mom and dad always teaching me that old adage: “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” It seems that a lot of the defense for Tancredo comes in that fashion – pointing out something the other side did that was similar, as if that then makes them both moot points or both acceptable. It also assumes that all matters of the same topic – in this case, race – are equal, which boils things down to ridiculously simple terms.
HP – I think your definition of racism is interesting, but I question the power component. I don’t know that the reason we wouldn’t describe Jews being racist against Nazi Germans has as much to do with the fact that they were the persecuted minority, rather more to do with the cause for their anger and negative attitudes coming from a completely different place: the fact that they were specifically persecuted and eradicated. You could use the argument for blacks against white, too – white racists find blacks, as a race, to be inferior to them; while blacks’ anger toward this discrimination is what fuels their disdain for whites, not that they feel whites are inferior to their race. (This is in the vacuum of our discussion, not that all whites or blacks feel this way.) There could very well be blacks who think that their race is superior to whites, though, and I think that would warrant them being labeled racist.
Sidenote: I really can’t stand when people use the term “reverse racism.” Just thought I’d throw that out there.
February 12, 2010 at 8:17 am |
Ryan said….
HP – I think your definition of racism is interesting, but I question the power component. I don’t know that the reason we wouldn’t describe Jews being racist against Nazi Germans has as much to do with the fact that they were the persecuted minority….
Ryan – I think this is a reasonable idea, and one that probably fits most cases. The only problem I see is it could quickly devolve into a series of “you started it” accusations and counter-accusations. Hitler and other anti-Semites constructed elaborate schemes in which Jews were blamed for a whole host of evils – in a sense claiming that Germans were persecuted by the Jews! You see the same thing going on in the middle east now.
The difficulty with the accusation/counter-accusation scenario is it becomes very difficult to determine objectively what is going on – at least at the time it is happening. Power can be defied more objectively in a sense of who runs the government, who owns the property, who controls the army, etc.
– hp
February 12, 2010 at 2:02 pm |
Very good point, HP. For my definition to work one would need to assume that the person determining which one would be racist and which group would not would need an objective view that wouldn’t necessarily be available or possible. I know understand what you mean by the power component. I like it.
February 11, 2010 at 5:20 pm |
Ryan curious if you’d share your definition of “reverse racism”. I agree its not the best term but it is generally understand what it means and what context it involves. As a core knowledge kind of thing I’d love to know your (or anyone elses) definition/usage
February 11, 2010 at 7:34 pm |
Some whites will say that when blacks exhibit prejudice toward whites that it’s “reverse racism,” as if the definition of racism is specifically reserved for when whites discriminate against blacks.
Granted, racism is usually used for whites against pick-your-minority since whites have been the majority group for quite some time here in America – and if they weren’t in numbers, they were in power, which actually goes back to HP’s definition. But it’s not reverse when blacks do it to whites. It’s still just racism. As is my understanding.
February 12, 2010 at 5:28 pm |
So, this is how we are going to stop the damned Tea Partiers? Labeing them racists.. *Whatever* IS this how they did yothe liberals when you they marched through Central Park naked in defiance of “Bushs War?” Or, is this how these ‘evil’ Tea Partiers did the liberals when they stopped up the streets in Oakland, Cali?
“Its not fascism when we do it” Right? Remember that? Remember the photos of Bush hanging from a tree in a lynch (posters?)
I do, I remember all of it.
Could it be possible that you just have nothing to march for because the Marxist Dream is now realized?
So much for ‘liberalsim fighting for individual freedom’
February 12, 2010 at 6:11 pm |
TMJ – if you read what I said carefully you would note that I don not think all tea partiers are racist. I do think there are some racists in the organization. I wish the rest of the tea partiers would call them out and tell them that they are not welcome in the organization.
I wasn’t blogging when people were hanging images of Bush from trees. I would like to think I would have condemned that in my blog because, like it or not, he was my President and I think a President demands more respect.
You really don’t know me very well and yet you insist on making judgments about how I might act in certain situations. I suspect you would be surprised.
– hp
February 12, 2010 at 8:31 pm |
This is the title of this post:
Teabag racism – where is the outrage? by hippieprof
Where is the OUTRAGE that these tea baggers are not racists, but as former Pres. Clinton said;
“Make no mistake, these people do not like President Obama, because they don’t like his POLICIES”
The signs you have shown from KENYA have to do with the fact that many people are skeptical about his B.C., and Obama being from Kenya, that is not racism.
Racism is;
Having hatred or intolerance for races.
I have not seen such people like that at the 2 Tea Parties I went to in NYC.
February 12, 2010 at 8:37 pm |
BTW, human nature.
We cant help that we HUMANS are bigots, and predjudiced. We are not God. We are not a ‘higher power’. We have not the capability of being 100% free of racism, hatred, bigotry or racism, its just the way it is.
Although, Black Liberation theology does not look too kindly on ‘evil’ whitey. Rev. Wright IS a racist and a Jew-hater.. Obama didnt learn ANY of this! OH NO! Impossible!
February 13, 2010 at 12:35 am |
Theda said….. seems like a better thing to call you than TMJ –
BTW, human nature.
You would be surprised to know I largely agree on this – that racism is in fact something that is rooted in our biological nature. However, it is still abhorrent and cruel and damaging to society – and it CAN be overcome.
Rev. Wright IS a racist
You are not going to like this and will most certainly not agree – but I do not think Rev. Wright is racist. I would go as far as saying that as a member of an oppressed minority be cannot (logically) be a racist toward the group in power. I have blogged on this quite a bit – the main argument can be found here:
http://hippieprofessor.com/2009/09/25/ralphie-and-aldo-and-stephen-and-barak/
Again – I don’t expect you to like it or agree.
– hp
February 13, 2010 at 10:05 am |
. I would go as far as saying that as a member of an oppressed minority be cannot (logically) be a racist toward the group in power.
As my people were in the mountains of Serbia fighting the Nazis, and saying “Kill Every Aryan Nazi Bastard, good or bad” They fought gallantly.
They came out of it, and blamed every last German, some until the say they died, no matter how HARD I tried to tell them, that there were, in fact, good Germans.
Nope, thats not racism.
Sorry, minorities are not above reproach of HUMAN NATURE. Not only do I totally disagree with you, I would go so far as to tell you that you enable minorities to kill people by that very silly and careless comment.
February 13, 2010 at 10:12 am |
As engaged in a murder, 2 scenerios;
The white man approached the black man and said “GOOD, I KILLED THE N—ER!”
The Black man approached the white man and said “GOOD, I KILLED THE CRACKER B*STARD”
Which one is racist?
February 13, 2010 at 12:04 pm |
The white man approached the black man and said “GOOD, I KILLED THE N—ER!”
The Black man approached the white man and said “GOOD, I KILLED THE CRACKER B*STARD”
Which one is racist?
They are both murderers….
The are both prejudiced….
The white guy is a racist because he comes from the in-power group.
The black guy is not because he does not come from the in-power group.
Does any of this make one murder any worse than the other? Absolutely not.
Interesting note: Statistics show that the black guy is far more likely to be convicted of this crime and is far more likely to receive the death penalty. Do you still want to claim (as you did in another thread) that blacks are in power?
– hp
February 13, 2010 at 12:13 pm |
“There are a whopping 600 of them attending – paying a substantial fee to attend this for-profit event. I am indeed curious why 600 people attending a for-profit event is worthy of the national news… but I digress.”
Yet you find it the centerpiece of your argument…
Out of the hundreds of thousands of active tea party participants around the country (oh, how I hate that stupid “tea party” name, but, like you, I digress…) and the probable millions of people sympathetic to what is essentially behind this movement (limited federal government) you have focused, laser-like, on a gathering of 600 that you admittedly stated in your digression was not even newsworthy. From these 600 attendees at an un-newsworthy event, only a few were responsible for organizing it. Those few requested that Tancredo address the event. So, the comments of one person out of millions are therefore representative of those millions?
A rubber band doesn’t stretch that far without snapping.
“The teabaggers can no longer claim that the racists are just a few fringe crazies. ”
Why not? Nothing in your post proves otherwise.
Democratic Senator Robert Byrd was a member of the KKK. This is well known. Are we to assume that because he was elected from West Virginia that West Virginians are racist because they know of his past? He is a Democrat so I suppose just the Democrats are racist. Maybe they are all secretly Klan members? I have seen him shaking hands with fellow Democrats in the halls of Congress. Surely, they too are all racist and were employing a secret Klan handshake as a sign of solidarity with his racist beliefs. My goodness, the millions of registered Democrats in this country are obviously racist! And they are Klan members!! It cannot be denied!!!!!
Your logic simply doesn’t follow. It stretches, as does my Byrd example, into the absurd. The statements or actions of one person must, in your argument, reflect the values of millions. Obviously, this is not the case.
You can debate the statements made by Tancredo with others all you want and attempt to support your opinions with facts, logic and reasoning but you only provided unsubstantiated generalizations about millions of Americans on the debatable statements of one individual.
“So – yeah – teabaggers have always been associated with racists.”
By whom? Rabid leftwing Nazi ferrets? The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen? The Easter Bunny? Maybe just leftwing bloggers and the hate-spewing idiots on MSNBC. Your post doesn’t say exactly. It doesn’t even say generally. It just says it as fact when this is demonstrably not true.
Maybe, just maybe mind you, supporters of limited federal government are mis-characterized as racist by those who ignore facts and any semblence of logic in order to make sweeping and unsubstantiated statements of their own?
Debate the issues of this tea party movement all you want (limited federal government, an end to excess government spending, the destruction of a free market society, whatever) but if you have no ammunition to debate such issues you might as well refrain from simply trying to mis-characterize millions of Americans as racist as a means to avoid the issues raised. It doesn’t work.
Now, please again demonstrate how those opposing excess government spending and over-reaching government intrusion are racist. I missed that part of your argument.
February 13, 2010 at 1:11 pm |
J. Smith….
First, thanks for dropping by and commenting! This place is all about discussion, and thanks for joining in.
I have a day full of house work scheduled – unlike in the 60s, today’s modern hippie does laundry
Anyway, I won’t be able to do a detailed response to your post until this evening. I did want to briefly comment on your closing statement. You said:
Now, please again demonstrate how those opposing excess government spending and over-reaching government intrusion are racist. I missed that part of your argument.
Exactly! That is my point!
The tea party movement as I understand it is about small government and limiting government power. These have long been important issues in conservative politics – and debates about these issues are very important.
But (and you knew a but had to be coming) – why does the tea party tolerate – and even invite – people like Tancredo – who is promoting literacy tests and a monocultural society? Why do they give podium time to birthers? Those issues are decidedly NOT about small government and limited government power. In fact – they are a distraction.
Throw the Tancredos and birthers and their ilk out of the tea party and your movement will gain a lot of creditability. Guys like me will have a lot harder time criticizing you because arguments about the size and power of government are important and intellectually honest.
Again, thanks for dropping by. More tonight.
– hp
February 14, 2010 at 11:57 am |
Again on Tancredo.In conservative circles there is a call for a monocultural society,I’d say I’m one of them. The mono though isn’t about white people or even descendants of euro stock. It’s about American.
February 14, 2010 at 12:20 pm |
Alfie…
Ack – I just posted a long response to this but it looks like it vanished.
You said:
In conservative circles there is a call for a monocultural society,I’d say I’m one of them. The mono though isn’t about white people or even descendants of euro stock. It’s about American.
Alfie – honest question – what is American Culture?
This is, after all, a nation of immigrants. With the exception of a few American Indiana none of us can trace our roots back farther than 300 years or so – and most an even shorter time than that.
If you go into an Irish or Greet or Italian or Polish neighborhood in any big city you will see that they retain their old world culture. Yet – it does not seem to me that the monoculturalists are really bothered by these neighborhoods.
No – they seem more bothered by Latino and Arab and Pakistani neighborhoods.
Looking at it that way – well – monoculturalism does seem to be awfully Eurocentric.
So – what is American Culture?
– hp
February 14, 2010 at 1:39 pm |
Alfie, et. al.
Do you have any Native American friends?
You might ask them what the true ‘American’ culture is.
The other 98% of us are illegal immigrants.
February 14, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Paul – did you see I used the word “Eurocentric” in my response to Alfie? That is pretty funny considering some discussions you and I have been privy to elsewhere…. Hmmm – maybe I should let Michael S. know about these discussions?
Then again…. maybe not…..
– hp
February 14, 2010 at 9:58 am |
J. Smith….
I have finally worked my way back to this, the first comment you left. I ended up working in reverse order for some reason. I think I have addressed most of these issues in other responses to you and others – but let me reiterate one thing:
You said:
Debate the issues of this tea party movement all you want (limited federal government, an end to excess government spending, the destruction of a free market society, whatever) but if you have no ammunition to debate such issues you might as well refrain from simply trying to mis-characterize millions of Americans as racist as a means to avoid the issues raised. It doesn’t work.
I would be happy to do so. These core issues are indeed worthy of debate – and to be honest I am sympathetic with some of these positions (though certainly not all). But – if you want to debate these issues, throw the racists and birthers and truthers out and most certainly DON’T invite them to give speeches at your conventions. They detract from your message and bring out a lot of anger from you opposition.
Absolutely – lets talk about the core issues – but throw those folks out.
– hp
February 13, 2010 at 1:19 pm |
Does any of this make one murder any worse than the other? Absolutely not.
——————
They are BOTH race-hate crimes. You know this. Stop the pretense. Enabling a racist person is a terrible thing. Black POWER is a racist group, The Black Panthers are racists. There are MANY crimes linked up to these people. You are ENABLING them by not recognizing, and you know in your heart that you are DEAD wrong.
In Idaho a woman got raped, in the middle of a snow storm (this is a true story) Her husband was so enraged, that he called the black man a n*gger.
The husband got arrested for REACTING to his wifes rapist (that ol human nature reaction), the rapist went scot free.
THAT is the world that YOU are creating.
February 14, 2010 at 9:49 am |
TMJ said: In Idaho a woman got raped, in the middle of a snow storm (this is a true story) Her husband was so enraged, that he called the black man a n*gger.
The husband got arrested for REACTING to his wifes rapist (that ol human nature reaction), the rapist went scot free.
This series of events, as you describe it, is seriously troubling and I would certainly condemn it. I am I admit surprised that someone was arrested for using the N-word – because although it is certainly exceptionally poor taste I don’t believe it is illegal. In fact, it would violate rights of free speech to arrest someone for that.
Can you provide some additional details? I tried a google search but apparently haven’t used the correct search terms.
– hp
February 13, 2010 at 1:23 pm |
**the husband got arrested for a “HATE CRIME” in his own house, while his wife got raped.
I am sorry, Hippy, this is NOT the liberalism that I grew up with. This is some demented view of liberalism that has invaded into your thought process.
February 13, 2010 at 1:27 pm |
Hippy, MURDER IS about power. It is the ultimate act of power. All racism is bad. But now, you should OPEN your eyes to see just what is happening, I know it will not ‘change’ you, because “Progressives” are STUCK in their ways, and don’t move with time.
Here are some more shocking statistics:
More than 1,600 Whites are murdered by Blacks each year.
Blacks murder Whites at 18 times the rate Whites murder Blacks.
In the last 30 years, 170 million violent and nonviolent crimes were committed by Blacks against Whites in the U.S.
Blacks under 18 are more than 12 times more likely to be arrested for murder than Whites the same age.
Some 90% of the victims of race crimes are Whites.
Blacks commit 7.5 times more violent interracial crimes than Whites, although they comprise only one-seventh of the White population.
On a per-capita basis, blacks commit 50 times more violent crimes than Whites.
1.3 million of the 6.6 million violent crimes committed in the U.S. each year are interracial.
February 14, 2010 at 12:56 am |
TMJ said:
Here are some more shocking statistics…..
Shocking indeed…. but, if you control for such factors as poverty, education, racial profiling by the police, and fear of reporting crimes in black communities, these differences wash out.
Are you suggesting that blacks, by their nature, are more likely to commit crimes than whites? Not only is that statement false – it is indeed racist.
– hp
February 13, 2010 at 9:27 pm |
HP,
Totally wrong! Since when does being ‘out of power’ make one immune from being called a racist? Jews had REASONS to hate the Nazis. They were being slaughtered. Blacks have no reasons to hate whites and whites have no reasons to hate blacks. The entire Nazi party was complicit in the attempted extermination of the Jews. Just because one crime is committed by one race against another does not make there reason for racism. And yeah, Wright is a racist and doesn’t deserve to be titled Reverend. I reserve that term for Christians who teach the Bible, not some race based theology.
An Informed Mind
Purveyor of the blog An Informed Blog
http://aninformedmind.wordpress.com
February 14, 2010 at 9:11 am |
Informed mind said:
Totally wrong! Since when does being ‘out of power’ make one immune from being called a racist? Jews had REASONS to hate the Nazis.
I said this in an earlier reply – but there is a problem with objectively applying the “had reasons” standard. Hitler and other anti-Semites constructed elaborate propaganda schemes about why Jews were evil, etc. This requires a subjective determination of what is truth and what is propaganda. Power is objectively quantifiable. Yeah – this is an academic argument.
Blacks have no reasons to hate whites
Are you suggesting what while-on-black racism is completely a thing of the past? Certainly race relations have improved – but such racism is certainly still out there.
I guess I am not going to rest until I have directed you to every post I have made on the topic…. someone called me an “attention whore” on another blog – they were probably right
http://hippieprofessor.com/2009/09/16/the-subtlety-of-modern-racism/
– hp
February 14, 2010 at 11:21 am |
Stats are not racist, they are fact.
Some races are docile, some races are smarter, some races are aggressive, true, we are all in the human race, but to say we are ‘all the same’ is a major put down to me, my mom, and people in general.
God did not make races the same, we all have things that are special, if that were not true, the Japanese would not be better with making cameras, and electronics, cars. Most of the best opera stars are Italians, they also make exc. luxury cars and tires. English are the best ship-builders. The Mayans were the best mathematicians. Jews the best scientists, etc..
Every race is different, and that is not ‘racist’, its just the facts.
February 14, 2010 at 11:47 am |
TMJ said…… Some races are docile, some races are smarter, some races are aggressive, true, we are all in the human race, but to say we are ‘all the same’ is a major put down to me, my mom, and people in general.
God did not make races the same, we all have things that are special, if that were not true, the Japanese would not be better with making cameras, and electronics, cars. Most of the best opera stars are Italians, they also make exc. luxury cars and tires. English are the best ship-builders. The Mayans were the best mathematicians. Jews the best scientists, etc..
Every race is different, and that is not ‘racist’, its just the facts.
Wow….
In all due respect, those ARE racist statements, whether you think of them that way or not. I suspect that even people within the tea party movement would agree that they are racist.
In another response you noted you were and avid tea partier – and in another thread you claimed that there were no racist elements in the tea party movement.
Look – if these are truly your attitudes – and if you truly are a member of the tea party movement – then indeed there are racist elements in the movement.
QED.
– hp
February 14, 2010 at 11:27 am |
‘ if you want to debate these issues, throw the racists and birthers and truthers out ‘
Hippy: Throw out the code-pinkers, the Commies, the Marxists, the Leninists, the Trotskyites and the NAZIS out of YOUR protesting, and we might have some utopian paradise. HA ……………HA.
I am a birther, I will stay a Birther, as 68% of Americans and many Congressemen and Senators are Birthers.
I Tea Party, lots, and lots. NOBODY is going to ‘thrown me out’ just because the liberals WANT me thrown out.
First they came for the Jews, I wasnt a Jews so I said nothing, Then they came for the Catholics, so I said nothing, Then they came for the Prodestants, but I wasnt a Prodestant, so I said nothing, Then they came for ME, and there was no-one left to say anything.
February 14, 2010 at 4:48 pm |
Hippie, one of the signs of a TRUE Aliskyite is to ATTACK the person, and leave them POLARIZED. Fortunately, I am on to these little games that liberals play, since I have lived around Communists, Leninists, Marxists, Liberals, etc.. You call people a racist, and you think that will end a debate? Sorry, Charlie, ALL RACES ARE DIFFERENT, whether YOU like it or not. Blacks are dark brown to black in color, Chinese people have slanted eyes, white people are not white, they are pink, purple, blue, you name it.
What you did was;
Alinsky Rule # 13. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.
5. “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon
Hippy, actually, you are trying to lump everyone in a category and make EVERYONE THE SAME, Well, I am not the same as you. I am FEMALE. Females are weaker than men as well. I do NOT have the same ideas or mindset as you do, so, your ‘way out’ of the debate, is that if you dont ‘get’ something, it is to ridicule the person.
I am not ridiculed, I don’t live in a Utopian world, I live in the REAL world.
February 14, 2010 at 7:34 pm |
TMJ said…..
Hippie, one of the signs of a TRUE Aliskyite is to ATTACK the person, and leave them POLARIZED.
I thought I already replied to this – but can’t find the reply.
That is Aliskyite? What, then, are you birthers trying to do?
Yes – I definitely remember posting this before…. because I ended with “I am sorry if you think I am trying to ridicule you – that is not my intent – besides you are doing a fine job of that all by yourself.”
Harsh – but I couldn’t resist.
– hp
February 14, 2010 at 7:57 pm |
That is Aliskyite? What, then, are you birthers trying to do?
Can you just refer to me as the Mad Jewess? And I wont call you a Commie etc…
I am not a ‘birther’ that is a LABEL that the far left wing came up with to defame and argument.
I am like any other AMERICAN that wants to see Obamas Long Form Birth Certificate. Myself and about 80 others know the real story from Texas Darlins WordPress, (which you cannot get on without invitation now)
She and Polerick, who found out the first B.C. that the Daily KOS put out was a fraud. That is Fact. The 2nd one is a COLB. Obama has no records. While Obama has no records, Hillary is in court trying to PROVE that she is only eligible for SOS. McCain is STILL in court, because he was not born on the ground here in the USA.
The ONLY person that does not have to prove ANYTHING, is Obama.
February 15, 2010 at 12:01 am |
Themadjewess requested….
Can you just refer to me as the Mad Jewess? And I wont call you a Commie etc…
Indeed – that sounds like a fair trade. I will call you by “Themadjewess” if you cease calling me a commie (and more importantly) a fascist.
See – who said we couldn’t agree on something.
I also apologize for calling you a birther – though I swear you owned that label in another response somewhere.
I do think that obsession over birth certificates is kinda silly. The only way this will get any traction if for Republicans to gain control of both houses (which is possible) and introduce articles of impeachment (which is unlikely considering the political backlash that would occur). I suspect mainline Reppublicans will be unlikely to do that – and of course it is very doubtful you would even get the votes to actually impeach and convict.
So – lets talk about the real issues instead.
– hp
February 14, 2010 at 9:46 pm |
HP The problem you and I have is a matter of perspective. The concept of American culture can’t be viewed via the euro centric lens.That academic point of view is a perversion of reality.
The USA is a mutt nation and being the mutts is our culture. Ironically those high brow euroweenies point at that and bemoan our complete lack of ,em>cultureThat’s the most I have to offer after along day.
The Melting Pot is not a crime. Sadly way too many predominantly liberal leaning folks have made it so. If we don’t melt we lose. That is what I think you see with the newer immigrant groups. Sadly to some degree through no fault of their own assimilation has been sidetracked thus causing the friction you speak of.
I’d gladly give you more even though I think it’s fruitless but I’m sssoooooo tired right now and merely babbling.
February 15, 2010 at 12:05 am |
No problem Alfie – get a rest and rejoin the fray when you like. I am still interested in what it would be like. I am happy have people think of themselves as “American first” – and as you know I bristle when someone claims I am not a “real” American somehow.
But – I don’t want to lose Saint Patricks Day or Mardi Gras or Chinatown or any of that in an attempt to be monocultural.
– hp
February 16, 2010 at 11:26 am |
HP Melting pot, melting pot, melting pot. It is far superior to the salad bowl.
That the differences exist in the numbers they do is American Culture. Our foods,words and some celebrations have made it so. One can go to a St Patricks party or celebrate Kwanzaa (neither real but…) without denying ones status as an American.What one can’t do or at least shouldn’t is dance in the streets of New Jersey when the Twin Towers fell or have a gazillion canceled checks in your records for NORAID.
February 16, 2010 at 12:30 pm |
So – lets talk about the real issues instead.
OK
But I still want to see the BC. 
February 21, 2010 at 10:42 pm |
[...] http://hippieprofessor.com/2010/02/06/teabag-racism-where-is-the-outrage/ [...]
July 18, 2010 at 6:08 pm |
[...] Here is one of my posts on the topic. [...]