Right-Wing Hero O’Keefe Finds Out … It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp

It’s hard out here for a pimp.

James O’Keefe quickly became a hero on the right wing due largely to his efforts to expose/set up ACORN (a partisan effort designed to attack President Barack Obama and other Democrats). O’Keefe proved how quickly you can fall from hero to zero (even with people you think have your back). Looking like he was on his way to a Pimps-and-Hos party, O’Keefe, who has been described by some people as a “Republican activist,” went out on a mission to throw dirt on ACORN and actually had some success as far as harming the credibility of the organization in the courtroom of public opinion. Even as O’Keefe has come under fire for his alleged crimes (that have garnered new media attention for him), conservative media are coming to his rescue while suggesting or whining about a conspiracy.

For what it’s worth, here’s the Wikipedia entry:

In July and August 2009, O’Keefe and 20 year old college student Hannah Giles posed respectively as a pimp and prostitute while going to a number of ACORN offices. They claimed to be seeking advice on how to run an illegal business^[23] which included the smuggling of underage girls from El Salvador for use in the sex trade. Several ACORN employees gave them advice on how to evade detection by legal authorities and how to avoid paying taxes on the girls’ income. O’Keefe secretly recorded the encounters.^[24] On September 10, 2009, O’Keefe published the first in a series of five videos of his ACORN investigation on Andrew Breitbart’s website, BigGovernment.com.^[25][26] Excerpts were frequently aired on the Fox News Channel, but largely ignored by other major media outlets.^[27] As of September 16, 2009, five exposé videos had been released which were set in ACORN offices in five cities: Baltimore, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Brooklyn, New York, San Bernardino, California, and San Diego, California.^[2]

O’Keefe said, “None of the facilities kicked us out.”^[28][29] However, an ACORN spokesperson claims that O’Keefe had no success with “this sham” at ACORN’s New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles offices.^[30] ACORN gave CNN a copy of the police complaint filed against the filmmakers In Philadelphia.^[31] O’Keefe said, “Why does ACORN apparently think that making and publishing an after-the-fact police complaint would cover up its willingness to help our ‘prostitution business’ and its lies about what happened when we visited?”^[32] In San Diego, former ACORN employee Juan Carlos Vera told O’Keefe in the video he had “contacts” in “Tijuana” to help get the underage girls across the border.^[33] Vera later reported what he thought was an attempt by O’Keefe at human smuggling to a police detective.^[34] Vera was fired because of what ACORN called “unacceptable conduct”, although Vera said he initially wanted to help the fake prostitute because she said that she needed to escape her controlling pimp.^[35] ACORN worker Tresa Kaelke, who talked with the filmmakers, said they were “Somewhat entertaining, but they weren’t even good actors.”^[36] According to CNN, the filmmakers released a transcript of their discussion with Kaelke that included a comment left out of the tape in which Kaelke said that ACORN would have nothing to do with their prostitution business.^[37]

Credibility takes a hit when right-wing propaganda machine Fox News and the far right nut Andrew Breitbart are leading those coming to O’Keefe’s defense.

O’Keefe’s pimp status could not stand up to this latest blow (which you will read below).

But, since O’Keefe reached the pinnacle of hero status among our right-wing friends, he has learned a valuable lesson most famously described by the Three 6 Mafia hip-hop song, “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp.”

On January 25, 2010, O’Keefe along with Stan Dai, Joseph Basel and Robert Flanagan were arrested by the FBI for allegedly trying to interfere with the office phones of Senator Mary Landrieu.^[13] The Senator’s office is located at the Hale Boggs Federal Building in downtown New Orleans. All four individuals have been charged with entering federal property under false pretenses with the intent of committing a felony.^[12] O’Keefe’s bond was set at $10,000.^[11] According to an affidavit filed on behalf of Special Agent Stephen Rayes, O’Keefe admitted to “recording Flanagan and Basel” on his cell phone and aiding in the “planning, coordination, and preparation of the operation.” ^[54] If convicted, O’Keefe and his co-defendants could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.^[55][13]

The Politico reported that O’Keefe and each of the other three men arrested have been “groomed for years to be part of a new wave of activist conservative journalists by a series of influential and often deep-pocket benefactors”.^[56] The Associated Press reported that three of the four defendants had founded a conservative college newspaper: O’Keefe at Rutgers, Joseph Basel at the University of Minnesota, and Stan Dai at George Washington University; with the fourth man, Robert Flanagan writing for the blog of the conservative Pelican Institute. The AP also suggested that the incident may have been a “third rate prank” related to the fact that Senator Landrieu’s office had a reputation for not returning calls from constituents.^[57]

If O’Keefe and his crew did this then they’re nuts.

I know O’Keefe is a young cat, but has he not seen the movie All the President’s Men with Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman? It failed then and it has failed now.

But, hey, it’s not easy out there.

With that in mind, however, I’ve decided to dedicate the video for and lyrics of “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp,” made famous in the movie Hustle & Flow, to Republican hero James O’Keefe.

It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp

You know it’s hard out here for a pimp (you ain’t knowin)
When he tryin to get this money for the rent (you ain’t knowin)
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent (you ain’t knowin)
Because a whole lot of bitches talkin shit (you ain’t knowin)

You know it’s hard out here for a pimp (you ain’t knowin)
When he tryin to get this money for the rent (you ain’t knowin)
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent (you ain’t knowin)
Will have a whole lot of bitches talkin shit (you ain’t knowin)

In my eyes I done seen some crazy thangs in the streets
Gotta couple hoes workin on the changes for me
But I gotta keep my game tight like Kobe on game night
Like takin from a ho don’t know no better, I know that ain’t right
Done seen people killed, done seen people deal
Done seen people live in poverty with no meals
It’s fucked up where I live, but that’s just how it is
It might be new to you, but it’s been like this for years
It’s blood sweat and tears when it come down to this shit
I’m tryin to get rich ‘fore I leave up out this bitch
I’m tryin to have thangs but it’s hard fo’ a pimp
But I’m prayin and I’m hopin to God I don’t slip, yeah

You know it’s hard out here for a pimp (you ain’t knowin)
When he tryin to get this money for the rent (you ain’t knowin)
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent (you ain’t knowin)
Because a whole lot of bitches talkin shit (you ain’t knowin)

Man it seems like I’m duckin dodgin bullets everyday
Niggaz hatin on me cause I got, hoes on the tray
But I gotta stay paid, gotta stay above water
Couldn’t keep up with my hoes, that’s when shit got harder
North Memphis where I’m from, I’m 7th Street bound
Where niggaz all the time end up lost and never found
Man these girls think we prove thangs, leave a big head
They come hopin every night, they don’t end up bein dead
Wait I got a snow bunny, and a black girl too
You pay the right price and they’ll both do you
That’s the way the game goes, gotta keep it strictly pimpin
Gotta have my hustle tight, makin change off these women, yeah

You know it’s hard out here for a pimp (you ain’t knowin)
When he tryin to get this money for the rent (you ain’t knowin)
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent (you ain’t knowin)
Because a whole lot of bitches talkin shit (you ain’t knowin)

Lyrics.time:
http://www.lyricstime.com/djay-it-s-hard-out-here-for-a-pimp-lyrics.html

Republicans Smacked Down By President Obama

I think the stunning arrogance of the Republicans, who have been reading their own talking points far too much, came back to bite them in the ass in Baltimore last week. The Republicans welcomed President Obama to their annual retreat last week in Baltimore (maybe with the thought they could make him look bad on national television). It was a big mistake. One has to imagine the Republicans never knew what hit them by the time everything was said, done and written (unless you watch Fox News which still tried to spin it negatively for the president). President Obama went onto Republican turf, handled all the partisan attacks, misleading information, fear mongering and falsehoods with dignity, class and intelligence.

With relative ease, the president smacked down most, if not all, of the Republican falsehoods and misleading attacks with charm, poise and intelligence. In all honesty, President Obama made the Republicans looked like a bunch of angry obstructionists using fear, misleading information, false information and hatred as weapons of attack. The president came off looking like a good guy trying to do the right thing while the Republicans came off looking angry and politically hateful.

This is from Think Progress:

House Republicans were fired up and ready to go for their conversation with President Obama at their annual retreat today. According to the New York Times, members of the conservative Republican House Conference said they were “itching to quiz the president and present their policy ideas rather than listen to another lofty presidential address.” Although such sessions generally occur behind closed doors, Republicans agreed to open it up after the White House said it was willing to do so. However, after Obama’s strong performance, some Republicans are now regretting that decision. As Luke Russert reported on MSNBC:

RUSSERT: Tom Cole — former head of the NRCC, congressman from Oklahoma — said, “He scored many points. He did really well.” Barack Obama, for an hour and a half, was able to refute every single Republican talking point used against him on the major issues of the day. In essence, it was almost like a debate where he was front and center for the majority of it. … One Republican said to me, off the record, behind closed doors: “It was a mistake that we allowed the cameras to roll like that. We should not have done that.”

Here is the bottom line: The Republicans believed all of that garbage about teleprompters and questioned the president’s intelligence. They underestimated him (mainly his intelligence) and ended up looking REALLY bad as he handled all of their questions and attacks as if he knew what they were going to say (because he did know what they were going to say).

President Obama was right about how vulnerable these Republicans become with their own base because of how hateful the rhetoric from the far right has become. He turned on the charm and used reason to expose the anger of the far right in attacking his administration. As the president asked how can the far right work with the president when they’re buying into (initiating or advancing) the garbage that he is a fascist, a socialist, he’s trying to harm old people, he is trying to take over government and so on and so forth? They can’t unless they are willing to risk the wrath of people who hated Barack Obama from the moment they first saw him.

But, back to my main point: Republicans made a mistake.

They underestimated Barack Obama and he made them look really bad on a national stage (unless you watch Fox News in which case you would not have seen the entire exchange as they turned away to begin bashing him with right-wing talking points … disguised as fair and balanced).

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/29/russert-gop-obama/
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/29/obama-gop-retreat/

Good Point Made By Crooks And Liars Blog

It’s really not that big a surprise that the far right Fox News network was clearly disappointed that President Barack Obama destroyed the Republicans as he went to their retreat, took all of their questions and swatted them all down with relative ease. Crooks and Liars makes a great point that, instead of talking about the event, the Republicans had to punt (rethink strategy and ultimately go back to attacking the State of the Union address).

I like this paragraph from Crooks and Liars:

Sean Hannity and Newt Gingrich attack the President’s State of the Union address as angry, whining, self-justifying, not exactly honest, petulant and unpresidential. Project much boys? Of course no mention of the verbal beating the House Republicans took from the President during their retreat that Fox decided to quit airing after it was obvious it wasn’t going well for them. Hannity was too busy doing what looked like a Presidential campaign ad for Newt when they weren’t attacking Democrats for the better part of this segment instead.

As we know, Fox News is where Republicans go to run the silent phase of their presidential campaigns (Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, etc.).

If President Obama had looked bad, Hannity and Bill O’Reilly would have hammered him with it all night long.

Instead, they pretty much ignored the beating President Obama gave the Republicans.

Apparently Serving The Government Is Not As Noble To At Least One Conservative

It used to be considered noble to serve the public or to serve the government in some way, but apparently those days are gone in the eyes of some conservatives.

Here is a comment from the blog Booker Rising:

Jennifer Burke, a conservative in Washington, writes on Facebook: “And there it is…..let’s increase the already bloated government by rewarding those who go into government service with a forgiveness of student loans in half the time than if they choose a different career path. (No offense to those who work for the government. I just think that kind of policy is plain and simply wrong.)”

Not sure how she proved that the government being bloated would increase. Perhaps these people would be filling jobs that already exist.

Frankly, there should be nothing wrong with serving your government as a way of encouraging graduates to want to give something back after working at paying back massive student loan debt.

This strikes as criticism for the sake of criticism.

Booker Rising:
http://www.bookerrising.net/2010/01/state-of-union-speech-bookerista_27.html

More Irrational Reaction From President Obama’s State Of The Union

President Obama’s State of the Union address really stirred something in those on the far right.

Here is another example from the blog Booker Rising:

Paige Perkins, a conservative Republican, writes on Facebook: “Obama’s SoTU Checklist: Blame Republicans, Blame Republicans, Blame Bush, Encourage bi-partisanship, Declare it’s not my fault, Pat myself on the back, Deliver bad news, Repeat as necessary.”

This is an anger point for many conservatives.

Paige missed the part where President Obama talked about what his administration has added to the deficit. Pointing out the facts (about the state of the economy when President Obama took office) is not blaming.

In baseball, just because a relief pitcher comes in does not mean he assumes responsibility for the runners on base. The starting pitcher bears some responsibility.

President Obama Talked About Jobs Lost During The Last Two Years

Here is an interesting little nugget, at Booker Rising, I found from a conservative writer attacking President Obama’s State of the Union speech:

Quentin Banks, a conservative in St. Louis, Mo.: “Did he mention the 4 1/2 million jobs lost under his administration in the last year? He didn’t? Surprise, surprise.”

Here is an excerpt from President Obama’s State of the Union address on Jan. 27:

But the truth is, these steps won’t make up for the seven million jobs that we’ve lost over the last two years. The only way to move to full employment is to lay a new foundation for long-term economic growth, and finally address the problems that America’s families have confronted for years.

Since he mentioned the last two years I think the last year fits into that timeframe.

MSNBC’s Chris Matthews: “I forgot he was black tonight for an hour”

MSNBC host and commentator Chris Matthews has a habit of making comments that make you shake your head in disbelief.

Matthews offered yet another in regard to President Obama’s State of the Union speech:

MATTHEWS: You know, I was trying to think about who he was tonight, and it’s interesting: He is post-racial by all appearances. You know, I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. You know, he’s gone a long way to become a leader of this country and passed so much history in just a year or two. I mean, it’s something we don’t even think about.

I was watching, I said, Wait a minute, he’s an African-American guy in front of a bunch of other white people. And here he is President of the United States and we’ve completely forgotten that tonight — completely forgotten it. I think it was in the scope of his discussion. It was so broad-ranging, so in tune with so many problems, of aspects, and aspects of American life that you don’t think terms of the old tribalism, the old ethnicity. It was astounding in that regard — a very subtle fact. It’s so hard to even talk about; maybe I shouldn’t talk about it, but I am.

Well, Chris, we almost forgot how foolish you can be, but then you typically bring us back to reality.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/27/matthews-obama-black/

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/201001270078

John McCain … Maverick In Name Only

Sen. John McCain always tried to portray himself as a so-called “maverick” while he was on the campaign trail. But, during and after Wednesday’s State of the Union address from President Obama, for former candidate for the White House proved that he is just another Washington insider playing the game of politics. In other words, Sen. John McCain is a politician like all the rest, as he proved again when he went on Sean Hannity’s far-right Fox News show and uttered the words below.

“What we’re hearing tonight is ‘BIOB’ — let’s call it that from now on. Blame it on Bush. Whatever has gone wrong, let’s blame it on Bush. I think the people of Massachusetts last Tuesday pretty well rejected that line of conversation.”

Voters rejected Sen. McCain’s message during the campaign and should reject it now. The campaign is over and John McCain has revealed his true self as a right-wing partisan who struggles to see any good from the other side and mistakes facts for blame.

John McCain (who wears his far-right cap when he goes on Fox News) must have missed the part where the president accepted the blame for the portion of the deficit he claimed responsibility for last night.

Also, Sen. McCain is misguided. Massachusetts voters likely rejected that Democrats have not done enough to bring the radical change they expected (we’re still in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Democrats are not standing firm on health care, etc.).

Is Sen. McCain crazy enough to think that Massachusetts are troubled by Democrats holding President Bush (whose approval ratings where somewhere around the high 20s to low 30s when he left office) accountable for what happened on his watch? Come on, now!

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/27/mccain-sotu-obama/

The Majority Of Blacks Lean Left, But That Doesn’t Stop Name Calling

I found this kind of interesting as I took one of my many daily travels through the blogosphere in search of interesting little nuggets. On the blog, Politics, Policy, Pathology and Hope WITHIN The Black Community, I found this finish to a blog entry:

There are two names that one will never be called in Black America (OK – 3 now that I think about it)

1. “You are a left-wing extremist”
2. “You are carrying the water for the Democrats”
3. “You have sold out to Barack Obama where you care more about his political fortunes than you do your own permanent interests”.

Here are a few thoughts I had off the top of my head:

1. First and foremost, this is pretty much assumed of many black people (in and out of the media). Secondly, does the name Van Jones ring a bell?
2. Pretty much any black person who goes on television, as a liberal, is presumed to be carrying the water for the Democrats (so it doesn’t necessarily need to be spelled out explicitly).
3. Oprah Winfrey was nailed with this charge during the campaign by conservatives who became angry that she did not give Sarah Palin, then the vice presidential candidate, a forum on Oprah’s popular syndicated talk show.

Those are just a few examples off the top of my head.

Now, for the most part, these are indeed labels a lot of blacks do not have to fear, but that is mostly because many people simply assume all blacks are in the corner of Democrats.

A FEW SIDE NOTES: I am not sure that everyone would agree with Sen. Evan Bayh about the Democrats moving too far to the left. Some would say (considering the Dems gave in on aspects of health care, sending more troops to war, etc., that President Obama has moved too far to the middle and has upset his base). That is just something to think about with this kind of discussion. Also, keep in mind, Sen. Bayh is trying to position himself as a centrist for political purposes.

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

Just when you thought Glenn Beck 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).

Fox News Assists Republican Presidential Candidates

It is becoming increasingly clear that Fox News clearly is home to Republican candidates (arguably in exile) gearing up for potential runs at the White House in 2012.

Fox News is offering its network as a platform for potential Republican candidates such as Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and others to stay in the public eye during the next two-plus years.

In reality, the network conservatives trust is allowing these high-profile (rumored) candidates to basically run a silent phase and fund-raising part of their 2012 campaigns while staying in the public eye.

I wonder when Mitt Romney will get his show.

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201001140010

Howard Kurtz Continues To Puzzle As Host Of CNN’s Reliable Sources

First and foremost, I don’t think I will ever be able to understand how someone who is supposed to be analyzing bias in the media brings on biased partisans to discuss bias.

Yet, it seems every Sunday on CNN’s Reliable Sources, host Howard Kurtz routinely brings on biased analysts to discuss bias in the media.

But, that is just my regular beef with Kurtz.

Media Matters for America has another topic about Howard Kurtz that caught my attention.

Kurtz is either too afraid to strongly and consistently call out Fox News for its pro-conservative bias or he too is a closet conservative masquerading as nonpartisan.

Here is what Media Matters posted:

Howard Kurtz suggests Fox’s “news programming” is balanced and the Washington Post’s editorial page is liberal:

Knoxville, Tenn.: Why do so many media outlets, when mentioning “Fox News”, say “which some say has conservative views”? This seems to be the equivalent of saying “The Washington Post, which some say is a newspaper…”

Why is the rest of the press corp afraid to call a spade a spade, particularly when (as in this case) it is so virulently blatant?

Howard Kurtz: Because some say a distinction must be made between Fox’s opinion shows (O’Reilly, Beck, Hannity) and its news programming. Just as you have to make a distinction between The Post’s news pages and its left-leaning editorial page.

Even if we buy what Kurtz is selling right there it still is ridiculous. He suggests we should distinguish between the news content and commentary content of Fox News (with respect to bias). But, even the commentary is all far-right commentary when you look at Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity (all far to the right of the political mainstream). Throw in Greta Van Susteren, Fox and Friends, Greg Gutfeld, etc. … and you see the pattern that becomes all too clear. Where is the balance there?

Also, as Media Matters points out, it is insulting of Kurtz to think that we’re too stupid to see the well-documented instances of Fox News bias from its news programming (cheerleading Tea Party protests, openly promoting Republican Scott Brown in his candidacy for U.S. Senate and more).

Check out the Media Matters for America article to see the full depth and breadth of how Kurtz seems to think we’re too stupid to see the bias of Fox News that runs almost 24/7 (nevermind the garbage on Fox Nation).

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201001250017

For Scott Baio, These Happy Days Are Not Your’s And Mine

Right winger Scott Baio, an actor of the former hit comedy television show Happy Days, took a cheap shot at first lady Michelle Obama and the backlash has been blistering.

Like many on the right wing, even as hundreds of thousands of Haitians are dying and suffering in the wake of a massive earthquake, Baio has been celebrating the U.S. Senate victory for Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts. While basking in the glow of Brown’s victory, and confident in their efforts they hope will result in the destruction of proposed health care legislation, Baio attempted to take a cheap shot at Michelle Obama.

Baio tweeted, about the first lady, “WOW He wakes up to this every morning,” and posted the below photo for the added shot:

Check out the Huffington Post article because it gets particularly interesting when Baio goes to a variation of the “I’m-not-racist-because-I-have-black-friends” handbook. Somewhat to Baio’s credit, however, he found a new (or perhaps rarely read) chapter, “I’m-not-racist-because-my-wife’s-best-friend-is-black.”

I’m not saying he’s a racist, now. In fact, I think he really is just the typical far-right kind of individual. Arguably, that might even be more disturbing than being a straight-up racist.

Also, from Huffington Post:

“I’m NOT racist for posting a pic of M.O. My WIFE’S BEST FRD IS BLACK,HELLO” he tweeted.

And: “Do I look like I’m racist? This is Renee’s BEST frd. STOP USING THE RACE CARD!!!” Here is a picture Baio tweeted of himself with said black person:

Baio next Tweeted a photo of him hugging his wife’s black female friend. Nice touch.

I do find it interesting how much time Scott Baio seems to be wasting defending himself from the charges of racism.

I also find it interesting that he accuses others of playing the race card before turning around and playing it himself by saying he is not racist because his wife’s best friend is black.

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/21/scott-baio-tweets-michell_n_431214.html?fbwall

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

Fox News Finds A Few Black Conservatives Then Scoffs At Obvious Lack Of Tea Party Diversity

Leave it to Fox News to search high and low to try to find any way possible to position the tea party activists as being more diverse than they are in reality.

Sorry, but trying to portray the tea party people as some kind of diverse body miserably fails the laugh test. Frankly, sprinkling in a few specks of pepper in a mine of salt does not constitute any kind of real mixture. Of course, if you work for Fox and you can find a few black people who are conservatives then that forms diversity in a sea of angry white faces. There’s nothing wrong with being a black conservative, but I do find it disturbing when black conservatives gleefully allow themselves to be pimped out as models for a diversity-challenged organizations diversity. Lloyd Marcus and William Owens (and even a few hundred others) do not qualify this tea party movement (which obviously was nonexistent for all the previous white presidents) as diverse.

This all brings me to the tea party diversity story Fox News is trying to push on its Web site. So, the headline reads: “Black Conservatives Take Lead Role in Tea Party Movement” and the subheadline of this piece written by Judson Berger reads: “Though the tea party movement has attracted criticism for its supposed lack of diversity, minority activists who are involved say the movement has little to do with race, and that it is attracting a more diverse crowd every day.”

So, the subheadline seems to scoff at the notion (“its supposed lack of diversity” the article reads) that the tea party movement lacks diversity, but at the end champions that the tea party movement is “attracting a more diverse crowd every day.” That strikes me as a bit of a contradiction, but I guess we’re all entitled to our opinions (Fox News just dishonestly passes its opinions off as legitimate news).

Here is an excerpt from the Fox News story:

To Marcus, President Obama’s policies perpetuate that dependency. That’s why, he says, it baffles him and other black conservatives when the tea party movement is dismissed as somehow anti-black, as a rowdy bunch of ignorant, white protesters who have it in for the nation’s first black president.

“This is the nicest angry mob I’ve ever seen,” Marcus said.

Marcus is one of a number of black conservatives who have joined up with, and helped lead, the conservative tea party movement since its inception. Though the movement has attracted criticism for its supposed lack of diversity — MSNBC host Chris Matthews recently called the groups “monochromatic” and “all white” — those minority activists who are involved say the movement has little to do with race, and that it is attracting a more diverse crowd every day.

“I think a lot of black people are waking up from their Obama night-of-the-living-dead fog,” Marcus said. “They were walking around like zombies going Obama, Obama, Obama.”

Right, you keep believing that Lloyd.

Marcus, I have no doubt, is genuine and strong in his conservative beliefs. There’s nothing wrong with being black and conservative. There is something wrong with allowing yourself to be used by a group that is largely opposed (and/or avoided) by the majority of blacks and minorities. Sadly, however, he is blinded by his own ideology that he misses the racial element. Of course the tea party people like him. He is the black man who functions against most black people. So, of course they are going to like him and welcome him mostly with open arms. He (in the minds of the tea party people) helps them deflect the racial politics. It’s version of the “I’m-not-racist-because-I-have-black-friends” defense.

Fox News, as expected, has rushed to the defense of the tea parties to once again prove its media brand of conservative activism.

Once again, Fox news uses its platform in the media to aid the Republicans and tea party activists … all while claiming to be “fair and balanced” with its programming.

Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/19/black-conservatives-lead-role-tea-party-movement/

Today, At Ferris State University, We Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, as a campus community here at Ferris State University and around the nation and the world, we celebrate Martin Luther King Day.

MLK Day is not just a day off of work or school. It is, and should be, far more than just another day off of work or school.

Today, is a day we remember and continue to never forget the great sacrifices that Dr. King made to allow so many of us, today, to enjoy freedoms he never had the privilege to fully enjoy during the far-too-few 39 years he lived. Many of us were born with these freedoms and did not have to fight for these freedoms. Indeed, for so many of us, it's easy to take so much of what we have for granted and not appreciate the sacrifices of Dr. King, and countless others, who battled through the painful and deadly days of the modern Civil Rights Era in the United States of America.

The above quote was important to me because it emphasizes that the fight Dr. King and others waged was no easy one - it's was never promised to be easy.

It was, in fact, a deadly fight. Still, Dr. King and others battled against the threats and acts of violence and intimidation.

Dr. King believed in the deep-rooted goodness of his enemies even when his enemies saw nothing but the worst in him and what they believe he represented:

"We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies."

- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King chose to love his enemies and to did his best to work with those who both loved and hated him to make the world a better place for people of all genders and races.

Indeed, Dr. King made the ultimate sacrifice as he paid with his life when he was struck down by an assassin's bullet on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tenn. As a result of his sacrifice, and all that he did as he lived, it is important that today we continue to fight to live up to his Dream.

Here is an excerpt from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech:

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends. And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

Dr. King's Dream still lives, and we must continue to work toward the goals of that vision. The progress we've made, since his death in 1968 is tremendous, but the work is not finished.

Take time out of your schedule this week to attend events related to Ferris State University's 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. If you're outside of Big Rapids, find a place where Dr. King's life and Dream are being celebrated or research on your own about his messages to better understood what he stood for, lived for, fought for, sacrificed for and died for.

In closing, here again is the list of this year's 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration activities on the Ferris State University campus:

MONDAY-January 18th 2010

Tunnel of Oppression Exhibit 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rankin Student Center Rooms 153 & 155
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Jim Crow Era Videos 11 a.m. to 2p.m.
Rankin Student Center Atrium/Art Gallery
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

MLK Faculty & Staff In-Service 10 a.m. to12 p.m.
Rankin Student Center Founder's Room 238

OMSS Annual MLK Freedom March 3 p.m.
Merrill/Travis Residence Hall to Rankin Lobby
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

OMSS Annual Student Tribute 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Rankin Student Center Dome Room
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

TUESDAY-January 19th 2010

Tunnel of Oppression Exhibit 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rankin Student Center Rooms 153 & 155
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Jim Crow Era Videos 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rankin Student Center Atrium/Art Gallery
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Privilege Activity: Breaking Down Barriers 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
University Recreation Center
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

MLK Celebration featured Speaker:
Dr. David Pilgrim 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
IRC Auditorium 120
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

WEDNESDAY-January 20th 2010

Tunnel of Oppression Exhibit 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rankin Student Center Rooms 153 & 155
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Jim Crow Era Videos 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rankin Student Center Atrium/Art Gallery
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

MLK Celebration featured Presentation & 5-Star Event: The N*W*C* Show 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Williams Auditorium
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

THURSDAY-January 21st 2010

Tunnel of Oppression Exhibit 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rankin Student Center Rooms 153 & 155
FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Privilege Activity: The N*W*C* Show Reactions/Hateful Words
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. University Recreation Center
FREE and OPEN TO STUDENTS

MLK Legacy Dinner 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Rankin Student Center Dome Room
INVITATION ONLY

For information about all events, please contact the Office of Multicultural Student Services at (231) 591-2617.
Co-sponsors include:
Office of the President
Diversity & Inclusion Office
Office of Multicultural Student Services
V.P. of Student Affairs
V.P. for Administration and Finance
V.P. University Advancement and Marketing
Admissions & Records
Entertainment Unlimited
Office of Equal Opportunity and Governmental Relations
and General Counsel
College of Arts & Sciences
Student Government
Political Engagement Project
Williams Auditorium
Residence Life
Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning
Student Leadership & Activities
The Finance Division of Student Government
and the 2010 MLK Celebration Planning Committee.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. … We Can Never Thank You Enough

Today, Jan. 15, is the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., maybe the greatest man who ever lived (in the eyes of a lot of people).

I want to take the time to wish Dr. King a happy birthday and to say that we can never thank him enough for all he gave for us to have all that we have today. He sacrificed himself so that generation after generation of people of all races could know freedom and even have the luxury to take for granted the price so many people paid for the freedom we enjoy today.

Thank you Dr. King. We can never thank you enough.

I would like to share a passage from my favorite all-time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speech … his last speech. Most people know this speech as the “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. Dr. King delivered this speech on April 3, 1968 at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tenn. … The speech came the day before he was gunned down by an assassin’s bullet on April 4, 1968.

Here is the excerpt I would like to share to show the selflessness of a man who gave his own life to improve the lives of others. Also, the speech may have been a foreshadowing of his death one day later.

And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. So I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we owe so much to you.

Wyclef Jean Leads Haitian Fund-raising Effort For Relief Following Devastating Earthquake

There are so many funds out there to aid the people of Haiti in this time of need after a natural disaster of epic proportions.

Here is one fund being pushed by Haitian musician Wyclef Jean:
http://www.yele.org/

Here is there message:

We thank you and gratefully acknowledge your generous contribution to Yele Haiti. Yele Haiti is a movement led by Wyclef Jean that is helping to bring hope back to Haiti. Projects are designed to make a difference in the fields of education, health, environment and community development. Yele Haiti (previously known as the Wyclef Jean Foundation) is a 501 (3) tax exempt charitable organization. No goods or services were provided, in whole or in part, in return for this contribution.Your gift is fully tax deductible as provided in the Internal Revenue Code. 100% of donations from individuals go to our assigned projects. Thank you once again! Sincerely, The Yele Haiti Team

Pat Robertson Shows The Darkness Of His Soul With Reprehensible Comments About Haiti

Pat Robertson, who supposedly is a Christian commentator and is a former Republican presidential candidate, disgusted people all over this country and perhaps all over the world with his vicious, insensitive, hateful and borderline racist comments about Haiti (in the wake of a devastating earthquake for which the death toll could reach in the neighborhood of 100,000). Robertson’s show, the 700 Club, is his platform to unleash his sometimes hateful rhetoric. Wednesday, as the death toll continued to rise in Haiti and the reality of the devastation suffered by the small island nation begins to come into focus, Robertson took time out of his schedule to take a shot at the Haitian people as he offered his explanation for why the earthquake happened.

ROBERTSON: [S]omething happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. Napoleon the Third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, “We will serve you if you get us free from the prince.” True story. And so the devil said, “OK, it’s a deal.” They kicked the French out, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free.

But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It’s cut down the middle, on the one side is Haiti, on the other side is the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island.

They need to have, and we need to pray for them, a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy I’m optimistic something good may come. But right now, we’re helping the suffering people and the suffering is unimaginable.

So, he blames the earthquake on the Haitian people who were, in Robertson’s own words, “under the heel of the French” and wanted freedom. It’s like Robertson is saying that if the Haitians would have let the Europeans continue to rule over them then perhaps they would not have had this earthquake. This ignorant and stupid even by the standards of Pat Robertson (who once had a decent amount of power and influence but now is a shell of what he once was in this country).

It goes back to the old racist stereotype of white Europeans civilizing the world centuries ago and showing people of color how to live, think and behave (because they know what’s best).

Obviously, some of the Haitian leaders have not served the people well, but the comments of Robertson are hateful and completely uncalled for, but hardly unexpected.

To Pat Robertson, Haiti wanting freedom was making a pact with the devil.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/01/13/robertson-haiti/

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.

Sen. Harry Reid’s Comments Well Intended, But Reckless And Ignorant

Sen. Harry Reid has an amazing habit of creating his own troubles, and it seems he is again guilty of a self-inflicted political blunder with a racial twist. Sen. Reid’s comments came in 2008 and were part of the book “Game Change” by Mark Halperin, of Time Magazine, and John Heilemann, of New York magazine. The book was a behind-the-scenes look at the historical presidential campaign of 2008 that featured current president Barack Obama and rivals such as current secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Here is a portion of a story written by the Huffington Post that discusses the part in question that now has Sen. Reid, who has issued the customary apology, in some hot water.

“He (Reid) was wowed by Obama’s oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama – a ‘light-skinned’ African American ‘with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,’ as he later put it privately,” according to the book.

First off, Sen. Reid did not make these comments intending to do harm to President Obama or out of some racist motivation. In his own way, clumsy as it was, he was attempting to pay the president a compliment. Unfortunately, this poor attempt shows that Reid in some ways does not grasp how serious people are taking political correctness these days (even when you are attempting to be complimentary). A good number of liberals, as Dr. Boyce Watkins points out, often attempt to pass compliments in this kind of ham-handed way to show that they are down for the cause.

The “no Negro dialect” comment is more than a little puzzling to me. It reminds me of something that people must have said in the early 1900s or late 1800s. How many people still use the word “Negro” today? That is just an odd choice of words to say the very least.

By the way, here is Sen. Reid’s apology statement as reported by CNN:

REID: I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words. I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African Americans for my improper comments. I was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama during the campaign and have worked as hard as I can to advance President Obama’s legislative agenda.

The apology was accepted by Barack Obama and should be accepted by others. Sen. Reid (and I have not always been his biggest fan) needs to choose his words better (even if he sees himself as passing a compliment), but it’s clear that while his brain and mouth were malfunctioning, his heart probably was in the right place.

As a side note, RNC chairman Michael Steele has compared Sen. Reid’s comments to those of former Sen. Trent Lott, who felt the U.S. would have been better off if segregationist Strom Thurmond had become president in 1948. As I wrote in an earlier blog, it just shows how ignorant, political and hypocritical Michael Steele is in his role for the Republicans.

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.

Chad Ochocinco: I’m Straight … I’ve Been Knockin’ Boots

Reporters were wondering if Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco was going to be OK following a knee injury he suffered in this past Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets.

Ochocinco, whose team is set to open the National Football League playoffs in a rematch against the Jets, assured the media and his public that his game is tight and he is ready to make it happen come game time.

“I had sex yesterday,” he told the New York Post. “With some of the moves I did – I should be fine.”

Chad may or may not have been joking. Who really knows but him.

In the urban dictionary … this is known as “knockin’ boots” … if you were wondering.

Gilbert Arenas … Livin’ In A Gangsta’s Paradise … C’mon Man

Gilbert Arenas, a standout shooting guard for the Washington Wizards (a franchise that used to be the Bullets before the late former owner Abe Pollin changed the nickname to do away with the violent imagery) of the National Basketball Association is … trippin’ … as they say in the ‘hood. OK, now first things first, let’s get some of the particulars involving Arenas in an ugly case that features guns in an NBA locker room. It seems Gilbert, according to some published reports, drew a gun on a teammate in an incident that has drawn all kinds of national attention and inflicted yet another bruise on NBA Commissioner David Stern’s prized product. Arenas, has contended that he and the gun were all part of a “misguided effort to play a joke.”

Commissioner Stern has, in turn, suspended Arenas indefinitely.

On the ESPN program Pardon the Interruption (PTI), hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon discussed the topic and showed a photo of Arenas at an NBA game pretend shooting with his fingers. If nothing else, the image of Arenas making that kind of gesture proves (almost definitively) that he simply doesn’t understand the serious nature of his actions.

Commissioner Stern, however, does understand the seriousness. And, that seriousness is reflected in a statement he released:

The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us. I initially thought it prudent to refrain from taking immediate action because of the pendency of a criminal investigation involving the office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Police Department, and the consideration of this matter by a grand jury sitting in the District of Columbia. For the same reason, I directed the Wizards to refrain from taking any action.

Wizards personnel continue to be interviewed by law enforcement authorities, some are scheduled for appearance before the grand jury and the investigation is proceeding with the intensity that one would expect for such a serious incident.

Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game. Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA.

This is one time I totally agree with commissioner and do not think he is being overly harsh.

It seems Gilbert Arenas doesn’t get it if that photo is any indication. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS!

It’s not about Rev. Al Sharpton, it’s not about David Stern and it’s not about the fans. It’s about Gilbert Arenas taking things more seriously. Not everything is a joke … even when you’re rich and famous. It can all disappear and it can disappear fast.

From a legal standpoint, Arenas has some serious charges in front of them that honestly are no joking matter.

Gilbert needs understand the influence he has on people (especially young people). He needs to follow the words in the title of Jermaine Jackson’s hit song, “Lets Get Serious!”

Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/06/gilbert-arenas-suspended_n_413659.html

Self-Righteous Brit Hume Engages In Religious Bigotry Against Tiger Woods

Fox News right-wing commentator and religious expert Brit Hume (on the Sunday, Jan. 3 edition of Fox News Sunday) offered golfing phenom Tiger Woods, experiencing no shortage of marital problems these days, some religious advice. Hume, reminiscent of Europeans who went into Africa to colonize and civilize blacks (by introducing and imposing their religious beliefs), was strong in his words of advice toward Woods.

HUME: Tiger Woods will recover as a golfer. Whether he can recover as a person, I think, is a very open question. And it’s a tragic situation. . . . But the Tiger Woods that emerges once the news value dies out of this scandal, the extent to which he can recover, seems to me to depend on his faith. He’s said to be a Buddhist. I don’t think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith. So my message to Tiger would be, ‘Tiger, turn to the Christian faith and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world.’

Hume seems to be engaging in what is little more than religious bigotry by taking it upon himself to define Buddhism and suggest Woods just abandon it and embrace Christianity.

Check out this video of the historic Alex Haley film “Roots.” Fast forward to about 6:55 of this clip to see the relevance (below the video is the transcript).

Hume’s comment made me think long and hard about this particular scene from that film.

CAPTAIN DAVIES: What are they like…the blacks?

MR. SLATER: They’re just a different kind of breed, sir. A man breeds a dog for hunting…and breeds another sort of dog for his family. Blacks are slow-minded but strong. They’re made for slavery like you’re made to run this ship. The natural order of things, eh?

DAVIES: Yes. Yes, I could understand that, I suppose.

SLATER: It’s good for them, us taking them like that. They’re better off for it, sir.

DAVIES: I’m not sure I understand that part, Mr. Slater.

SLATER: For one thing, there’s Christianity. We’re bringing them to a Christian land. That’s got to be better for them than the heathen Allah they got now. That’s the first thing. Second is…we’re saving them from being eaten by their own kind. They do that, you know. Cannibals, all of them.

DAVIES: As I said before, Mr. Slater…below decks, you’re the expert.

Maybe Hume feels like he is civilizing Woods by trying to convert him to Christianity … much like Mr. Slater believed in “Roots.”

The religious bigotry from Hume, however, displays a shameful form of ignorance and bigotry. It also shows that Hume has learned nothing from the bigoted beliefs (symbolic of intolerance) of some people 400 years ago.

It’s not to say Hume is exactly like slave masters, but it is sad he has not learned a little something about religious bigotry from that horrible legacy.

Check out how a few conservatives are predictably coming to the defense of Hume: http://mediamatters.org/research/201001040038

Conservative Politicians Will Try To Use President Obama As Weapon

According to an article in POLITICO, Republicans are attempting to use President Obama as a weapon in the upcoming 2010 elections against Democratic rivals.

This strategy is no big secret. In fact, this is merely Republicans being slow to the punch with a strategy Democrats used (successfully) against George W. Bush during the previous eight years. But, this is more than just the politics of President Obama at play. Many of these political haters had already solidified their feelings for Barack Obama before he was even elected president. Make no mistake about it: the racial angle is difficult to ignore. From a pure political standpoint, it is the gift that keeps on giving for the most hardcore of conservatives. This is not about health care, budget deficits or wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (all of which were problems long before Barack Obama was elected president a little less than 14 months ago). Face it, a significant number of were (and still are) quite a bit uncomfortable with a black president. This secret strategy, from far-right conservatives, seeks to exploit that feeling (on top of the usual politics that are to be expected with any president).

This strategy helps fire up that highly conservative base by plastering images of President Obama all across TV sets and print publications.

There are other factors. Included in the other factors is payback. Republicans and conservatives seethed as they felt President Bush was attacked over and over again (he was attacked quite a bit) in the twilight of his presidency. Like a football game, the hardcore Republicans and conservatives were on defense against a juggernaut of an offensive attack strengthened by the momentum of the game. Now, they have the ball and they are on offense. The right wing now has the ball, but it has little game plan (beyond anger and fear).

Anger and fear will not win elections and will not help Republicans as this country increasingly becomes multicultural.

Check out this comment from the POLITICO article:

“For candidates who are running in Republican gubernatorial primaries, it would be a mistake not to contrast their ideology vis-à-vis the president,” said Brad Todd, a GOP ad man who is a veteran of governor’s races. “We are begging for a national election. It will benefit Republicans in every race where that nationalized dynamic is in place.”

Again, this is the old strategy used against the second President Bush. In general, this national strategy will not work as President Obama still enjoys pretty strong ratings. But, in some isolated pockets of the country, such a strategy will work effectively (as it did during the election of 2008). Many pockets of this country still exist where the men and women continue to hate Barack Obama (some even more so) as they did the minute he became the Democrat frontrunner in the primary in 2008.

POLITICO:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31128.html