Sharron Angle Is A Chilling Reminder Of The Pull Of Tea Baggers

Sharron Angle, who actually is in a position to possibly become a U.S. senator, should scare more people than she apparently does as she seeks to unseat incumbent U.S. Senator Harry Reid.

That Angle is as popular as she is in Nevada should send shockwaves up the backs of all people in the U.S.

This extremist, using this racially polarizing advertisement to her political advantage, is just too extreme.

Sadly, there is a chance she could win. If she does, the U.S. needs to pause and take a look in the mirror at the ugliness (Sharron Angle) it could send to such a prestigious body.

By watching her ad (showing wholesome white families and dangerous Latinos), you'd think she is running as a segregationist (pre-Civil Rights movement) candidate.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/10/25/angle-immigration-latinos/

No Surprise Angle Continues To Play Racial Politcs As Republicans Use Scorched-Earth Plan

It never ceases to amaze me how some people can make it so far in politics with so little of substance to stand on.

When not using Fox News as her personal public relations firm, Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle is left to her own devices (beginning with the usual race baiting).

From Think Progress:

Last month, Nevada senatorial candidate Sharron Angle (R) released an ad that portrayed opponent Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) as being the “best friend an illegal alien ever had.” This month, Angle’s latest racially-tinged ad goes after Reid and his support of undocumented students.

This is no surprise with Angle and Republicans in this 2012 mid-term election. Since Barack Obama was elected president, right wingers have become unhinged.

The right and the far right are in the midst of a scorched earth plan to win back the U.S. House of Representatives and possibly the U.S. Senate.

Their win, with these tactics, comes at the expense of this country. But, that is our country and it has survived worse.

Republicans spend so much time worrying about the government intruding in their lives, but then turn around and obsess about what people they think are "illegal" are getting.

But, if they don't think "illegal" immigrants are real people then I guess what is happening to them doesn't count in the eyes of the far right.

Sharron Angle did approve this message and that is the saddest part.

Once Again, Harry Reid Looks Weak And All Wrong

Sen. Harry Reid has come out against the building of a so-called mosque in New York near Ground Zero.

I've never been much of a fan of Sen. Harry Reid. Frankly, were he not running against a political nut (Sharron Angle) I would be pulling for his opponent (even a Republican).

But, the reality is that conservatives have put in place a female Tom Tancredo, who simply is too absurdly nutty (OK, maybe she is not quite as bad as Tancredo, but that is not saying much) to be a U.S. senator (then again, who knows what the people of Nevada will do when the time arrives).

This all brings me back to the latest disappointment from Sen. Reid:

The office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada issued a statement saying, "The First Amendment protects freedom of religion. Senator Reid respects that, but thinks that the mosque should be built some place else."

Obviously, the man is in a tough political dogfight, but this is ridiculous. The man is coming down on the side of Sharron Angle on an issue that is little more than bigotry enforced through a sort of peer pressure.

How would Sen. Reid feel if someone said, "We support the right of Asians to eat wherever they want, but we just want them to eat someplace else?"

How would Sen. Reid feel if the people of Nevada said, "We support your right to run for public office, but we want you to do it in some other state?"

Once again, Sen. Reid proves weak and unreliable when it matters most. So often Harry Reid is in a position to do positive things and so often he predictably lets us down.

Lastly, here is what Angle had to say about Reid on Twitter: Nice of you to join us, @HarryReid

That tells you a lot of what you need to know about Sen. Reid.

Even When Harry Reid Provides An Opening, Republicans Screw Up

Here is how a Fox News story begins as it analyzes comments made by Sen. Harry Reid about Hispanics and the Republican party:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is taking heat after he told a crowd of supporters Tuesday that he doesn’t know "how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be a Republican."

Ah, so let the games begin.

Fox News, with all five minority Republican regulars on speed dial (I am being slightly sarcastic with the number ... slightly), finds one that seems most appropriate to respond: Marco Rubio, who is described by Fox News (leave it to this network to never resist an opportunity to promote one of its own) as "one of the GOP's rising stars."

If you're black, somewhat articulate (Jesse Lee Peterson is an exception that may have been sort of grandfathered in) and willing to say something bad about President Obama, at some point you will find yourself on Fox News.

I digress.

Anyway, here is some of what Rubio had to say, in response:

"You know, Americans of Hispanic descent, you know what the strongest issue there is? That is economic empowerment, upward mobility. There’s only one economic system in the world that that’s possible in, time and again, and that’s the American free enterprise system.

"And the reason why Americans of Hispanic descent should be Republicans is because the Democratic leadership is trying to dismantle the American free enterprise system. The point is he’s wrong."

OK, I was almost with Rubio until he got to the end and he turned hypocrite and tried to use Reid's comments to score political points against the Democrats."

Rubio had the moral high ground and blew it (like George W. Bush after 9/11) by turning the comments of Reid into some sort of opportunity to pull a cheap and ham-handed political stunt.

Rubio, why play politics with it?

Why be so stupid?

Rubio is upset because Reid expresses difficulty in understanding why Hispanics would support Republicans, but then turns around and basically tries to make the case for why Hispanics should not support Democrats and should run with the GOP.

To me, Rubio turned himself into a bit of a hypocrite and looked like just another shallow politician willing to use an ill-advised comment (Reid has had more than his fair share of ill-advised and/or stupid ones during his career) to score political and racial points.

OK, so back to the brief video clip.

No, Harry, you don't need to say more. In fact, please don't say too much more. As far as this issue, you've said enough. Democrats, still, are probably thanking their lucky stars that Reid's opponent, Sharron Angle, is a Tea Party nut. Angle makes Rand Paul look normal ... OK ... maybe not.

Still, with Angle as an opponent, it appears luck continues on Harry Reid's side. If he loses, and Angle wins, then luck runs out for the state of Nevada.

CBS News:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20013321-503544.html

Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/11/rubio-blasts-reid-asking-hispanics-republicans/

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.

Biased Bill O’Reilly Takes Cheap Shot Over Sen. Al Franken

On Friday’s edition of The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News right-wing commentator Bill O’Reilly cried more than a spoiled kid in Toys R Us hearing “NO” for the first time. So, what was O’Reilly crying about: his old archenemy Sen. Al Franken. O’Reilly has been waging a war against Franken since before the man became a senator from the state of Minnesota. Franken has been one to stand up to Bully O’Reilly and not take his crap and that is something O’Reilly can’t stand. Like a true bully, O’Reilly depends on intimidation and fear as his weapons of choice.

This all brings me to the nontroversy involving Sen. Franken cutting off Sen. Joe Lieberman who had used up his 10 minutes of time. Sen. Franken, by several reports, merely was following the rules as he was made aware. O’Reilly, however, since blood in the water and once again used his platform to wage a personal battle (think back to previous personal attacks he has made against Boyce Watkins, Jesse Jackson, Ward Churchill, NBC, GE, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Dr. George Tiller … to name a VERY FEW). When O’Reilly got word of the incident (one that even Sen. Lieberman laughed off) he went nuts and used it as provocation to attack Sen. Franken.

O’REILLY: Yesterday on the Senate floor, Joe Lieberman was talking about the health care bill and politely asked for an extension to wrap up his remarks. He didn’t even wait for verbal approval because it is almost always given. But not yesterday. That’s because Senator Al Franken, who was in a rotation presiding over the Senate, objected to Lieberman continuing his remarks in a stunning display of disrespect.

This shouldn’t surprise anyone – Franken is a hater and always has been. But it illuminated why the far-left is despised by most Americans. Franken’s actions were mean, petty, and disrespectful. That’s what we often get from the far-left – just look at their web sites and the savages spewing venom on cable television. It’s true that the right does some of that stuff as well, but not nearly as much.

In the end, Franken’s behavior is self-defeating. It’s incredible that the man is even in the Senate, and now he’s alienated most of the country. Does the far-left really think it’s going to get the support of most Americans using tactics like that?

This shows how nutty O’Reilly really has become and how his sanity is slipping through his greasy fingers. It also, once again, puts on display his right-wing hatred for anything that he perceived to be to the left of the political mainstream. It was not a display of disrespect. Sen. Franken politely told Sen. Lieberman that he had used his time up and there would be no extensions granted. It’s not like he said, “Bitch, sit your punk ass down and be quiet.”

Bill O’Reilly calling anyone a hater is laughable and hilarious considering how much he hates Sen. Franken. So, in other words, he was being directly hypocritical.

In the second paragraph of O’Reilly’s above comments you see his right-wing bias spring to the surface. The last sentence of the second paragraph again illustrates his bias and ignorance. He gives you the boilerplate “the other side does it too.” Only problem is O’Reilly almost never talks about anything negative related to Republicans and when he does it is usually minimized.

The first sentence of the third paragraph shows just how ridiculous O’Reilly is as most people could care less about the exchange. Most people understand that you have rules and you follow them without complaining because you don’t get an exception.

Once again, Bill O’Reilly uses his Fox News-granted platform to fight his personal battle with Sen. Al Franken.

While Sen. Franken has worked hard and is fighting for people, Bill O’Reilly is making lots of money by waging personal vendettas on the airwaves of Fox News.

Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/research/200912180053

Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/17/franken-shuts-lieberman-senate-floor/

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/17/franken-lieberman-minute/

The O’Reilly Sucks Blog:
http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/

I’ve Changed My Mind About Sen. Harry Reid’s Comments

I’ve taken an opportunity to reexamine the controversial comments of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. And, as a result of taking another look at his words, I’ve changed my mind and I think he was pretty much on target with what he said (even if it may come at a bit of a political cost). Reid is right when he speaks of the obstructionists who are akin to those who barked against women’s rights, the Civil Rights Movement, the movement to abolish slavery and the movement for fundamental fairness for GLBTs (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender). We hear the same words: slow down, lets take it slow, lets take a closer look, we’re moving too fast, it’s too soon, be patient, things will work out … blah, blah, blah.

The Senate Majority Leader is right as you read the comments he made that has pushed him into the spotlight.

“Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all the Republicans can come up with is, ’slow down, stop everything, let’s start over.’ If you think you’ve heard these same excuses before, you’re right,” Reid said Monday. “When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said ’slow down, it’s too early, things aren’t bad enough.’”

He continued: “When women spoke up for the right to speak up, they wanted to vote, some insisted they simply, slow down, there will be a better day to do that, today isn’t quite right.

“When this body was on the verge of guaranteeing equal civil rights to everyone regardless of the color of their skin, some senators resorted to the same filibuster threats that we hear today.”

Note that conservatives latched onto the race aspect of what Reid said and all but ignored the full context of what he said when he talked about the rights of women as well? You can believe this is no accident. Once again, the diversity-lacking Republicans are trying to use race as a way of attacking black people and fueling resentment in the hearts of some whites who might be predisposed with the election of Barack Obama.

In what is an almost balanced story (that is saying something for Fox News) comes an interesting comment that puts it all in perspective:

Richard Harpootlian, former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said the comparison was a sign of “silly season in Washington.”

“We see Harry Reid saying silly things on one side, we see Republicans talking about killing grandma on the other — wake up, Washington,” he said.

So true in some ways, but in other ways I can understand where Sen. Reid is coming from with his statement.

Harpootlian does have a point in that the rhetoric is getting wild.

Amazing How Republicans Become Racially Sensitive When They See Opportunity To Attack Democrats

Republicans have had a rather dubious in regard to race relations for decades, but it seems their sensitivity to race has recently been heightened. The right-wing has spotted some blood in the water and is going after one of its favorite targets: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who likened the Republican health care opposition to slavery. As one might expect, right-wing nuts emerged from everywhere to pounce on Sen. Reid and accuse of him of playing the so-called race card (one of angry Michelle Malkin’s favorite terms). Malkin is just one of a gang of conservatives moving into to attack like one of the groups from the legendary Michael Jackson music video, “Beat It.”

As Media Matters for America has pointed out, however, conservatives have for years attacked progressives (in particular) blacks for being slaves to the government. We’ve routinely heard from conservatives that people who are on welfare are like slaves and that if health care is enacted that people will essentially become slave-like.

Here are the remarks Media Matters for America cited from conservatives (with the usual subjects in Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and Michelle Malkin leading the way):

Fox’s Bolling: “Were you shocked as I was when I heard him?” On the December 7 edition of Fox News’ Your World, guest host Eric Bolling — who also frequently guest hosts for Glenn Beck — asked Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (TX): “[W]ere you shocked as I was when I heard him compare — if you were against health care, you may actually be in favor of slavery?” Bolling later asked if Reid’s comments were an indication of “desperation” about health care reform.

FoxNews.com: Reid “took his GOP-blasting rhetoric to a new level Monday.” In a December 7 article, FoxNews.com wrote that Reid “took his GOP-blasting rhetoric to a new level Monday, comparing Republicans who oppose health care reform to lawmakers who clung to the institution of slavery more than a century ago.”

Limbaugh: “This is outrageous.” On his radio show, Rush Limbaugh said that Reid’s remarks were “outrageous, because Harry Reid knows the Republican Party was born in the fight against slavery.” Limbaugh added that Reid’s remarks are an indication of what Democrats have “been reduced to.”

Malkin: Reid “playing the race card.” In a December 7 post, Michelle Malkin wrote that Reid was playing the race card in his remarks, adding: “I’m sure Nevadans appreciate being likened to slavemasters, too.”

It just goes to show the nuts at Fox News along with a cabinet-level nut like Malkin and the NOTUS (Nut Of The United States) Rush Limbaugh are the biggest of the hypocrites.

Where was Michelle Malkin’s outrage when Glenn Beck used slavery multiple times to attack progressives.

This is another way some conservatives gleefully spit in the face of minorities and act as if minorities are not smart enough to sift through the B.S. and middle-America whites are not smart enough to understand their game.

Check out the evidence Media Matters for America displays to show that conservatives lacked the outrage when they’re diversity-challenged side has made comments using slavery.