White Guy From Mid-Michigan Declares Jackson And Sharpton Spokesmen For Black People … So Stupid

I am always amazed how conservative white guys jump up and declare Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton spokesmen for the so-called black community. It is so ignorant to suggest that black people need one or two spokespeople to speak on their behalf as if they’re too stupid to speak on their own. Where are the leaders for the white community, the Latino community, the Asian American community or the Native American community? And, if they are out there, why are they not being set up to be attacked as Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton are being put into position to be attacked?

This is from a Midland, Mich. writer named Chris Stevens, who states in a blog titled “Anything goes: Instead of Limbaugh, let’s say ‘no’ to Jackson and Sharpton”:

So Rush Limbaugh’s bid to be one of the buyers of the St. Louis Rams is being opposed by, among others, the Revs. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

Why doesn’t that surprise me?

Sharpton and Jackson have as much politically in common with Limbaugh as the Detroit Lions have with Super Bowl championships.

Zilch.

That’s not the whole story, of course. If Sharpton and Jackson are involved in something nationally, typically race is involved.

That’s their shtick. They are, and have been, the designated spokespeople for the black race. And that’s quite puzzling.

He stats that if Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton are involved then race is probably an issue. But, who is asking the questions? Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton don’t run CNN and MSNBC and they sure as hell don’t run the far-right Fox News. They don’t run NBC, CBS, ABC, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, etc.

So, a conservative white guy declares that Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton are spokesmen for the so-called black community. Now, this is done because conservatives in the media have worked for decades to demonize Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton as a means of knocking down and keeping down what they call “the black community.” They declare Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton the so-called leaders of “the black community” or the so-called spokesmen for “the black community” and then turn around and attack the two. Is this a disguised attack on blacks as a people?

Is Rush Limbaugh the spokesman for the white community? He is for a large number of far-right conservatives.

So, this writer ends by stating:

Sharpton and Jackson have had their time in the limelight.

It’s time for them to go away.

He seems to have left Limbaugh’s name out of that statement. Should be surprised? Of course we should not be surprised.

Don’t for one minute believe conservatives like Chris Stevens want men like Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton to go away. I agree that the media should allow other strong and young black voices (alternative voices) a platform in the media, but that is not the interest of conservatives like Chris Stevens.

It’s a disguised and passive-aggressive way of attacking black people.

Race Card = Racism Charge Defense Mechanism

Far-right conservatives have gravitated to this tired “race card” thing like flies on a pile of … well, you get it.

“Race card” become a racism-accusation shield for many on the far right.

This leads me to a column written in the Midland (Mich.) Daily News by Chris Stevens who is whining about criticism he says he has gotten for his criticism of President Obama. He goes to the hysterical concept that basically everyone who criticizes the president is considered a racist … … Stevens is big on talk while woefully thin on specifics.

Not all are racists … most are just straight-up haters who were in full hate mode right from the beginning.

It begins …

It never fails.

Say something critical about President Obama and a response(or two or three) on the website always has to include something about race. As in, “You’re a racist, Stevens.”

It’s not always the main point expressed, but it is usually mixed in with the other comments critical of what I write.

Now, keep in mind, I’ve written several pieces about Obama, and I’ve yet to mention his race. Never dawned on me, actually.

If I had written a sentence such as, “Our president is a socialist, and by the way, did you notice that he’s black? …” then I think those playing the race card would have a reason to be upset.

First, you don’t need to mention race for racism to be a motive. If you’re smart you figure out better ways of making such a point. “I’ve yet to mention his race” Stevens writes. OK, maybe that’s true. He continues, “never dawned on me, actually.” Not buying that part. I have no evidence for my belief, but anyone who says President Obama’s race has never dawned on them seems unlikely to be truthful. In fact, this flat fails the truth test unless you live in that Bill O’Reilly imagined utopia … in a galaxy far, far away … where you supposedly don’t notice race (even though everyone knows he damn well does).

His last paragraph of that excerpt shows a classic case of trying to throw you off the scent. It’s the because-I-didn’t-mention-his-race-it-can’t-be-racism defense. Then, Stevens invokes the customary “race card” statement as a sort of boilerplate … the standard defense against any and all charges of racism (whether real or imagined). Similar to the old American Express commercials … the motto for this would be don’t enter a debate without (your Race Card Charge plate) … don’t leave home without it. Yes, when you’re accused of race (real or imagined) you automatically scream “race card” as your defense.

Stevens continues:

But I haven’t written a statement like that in my columns and I never will. That’s not me.

For a white man, such as me, it comes with the turf. You criticize someone who’s black, and, chances are, there’s someone out there who believes your real motive is that you don’t like people of color.

This is step two of the defense against a charge of racism (real or imagined). You turn the tables and begin to play the role of victim, “For a white man, such as me, it comes with the turf.” This is right out of the textbook.

Anyway, cutting to the end…

Stevens then proceeds to talk about a nutty columnist named Erik Rush who has been on Fox News from time to time to play his understood role (the black man who will come on and say negative things about President Obama so that the far-right nuts can keep their hands dry). Rush, who is nuttier than Mr. Peanut, shares this role with the likes of the dubious Jesse Lee Peterson (who is akin to a modern-day slave catcher) and others.

Yes, this is the same old stuff.