Recently, former President Jimmy Carter recently claimed that Newt Gingrich was using the "subtle" language of "racism" in his campaign. When asked by CNN's Peirs Morgan if he thought Newt was a racist, President Carter responded thusly:
“Newt Gingrich is probably as enlightened as I am about being gratified that we’re in the desegregation years in the South,” but “when you emphasize, over and over, welfare, food stamps, and ‘why don’t the black people get jobs,’ and if I’m president, I’ll make sure they turn toward a work ethic, rather than an ethic of welfare and food stamps, that’s appealing to the wrong element in South Carolina.”
President Carter is correct. Newt Gingrich has been subtly blowing his racist "dog whistle" throughout this campaign. His argument that inner-city school children should be required to work as janitors in order to obtain their free or reduced lunches is one such example. His pointedly patronizing and contemptuous attitude toward FOX News' Juan Williams is another example. Recently, at a South Carolina town hall meeting, a questioner thanked Newt for "putting Mr. Juan Williams in his place". Newt visibly flinched at the question--but did not correct her for using language that came straight out of the "Jim Crow Era" South. He repeatedly calls Obama "the food stamp president". Well, when you inherit the economy that 8 years of George W Bush resulted in, of course you are going to have a record number of people on food stamps.
My question is this. If Newt and his supporters truly wish to unite all Americans, why use the subtle language of the by-gone era of segregation?
"Jones", why are so many Republicans still unsure that their President is an American citizen? Why are so many Republicans convinced that President Obama is secretly a Kenyan Muslim...and a socialist? Is this why Newt is surging in both the South Carolina and National presidential polls? Why does the new Republican front-runner seem to be surging to the top of the pack? Is it the fact that he's reading from a script that could have been written by Strom Thurmond and the Dixie-Crats?
Why does Newt seem to be appealing to the "Lesser Angels of Our Nature"? And, why are so many Republicans thrilled by Newt's rhetoric?
4 comments:
1. I do not support Newt.
2. The establishment does not support Newt and no candidate can win without it.
3. Newt will not be the Republican nominee.
4. I am willing to put my money where my mouth is.
5. Didn't Democrats learn anything from the 2010 election, the Tea Party Revolution and the Occupy Wall-Street Protests? The merger of government with corporate interests is what so many folks are angry about. Americans are not friendly to fascism. It serves the government, it serves the corporations, but it screws the middle-class, the "working man," in this country. Audit the Fed. Abolish Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Never again TARP - corporate bail-outs (AIG, GM, 13 big banks too big to fail, etc.) and federally mandated health-care. Get illegal immigration under control. Move toward real energy independence. Stop the war on religion. Their anger is justified.
6. Rep. James Clyburn of GA said on CNN State of Union that he does not believe Newt is racist. Rep. Clyburn has known Newt for decades. He is also an African American who served in Congress with Newt, and who is still serving now. He is the 3rd highest ranking Democrat in Congress. Maybe you should listen to one of your own.
7. Besides stop trying to divert attention away from Obama and his failed policies. Why did this administration refuse to implement the Simpson/Bowles plan to get our budget, deficit and debt under control? Why did he refuse the Keystone Pipeline? Rejecting both is simply not being reasonable nor rational.
8. Liberals like yourself hate Newt because he spotlights how bad this administration is for the American people. Democrats would rather the attention be on somebody, anybody else, besides Obama and his failed policies which is badly hurting this country.
9. It is time for a change, change that we can believe in.
PBS Radio Producer Explains Why Harry Belafonte’s Anti-Obama Remarks Were Cut From Show
Actor-activist Harry Belafonte, Part 1
Actor-activist Harry Belafonte, Part 2
Smiley & West featuring Jeffrey Sachs & Harry Belafonte
Are you telling me that the Chicago political machine of Obama will not appeal to the "Lesser Angels of Our Nature"?
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