Subscribe to Breaking NewsWithers: Santorum proves once again why the GOP can’t attract black voters
There are three assumptions I make about American politics: 1) blacks vote for Democrats out of habit, 2) Republicans could increase their numbers of black votes if they put the race stuff away, and 3) Republicans are never going to get a nice slice of black voters because they are tone deaf when it comes to race.
Are Republicans inherently racist ? Naw, not anymore than folk on my side of the political aisle (yes Virginia there are liberals who are no different from David Duke when the talking point is race), but the heavy hitters in the GOP are unable to talk about black folk minus a heavy dose of patronizing. Take former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. Maybe it’s hard to expect much from a man who said some bat doo nonsense about gays and lesbians, but if the GOP is going to follow the advice of the late Jack Kemp on race, Santorum needs to either shut his mouth or pick up his game.
Here is the former senator complaining about President Barack Obama’s date with the First Lady this past Saturday.
My concern isn’t Santorum quoting figures. He has every right to ruminate on problems in the “black community”; however, the tone needs to stay away from the plantation. “Oh you crazy colored Obamas. Sure you have Ivy League degrees, and money in the bank, but you really need to hang out at the local bar if you are going go on a date. Dinner and a play. Come on now? You all ain’t white. Go drink that Mad Dog and be an example to your peoples.”
The former senator would never make this type of suggestion to a white couple because race, or any identity marker, trumpets individuality. In the world of Santorum the Obamas are not a couple. They are a BLACK couple and need to act accordingly because it confuses poor black couples who don’t understand the Obamas are richer than them.
Thanks fo’ the advice Massa Rick. Wheres would we be without youse wise wordings.
The irony is the GOP thinks its not racist and note that the only reason they selected Michael Steele to head the RNC is mere window dressing. They are reeling that a black is in the White House and to counter their racist mentality as we’ve seen with the Sotomayor debacle, they select this clown Steele who hasn’t a clue about anything. I have to laugh when moderates state theirs is a big tent where everyone is welcome. Well, if that’s the case, why weren’t we represented in the GOP convention last year? Can they name one piece of legislation they’ve ever backed and passed in favor of any semblance of equality for LGBT voters? How Log Cabiners could continue supporting them is baffling. There are more important things to be concerned with than personal wealth, lower taxes or not paying taxes and preservation of the status quo. No wonder their party is in exile. Long may that continue.
“Republicans have been doing their best to make hay out of the cost of the trip, and Santorum was no exception,” – War Room
No more expensive than GWB flying around America trying to get republican’s re-elected. Mr. Santorum was fired by The People of Pennsylvania: exactly because of these comments he would reiterate, and his out right snooty attitude. He was replaced by a fine man who goes by the name of Robert P. Casey Jr.
It is President Obamas comfortable association with the average American: The Republican Party is really picking on. He can break away from [them] and party with The People, feel at ease with us, as well as them.
The American people like seeing there President enjoying himself along side average American’s. He feels equally comfortable being our nation’s leader; or standing in line like the rest of have to do.
I thought going to the local hamburger spot, doing a ‘pick-up’ for lunch – was a hoot. I for one like seeing people “dumbed down”. This is what was wrong with Mr. Santorum all along.
Jonthan, you’d be doing the same thing he’s guilty of.
Good article and I’ve never heard it said so well, tone deaf.
That sorry clown has the nerve to suggest that the President and First Lady of the United States shouldn’t be going to a Broadway show?? Like maybe they’re too uppity?
Something to consider about Mr Santorum. His daddy worked for the VA. conservatives are fond of making disparaging comments about government employees–often similar to what they say about public school teachers, and generally along the lines of “Couldn’t find a job anywhere else.” So maybe that’s the genesis of Santorum’s petty racism (and it was both, in, uh, spades). Maybe, deep down, he’s a little defensive about that. Maybe it rankles Lil’ Ricky that a BLACK man and a BLACK woman made it higher than he ever will. Jealousy is a sickness.
Perhaps Santorum’s next suggestion will be the First Annual White House Pimp n Ho Ball?
It’s nice to know there are Gay White people who would look at me with disgust just because of my skin color. I’ll remember to use that thought process with white people from now on. Thanks Rodney.
As for the Obama’s going out to dinner, I guess it’s odd to have a couple in the white house that really works on their marriage. That seem to make sure their family is the focus regardless of all the madness surrounding them.
For all the BS focus on family this country, it’s not surprising that this couple focusing on their family bothers that same group.
“How stupid this all is. So the Obamas
decided to take in a Broadway show. Why are
people soiling their shorts over that?” quote
I’ll answer – because the quantity of crap inside their bodies exceeds the volume of their bodies.
Scientific for – when you are overfilled with shit, out it spills.
Oh, BTW, there was a meeting in Santorum’s senate office a couple years ago. He so freaked out he almost broke his neck (dear God, you almost….).
Shows you how the church builds anxieties into peoples minds which is a key part of brainwashing.
It was an odd comment for her to make in any event. Nobody who has NOT lived a particular upbringing based upon some quality of being (race, gender, sexual orientation) is going to be more informed about that experience than the person who HAS lived it. At best, someone can empathize and draw parallels, but they can never be exactly the same. However, I think her remarks went a bit far in implying that the judges do not possess enough impartiality as to render the appropriate judgment. Being a part of any class of people does not automatically grant you perfect objectivity – someonetimes people are so blinded by their emotions because of their experiences that they assume all people do or should perceive their situation as they do. That isn’t necessarily true. So, while I appreciate her point of view, I think she took it somewhat farther than can be fully supported.
I agree, Republicans seem to be “tone” deaf. You have tons of white, male, republicans complaining about Sotomayor being a racist for suggesting she knows more about the problems of Latina women than they do. They insist that they understand while they simultaneously claim that their experiences are not fundamentally different. The fact that they claim to get it, is precisely why they don’t. They claim to have sets of experiences that they do not.
Rodney – there is a lot of sterotyping going on in both directions in regard to race. Stereotypes exist because they have been created based upon observation over a period of time, this however, does not make them universally true. If the person doing the viewing is already predisposed toward a mindset, they rarely possess any objectivity.
Your comments are counter-productive at best. Of course there are racists in all political parties – but there are also racists in all races as well. I’ve known as many black people who were racist against whites as I’ve known white people racist against blacks. It’s like that inaccurate title “reverse-discrimination” – there really is no such thing… there is only DISCRIMINATION.
There have any continue to be many black people who are very supportive of GLBT people and not the least bit racist themselves. The same can be said for many white people and for all other races.
But judging an entire group of people with sweeping generalizations is unhelpful and quite a bit self-serving don’t you think.
Nobody is going to be able to grow beyond their prejudices by being called names.
Mutual respect, patience and a genuine desire for real communication would get us all a lot further.
santorum:The frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex.
google it if ya don’t believe me.
How stupid this all is. So the Obamas
decided to take in a Broadway show. Why are
people soiling their shorts over that?
Oh my GAWD!!! I can’t even imagine someone saying something like that. He’s the PRESIDENT!!! Why shouldn’t he enjoy the perks of his lifestyle. So it’s cool if black people make it into the upper class just so long as they don’t live like it? Even for a repub this is a special kind of mind numbing.
not*
Remeber the old saying “The crimes of the few cannot justify the actions of the many.” Well un this situation it rings very, very true. Rodney what you are doing is stereotyping a group of people into a certain mindset, right now you are no different from giving them stereotypical personalities. I am definitely a social butterfly, i have a great deal of friends of all races, ethinicities (sic?), creeds, political affiliations, and sexual orientations. What you are implying through what you have written is that over 2/3rds of the black community are poor, unintelligent, and aggressive towards other minorites. WIF!?! Thats like saying that all Lesbians ride Motorcycles and have short hair while all Gay men have rampant drug/sex/alcohol addictions. Thats no true in least bit of sense.
Once again Mr. Withers you provide an awesome article for 365, keep up the good work.
Yes I agree Withers, there are those of the left-wing persuasion(such as myself) who have a low tolerance for negro shenanigans. I for one have grown less tolerant as I have grown older, of blacks, black ignorance and of course black homophobia.
There are alot of liberals, progressives, socialists and even Communists who don’t have the time nor patience to deal with Africans. Hell, even black intelectuals grow disheartened and sickened by the black community and how they screw themselves far more than white people could ever dream.
Look at the sociological commentary by Aaron McGruder, look at his Return of the King episode when Martin Luther King makes his “Will you ignorant niggers please shut the hell up speech”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYggWJZZSw8 even he would be disgusted by the insanity coming from Afro-America, HomophObama and Africans in general. Why Withers are blacks shocked when people, be they white, gay, straight, Asian, Mexican et all don’t care for blacks?
You can call me “racist” all you want, and I will simply compliment you on your observation skills. But why am I racist? It’s not just Obama, it’s not just black homophobia. It takes alot for me to not like a group of people, be they Muslims, Mormons or Africans. When black people wonder why people can’t stand them, they need to look in the mirror, not so much at their skin color as much as black attitudes and (mis)behavior.