What we have is a problem of talking about race.
April 1, 2008 3:48 AM Subscribe
"We've got to be able to talk about it and I can guarantee you this, not a single one of these cotton-pic.... niyah... just ridiculous politicians should be the moderator on the issue of race." (youtube at about 1:27). Commenting on Condoleezza Rice's recent observation that the United States "still has trouble dealing with race because of a national 'birth defect' that denied blacks the same opportunities as whites when the country was founded," CNN's Lou Dobbs almost lets a big huge one get by him.
And in so doing demonstrates with layered irony why talking about race IS so very difficult in America.
The fact is most Americans don't have a problem talking about race. What we have is a problem of talking about race without fearing recrimination and distortion and someone using whatever comments are made for their own purposes. Usually political purposes.
The CNN transcript (scroll all the way to the bottom) isn't entirely faithful. (via the news junkie)
And in so doing demonstrates with layered irony why talking about race IS so very difficult in America.
The fact is most Americans don't have a problem talking about race. What we have is a problem of talking about race without fearing recrimination and distortion and someone using whatever comments are made for their own purposes. Usually political purposes.
The CNN transcript (scroll all the way to the bottom) isn't entirely faithful. (via the news junkie)
This post was deleted for the following reason: Dobbs is a creep, and that was exactly the wrong idiom for him to trot out under the circumstances, but this is more of a Ha ha! live TV gaffe than anything; we've heard worse from better and this is just an argument waiting to happen. -- cortex
I hate Lou Dobbs as much as the next guy but isn't this just a guy with Yosemite Sam swear vocabulary using a stock phrase, realizing the larger implications of what he's saying and catching himself?
And to imply he was going to say the word "nigger" on top of that is a HUGE stretch.
Unless blacks were trying to cross the border...I wouldn't put it past him then.
posted by unsupervised at 4:19 AM on April 1, 2008
And to imply he was going to say the word "nigger" on top of that is a HUGE stretch.
Unless blacks were trying to cross the border...I wouldn't put it past him then.
posted by unsupervised at 4:19 AM on April 1, 2008
Wait one cotton-pickin' minute...are you telling me that CNN would purge a transcript to take out that embarrassing fumble?
I kinda love that he's proving their point for them. I really do.
posted by Hildegarde at 4:23 AM on April 1, 2008
I kinda love that he's proving their point for them. I really do.
posted by Hildegarde at 4:23 AM on April 1, 2008
He was going for "cotton picking" wasn't he? It's one of his favorite terms, he applies it to anyone and everyone.
posted by dabitch at 4:23 AM on April 1, 2008
posted by dabitch at 4:23 AM on April 1, 2008
« Older The Adventure of Many Lifetimes | Matchbox Computing Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by mattoxic at 3:55 AM on April 1, 2008 [2 favorites]