I’m not a fan of Eugene Kane’s (registration req.), and if I were a columnist for a big newspaper writing about why liberalism is bad for America, he probably wouldn’t be a fan of mine, either.
In his latest column, “Edwards Might Hold Key To Energizing Black Vote”, Kane ponders whether Edwards’s “comfort” around black people will win them (us?) over. I don’t know about all that, but I suspect Edwards would be very uncomfortable around me.
Unlike most of the black voting bloc, I don’t like condescending “race talk.” I’ll take religious talk, occupational talk, blogger/writer talk and even gender talk, but not skin-color talk. For those who don’t understand why race is divisive and shouldn’t be part of a campaign platform, there aren’t enough words to explain it.
I couldn’t care less what Edwards’s comfort level is. All that matters to me is that he supports child-killing, race discrimination and a host of other issues incompatible with my beliefs. But some people don’t care about such things.
Kane writes:
“I’ve grown up with African-Americans; there’s a comfort level,” Edwards said.
He spoke to me just minutes after his speech at the rally, which was followed by a bout of hand-shaking and picture taking.
“I’m accustomed to being around black people.”
In fact, Edwards said he knew enough about black voters to understand what they dislike about national politicians who reach out to their community only at election time.
This is what masquerades as insight these days. Name one person who enjoys when people come around only when they want something.
What’s so bad about white liberals “reaching out” to blacks? Reaching out is not the problem per se; it’s the race pandering that inevitably follows. There seems to be a misunderstanding of the word pander, which is defined as “cater[ing] to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit[ing] their weaknesses.” It’s a pejorative term and not synonymous with “reaching out.” Playing on the anger and resentment of one race and socioeconomic class toward another is not good.
I learned a long time ago that what is obvious to me may be obscure to others. While liberals like Kane believe that Edwards’s “comfort” around blacks is an important quality for a leader to have, I couldn’t care less. Just as long as I’m treated with courtesy, I don’t care what he might be feeling. He can keep his feelings to himself.
I hope George Bush never gets it into his head to pull the some-of-my-best-friends-are-black routine. I’d hang my head in shame. I don’t care if he never saw a black person until he was 30 years old. The point is what he stands for, not whether he’s well-versed in the black subculture. Familiarity with American culture (freedom!) is enough for me.
Kane shares more of Edwards’s deep thoughts:
In our short talk after the rally, Edwards told me he felt most African-American voters wanted one thing more than anything else. “They don’t want their race to be an impediment to what they want to do with their life.”
He noted the unfairness of low-income whites in America getting better interest rates for loans than wealthier blacks and suggested that was something that needs to change.
Who said life was fair? Loan approval and interest rates are based on many things, including credit ratings. If wealthier blacks have lower ratings than low-income whites, it follows that their interest rates will be higher.
But cause and effect is an afterthought in political discourse. For example, some think that if there are more black students being expelled from school than whites, the cause is racism. A simple examination of suspension-worthy behavior should clear things up, right? When people imply that blacks are turned down for loans at a higher rate because they’re black, an applicant’s credit rating is a non-issue in PC culture. This is akin to the “disparate impact” theory in race preferences. If blacks are failing an aptitude test at a higher rate, for instance, then the test must be “racist.”
As a Christian, I have more in common with Bush than I have with any unbeliever, regardless of color. But this is what happens when God is taken out of the equation. Skin color and special interests trump all things.
I could go like this all day, but I think you get the point. Eugene Kane needs to retire, and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel needs to hire me so I can write about race pandering white liberals.
I wonder what effect that would have on Edwards’s “comfort level.”
{ 42 comments }
La Shawn,
What does that mean “I’ve grown up with African-Americans, there’s a comfort level”? Is he trying to imply that because he went to school with some Black kids or had some Black families as neighbors, he should garner the en bloc “Black vote” that Democrats have become accustomed to?
What in the world does that have to do with what he believes in, how he would represent the interests of the public (black, White and otherwise). Whether his views coincide with the views of the individual voter regardless of skin color? I am so tired of this kind of race pandering stuff that it makes me nearly irrational.
OK, I feel better now:-)
It’s the reason I write, Montie. What I don’t get is why this sort of thing doesn’t bother more blacks.
Even the whole “comfort” thing–people incessently referring to their comfort levels or the need for someone to step out of his comfort zone–is so annoying. I spend a huge amount of my life outside my comfort zone, and sometimes I’m even doing the right thing when I’m uncomfortable! But not always. Edwards claiming to have a comfort level around blacks is goofy. Is that tantamount to virtue? Comfort or discomfort is nothing. Voting records are everything.
Edwards comments reminded me of this site: http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com. Note, this is not always clean or particularly conservative, but it is funny, and I think Edwards would fit right in.
I have a sarcastic comment about my own high school friends that I use in times like this, but it’s the exact same stuff Edwards was saying. The joke isn’t funny to me anymore now that dead-serious people are saying it, and in a political campaign no less.
I estimate Bush would say the comment sarcastically, as I have used it, but he doesn’t because he has more taste than me.
I don’t ever remember Bush talking about his wonderful relationship with his Cuban sister-in-law. I think that’s because he has given it thought sometime in his life. The same goes for Edwards amd why he said what he did, but the thoughts were different.
Someone should ask Edwards what music he likes.
“I’ve grown up with African-Americans, there’s a comfort level”
Such comments remind me of my father when he would talk about hunting or fishing back in Arkansas. He would comment in the same tone, how comfortable he was around wild animals because he grew up around them.
Something to think about in regards to this man’s true mentality, or anyone who comments about blacks or other so called races in this manner. Sad indeed.
His first mistake was to make a comment that had the word African. I was not aware that a comfort level was something to strive for.
It sure bothers me. I can’t stand it, and I don’t understand why those of us who staunchly vote Democrat can’t see it…or won’t.
Comfort level? I’ve got that with everyone and I call ‘em Earthings. Humanoids. Kinda like regular “people” judged, not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Sound familiar?
And speaking of comfort, while he draws convenient Class Warfare comparisons and is SOOO concerned with interest rates as it applies to poor whites & better off blacks, something stood out to be……begging to be questioned:
Mr. Edwards, are you as concerned with uppity, bourgeois, black kids from families making $60,000……….that are getting their heads KICKED IN scholastically every year?
You know, middle class black kids getting whupped by those commonly referred to as “Poor White Trash”, those poor whites that seem to know and apply educational proficiency as a way of escaping poverty?
How ’bout THAT Mr. Edwards, are you nice & comfy with that, you cheap Clinton Great White Hope knock-off??
I’m just axin……….whassup, dawg? You da answa man. Bring it on.
When I hear in the news things like: “Such-and-such percent of blacks think this” and “such-and-such percent of hispanics vote that” and “such-and-such percent of Asian-Americans believe in this” it really bothers me, because I feel that’s a racist attitude. We’re all Americans here, folks. Nobody should be any different than anyone else in this country — that’s what equality is all about!! But Dems don’t see it that way; they think everyone should be compartmentalized, and that way they can control them in the name of “equality.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “dream” will never be realized as long as everyone continues to be separated in the news. And that won’t happen until liberals throw off their racist attitudes.
Shayne
“I’ve grown up with African-Americans; there’s a comfort level,”
I don’t know about you, but that sentence leaves me hanging.
A comfort level with what?
“Hanging with the homeboys?” Reparations? Hip-hop?
Or just representing them when they happen to have a slam-dunk personal injury case?
Speaking of which, I just saw a bumpersticker:
“Kerry-Edwards
When you’re as full of crap as these guys…
YOU NEED TWO JOHNS“
I agree with Andy. The sentence isn’t complete. Comfort level with what? And is the implication that whites and blacks are automatically uncomfortable with each other, and only become comfortable over an extended period of time together?
I’ve never been more comfortable with anyone in my life than the first black lady I ever saw, when I was six years old and couldn’t find my way home from my new school. I asked her to help me, and she did, and she was my hero. I didn’t waste any time trying to feel “comfortable” with her, or I might still be wandering around in circles today!
I think http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com./ is the perfect follow up to Kane’s article on the empty-headed butt-licking of Edwards and the Left.
The funniest part of that site is that people actually say and do the dumb things the site talks about.
The other funny thing is that Kane seems to think that is a good thing.
dope.
I grew up around some Democrats. Think I can re-energize the Democrat vote for the Republicans?
Thanks for the link, and the heads up on my blogroll… I thought I had already made that change…
What Mr. Miller said!
And, pretty much, dittos to the rest.
I grew up an Army brat – for all the problems the Army had in the 60’s and 70’s, and they were legion, we kids, especially overseas, were just ‘Muricans. No hyphens.
If we had problems, they were more class-driven, when officer’s kids somehow thought that their daddies rank made a difference to the Sergeant’s son.
Heheheheheh. Fun times, then.
The attitude the Left has about “fairness” in life is one of things that gets me. Life is NOT fair! We American are so spoiled these days. Some seem to think that life owes us something. While in other parts of the world, they don’t know if they will eat the next day. Preach on, La Shawn!
When I went to college, I was around some whites who never personally knew a Black person.
Yes, they had a discomfort level.
If anyone things there is nothing about “race talk,” stay around and watch what happens when a white woman finds out that many Black women don’t wash their hair daily.
Or ponder the statement, “My skin is ashy.”
And there’s a lot more.
La Shawn, there is NO doubt that the Black media will cover some news stories differently than the white media.
Just compare Black Enterprise to Money. I challenge you to say that Black Enterprise’s view isn’t necessary.
I don’t deny the discomfort level, perceived or otherwise. I don’t care.
In politics, comfort level is important, regardless of race. You don’t care, fine. Many other people do care.
I am interested in this comment:
Unlike most of the black voting bloc, I don’t like condescending “race talk.”
I’m curious if you believe Black Enterprise is condescending because of the way they present economic issues.
Good Lord, Man! She’s not talking about Black Enterprise, she’s talking about politicians on the campaign trail. Sheesh.
Love your site, LaShawn.
If Edwards truly had a “comfort level” he wouldn’t even notice the color of the person he was talking to, and wouldn’t need to refer to a “comfort level.”
Here’s an example. I have a girlfriend who is very obese. I don’t consider myself having a comfort level with obese people, or refer to her as my “obese friend.” I don’t automatically feel comfortable when I’m in a room filled with obese people. My friend is who she is, under her skin, and her obesity is not something I spend time noticing.
I have another example of this liberal “comfort level.” When I went to high school (I’m white), I chose a magnet school that was located in the middle of the housing project. It didn’t bother me or my dad, and I had a wonderful four years as a member of the marching band. However, when my cousin’s high school was redistricted and she would have to attend my school, my very liberal uncle used another relative’s address to prevent my cousin from having to attend “that school.”
In public, he uses terms such as Edwards. In private, we know him better.
I have a terrible feeling that I know what he means by “comfort level.” Just like me, Edwards grew up in the South during the days of “Jim Crow” and the days soon after that when things hadn’t changed all that much. I bet Edwards felt a lot more comfortable around black people than they felt around him. Why shouldn’t he have felt comfortable around them? For many years after 1964 white people were in total and sometimes ruthless control over black people in the South.
Even in 1981, when I briefly lived in Beaumont, Texas (which is right next door to Vidor the headquarters of the Grand Wizard of the Texas KKK), blacks were intimidated into submission and I have to believe that they felt far more uncomfortable and threatened when in the presence of white people than white people felt when in their’s.
I’d like to find out how many black people worked in the good paying jobs (if at all)at the mill where John Edward’s father worked when Edwards was growing up. I’m sure it was a union shop. In Beaumont, even during the 1980’s, black people were kept out of good jobs at the refineries and plants by the OCAW.(Oil,Construction and Atomic Workers) The union wouldn’t admit blacks and, therefore, blacks couldn’t get jobs in the plants–at least jobs other than janitor. The white people who grew up there thought nothing of it. That’s how it had always been. Of course, they loved their family maid but that’s not the same as accepting the maid’s husband as a fellow boilermaker or pipefitter.
Maybe like most Southerners his age who grew up during that period, he has seen the error of the way things were, but it is totally condescending of him to try to say that the experience of growing up in the Deep South during Jim Crow days caused him to have some special rapport with black people.
On second thought, maybe it was a “special rapport”–but certainly not one that black people would appreciate if they want to be treated like rational adults.
People who didn’t grow up during that period have no clue what it was like. John Edwards is a condescending twit and he apparently doesn’t even realize it.
Oh, and one more thing. Those union people in Beaumont I mentioned above, they were and still are Democrats. And their heroes in town were the Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Trial Lawyers who got their members big asbestosis and silicosis settlements based on junk science. One of those big Democrat Trial Lawyers represented the union directly. He never said a word to that union about its discrimination against Blacks during that period.
He’s still there and I’m sure that he is one of John Edward’s biggest supporters.
You nailed this LaShawn. Your take on these issues is as dead on as it can be. I am so sick of pandering politicians. Edwards is all about classifying and dividing people by race, class- anything he can think of to give himself an edge. His little act is actually immoral.
I know what voters really want, even if Edwards and the voters themselves sometimes don’t-
Voters want freedom and constitutional rights. Edwards classification schemes are not good for anyone’s constitutional rights.
I wonder how many years it will be before someone will win a big national office by forcefully arguing that quotas violate constitutional protections. That day is coming. I just don’t know how far in the future that day will be. Who knows, maybe LaShawn could be that politician- QUITE a few years(decades?) down the road!
Amen. I just hate it when someone used the “I have black friends tone” to justify that they KNOW what I want. No, they don’t. They should know what I want, like and dislike because they are a friend of Renee. I grew up around and have many white friends but I don’t KNOW what they want or like until they each tell me, and then I find out that they ALL don’t like the saem things. It’s one of those “defies the laws of common sense” when people actually listen to this crap and uses the words (and not the deeds) to justify supporting someone.
GEEESH
SueBob, that was good.
Bearing in mind that his formative years as son of a blue-collar mill worker took place in the 50’s, his environment wouldn’t be much of a stretch from your 80’s experience in Beaumont as mine were, due north up around Longview, TX.
Get far enough from town and one’ll find blacks still living in sharecropper type shanties.
I should have framed BoyJohn’s comfort level in that context, rather than the modern day context, when I asked: A comfort level with what?
Hip-hop?Crusin’ around in the General Lee, cranking up on Waylon Jennings’ “Good ole boys”.“Hanging with the homeboys?”Hangin’ with the rednecks and,Makin’ their way,
The only way they know how,
That’s just a little bit more than the law will allow,
putting the fear o’god in the black folks
Or just representing them when they happen to have a slam-dunk personal injury case?Just good ol’ boys,
Wouldn’t change if they could,
Fightin’ the system like a true modern day Robin Hood.
Reparations?The South’s gonna do it again?That said, Edwards’ comfort level is
differentlower than say, Charles Pickering or even ex-Dukes of Hazzarder Goober.And to think his own state wouldn’t even vote for him again if given the chance.
I was just reading an article on Kerry in Time Magazine at the Doctor’s office today. It shows just what an idiot, hypocrite and panderer he is. He talked about how when he was in high school, one of his black football teammates lost both of his parents. Out of the goodness of their hearts, his family had him over on game night to make sure he had a good meal. WHAT??!! WHAT??!! This story was a major part of the article. I just want to ask a few questions. If you’re so “comfortable with blacks” why didn’t you take this poor orphan into your home? Granted, he may have had relatives that he went to live with, but are you trying to tell me that they aren’t good enough to feed him? Also, What about other days of the week besides game night? What about the rest of the year? It seems that the Edwards family had an ulterior motive and vested interest in feeding this teammate. Maybe he was a good player and could help them win games, but only on a full belly provided by the white men. How condescending! The only time this idiot Democrat, Edwards mentions liking a black person is when he wants to get their vote. I wonder what his black teammate is doing today. They didn’t mention that in the story. I sure would like to hear his side.
Dark Star, I know black women don’t wash their hair daily. It’s very fragile, and would dry out and break if they did. Also, if you’re “ashy”, put some hand lotion on those areas. I’m white, and I’m not fazed at all by those statements.
KiKi,
What I related were things I directly experienced or saw first hand with white people who had never been around Black people.
Concerning hair, it isn’t the fact that the hair is brittle, it’s the perm and hairstyle that’s of concern.
Sounds like “Some of my best friends are black”.
Byron, I was thinking of the exact same website you posted. LOL
SueBob, I am from the Beaumont area, and I know of exactly which you speak. People think I’m nuts when I say that the most racist white people I know are Democrats. Jefferson County, Texas was a blue county in 2000. I don’t know if the racist attitudes are still there today, but they were rather prevalent in the 80s and 90s, sometimes going both ways.
I will say that I experienced some racist slurs while living in Beaumont. I was called ’skinny white …..” several times when just walking through the mall there. And yes, I was called that by black people I didn’t even know. The tension was very high. Conversely, I was once invited and went to a BSA dance (black student assc). They asked me about the ‘white girl’ dance, which I knew nothing about. Apparently, they were talking about line dancing. I didn’t take offense, but admitted I like rock-n-roll better than country. That was a more positive experience in that arena.
I have hope that Beaumont has changed for the better. Formerly racist Beaumont is the exception, not the rule, in Texas. But isn’t it funny that the very people that give Texas a bad name are constantly accusing the Republicans of being racists? I repeat, BLUE COUNTY since forever and ever.
And yes, trial lawyer Humphreys is about as crooked as they get. Funny story, though. In the ’90s, there was a big hoo-rah-rah over all the politicians from that area and some dirty dealings at Lamar University. All the democrats were voted out of office and replaced by Republicans. Unfortunately, the voters went back to their old habits two years later. Humphreys is one of their biggest supporters, if not their biggest supporter.
I think this is just sad. I don’t understand why you repubs/conservs are so hung up on abortion. Like it or not there is a such thing as free will. Also, why don’t evangelicals harp on wealth/materialism. I mean the bible says it’s easier for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom. I am not pro abortion but I beleive a woman has the right to her own body. I love it when people use affirmative action and then want to burn that bridge down. No one seems to complain that Bush got into Yale and Harvard. This is just sad. The rich just keep getting richer and the poor just keep on voting republican.
Good Lord, Man! She’s not talking about Black Enterprise, she’s talking about politicians on the campaign trail. Sheesh.
I’m trying to use an example to build an understanding of where her line concerning race is being drawn.
Hey LaShawn,
How come nothing on your site shows up when I Google you and Leonard Pitts Jr.? I think he is the greatest, and the Pulitzer folks agree. His Sept. 11 column was one of the four or five newspaper pieces I can cite after many years. Just Google “we’ll go forward from this moment.”
“I hope George Bush never gets it into his head to pull the some-of-my-best-friends-are-black routine. I’d hang my head in shame.”
You must have missed that part of W’s Urban League speech where he rattled off every Negro member of his administration. Did you hang your head in shame after that some-of-my-best-workahs-are-Negroes routine.
Nate, The “some-of-my-best-friends-are-black routine” is not the same as “some-of-my-teamates-are black”. It’s one thing to say you have friends, but then not trust/depend on them as if your life depended on it.
All Bush did was rattle off a list of black members in his administration to highlight the fact that in spite of being called a racist on some quarters, he personally selected people that he thot was best qualified to play an important role on his team.
On the otherhand, as far as I know, Kerry has yet to name one minority to his coalition of advisors; other than the big to do over trying to get McCain on board as vice-prez and possibly Teddy as AG, among a handful of former Clintonistas, who ended up resigning when found out to be liars.
Shawn,
Here’s the email I shot out to Kane after his fawning commentary over john-john’s “comfort” level with black people:
I am sickened that writers like you pander and fawn over white candidates who tout their “comfort” with black folk by trivial gestures such as hawking political cliches with “amens” attached to the end. This kind of drivel is what cheapens the black vote and keeps African Americans from making informed and wise decisions at the polls.
You obvisously are part and parcel of the liberal democratic mouthpeices whose sole agenda seems to be to disparage Republicans and prop up Democrats whose actions amount to nothing but “acting black” to win votes.
Edwards has absolutely nothing to show that he is concerned about the issues that affect African Americans and for that matter neither does John Kerry. Both of the John-Johns have done nothing but suckup to the gay crowd with their constant touching, hugging and homoerotic posturing.
You do a grave disservice to the African American electorate by perpetuating sterotypes in the black community during election cycles.
Rev Darryl L. Foster
Atlanta
770.968.1011
While Andy touched on it, I’ll say it again:
“I hope George Bush never gets it into his head to pull the some-of-my-best-friends-are-black routine”… he doesn’t need to. He gets to say ’some of my best cabinet members are black’!!
Where were all the prominent people of color in Clinton’s cabinet? Any that haven’t been discredited?
I’d rather see the man who puts their ‘comfort’ (and most of all, confidence) into action, rather than just words.
But hey, that’s just me.
SCSIwuzzy, “some of my best cabinet members are black”
Thanks for covering my six. You said what I should have said the first time around. Sometimes these voices inside my head, in 3 part dis-harmony, get me going sideways.
How does Th-rezay speak 5 languages and remain coherent
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