Update (1/10/06): Hey “Harry Belafonte” Googlers! Follow this link for the latest post.
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When I first saw the movie Carmen Jones, I was convinced that back in the day, Harry Belafonte was the finest thing walking. He was suave and soft-spoken, yet strong and manly, an intoxicating combination.
Now he just seems like a bitter old man.
At a march to commemorate the Voting Rights Act of 1965 last Saturday, Belafonte went on a tirade, calling black Republicans tyrants and likened the Bush Administration to Nazis. A few years ago on “Larry King Live,” he called Colin Powell a house slave.
I suppose it doesn’t matter what Hollywood has-beens have to say, but it’s sad to know that ranting against conservatives is how they generate publicity these days. Sad, indeed.
Julian “Recycler” Bond, an NAACP has-been, goes on annual rants against Republicans, whom he calls “American Taliban.” His political party is powerless and aimless, and his career-making organization is a dinosaur that doesn’t have the dignity to die. All Bond has left are his yearly, blood pressure-raising speeches at NAACP conventions about “evil” Republicans. If that’s how you want to go out, Julian, knock yourself out.
Speaking of knock-out, if and when I want to hear what Harry Belafonte has to say, I’ll just watch one of his old movies.
Related posts:
- President of the NAACP
- Iraq’s Gain And The NAACP’s Shame
- Watch Out For Jim Crow…
- The Dinosaur Roams Again
- The NAACP: A Dinosaur That Won’t Die
Don’t miss the link love post!
Carmen Jones is one of my favorite movies…
and Harry is just the way I like him in that movie…
Not thinking for himself, using some made up words
they should be careful about knocking nayone (expecially republicans), now that the dems want to court the “largest” minority in the US (sorta leaves Harry and crew out to dry)
Comment by Renee — 08.08.05 @ 12:35 pm
Maybe Harry should buy a drum of vegetable oil and join Hanoi Jane on her “I’m still relevant” tour!
Comment by pajamazon — 08.08.05 @ 12:42 pm
Calling a party that supports lynching black people Nazi’s seems fitting and the black supporters of the party may be called tyrants.
Good job Belafonte for telling it how it is. You should listen La Shawn.
First idiot of the day! - Admin
Comment by Maxxdogg — 08.08.05 @ 1:13 pm
La Shawn, How about this; we call ourselves and every one else on the planet a “NAZI”, and then retire the expression!
Comment by Tom Bosee — 08.08.05 @ 1:21 pm
Guess who was against slavery? The Republicans. Guess who was against equal rights for blacks in the South? The Democrats. But unfortunately, the MSM calls those folks “Dixiecrats” to make people think they were part of a separate party so that people will not think negatively about the Democratic party.
Comment by mj — 08.08.05 @ 1:31 pm
Let’s see how vocal Maxxdogg is next election when the Dems relegate him to the sideline with the other “non significant” minorities
Comment by Renee — 08.08.05 @ 1:36 pm
NEWS FLASH TO MAXXDOGG AND THE DEMOCRATIC BASE:
The liberal/democratic power players don’t give a fig about minorities or the poor. They care about maintiaining power for their own selfish ends. All of their rhetoric is smoke and mirrors to keep “white liberal” soldiors marching to the beat of warm and fuzzy policy. They refuse to let the past die because there is nothing more powerful than white guilt to ensure that liberal/democratic leaders can continue to live the good life at tax-payer expense. While they play on white guilt, they also play on minority resentment. Nothing is more terrifying to a liberal leader than the idea of minorities gaining any measure of self-respect or independence from government. Keeping minorities in the victim mentality is nothing more than job security for the liberal elite.
Now understand, I’m not saying Republicans give two cents about minorities or the poor either. However, I don’t expect them to look after any specific group. That is a community/family/individual responsibility, not the federal government’s responsibility. I expect them to encourage policy that strengthens ALL Americans. When responsibilty, character, strength, independence, family values, and morality are promoted by government, then all demographics win. That doesn’t mean we all get the same outcome, just the same opportunity to make of our lives what we will under the protection of a secure America. That has been the Republican promise. I’m still waiting…
Comment by Independent — 08.08.05 @ 2:07 pm
Belafonte’s Godwin Boat Song?
CNS News reports that Harry Belafonte once again sang a bit off-key while venturing into politics this past weekend, calling African-American conservatives “tyrants” and comparing the Bush administration to Hitler and the Nazis. Marc Morano interview…
Trackback by Captain's Quarters — 08.08.05 @ 2:12 pm
Carmen Jones is one of my alltime faves. You forgot to mention the presence of the second most beautiful women I have ever seen. Lena Horne is hands down the first.
Comment by stephen johnson — 08.08.05 @ 2:26 pm
I’m a fan of Harry and Carmen Jones is still one of the best movies ever made. I haven’t watched it in years but this post has made me want to see it again. As for his politics, for the most part I agree with him. Hell, I’ve been called traitor and a lot worst than a Nazi becuase of my political views. I’m not sure how Nazi even fits into the political discourse. When I see some concentration camps then I’ll give the term some credibility, otherwise, it is simply over the top rhetoric.
When was the last time any of you sat down to watch Lady Sings the Blues? That is another great movie.
Comment by James Manning — 08.08.05 @ 2:30 pm
NEWSFLASH to Harry Belafonte and other “field slaves” that think of any other blacks as “house slaves” just because they think differently than you do: I DON’T OWE YOU ANYTHING!
I get sick and tired of being referred to as a “house negro” just because I think differently politically and have a different take on many of the problems that I see in the black community. If anyone has a slave mentality its the folks like Belafonte and others like him that insist on tearing down any other blacks that achieve high positions with a mindset not like theirs.
It’s like the adage of how the young black man gets a welcome home party when he gets out of prison but if that same black man were to graduate from college with an articulate and polished vocabulary he would only get comments like, “Oh, so you think you’re smart now?”
My allegiance to God, family, and country doesn’t include “black America”. I’m proud of my racial background but I owe nothing more to black America than I owe any other American for that matter. I could care less about “keeping it real” or being “down” or any of those other crab-in-a-barrel mantras.
If black Republicans are tyrants, then perhaps Mr. Belafonte should go live in a underdeveloped continent like oh…. say… AFRICA and see what living with real tyrants is like.
Comment by Eddie — 08.08.05 @ 2:39 pm
There is nothing worse for an ageing star like Belafonte to be irrelevant -
So they surroind themselves with other ageing stars of a different kind - ageing “Civil Rights Workers”.
Comment by Frank Zavisca — 08.08.05 @ 2:56 pm
Admin - I mean to say “in” Africa. I realize Africa is a continent and not a country.
Changed it for you. - Admin
Comment by Eddie — 08.08.05 @ 3:08 pm
Eddie,
Sounds like you learned a different lesson than a lot of others in the sixties. “Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud”, rather than “Say it whiney, I’m black and I need to be taken care of.” I’m happy it works for you; too bad it doesn’t work for so many others.
Comment by Glenmore — 08.08.05 @ 3:36 pm
I would bet that Maxxdogg was fooled by the deceptive ads the NAACP ran before the 2000 election, which implied that because the Texas hate crime legislation which Bush signed into law was not the version they wanted, the pickup truck murderers went unpunished. In fact, if the NAACP were intellectually honest, they should have called on Governor Bush to commute the death sentences handed down for that crime.
Comment by triticale — 08.08.05 @ 3:50 pm
Harry Belafonte was featured on a PBS special about 5 years ago. He was so exuberant. It was clear he enjoyed singing. Listening to him was such a blessing. I wish I could remember him like that instead of the bitter, insult hurling old man he has become.
Comment by Evon Bachaus — 08.08.05 @ 3:59 pm
Agreed, evon. I’ll always have childhood memories of listening to “Live at Carnegie Hall” with my father. That is how I prefer to remember Belafonte.
Every time another entertainment icon from my past reveals himself to be a frothing liberal, I can’t help but thinking of the geeks who accuse George Lucas of ruining (I won’t use the word they use) their childhoods.
Comment by otcconan — 08.08.05 @ 4:13 pm
Come on guys, Harry isn’t that bad. Ok, so he’s a tad bitter and over the top at times - give him a break. And Eddie, if I recall, I got a nice graduation party when I graduated High School and college. And don’t ever recall seeing party thrown for someone coming home from prison. And believe me, my Chicago west side street and my southwest suburban street were filled with ex-cons. Hell, my uncle was one. I’m sure his lack of homecoming party had something to do with the fact that he went crazy and tried to cut a white woman’s hands off - but I digress.
Harry is a cool cat. Let’s show the man some love.
Comment by James Manning — 08.08.05 @ 4:14 pm
MARCH OF THE MOONBATS
Harry Belafonte , who referred to black members of the Bush administration as “black tyrants,” wasn’t the only one flying off the handle at the Voting Rights Act march in Atlanta this weekend: A featured speaker at Saturday’s civil rights…
Trackback by Michelle Malkin — 08.08.05 @ 4:17 pm
More Nazi Nonsense
Harry Belafonte Calls Black Republicans ‘Tyrants’ Day-O, Daayyyy-O Daylight come and it’s time to blow smoke….. Atlanta (CNSNews.com) - Celebrity activist Harry Belafonte referred to prominent African-American officials in the Bush administration …
Trackback by The Jawa Report — 08.08.05 @ 4:27 pm
Belafonte and many Democrats are guilty of what I see as one of the worst sorts of racism: the kind that says “You will think as I think, and do what I say, or you are not black.
It must drive these guys craxzy to see how the numbers of black men and women representing at the Republican National Convention grows each at subsequent gathering: the idea that these same brothers and sisters might see themselves as perfectly capable of deciding which party or candidate best espouses their hopes and dreams, without consult of Jesse Jackson, Julian Bond, or other race-baiters, must really shake people like maxxdogg to their core!
Comment by langtry — 08.08.05 @ 4:29 pm
ADAGE
Main Entry: ad·age
Pronunciation: ‘a-dij
Function: noun
a saying often in metaphorical form that embodies a common observation
James, I was speaking metaphorically when I gave that scenario. I think you may have missed my point. I was only pointing out how success in the black community is sometimes frowned on while underachievement is more often the expected norm.
And of course, I do have nothing but love for Mr. Belafonte even though I disagree with some of the things he says or some or his opinions. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
Comment by Eddie — 08.08.05 @ 4:33 pm
Why does Belafonte not consider himself a “house slave†for consorting with white guys to further his acting and singing career?
Comment by Dorian — 08.08.05 @ 4:37 pm
I really dig the part where he decides the interview is over. I had the distinct honor of seeing Belafonte treat reporters like this first hand at a fundraising event for the Apollo earlier this summer.
Comment by Ken — 08.08.05 @ 4:39 pm
Saw LaShawn on Cspan over the weekend,
it was a really good panel. Now i know where to find you. Good Job!
Yves
Comment by YVES — 08.08.05 @ 4:40 pm
When I named the embarrassing “black leaders” doesn’t look like I missed many huh?
Comment by Raymond — 08.08.05 @ 4:50 pm
Let me toss this out there playing the devils advocate. As you all know, I am quite conservative on most issues (thank you Raymond, you know its true), so the question I pose to you is this:
If blacks vote 95% democratic and in general support that position, would there not be a reason for it? Or are you (collective general you) stating that 95% of all blacks that vote are irrational?
Comment by Dell Gines — 08.08.05 @ 4:56 pm
Reminds me of the old joke:
Whose the most racist person in the world?
An old black man, because he’s been through the most ****.
I don’t know if thats applicable to Belafonte, but calling Colin Powell a house slave ( ie House Nigger ), reveals him to have a loathing not only for himself, but blacks in general.
Sad.
Comment by Fides — 08.08.05 @ 4:58 pm
No hablo inglés.
Comment by La Shawn — 08.08.05 @ 5:04 pm
Harry Belafonte Calls Black Republicans ‘Tyrants’
Did the Democrats ever name a black to Secretary of State? GWB has named two blacks to that position.
Trackback by Don Singleton — 08.08.05 @ 5:05 pm
Dick Gregory, another pathetic radical chic has-been, spoke at the same event. He called the U.S. the most ungodly, unspiritual nation in history. Yes, that’s right, Dick. Npt today’s European nations, whose churches are empty. And certainly not Stalin’s Russia or Mao’s China, where tens of millions were killed for “the Revolution” and where religion was outlawed and viciously prosecuted. And let’s just forget that the first people in the history of the world to abolish slavery were Anglosphere evangelical Christians. No, it’s the U.S., forever and always that is the worst of everything. But, hey, don’t you dare question these peoples’ patriotism.
Comment by freetotem — 08.08.05 @ 5:12 pm
#27 Dell Gines:
“If blacks vote 95% democratic and in general support that position, would there not be a reason for it? Or are you (collective general you) stating that 95% of all blacks that vote are irrational?”
I wouldn’t say that the 95% are irrational. I would say a variety of factors are at work:
1) Some percentage would be Dems by dint of their personal perspective/agreement with the political position of some/many democrats.
2) Some would vote by their pocketbook, i.e. they are union members, towards whom Democrats have traditionally been disposed.
3) Some woud vote Dem because it’s been their families way (this is the case for many, regardless of race).
4) Some would vote Dem because they are ignorant, either of history (it was “Dixieland Democrats” who fought hardest to defeat the Civil Rights Act, while Republicans were the party that enacted the bill), or because it is the only political persepective presented to them, whether through limiting their reading to “black” newspapers, or through the preachers at their church, which is the binding factor of community in many urban areas. Historically, these churches have sold their endorsements in exchange for donations/honorariums made to the preachers in exchange for pushing the Democratic ticket.
5) Others have voted for Democrats b/c they believe the fear campaigns launched by groups like Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Push Coalition (or NAACP, etc.). The power of people like Jackson rests in their being able to guarantee “the black vote” to the Democrats. This is much easier to do if people believe themselves to be beholden to you for what the food on their table. Such loyalty depends on continuing those policies that have kept people subordinate to welfare, unions, etc.
This last example is probably the most nefarious of all, for it depends on limiting the social and career mobility of black men and women. In placing greater importance on retaining these programs, the Democrats have been a major force in keeping blacks out of the middle class. After all, if someone is better off, they aren’t as likely to look to a coalition or political organization as their savior. When you are better off, you see yourself as being the means of your deliverance, and therefore your well being depends less on one particular party being in power. You’re voting on more than just racial affiliation; therefore, your vote is no longer a given.
Comment by langtry — 08.08.05 @ 5:23 pm
These losers are the usual cast of has beens. They are losing power and their actions show that. They are acting like desperate children lashing out.
The good news is that they more they behave this way and the more public they are in their buffoonish words and displays, the more conservative and sensible the nation becomes.
No one wants a nation run by children.
Comment by Raymond — 08.08.05 @ 5:24 pm
#32. Actually based on 2000 figures 87% of Black voted Democrats and the number of Blacks who voted Republican in the last election in 2004 went up to as high as 16%.
Blacks are becoming more educated and affluent and as they do, they tend not to vote Dem.
Comment by Raymond — 08.08.05 @ 5:40 pm
True their profile is not as it once was, but I do wonder how many of us would have done what they did had we been put in the same situation. It is so easy to look past what these men accomplished when they spoke out - and spoke out at a time when it could have cost them their lives. So, I’m more that willing to give them a pass on their over the top statements.
Reply #32:
I think you got it just about right. The fact is that you were to look at the people who vote for Republicans, it probably would break in a simular fashion.
Comment by James Manning — 08.08.05 @ 5:49 pm
If you look at Belafonte’s remarks, you’ll see that in addition to being habitually anti-American (an interesting point of view for an immigrant who has experienced nothing but huge financial success here), he’s also on the slippery slope towards Jew hatred, blaming the Jews for the Holocaust. While comparing Republicans to Nazis, and Black Republicans to tyrants, Belafonte claimed that
“Hitler had a lot of Jews high up in the hierarchy of the Third Reich. Color does not necessarily denote quality, content or value,”
Putting aside the absurd idea that Jews are a unique “color”, Belafonte echos the lunatics that claim that Hitler was Jewish. Add to this that there is absolutely no documentation of Jews being anywhere in the hierarchy of the Third Riech, high up or low down, it’s clear that Harry’s blowing smoke out of his nether regions.
Comment by ronnie schreiber — 08.08.05 @ 5:58 pm
James,
Their past accomplishments should in no way grant them a pass. That sentiment really is irresponsible. IF they were truly intellgient people, they would know better. The fact of the matter is that they know their audience well. They know that they speak to the uneducated, angry, gimme gimme segment of Black America and they know that words like the ones they offered this weekend keep money in their pockets and those poor Negroes enslaved.
One bad deed can wreck years of good ones and you know that. Cases in point:
Timothy McVeigh
Michael Jackson
Marion Berry
Kweisi Mfume
Pete Rose
Raphael Palmeiro
Mike Tyson
Jose Canseco
Barry Bonds
Lawrence Taylor
Darryl Strawberry
etc……
No pass!
Comment by Raymond — 08.08.05 @ 5:59 pm
#27 Dell Gines:
“If blacks vote 95% democratic and in general support that position, would there not be a reason for it? Or are you (collective general you) stating that 95% of all blacks that vote are irrational?â€
Although Langtry’s thinking is more complex and probably closer to the truth, I see a parallel between a large percentage of today’s black community and the pre-civil war white class. Both populations became accumstomed to being taken care of at the expense of others. Even though many in the old south had to realize that their way of life was stagnant and wrong, they still chose to fight to the death to keep it. Many blacks today know something has got to chage, but still they join ranks to keep the same old life. The fear of an unknown future can keep people in a militant holding pattern. People join ranks when they can’t be guaranteed at least the prospect of the status quo if they choose to abandon a deteriorating system for something different. The south had their yankees to fight against. Blacks have those evil, white Republicans. Things didn’t turn out so well for the south. Luckily for the black community, people like LaShawn are trying to talk some sense into people before they have a chance to completely defeat themselves.
It seems to me that the Democrats are always on the wrong side of history.
Comment by Independent — 08.08.05 @ 6:12 pm
Who Needs The Democratic Underground When You Have The March For The Voting Rights Act ?
It’s always fun to go moonbat gigging in the fever swamps of the Democratic Underground, find comments from a few…
Trackback by Right Wing News — 08.08.05 @ 6:37 pm
Harry Belafonte calls black Republicans “tyrants”
From left, US Rep. John Lewis (Mumble-mumble-GA), US Rep. Maxine Waters (Granola-moonbat-CA), Harry Belafonte (…an’ he wan’ go home), Rev. Jesse Jackson (never to let a photo-op go unturned), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Cruella DeVil-CA), …
Trackback by Ramblings' Journal — 08.08.05 @ 6:50 pm
Reply #38:
Define “a large percentage” to me. Maybe my experience of growing up in a working class neighborhood didn’t afford me the opportunity to see multitudes of black people standing around waiting for someone take care of them. I certainly saw my share of hustlers and households of generational welfare recipients - but “a large percentage”. That’s not what I recall nor do I see today.
Comment by James Manning — 08.08.05 @ 7:06 pm
You haven’t been to the ‘hood lately, James, or a grocery store on the first of the month. And the hand-out mentality doesn’t have to be that obvious. Many upper class, college educated blacks have the same mentality, only they aren’t collecting welfare checks. They’re collecting skin color-based grants, contracts, set-asides, and other government entitlements. Just for being black. Which is worse than collecting them because you’re lazy.
Based on a combination of “hand-out mentality” characteristics, I’m sure that percentage is pretty high.
Comment by La Shawn — 08.08.05 @ 7:10 pm
Harry Belafonte is a disgraceful old man. He should be the last person to call anyone a house slave. Just look at all his ex-wives. If that is not the manifestation of a house slave mentality I don’t know what is.
Comment by Eric — 08.08.05 @ 7:34 pm
Independent wrote:
“It seems to me that the Democrats are always on the wrong side of history.”
Yep, and when they hit bottom, they just keep digging.
Comment by Improbulus Maximus — 08.08.05 @ 7:34 pm
This is fascinating. Harry Belafonte and Dick Gregory have the right to speak out, as I do, about the dangers of unchecked conservative power. The simple truth is, white conservatives like Ronald Reagan, William Rhenquist, George H. W. Bush, Barry Goldwater all were AGAINST the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
This is Reagan, patron saint of modern conservatives, on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in 1980:
>>>”Reagan never supported the use of federal power to provide blacks with civil rights. He opposed the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. Reagan said in 1980 that the Voting Rights Act had been “humiliating to the South.†While he made political points with white southerners on this issue, he was sensitive to any suggestion that his stands on civil rights issues were politically or racially motivated, and he typically reacted to such criticisms as attacks on his personal integrity.”
Source: The Role of a Lifetime, by Lou Cannon, p. 520 Jul 2, 1991
Now, let’s check the scoreboard…Harry Belafonte and Dick Gregory marched FOR CIVIL AND VOTING RIGHTS for Minorities and continue to march for those rights today.
WHITE CONSERVATIVES, like Reagan, Rhenquist, Goldwater, and George H.W. Bush were AGAINST the CIVIL RIGHTS ACT of 1964 and the VOTING RIGHTS ACT of 1965.
As a conscious African American male who today enjoys those rights earned with the BLOOD of my ancestors and relatives, which TEAM do you think I’m going to cheer for?
–Cobra
Comment by Cobra — 08.08.05 @ 7:36 pm
James, the percentage of whites that owned slaves in the pre-civil war south was a small percentage of the overall population. Only 11 percent of whites were major slave owners. However, even non slave owning whites were willing to fight to maintain that lifestyle for the few.
http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/ECAI.paper.html
According to a government study twelve percent of blacks receive the majority of their income through government assistance. This demographic is certainly not representative of all black Americans. However, I think blacks vote Democrat to insure these programs continue.
I didn’t mean to imply that “a large percentage” of blacks were living off the government, but that a large percentage of blacks would like to maintain the status quo for that twelve percent. I did word it badly. It would seem to me that both mentalities are about propping up destructive
institutions: slavery/government dependence.
http:www.ers.usda.gov/publications/rcat/rcat92/rcat92m.pdf
Comment by Independent — 08.08.05 @ 7:42 pm
And I have the right to speak out against them! Especially on my own site. They are dated dinosaurs, and the world has changed around them. Criticizing them doesn’t mean I’m ignorant of who and what came before me, but nobody is above criticism. I’m not a Republican, but for their purposes I may as well be. Belafonte is calling me a tyrant, for crying out loud, because I refuse to vote for Democrats!
Did he and Gregory march for the right to tell me who to vote for and and to follow their script? Did their marches give them the right to dictate to me and call me a race-hating tyrant if don’t vote the way they tell me to? I don’t think so. Somewhere along the way, they got it twisted, not me.
Despite what you think or how you perceive the world, “Cobra,” there are legitimate arguments against the exertion of federal power against the states under certain circumstances, and saying so doesn’t necessarily make one “racist,” just as supporting government coercion doesn’t mean one is “for” minority rights, whatever that means these days. I tell you this much much, your side, I’m not on.
Comment by La Shawn — 08.08.05 @ 7:45 pm
La Shawn, I know a lot - a lot of black people and I only know of a few business men that government contracts through a set-aside program. But considering the corrupt nature of Chicago politics, I’m sure he had to grease a few palms to get that. You are right, it has been a few years since I’ve lived in the hood. But I’m speaking on my experience. I knew some dealers and some hustlers, but most of the men in the neighborhood worked at the plant (actually, almost everyone worked at either Best Foods, GM Electo-Motor or Reynolds). I never heard anyone say you don’t have to go to school or learn a trade or get an education because the government is going to take care of me. In fact, it was the opposite. Now, I’m not oblivious to the fact that there is a certain segment of the black community that lack a strong work ethic. But I still wouldn’t equate that percentage as a large percentage. But, that is the world that I’m from.
Comment by James Manning — 08.08.05 @ 7:58 pm
Reply #46:
I see your point and you’ve explained yourself well. I fully understand your point and on that note, I will agree that most black people would probably vote to maintain the status quo… but there is a reason behind that. I have a three year old that wants to play Candyland now so I will have to continue this discussion tomorrow or on a later day. Holla
Comment by James Manning — 08.08.05 @ 8:03 pm
Tyrants
Publius Pundit dissects Venezuela’s municipal elections, which may have had a single digit turnout. Commenter “catchy” defends Venezuelan pres. Hugo Chavez noting, among other things, the following: you’re blinded by the fact that Chavez is anti-Ame…
Trackback by The Colossus of Rhodey — 08.08.05 @ 8:42 pm
Monday Blog Round-Up
Haven’t done one of these in quite a while, so I figured it was time to do the Blog Round-Up, my list of interesting things happening across the blogosphere today. So here we go:
Wizbang says that he believes Churches and other non-profit orgs sho…
Trackback by Iowa Voice — 08.08.05 @ 9:40 pm
James, I know you are busy and didn’t get a chance to finish your thoughts. You wrote, …”I will agree that most black people would probably vote to maintain the status quo… but there is a reason behind that.” But James there were good reasons behind the south’s resistance to change as well. Just because we can rationalize a policy, that doesn’t mean that the policy is sound or even moral. I am a 32 year old white, southern woman that wishes with all my heart that this nation would wake up! Our liberal policies are harming huge demographics of people. These policies are weakening our nation and if allowed to continue will surely lead to the destruction of us all. I don’t think I’m exagerating in the least. I grew up dirt poor “white trash.” But I grew up with pride and a strong Christian faith. I’ve worked hard to make something of my life even when I had to distance myself from the home folks because “I got above my raising.” It’s time to put a stop to the whining and the excuses. We all (regardless of race, history, income or religion) live in the most free and dynamic nation in the world. That there are those that choose to put this nation down and spit on their opportunities, sickens me. If we continue down this road of self-hate then we will destroy that which gives us and our children the opportunity to grow free, strong and proud.
Comment by Independent — 08.08.05 @ 10:03 pm
How many lefties are going to use the word “tyrant” before somebody points out to them that if they were living under tyranny they WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK PUBLICLY AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT!!!!
Good grief.. Stalin and Hitler just arrested guys like Belafonte, on THE FIRST DAY they started talking like this. And the loudmouths were never seen again. Period. That is tyranny. This is a free country, and you can say what you want, but saying nonsensical things only wrecks your reputation.
unless you’re a leftist, in which case NOTHING can wreck your reputation. Ask Senator Turban or Teddy Kennedy.
Comment by Dave — 08.08.05 @ 10:17 pm
***SIGH***
This is depressing. How did these kind of wackos manage to hijack the civil rights movement? Were they always wackos and we just didn’t notice? Or did they become wackos over time while those still sane were to polite point this out?
Comment by HA — 08.08.05 @ 10:31 pm
I know there’s a serious discussion going on here, but … Harry Belafonte never held a candle to Sidney Poitier. When I was kid, I could’ve watched To Sir with Love or Lilies of the Field every day. Harry Belafonte–feh. Just pretty boy. (If Sidney is also a demented old hater, don’t tell me.)
Comment by ak — 08.08.05 @ 10:55 pm
I’d like to see an analysis of what happens to those individuals in this country who have an “audience”(including media types, clergy, politicians, academics, entertainers, etc.) and then fall into the easy trap of calling others “Nazis” or even making the comparison to the Nazi movement in some kind of serious way. Dobson did it the other day, for that matter.
My uproven theory on this is that such claims signal the ultimate demise of that person’s credibility and influence over the perceptions of others.
We have our share of people in this country whose views are not tolerant, or generous, or enlightened or empathic. So it is everywhere, I suppose. But when you invoke the image of the 3rd Reich, as if that is somehow equivalent to the unhealthy psyches of these narrow minded people — it just misses the mark by SO far that it borders on laughable, and they brand themselves as ideologues of the worst kind.
Comment by Terry Ott — 08.08.05 @ 11:16 pm
He Made More Sense When He Sange About Banana Boats
Here’s yet another case of a celebrity of not only using verbal atomic bombs to blast those with who…
Trackback by The Moderate Voice — 08.09.05 @ 12:01 am
7. NEWS FLASH TO MAXXDOGG AND THE DEMOCRATIC BASE:
The liberal/democratic power players don’t give a fig about minorities or the poor. They care about maintiaining power for their own selfish ends.
Look, I don’t want to get in a big fight about this, but this particular post made no sense at all.
First of all, you have to love the spelling error. It really builds the writer’s credibility. Secondly, the Democratic line in the election wasn’t a power grab. In case you guys missed the election, Republicans won more seats. Saying that the Democratic platform was designed to shore up political power is ridiculous.
I mean…c’mon, you can do better than that. Now, as far as the celebrity thing goes, why is it when a high-profile Democrat speaks out, he’s “disgraceful,” but when a Repub does it, it’s being tough, macho and whatever else.
Look, people have the right to say what they like, and you have the right to say what you like. But, if what you say is ridiculous, expect others to call you out for your mistakes.
Comment by ShawninDC — 08.09.05 @ 12:31 am
Hey, Eddie! Quit stealing my thunder and my nic, to wit; I get sick and tired of being .
I’m SickAndTired!
Comment by SickAndTired — 08.09.05 @ 1:43 am
Harry Belafonte — Truer words never spoken
Harry Belafonte has words that stir the hearts of all those who are willing to fight to support freedom in Iraq. No, really, he does.
Trackback by Angry in the Great White North — 08.09.05 @ 7:57 am
Headlines
9/11 funds scandal Coverage: Michelle Malkin Protesting Soldier Mom Changed Story on Bush Coverage: Michelle Malkin, Right…
Trackback by Danny Carlton: codenamed "Jack Lewis" — 08.09.05 @ 9:36 am
Weekend of the Dead, Part II: The rampage continues
“Interesting. This is not nearly as clever a misuse of argumentum ad Nazium as Michael Ruse displayed,” said Orac. “Indeed, it is remarkable mainly for how unimaginative and so obviously fallacious it is.”
Trackback by Respectful Insolence — 08.09.05 @ 9:55 am
Typical of the “reporting” on this site, this post quotes a phony news service (Cybercast News). Notice that no actual direct quote of Belafonte’s words at the event is provided — just a characterization of them.
If you listen to the video the Cybercast site links to, he does not liken all black Republicans to tyrants. What he says is that the black skin of Condi Rice and Colin Powell doesn’t give them a free pass — that (in his view) they are tyrants first and foremost, and black incidentally. Unreasonable, maybe, but not the same as what this post suggests.
It’s as if I quoted Al Franken to “prove” that Bush is a chimp.
You liberals just can’t deal with the issue at hand. You are compelled to interject ill-intended remarks about me and/or this site. I’m NOT a journalist, and I don’t “report” anything. I’m a blogger who comments on current events. You are absolutely free to visit news sites where can get “reports,” and you never have to visit the site again. - Admin
Comment by Andy S. — 08.09.05 @ 9:56 am
Dear Admin:
Of course you are free to comment. I think it’s fair, however, to point out factual errors — and fair as well to challenge you to stand behind asserted facts.
I visit your site and others like it to learn more about the views of you and your audience. While my views are different, I find the challenge of opposing views educational. Thank you for hosting the site.
Comment by Andy S. — 08.09.05 @ 10:11 am
Tony Snow just destroyed that disgraceful protester mom. I bet her dead son Marine is totally ashamed of her behavior.
She couldn’t stick to topic and it was clear she had been handed talking points by the left.
Comment by Raymond — 08.09.05 @ 10:21 am
You’re darn right it’s “unreasonable,” and by implication, in my opinion, he’s maligning all blacks who support Bush. I have no doubts he’d thinkthe same thing about me if he stumbled across this blog. Parse the words any way you like. Free country.
Comment by La Shawn — 08.09.05 @ 10:26 am
Actually, LaShawn, his point was one I would think you’d agree with — that skin color is irrelevant, while action and character are everything. Of course, he calculates that differently…
Comment by Andy S. — 08.09.05 @ 10:36 am
Andy S.
I think this is the pattern of the left. Call names and attack (same pattern you did) as opposed to debate the issues and ideas.
It doesn’t further the debate. It demolishes any form of debate. Do you know why?
How do conservatives or Republicans respond to the charge that they are tyrants, Nazi’s, American Taliban, evil, mean-spirited, etc.
The left wants to believe this and this is why they will CONTINUE to lose elections. Because most sane people realize there are ideas to be discussed and bantered about.
While there are many rank and file liberals who are “well-intentioned” and look for utopian solutions, many are influenced to think that conservatives or Republicans aren’t “well-intentioned” (this is a problem with liberals) just because many of our ideas are based on results, reality, common sense and truth.
For instance… will everybody putting into the pot of government and then government providing for everyone’s food, shelter, health care EQUALLY (because we all care about everyone and everyone is human) work or not… Well no.
In fact more prosperity is afforded to all with the economic system of capitalism (defined as the people chooosing who gets what resources) as opposed to the above system of communism. Sure we need regulations and a safety net to provide for the non-able bodied and elderly but if you listen to some liberals you’d think that conservatives are against safety nets or regulations entirely. How factual is that Andy S?
Comment by Baklava — 08.09.05 @ 12:23 pm
I was a big fan of Belafonte for decades, but I can’t bring myself to watch or listen to him since he began his hate rant a few years ago.
Same with a bunch of other very talented performers who aren’t bright enough to know that it’s bad form to offend and insult their audience. Sean Penn, Miles Davis, Babs Streisand, Alec Baldwin etc. etc; it’s a long list, sadly.
Comment by redbeard — 08.09.05 @ 12:35 pm
Other Coverage: La Shawn Barber
Pingback by ChristWeb — 08.09.05 @ 12:40 pm
ShawninDC wrote, “…the Democratic line in the election wasn’t a power grab. In case you guys missed the election, Republicans won more seats. Saying that the Democratic platform was designed to shore up political power is ridiculous.”
True the Republican party is the majority, but your camp has written the script by which the country lives. I’ve got to hand it to the left. They managed to divide and conquer the country with PC rhetoric, multi-culturalism, diversity programs, and race-baitiing. They didn’t have to do a thing but highjack our educational system - it was strategic mastery really. If white folks don’t stick to the script then they are racists. If black folks don’t stick to the script then they are self-hating house slaves. The liberal fat cats are sitting back and laughing their behinds off. As long as the races remain divided and people keep tripping all over themselves not to offend anyone, then they have job security. The left is all about division. Unity is kryptonite to the liberal ideology. Well some people need to be offended and I’m not going to follow the script the left wrote for my country anymore. ShawninDC, you are being played. As for myself, I’m going to fight like hell to get my country back. If the grant writers, bureaucrats, educrats, lobbyists, race pimps, and professional whiners find themselves unemployed, then I will know my camp is making progress. Until then, I think it is safe to say that the left wing extortionists are still firmly in control.
Comment by Independent — 08.09.05 @ 12:52 pm
The reason the black left lashes out is quite simple. They are behaving just like the insurgents in Iraq. Not from the violence standpoint, but from the desperation stand point.
The black loony lefts leaders fully understand the jig is up. They realize that with the presence of the internet and alternative information sources that they no longer have a monopoly on controlling black “thought.” As Blacks become more educated and affluent, we like anyone else would like very much to hold on to that new found wealth and keep it from the government. Combine that with a new found sense of belonging to the American process and Blacks are less likely to fall prey to the fear-mongerers and poverty pimps. Their messages cease to make sense anymore. In other words, you can’t be a Black Democrat and an American at the same time. Something has to give.
Now throw in the moral factors. Blacks are a conservative people. We abhor the concept of homosexulity and reject buffoonery such as gay “marriage.” We love God and are very demonstrative in letting people know that. We support strong education. We believe in strong traditional family models. Now, with all of this being said, the community has been infected by false messages, evil and selfish leadership and the disease of low expectations and celebration of mediocrity and even failure.
These conditions up until now have largely been promoted by the loony black left leadership who made billions off keeping blacks uneducated, angry and dependent.
This is all changing and it is changing for the better. The lies have been exposed. There is enough negativity in da hood such that we don’t need to hear more coming from the lips of our cartoonish so-called “black leaders.”
The old Civil Rights Movement is over, but someone forgot to tell the goon squad on Auburn Ave.
Black people are doing for themselves now. The only Blacks left for the loony leaders to prey on are school kids, the lazy good for nothing by choice poor and out college students. These are the people who still march with Jesse. Not because they believe in his cause, but because it gets them a day out of class or work
Comment by Raymond — 08.09.05 @ 12:58 pm
I am truly taken back by the barely hidden hatred in some of these statements. For those of you filled with such venom, I say your America is NOT MY AMERICA.
Comment by Laura — 08.09.05 @ 2:54 pm
The most over and incorrectly used words in Black America:
- hate
- racism
- racist
- discrimination
- society’s fault
- “the system”
Here we have a classic demonstration of the conundrum facing the Black Conservative. Hated by the Black Left AND on many occassions by the Black Right.
Has something to do with that “telling the truth” thing.
Comment by Raymond — 08.09.05 @ 3:01 pm
Laura,
Pay no attention to the liberal plant named Raymond.
There is no hate here. Only love and problem solving.
Comment by Baklava — 08.09.05 @ 3:14 pm
“- hate
- racism
- racist
- discrimination
- society’s fault
- “the system—
I agree…the have been used and skewed so much that they have lost much of the relevency that they really had.
That is why new arguments and terminology for the same social phenomena need to be created. Liberals have lost their relevence because they aren’t visionary. They can’t say what the world should be, only complain about what it is not.
Why is it everytime you see Jesse it is in a reactionary position fighting a singular ‘issue’ as opposed to presenting a progressive and visionary platform. That old model of civil rights is dead.
Comment by Dell Gines — 08.09.05 @ 3:49 pm
#76. Agreed.
Comment by Raymond — 08.09.05 @ 3:56 pm
Has beens on parade
When will these has-been “celebrities” wake up and realize that we don’t give a royal rat’s a** what they think?
Trackback by Conservababes: Right from New Fallujah — 08.09.05 @ 4:38 pm
Dell writes:
>>>Liberals have lost their relevence because they aren’t visionary. They can’t say what the world should be, only complain about what it is not.”
I rarely disagree with you, but on this I will. The problem with conservatives is that many, especially on the fundamentalist right believe they know EXACTLY what the world should be, with no debate, discussion or wavering. The world of the right winged conservative is only black and white, with no nuance, complexity or extraneous details. To many right winged conservatives, it’s not about variables or factors. It’s about rigid moral absolutes. They command obediance to their positions, talking points and marching orders, or you will be smeared, as former Bush Administration cabinet members can attest to.
To the ill-read, overworked and anti-intellectual American population, that’s too appetizing a formula. Conservatives don’t want people to think too much. They’ve mastered the bumper-sticker. It’s far easier to say, “Evil-doers”, than to delineate the fact that our soldiers are being killed by former Baathists (secular), Islamic millitants, and Wahabists foreign zealots, who had no reason to cooperate in the past. To millions of people who are more concerned about paying bills, feeding kids and caring for sick and older parents, there seems to be an affinity for the schoolyard simplicity offered by today’s Conservative movement.
There are so many examples of this that I can’t begin to paste and source them out as I usually do here, but I do know one thing. As an African American liberal, I SUPPORT people like LaShawn Barber, even though we rarely agree, and here’s why. I know that LaShawn will call things as she sees it, based upon her strong principles, and she does ocassionally rebuke Republicans and conservatives when she feels they’re out of line (albeit, not as frequently as I would like her to.) That’s more than I can say for the boiler-plate, peroxide blonde, aryan-cheerleader types that infest conservative radio and cable news lately.
In other words, if LaShawn turns on a right winger, you best believe her words will carry a lot more weight.
–Cobra
Comment by Cobra — 08.09.05 @ 7:12 pm
Cobra,
And yet you get more debate, discussion and differing views discussed here, at a site owned and operated by a conservative fundamentalist than any of the leading liberal blogs. How does that happen?
Also, the conservative don’t think canard… you’ve been drinking deep of the koolaid again. You want bumper stickers? Bumpersticker policy statement is the demesne of the left. I blogged a few mornings’ commutes worth of lefty stickers a few months back. I’ll bet you couldn’t tit4tat the collection
As for your aryan crack… can you go a day without a racist remark? Breaking or bending Godwin’s law?
Comment by SCSIwuzzy — 08.09.05 @ 7:52 pm