News out of OK Senate, GOP Coburn blacks genetically flawed!

[usregimechange]

The following is an actual quote from Wednesday's senatorial debate in
Oklahoma between Democrat Brad Carson and Republican Tom Coburn. Coburn
was asked "Why do you argue for privitization of Social Security?"; he
answered:

"If you die... If you're an African American male in this country, you
die before the average... your average life expectancy is less than the
retirement age of social security. How, what kind of plan is that that
we're gonna take from those because they had a genetic predisposition to
have less of a life expectancy. You're gonna steal from them and give it
to somebody else. The fact is that we can solve the problem. We can't
solve it if we won't talk about it. And we can do with what Albert
Einstein said was the most powerful force on earth, which is compound
interest. Get it out of the hands of the politicians."

[Thrill]

1. Jeesh

this guy is an idiot.

[JohnnyCougar]

2. .

:wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:

[Zuni]

3. what a moran

[Philostopher]

4. Wow -- genetically predisposed, huh?

Didn't saying something almost exactly like that get Jimmy The Greek a big old ass-basket full of trouble about twenty years ago?

[kimchi]

5. Genetic predisposition my ass.

Yes, we can solve that problem, but not by changing the age of social security.

Grrrrrr. What a moran.

[fujiyama]

6. This guy is a wacko

and he looks likely to win the seat that too.

I know there are some decent Okies out there but the state seems full of nutcases.

[JohnnyCougar]

8. No, he's probably not gonna win.

Thanks to Brad Carson!!!

Unfortunately, many DUers here don't understand the dynamics of this race, and don't fully support Carson because he is too conservative. Let me just say this: It's either Brad Carson or this guy!

[RoyGBiv]

10. No joke ...

Not too long ago, some on DU saying there was no difference between them.

I beg to differ.

[sandnsea]

11. It's true, I know

If some people knew what rural folks had to choose from. Don't you just want to scream "HEY, we sent the GOOD GUY!!!" And they think Gavin Newsom is conservative, if they only knew. Good luck!!

[sundancekid]

12. you are SO right ... we should be doing everything possible for Carson

and I don't live in OK, but I do get the freakin' unbelievable racist rw nutjob that is his opponent ... I watched them both on MTP one sunday morning and the thought of having anyone BUT Carson in the Senate scared me purple!

[punpirate]

13. A recent poll has Carson...

... up by seven points:

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/3845475/detail.html

Carson may be conservative, but he can't be as bad as either Coburn or Nickles.

[fujiyama]

14. Carson

is way to conservative for my liking, but I'd vote for him if I lived in the state. It's OK for God's sake! I wouldn't expect a liberal to do well in the state anyways. Bush may end up getting around 60% of the vote here. This Coburn guy is insane - first I heard he wants to execute abortion providers, and now he says Blacks have genetic flaws?

Part of the reason I'm worried about these ultra red states and the senate elections is that the republican candidates may ride Bush's coattails. I would guess that undecideds that go in may end up voting straight republican.

[Pithy Cherub]

7. Coburn:

genetically predisposed to say and do stupid things

[RoyGBiv]

9. Hard to keep track ...

It's really hard to keep track of this guy's idiocy.

Let's see, he's sterilized young, poor women without their consent and says that poor people should not be allowed to have children. He advocates the death penalty for doctors who perform abortions under any circumstance. Now he believes blacks are genetically predisposed to die sooner.

Y'all realize this guy is a doctor ... practicing ... currently?

The fact he still has a chance of winning makes me sick, just plain stomach churning ill.

[bobbieinok]

21. hasn't he also claimed an epidemic of lesbianism in ok high schools????

[George_S]

23. Eugenics is alive and well in OK

After Kerry wins, we have to start fighting state by state.

[usregimechange]

15. kick nt

[Awsi Dooger]

16. Shit, I watched the debate but missed that ignorant answer

While I was eating dinner. Maybe they'll replay it tonight.

Carson sounds more acceptable every time I see him. Tonight he was emphasizing not to cut programs just to save money, if those programs are necessary for the underprivileged.

[Greylyn58]

17. Oh My God!!

That guy is a total whack job!! I sincerly hope he doesn't come close to winning.

:wow:

[ISUGRADIA]

18. I'd like to say this would sink him, then again this state has

elected that fool Jimmy Inhofe to the Senate, what 2, 3 times.

I still think Carson will pull through, narrowly.

[LSdemocrat]

19. It's really scary that Coburn is within the margin of error in most polls

[girl gone mad]

20. It isn't a genetic predisposition..

but you'll never hear a republican say what the real causes are: less access to good health care, poor nutrition, most medical studies are done on white men, etc. Not to mention higher infant mortality rates and higher death rates in children and young adults which contributes to the shorter life expectancy.

Of course, if he admitted that those were the real causes, then he might actually have to adress the issues of poverty and racism.

[ShaneGR]

22. Not a good choice of words, but technically correct

I mean, technically, blacks do have, genetically, a less chance of reaching the social security age.

That being said, what the hell does that have to do with social security in Oklahoma?

[lady raven]

24. Maybe he wanted to play the "race card"

Instead, he pulled up a joker.

[tomfodw]

25. How do you know it's genetic

and not environmental?

[realcountrymusic]

29. No, not technically correct

Let me get technical.

African Americans have a lower life expectancy (not "less of one," for Chrissakes) on average for two reasons: 1) poverty -- a far better indicator of all morbidity and mortality statistics than "race" but one our government conveniently does not report, closely associated with almost all major risk factors for major diseases (stress, lack of preventive health care, smoking, high fat diet, polluted environment, AIDs, and community violence to name some of the big ones); and 2) ignorant assholes like Coburn, who make the blood pressure rise so fast that it can kill you just to think about them.

It is true that certain of the social stressors and dietary factors in morbidity do affect people of African descent disproportionately (diabetes, for example, in proportion to obesity and its various dietary causes; possibly heart disease and high blood pressure). But there is nothing *inferior* about this. Many Native Americans are genetically adapted to very low fat and low sugar diets, and consequently suffer higher rates of mortality from similar causes . The irony is that these clade factors (they are not "racial," by the way) reflect a population that is *more* well adapted to a different social and ecological setting. It's our society that is not well adapted to normal human physiology. And in any case, the genetic factors distinguishing "races" on morbidity scales are almost trivial for most pathologies. In South Texas, for example, the average lifespan for working-class men is 58 or 59, regardless of "race." The causes are smoking, toxic environment (especially in the workplace), industrial accidents, and alcohol abuse. Coburn's community has *real* public health problems. He's talking racist shit out his ass and trying to sound concerned about the African American public health crisis. If he cared, he'd support universal health insurance, to start with.

Ignorant arrogant fuckhead. I think we should require our legislators to have a demonstrated record of academic achievement before they can run, or even open their mouths.

RCM

On edit again: this motherfucker is a DOCTOR!? What diploma mill gave this guy a stethoscope and an Rx pad?

[Awsi Dooger]

26. Wait a minute, I watched the replay and it sounded like Carson agreed

Damn, again I wasn't paying close attention while doing Excel work.

But it seemed like Carson said, "...that blacks have a genetic predisposition to die early is novel to this issue." Or something very close to that, referring to social security. Maybe someone can find the transcript.

[Sideways]

28. That Does Not Sound Like Agreement

Sounds like Carson was saying "...that blacks have a genetic predisposition to die early is novel (this is a new a bizarre and not germane twist) to this issue."

[Awsi Dooger]

31. Maybe you're right

It was one of those things I barely heard when I wasn't paying attention, then tried to piece together moments later. Carson certainly didn't say it with emphasis, or as if Coburn had made a gaffe he was eager to pounce on. There was zero audience reaction to Coburn's remark and no moderator followup.

I thought Carson meant blacks having a genetic predisposition to die early was unique to this issue, but not something that should be considered when amending social security in general.

[realcountrymusic]

27. Too perfect

"Less of a life expectancy" is classic freeptard grammar. What a MORAN!

RCM

[Rex_Goodheart]

30. Regarding Coburn's statement.

I've heard Tavis Smiley complain that black males are being ripped off by the Social Security system because they die earlier than other groups, and don't get back what they pay into the system. I think it's a legitimate issue, and it's the one Mr. Coburn is addressing.

However, I don't think Mr. Coburn has any evidence that blacks are "genetically predisposed" for shorter lives. It smacks of racism, and It's my guess that African-Americans would resent the racist implications more than they accept Mr. Coburn's financial defense. After all, smarter people than himself can make the same case.

Of course, I am not African-American, and can't really speak for them. But I did admit it was just a guess. :)