Rendell: You're vote is good enough for us, but you're not good enough for our vote

[EffieBlack]

Gov. Ed "Don't Call Me 'Fast Eddie' " Rendell met with the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week to talk about his latest budget. But before turning the meeting over to his number-crunchers, our voluble governor weighed in on the primary fight between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama and what the Illinois senator could expect from the good people of Pennsylvania at the polls:

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," he said bluntly. Our eyes only met briefly, perhaps because the governor wanted to spare the only black guy in the room from feeling self-conscious for backing an obvious loser. "I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann {2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate] been the identical candidate that he was --well-spoken . . .

If Mr. Rendell, a Clinton backer, is right about Pennsylvania's racial attitudes, maybe we should get a new state slogan. How about: "You've got a friend with a pointy white hood in Pennsylvania"? http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08043/856727-153.stm

I got it, Ed . . .

You can chase black folks down and demand our vote - and certainly don't mind when huge majorities of us vote for a white nominee - including YOU. . .

But we're not good enough to BE a nominee and if a bunch of us vote a black candidate we're engaging in some kind of racist bloc voting.

Yeah, Ed. I got it. You just want us to sit out in the kitchen while you and the other white folks take over the rest of the house, park yourself down at the dining room table and wolf down all of the food and swill down all of the drink - and only let us come in the room if and when we need to refill your glasses or bring you another plate.

Well, now YOU get it. The darker brother has come out of the kitchen and has parked himself in the big house. He's even grabbed the remote on the big screen and won't give it back. Get use to it.


I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

I, too, am America
---Langston Hughes

[AX10]

1. I like him.

Obama is nothing but a typical politician once you take away his dressings.

[uberblonde]

2. As much as I don't like Rendell...

This is unfair on many levels. Rendell has backed lots of black candidates. He's not saying Obama shouldn't run, he's simply doing what politicians do: calculating the votes in his head. And whether you want to believe it or not, Pennsylvania votes usually break down along racial lines. Maybe they won't this time, but you can't blame him for assuming they will.

[MADem]

10. Oh, stop making sense! How DARE you actually READ what the man said for comprehension!!

How dare you display the intellect and common sense to put a statement in context!!!!

You're supposed to pretend that Pennsylvania is Rainbow Land, and that everyone lives together there happily, and Ed Rendell is just a mean old cracker with a whip who is determined to sow racial disharmony across the state!!

For the irony-impaired, I offer a :sarcasm: tag!

[LynneSin]

16. I have to agree with you uber

Believe me, the joke about the "T-zone" of Pennsylvania is that it's Pennsyltucky or Pennsylbama. To be honest it's more like 1940's Pennsyltucky or Pennsylbama.

HOWEVER.

Just as much as I could see some Pennsylvanians not wanting to vote for someone because of skin color - I see the same exact thing when it comes to sex.

[rinsd]

3. Why do we believe a Schaife paper?

[JVS]

5. You're thinking of the Tribune Review.

Try again

[Red Zelda]

4. Go away, Fast Eddie

Your Billary love is obvious. Your racism wasn't.

[jackson_dem]

24. Ed Rendell is a racist?

He has done more for minorities than St. Obama.

[MADem]

6. I think, sadly, that Ed Rendell might be right. STILL. In America.

I also think that people who want to EXCORIATE him for speaking a brutal truth should seriously check themselves and ask who they're angry with. How DARE Rendell comment on what is plainly obvious to anyone who has paid any attention at all to the state?

Is it only OK to point and holler "RACIST?" Ed Rendell wasn't "ENDORSING" the racist attitudes of the state, he was NOTING them.

It's only when people confront these issues HONESTLY that progress is made.

Kennedy didn't score any points by pussyfooting around about his Catholicism, after all. He confronted the issue head on.

You DO have conservative whites in PA. To say otherwise is to deny reality. It IS an uphill climb in that state for any candidate of color. To pretend that PA is "We Are The World-Ville" is lunacy.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

12. blowing the dogwhistle

Rendell is blowing the "dogwhistle" to racist whites in Virginia, Maryland and other upcoming states, hoping to stem Obama's momentum.

[MADem]

17. Wow, that's incredibly dispicable of you. You're shamelessly calling Rendell a racist.

And he's not. He's anything but. But that doesn't stop you.

That's right out of the Rove playbook, that stunt of yours.

Hey, when you throw down those "Say, when DID you stop beating your children?" type remarks, there's just no effective way of combatting them.

If Obama's the nominee, you just get used to that style of attack--he'll be getting it from all sides. And it won't be the "race" card they'll be playing. It'll be the drugs card, the extramarital relationship card, the 'pisspoor personal behavior' cards, the "Weak Willie who can't stand up when it matters" cards and--just in case you're UNCLEAR, here-- they don't have to be TRUE, either.

Ask Alex Polier * about that.


*A google will explain all, if you aren't clear on the reference

[VolcanoJen]

20. I don't think he's wrong at all. Or despicable for calling it a "dogwhistle."

It is what it is, and politicians don't really slip up accidentally that often. Everything is calculated. You could blow an entire campaign with one "MACACA!" type gaffe, so the things that actually do slip out of their mouths are more often very well thought-out, especially when you're a seasoned veteran like Rendell.

You know what else? You'll jump down my throat for this, but I think Bill invoking "Smoke and Mirrors" is a dogwhistle, too. A drug dogwhistle.

[MADem]

27. You believe that Rendell is a racist, eh? Another one.

Slip up? He didn't slip up. He gave a straightforward analysis. He didn't pretend, like you want to, that people are going to toss aside their years of ingrained cultural racism because Obama says "HOPE!!" and "CHANGE!!" and has a pretty smile.

What, if he said the sky was blue, you'd accuse him of being PREJUDICED against clouds?

Some truths are self-evident. Take a gander at the frigging PA delegation, if you don't believe what he said. The fact of the matter is, as someone else here astutely noted, that this will probably be one of Clinton's Obama-like RED STATES. One you win in the primary, but forget it in the general. They don't go for "dames" much, either out that way. McCain will take PA in the general--count on it.

[VolcanoJen]

30. No, of course I don't believe Rendell is a racist.

He's a politician.

And since his analogy makes absolutely no fucking sense (since when are white conservatives going to vote for Hillary? Since when are white conservatives going to vote for a Democrat???), I really think the logical way to look at this is that he's blowing the dogwhistle.

Sorry if you don't see it that way, but that's where I am.

[MADem]

33. If he's "blowing the dogwhistle" then you are saying he is a racist.

Because that's what a racist would do.

When are white conservatives going to vote for Obama? If you think he's going to magically take all of the red states he's won in the primaries, I have a bridge to sell you.

[EffieBlack]

34. You don't need to be a racist to use racism to your political advantage

[MADem]

39. That's counterintuitive. Someone who isn't a racist wouldn't even

conceive of pulling out and playing the race card. You'd have to have that view, in your heart, to even do that.

[EffieBlack]

47. Not at all

You don't have to believe that black people are inherently inferior or to hate, disdain or have any racial hostility toward blacks to be willing to use the fact that some white people do to your political advantage.

People throw around the term "racist" far too much. Calling Rendell out for playing the race card for political advantage is NOT the same as calling him a racist.

[MADem]

48. If you play the race card, you are racist. You can't talk the talk and not walk the walk.

But Rendell wasn't playing any card. He was offering an honest political analysis that isn't a secret to anyone who knows the makeup of the voting population in that state.

As I have said elsewhere, if the guy said the sky was blue, some would say he'd prejudiced against clouds.

He wasn't saying anything that isn't factual. He wasn't advocating anything. He was simply breaking down the reality.

You know, if you go to a convent, you're going to find nuns. If you go to a gymnasium, you're going to find athletes.

This guy knows the lay of the land in his own state. He didn't get to be governor by not having a clue or twenty as to the demographics of his constituency.

For him to make note of the obvious is not dogwhistling OR playing the race card. That's just BS--and rather agenda-laden--to say so.

[VolcanoJen]

37. If I blow a dog whistle...

... that doesn't make me a dog.

I think you're missing the point, here. Rendell didn't need to say what he said, because his assertion couldn't be applied to his candidate, either. White conservatives are unlikely to vote Democratic, let alone for a female or an African-American Democrat. I can't think of any "on-message" reason he'd have for throwing that out there.

But you know what else? I think the rest of Rendell's quote is where the real dogwhistle can be found:

You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate, ...I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann <2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate> been the identical candidate that he was — well-spoken, charismatic, good-looking — but white instead of black, instead of winning by 22 points, I would have won by 17 or so.

Regardless of all of this, I'm certainly not making any kind of assertion that Obama or Clinton can pick up hard red states... far from it. I think it's easier than all that. Just win every state Kerry won in 2004, and win Ohio, too.

[MADem]

38. It makes you leader of the pack, it what it does. Don't you ever watch the

dog whisperer?

No politician is going to say he, himself, couldn't win--he was acknowledging that Swann had an uphill climb. AND, frankly, he was being kind, because Swann fucked up enormously on a number of fronts once they got past his initial "new guy, football hero, isn't he handsome" exterior. The guy just didn't bring it on the issues, and that sunk his boat.

[jackson_dem]

26. let's get real. No one in VA or MD cares about the PA governor

He isn't going to influence anyone in those states.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. IMO, he WAS endorsing them.

His support for the non-black candidate is known, and he notes that white voters will not vote for the black candidate.

Did Kennedy say flat out that American protestants were too bigoted to vote for a Catholic? Or did he say that he trusted the American people to vote according to their conscience, and not because of their faith?

Fuck Rendell.

[MADem]

21. His long relationship with the female candidate in this race is known, too.

What, so people who don't endorse Clinton must be woman-haters?

By your logic, that's what we have to believe.

Fuck Rendell, eh?

Classy.

The guy spoke a few unfortunate truths. Take a gander at the fucking Pennsylvania delegation if you don't believe him. This is what the people of PA elect--there aren't too many dusky tones in this crowd, are there?


US Senator Arlen Specter (R)

US Senator Robert Casey Jr. (D)





US House Representatives for the State of Pennsylvania
US Representative Robert A. "Bob" Brady (D) - Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District

US Representative Chaka Fattah (D) - Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District

US Representative Philip S. "Phil" English (R) - Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District


US Representative Jason Altmire (D) - Pennsylvania's 4th Congressional District

US Representative John E. Peterson (R) - Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional District



US Representative Jim Gerlach (R) - Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District

US Representative Joe Sestak (D) - Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District

US Representative Patrick Murphy (D) - Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District

US Representative William "Bill" Shuster (R) - Pennsylvania's 9th Congressional District


US Representative Christopher Carney (D) - Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District


US Representative Paul E. Kanjorski (D) - Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District


US Representative John P. Murtha (D) - Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District


US Representative Allyson Y. Schwartz (D) - Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District

US Representative Michael F. "Mike" Doyle (D) - Pennsylvania's 14th Congressional District

US Representative Charles W. "Charlie" Dent (R) - Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District

US Representative Joseph R. Pitts (R) - Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District

US Representative T. Timothy Holden (D) - Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District

US Representative Tim Murphy (R) - Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District


US Representative Todd Platts (R) - Pennsylvania's 19th Congressional District

[jackson_dem]

28. JFK confronted the Catholic issue head on. He didn't hope it away

He did it both in the primaries (West Virginia most notably) and again in the general.

[EffieBlack]

29. Uh-huh

And whenever Obama confronts the race issue "head on," i.e., WHENEVER he mentions race, he's accused of playing the race card.

[RaleighNCDUer]

49. There is a huge fucking difference between saying

"They will vote for me despite my religion, because they are fair minded Americans,"

and saying

"They will not vote for him because he is black, because they are bigoted Americans."

Which of those statemenst inspires YOU?

[TexasObserver]

7. It's more planned race baiting for wedge purposes by a Clinton mouthpiece

[JVS]

8. This could really hurt Hillary in Western PA.

Carville joked that PA is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh at the ends with Alabama in between. One of the things that those in the West are very sensitive about is being lumped in with that Alabama portion, and Rendell is a Philadelphian, so Westerners are already on edge regarding him. Rendell's comment antagonizes both the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh black voter, and the Western PA white voter who is really touchy about being called a hick.

[Barack_America]

11. Philadelphia's not particularly fond of Rendell anymore either...

So he'd better start kissing the asses of those "Alabama" voters!

[Barack_America]

9. Boo Rendell! Yea Hughes!

I love Langston Hughes, thanks for that!

Rendell on the other hand...total ass, IMO.

[BlueStateGirl]

14. I live in PA and I don't think he is wrong. The truth is, they probably

won't vote for Hillary either.

Before this primary season , I would have thougth most of those "conservative whites" belonged to the other party. Now I am not so sure. I have heard some really surprisingly racist and sexist comments from some fellow Democrats, in Philly of all places. I work in a bar, we talk politics all the time. I have had to revaluate a few friendships because of it.

I literally cannot believe some of the things I have heard. I have had to ask why exactly they even feel comfortable sharing those views with me.

[BlueStateGirl]

15. I live in PA and I don't think he is wrong. The truth is, they probably

won't vote for Hillary either.

Before this primary season , I would have thougth most of those "conservative whites" belonged to the other party. Now I am not so sure. I have heard some really surprisingly racist and sexist comments from some fellow Democrats, in Philly of all places. I work in a bar, we talk politics all the time. I have had to revaluate a few friendships because of it.

I literally cannot believe some of the things I have heard. I have had to ask why exactly they even feel comfortable sharing those views with me.

[MagsDem]

18. Newsflash - they wouldn't elect a gay man as president either

He's right. You can spend the rest of the campaign pretending everyone that understands racism in this country is acutally a racist, but it's not true.

[VolcanoJen]

19. Good God.

I was afraid of this, but here it is. Backed into a corner, the Clintons are now turning to the tactics that they think won them New Hampshire.

It's disgusting to me. Poor Tony Norman, how uncomfortable he must have felt.

[sniffa]

22. I can't believe Obama's playing the race card again

I thought it'd been too long since the last race baiting. Right on schedule.

[EffieBlack]

23. So Rendell saying that Obama can't win Pennsylvania because he's black means OBAMA is race baiting?

Wow.

[GalleryGod]

31. Sniffa Sarcasam, Hon!

Oh, the Irony

:toast:

[EffieBlack]

35. Oh - thanks for splainin'

[Major Hogwash]

50. Sniffa being sacrastic - that's hugh! I'm series! She's been casting asparagus a lot lately.

I can't believe I said that!

OMG! - I think I've outed myself!

LoL

[butterfly77]

41. Anything he does or says they make excuses for him...

he won't be able to play that damn game if the republicons get a hold of him. As much as I want our candidate to win I want to see what his excuses will be if he is the nominee.

[GalleryGod]

25. =Fast Eddie,Carpetbagger from Bensonhurst,Brooklyn, is pretty scummy

Guess what you bald,fat, bloviatng, gas bag...you're going to have to deploy all your state troopers to stop blacks from voting...except maybe like your man, Mayor Nutter, a Billary Backer, he's a "Good Black", I suppose?

Guess what,folks? Eagles Fans can't even watch their Comcast Post Game FOOTBALL Show without having to listen this bloated, self important,blowhard, pontificate about something (football) he knows even less about than running the City of Philadelphia.

Hey, Eddie....STFU:spank:

[knowledgeispwr]

32. I think the problem is, in part because he's a Hillary supporter

he's not a neutral entity. He's implicitly saying "don't vote for the black candidate because there are racists" or in other words "don't vote for the black candidate because he's black." I honestly think the racist vote and the sexist vote thing are overblown.

If people were saying don't vote for Hillary because there are sexists people would be hollering to high heaven.

Also, are we going to let racists and sexists determine who our candidates are? Are we going to sit around waiting for people to "be ready?" I don't think that's what we should be about.

[EffieBlack]

36. THANK you!

He's not saying, "Don't vote Obama because he's black." He's saying, "Don't vote for Obama because other people won't vote for him because he's black."

[Yael]

44. One reason I like the caucus system

The reaction from so many in Nebraska said it all, "I had no idea we had this many dems in the state much less in my district". It is one thing to read a number in the paper -- another to get a good eyeful of people who believe like you do.

[Bucky]

40. "I believe... that had Lynn Swann been the identical candidate that he was --well-spoken"

"I believe, looking at the returns in my election, that had Lynn Swann {2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate} been the identical candidate that he was --well-spoken..."

Well knock me over with a feather! A well spoken black man? No, wait, not one but TWO... count 'em, Ed... two well spoken black men running for public office just two years apart from each other. If that ain't a trend I'll hang up my cross rags and kerosene can right now!

</sarcasm>

Seriously, my dear Yankee friends, next time you think to start calling us southerners rednecks and racists, try cleaning out your own trash first.

[Yael]

46. On behalf of PA, I am embarassed and ashamed for my state

I said on a thread this morning about this that I will crawl in a hole if PA becomes THE racist state that affects this election.

Being in April -- that gives WAY too many news cycles to focus on it.

I am hoping against hope for the anti-Bradley effect as blowback against this blowhard.

[Yael]

42. I hope this gets LOTS of air time in Philly tonight

I normally don't watch the local news -- but am going to check it now.

[malletgirl02]

43. Rendell's statement

Alot of this has been about blacks, but if I were a white person in PA I would be pissed at Rendell for painting with such a large brush.

[Yael]

45. I am a white female in PA and I am absolutely livid with him.