What did Wright say that was "racist" exactly?

[loveangelc]

I am upset by the "God damn America" thing, but what exactly was "racist" about what was said? He said Hillary does not know what it was like to be called the n word or grow up in a world where being black is a minus, not a plus, in society. So what exactly was said that was "racist?"

Hillary said that if AIDS was the leading cause of white women in America, there would be a national outcry. If Obama's preacher said that, would it be seen as racist as well?

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. This is a joke thread right?

[loveangelc]

7. answer the fucking question

what was "racist" about what was said?

and also, I think this has as much to do with the tone he said this as his words. if he sayign everything in a weak voice, i don't think this would be as big of an issue.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[loveangelc]

16. don't comment if you're going to make yourself look like a huge dumbass, i suggest.

[Yes We Did]

19. That kind of language is unacceptable on DU.

You have been here long enough to know that.

[Zhade]

44. So you can't answer it.

You should just admit it.

[Yes We Did]

48. Just like Bush, Hillary & "THEIR" Supports are incapable of doing that.

[slinkerwink]

2. any time a minority talks about racism, white people think

he or she is being racist towards them when the minority is actually pointing out his perspective of the truths he sees in society.

[JDPriestly]

11. Substitute the word white for African-American and African-American

for the word white. If you think the statement is racist after you change the language, it is racist.

[ClassWarrior]

18. Cite the passasge you mean.

Otherwise you're blowing hot air.

NGU.

[JDPriestly]

43. If you heard Rev. Wright's Christmas sermon about how

Hillary hadn't suffered as much as a black man, you will know what I mean. Outside of that, generally in any statement if you can substitute the word for one race or ethnic group for another, you can easily determine whether the language is racist. Same for gender, same for age.

[izzybeans]

25. Not exactly.

The phrase "white people have historically subjugated African-Americans", just becomes inaccurate. Linguistically it states a truism, that those who have subjugated blacks were white. It doesn't say all white people have done this. To think otherwise is to project ones own fears and biases onto somebody else's words. And it doesn't rule out the possibility that white people have not subjugated other white people. It merely states something that actually has occurred.

You are correct if someone were to say White people are smarter than black people. It is a premised on an ideology of racial superiority. You can interchange them there. But not when arguing facts of historical significance. It would be asinine to claim "Black people have historically subjugated European-Americans".

[JDPriestly]

50. You can say

"It was some white men subjugated African-Americans." But when you say "it was the white man who subjugated African-Americans," you are generalizing far too much. My ancestors who fought on the Union side against slavery and who were vocal abolitionists, not just Union supporters did not subjugate African-Americans. Rev. Wright's statements were offensive to me because he did not acknowledge the fact that many, many white Americans fought their white fellow Americans in order to abolish slavery. Further, lots of white men and women spoke out and demonstrated against segregation.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

26. It wouldn't make any sense if you did that. That's why it's not racism.

At least not in the definition commonly understood by progressives. Black Americans have simply not had the kind of institutional power to oppress white people as the other way around.

[JDPriestly]

45. I used to work for an African-American woman who commented

on my appearance in ways that I realized after leaving the job were quite racist. I was just so naive. I realize that she felt a lot of pain about the racism she had experienced and she took it out on me. She needed to deal with her own issues. This was a particularly difficult situation for me because I admired this woman for her accomplishments very, very much. I worked very hard for her. Later, when I worked in a place where I did not experience that kind of abuse I realized that I should not have worked for that woman so long. She was an alcoholic on top of it all. Actually, it was rather sad. She was a very successful woman.

[theredpen]

28. self-delete (response to wrong post)

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

31. They haven't been to Bill Clinton's friend Rush's website lately

guess they got confused and spent more time with Hannity and other Faux news sources.

[BoneDaddy]

55. The reverse holds true as well

as there are plenty of racists amoung people of color who continually justify and deny their racism. That is often not discussed. And when pressed or held accountable, play victim, even when they are the perps.

[anamandujano]

3. What did Ferraro say?

[Drachasor]

8. Ferroro wasn't racist, she just said something that was so completely wrong it is amazing.

And then she stuck to her guns. Her statement showed a complete lack of comprehension regarding racism in America. It was rather surprising.

[Yes We Did]

21. You have to be kidding, right?

I know you are not that ignorant.

[anamandujano]

4. What did Bill Clinton say?

[loveangelc]

12. Nothing Bill Clinton said was "racist" but somewhat diminishing obama;

and the difference is, thats bill clinton, not hillary's pastor

[Yes We Did]

20. ...Jesse Jackson won South Carolina too.

You can pretend all you want.

[loveangelc]

23. pretend what? that he didn't? no what said he did not win it so I'm not sure what you're talking

about....

[Drachasor]

27. It was fairly interpreted by many to suggest Barack Obama was just a "Black Candidate" with...

...low universal appeal. At the very least, it was meant to suggest Obama was nothing special, and that winning South Carolina was meaningless -- and that is highly diminishing of a great politician.

That can seem to have racist undertones, I suppose, given that Obama was anything but what Clinton suggested (could any black candidate have not gotten that line from Clinton?)

[anamandujano]

52. As the present problems for Obama continue to unfold, one thing

you're going to have to accept is that he is no great politician.

[Drachasor]

53. You're deluding yourself if you really think that

His success to date and his campaign is proof of his political muster. His campaign has had a lot more discipline than Hillary's for instance -- it's a simple fact he's run a better campaign than her.

[cali]

57. Actually, if he survives this, and goes on to get the nomination

that demonstrates that he is a great politician. duh.

[Yes We Did]

30. Your leval of ignrance is utterly amazing.

Do you practice hard at it, or does it just come natural?

[Major Hogwash]

35. I cann spll gud! Ur ignurant. I no 4 a fack yu not berry smarrte. Akse nnyone.

LoL

[loveangelc]

40. You can't answer so you just say bullshit.

[JackORoses]

37. what connect Obama and Jesse Jackson other than their race?

nothing.
That is why it is racist.

[anamandujano]

51. But everything Wright said against anyone who wasn't black was

not racist?

You all are trying to spin Wright as correct in what he said but Bill Clinton was correct in what he said. Ferraro was correct. Whether you agree or not, it didn't rise to the level of Wright's racist hate. They didn't say as much as he did. They didn't have the venom.

Why does Wright get a pass?

[loveangelc]

56. answer me by tell me what was so racist that was said?

the us of Kkk a? is that what everyone is calling racist hate speech?

[Mooney]

5. He said that the Scottish are cheap. n/t

[anamandujano]

6. What did Hillary Clinton do or say?

[loveangelc]

14. what are you talking about?

[Yes We Did]

22. Nothing... as far as I know.

[Drachasor]

32. It's more about what she didn't do that bother people

I don't think she racist or did anything racist. I think she seems happy enough to capitalize on racial tensions, however.

[sorrybushisfromtexas]

10. I didn't see anything racist.

another point
Do you really think:
that God of approves America for: slavery, our treatment of American Indians (a only good Indian is a dead one), Jim Crow Laws, KKK (which was the leading political party in some states in the 1920's, interment of the Japanese, 2nd class citizenship for Blacks until the last few decades, racial hatred, Homophobic preachers, the Iraq War, corporate greed, America's rape of our environment, global warming, our consumption of natural resources and food while millions die and we we see it on TV, we turn the TV channel with our remote because we are too tired of looking at it.
I think that God has many things he could damn us for.
Do you really think that we are a God fearing nation with the blood we have on our hands?.

What he said was said very poorly, I have problems with the way he said it, but not what he said.
This being said, I love my country, we are a giving nation like no other. We do have much to be ashamed for.

Support your candidate, vote for him or her, give to him or her monetarily, work your ass off for him or her during the primary campaigns. Don't do what I have been seeing tonight on this site. It is silly.

Vote Democratic in The GE no matter who wins.

Work to change our country into one that God would be proud of.

[lligrd]

13. Nothing. I Had No Problem With Any Of His Comments

Although, I would have preferred God Save America or something. But it sure got his point across and that is his job.

[Fredda Weinberg]

15. Well, if it's against Jews, maybe it doesn't count

I can even see how someone, maybe even Obama, could dismiss Farrakhan as a pest, a silly man pushing a silly cause that poses no real threat to the Jewish community. Still, history tells us that anti-Semitism is not to be trifled with. It is a botulism of the mind.

The Obama and Clinton campaigns are involved in a tasteless tussle over the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. What is clear from rereading King's celebrated "I Have a Dream" speech of Aug. 28, 1963, is how inclusive that dream was -- "all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!' "

This, though, is not Farrakhan's dream. He has vilified whites and singled out Jews to blame for crimes large and small, either committed by others as well or not at all. (A dominant role in the slave trade, for instance.) He has talked of Jewish conspiracies to set a media line for the whole nation. He has reviled Jews in a manner that brings Hitler to mind.

And yet Wright heaped praise on Farrakhan. According to Trumpet, he applauded his "depth of analysis when it comes to the racial ills of this nation." He praised "his integrity and honesty." He called him "an unforgettable force, a catalyst for change and a religious leader who is sincere about his faith and his purpose." These are the words of a man who prayed with Obama just before the Illinois senator announced his run for the presidency. Will he pray with him just before his inaugural?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/AR2008011402083.html

[CitizenLeft]

17. unless "ignored" said something that answers your question...

...I don't see where you got a response.

He DIDN'T say anything racist. That rich white men run the country is... LOL... a FACT. Isn't it? Is there anyone, anywhere, in their right mind, that disagrees with that?

If rich white men are NOT the Powers That Be in America, please, somebody point out who is?

[David__77]

24. Wright said nothing racist. White people can get defensive about white privilege.

It's really sad to see. Most white people seem to think that racism is a thing of the past. So wrong they are. Whites are still on top - it's a fact.

[CitizenLeft]

36. and the thing about "being on top"

...some whites somehow think that resentment from African-Americans is based solely on that dynamic. It's not. What is hateful is that African-Americans must be kept at the bottom so that whites can stay at the top. If the economic flow upward were more natural and fair, with "all things being equal" REALLY being equal - like education, for example - Rev. Wright would have nothing to rail about.

[theredpen]

29. 28 responses and not a single citation yet

Rev. Wright said something racist, but no one can explain what is was or why it was racist. Interesting.

[Yes We Did]

33. I disagree with the tone he used, but not the message.

His words were true. Eccentric, yes. But true.

[AZBlue]

38. Didn't you know - anyone who speaks against Clinton is using reverse racism or is sexist?

Or maybe both!

[theredpen]

46. All three!

[kwenu]

34. You're upset about the "God damn America" thing??

I don't know why. That is probably the most sensible thing he said. Take a look at this picture of Rumsfeld and Saddam:





Our government cannot support dictators in order for them to do our bidding and then act like they are supreme evil. We gave them the capacity to be evil. Perhaps Wright should have said "Why should God bless America?" and maybe that would have been more palatable. However, impolite and impolitic his words sound, they are valid and true. We can't pretend to be saints when we engage in bad acts.

I am sure the rest of the world has no problem understanding the point of Wright's statements.

[AZBlue]

54. And interestingly many of those decrying that statement said the exact same thing

before the primaries. Just like their chosen candidate, they change with the day and date.

[WinkyDink]

39. "Hillary said that if AIDS was the leading cause of white women in America"

WHAT??????

This makes no sense.

[loveangelc]

41. What doesn't make sense? Thats what she said, so I suppose she doesnt make sense

to you.

[tammywammy]

47. She said it

"If HIV-AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25 and 34, there would be an outraged outcry in this country,” Mrs. Clinton said at a forum in June at Howard University."

http://www.ontheissues.org/Archive/2007_Dems_Howard_U_Health_Care.htm

[Lucinda]

42. US of KKK A

[Life Long Dem]

49. Obama didn't say "God damn America" Ron Paul did.

As a matter of fact Obama didn't even hear those words. Which also need to be put into context with foreign policy.