An observation about Buchanan, "boy" and false equivalence

[Empowerer]

In the past 20 hours or so, some have questioned why Pat Buchanan's reference to President Obama as "your boy" is considered racist, since he has referred to white people in the same way.

In this America, it just is.

Given the history of racism and the manner in which words such as "boy" have and continue to be used to degrade, demean and intimidate black people in this country, it is NOT appropriate for a white person to refer to a black man as "boy," regardless whether it's also used in reference to white men. It is NEVER ok, except in the rarest circumstances, none of which Pat Buchanan is or is like to ever find himself in.

People say "bitch" all the time in such contexts as "life's a bitch" or "stop bitching about it." Some women even refer to themselves and one another as "bitch." But that does not make it ok for a man to call a woman a "bitch." Context, speaker and object all matter.

I don't care that Buchanan may say it in other contexts. I don't care if other people call white men "your boy" in some circumstances. It is NOT OK for Pat Buchanan to call the black President of the United States "boy." Period.

If he doesn't understand that or cannot handle that, he does not need to be a professional television talker.

[Bluenorthwest]

1. See, what chaps my hide is that this furor is so late in coming

People here have defended his presence on MSNBC to me for years. I cite his history of vicious words. They say 'but it is fun to see Rachel go after him'. He's a homophobic, sexist, racist, Hitler apologist. He's MSNBC's own "Uncle Pat".
Here is some more context. More Pat. Horrible shit going back to the 70's. http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2553

[Empowerer]

2. You're right. But this helps to show why diversity on these shows is important

It is very possible that a white host might not have heard Pat's dog whistle - at least not soon enough to call him on it. Most black Americans are very familiar with this kind of language and know exactly what it means right off the bat. We are also used to addressing it. Rev. Sharpton caught it instantaneously and knew just what to do with it.

[EffieBlack]

10. Exactly!

[PCIntern]

4. He never ever met a Nazi he didn't appreciate and endorse,

including Hitler.

People like him were real popular and common in the German neighborhoods in the metropolitan areas during WW II. My parents used to talk about them all the time when I was a kid.

[Whisp]

3. after Sharpton spoke out, Pat started laughing

that was a definite indication that Pat knew exactly what he was doing, and he was pleasing his audience with his devil may care attitude about it and a 'didn't I almost get away with it'.

You can't look at that face and that 'kind' of laughter and not see it. You'd have to be stone blind.

[hedgehog]

5. I think if you really want to understand Buchanan, you have to read

"Born Fighting" by Jim Webb. Mind you, I don't agree with every conclusion Jim Webb makes, but I think the book is an excellent introduction to the mind set of the Scot-Irish culture. (And I say culture, because as Webb notes, intermarriage with other ethnic groups is no bar to culture transmission.)

In particular - I think Buchanan uses certain words and phrases as a challenge or test. When Rev. Sharpton called him on it, he gained some respect from Buchanan. Buchanan will still use the phrase because "ain't no one goin' to tell him what he can and can't say, no sir!"

Ironically - and I may be challenged on this - I think Buchanan's open racism is not as nasty as some of the more subtle forms we've seen.

[Pooka Fey]

6. THANK you.

I thought this was self-evident, but I was wrong. It DOES need to be explained to people.

[slackmaster]

7. Challenge for Empowerer: Try re-writing this OP in E-prime and see if you can make it say something.

http://www.angelfire.com/nd/danscorpio/ep2.html

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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

[lame54]

9. given the history of Buchanan

[Supersedeas]

11. there's that and then there's what hedge and bluenorth say above