The Democrat from Mississippi had this much to say regarding the race climate in America when interviewed on the New Nation of Islam webcast this past weekend: Click Here for CNN Link Talking to Dana Bash, he asserts that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is an Uncle Tom because his rulings serve as a detriment to African-Americans and that the President of the United States, Barack Obama, has been experiencing much greater hardships by Congress, simply because he is black. Below is the transcript between Rep. Thompson and Dana Bash of CNN: ============================Bash: When you said Clarence Thomas was an "Uncle Tom," what did you mean by that? Thompson: "Well if you look at his decisions on the court, they have been adverse to the minority community, and the people I represent have a real issue with an African American not being sensible to those issues." Bash: Isn't that a racially charged term? Thompson: "For some it is, but to others it's the truth." Bash: Because looking at that and hearing that kind of language, that certainly wouldn't be appropriate if it was coming from somebody who was white. Thompson: "But I'm black." Bash: That makes it OK? Thompson: "I mean, you're asking me the question, and I'm giving you a response. The people that I represent, for the most part, have a real issue with those decisions–voter ID, affirmative action, Affordable Care Act–all those issues are very important and for someone in the court who's African American and not sensitive to that is a real problem." Bash: The other thing you were talking about is the fact that you believe some of the opposition, maybe even much of the opposition, to the president is because of the color of his skin. Thompson: "Well, I've been here a long time. I've seen a lot of issues come before Congress. I've never seen the venom put forth on another candidate or a president like I've seen with this president and that's my opinion." Bash: Are there specific things that people have said that are racially tinged that make you say that, or are you reading the tea leaves of what's going on? Thompson: "I've seen quite a few State of the Union messages, I've never heard a president called a liar in a State of the Union message." Bash: You think Congressman Joe Wilson was race based? Thompson: "Well, I've never heard it before, it was a stupid decision...statement, but it has no real bearing." Bash: last question, just broadly...Where do you think the Republican Party is right now on issues of race? You have younger people who are trying to reach out to the African American community. Do you see things changing? Thompson: "You always see a change when you see the policies change, when you see programs that have been beneficial to the survival to African Americans in this country being cut, whether it's Head Start, nutrition programs, educational programs, job training programs. It's hard to demonstrate that you care about people when the programs that they hold closest to their survival are being put on the chopping block." Bash: Were Mitch McConnell's comments were racist? Thompson: "It had nothing to with that. The comments are insensitive. To say to a president that you're going to oppose anything that he puts out there is just totally..." Bash: You think it was race based? Thompson: "Well I've never heard him say it to any other president." ============================
I think Clarence Thomas' rulings are detrimental to the interests of black people, poor people and pretty much everyone who isn't an owner of capital. But Clarence isn't there to provide for the interests of the people. He is just supposed to interpret the constitution and laws. His philosophy informs how he's going to do that, but that's what we should expect. I also agree that Barack Obama gets a disproportionately more hostile treatment by the legislature because of his race.
Good for Thompson. Truth hurts. For the inevitable "reverse racism" people, a black man can talk all day and not affect white people. A white man speaks and blacks' whole welfare is affected. Cuts in programs, where we work, where we go to school, where we can live, how much money we can make. Racism is one group's power over another.
That's basically it regarding Thomas. He interprets the Constitution as he sees fit and quite frankly, his conservative-libertarian philosophy on the free market seems to be less about improving the country and more about maximizing profits for a business. Good point. Some would argue that there are black wealthy and rich people, but the issue is that they hold less of a influence in day to day lives of people. That's not what he's actually implying.
Nope. Blacks can be prejudiced. Racism implies that: a) your group is superior over another and b) your group has the power to affect other groups. Neither of which applies to (most) blacks in America. I typed this as simply as I could so you'd get it. I get the feeling that was in vain.
The Dictionary disagrees with you: RACISM: 1.a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others. 2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination. 3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races
That's exactly what I said. Boy, you guys can really play dumb when you want to. At least I hope it's "playing"
Not sure if the dictionary disagrees with him, or if he was focusing on something akin to definition #2, not the others. The only place where black people can effect their own governance to the exclusion of another group is in a given African nation, but when they have done that, it has been against other racially black ethnic groups.
All three are valid definitions, not one to the exclusion of the others. That's how the dictionary works.
RB and O4,you got that right the truth does hurt for the very suberbient Blacks who hate their race by being against programs benifiting to Blacks. Also,Blacks do not have Mojuice to apply their racism towards Whites and other minorities. O4,that is true that within a African nation that can be applied outside Africa forget it since according to nations outside Africa,Blacks are too weak to do anything.
yeah i saw the dana bash-rep interview and he maybe right but saying that kind of shit is not cool especially for a rep
look up the definition from websters the post it then discuss. for now prejudice and bigoted will apply
LOL ya'll motherfuckers tap-dance faster than Savion Glover. Please show me where Blacks in the USA use their innate dislike, skin-tone privilege, majority numbers and economic power to keep whites down, up to and including denying them employment or the homes/neighborhoods of their choice. That would be racism. A mere dislike of another person/group/race is prejudice. I am prejudiced against Paniro, yet I can't affect his paycheck. See how that works?
RBare,I agree. Micheal Jordan was prejudiced because of the racism in his home town of Wilmington,NC.
