Politics and religion.

[lizbud]

Well!

My mom told me her "rule for truth" - she got it from John Wayne!

Never apologize, it's a sign of weakness......

So now, I only lie when I know it's the truth?

, but I 'm serious. His Mom lives in Indy.

[lizbud]

Douglas MacKinnonFormer press secretary to Sen. Bob Dole

Posted: June 18, 2009 10:56 AM
GOP Leadership Should Have Condemned Racist Jokes

Two blatant and mind-numbing acts of racism by Republicans were just reported in the news -- and unfortunately and unwisely, GOP "leadership" has chosen to remain silent. Why?

The first involved a former election commission chairman from South Carolina who, upon hearing a gorilla had escaped from the local zoo, posted on his Facebook site, "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors -- probably harmless." The second involved the executive assistant to a Republican state senator in Tennessee who circulated a photo of all 44 presidents, with the picture of President Obama being an all black rectangle with two white eyes.

You would think, that as the complexion of America continues to change and as the GOP has discovered a desperate need to reach out to minorities, that at least some of those who purport to speak for the party might look upon these disreputable acts as a way to sincerely reach out to the black and minority communities. Sadly, that does not seem to be the case.

As an independent conservative who lived often in poor, predominately black neighborhoods as a child and who is now married to a Hispanic-American, the lack of meaningful outreach toward minorities by the Republican Party has long been an issue with me.

As such, I was not surprised but still saddened and disappointed, when a collection of older, white and wealthy Republican "leaders" met at the end of May in a pizza parlor in Arlington, Va., to announce the creation of the "National Council for a New America." Really?

With the NCNA being led in part by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi, and Sen. John McCain of Arizona, I'm just trying to understand: What's "new" about the council?

Opportunities for outreach to the minority community keep getting teed up for the GOP, and they habitually continue to ignore them.

Indicative of this was the 2008 Republican presidential primary season, when then-leading contenders Rudy Giuliani, McCain, Romney and Fred Thompson decided to blow off a debate hosted by African-American talk show host Tavis Smiley. Again, why? Who were they afraid of offending with their appearance? What was gained from not attending? Certainly not the White House.

Even with the appointment of Michael Steele as the first black chairman of the Republican National Committee, the party is far from connecting with black and minority communities. Beyond that, some GOP leaders seem to be looking for every chance to undermine Steele's efforts to create a more relevant and diverse party.

The recent racist flare ups could have been a turning point.

Regardless of whether they intend to run for the White House or not in 2012, the likes of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Romney and any other "leader" of the GOP, should step in front of a microphone immediately and offer a sincere and deserved apology to Michelle and Barack Obama on behalf of the GOP -- and let them and minorities across America know that not only do vile people who make such jokes not speak for the party, but they are not welcome in the party.

Palin asked for an apology from David Letterman for a joke that she said was an attack on women everywhere. He delivered it. Given these recent brazen offenses toward blacks, the GOP could learn from Letterman's contrition.

Speak up, GOP leaders -- and recognize this as a chance to do and say the right thing. If not, your silence will be analyzed and ultimately interpreted.



MacKinnon was press secretary to former Sen. Bob Dole. He is a former White House and Pentagon official and author.

[blue]

Douglas MacKinnonFormer press secretary to Sen. Bob Dole

Source link?

[Grace]

Source link?

Douglas MacKinnon - http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.c...las-mackinnon/

Contributor: Douglas MacKinnon
By The Editors

Douglas MacKinnon was a press secretary to former Senator Bob Dole. He was also a writer for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and a special assistant for policy and communications in the Defense Department. He has worked on three presidential campaigns and is the author, most recently, of “The Apocalypse Directive,” a novel.

Also - http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/...to_blacks.html

[blue]

Douglas MacKinnon - http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.c...las-mackinnon/

That is not the source link.

Also - http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/...to_blacks.html

That is a source link.

FWIW I agree with him.

Where was the Huffington Post, they also picked this Douglas Mackinnon OpEd piece, when the chimp pics where circulated about the former POTUS? Where was any MSM outrage over those pics?

Is it OK to compare the POTUS or his wife to a primate because they are white but not OK when they are a minority? Why the double standard?

[RICHARD]

Liz,

I have to say this...

When people do the "I was raised in a black neighborhood and married a Mexican" line in a story, I stop reading.

Why not.....

"I was born and raised in a home that taught me to rise above whatever I lacked in life and to try and become successful........"

I really get tired of the "I was this, then, I am not that, now!"

Everyone is 'where' they came from, that will never change. The only thing that does change is a zip code, maybe? And that weird sense of trying to equate your wife, job and mortgage - that other people could never afford- to justify your niche in the world.

Isn't that what we all are supposed to do?

Grow up and do better than our parents, the more, the better!

--------------------------

Years ago I stopped playing the martyr game.

All my pride and the "I was born a poor kid" was really a slam against my parents. They gave me the best they could and told me to get off my arse and do something with my life.....

So, when I hear the "poor kid/effed up neighborhood" excuse, I wonder why more people don't realize that instead of starting out with the pity party statement, they should thank the parents that started the whole ball rolling.



------------------------


And that stupid BaBa boxer told a military officer she was grilling not to call her, "Ma'am". She earned her title and should be addressed as such.

I am not going to tell the joke I want to.


People go Street Rat Crazy!

http://www.brandfreak.com/jack-in-the-box/


Cool out Baba and grab a smoothie, you moron.

[blue]

And that stupid BaBa boxer told a military officer she was grilling not to call her, "Ma'am". She earned her title and should be addressed as such.

I am not going to tell the joke I want to.


People go Street Rat Crazy!

http://www.brandfreak.com/jack-in-the-box/


Cool out Baba and grab a smoothie, you moron.

This country has proven over and over that liars, murderers, and lawbreakers can become senators.

I have alot more respect for Brigadier General Michael Walsh then a petty senator who interupted him to dress him down for calling her Ma'am.

Brigadier General is a Rank one earns, a senator is the winner of a popularity contest.

Edit: A Rank is Earned through merit. A title, like senator, is something won, like in a popularity contest.

[RICHARD]

I have alot more respect for Brigadier General Michael Walsh then a petty senator who interupted him to dress him down for calling her Ma'am.

Brigadier General is a Title one earns, a senator is the winner of a popularity contest.

I cannot stand any of the state's senators.


They are both women who's opinion of themselves far exceeds the reality.

I hope one day she needs the help from a member of the armed forces.

I think she is past the point of being street rat crazy......she may want to get two shakes, one for her pie hole, the other for her pants.

[lizbud]

Liz,

I have to say this...

When people do the "I was raised in a black neighborhood and married a Mexican" line in a story, I stop reading.

Why not.....

"I was born and raised in a home that taught me to rise above whatever I lacked in life and to try and become successful........"

I really get tired of the "I was this, then, I am not that, now!"

Everyone is 'where' they came from, that will never change. The only thing that does change is a zip code, maybe? And that weird sense of trying to equate your wife, job and mortgage - that other people could never afford- to justify your niche in the world.

Isn't that what we all are supposed to do?

Grow up and do better than our parents, the more, the better!

--------------------------

Years ago I stopped playing the martyr game.

All my pride and the "I was born a poor kid" was really a slam against my parents. They gave me the best they could and told me to get off my arse and do something with my life.....

So, when I hear the "poor kid/effed up neighborhood" excuse, I wonder why more people don't realize that instead of starting out with the pity party statement, they should thank the parents that started the whole ball rolling.



------------------------


And that stupid BaBa boxer told a military officer she was grilling not to call her, "Ma'am". She earned her title and should be addressed as such.

I am not going to tell the joke I want to.


People go Street Rat Crazy!

http://www.brandfreak.com/jack-in-the-box/


Cool out Baba and grab a smoothie, you moron.

Nice essay, but what about the message of the article? The author
told about two separate occasions where two "major players" of the GOP
openly made racist comments about the President & First Lady. This kind
of stuff hurts the GOP. They are killing themseves as a political party.

[RICHARD]

Nice essay, but what about the message of the article? The author
told about two separate occasions where two "major players" of the GOP
openly made racist comments about the President & First Lady. This kind
of stuff hurts the GOP. They are killing themseves as a political party.

And that is a good thing. It's better than having a nominee for the SC saying that a hispanic woman has more insight that a plain vanilla, chocolate or strawberry gal! That takes testes bigger that what I own.

When people make stupid statements in front of me, That is a relief, I know who the AHs are.

What happens when a Major Player acts like an AH in front of a Brig. General by telling him he is wrong in the way he has addressed her?

Nothing really, we know now to avoid the Boxer because she is frothing at the mouth?

I guess all the white and black women are useless to the government because they aren't as experienced as some dumb "latina"?

Every body has that little corner deep inside their hearts where they hold their dislike of a person, race, religion, politics, hair color, clothes, food, home, job and car.

People can say what they want about me, where I came from and everything else.

I just find that people that have to justify their "oneness with the planet" as being a bunch of effing 'victocrats' who need to include the fact that they got a box of food from the local VFW and a christmas tree from the food bank to show that they were poor.

Now, I can say that I have had relations with someone not of my own race and moved out of my poor childhood neighborhood?

Does that make me any more experienced that you?

How does that make anyone feel to hear that some Latina is smarter and more experienced that a white gal? Another brown or black gal?

Nope, I don't buy it.