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| HuffPo writer: Garofolo's attack on the Tea Party protests is way off base |
| 2009-04-22 |
| Sophia A. Nelson, Puffington Host ...I am so sick and tired of RACE. Period. When are we going to get over it? For Real folks. As someone who was an African American studies minor in college, pledged the oldest and most prestigious black women's sorority, was once a loyal card carrying member of the NAACP ( I did not renew my membership after the 2000 election campaign ads that ran against then Gov. George Bush paid for by the NAACP), started a very successful national organization for professional women of color, and I could go and on I am sick of the tearing apart of one set of Americans by their own fellow countrymen. Yes, I am defending my mostly white (some Tea Party goers were black, Hispanic, etc.) Tea Party attending brethren because enough is enough. On last Thursday's "Countdown," MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and his guest Janeane Garofalo defamed fellow citizens who attended the prior day's Tea Parties with vitriolic contempt. Ms. Garofalo actually called Party-goers "a bunch of teabagging rednecks," adding "this is about hating a black man in the White House. This is racism straight up." She is wrong and she knows nothing about true racism-having never spent a day of her life being black in America. I do know something about racism as I and millions of other people of color have endured and experienced its ugly insidiousness. It is not a word that should be thrown around lightly or recklessly. If we dare not stand in defense of our fellow citizens right to protest peacefully against our/their government then we are giving into a sneaky form of Tyranny. Race has nothing to do with the hardworking, decent American citizens who simply got sick and tired of being overtaxed and outspent by their government and showed up to do something about it. That is our solemn duties as Americans. This freedom is what makes us the envy of the world.... A pleasant surprise in the comments thread: while some of the HuffPo regulars are dutifully repeating the "Tea parties are racist" meme, an encouraging number are siding with Ms. Nelson and saying things like this: Well said, Ms Nelson. I attended a tea party rally with co-workers, two of whom are black and one latino. They were stunned to hear that Garafolo belittled them, too, saying that they suffered from Stockholm syndrome. Thank you for stating what should be obvious to any rational person, that being in favor of limited government does not equal racism, and that attacking protestors as racists is either disingenuous, or moronic. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #9 that the commenters giving out with the 'reactionary RethugliKKKan racist' line are being handed fairly vigorous arguments. It's a promising development Means there's a much larger sense of irony on the left side of the political spectrum than previously thought. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-04-22 21:00 |
| #8 garofolo bores me. typical self loathing pseudo-intellectual w/extreme tinges of NPD in her make up. A chick that was obviously invisible to men & cheerleaders in h.s. and has daddy issues to boot. One of my more callous jarhead buddies would say she just needs a clean pounding to get back to good. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2009-04-22 19:32 |
| #7 "She" who, Kofi? There are 2 in this sotry. If you're talking about Grab-a-fellow, I agree. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-04-22 15:29 |
| #6 Besoeker, the lady's on our side; the side of lower taxes and less government intrusion in people's lives, the side of judging people by the content of their character instead of the color of their skin. She's an ally. A convert. I, for one, am happy to welcome her (and others like her) aboard. |
| Posted by: Mike 2009-04-22 14:03 |
| #5 I've heard her shit before and it's all about appeasing her left-wing victem mentality 'COOL' circle of artsy friends. I consider her more a racist for inciting mistrust and fear. She's polorizing the issue when it's about the finances and high taxes and bailouts! The funny thing is, she should be protesting. Usually high taxes are normally a liberal's tool for social programs but in this case it's all going to wall street and banks. I wouldn't waste too much brainpower on her noise. |
| Posted by: Kofi Claitle6576 2009-04-22 10:04 |
| #4 Yes, I am defending my mostly white I'll "defend" my family and myself thank you. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-04-22 09:46 |
| #3 IThe left has succeeded in elevating racism as the ultimate evil that has to be attacked so vigorously that even an accusation is to be regarded as proof, and no further inquiry or questioning of the accusation is to be tolerated. When an accusation has been elevated to proof, then it attains the potential to be abused. The left called this McCarthyism, but flatters itself in thinking it is so pure, so righteous, so IMMACULATE, that it is somehow incapable and impossible for IT to construct a neo-McCarthyite tool of oppression itself and use it against those opposing its agenda. It is time to treat calls like Garofolo's for what they are intended to be: a demand that her enemies be LYNCHED. Calls for lawless violence must be treated like-for-like. Examination of lead-ups to Genocides all over the world reveal that they were all preceeded by veiled calls for lawless violence that were not halted or disciplined. Liberals voice a fear of "spirals of violence" only when they start it and someone responds. If they fear such 'spirals' then they SHOULDN'T START THEM! If these "journalists" pride themselves in the "influence" that they have, then they should take responsiblity for those who use it to incite violence. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2009-04-22 09:46 |
| #2 From the IMDB... Her production company is: I Hate Myself Productions. That should tell you all you need to know. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-04-22 09:31 |
| #1 I've been snorkling around in some of the discussion threads about Tea Parties as well - and I have noticed the same thing - that the commenters giving out with the 'reactionary RethugliKKKan racist' line are being handed fairly vigorous arguments. It's a promising development, to my way of thinking. |
| Posted by: Sgt. Mom 2009-04-22 09:26 |