- Michele Bachmann
*Well, the GOP has done it again.
Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum, recently signed a controversial marriage “pledge.” Part of the document alleges that the family situation of African-American children living under slavery is superior or preferential to today. Meaning, Black slave children had stronger families under slavery.
Of course I was personally offended, that’s not the point. To allege slavery was either a step up or an improvement of the present-day plight of African-Americans is both ridiculous and whoever utters it is worthy of ridicule.
Such is the obvious response to stupidity.
What is receiving less attention is the ongoing and overt disregard of African-Americans by the Republican Party. It’s the 21st century (believe it or not.) It’s not just the birther movement and their barbs against the President. It’s the present presidential candidates knowingly playing to the ignorance of the Republican base. Why the GOP is so reluctant in joining the rest us here in documented history is beyond explanation. You can be sure, no suggestion that the Holocaust was a relative positive would ever be used in conjunction with public policy. How African-Americans manage to continue to be defecated on by the GOP I’m not quite sure.
In other recent news, “former” Klansmen and present GOP member David Duke announced his presidential candidacy. And wow, lookie here…he has Tea Party support. Imagine that.
It’s almost a coincidence…uh…no not really.
It’s indicative of a recurring theme and a mood in this country. The GOP is content to rewrite American history to suit its interests, in the hopes of telling a narrative which fits a political agenda. From Paul Revere to John Adams and now slavery; the GOP wants to be perceived as the party of American ideals, just without all the fuss of either being historically accurate or something less than detestable.
These two pieces of information (Bachmann and Duke) may be ostensibly unrelated, but surely connected in a political sense. They speak to the larger disregard and disrespect of the African-American electorate.
Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recently told a mostly-white audience that African-Americans are so angry we’re prime to vote for a Republican; but failed to check with any of us as to the reality of the former or the fantasy of the latter.
The GOP has disrespected the president and voters along the lines of race and then has the unmitigated gall to look surprised when Herman Cain garners little traction in our community. Next thing you know, the GOP will argue that a monument to Dr. King is unnecessary and redundant in Washington, since we already had the “Faithful Groomsman” lawn jockey sculpture at Mount Vernon.
When you’re allowed to rewrite history at your whim, everything is on the table.
Such is the inherent danger of trying to co-opt the legacy of the founding ideals of this country. Slavery too was a founding ideal. It’s a bit disingenuous to talk about the founding principles of the United States of America and conveniently leave out the institution which helped the country descend into civil war. One can not tell the story of the formation of the United States of America and not also include slavery.
If America is a great country (and she is), its rise to prominence will forever be linked to the centuries of free labor which built it…White House included.
African-Americans by and large will grant present-day politicians a free pass in celebration of the founding ideals in a general sense. Just don’t try to put a new spin on slavery. Families were separated, mothers and daughters were raped. There is no way go gift wrap it and re-present with a cute bow on top.
To not know better is ignorance of the highest order. You would have no business as my president. To use it as a talking point on family values and marriage to score with votes is nothing short of unforgivable. Either way, such a candidate would have no business as my president.
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann believed or endorsed an erroneous and romanticized view of slavery; but I am to trust her judgment on issues of greatest importance of African-Americans in 2012 and beyond?
Not happening.
How many times is the GOP going to be allowed to do this? How many times are they going to be allowed to openly disrespect African-Americans, while simultaneously winking to White Republicans?
Nobody in the GOP leadership seems to understand that you can’t consistently and continuously disrespect Black voters and use that as your main selling point in gaining Black votes. The arrogance and ignorance are both astounding and compounding as we reach the primary season.
The next time a conservative alleges African-Americans have played the race card, politely remind them of the revisionist American history the GOP is selling; complete with slavery and misguided entitlement references.
The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and EURweb.com. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com. twitter – @mrmokelly
Morris O'Kelly
Well said, Mo! I’m truly pissed now… *gives evil eye*
Mo Asks:
“How many times is the GOP going to be allowed to do this? How many times are they going to be allowed to openly disrespect African-Americans, while simultaneously winking to White Republicans?”
The answer is as each day passes this is increasingly unlikely to happen. We do not act as a single lobby. We have too much self hatred. We have a legacy of ignorance passed down from generation to generation. Finally, we are continually losing our sense of history. I understand we have some who are successful as an individual. However, as a community we accept anything that is told to us instead of thirsting for knowledge.
I agree. We just don’t stand together enough as a group to get things changed for the better for us. We sit back and accept any type of treatment and don’t fight anymore. Like you said, a few will stand up but not enough of us as a whole.
For some reason, I thought the author of this article was more politically sophisticated than this. *sigh* So some Republicans are racists. Duh. That is not news. That is also not what currently endangers the Black community most.
http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/freedom-rider-evil-two-lessers
“Neither President Obama nor any other Democratic leaders are willing to stand up for what used to be bedrock principles of their party.
At this juncture in history, fears of Republican control of the White House and Congress are overblown. It is Barack Obama who appointed conservative former senator Alan Simpson to his deficit reduction commission. It was a Democratically elected congress who joined with Republicans to defund and destroy ACORN. It is Democrats who have launched yet another war based upon lies, this time against Libya.”
BLACK FOLKS, WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve been woke to the political game for 11 years and “ain’t” heard or seen a darn thing from the Republicans that prove my theory wrong in regards to their way of thinking. I understand “some of us” are in denial. Enlighten me, please.
I’m not sure I completely follow, but I will reiterate my point: You are probably not wrong on Repubs’ ways of thinking. I have conceded that. My point was, they are not the biggest threat to the community at the moment. The biggest threat are the ones who have infiltrated the community, who have come as sheep but behave as wolves, who throw a bone here and there to influential media personalities (ie Tom Joyner and Al Sharpton) to secure their loyalty and have them become de facto mouthpieces for an agenda that is not only not focused on, but is actually perilous to the Black community. My point was the community is statistically in a DEPRESSION (see the article I posted further down this thread)and this is happening under a Democratic administration. So why be concerned with Republicans who essentially have very little power–or should have very little power were it not for an administration that continues to give them power?
Hope I explained that clearly Alber_06.
Oh TGEn, I love you too. Nobody said that “this” was what endangered the Black community the most.
The discussion point was the remarks/pledge relative to the fullness of the GOP.
Can’t fit everything into one Op/Ed, otherwise the complaint would be I tried to fit too much into one Op/Ed.
Good to hear from you as always.
Suit yourself. But personally I would not waste one iota of energy on reiterating that “Republicans are racists.” It’s not even news anymore and focusing on that is not in anyway going to progress the Black community. You know what it will do? It will give Black koolaiders even MORE reason to give the fraud in the White House a pass. In other words, you just made dumbass Tom Joyner’s dumbass day. lol But hey, it’s your forum. Do what you wish…
Oh TGen, I’ve been critical of the White House, you know that. If not, I can provide you the links as a refresher. But one has nothing to do with the other. Michele Bachmann has nothing to do with the White House. Her “pledge” has nothing to do with the White House. They are separate and unrelated ideas.
I will not legitimize her stupidity and use it as an entrance point into criticisms against the White House. I’m not going to do the work for her. The disrespect contained in this issue supersedes any supposed “well-intentioned” criticism of the White House. The disrespect deserved rebuke all its own.
There will be room (and other columns) to criticize the president. So to equate me to Tom Joyner is a fallacy on your part. My record is clear. Let me know if you need the links.
with the amount of good work that tom joyner does, particularly with the financial instruments that he provides to the education and uplifting of young black minds, i find it amazing, and at the same time not surprising at how you down all things positive for the black diaspora. you’re a joke DGenerate.
Interesting thoughts.
The same “good” applies to West and Smiley but they have been thrown under the bus. Yet somehow what Joyner has done should supersede his stupidity as of late?
LOL..oh ok.
not sure what “good” u feel applies to west and smiley?
http://www.tavistalks.com/foundation
“you down all things positive for the black diaspora.”
Um, name ONE–just ONE–”positive thing in the Black diaspora” that I have “downed.”
lol Dumbass
(P.S. “Downing the anti-Black president who is currently in the White House should NOT be included in your response. Gracias)
yep, im a dumb azz. no need for me to even attempt to have any type of meaningful discourse with you trick. i just thought i would try after a few months to see if anything had changed. but i see not, so i will say gracious and fuc you very much as well.
Um, calling someone a “joke Dgenerate” is your idea of “meaningful discourse?” lol
*Still waiting on your example of my “downing a positive thing in the Black Diaspora* (Or were you lying Huey? Hmmm
be thankful i didnt call you a dumb bitchz
lol So you STILL refuse to name ONE–just ONE–thing “positive in the Black Diaspora” that I “downed?”
So you are not only a dumbass, you are also a LIAR, huh?
Interesting.
She just wants some free black dyck. Also available under slavery.
I agree that republicans aren’t doing anything new here.
I will add that although it seems to be making “news” that the former klansman is considering a bid, it’s prudent to understand that former Democrat Senator Robert Byrd was also the former Grand Cyclops of the KKK and the dems had welcomed him w/open arms.
I also think that the election of the
firstthis black president has quieted any voice we’ve had regarding race issues such as this. As it goes, it Obama isn’t offended, then no other black should be offended. Hence, the Harry Reid “light-skinned negro” comments. No harm no foul. This current play is being aided and abetted by the likes of Al Sharpton who has been silent on most of our issues and attacks like this. We have no voice and this president, the democrat party and the hoard of blacks refusing to hold our president/party accountable is the anvil around our necks.“We have no voice and this president, the democrat party and the hoard of blacks refusing to hold our president/party accountable is the anvil around our necks.”
Re-posted for emphsasis. So very true.
‘Herbs…the only thing I would disagree with is in the comparison of Byrd and Duke. Duke specifically ran on a platform of hatred.
I didn’t support Byrd but there were a lot of Black folks who eventually came around to support racist Alabama governor George Wallace.
It’s not David Duke running that I take issue with the GOP. It’s his inevitable platform and playing to the GOP base.
Wrong, Al Sharpton is discussing it today as well as yesterday on his radio show.
do you listen to al sharptons radio show?
Huey…I’m confused. Are your remarks for me or TGen?
yes morris, i have no tolerance for tgen’s nasty stank azz attitude. i believe in sinking to her level. i’m not taking my presidents civil approach to discourse.
lol What level did I “sink to” exactly? You and Tom Joyner should take a few minutes away from licking your president’s balls to read some headlines. The man is allowing the few positive things that made this country great to be dismantled, one by one. He doesn’t give a damn about you, Huey! Hate to break it to ya! I don’t even like you, yet I’m trying to look out for your interests more than he is! lol You are SO drunk off the koolaid it’s quite sad!
But you go ahead and “sink to my level”….while Rome burns…
fuuck u. dont look out for me. i will look out for my dayum self.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/6397110-418/the-disappearing-black-middle-class.html
The disappearing black middle class
Millions of Americans endured financial calamities in the recession. But for many in the black community, job loss has knocked them out of the middle class and back into poverty. And some experts warn of a historic reversal of hard-won economic gains that took black people decades to achieve.
@Huey…ok, I will keep my head down and not catch a bullet meant for someone else. Consider me out of the way.
Come on now is anyone REALLY! surprised at what thei Bachman woman thinks and says she is as looney and twisted in her ideology as Palin is. The Repubs have always thought this way they are good at pretending they don’t
It’s less about being surprised and more about checking people when they need it. Because far too many people (not just Republicans) will run with the narrative unless we check folks where they stand. The slavery statement was removed from the document. That doesn’t change everything but it lets folks know that stupidity will not be tolerated and revisionist history is unacceptable.
Min Farrakhan said years ago, when white people realize they are no longer the majority, they will lose their minds. History doesn’t change, it simply modernizes with time. The sad part is, white people are really threatened that a black man is POTUS. How can that be??? The scary part is, they will stop at nothing to let that happen again. When this peckerwood is called on her statement, she’ll be backpedaling so fast, you’d think she’s on a unicycle.