Posted on 11/19/2004 3:43:24 AM PST by kattracks
MILWAUKEE -- A radio talk show host drew criticism Thursday after calling Condoleezza Rice an "Aunt Jemima" and saying she isn't competent to be secretary of state.John Sylvester, the program director and morning personality on WTDY-AM in Madison, said in a phone interview Thursday that he used the term on Wednesday's show to describe Rice and other blacks as having only a subservient role in the Bush administration.
Rice has served as President Bush's national security adviser and was named this week to replace the departing Colin Powell as secretary of state.
Sylvester, who is white, also referred to Powell as an "Uncle Tom" - a contemptuous term for a black whose behavior toward whites is regarded as fawning or servile.
He said Thursday night that he was referring to remarks by singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte that the price of admittance for blacks to the Bush White House was subservience.
As for Rice, "they're using her for an illusion of inclusion," he said, adding that he feels her history as national security adviser showed a lack of competence.
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz called the remarks "racially insensitive," while Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said in a statement he joined "all Wisconsinites in rejecting" the statements.
Linda Hoskins of the NAACP's Madison branch said she could not comment on Sylvester's remarks until she had heard them in their entirety.
The station's corporate office received about 100 calls about his comments, Sylvester said.
He added that he has a long history of commitment to civil rights and has supported Madison's black community.
He said he was planning a giveaway on Friday's show of Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup. "I will apologize to Aunt Jemima," he said.
The incident came after a radio host in Milwaukee had his talk show taken off the air all of last week after he used word "wetback" to refer to undocumented Mexican immigrants, sparking protests from Hispanics.
---
Associated Press writer JR Ross in Madison contributed to this story.
He remarks are disgusting. He characterized Condi as saying, "Yes em, massa Bush".
One would have to wonder about this man's opinion on all the job holders who got there position through affirmative action.
ESPN needs to give Rush Limbaugh his own show as an apology for their over-reaction to a completely factual statement.
Colin and Condi need to respond to this attack.
The Left vilifies any black Republican that rose out of black poverty, but they laud half-blacks (Halle Berry, Barak Obama) who were raised by affluent whites and were propped up by quotas.
Isn't it amazing how the Dems, who claim to tbe the party of the minorities, get away with this stuff anytime a conservative black is nominated for a high profile political position?
And, too many black Americans don't recognize the Dem Party's racist politics and keep voting for Dems.
McAuliffe and the whole liberal bunch should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail!! Theri blantant racism and disregrad of Dr. Rice's eminent qualifications are disgraceful!!
Just as a point of comparison, what were Madeline Albright's qualifications to be SoS? Or Warren Christopher's?
The pure racism of the left. It truly is disgusting. Good for Feingold for rejecting these remarks.
How typical of the NAACP--can't see the forest for the trees.
Have you ever read Dr. Rice's response to Harry Belafonte's tired old "house slave" routine? I am paraphrasing, but it was something to the effect of "if he wants to talk about public policy, then that's a conversation worth having, we're Americans, we should discuss issues... but I don't need Harry Belafonte to tell me what it means to be black." It was a powerful response. Here's a woman whose classmate was killed in the church bombing in Alabama, someone who actually lived with prejudice every day, and she has (so far as I can see) completely rejected the victim pose. I have such admiration for her!
I don't think you can say Halle Berry wasn't "propped up by quotas". She seems entirely qualified to be a movie star!
Am not holding my breath!
Well according to this idiot, if you work for someone you are an Aunt Jemma. Everyone in the Bush administration works under GWB!
Maybe they can have a news conference and have Condi come out dressed as Aunt Jamima and talking like a slave girl.
wasn't=was, but she wasn't.
I trust I make myself obscure!
I wonder what this "Mad City" program director calls African-Americans who work under him.
well lets face facts...this stupid blurb is no less racist than some of the photoshops on FR... in fact they were made by a freeper...
Well by his own description is they must all be "Aunt Jemma's."
Meanwhile, Mark Belling was suspended from a Milwaukee station for using the term "wetback". Even after an apology a group of Democrat politicians in the state want him fired.
This jerk is a good buddy of Senator Feingold ( who did state his comments were out of line ), not only did not apologize, he went on another radio program and proceeded to slime Powell and Thomas as " uncle toms ".
Maybe after her service as Secretary of State, she would like to gather whatever fellow investors and buy out the station which will by that time employ this man...
...if he is able to keep employed, himself.
'Subservient,' hmmm? I suppose cabinet members and advisors should be running their own shows, and telling the President they serve to 'shove it?' Truly imbecilic criticism. And, I would say, if any blacks are 'subservient,' it is those who wish to rise to liberal power-- they are expected to carry the party line without question, and lord help them if they don't.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.