Posted on 01/22/2006 1:44:52 PM PST by WKB
LET ME see if I understand.
The junior senator from New York, who many believe is the front-runner for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, went to the famed Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem on Martin Luther King Day.
Standing where King stood when he preached the installation sermon for his dear friend the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, the junior senator said to the predominately black audience:
When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation, and you know what Im talking about.
Beyond the GOP hyperbole that would like to place the senators comments at the intersection of George Wallace and Bull Connor, I find the remarks rather disconcerting.
There is the political aspect to consider. Who approved that line? Surely not the junior senators spouse, whose office is a mere 15 blocks from Canaan.
Given that he possesses perhaps the best political instincts within his party, I would like to believe that he would have advised against such statements.
Could you imagine the uproar had the president made a similar remark? I doubt the Rev. Al Sharpton or Illinois Sen. Barack Obama would have been so quick to provide the president with the same cover they afforded New Yorks junior senator.
When did partisanship require that one remain silent in the wake of such obvious pandering? Has our collective institutional memory already forgotten Trent Lotts infamous comments about the former segregationist the late Sen. Strom Thurman?
Then there is the statement itself:
I am not troubled by the juxtaposition between the House of Representatives and a plantation — that is the junior senators opinion. My struggle is with the second half of the statement: And you know what Im talking about.
No senator, I dont know what you are talking about!
Are you suggesting that if members of the House attempted to escape their party dogma by thinking for themselves, they would have a foot removed as lesson for anyone who considered a similar path?
How many members of the House have been publicly flogged, left lying on the ground, their skin in a bloody pulp — only then to have salt and cayenne pepper sprinkled
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in the wounds?
Are House members under the threat of death if they have the audacity to attempt to read, worship according to their native religion or speak their native dialect? How many members have had their families systematically divided and sold — never to be seen again?
Perhaps you were referring to the more genteel version — something like Margaret Mitchells beloved Tara in Gone With the Wind. I can just see former majority leader Tom DeLay on the House floor crying to Speaker Dennis Hastert: I dont know nothing about birthing no babies.
If a plantation metaphor is warranted, it is with your paternalistic attitude. The only thing missing from your statement was a magnolia tree, a rocking chair and a mint julep.
However dysfunctional the current status of the House is, I fail to see how it relates to the plantation life that those in bondage were forced to suffer.
Instead of providing the Harlem crowd with empty platitudes and haughtiness, I would have preferred that the junior senator would have used the King Day celebration to humbly apologize for her vote in support of the quagmire known as the occupation of Iraq.
In fact, the junior senator was close to the place where King gave his famous speech opposing the war in Vietnam. That seems more appropriate than providing a rudimentary lesson on the inner workings of the House.
I understand how the drug of ambition can trump common sense. But to cavalierly use a peoples suffering for political purposes not only displays arrogance, ignorance, and privilege, it demon-
strates bad political instincts. Just ask Trent Lott.
Byron Williams is an Oakland pastor and syndicated columnist. E-mail him at byron@byronspeaks.com or leave a message at 208-6417. Send a letter to the editor to sound-
His taking offense at hilary's plantation comment is meaningless.
No doubt he'd much prefer to see the money spent on freeing millions of people be thrown down the rat hole of Great Society programs.
The witch did a lot of damage with that buffoonish statement. I don't care what anybody says.
I just hope it was enough
Actually they don't know!
Here's the facts......
Most of Hillary's audience had no idea what she was talking about.
The current black population has has very little education about slavery and most don't give a damn!!
It's all about sports and music and victims in the hood!!
and did my check come in today
And a white pants suit.
It wasn't a deathblow but give her time in the spotlight and they will start adding up.
We need black republicans to come forth and decry this statement for the racial comment she made and for the racist that IS Hillary Clinton and YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!
Yes, she did. She certainly did and it is NOT going away. I said she couldn't speak or respond to questions unless they were scripted and rehearsed. Serves her right for always trying to attack President Bush. This time she put her big fat foot in her bigger, fatter mouth. Congratulations hilllereeee...
Exactly and that's why I always said she would not be President. She isn't smart enough. She'll blow it before she ever even gets the nomination.
A beautiful example of this:
"Reminds me of a fascinating quote from a Chinese Com government during the "International Woman's Conference" held in China during the Clinton administration. The government official said that they studied Hillary's speechmaking method to understand her power and success. They concluded: her trick was never actually to make any arguments -- just state conclusions that were all already accepted as self-evident by her audience. (They found that interesting and perhaps admirable, and to be emulated).
The thing is I'm serious. I don't know what she's talking about, and to make it crystal clear, I wish she would tell us.
All the speculation in the world won't do.
I don't know what she's talking about, and to make it crystal clear, I wish she would tell us.
Maybe she would if she COULD.
Stupid racist comeback. I am weary of having to answer racism with a specific skintone.
Good article and right. If she runs, she will be savaged. I will be there cheering them on.
With Iran becoming a problem, we don't need the likes of Hillary leading the nation.
Is that accurate and clear enough?
Where can I see a video of the speech?
She has a tin ear, thank God.
I agree. And she's still not comfortable speaking and answering questions. She still becomes shrill when driving home a point. She hasn't the suave huckstering manner of her husband. I think she knows this and is still polishing her style. But this kind of stuff happens!
But she wants to be president more than any of them. And that's dangerous.
Where can I see a video of the speech?
Byron Williams is an Oakland pastor and syndicated columnist. E-mail him at byron@byronspeaks.com or leave a message at
208-6417.
But she is the smartest woman in the world. Didn't anyone tell you?
Even in New York she has 40% negatives on a run for the presidency in the polls. The only way she wins is with a third party candidate that takes a large chunk of GOP votes.
None of these situations matter. The only cases which matter are when white people are oppressing black people, like in the South during Jim Crow days or South Africa under apartheid.
Oh yeah that's right but only when scripted. :) guess she forgot.
Well stated!
Fitting title "The You Know What I Mean Gal". That's Hitlery.
Then why is she not having trouble getting reelected? No third party?
>>This time she put her big fat foot in her bigger, fatter mouth.<<
Down here in redneck, hillbilly country we'd say she stepped on her dick.
Her district has over 60% Rat party affiliation. She should win by a landslide, if she doesn't it will show how weak she is.
Well, I think I shall continue to say she put her big fat foot in her bigger fatter mouth. For me that would be more lady like. :)
Thanks for the answer. Local politics. I still wonder if she will run. I know she really, really, really wants it. And Bill wants to be back int he Whitehouse as First Lady. But if the numbers don't add up I wonder if they will still put us through it.
Ahh yes..the smartest woman in the world Hellary....she is just a political hack and that snide remark proves it. This is one clip we need to replay over and over so America can see who this lightweight overhyped shrill really is. One woman who has the stuff for Pres? Laura Ingraham....my kinda gal.
She will run and push other people out of the way like R Dole did when he ran.
"When you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation, and you know what Im talking about. "
Save this one for the archives...hammer the 'Beast with her own words.
The way I heard it is that the party felt that they "owed" Bob Dole. And therefore he ran.
And also the party is beholden to their largest fundraisers. Bill is the first. Hillary has to be two or three for the Dems. So, if she wants to run, Bill and Hillary will force it and get it.
One thing is sure, it's going to be a wild ride for all concerned. I never disliekd an American president like I did Clinton. And I hold Hillary in even more contempt. Many in the GOP share my feelings.
They have to know it's going to be far worse than Bill's tenure.
When you say `her district', you mean New York, correct?
I really think Kemp would have beaten Clinton but the GOP bigwigs pulled support for him because they all owed Dole favors. Hillary has the same clout. She also will be building a national party network. The witch will keep running even if/when she loses.
Amazing....he puts down how a plantation was run...the cruelty, yet to rescue the people from Iraq from the same fate is wrong....makes you wonder.
Andrea Mitchel and Christine Matthews did a lot of water carrying for her today on the talkers. It's interesting to see who does come to her aid after that turd.
What are you smoking?
How intellectually dishonest.
He also suggested that the President was talking about regime change in Iraq immediately following his election.
I reminded him that the democrats were whining for eight years that the first President Bush should have gone all the way to Baghdad.
Or the Donner Party does their thing and we get her heinous.
talkin' bout.
Say what ? Between the both of your posts I have't a clue to what you are referring to.
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