Posted on 11/28/2014 9:01:40 AM PST by Kaslin
What's fascinating about the coverage of the persuasive accusations against Bill Cosby, now 18 and rising, is that race doesn't dominate. There's an outcry at the abuse of women, and he's shredded the healthy black father family man image he carefully cultivated on his sitcom, but you don't read or hear notice taken of the fact that the women who say he drugged and raped them were usually white.
Nor is the culture called racist for having turned Bill Cosby into an angry black man who spent his aggression against those vulnerable white women. There's anger at a celebrity's abuse of power, that an icon of family values is a violent hypocrite, but it's not about race. No doubt a multitude of psychological and sociological interpretations will follow. The outrage is that he abused male power, destroyed a powerful positive image and broke a lot of black and white hearts.
Rape and harassment have become equal-opportunity degradations. If many of his prey didn't speak out, it was because he was so rich, powerful and loved by the public that nobody would have paid attention to the accusations.
"One of the reasons that Bill Cosby has been a beloved American comedian for six decades is that he offered one of the most soothing versions of the story of race in America," writes Rebecca Traister in The New Republic. He made both black and white feel good about racial progress, since nobody knew that his was a rake's progress. He was soothing about the dignity of the black family and the promise that those who did not yet enjoy that life might yet achieve it. That message is not lost in the scandals.
The followers of "Dr. Huxtable," as Mr. Cosby's character was called, were from every ethnic group, drawn by the idea that middle-class family values are not merely white values. It's what President Obama implies when he talks about expanding the middle class economy to include blacks "moving on up." Moral values are crucial to that.
As the granddaughter of Russian immigrants who endured the pogroms enforced by Cossacks before they managed to get on a boat to America, the aspiration toward middle-class values was crucial to my story as well. My father was an eighth-grade dropout, a bookie by trade and threatened with jail every time the cops raided his "establishment." But both before and after he joined the middle class, as a prosperous builder, the soothing voice of the"Dr. Huxtable" voice was his voice, too. The obstacles of ancestry could be overcome.
"The Cosby Show" didn't soothe so much as smooth, softening the harsh edges painful to every family. The color of the Huxtable family's skin was a reminder that even if many blacks (or immigrants) didn't have such a life, they might have one soon enough. Middle class values, accompanying middle class money, are the great equalizers.
Later, after Bill Cosby made millions and stepped from behind the actor's mask to take his message directly to the people, he told absent black fathers to shape up and they could win life's lottery. The color of skin, he said, is only one element in becoming who you are.
His overt political message was about education, discipline, self-reliance, self-respect. He refused to blame racism for continuing to keep his people down. In 1997, when his son was murdered while fixing a flat at the side of the Hollywood Freeway, his wife Camille wrote a bitter op-ed in USA Today, blaming white racism. Her husband nevertheless kept up his rhetoric against bad ghetto behavior, black-on-black crime, demeaning rap music and irresponsible black baby daddies who abandon their children.
In commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board Education decision mandating the desegregation of the nation's schools, he famously scolded a kid for stealing a slice of pound cake: "If you get caught with it, you're going to embarrass your mother."
Many in the black establishment attacked the rich entertainer as an "Afristocrat" who blamed the poor for being the poor. But if white liberals and black militants didn't like what they perceived as "blaming the victim," his speech was regarded as an act of "empowerment" in black churches, barbershops and barbecue joints. The message entered the black mainstream, pushing blacks forward from "victims to victors" in the tradition of Booker T. Washington's appeal to "black self-sufficiency" at the turn of the 20th Century.
One of the sad consequences of the fall of Bill Cosby is the exposure of his cynicism. Can his virtuous message survive? It must. We can't let the disgrace of the messenger kill the message.
So far, what we have in the Bill Cosby matter is allegations — a LOT of allegations, but merely allegations.
My journalism training tells me that when a lot of people independent of each other tell you essentially the same story, there is most likely something there. However, none of them has produced corroboration other than their own word.
Now, the same question arises as with the Herman Cain allegations: Where were these women years ago when all this is supposed to have happened? Why didn’t they speak out or speak to the media then?
Why is this coming out now? Is it possible that this is related to Cosby speaking out about the black culture, urging black families to stay together, urging black students to achieve, and the like? These things, if they were to happen, would be a threat to the “progressive” establishment that needs a permanent and expanding underclass to carry out its schemes. And Bill Cosby carried enough weight in the black community to be listened to. So they have an obvious motive for wanting to destroy Cosby.
Remember how The Party of Compassion and Tolerance used to attack Cosby’s TV show precisely because it presented a successful, intact black family. They can’t have that — it might show black folks the way out of the underclass, and the “progressives” need a permanent, ever-growing underclass.
Remember what they did to Clarence Thomas and to Herman Cain. There is a reason why black men who depart from any portion of liberal orthodoxy (in Cosby’s case, the promotion of broken families, non-education, and helplessness) are trashed this particular way. There is a pattern here, and it’s shameful and borders on racism.
Well he used to hang out at my dad’s hotel in Palm Springs in the 70’s. I know a lot of people with first hand accounts.
I agree with everything that you said
None of the victims, but one of the assistants did produce some documentation. It is difficult to produce physical evidence from 40 years ago. Why didn't they speak out? Some did, they were not believed, they were shamed, interrogated, blamed and silenced. He was a celebrity with money and power and fame, who would believe them? Why now? Well, Mr Journalist, if you research the timeline you would know that and it is not related to him speaking out against black culture. Many of these women were prepared to go to court 8 years ago when a woman at Temple University sued after the prosecutor wouldn't file charges. They had nothing to gain by doing so. Cosby settled out of court. Last year 2 of the Jane Doe's were approached again by a newspaper about the allegations. This got the attention of a comedian who dtecided to rail on Cosby in his act when he performed in Cosby's home town. That went viral. This brought the past allegations to the forefront again. With rape victims, they are often shamed, interrogated, and silenced (like you are trying to do), so when one comes forward it gives others the courage to come forward because they realize they weren't the only one. 21 women now, with nothing to gain (statute of limitations long gone) is a powerful statement. He makes 2 comments that go viral and everyone assumes that he is a conservative or a threat to the establishment - he is not. He is speaking to his audience and fan base (older blacks) that is the only weight he carries. Herman Cain and Clarence Thomas are conservatives, Cosby is not.
What links? The one to Breitbart? Which gives another link that turnout to be broken. Why you even brought this up is beyond me as the article has nothing to do with his political leanings but the rape charges
Both links work and the point of the article is Cosby’s public persona and the lie some of you are believing that Cosby is a conservative.
A month ago I would have defended Cosby, even probably a couple of weeks ago, then I did my research (both sides and asked people I know who knew him). Guy is Creepy McCreepster not “Dr Huxtable”.
Apalling, isn’t it?
The liberals thought "Gee, golly! We finally have a Negro who behaves like a white person! Let's idolize him!"
Now that the white liberals caught Jungle Fever, Cosby knew he could rape as many white women as possible. The white liberals would "have is back" because he was acting white.
I think you need to read the article you posted. It has to do with Cosby's "virtuous" message, per the title. Racism, it reads, was something Cosby had nothing to do with, even though his wife might have stooped to anti-white behavior in the past.
I'll say it again. The fact that he's a racist Obama loon has nothing to do with the rape charges, but it has everything to do with his false image.
Sorry if that bothers you.
Then there was this personal account of Cosby's hatred of whites, as originally related by longtime Freeper Cyber Liberty, and reposted by PghBaldy. Check out post #103. Cosby didn't want white staff tending to him at the dentist's office, so he paid triple to bring in black employees.
Here is another one, originally posted by Travis McGee and reposted by rlmorel
***********************************************
Bill Cosby Stays Mum When Asked About Rape Allegations, David Letterman Appearance Cancelled
November 16, 2014 at 4:16:52 PM EST · 104 of 112
Travis McGee to Yaelle; wardaddy
I posted this up-thread.
“I knew a skilled yacht painter in Charleston SC 20 years ago. He also did high-end private plane and jet painting jobs. He did a custom paint job for Cosby’s jet and was around him long enough to be shocked. He said he had never met or known somebody who was so 180* different in real life from the crafted TV persona. He was a screamer, a dictator, and a constant humiliator of his family, posse, assistants, and even temporary employees like him when no cameras were rolling.”
This was totally shocking and almost unbelievable to me at the time, it was so 180* out of his image and what I believed of him. This custom painter (technically skilled artist) had many anecdotes that covered the several weeks he was in occasional contact with Cosby and his posse. It was so amazingly out of sync with his image, that it was shocking. According to his version, Cosby went into screaming tirades at the drop of a hat. Family, posse, worker-bees, anybody. I had no reason do disbelieve this painter/artist. For 20 years, I’ve been waiting for a story like this to drop.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3228522/posts?page=14#14
Gee, Cosby sounds like a typical liberal to me.
My parents were given VIP tickets to a Cosby show once. My mother says it is the only show she ever walked out on. That he was filthy, perverted and disgusting.
Too late.
I never want to see his “ugwy” face or hear his voice again.
He earned our trust, our laughter, and now our scorn.
Like Martin Luther King, who has been said to have been a womanizing commie sympathizer, yet his content of character message is still valid.
Man, this whole thing gives me the creeps.
Cosby is no conservative, but on the subject of black culture he has wandered off the plantation, so he must be destroyed to keep others from doing so (especially since liberals regard blacks as their property.)
People make allegations against celebrities all the time and they are believed. And lots of celebrities do what Cosby is accused of doing and worse, yet they are protected by the very people who are trying to destroy Cosby. Why?
Nobody ever heard of these women. Now a LOT more people know their names.
Unlike you, I’m not trying to shame, interrogate, or silence anyone. I’m asking questions. Something about this doesn’t smell right to me.
Why wait until after the statute of limitations has expired? If you’re serious, do this while he can still pay a price.
Thank you.
What’s a cubit?
The part of this that bothers me is that...
These girls went to his home, his hotel room REPEATEDLY.
They were sent by their parents and talent agent and those adults were responsible for allowing this at all.
One woman stated that she was ‘high’ to begin with, then drank alcohol because Bill insisted (right....) and then woke up the next day remembering nothing. Then she came back and did the same thing over and over.
Now, years later, she says she started to think maybe there was something wrong about what had happened. Right.....
Let’s assume (for the sake of argument) that Cosby took advantage of these young girls who were DELIVERED TO HIS HOTEL ROOM. He’s a sinner. But... he didn’t do this all by himself. It took a lot of cooperation from parents, agents, Hollywood in general, hotel staff, and most of the media.
AND, as many have said, WHY NOW ? I’ve heard the arguments on that, but the key is that it started with a comedian who made the allegations in his act. I have no doubt he was ‘advised’ to put that into his act by political factions to initiate the attack and destroy him for his comments on the current ‘black’ culture. They could care less about the alleged rapes. If they really cared they would have exposed him long ago. But they didn’t because he HAD supported their causes.
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