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Bob Kerrey clarifies the liberal view of blacks and women
townhall.com ^ | 4.13.04 | Dennis Prager

Posted on 04/13/2004 1:46:35 AM PDT by kattracks

This is how Bob Kerrey, a member of the 9-11 Commission and former Democratic senator from Nebraska, opened his questioning of Condoleezza Rice before the Commission last week:

"Thank you, Dr. Rice. Let me say at the beginning I'm very impressed, and indeed I'd go as far as to say moved by your story, the story of your life and what you've accomplished. It's quite extraordinary."

It is widely believed in universities and in the media that conservatives are more likely than liberals to be racist and sexist. I have long believed that the opposite is true, that most Democratic politicians and most liberal activists, at the very least, do not regard black people as they do all others and, at worst, believe that blacks are inferior. I am similarly convinced that many men who most rail against sexism and advocate feminism hold women in lower esteem.

It is almost inconceivable that Sen. Kerrey would have said anything analogous to any other American (with the possible exception of one from Mexico or Puerto Rico) -- a Japanese, a Jew, a Pole, a German, a Uruguayan -- no matter how impressive their rags to power story.

Here's possible proof. Take the example of another minority individual who rose from worse circumstances than Condoleezza Rice to be the head of American foreign policy -- Dr. Henry Kissinger, secretary of state under President Richard Nixon. His Jewish parents fled Nazi Germany for their lives and brought their teenage son, Henry, to America. In addition to having to adjust to an entirely different culture, a new language and the loss of nearly all the property his family owned, Henry Kissinger grew up aware that many if not all of his Jewish relatives and friends back in Germany were being murdered.

Yet, one cannot imagine a senator beginning a hearing with Henry Kissinger noting how impressed he was with Mr. Kissinger's life story. Why not? Because many liberals and most Democratic leaders do not take blacks and women as seriously as they take whites and men. Blacks and women are regarded more as symbols -- of American and male oppression -- than as real people. Also, whereas a white liberal regards a white male as an individual, the white liberal is more likely to regard blacks and women as groups rather than as individuals. And, of course, they are seen as indispensable votes.

In their hearts, many Americans on the left do regard blacks as somewhat inferior, meaning, in other words, that they harbor racist views. That is the only explanation for the nearly universal leftist belief that all whites are racist, a libel that your child has probably been taught at college in some diversity or racial sensitivity seminar.

When a white liberal says or writes this, we presume he is including himself. Unless he is saying "all whites except me" are racist -- a claim so megalomaniacal that the claimant risks dismissal as a crackpot -- he obviously means that this includes himself. And in this he is right. One reason that so many liberals believe that all whites are racist is that they are projecting their racism onto all other whites.

It is probable that belief in black inferiority, or at least in black differentness, also helps to explain white liberal support for the lowering of standards for blacks, i.e., affirmative action and quotas. Conservatives believe that no changing of standards is necessary in order for blacks to succeed.

Likewise, one reason many liberal leaders support the feminist agenda and detect sexism wherever possible is that they know their own record and attitudes vis-a-vis women. As is often the case, two of the leading supporters of women's rights -- former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Ted Kennedy -- are known for their mistreatment of women. The same holds true for Hugh Hefner -- the leading displayer of naked women in history, a man who believes that the primary purpose of a woman is to function as a man's (sexual) playmate -- is a major supporter of feminism and feminist organizations. On the other hand, many of the leading Republican national politicians -- such as Sen. Orrin Hatch and the two Presidents Bush -- are noted for their respectful treatment of the women in their lives.

For all these reasons, Sen. Bob Kerrey, liberal, decided to comment publicly only about Condoleezza Rice's personal story.

Like many people of his political persuasion and in his political party, he saw her as an extraordinary black and female well before he saw her as an extraordinary individual.

©2004 Creators Syndicate, Inc.

Contact Dennis Prager | Read Prager's biography



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 911commission; bobkerrey; condoleezzarice; prager; ricetestimony

1 posted on 04/13/2004 1:46:35 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: kattracks
Liberals are the most condescending and self-inflated people known to mankind.
2 posted on 04/13/2004 1:49:39 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: kattracks
He hit that NAIL ON THE HEAD!

Some how, she's more extraordinary ONLY because she's black.

Forget her intelligence, forget she reads and speak Russian fluently, forget she's a virtuoso concert pianist...forget it all since she's black.

If she was white, Bob Kerrey couldn't care less about those achievements and would have treated for what she truly is...an AMERICAN!
3 posted on 04/13/2004 1:50:50 AM PDT by Fledermaus (Ðíé F£éðérmáú§ ^;;^ says, "John Kerry could bore a rock to erosion!")
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To: goldstategop
AMEN!
4 posted on 04/13/2004 1:51:20 AM PDT by Fledermaus (Ðíé F£éðérmáú§ ^;;^ says, "John Kerry could bore a rock to erosion!")
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To: kattracks
former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Ted Kennedy -- are known for their mistreatment of women.

Well as far as I know Clinton never killed a woman but the same can't be said of the Kennedys. To bad there is only one Kennedy in prison right now.

5 posted on 04/13/2004 1:52:33 AM PDT by Texasforever (God Bless And Keep Our Troops)
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To: Fledermaus
If she was white, Bob Kerrey couldn't care less about those achievements and would have treated for what she truly is...an AMERICAN!

He would have treated her like a peasant. Thats how he treats everyone else.

6 posted on 04/13/2004 1:53:50 AM PDT by GeronL (Dr.Pepper Fiend)
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To: GeronL
Right...he is a PIG!

He dated Debra BIMBO...like we care. What was that Urban Cowboy bad actresses name?
7 posted on 04/13/2004 1:56:06 AM PDT by Fledermaus (Ðíé F£éðérmáú§ ^;;^ says, "John Kerry could bore a rock to erosion!")
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To: Fledermaus
WINGER! What a horrible actress!
8 posted on 04/13/2004 1:56:58 AM PDT by Fledermaus (Ðíé F£éðérmáú§ ^;;^ says, "John Kerry could bore a rock to erosion!")
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To: Fledermaus
I have no idea. Bob Kerrey should stay retired. All the other politicians should join him. =o)
9 posted on 04/13/2004 1:57:44 AM PDT by GeronL (Dr.Pepper Fiend)
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To: Fledermaus
Debra Winger
10 posted on 04/13/2004 1:58:14 AM PDT by LdSentinal
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To: kattracks
Oh so True, I think you can see it the way the "NAGS" never came out against SLick_Willy if they were true to there creed they should have. Thanks for the post.
11 posted on 04/13/2004 2:03:28 AM PDT by Phyto Chems (What part of "illegal" don't they understand... :-)))
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To: Texasforever
as I know Clinton never killed a woman
That's true. He confined himself to merely raping them.

Like Mondo in Blazing Saddles, I can imagine Bill Clinton saying, "I like rape."

12 posted on 04/13/2004 4:35:55 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: kattracks
Liberals view Rice as a runaway slave who is in the wrong party.
13 posted on 04/13/2004 4:48:34 AM PDT by NotchJohnson
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To: Phyto Chems
What is really remarkable is how the feminists come out against President Bush. All he did was free two nations that chained their women to ancient customs. Oh - I forgot. Women had it great under Saddam. I know that because Hillary - the smartest woman in the nine known galaxies - said so./sarcasm.

On a serious note, what is remarkable to me is how they - libs - hold Hitlary up as intelligent and say nothing about a Condi Rice. Or a Phyllis Schafley, Ann Coulter, etc.

14 posted on 04/13/2004 4:51:23 AM PDT by 7thson (I think it takes a big dog to weigh a hundred pounds!)
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To: NotchJohnson
Liberals view Rice as a runaway slave who is in the wrong party.

Kerrey's statement was disgusting. His "praise" was condescending. As if to say, how wonderful it was that Condi had accomplished what she had, in spite of the fact that she is black.

15 posted on 04/13/2004 5:01:04 AM PDT by kattracks
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To: Fledermaus
Exactly!

16 posted on 04/13/2004 5:03:54 AM PDT by Smocker
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To: goldstategop
"Liberals are the most condescending and self-inflated people known to mankind."

That's a fact.
17 posted on 04/13/2004 5:25:05 AM PDT by ought-six
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To: kattracks
Kerry's comments were an insult to Dr. Rice's parents, who were both educated professionals.

He made it sound like they had picked cotton or something.

There are many blacks in this country who have been part of the Middle Class for several generations.

Their ancestors took advantage of every opportunity this great country affords them.

Spare us your platitudes, Senator Kerry.

18 posted on 04/13/2004 7:33:57 AM PDT by happygrl (this war is for all the marbles...)
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To: happygrl
I think many are waking up to the realities of the party that they have thought has their best interests in mind. At least that's what I'm seeing. It's a slow train coming and we have to keep in mind that if 30-40% "get it", then that's about the best that can be expected until another generation, possibly two, pass.
19 posted on 04/13/2004 7:35:43 AM PDT by wingster
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