Say what? Iowa first lady slammed blacks, Easterners and Southerners as bad speakers

Boston Herald ^ | July 26, 2004 | David R. Guarino

[HalfFull]

Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack, a key factor in John Kerry's primary sweep and the primetime convention speaker tomorrow, has derided blacks, southerners and easterners as bad speakers because she couldn't understand them.

In inflammatory columns for her local newspaper obtained by the Herald, the normally soft-spoken Vilsack tore into several minority and ethnic groups while lampooning non-midwesterners for regional dialects.

``I am fascinated at the way some African-Americans speak to each other in an English I struggle to understand, then switch to standard English when the situation requires,'' Vilsack wrote in a 1994 column in the Mount Pleasant News, while her husband, Tom, was a state senator.

[HalfFull]

These "Dim"ocrats are clueless....

[Laura Earl]

And she's a clueless b!tch.

[joesnuffy]

`I am fascinated at the way some African-Americans speak to each other in an English I struggle to understand, then switch to standard English when the situation requires,

Don't they teach 'ebonics' anymore in Iowa 'publik skools'?

[cspackler]

They love her because she stated her support of Kerry before the caucuses while everyone else was on the Dean bandwagon. The Governor didn't support anyone, but his wife did, and now they are paying her back with a primetime speach, not hubby. Anyway, this is the first that I've heard of this.

[Eagle Eye]

...Vilsack wrote in a 1994 column in the Mount Pleasant News...

Is that the best anyone can do? Talk about non-news. Sheesh.

And no, I don't care about the tired old whine,'Well, if it were a Republican...'

Dang people, grow up!

[AmishDude]

Reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaalllllllyyyyyyy.....

How interesting. How very very interesting.

BTW, there is nothing known as "standard English". We usually regard Midwestern speak (Minnesotan excluded) as a default for American dialect. A number of call centers are in Nebraska. But the closest there is to standard English is an Oxford accent as is used by the newsreaders on the BBC.

You see this very much in England. Most people can speak the Queen's English if they want to, but a Cockney accent establishes ones classist bona fides.

[N. Theknow]

Who axed her?

[ICX]

``Later, on the boardwalk, I heard mothers calling to their children, `I'll meet yoose here after the movie,' '' she wrote. ``The only way I can speak like residents of New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania is to let my jaw drop an inch and talk with my lips in an `O' like a fish."

As a New Jersey resident, I don't think this is offensive at all - actually, it's pretty damn funny.

[marty60]

WOW aperfect example of an EVil Dum. She just spouted her stupid mouth off in public. I bet her and tahreeeza are great friends.

Blacks,Polish, Southerners, Easterners, wow an equal opportunity elitist bigot.

[Republican Red]

I wonder who is writing the Democrat talking points these days.

Bill Maher was on CNN and slammed all southerners as stupid. He said the south was the dumbest region in the country because they are patriotic and religious.

That ought to get the dems a few voted down here in GA!

[AmishDude]

Actually, depending on how the articles are written (i.e., lighthearted and she makes fun of all accents apparently), a Republican would probably not be excoriated by this information. It is the "special relationship" that Democrats have with minorities that makes this kind of insensitivity so shocking.

It also explains why Edwards was chosen for veep. This must have come out in the vetting process. I mean, the articles were in the public domain and only 10 years old.

[atomic conspiracy]

She'd really have trouble understanding my version of the English language----born and raised in Carlisle England and overlayed with 30 years in California and Texas.

[whodat57]

And the Dems wonder why they can't win in the South.

[AmishDude]

Sure it is. I'm sure the articles are harmless fun. But Democrats are supposed to be extra-sensitive and, although regional idiosyncrasies are fine, talking about African-American speech is a no-no.

[dead]

Say whut? Iowa fust lady slammed brothers, Easterners and Souderners as baaaad rapers
By Isaac R. Guarino

Iowa Fust Lady Christie Vilsack, some key facto' in Raz'tus Kerry's primary sweep and da damn primetime convenshun rapa' tomo'row, gots derided brothers, souderners and easterners as baaaad rapers cuz' she couldn't dig it dem. WORD!

In inflammato'y columns fo' ha' local newssheet obtained by de Herald, de no'mally soft-rapped Vilsack to'e into several mino'ity and ednic groups while lampoonin' non-midwesterners fo' regional dialects.

“I's gots'ta be fascinated at da damn way some African-Americans rap t'each oda' in an English ah' struggle t'dig it, den switch t'standard English when de situashun requires,'' Vilsack wrote in some 1994 column in de Mount Pleasant News, while ha' husband, Tom, wuz some state senato'.

Vilsack wrote dat souderners seem t'have ``slurred speech,'' wrote dat she'd rada' learn Polish dan try t'rap likes sucka's fum New Jersey, and wrote dat some West Virginian Plate Chick once offered ha' homey some ``side saddle'' instead uh a ``side salad.''

De future Iowa fust lady seemed t'be promotin' English as de nashun's official language, an issue dat tripped down ha' husband, Gov. Man! Tom Vilsack, wid many Democrats.

A Kerry campaign rappedsman dismissed da damn quotes as ``ancient clips'' and referred quesshuns t'de Democratic Nashunal Convenshun Committee.

De DNCC wouldn't say wheda' de comments match de convenshun platfo'm o' deme.

An educato' fo' 30 years and fo'ma' eighd-grade language head homeboy, Vilsack gots made language and literacy prio'ities as fust lady.

Slap mah fro! She gots become some key powa' playa' in Iowa politics and be widely credited wid breadin' new life into Kerry's flaggin' super-dudeial bid in January wid ha' endo'sment some week befo'e da damn kickoff Iowa caucuses.

At da damn Jan. 'S coo', bro. 12 endo'sement event, Kerry said uh Vilsack, ``Christie be de fust head homeboy, not plum de fust lady. Slap mah fro!'' Vilsack's Aug. What it is, Mama! 24, 1994, column wuz particularly critical uh dialects fum oda' regions uh de country. Slap mah fro! In addishun t'de knock on African-Americans, Vilsack knocked residents uh New Jersey and Pennsylvania. WORD!

``Later, on de bo'dwalk, ah' heard moders callin' t'deir children, `I'll meet yoose here afta' de movie,' '' she wrote. ``De only way ah' can rap likes residents uh New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania be to let mah' jaw drop an inch and rap wid mah' lips in an `O' likes some fish. Lop some boogie. I'd rada' learn t'rap Polish. Lop some boogie.

“Two years later, in some column about ha' trip t'de Olympics in Atlanta, Vilsack said she had ``language problems.''

“When ah' ax' fo' direcshuns, ah' can't dig it de slurred speech uh soudern Americans, who is so polite and eaga' to please,'' Vilsack said.

Vilsack dun didn't return calls last night but said earlia' dis mond she'd be rappin' about real American values t'convenshun delegates tomo'row night.

Man! ``I'm goin' t'talk about Main Street values cuz' I live on Main Street,'' Vilsack said.

[Mr. Bird]

From a political perspective, her remarks were probably foolish. But their content is neither inflammatory nor very insulting. Bill Cosby has recently made similar comments, to the cheers of many here. I've heard people in Jersey complain about southern drawls, and southern folk mock northeastern accents. BFD. For what it's worth, I like the Boston accent, hate the Jersey accent, and prefer a bit of southern twang. I find the border state (to Canada) accents absolutely hysterical, don'chaknow.

[AmishDude]

born and raised in Carlisle England and overlayed with 30 years in California and Texas

Cheers! I say, gnarly dude! How have y'all been after all y'all got married?

[superiorslots]

I have to stick up for this Rat.

I have a black women company representative that speaks very good english when meeting with me. However, I was at a company meeting one time and this women was with some other black employees and they were speaking with so much jive I had a hard time understanding them.

I also have seen many young whites speak in gangsta talk and it sickens me.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

I agree with the lady 100%.

And she's got the balls to say it!

Unlike miost of the "men" in her party.

[mewzilla]

I think her arrogance is what offends people. Her attitude that she doesn't have an accent or dialect, everyone else does. That she speaks decent English, and that anyone she can't understand automatically doesn't.