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.
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Associated Press writer JR Ross in Madison contributed to this story.
During the election somebody posted Condi's long list of degrees and accomplishments. Put Harry Belafonte's list up next to hers and see who the American people should listen to.
Well, that's not quite true. They lost their minds years ago! :-)
Sylvester is saying these things about Dr. Rice and General Powell because they are successful, Republican blacks and the left despises them more than anything else. According to LeftThink, blacks are supposed to hate the MAN and vote democrat. It scares the $@#$#@$ out of them to see a black Republican. Only a few more of them would be the end of the Democrat party in national politics.
Gee, this is a "compassionate" piece!!
When I see Condi Rice, I don't see a "black woman", I see a person of substance and intelligence.
Funny coming from one who had to sing for his supper!
Condi can make better pancakes anyhow.
This is bizarre. President Bush has done more to promote ethnic diversity in his Administration than any other President to date - and even with that, he can't escape the charge of racism.
I would hasten to remind the left that a Kerry administration would have been as lily white as a Ku Klux Klan meeting.
Regards, Ivan
Gee if you are hopeless and helpless and on welfare they leave you alone. If you are educated and successful and wealthy they call you ugly names. They most certainly are NOT the patry of diversity and tolerance.
I agree; they probably aren't made with those government give-out, rock-gut ingredients, but from scratch, as in "she had to scratch to gain her position in life." ;)
I LOVE that attitude. Go ahead and give us lemons, we will just make better lemonaide! Much better than that Democrat KOOL AID that they all seem to drink.
They want to keep the black down on the farm, on the plantation, helpless and needing their help/vote. Makes me SICK! We should applaud where Condi has come after starting out in a racially divided town! GO CONDI GO!
Condi for President 2008
John Sylvester
http://www.wtdy.com/beta/profiles/Sly.html
Read about this clown.
Could not find a picture of Linda Hoskins.
This is exactly what Ann Coulter was referring to on the Hannity and Colmes show.
Just another white commie liberal trying to downplay the success of a (Great Woman) who refused to become status quo. This fool dwells in the multi-amerika mindset, and hates for any black person to be successful unless they are kow-towing to the demo-commie party. What is so pathetic is that liberals truly hate to see anyone, but themselves achieve success based on talent, motivation and rugged self-individualism. The liberals bane(victimology and government dependence.)
I do think that the deck will eventually shift. The Democrats, by going off on a loony left tangent, are alienating the church-going African American community - it's one of the quieter stories of this election how the President increased this segment of the vote.
I do think some Democrats are aware of this - the more intelligent of them like Evan Bayh, are suggesting that the Democrats wake up. However their petulance will keep their critical thinking skills comatose, in my opinion.
Regards, Ivan
"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."
These bigots know no shame. I'll always remember when BJ Clinton went on a talk show on BET and said something to the effect of, "Black Americans watch the news just like normal people do." Not one of the several black activists in the room so much as blinked....
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