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The Selective Hearing of Jesse Jackson
DavidEhrlich.com ^ | 12/02/04 | David Ehrlich

Posted on 12/02/2004 12:39:11 PM PST by zetapsi

On last night's edition of Hannity and Colmes on Foxnews, Allan Colmes had a delightful conversation with former ambassador, Senator, and 2004 Democratic Presidential also-ran, Carol Mosley Braun. The topic of said conversation was the validity of President Bsh's new cabinet nominations in relation to the race of those nominees. Colmes questioned Braun, "Are these appointments 'symbolism' or 'substance?'" This question was in reference to the nominations of Condoleeza Rice, an African American, to be Secretary of State, Alberto Gonzalez, a Hispanic, to be Attorney General, and Carlos Guitierrez, also a Hispanic, to be Secretary of Commerce. Mosley Braun slyly commented, "That is the question, isn't it."

The fact that Carol Mosley Braun, was not deeply offended by this question, in fact felt it to be poignant, is very informative on the place of race in today's political arena. If this question had come from a Republican about an Democrat who happened to be a minority, this would be a scandal, but since the roles are reversed, this is normal cable news speak.

There are two ways conservative minority citizens who rise to power are portrayed. One is that they are a puppet, a Public Relations tool, used by Republicans to reach out to the minority communities. Condoleeza Rice has been putting up with this label since she took on the role of National Security Advisor. This same label has been extended to J.C. Watts and numerous other prominent minority conservative leaders. The other label is that of "Uncle Tom," and a "black sheep," so to speak. Clarence Thomas was bombarded by this during his nomination to the Supreme Court. Reverend Al Sharpton even said of Thomas, "He's my color, but not my kind." Even Colin Powell was hit with the, "How could you!" mantra during his brief Presidential bid in 1996.

In the past few weeks, there have been political cartoons portraying Condoleeza Rice as a slave, Aunt Jemima, and with sexual implications with President Bush. Alberto Gonzalez and Carlos Guitierrez are being called "Affirmative Action Hires" and "symbolic." Where is Jesse Jackson when you need him? Where is the ACLU? Where are the legions of Civil Rights attorneys in defense of Condi, Alberto, and Carlos? I guess they don't think these people are worth defending because they disagree with them politically. How convenient.

It is shameful that minorities should EVER have to defend themselves of racial insinuations when holding high office, conservative or liberal. These statements denigrate the work and accomplishments of these great Americans. Condoleeza Rice has risen from humble Birmingham, Alabama, to being on the National Security Council under Bush 41, NSA and soon to be Sec. of State under Bush 43. Carlos Guitierrez rose from being a cereal delivery truck driver, to the CEO of Kellogg, and soon to be Sec. of Commerce. Alberto Gonzalez was born into a family of migrant workers with seven siblings, grew up in a house without running water, fought his way to Rice University and Harvard Law School, a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court, and will soon be the Attorney General of the United States. Is it "symbolism" or "substance?" I don't even want to answer that question, because doing so would dignify the question's legitimacy, when it would be better served to analyze its implications as it has completely insulted the hard work of these great Americans.

Carol Mosley Braun is an African-American woman who catapulted herself to the U.S. Senate and ambassadorship, I wonder what she would say if anyone insinuated that her accomplishments were due to "symbolism."


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: brainless; carlosguitierrez; carolmosleybraun; condoleezarice; doublestandard; duufuscolmes; georgebush; hannityandcolmes; idiot; jessejackson; presidentbush; race; racialrelations; racism; seanhannity; secretary; totalairhead
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Any Comments?
1 posted on 12/02/2004 12:39:11 PM PST by zetapsi
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To: zetapsi

Colin Powell ran for president?


2 posted on 12/02/2004 12:42:17 PM PST by Moral Hazard
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To: zetapsi
"I wonder what she would say if anyone insinuated that her accomplishments were due to "symbolism.""

Okay, I'll "insinuate" it. CMB used race, rather than substance, to get what she got.

3 posted on 12/02/2004 12:42:19 PM PST by bushisdamanin04
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To: zetapsi

There is the double standard problem again. If you do not appoint minorities, you are a bigot. When you appoint them they are tokens. When are we all going to just stop this. It really gets us no where.


4 posted on 12/02/2004 12:42:41 PM PST by Jersey Republican Biker Chick (Never play leapfrog with a unicorn!)
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To: zetapsi

I hope Hannity hit back at Braun for this ridiculousness.


5 posted on 12/02/2004 12:43:56 PM PST by Unam Sanctam
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To: Unam Sanctam
I saw it, and he didn't really hit back very hard. All he did was talk about how Bush has "reached out" to minorities. To me, that's just as offensive as anything Ms. Mosely-Braun said, and I would think minorities of all people should be the most offended. The implication is that the only way they could get anywhere is if some white massa "reaches out" to them.
6 posted on 12/02/2004 12:48:00 PM PST by inquest (Now is the time to remove the leftist influence from the GOP. "Unity" can wait.)
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To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick

This is clear evidence of what's wrong with affirmative action. The same people who trumpet it are willing to use it to cast doubt on the abilities of those it supposedly helps. Not only is it revoltingly bigoted, it proves that aa perpetuates racism. The democrats have been on the wrong side of the race issue since the republican party was created.


7 posted on 12/02/2004 12:49:01 PM PST by Canuckistan
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To: bushisdamanin04
You got that right. And, if a Republican was caught in the corrupiton scandals this woman was forget about running for President that be looking for a file to come in the next cake delivery from home.

We don't even need to go into the sexual harrassment allegations brought by her former campaign staff against her "fiance."

8 posted on 12/02/2004 12:49:19 PM PST by marlon
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To: marlon

Not to mention that when she got elected to the Senate, rather than going to the introductory meetings that other new Senators went to, she went to Africa!


9 posted on 12/02/2004 12:51:52 PM PST by bushisdamanin04
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To: bushisdamanin04

10 posted on 12/02/2004 12:56:29 PM PST by martin_fierro (brrrrrr)
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To: martin_fierro

Almost as bad as a Kerry appearance.


11 posted on 12/02/2004 12:59:23 PM PST by bushisdamanin04
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To: martin_fierro

Nice pic! Didn't exactly (1) person show up to this rally??


12 posted on 12/02/2004 1:01:21 PM PST by GianniV
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To: zetapsi
Have you forgotten a slightley corrutp Ms. Braun? Only democrats tend to over look such things - republicans could't get out the door with a palmed pencil!

Over the course of a tumultuous six years, the Senator was tangled in a number of controversial situations: an unusually personal relationship with her campaign manager, a trip to visit the Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, as well as personal misuse of campaign funds. With the Monica Lewinsky scandal, Mosley-Braun was torn between her devout support of the President and her responsibility to her constituents to denounce his misogynistic escapades.

13 posted on 12/02/2004 1:01:52 PM PST by yoe
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To: zetapsi

On planet liberal no one qualifies as a minority unless they can pass a liberal litmus test. The true racists in this country are people like Jesse Jackson who won't celebrate the success of a minority such as Condi Rice because she doesn't bow to his liberal gods.


14 posted on 12/02/2004 1:06:05 PM PST by Casloy
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To: zetapsi

I almost didn't get the title.


15 posted on 12/02/2004 1:06:25 PM PST by rave123
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To: zetapsi

The Clintons had to ship her to New Zealand (about as far away as it is possible to get) to allow the stench to die down.


16 posted on 12/02/2004 1:24:33 PM PST by boris (The deadliest weapon of mass destruction in history is a Leftist with a word processor)
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To: yoe

I hear you, I just wanted to paint a virtually objective picture of CMB to even further the lunacy of their statements.


17 posted on 12/02/2004 6:02:02 PM PST by zetapsi (Easy Choice)
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To: Canuckistan

very articulate take. Using race to cast doubt is deplorable, and exactly why I posed the question at the end of what CMB would do if the tables were turned.... tell me what you think of my column on Affirmative Action/Welfare....etc.. http://www.davidehrlich.com/archives/WellFair.html


18 posted on 12/02/2004 6:07:14 PM PST by zetapsi (Easy Choice)
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To: rave123

I was hoping it wasn't misleading. Not that anyone would take it literally, I think its a clever way of asking why he doesn't stand up for black conservatives.


19 posted on 12/02/2004 6:08:18 PM PST by zetapsi (Easy Choice)
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To: zetapsi

Not only is it deplorable to use race to cast doubt, it is entirely reasonable in our political culture. The issue of race has been made so divisive and important that, as Jersey Republican Biker Chick said - "If you do not appoint minorities, you are a bigot. When you appoint them they are tokens."

I think that your article begins awkwardly, and this sentence doesn't make sense - "However, what if that person believes in society holding higher standards on its citizens as a yearning for their education?" but warms as it continues. The last part captures very well the truth that the conservative viewpoint has greater faith and esteem for minorities than the liberal view. As you can see, I can't say it very well myself.

I am flattered at your invitation to comment. If you would like, perhaps this thread could be used as a constructive comment board about your writing?


20 posted on 12/02/2004 6:37:54 PM PST by Canuckistan
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