Judge Suspended For Wearing Blackface To Party

nbc4.tv ^ | December 14, 2004 | nbc4

[Revolting cat!]

So let's get this straight, so the "RACIST" jusdge knows next Halloween:

He is allowed to come to the party dressed as a:

Pollack
Hindu (turban)
Indian (feathers in hair)
Scotsman
Japanese (Samurai)
Roumanian (Dracula)
Italian (Pope)
Liberace
Elvis
Mark Fuhrman

Please add to the list of politically approved Halloween costumes. And let's all join hands and sing Kumbaya!

[fromunda]

That's exactly my point. Now that he has evidenced his mindset with the act - it's done, over - do we ignore it and say his racism is not a reason for concern? or do we continue to permit him to abuse the public trust because of his inability to comprehend a race-blind society? No, we toss him to the trash heap and tell him to settle out his racist tendencies with others in ways that won't any longer affect the public trust.

Do you think a judge that has the appalling lack of judgment such that he shows up at a costume party in blackface, with his wife as his arresting officer, has the capability of setting aside his biases when sitting in judgment of a black person? If you do, that's unreal. This guy didn't just wake up one morning and decide to be a racist - he is a racist likely from birth and as such should not be sitting on the bench.

[trickyricky]

It could have been worse:

[Jaysun]

For twenty years, he's been sittin' on the bench with nobody payin' him no nevermind. I am a Southerner by birth and a Southerner by education - this racist crap still goes on and it needs to be stamped out when we see it.

I simply repeated what the video said. I wasn't attempting to make a judgment. I also live in the South and I think that racism will only end when groups such as the NAACP stop perpetuating it.

[fromunda]

Unreal - you just don't get it. He's in a position of public trust - you sacrifice your right to be a bigot when you sit on the bench. That's it. Period. And, if he can't control his racist urges, then you sit his #@@ home!

[cicero's_son]

First of all, I am not sure that he "is" a racist. And if you were truthful, you would say the same thing. Nobody can know what is in this man's heart.

All we know is that in this racially divided society of ours, he exercised exceptionally poor judgment by showing up in a costume that was guaranteed to piss people off. Why would he do such a thing? Hatred? No--I doubt it. If anything, he may be guilty of excessive racial naivete--precisely the opposite of the virulent racism you accuse him of.

As for his being able to set aside whatever biases he may have--I have no idea. There is a post earlier in the thread in which one of the judges said that an investigation of his case history showed no signs of bias.

Personally, I think that every human being on the planet has biases--tribalism and suspicion of people who are different from us are built into our DNA.

[fromunda]

You're probably right - there probably is some genetic component to biases, etc. It's environmental as well.

But, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, guess what? It's probably a duck. He's a racist - whether he's a virulent racist or one who just exercises inopportune poor judgment, it doesn't matter. He's a racist and should be off the bench.

He lives in Louisiana and has served on the bench there for 20 years. Racial naivete? That's naive. It doesn't take a rocket scientist, let alone a judge, to figure out that showing up in blackface is racist.

This is res ipsa loquitor. He wouldn't have done this but for the fact that he's a racist - whether a Bobby Byrd Klan type or just a run of the mill, mock black people type - it's all racism.

[Indie]

...meanwhile, Al Sharpton enjoys record levels of validation from the media, democRATS and gullible Republicans repubuclicRats. [Not much diff I'm afraid, else we would not hear our Pres still entertaining his amnesty/open border program, and talking "security" out of the other side of his mouth.] Wouldn't want to do anything to insult the potential voters in the "big tent" now would we.

[cicero's_son]

Yeah, I don't want to be put in the position of having to defend him to vigorously. Personally, I don't care too much about this case one way or the other. I think he showed poor judgment, which is not in itself proof of racism.

Furthermore, the charge of "racism" in our society has become so toxic and so reflexive, that my tendency is to give just about anyone the benefit of the doubt.

[Prysson]

Ya know...what if this guy had dressed up as a pirate...with earings..that would be a triple whammy for him. Not only would he be poking fun at criminal behavior but he would also be subconsciously making a comment on homosexual crossdressers..what with the big hoop earings and the frilly sleaves etc. This kind of insensitivity is the WORST kind of Prejudice. I mean what would happen if a gay pirate actually got brought before the court. He might be inclined to feel like he didnt get fair treatment knowing this man MOCKED his kind at a private halloween party. This kind of offensive thing must not be tollerated..not only should he lose his job but he should be drawn and quartered and a messeage to other potential Pirate mockers.

Furthermore, I move that since fromunda has mind xray beams that allow him to determine peoples actual conscious thoughts by reading free republic blips I move that we set up a Cabinet level post Job Fitness Inspector General. fromunda can be the Inspector General and we give him the powers to set up covert operations to evaluate people behaviors in their private homes etc. Any evidence of bias agains Hindu Chinese Midgets or other minority groups like the afforementioned gay pirates will be grounds for immediate dismissal from your job and the right to breath. We can have NO violations of the public trust in peoples private lives.

END OF STORY.

[fromunda]

That's a fair statement and true. I think it's over-used, as well, and organizations like the NAACP, Operation Push, etc. dilute the important criticism of real racism, by challenging everything under that auspice.

[fromunda]

Oh . . . how about just monitoring freepers who can't spell and make idiotic statements about gay pirates? By the way, what does the position pay? Wouldn't want to take a pay cut.

[Sharkfish]

Can't find anything now on any relationship to late Sen. Allen J. Ellender, but I'll let you know if I do. (Both from Terrebonne Parish though)

[deport]

Thanks.... no big deal and spend any time looking. I was just curious and thought they may be kin in some way. Senator Ellender served six terms and died during the campaign for his seventh. That was the election where J Bennett Johnston got elected.