Posted on 12/16/2007 2:28:51 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Air America radio host Randi Rhodes unleashed a torrent of what's being called "liberal racism" and accused Oprah Winfrey of "acting" when she stumped for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
On her show last week, Rhodes discussed Oprah's appearances on Obama's behalf, and told listeners: "She was blacker than Obama yesterday . . . Let me tell you something. Everyone who watches Oprah are the whitest people in the world . . . Even the black men who watch Oprah are white women while they watch Oprah . . .
"She's like so unbelievably white . . . Why is she turning up the blackness a notch or two or three for these appearances?"
Later on the show, while still discussing campaign appearances, Rhodes told a caller: "What you don't understand is that Oprah was acting on that stump . . .
"She is phonying up her speech pattern to appeal immediately to the audience in front of her. But I can't even understand why Oprah did speak like a black preacher in Iowa, where if you had the entire black population of Iowa in a room, it still probably would not make a crowd."
Leaving aside the fact that Iowa has approximately 69,000 blacks, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, commentator Brian Maloney went after Rhodes on another front in an article for The Radio Equalizer blog.
"Can you imagine the kind of firestorm that would erupt if Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, or anyone else on the right were to make some of these statements?" he wrote.
"How long would they last on the air before a full-scale Media Matters-[George] Soros-led advertiser boycott would be underway?
"Does anyone believe for a moment that Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and other so-called civil rights activists will be picketing outside Air America's studios? Will the mainstream media seize upon Randi's racial remarks as examples of liberal racism? Hell, no."
The fact that there’s even a need to coin “liberal racism” is laughable.
It’s as phony as the notion that they’re somehow the “compassionate” ones.
Every white liberal I know wouldn’t dare live in a predominantly black neighborhood.
Randi is an incrediable talent on radio talk show. I wish she belonged to our side.
Oprah isn’t white or black. She’s The Color Purple.
Of course, if Rush decided to QUOTE Randi Rhodes about this, Media Matters would accuse him of racism. But that double standard we’re already used to.
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I always thought that that's exactly what she is.
HAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAA
Sharpton is a Clinton supporter as is Rhoades. The more problems HRC has the more hysterical Randi will become. She really needs a drink or two.
LOL! Yeah right.
I like Randi Rhodes better when he was the guitarist for Ozzy
He dies in a small plane crash and now look at him! He’s a crazy, liberal woman on Err Amerika!
Very clever!
Ent Rocks!! Maybe Rhodes can tell the O how it is being Black in a White World.
Pray for W and Our Troops
Randi Rhodes for president! Seriously, she should run on the Democratic ticket.
Oprah is the most influential woman in America.
Ah Randi, Hillary is white, black, asian, poor, rich, southern, northern, midwestern, half-illiterate, Latino, itellectual, jewish, christian, muslim, etc.
Get over it.
Hey, it’s not her fault she says stuff like this, I mean, ever since that gang of KKK loving republicans beat her up and knocked out her teeth a couple months ago, she hasn’t been right in the head.
Unlike Hillary, Oprah really is from the South... What she does on her show is speak in “newsman speak”, i.e. that accentless accent that typifies Midwestern speech. She breaks out the sort of speech she grew up speaking when she wants to put an exclamation point on a theme or make clear that what she’s expressing is common sense as opposed to worldly knowledge... not really too unusual, and definitely not a silly out and out example of phoniness ala Hillary Clinton’s twangy, “not tired” comments.
The original article is right on. Orpah is a god of white suburban women. Pointing out that fact is not racist. Too many people on this board go way over the top is condemning the other side, that hurts our point of view.
Would definitely agree that Oprah knows her language speak can honestly lay claim to it; certainly in more authentic fashion than Hillary. Safe to say, really; that of the two hundred plus bones that hold Hillary together; one would be hard pressed to find one that is authentic.
Not so with Oprah, of course, as it is her 'authentic' that reaches out and holds people. . .(Where would Hillary be today, without Bill and the monies of the Saudis and Chinese, et al? How far would her talents and her inauthenticity, taken her?)
That said; there is no question that Oprah relaxed - deliberately so - into the 'old' vernacular so as to communicate - appeal - and to better carry her message to her audience. She also reached back in time to early 'Civil Rights' feelings that hold the memories of White injustice and guilt, so as to better impress a grudge message of sorts to carry Obama. That her message was carried 'round the world' - not just to this audience; spoke to it's limitations and as well to a hypocrisy, IMHO. While no doubt a Liberal; Oprah did not succeed by using the Lib MO of 'divide and conquer'.
Personally, while not a 'fan' of Oprah's - but rather an admirer - I expected better from Oprah; and for her first political moment in the sun; she showed typical Liberal hypocrisy. Personally, was both surprised and disappointed.
Per the 'Whites' who have contributed to Oprah's success - and her White 'fans' who love Oprah; because they imagine zero degrees of separation - if Oprah's vernacular did not surprise; then her message should have.
. . .it seemed more like a hypocritical, 'slap-upside'. . .
Racist Liberal bump
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