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Dan Rather Stumbles, Chris Matthews Fumbles Over Watermelons and Racism
David Horowitz's NewsRealBlog ^ | 03/12/10 | Rhonda Robinson

Posted on 03/12/2010 5:42:08 PM PST by Rhonda Robinson

I’m not a slapstick fan. Honestly, much to my family’s dismay, I really don’t care to watch “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” Where, I would venture to guess, most of the action is preceded by the phrase, “Hey, hold my beer—an watch this…”

Although, I did find it slightly amusing and very telling, to watch Chris Matthews on his Sunday talk show, dive in after Dan Rather in an attempt to save the fallen news icon, from shooting himself in the foot.

Unfortunately for Rather, this is the age of the new media, and making a fool of yourself is highly entertaining to some. Plus we now have the thought police, and they will tweet your name into utter shame for any perceived utterances of racism.

Rather, who once tried to damage former President George W. Bush with forged documents and a misleading “news” story, has found himself having to write “I am not a racist” on the Huffington Post wall of atonement.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsrealblog.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chrismatthews; danrather; racism; restlesslegczar
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1 posted on 03/12/2010 5:42:09 PM PST by Rhonda Robinson
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To: Rhonda Robinson

Dan who?


2 posted on 03/12/2010 5:43:25 PM PST by fatnotlazy
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To: Rhonda Robinson

If Bush said the same thing, Rather would be the first to pounce, and the last to shut up.


3 posted on 03/12/2010 5:46:52 PM PST by Talisker (When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be damn sure it didn't get there on it's own.)
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To: fatnotlazy

Dam Blather.


4 posted on 03/12/2010 5:47:28 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: Rhonda Robinson
Don't know why, but Blazing Saddles comes to mind;

"Where 'da white weman at?"

5 posted on 03/12/2010 5:49:18 PM PST by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
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To: Talisker

Bush would never say it. He isn’t a closet racist like Dan Rather.


6 posted on 03/12/2010 5:50:54 PM PST by Carling (I'm a neo-McCartyite ... Obama is a Communist.)
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To: Rhonda Robinson

Personally I thought Matthews attempted rescue was more telling than Rather’s stupid comment.


7 posted on 03/12/2010 6:07:32 PM PST by cripplecreek (Remember the River Raisin! (look it up))
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To: Rhonda Robinson

Sorry but I grew up in rural Texas and never heard the saying. I honestly don’t believe Dan is a racist by any stretch but he would throw around the term about Republicans w/o hesitation.


8 posted on 03/12/2010 6:07:32 PM PST by wireplay
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To: Rhonda Robinson

a fail + another fail = one large fail


9 posted on 03/12/2010 6:07:34 PM PST by cranked
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To: Rhonda Robinson

How can you prevent a fool from making a fool of himself?


10 posted on 03/12/2010 6:07:55 PM PST by Savage Beast (Goneril and Regan are running the U.S., and they're doing their best to silence Cordelia.)
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To: Rhonda Robinson

11 posted on 03/12/2010 6:08:49 PM PST by Dewey Revoltnow (Worst. Community. Organizer. Ever!)
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To: Dewey Revoltnow

12 posted on 03/12/2010 6:12:45 PM PST by Overtaxed Patriot (Lock and load.)
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To: Overtaxed Patriot

13 posted on 03/12/2010 6:15:17 PM PST by Overtaxed Patriot (Lock and load.)
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To: Rhonda Robinson
One might feel inclined to cut Dan Rather a bit of slack because of his age. On thinking back over his career and the power of his media, it is only just to review the man's mental outlook. Tragically as we all know President Kennedy was assassinated. A school principle decided to quietly close his school for the day. He deemed it better to let the kids go home and find out from their parents about the death. He then announced the school would be closed and the children could go home. The kids unknowing of the facts- naturally cheered.

Now to Dan Rather. He went on the air and said the kids at the Dallas school had cheered when they heard about the death of Kennedy and could go home.

I will not mince words. Either cheap shoddy sensationalist journalism, or a best a stupid bigoted conclusion.

14 posted on 03/12/2010 6:17:27 PM PST by Peter Libra
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To: norraad; All
"Don't know why, but Blazing Saddles comes to mind;"

"Where 'da white weman at?"


15 posted on 03/12/2010 6:22:17 PM PST by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: fatnotlazy
"Dan who?"

Dan RathEr
16 posted on 03/12/2010 6:49:22 PM PST by SeattleBruce (God, Family, Church, Country - Keep on Tea Partiers - party like it's 1773 & pray 2 Chronicles 7:14!)
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To: Rhonda Robinson

“I was talking about Obama and health care and I used the analogy of selling watermelons by the side of the road. It’s an expression that stretches to my boyhood roots in Southeast Texas, when country highways were lined with stands manned by sellers of all races.”

“Furthermore, when I suggested that the president might try entertaining us with a verse from, “Camptown Racetrack”, well, I defy anyone to deny that we have no horses in Texas. Here, I’ll start us off: `De Camptown racetrack be five mile long, doo dah, doo dah’
Now how can that be wrong, I ask you.”


17 posted on 03/12/2010 6:51:17 PM PST by tumblindice ( How long? Until the last dog dies)
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To: wireplay

“I honestly don’t believe Dan is a racist by any stretch but he would throw around the term about Republicans w/o hesitation.”

You’re honest.

Dan is not. Nor anyone else in the RAT press. I do not feel sorry for him!


18 posted on 03/12/2010 6:53:23 PM PST by SeattleBruce (God, Family, Church, Country - Keep on Tea Partiers - party like it's 1773 & pray 2 Chronicles 7:14!)
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To: SeattleBruce

Didn’t Rather get caught on air making some racist joke back in the early 80’s? Something about watermelon and tacos.


19 posted on 03/12/2010 7:59:33 PM PST by boop (Democracy is the theory that the people get the government they deserve, good and hard.)
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To: boop

We get around to what is racist and what are you just engrained with. It is hard for me to remember the term Brazil nut vs what I grew up with. I had to go look it up to see what the actual name was.

That said, I have sat down with my conservative black friends and I lay it all out. They do as well. Honest conversations make the issues go away. I cannot control what is in my brain but I can control what comes out of my mouth.

Watermelons are a staple crop in Texas. What Rather said is not a surprise from a person from Texas. You won’t see a lot of blacks in Texas picking them (or eating them) since it is done by whites and Hispanics. He could easily have said cantaloupe and people would have understood.


20 posted on 03/12/2010 10:24:11 PM PST by wireplay
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