Double standards: Walter Williams says GOP held to higher expectation of decency than liberals

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Wednesday, December 18, 2002 | Dr. Walter Williams

[JohnHuang2]

During World War II, ex-Ku Klux Klansman, now U.S. senator, Robert Byrd vowed never to fight "with a Negro by my side. Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds."

Just a couple of years ago, Byrd lectured us on the floor of the Senate that "there are white niggers. I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time." I wonder whether he was talking about whites who act like blacks.

San Francisco's esteemed mayor Willie Brown once described a successful legislative battle this way: "We beat those old white boys fair and square."

Spike Lee said in disapproval of interracial marriages: "I give interracial couples a look. Daggers. They get uncomfortable when they see me on the street."

The National Association of Black Social Workers drafted a position paper calling white adoptions of black children "cultural genocide." They warned against "transculturation ... when one dominant culture overpowers and forces another culture to accept a foreign form of existence."

Donna Brazile, Al Gore's presidential campaign manager, called Republicans "white boys" who seek to "exclude, denigrate and leave behind."

At a celebration for retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said that Mississippians were proud to have voted for Thurmond in his 1948 presidential campaign "and, if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years."

Which among the above statements are the most racist, which have received the most media coverage and which caused the most angst? Clearly, Lott's statement received the most media coverage and created the most angst, but it doesn't begin to qualify as the most racist.

You say: "Williams, that's different. High officials shouldn't honor and praise racists or ex-racists." Then what about Bill Clinton's acknowledged political mentors – former Arkansas Sen. J. William Fulbright and former Arkansas Gov. Orville Faubus – who were both rabid segregationists? Yet the former president highly praises Fulbright and bestowed upon him the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award.

By the way, Fulbright was one of 19 senators who issued a statement titled, "The Southern Manifesto," condemning the 1954 Supreme Court decision of Brown vs. Board of Education and defending segregation. That's a bit more recent than Thurmond's run for the White House. Does Clinton's praise of Fulbright mean that he supported "The Southern Manifesto," just as the assertion that Lott's praise of Thurmond means he supported Thurmond's segregationist stand in 1948? If so, why not also condemn Clinton?

I have several possible theories on the responses to Lott's rather stupid remarks – stupid in the context of our politically correct world.

My first theory is that conservatives are held to higher standards of decency, conduct and decorum than liberals. In other words, it's like behavior that's tolerated in the case of children but ostracized when adults do the same thing. That theory might also explain why racist statements made by blacks are excused.

Another theory is that since 9-11 and President Bush's public popularity, both appointed and unappointed black leaders have had no platform and been paid no attention. Lott's gaffe gives them platform, voice and mission.

Finally, the Democrats, having lost all branches of national government in the recent elections, are desperate to get something on Bush and the Republicans, and Trent Lott's statement is the answer to their prayers.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Which among the above statements are the most racist, which have received the most media coverage and which caused the most angst? Clearly, Lott's statement received the most media coverage and created the most angst, but it doesn't begin to qualify as the most racist...

My first theory is that conservatives are held to higher standards of decency, conduct and decorum than liberals. In other words, it's like behavior that's tolerated in the case of children but ostracized when adults do the same thing. That theory might also explain why racist statements made by blacks are excused.

Another theory is that since 9-11 and President Bush's public popularity, both appointed and unappointed black leaders have had no platform and been paid no attention. Lott's gaffe gives them platform, voice and mission.

Finally, the Democrats, having lost all branches of national government in the recent elections, are desperate to get something on Bush and the Republicans, and Trent Lott's statement is the answer to their prayers.

No wonder he is on the A list to fill in.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Great reply! You've opened too many cans for me to reply in one post, but I'm sure I'll see you around.


You are absolutely correct that Republicans should not pander. Pandering in a way to get the attention of minorities would be to betray our principles for the sake of votes and that would make us . . . well, the Democrats.


I am convinced that the GOP, its values and platform not only would best serve the American people, but also reflects what most Americans believe. This is true also of minorities. And, the RATS know this too.

This is why they play the race card. It is a distraction to get minorities to vote on an extremely emotional issue that they feel directly affects them and to keep them from actually paying attention to the RAT policies. If the GOP can eliminate the race issue, then it will truly be able to emerge as the party of the overwhleming majority of all Americans and really make some significant changes.

All lot of Freepers around here like to whine about how the media and democrats are all to blame for this reputation of racism. That is falling into the liberal trap of blaming everyone but ourselves.

Now, if there were not some inkling of truth to accusations of racism, the race issue would be a non-issue. Intelligent, knowledgable, honest Republicans will look back at our party's history and admit that there existed a racist element. It is still there, but is shrinking and is a legacy that should be remembered but not revered. And most importantly, it has no place in the leadership of a national party representing all Americans in the current era in which we live.

The real debate we are having here is whether Republicans should tolerate racists. My answer to the question is: in our country - yes; in our our party - we are open to all; in our party's platform and leadership - absolutely not.

[My2Cents]

Well, Republicans should be held to a higher standard. Republicans are the party decency; the Democrats the party of indecency. No one expects any more from the Democrats.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Civil Rights legislation came to the floor between "1850's and 1950's". Tell us about it.

I studied history at a private university in the Northeast and am still paying the loans.

Anyway, maybe you misread what I originally wrote. I actually said that the Democrats were the party of racists during those 100 years above and the Republicans the progressive minded liberals (in its historic sense not the label it is today). That began to shift beginning with FDR. The Dixiecrats then began to slowly make the transition over the last 40+ years to the Republican party. In fact, Strom was one of the first.

The term "Souther Democrat" was almost synonymous with racist tendencies. So tell me, where have all the southern Democrats gone . . . wo sind die geblieben?

[johnb838]

OK, I've had enough. The way people talk these days you'd think there never were any racists. People say things like "I grew up in the south but my family wasn't racist." Puh-leeze. It's like the good germans after WWII. "I good Cherman... no nazis here". You'd have thought there never were any nazis.

I guess I'm a racist. When I was a kid I got ganged up on by blacks and I did NOT have a good opinion of "their kind". I got over that -- many of our generation applauded Dr. King and his call for a color-blind society. But then it turned into cultural blackmail. And like any other kind of blackmail enough is never enough. The black victicrats keep pushing for more... more... more. I believe that affirmative action has been responsible more than anything else for the degradation of the ability of our most important institutions to perform effectively -- especially government, medicine, and law. The racial bullcrap and coddling of criminals has ruined law enforcement because the black community chooses to be proud of being vicious killers and criminals. The illegals storming the borders are stressing our system even further.

I must be a racist. I believe that the evil race hustlers are coming for everything I have and stand for. Enough already. I have extraordinary respect and admiration for MEN like Dr. Williams, Justice Thomas, and Secretary Powell, but I say NOT ONE DIME MORE for the cowardly black racists like Jackson, Sharpton, and Lee and the fools they represent. They want a war. We need to give it to them.

[johnb838]

If the LEADER of the PARTY in the Senate would even CONSIDER throwing the game to the opposition, that is prima facie evidence of his unfitness.

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Honest, open, forthright, intelligent.

If only there were more politcians like you out there.


Your point is the exact reason the GOP needs to get beyond our racist past asap. If only so that we can begin to say the truth without being labelled bigots.

This Lott fiasco is a chance and an opportunity. Rove smells it and has pounced like the viscious political beast that he is (this is intended as a compliment).

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Nickles' Voting Record on Civil Rights Mirrors Lott's

Monday morning AP Headlines. You people want standards;

1. How high?
2. How long?
3. Why only our party?
4. How many "cleansings" will it take to realize injustice?
5. Why does Williams make the point that Lott's statement is least offensive?

[johnb838]

Thanks, I was worried you might be offended (see, I have to get over that). I don't hate blacks. It's almost like there is this "Cult of Blackness" whose practitioners are screwing up everything.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

During this time period the Republican party was also the party of the left and the Demcracts the right...

...Your insistence on denying the reality of that history (i.e. the Republican party has contained a racist element for a long time) is a tragedy.

"Civil Rights legislation came to the floor between "1850's and 1950's". Tell us about it."

[My2Cents]

Who's attacking Lott's voting record? No one here. Whatever support he enjoyed among Republican rank-and-file has eroded because of his STUPIDITY, because of his INSENSITIVITY, because of his SELFISH death-grip on power, because of his past ACCOMMODATION of the Democrats in the Senate, because of his INSINCERE attempt to garner support by saying he would now support affirmative action. This guy isn't a leader, or the kind of leader we need. This isn't a PC cleansing; it's a cleansing to get rid of an awful leader for Republicans in the Senate.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Maybe the delayed response will allow you to cool down.

#48 had nothing to do with Lott's voting record or anything else you described.

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[sauropod]

I have cogitated some on your reply. Apparently, you do not realize that Nazism is a socialist philosophy and world view.

For the philosophical underpinnings of what motivated the Nazis, I recommend The Ominous Parallels by Leonard Peikoff.

I suggest you read it before posting again.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Since this has been bumped to a list I feel obligated to explain what Freiheit (our on site history savant) couldn't.

In reference to post #50 I said, "Civil Rights legislation came to the floor between "1850's and 1950's"." Then asked, "Tell us about it?"

In 1866, the Republican party, "which has contained a racist element for some time", passed the first Civil Rights Act over the veto of Jackson. They ratified the 14th Amendment a few years later and in the 1870's secured for blacks the right to vote.

[error99]

"The Southern Manifesto"

Ha, Ha.
One of the signatories to this document was honored by having an Aircraft Carrier named after him (CVN-70).

[barryselby]

as i read the post here i am reminded of the 2002 election cycle, in New Jersey, Minn. new york,nc,sc,etc there were several seats up for election. Why were no blacks nominated, selected, or backed by either party? Seems to me that all of the senate must be racist or they would have a black serving in the senate now.although carl page is a liberal, he is very well qualified to be a senator

[.30Carbine]

During World War II, ex-Ku Klux Klansman,
now U.S. senator, Robert Byrd
vowed never to fight "with a Negro by my side."

On the other hand, as a Conservative, a firm believer in our Constitutional Republic, in Justice and the American way, I have the incredible honor of fighting side by side with my hero, Dr. Walter Williams. He doesn't mind a bit that I'm a Yankee white girl who, when it comes to economics, can hardly balance her checkbook.

(Okay, he would, in fact, mind about the checkbook.)

[.30Carbine]

Just a couple of years ago, Byrd lectured us
on the floor of the Senate
that "there are white niggers.
I've seen a lot of white niggers in my time."
I wonder whether
he was talking about
whites who act like blacks.

I've wondered about that comment, too.

[.30Carbine]

Donna Brazile, Al Gore's presidential campaign manager,
called Republicans "white boys"
who seek to "exclude, denigrate and leave behind."

As a Republican White Girl I feel excluded, denigrated, and left behind and I want 6 apologies.

And when you're done with those let's take a tour of the inner city public schools where, for want of equal opportunity in education, young people I care about are being left behind. The policies of the party you promote are responsible for excluding the poor and middle-income children of all races from schools such as your former boss attended. I'm a George W. Bush Republican and I want no child left behind.