Posted on 10/02/2003 5:14:20 AM PDT by Fighter@heart
HAVE THE COURAGE TO DEBATE THE STATEMENT
Make no mistake about this .. no mistake at all. The whole reason that Rush Limbaugh is under fire for his comments on Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is simply because he is perhaps the nation's most prominent conservative ... and a white guy on top of it all! Limbaugh is seen by the left as a huge, almost insurmountable threat to their designs on regaining control in DC.
Now, incredibly, Rush Limbaugh has resigned from his position at ESPN. My guess is that the resignation was forced, but he may have just decided that life is too short to put up with this absurd squeamish PC nonsense. At any rate ... here is what Limbaugh said on that ESPN broadcast ... read it and then let's pick it apart word by word and see what we have:
"I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."
Do you need any further clarification of what Limbaugh said? Do I have to break it down for you? OK ... step-by-step:
1. Donovan McNabb hasn't been a very good quarterback from the beginning.
Anything racist there? If there is, I can't find it. Do we now find ourselves at the point where you cannot criticize a black athlete without being called a racist?
2. The National Football League has some social concerns.
Translation, there's a bit of political correctness in the NFL front office. I don't know if that's true or not. You tell me! Is there anything inherently wrong with bringing up the possibility?
3. Some sportswriters want to see a black quarterback do well.
Well now isn't that a shocking statement! Can you imagine that! A few weeks ago a female place kicker actually kicked a field goal in a Division 1A college football game. Do you think that it is at all possible that there were some sportswriters out there, maybe even some female sportswriters, who wanted to see that kick go through the uprights? Would that make these sportswriters sexist? So we find it perfectly reasonable to understand why a female sportswriter might want to see that gal kick that football, but you just can't imagine a black sportswriter wanting to see a black quarterback succeed? Come on, admit it. You went to government schools, didn't you?
4. Donovan McNabb has been getting more credit for the team's success than perhaps he deserves.
Maybe so, maybe not! I'm certainly not knowledgeable enough to comment on that. I couldn't name any Eagles player other than McNabb .. and if it weren't for this story I wouldn't even be able to name him. I'm just not that much of a fan. But can't a question like this be addressed to literally hundreds of players in each of the four major sports?
So .. there you go. Rush's statement broken down into four easily understandable statements, none of which is the slightest bit racially insensitive, let alone racist.
And now ... along comes Tennessee Democrat Harold Ford to share his wisdom with us on this issue. Congressman Ford, who is black, says he doesn't know if Limbaugh should have included race in his statement. Tell me, how in the hell can you try to make the point that the media, feeding on political correctness, wanted to see a black quarterback do well without mentioning in race? Ford also says that ESPN should fire Limbaugh immediately for the comment. Go over the four segments above one more time. Now tell me just which one of those statements constitutes an offense worthy of a firing! Maybe it was just time for Congressman Ford to renew his victim credentials.
Limbaugh crossed a politically correct line. Only liberals are allowed to bring race into any issue. When liberals mention race it is always a symbol and indication of their undying love for and devotion to all who cannot claim whiteness. When conservatives bring race to the table it is always because they are closet racists and just want to keep their boots on the black man's neck.
How about giving Limbaugh's statement a fair hearing? Make your case that McNabb has been all-pro from the beginning. Convince us that the NFL never gives any consideration to the dictates of political correctness. Convince me that sportswriters would never root for the success of an athlete who shares their plumbing or skin color. Then you can explain how the Eagle's success is due to the brilliance of Donovan McNabb. But ... if your goal is to attack the messenger instead of to debate the message ... then perhaps there's a place for you on the editorial board of The Washington Post.
Thou shalt not tell the truth if it might hurt the feelings of someone other than a white male or may point out a weakness or anything other than perfectness in someone who is not a white male.
It now seems there is an all out socialist war [church, flag, patriotism, race, family, etc.] against any and all persons having "non-socialist" ideas.
If I can read this, with any clarity at all, this next 14 months is going to be unimaginable.
Of far greater concern is the rumors swirling around Rush about the prescription drugs. This is something that could genuinely ruin the man if the allegations end up having some truth to them (which at this point, I have absolutely no opinion either way). This is what admirers of Rush should be worried about. Not some nonsensical football talking head show that hardly anybody (including many football fans) even watches.
Baker said that white guys had more trouble with the heat of summer than blacks because blacks had been bred pre-history in equatorial zones. The implication was that white guys perform poorly during day games.
3. Some sportswriters want to see a black quarterback do well.
Close, Rush did not say "some" he said the 'media' implying more than just 'some'. Rush's comments, to be honest, make the claim that he (Rush) thinks the media has over hyped McNabb. He goes on to say that he thinks it is because this 'media' wants to see a black quarterback suceed. So in fact, Rush is saying that the 'media' stories touting McNabbs skills over the last couple years are not based truly on McNabb's skill but rather because he is black and the 'media' wants him to succeed.
I happen to this Rush is dead wrong on this one. Sports is one of the few places where people are mostly judged on their skill not their color, with some exceptions. Rush's comment implies that he thinks the postive media about McNabb was because he is black, not because he is good or was just over-hyped for reasons other than race. Rush is entitled to his opinion and others are entitled to think it is racist.
Been stewing and typing about the McNabb flap.
Will get over there post haste.
Do you need any further clarification of what Limbaugh said? Do I have to break it down for you? OK ... step-by-step:
1. I don't think Donovan McNabb hasn't been a very good quarterback, but he has been praised in the media from the beginning.
2. The National Football League is promoting players and coaches based on other than 100% merit.
3. The 'media' want to see a black quarterback succeed and that is why the media over-hyped McNabb, because he is a black man and they wanted him to succeed.
4. It was the defense, not McNabb who got them there.
That is a more accurate translation. One I think Rush would still stand by. But let's call this what it was. Rush was indicting the 'media' for promoting players based on race not skill. That was his point. Obviously, it is #3 that is the issue. Rush is entitled to this opinion, but he need to back it up. He has basically claimed that the entire 'media' is prejudiced in favor of McNabb and that they have been falsely reporting on his skills because he is black. Rush is the one making this claim. He cannot pussyfoot around and pretend all he was saying was that "black sportswriters want McNabb to succeed" and that he will take that back if people want. Rush should either be a man and actually stand up for and back up what he said.....but he should not weasel his way out. His comment, taken in totality, has only one intrepretation and it is the one most of the world sees.
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