Joe Klein: People Like Obama Aren’t Let Into Republican Country Clubs

NewsBusters.org ^ | 6/24/2008 | Matthew Balan

[Pyro7480]

In a statement reminiscent of Howard Dean’s controversial statement from 2005 about the RNC and "people of color," Time magazine columnist Joe Klein blasted Karl Rove’s recent slam of Barack Obama on Monday’s "Election Center" program on CNN. "I just think that the image is kind of hilarious when you think about it: Barack Obama at a country club sipping a martini. It's kind of a parody of the Republican view of the world. Everybody belongs to -- since when [did] we start letting people like Barack Obama into Republican country clubs?"

"People like Barack Obama"? That sounds like Dean’s "You think the RNC could get this many people of color into a single room?... Maybe if they got the hotel staff in there."

"Election Center" substitute host Wolf Blitzer read Rove’s quote earlier in the segment, which began 22 minutes into the 8 pm Eastern hour of the CNN program: "Even if you never met him, you know this guy. He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall, and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by."

[kinghorse]

That’s funny because I met a rich second generation Caribbean guy last weekend who thought his shit didn’t stink. He was a big player with dad’s money. Pathetic. The worst kind of rich.

[Loud Mime]

If you judge the presidential candidate on their qualifications, the only way you would vote for Obama is if you are a racist or a fool.

In other words, he has a good chance of winning.

[princeofdarkness]

Is Joe going for the Abe Lincoln-elder statesman look?

[GVnana]

People like Obama? What the hell does that mean?

You mean he’s black like Tiger Woods? Or country clubs check voter registrations? I don’t get it.

[upsdriver]

Joe Klein, why do you feel the need to project your hate-filled racism on those who aren’t built that way?

[cdchik123]

I dont get it...?lol.

[albie]

The article is right! Most Country Clubs don’t encourage Muslim extremists to join. The “Che Gueverra/Cuban” flag pin on his lapel isn’t a good fit either.

[ripley]

“joe klein; people like obama aren’t let into republican country clubs.”

translation: “i, joe klein, an enlightened liberal genius, say that republican country clubs are white, obama is black, and white republican country clubs exclude blacks and are therefore racist, and i am a genius because i just called all those evil white republicans a bunch of racists without really calling them racists and i have played the race card without having played the race card and that makes me a master of the nuance and a totally absolutely brilliant liberal.”

[hoe_cake]

“Most Republicans aren’t in country clubs.”

Not necessarily, Rockin. My good guess is many of the country clubs where I live are Republican.

If Obama pays the entry fee, plus the annual dues, he can get into any country club. Provided the members have opened their registry to black people.

It’s a PRIVATE CLUB, for heavens sake.

But the liberals would have it that nothing is private, not a country club, and not my home.

[hinckley buzzard]

Since when did we start letting a-holes like Joe Klein waste our oxygen?