The Unveiling of the Reluctant Racist

I want to begin this with a big sigh.

Now I just use that title, because I knew that it would get your attention. My original title is “What’s In Your Heart?”.  You can choice which one you like more.

Now I was hoping that we didn’t get to this point, but in the back of my mind I had a feeling that we would see what I call “the reluctant racist” express themselves in their own words.

Before I even start this I will say again that anyone can be a racist. The oxymoron of the essence of racism is that it doesn’t care who uses it. It’s not solely owned by any one particular group. Racist come in all colors, ages, gender, beliefs, sizes, classes, regions and even political affiliations. It’s derived from multiple areas of life, but to offer a single source of it other than evil; I would say that it comes from a lack of understanding or concern of the targets perspective.

Republican pollster Kelly Ann Conway made a racially charged, shocking comment to CNN’s Larry King and a group of political talking heads.

Kelly Anne Conway:
”John McCain is in New Orleans tonight addressing the Council on National Policy. It’s been reported these are just the cream of the crop conservatives. This is what he’s doing behind the scenes now while Hillary and Obama argue about whether she should let him sit on the back of the bus of her presidential ticket, or he argues whether or not she allowed us to get into the war in 2002.”

If it wasn’t for Democratic Strategist Jamal Simmons rebuttal I believe Larry and the other guests would let it slide.

Jamal Simmons:

“Larry, we have to address that. We have to address that. This ‘back of the bus’ comment is really beyond the pale. I think Senator Clinton, whatever our disagreements are between the two candidates, Senator Clinton has never done or said anything that would imply that she would rather have Barack Obama sit in the back of her campaign bus.”

Of course Conway, a lawyer realized that she was in trouble started to back peddle her way out of serious live chastising by trying to make it seem like she just happened to put her words together and nothing should be misconstrued as racially prejudiced. This is the “I’m not a racist” approach. Normally the first argument used when you’re caught saying something you know is racist or racially charged.

The modern or reluctant racist does not wear a hood. They live a very different, politically correct life with the appearance of a diverse strategy. They pose as supporters of a candidate or cause with genuine, heartfelt passion and logical reasons. Often failing to consider the arguments of the ones they oppose.

Another, but surprising case

In response to a comment by Michelle Obama where she said she was finally a proud American, Charles Lynch, I mean Bill O’Reilly responded with:

“I don’t want to go on a lynching party against Michelle Obama unless there’s evidence, hard facts, that say this is how the woman really feels. If that’s how she really feels — that America is a bad country or a flawed nation, whatever — then that’s legit. We’ll track it down.”

What The Hell! I’ll address this one later. There’s so much I want to say about this one, but that’s another topic for another day. Just understand that using these sorts of references is not just poor use of words, or shows a lack of knowledge or concern for the implications in the meaning or history of the words or phrase, but it injects the long legacy of racism in America. Not just towards African Americans, but the genocidal treatment of the Native Americans, the stereotypic images of Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans and the blatant sexism we still deal with today.

Perhaps Jeremiah Wright was attempting to say this, before the media lynching party got him.

Are you beginning to see how this sounds?

One more thing on Bill O’Reilly’s “slip of the tongue”. Although he eventually issued an insincere apology, this I do believe is sincere. I believe he and others who continue to make these “slips” are sincere in what they’re saying. But I ask the question, is there more to these casual slips of the tongue? You say what’s in your heart.

Our Next Contender comes from the Golf Channel. Now I don’t blame the Golf Channel for this one, but question the judgment of Kelly Tilghman for suggesting that golfers should, “lynch Tiger Woods in a back alley.” It reminds me of the “fried chicken comments of Fuzzy Zeller when Tiger won the Masters.

Even someone I’m suspicious of, but give him the benefit of my doubts, Lou Dobbs. Mr. Dobbs objected to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice saying racism was an American “birth defect” by nearly calling her and other Black leaders “cotton pickers.” Now I’m not the biggest fan of Dr. Rice, but understood what she was saying.

Rare Side Note:

I just don’t understand why someone who is obviously posses far more intelligence than most people in the Bush Administration can continue to work with these idiots. You (the Republican Party) has some very intelligent people who could be the Republican version of Barack Obama, but your silence them. Gen. Colin Powell, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, Rep. J.C. Watts (OK), Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (VA), Lynn Swan (PA), even going back a few decades with Jack Kemp. With the Real Republicans please stand up. I know it’s rare to hear me offer any type of praise towards Republicans, but if you really want to expand the party, expand your thinking and how you do things. Now that’s all the praise I’m giving you. (I got to go and take a shower now)

Moving to the left

Geraldine Ferraro, the first female major party nominee for the vice-presidency, found herself defending herself from accusations that she was an old cranky bigot. Now I’m not calling her a bigot, but perhaps old and cranky.

Mrs. Ferraro said, “If Obama was a White man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”

What???

She is entitled to her opinion, which Obama brushed off as “patently absurd.”

Finally, our friends Hillary Clinton and Gov. Mike Huckabee.

The didn’t say anything racist, but the subtle suggestion of the joke by Mike Huckabee during an interview at a NRA event makes you question his judgment. During an interview the sound of a chair hitting the floor sparked a dim-witted joke. “That was Barack Obama ducking under a chair; someone was taking a shot at him”.

Be careful Mike.

Hillary should have known better. Why even mention the assassination of Sen. Robert Kennedy. It’s easy to see the similarities of the ’68 Campaign of Sen. Kennedy and the ’08 Campaign of Sen. Obama. Why give some fool out there the idea?

In conclusion, this isn’t about the ability to move on, beyond race. If you don’t want to be called a racist, stop doing, saying or acting like one. Don’t give anyone a reason or the ability to call you one. If you’re not a comedian or using it in social commentary or even as a historical reference you shouldn’t include this type of language.

Kelly Anne Conway, Bill O’Reilly, Lou Dobbs, Geraldine Ferraro, Mike Huckabee and even Hillary Clinton should already know this. These are polished, well educated individuals. I know this isn’t the end of this, but hopefully this may help someone out there.

You have to think before you speak. More importantly you need to examine what’s in your heart when these types of things arise in your mind or conversations.

I quote one of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. messages in “Unfulfilled Dreams”.

“And we end up having to cry out with Ovid, the Latin poet, “I see and approve the better things of life, but the evil things I do.” We end up having to agree with Plato that the human personality is like a charioteer with two headstrong horses, each wanting to go in different directions. Or sometimes we even have to end up crying out with Saint Augustine as he said in his Confessions, “Lord, make me pure, but not yet.” We end up crying out with the Apostle Paul, “The good that I would I do not: And the evil that I would not, that I do.” Or we end up having to say with Goethe that “there’s enough stuff in me to make both a gentleman and a rogue.” There’s a tension at the heart of human nature. And whenever we set out to dream our dreams and to build our temples, we must be honest enough to recognize it.”

If you are disturbed and appalled by Kelly Anne Conway’s racist tactics, please let CNN know. Racism, particularly on the public airwaves, must not be permitted to occur. Call the CNN comments line at: (404) 827-1500 or click here to e-mail the Larry King Live show and let your voice and disapproval be known.