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Race Card -- R.I.P.

The scenario usually plays out this way.

A white person says something about a nonwhite person — a statement perceived as racially insensitive, purportedly reinforcing a stereotype, or otherwise considered racist.

"Black leaders" or members of the "civil rights community" pitch a fit and make demands. Off with his head! The offender apologizes, denies that the comment reflects how he "truly feels," agrees to take racial sensitivity courses, grovels and then often ends up losing his job anyway.

Recognizing and accepting that sometimes people say silly, stupid, illogical or disagreeable things won't do. Writing someone off as wrongheaded isn't enough. He or she must pay.

Golfer and widely known jokester Fuzzy Zoeller lost millions in endorsements after making a fried-chicken joke about Tiger Woods. Sports analyst Jimmy "the Greek" Snyder, in a pub — after downing a few too many — gave a captured-on-video explanation of why black athletes often dominate. His contorted anthropological answer cost him his job. The list of those whose careers suffered or ended because of "racist" remarks includes former Sen. Trent Lott, talk show host Don Imus, former ESPN commentator (and talk radio host of some note) Rush Limbaugh, former Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Al Campanis, former Major League Baseball player John Rocker, former Sen. George "Macaca" Allen and many more.

This brings us to popular Fox News host Glenn Beck.

Beck, on the morning show "Fox & Friends," called President Barack Obama a "racist." He further said the President has a "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture." In making his case, Beck considered comments made by Obama-nominated Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor that a "wise Latina woman" would make better decisions than a "white male." Also, there's Obama's 20-year association with a bigoted pastor whom the President once referred to as his "spiritual adviser." And the President suggested the Cambridge police engaged in racial profiling — despite the lack of evidence.

How this adds up to Obama's being a racist escapes me. Indeed, when Beck made the comment, one of the "Fox & Friends" hosts strongly took issue: "You can't say he doesn't like white people. David Axelrod's white. Rahm Emanuel, his chief of staff, is white. I think 70 percent of the people we see every day are white. Robert Gibbs is white." The host might have added, among other things, "His mother was white. For a time, his white maternal grandparents raised him."

But where are the usual suspects calling for the stockade?

Where was the Rev.

Jesse Jackson, who once blamed racism for the Democratic Party's failure to select him as a vice presidential running mate? Where was the Rev. Al Sharpton, who demanded the firing of talk show host Don Imus for making jokes about a black female basketball team? Where was the NAACP (which "deplored" Beck's statement but failed to even request an apology), whose chairman, Julian Bond, once vowed to pursue "the new racists" and whose Philadelphia branch marched on behalf of black quarterback Michael Vick, convicted of operating an illegal dog-fighting ring? Where was the Congressional Black Caucus, many of whose members attributed racism to the government's response following Hurricane Katrina?

What's going on?

President Obama's election proved that racism is no longer a significant force in America. More voted for him because of his race than refused to do so for that reason.

Had the usual race-card/always-offended players targeted Beck, they stood to face a formidable counterattack. Beck's popularity and fan base continue to grow. The Obama-is-a-racist accusation notwithstanding, Beck raises legitimate criticisms of this administration. Demanding and failing to get Beck fired stood to expose these "civil rights" groups and "black leaders" for what they are — a spent force.

Didn't black New York Gov. David Paterson sound pathetic when he blamed his crashing poll numbers on racism? "Our black media outlets ... are the only ways that we have access," Paterson said, "and even our own reporters from our own community buy the public line, which is, 'We're going to get rid of David Paterson.' ... And the reality is that the next victim on the list ... is President Barack Obama." Even after the President chastised him, Paterson said, "One very successful minority is permissible, but when you see too many success stories, then some people get nervous." What?!

What to do when the primary problems facing the black community — 70 percent of black children born to unwed mothers, 50 percent inner-city high-school dropout rate, black-on-black crime — have little to do with racism? Blaming racism absolves people of personal responsibility. And in a country that elected President Obama, it loses its potency.

Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of the day when we would judge not by color of skin, but by content of character. For the most part, that day has arrived. There is, however, a corollary. One may examine the content of another's character — or the appropriateness of his policies — and raise hell about it.

Larry Elder is a syndicated radio talk show host and best-selling author. His latest book, "What's Race Got to Do with It?" is available now. To find out more about Larry Elder, visit his Web page at www.LarryElder.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM

Comments

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As usual, liked at least 75% of the column. However, I think you missed one mark on racism, where you noted that more people voted for Obama because of his race than voted against him because of it. I'd suggest that voting for anyone because of his/her race is racism. It implies that one's race is a qualification for a particular job.

That said, of the dozens--perhaps hundreds, I haven't counted them--of black presidents, how many have been successful? If any.

Comment: #1
Posted by: Tyree Campbell
Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:17 AM

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I remember when Fuzzy Zoeller made the comment about fried chicken. I found it to be as harmless as when people tease me (a southern white boy) about eating grits and collard greens. Jimmy the Greek's remarks were simply his opinion of why black athletes by all indication can run faster and jump higher than white athletes. The fact that his opinion might be flatly wrong in no way makes it racism. As I recall, Rush Limbaugh stated that Donovan McNabb wouldn't be considered so good if he weren't black. Whereas that statement might not be true there is a tendency for liberals to overstate the credentials of black people. Personally I think the mainstream media is much more favorable toward Barack because he is black. And I certainly think his wife is the beneficiary of that effect. However, as a resident of Virginia I watched George Allen's remarks several times about "macaca". And as "macaca" is a pejorative, little different if any from "nigger", I found that to be racist in the context he used the word. Count me among those who thought he deserved to pay the price. I appreciate Larry's tolerance; however, I disagree with him on that one at least. I forgot what Rocker said and I'm not familiar with Campanis' remarks. I found Don Imus's remarks to be at least pushing it. He might not be racist, but white racist sexists love to hear words like he used. And if Trent Lott was referring to Strom Thurmond's segregationist ideas in his statement then I find him to be racist. All that being said, I think there is still enough racism without those Larry refers to as "victicrats" pretending to find it where it does not exist. Political Correctness has reached the point where one of "W's" political appointees was rejected for saying "We gave up too much when the South lost The civil War." Anybody who knows anything about the history of that war and who has any appreciation for The Constitution would not only find nothing racist in her remarks but actually agree with them. There was no reason to assume she was even speaking of anything to do with race. Likewise, my comments here might be rejected by this forum because I have used the word "nigger" in it now for the second time. There is nothing racist about acknowledging racism or quoting (in this case) words used by racists. A Statue of Mark Twain has already been removed from the Atlantic City Boardwalk because some can count the 215 times he used the word "nigger" in his book "Huckleberry Finn", but have no appreciation of the context, time it was written, and to whom it was addressed, not to mention the fact that this novel actually humanized Jim in a time and place where black people tended to be considered less than human by many whites. It was a tongue in cheek slap at slavery. Mark Twain should be honored for helping us move away from racism. Maybe if the political correctness crowd has its way and nobody is allowed to say or print the word "nigger" as I have now done here four times, future generations will forget the word was ever used or that it was used to denegrate black people. I ask the reader to consider the implications of that. We cannot overcome racism either by pretending that it doesn't exist or that it does exist where in fact it does not. Racists use racist terms maliciously. People who wrongly choose to blame all their problems on racism find it where it doesn't exist. Or maybe it's just a "power thing".

Wade Mathias

Comment: #2
Posted by: wade mathias
Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:24 PM

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I love Larry Elder.Whenever I could,I would listen to his radio show. I've read all his books and hope he makes a comeback on radio or gets his own tv show. But, I also am a major Glenn Beck fan.I listen faithfully to his radio show and always tune in to his television program and I've read all his books.
Glenn is right when he says Obama is a racist.He doesn't claim anything about himself as white,eventhough he is half white.His visit on "The View"recently proved that.When Barbara Walters asked The Annointed One why he doesn't lay claim to his being half white and would rather be known as black,the"Great Communicator with Cue Cards" mumbled and fumbled his answers,and never did give a proper answer.
Glenn Beck need not apologize for any comments he makes about Obama,because he doesn't have a racist bone in his body.Countless times he has quoted Martin Luther King and has constantly acknowledged his admiration for him.This "Racist Thing" that the Democrats espouse is old news.It doesn't have the punch anymore because the American people are sick and tired hearing about it.Once we elected Obama,racism should have gone out the door.Even Obama mentioned that many times during his first days after his election.
I don't like Obama,but not because he's black,because he sucks at his job.I didn't like Jimmy Carter either,because he sucked at his job as well.
Let's put this racial crap to rest,and let's start talking about the issues and Obama's job performance.

Comment: #3
Posted by: MarcMassaro
Sun Aug 8, 2010 10:44 PM

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