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Identity politics are great and all, just so long as they, y’know, don’t get too uppity

From USA Today:

Sen. Hillary Clinton on Monday blasted the Bush administration as “one of the worst” in U.S. history and compared the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to a plantation where dissenting voices are squelched.

Speaking during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event, Clinton also offered an apology to a group of Hurricane Katrina survivors “on behalf of a government that left you behind, that turned its back on you.” Her remarks were met with thunderous applause by a mostly black audience at the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in Harlem.

Ms Clinton, the junior Senator from New York (and, as the wife of American’s first black President, William Jefferson Clinton, the clear frontrunner for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination), commisserated with all the authentic blacks in the crowd, each of them Democrats, and the vast majority of them kept down by years of public race-based funding designed to free blacks from the institutionalized racism brought about by Republicans who, well, just don’t care much for the negras.

The House “has been run like a plantation, and you know what I’m talking about,” said Clinton, D-N.Y. “It has been run in a way so that nobody with a contrary view has had a chance to present legislation, to make an argument, to be heard” [Tony Morrison might call this obvious analogue between electoral politics and political caucuses to the workings of slavery “rememory”¹; in fact, if you really stop to think about it, elections themselves are kinda like slavery too, with the winners playing the role of “master” while the losers, crazily are forced into ideological bondage!  But I digress…]

“We have a culture of corruption, we have cronyism, we have incompetence,” she said. “I predict to you that this administration will go down in history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country.”

Reached for comment, Bush Secretary of State and former National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, along with former Secretary of State General Colin Powell, simply mumbled their thanks to “Miss Hillry” for “espressin her views abouts heppin’ the Coloreds escape they chains,”— then the two GOP House Negroes, who’d been hired by DNC Chair Howard Dean to help cater the event, shuffed off into the Harlem church kitchen to fetch some pitchers of ice tea and lemonade for Senator Clinton “and her might thirsty aides what’s been a-sweatin’ to hep us overcome!”

(h/t Link Mecca and Terry Hastings)

****

¹ in particular, p. 39 and beyond

57 Replies to “Identity politics are great and all, just so long as they, y’know, don’t get too uppity”

  1. me says:

    AAAAAAAAAAMENNN Brother!!!!

  2. Jim in Chicago says:

    abouts heppin’ the Coloreds escape they chains

    Wouldn’t it be “dey chains”

    (Just tryin to help.)

  3. Lost Dog says:

    If I had legs like Hillary, I’d be pissed at the world, too. I’m not quite sure whether her legs are inherited frome Lenin or Stalin. Either way, it’s got to be a source of angst (as a Conservative, am I allowed to use thew word “angst”?).

  4. actus says:

    “We have a culture of corruption, we have cronyism, we have incompetence,” she said. “I predict to you that this administration will go down in history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country.”

    Was she talking about the medicare mess?

  5. The_Real_JeffS says:

    I think she’s describing the Democratic party in general, actus; Hillary probably said “elected leadership”, and someone transcribed that as “administration”.  Although I can add a number of Republicans to the list as well.

  6. Goy Girl says:

    What a complimentary side dish with the Huck Finn I am reading for my American Lit class.

    Mmmm. Tasty.

  7. smantix says:

    This must be that “moderate” Hillary that I keep hearing so much about.

    Lawdy knows how this Administration failed those poor Harlem residents who were victims of Hurricane Katrina.

    While she may cherry-pick, or cotton-pick her crowds as the case may be, what doesn’t come across in a news story that is painfully obvious when watching her is her tortured attempts to be empathetic towards the black community. Her politically expedient husband has it.  She doesn’t.

    She’s the next Howard Dean.  No one should destroy her before the Dems actually nominate her and they will because she has the money.

  8. snuffie says:

    Who dat say ‘Who dat?’.

    Is you where you is, or is you ain’t?

    Snuffie

    TW: front, as in the front of the bus.

  9. Boner of Zion says:

    If you looked closely, you could almost see the sprit of King there on that stage today, peepin’ Hillary’s ass.

    Because 1) it is noice, and 2) thanks to all those Kennedy administration hotel bugs, we know exactly what MLK was into.

    A man’s man. Salut.

  10. actus says:

    I think she’s describing the Democratic party in general, actus; Hillary probably said “elected leadership”, and someone transcribed that as “administration”.

    What kind of an idiot would engage in corruption with the congressional democrats? They don’t have any power.

  11. leelu says:

    “I predict to you that this administration will go down in history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country.”

    The lady doth protest too much.

  12. I think it’s wishful thinking, leelu.

  13. Sortelli says:

    “I predict to you that this administration will go down in history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country.”

    UNLESS you let Mrs. Clinton show you how it’s done!

  14. Merovign says:

    If that lady was any more full of shit, she’d have a bowel rupture.

    If she was any more of a race-hustler, she’d be Jesse Jackson.

    If she was any more pathetic, I might actually feel sorry for her.

    Gadzooks, what a maroon!

    TW: I hope this post doesn’t get me Vince Fostered.

  15. richard mcenroe says:

    Lost dog — No, you have to be a race-baiting progressive to use “angst”, as in “angst s’posed to be usin’ thet water cooler, are ya, bo’?”

    Actus —You’ll have to ask Abramoff that, since he bankrolled 40 of the 45 Dem senators and a whole bunch of Dem congressdrones starting with Mark Kennedy (D.-Mass.)who’re now refusing to give the money back…

  16. actus says:

    Actus —You’ll have to ask Abramoff that, since he bankrolled 40 of the 45 Dem senators and a whole bunch of Dem congressdrones starting with Mark Kennedy (D.-Mass.)who’re now refusing to give the money back…

    Abramoff or his clients?

  17. The_Real_JeffS says:

    actus—his Democratic clients are resisting returning the money.  You know, who are in the same party as Hillary? 

    You can stop being obtuse any time now….we all know it’s an act.

  18. Carl W. Goss says:

    Yes, but we welfare-state liberals think Mrs Clinton definitely kicks ass. 

    Kicks GOP ass so well, that she’ll be the next president.

    The GOP sputters away, wondering how they’re going to retain their majority in the House.

    Love it.

  19. Jeff Goldstein says:

    Telling, Carl.  You love “teams” and “winning,” but can care less about 40 years of failed Great Society policies.

    One day it’s going to dawn on you that you are Sean Hannity in Birkenstocks.

    Sad, really.

  20. topsecretk9 says:

    If I had legs like Hillary, I’d be pissed at the world, too.

    No doubt brother. But seriously, gender/racial politics are just relics for the groups that subscribe to them want/rely on because they work in a “don’t let the party stop” sort of way.

    The dude next door to me has no interest in coming to my “india night” dinner party, he does have full access to my wheel barrow and various other garden utensils and he watches my living security back as I do he.

    When his car battery is dead, I pull out my cables. When those don’t work I give him a ride to work. These are the things neighbors do regardless of color, race and gender and beyond, I am not sure how else to interact with a person I am fond of but have nothing else in common with.

    He drinks forties and talks to friend on his driveway, I drink martinis and wine and I don’t talk to my friends on my driveway….he is a nice person, so am I . He needs a hammer? I got it. No different than the other neighbor who is a white snobby city college professor who I have no interest in socializing with, but if he needs a hammer too? My doors open.

    Dems (and radicals, sheesh!) want to ignore this reality because it is so vote worthy. Blacks aren’t ready to give it up because they know dumb-ass dems will pander:therefore a brilliant capitalist type scheme and the media slurps up this make believe strife like a really thirsty dog.

  21. Rich in Martigues says:

    topsecretk9,

    You have it there.  Is it me or is it that the dems are the pary who continue to see people by the color of their skin?  Such a thing to say on MLK day.

  22. nikkolai says:

    So, the Barrett Report is to be released in it’s entirety, then?

  23. alppuccino says:

    MLK Day speeches boiled down:

    George Bush:  Great progress, more work to be done.

    Hillary:  You people aren’t free, Bush sucks.

    Snappy.

  24. “We have a culture of corruption, we have cronyism, we have incompetence,” she said. “I predict to you that this administration will go down in history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country.”

    Nice to see she’s finally got some perspective on her husband’s administration.

  25. rls says:

    In honor of Madam Hillary’s celebrity Kentucky Fried Chicken starts today with a Hillary Clinton Chicken Dinner Special for $2.99.

    Two small breasts, two large thighs and one left wing.  Your choice of two sides.

  26. G. Bob says:

    She sure is articulate for a white woman.

  27. Jamie says:

    I’mn surprised to see no references to Nagin’s Robertsonesque “watch me go insane” speech here yet.

    Funny thing is, a friend of mine was telling me just last week about an embarrassing incident in her home: the cable guy was at her house, and her three-year-old son, a product of the Philly Main Line and (as will become obvious) sadly ill-prepared so far for life in a multiracial America, gasped a huge gasp upon seeing the guy and declared, “You’re chocolate!” My friend spent about ten minutes beating herself up for not exposing her child to more ethnic diversity, committed to beginning that campaign immediately… and now we have Nagin saying exactly the same thing. Go figure…

    TW: Public discourse has reached a new level of irony this week.

  28. actus says:

    “actus—his Democratic clients are resisting returning the money.  You know, who are in the same party as Hillary? “

    Abramoff’s clients aren’t recipients, but donors. Abramoff did not give to dems. His clients did though.

  29. rls says:

    Abramoff’s clients aren’t recipients, but donors. Abramoff did not give to dems. His clients did though.

    As they (his clients) did to the Republicans, who for the most part, have either returned the funds or donated them to charity.

  30. actus says:

    As they (his clients) did to the Republicans, who for the most part, have either returned the funds or donated them to charity.

    I agree that if the money was improper it should be given up.

  31. A fine scotch says:

    I have an honest question:

    Why do liberals get really pissy about the separation of church and state (or call GWB a fundy for going to church) but have no problem with Democrats giving political speeches from church?

    What am I missing here?

  32. runninrebel says:

    the HYPOCRACY!!!11!!!

  33. Matt, Esq. says:

    Its hard for me to accept the black community’s response to the democratic party.  Republicans lead the way in promoting minorities to prominent positions in government.  How can a black man or woman look at Colin Powell or Condi Rice or Clarence Thomas and not say “I can be that- I want to be that”.  On the flip side, side with the democrats and become Jessee Jackson or Al Sharpton, who will NEVER NEVER NEVER be taken seriously in any position of actual authority.

    Condi Rice, Powell, Thomas show that education and hard work works.  They are inspiration for not just blacks but whites as well.  Please identify one democrat who constitutes a role model for both republicans and democrats, especially minorities.  Bill Clinton ?  AL Sharpton ?  Don’t make me laugh.

  34. Drumwaster says:

    Yes, but we welfare-state liberals think Mrs Clinton definitely kicks ass

    Any government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.

    I think we just met Paul.

    Abramoff did not give to dems. His clients did though.

    No, Abramoff’s clients gave him the money, whereupon, he turned right around and found the politicians who looked to be the most receptive to a “donation”. Including 40 of the 45 Senators in the Democratic Caucus.

    Adding a middleman changes it from bribery to lobbying, but the ones who took the money are the ones who should be going to jail.

    Including 40 of the 45 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Including Harry Reid, who is refusing to return any money. (Hillary gave hers Abramoff-donated money to a charity. After the scandal broke, of course, so she could carp about the “culture of corruption”.)

    I agree that if the money was improper it should be given up.

    With the obvious correlary that in the case of the Dems who took that money with both hands, it was entirely proper, and for those corrupt Rethuglicants, none of it was.Is that about right?

    When is Harry Reid giving his money up again?

    tw: that wasn’t a tax refund, pal…

  35. actus says:

    No, Abramoff’s clients gave him the money, whereupon, he turned right around and found the politicians who looked to be the most receptive to a “donation”. Including 40 of the 45 Senators in the Democratic Caucus.

    Then those would be listed as abramoff donations. But abramoff has no donations listed to Dems. What there does exist is abramoff clients, both at abramoffs direction and of their own will, giving to dems.

    But I though the problem wasn’t that people got money, its that it was laundered via abramoff-friendly outfits. In that case the problem wouldn’t be direct donations from the clients.

    With the obvious correlary that in the case of the Dems who took that money with both hands, it was entirely proper, and for those corrupt Rethuglicants, none of it was.Is that about right?

    I have no idea. I do suspect, however, that if Abramoff, GOP-party boy, was going to do something illegal, he would do it with someone he could trust. And would that be democrats or the GOP?

  36. jpok says:

    I was just thinking I can stand Hillary a lot more than Gore and Kerry.  Hmm, guess not.  The only thing that’ll get me to vote for a Republican in ‘08 is sufficiently retarded words out of the Dem candidate’s mouth.  Way to go, Hillary!

    TW: What the hell is hes, anyway?

  37. B Moe says:

    I have no idea. I do suspect, however, that if Abramoff, GOP-party boy, was going to do something illegal, he would do it with someone he could trust. And would that be democrats or the GOP?

    Someone he could trust?  In Washington?  Please actus you are going to hurt someone.

  38. Nan says:

    If I’m reading actus correctly, Abramoff gave bad bad money collected in bad bad ways to bad bad Republicans, and gave only righteous cash to Democrats, for instance 40 of 45 Democratic Senators who are good GOOD people.  Yes? 

    So pay no attention to all those Dems behind the green curtain, Dorothy.

  39. PW says:

    STOP HITLARY!!1!

  40. Doug F says:

    We have a culture of corruption, we have cronyism

    Said the lady who fired the White House Travel Office so she could hire the producer of Designing Women.

  41. You can stop being obtuse any time now….we all know it’s an act.

    Well, hell.  Make that “most of us”, because I thought he was really that obtuse.

  42. The_Real_JeffS says:

    Good point, Charlie.  I shouldn’t have given actus the benefit of the doubt, given his continued obstuse posts on this thread.

    Must be nice going through life without clue, eh, actus?  No worries, no problems.  Everything is a song!

  43. B Moe says:

    Let us have a little exercise in logic for actus:

    bribe:

    1.  Something, such as money or a favor, offered or given to a person in a position of trust to influence that person’s views or conduct.

    2. Something serving to influence or persuade.

    Now why would a kool-aid drinking neo-thug like Abramoff need to influence or persuade other kool-aid drinking neo-thugs?  They would already be goose-stepping right along beside him, wouldn’t they?  The only people he would need to bribe to get them to drink up would be the pure and virtuous, the d’Emocrats. These are the people actually guilty of accepting bribes.  So why aren’t the d’Emocrats more upset about their fellows that succumbed to the Dark Side and Darth Abramoff?

  44. actus says:

    Now why would a kool-aid drinking neo-thug like Abramoff need to influence or persuade other kool-aid drinking neo-thugs?

    I don’t know. He was giving money to CATO Institute columnists. Ask him.

  45. B Moe says:

    I don’t know. He was giving money to CATO Institute columnists. Ask him.

    Don’t try to duck it, you give contributions to people you agree with, you bribe people you disagree with.  Why aren’t you upset at Democrats taking bribes?

  46. actus says:

    Don’t try to duck it, you give contributions to people you agree with, you bribe people you disagree with.

    And who agrees with indian tribes gambling? rightious christian republicans? or minority loving heathen democrats?

  47. And who agrees with indian tribes gambling? rightious christian republicans? or minority loving heathen democrats?

    depends, is it in their district?

  48. B Moe says:

    This is the first instance I found:

    U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

    Between 2001 and 2004 Sen. Harry Reid received $61,000 from donors with links to Abramoff, Reid’s office confirmed, and has decided not to return any donations. Reid sent a letter they wrote on March 5, 2002, to Interior Secretary Gale Norton asking her to reject an application from the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, which was seeking to open a casino outside its Louisiana reservation.

    (found here) There are most likely more if I look harder.  Also remember Abramoff was playing both sides in this, he was recruiting players both for and against tribal casinoes.  Abramoff is a scam artist who happens to be a Republican, he has victims and cohorts on both sides of the aisle.

  49. actus says:

    Don’t try to duck it, you give contributions to people you agree with, you bribe people you disagree with.

    And who do you launder money for? Your friends or your enemies?

    Reid sent a letter they wrote on March 5, 2002, to Interior Secretary Gale Norton asking her to reject an application from the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, which was seeking to open a casino outside its Louisiana reservation.

    Imagine that. The senator from Nevada opposes gambling somewhere else. Where does this fall under your bribe/contribution dichotomy?

  50. B Moe says:

    And who agrees with indian tribes gambling? rightious christian republicans? or minority loving heathen democrats?

    Where does it fall under this scenario?  Fuck it, keep chasing your tail.  I give up.

  51. actus says:

    Where does it fall under this scenario?  Fuck it, keep chasing your tail.  I give up.

    Why do I need the scenario? I’m not the one making the dichotomy.

  52. richard mcenroe says:

    “I predict to you that this administration will go down in history as one of the worst that has ever governed our country.”

    UNLESS you let Mrs. Clinton show you how it’s done!

    Sortelli — Wasn’t it Colonel Anthony Herbert who said of Day Laborer in Chief Carter that “Jimmy Carter would rather be the last President of the United States that a former President…”

    Hillary may have married the wrong limp-dicked cracker…

  53. bill arnold says:

    Google for “democratic plantation” and then say with a straight face that conservatives have the moral high ground here. Also, note that “Her remarks were met with thunderous applause by a mostly black audience at the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in Harlem.”

  54. Jeff Goldstein says:

    You forgot to site an online poll or Think Progress, Bill.

    Back to agitprop school for you, little camper!

  55. Bill Arnold says:

    Jeff, ok true, the google search string came from Atrios (actually second hand, I generally don’t read atrios, and have never cited stupid on-line polls or Think Progress.) Hillary does not own this language by any stretch though; for instance, from the first page of google hits,

    “Alicia Colon has a great article in The New York Sun contrasting Rep. Charles Rangel with Herman Cain, two influential African American leaders, one still lives on the “Democratic plantation,” and works every day to keep others enslaved there, while the other has risen to become a star in the conservative movement and tirelessly works to free people from the chains of the Democratic plantation. A great read.

    Publication:The New York Sun;

    Date:Sep 30, 2005;

    Section:New York;

    Page:2

  56. MayBee says:

    And Alicia Colon is who…?

    We are comparing her words to the words of a US Senator, former first lady and future presidential candidate because….?

    You know what else, Bill Arnold?  There is a city in Florida named Plantation. It’s like Jeb Bush actually runs a plantation.

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