Democratic Congressman Paul Kanjorski is getting heat from Republicans for making comments that sound like he doesn't respect black people. In his testimony to help those in foreclosure during a joint House-Senate conference committee session, he made the following statement:
"The reason I ... have fought for this program isn't because we're trying to give relief to people that aren't responsible, that don't know what the hell they're doing, or don't care what they're doing. We're giving relief to people that I deal with in my office every day now, unfortunately. But because of the longevity of this recession, these are people -- and they're not minorities and they're not defective and they're not all the things you'd like to insinuate that these programs are about -- these are average, good American people."
I am having a difficult time trying to interpret Kanjorski's language here. I don't think that he's trying to be racist, so I don't expect him to apologize. All the while, it is certainly not out of the question for a Democrat to be racist. Many Democrats, including men as powerful as Vice President Joe Biden, have made comments that were incredibly insulting to minorities. Kanjorski must be careful and avoid lumping minorities into the mix of psychologically dysfunctional, irresponsible people. That would be wrong, and I presume that's not what he's saying.
My interpretation of Kanjorski's remarks, as well as the Republican response to his statement, is the following:
The Republican Party embraces so many policies that are detrimental to minorities that it is always attempting to grab any and every opportunity to imply that Democrats are just as bad. The GOP somehow believes that by catching a Democrat saying something racist, it will be excused for its own racism. Sorry, my friends, it just doesn't work that way. If you want to get the black vote, you aren't going to do it by proving that Democrats are just as bad as you are. You've actually got to prove that you're clearly the better alternative.
In terms of Kanjorski's comment, I interpret his statement to be one targeted at those who are against banking regulation and tend to oppose Democratic policies. He's implying that these initiatives are not based on some kind of set-aside issue, or that the people being affected are simply special interest groups and minorities. He seems to be attempting to argue that the recession is affecting everyone, even people like himself. The add-on of "good American people" toward the end may not imply that Kanjorski believes that minorities can't be "good American people." His assertion includes the second group to which he is referring but doesn't explicitly exclude the first group (black people).
Long story short: This situation makes the Republicans look even more ridiculous than they already are. They need to move on to something else. Kanjorski may need to clarify and, in general, avoid making such convoluted statements.
16-June-10 - I know I'm supposed to be all outraged about the Seattle cop punching the teen in her face because I'm black and stuff like that, HOWEVER, I don't know whether it's because I'm a jaded '80s baby tired of young people's lack of respect for authority or I'm just insensitive, but I think the girls in this video absolutely deserve what they got.
16-June-10 - I know I'm supposed to be all outraged about the Seattle cop punching the teen in her face because I'm black and stuff like that, HOWEVER, I don't know whether it's because I'm a jaded '80s baby tired of young people's lack of respect for authority or I'm just insensitive, but I think the girls in this video absolutely deserve what they got.
15-June-10 - Jarretta Hamilton is angry and unemployed. The 39-year-old teacher was fired last April because she had sex before marriage and wound up pregnant. Now she has broken her silence and has gone public.
12-June-10 - I am not quite sure what to make of the ruffled YouTube video that is now scouring the web out of Paterson, New Jersey, where an officer inexplicably grabs a man, turns him around and puts pepper spray in to his eyes twice.
11-June-10 - Indianapolis Police Chief Paul Ciesielski called for the firing of a white officer who's been charged with repeatedly striking a 15-year-old biracial boy in the face during an arrest. The attacks allegedly occurred after the boy had been subdued by other officers.
09-June-10 - Gary Coleman's ex-wife, Shannon Price, is up to her post-hubby's-death antics again. As if masterminding the sale of Coleman's pre- and- post-death photos wasn't enough, now the merry widow has managed to get in to Coleman's home and take practically everything that wasn't bolted down! Click Here for the Complete Story
09-June-10 - Todd Bridges, who co-starred with Gary Coleman on the popular sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes,"is livid about both Globe Magazine's and Shannon Price's involvement in Coleman's death photos.
08-June-10 - Desiree Rogers, the former White House social secretary who "left" to seek greener pastures after a major security faux paux occurred under her watch, was recently hired by Johnson Publishing Co., the owners of Jet and Ebony magazines, as a consultant.
07-June-10 - A Seattle writer is angry beyond words, because late last month his 8-year-old child was removed from her honors elementary school class. No, the child did not misbehave. Instead, the little girl was guilty of using a hair moisturizer that allegedly annoyed her Caucasian teacher.
04-June-10 - Alejandra, Jermaine Jackson's ex-wife, is taking her ex-mother-in-law, Katherine, to court to demand financial security for herself and her children.
Are we really so surprised here? I am a conservative liberal (lol confusing) but even I know that republicans are so out of control. Their reasoning has taken a back seat and they are isolating minorities at all cost. Republicans are angry and really need to re-evaluate their strategy because right now clear thinking Americans can't follow their dumb logic! Back off the President, End these wars, and please tell Palin to sit down!
what the hell are you talking about baby198? this was one of your own talking about minorities.if a democrat drags you thru the mud i see it`s o.k.as long as it`s not a republican.unbelieveable??
So basically you're saying that people get a pass for bigoted statements if you approve of how they vote. The idea that Republican policies are inherently racist is laughable. In fact, I'd argue that Big Government welfare programs of the Democrats did great harm to a lot of Black folks. That's why nobody in the inner city seems to have a father in the house. Of course that's some rich Republican's fault too in your view....
All last week, and this one, Democrats have tried to tie the entire Republican membership in Congress with the remarks of Rep. Joe Barton which were covered extensively in the media and on last Sunday morning's "Circle Jerks" (talk shows). Donna Brazille and many other Democrat Party mouthpieces used Barton's remarks as implicitly representing the overall view of the entire Republican Party: "They are insensitive to the people suffering in the Gulf (and the rest of America) and they are only sympathetic to these 'evil' and 'oppressive' companies." Oh...they milked those comments for all they're worth!
Be careful how you play the "guilt by association" game...it might just come back to bite you in the @ss!
Now: Exhibit A: Democrat Rep. Paul Kanjorski. Is he speaking what the rest of the Democrat Party really feels about us black people?
Answer: A resounding Yes! This condescension towards blacks, illegal Mexicans, and every other minority population in this country is what fuels the Democrtat Party base. To them, homosexuals are no more deviant than black people. That's why they feel they must champion our pathetic cause...because we are 'defective' and don't have the capacity to live decent lives without their fraternizing condescending 'social' programs. That's why, as long as liberals are making policy, we will ever remain 2nd class citizens in this country.
I wonder what the 'black leaders' of the congressional black caucus will have to say about this racist comment coming from an esteemed high-ranking member of their own Party? Probably the same thing they did when Harry Reid made his remarks about Barack Obama's not being like the "rest of the Negroes." Probably the same nothing they have had to say about Joe Biden's remarks about Obama being the "first clean, articulate black man."
I have been trumpeting this for many years: The Democrat Party is the originator and sustainer of Racism in America! Yet, for no intelligent reason, my fellow black Americans fail to see it. They think being fed by Democrats on the plantation they have kept them on, is helping them.
I doubt, however, the Sunday morning "Circle Jerks" will have any interest in putting that saddle on the back of the jack@ss Party, though, like they did Barton's remarks to Republicans. As usual, so-called "intelligent, educated" blacks like yourself, Dr. Boyce, are the first ones to offer an excuse for Democrat Party racist condescension. Had this been a Republican, however, I'm sure you'd be singing a different tune. Don't worry. We're used to the double-standard.
This sounds like the skillet calling the kettle black. unless and until we can get over being a red and blue America, and become Americans, America will always have problems.
I believe that we its impossibe to hang on every word that comes out of a person mouth. But their actions speak for them selves.
Boyce you never seem to disapoint! I guess in the college that you went did not teach you how to read. you'd like to insinuate that these programs are about. Those are the kew words Doctor. These people should just not use the word minority because each time they do cockroaches like you run from the cupboards to find a racist angle.
1. We're giving relief to people that I deal with in my office every day now unfortunately.
2. But because of the longevity of this recession, these are people - and they're not minorities
3. and they're not defective and they're not all the things you'd like to insinuate that these programs are about - these are average, good American people."
JL: Perhaps the comments aren't, but he should have taken more care with the wording.
What is Kanjorski's record on voting for other legislation, particularly civil rights legislation?!
That would help provide some "speculatory clues," but not help definitively in evaluating his current comments.....because there have been plenty of people who supported civil rights legislation and later "stuck their foot in their mouth" with a boneheaded statement.
This is the best the republicans can come up with? He was saying that the republicans like to say that unemployment goes to minorities as they like to say about welfare etc. This is a non story.
Lamar Talks Molly: 'Sometimes You Have The Trends That's…
Kanye West's Project Blocked By Police
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book 'Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (90)
Add a comment
By: Babyl98 on 6/25/2010 9:20AM
Are we really so surprised here? I am a conservative liberal (lol confusing) but even I know that republicans are so out of control. Their reasoning has taken a back seat and they are isolating minorities at all cost. Republicans are angry and really need to re-evaluate their strategy because right now clear thinking Americans can't follow their dumb logic! Back off the President, End these wars, and please tell Palin to sit down!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: black conservative on 6/25/2010 12:14PM
what the hell are you talking about baby198? this was one of your own talking about minorities.if a democrat drags you thru the mud i see it`s o.k.as long as it`s not a republican.unbelieveable??
Report This
By: Kim on 6/25/2010 2:23PM
AMEN TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report This
By: Patrick O'Conner on 6/25/2010 1:11PM
So basically you're saying that people get a pass for bigoted statements if you approve of how they vote. The idea that Republican policies are inherently racist is laughable. In fact, I'd argue that Big Government welfare programs of the Democrats did great harm to a lot of Black folks. That's why nobody in the inner city seems to have a father in the house. Of course that's some rich Republican's fault too in your view....
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: OncealwaysaMarine on 6/25/2010 9:58AM
All last week, and this one, Democrats have tried to tie the entire Republican membership in Congress with the remarks of Rep. Joe Barton which were covered extensively in the media and on last Sunday morning's "Circle Jerks" (talk shows). Donna Brazille and many other Democrat Party mouthpieces used Barton's remarks as implicitly representing the overall view of the entire Republican Party: "They are insensitive to the people suffering in the Gulf (and the rest of America) and they are only sympathetic to these 'evil' and 'oppressive' companies." Oh...they milked those comments for all they're worth!
Be careful how you play the "guilt by association" game...it might just come back to bite you in the @ss!
Now: Exhibit A: Democrat Rep. Paul Kanjorski. Is he speaking what the rest of the Democrat Party really feels about us black people?
Answer: A resounding Yes! This condescension towards blacks, illegal Mexicans, and every other minority population in this country is what fuels the Democrtat Party base. To them, homosexuals are no more deviant than black people. That's why they feel they must champion our pathetic cause...because we are 'defective' and don't have the capacity to live decent lives without their fraternizing condescending 'social' programs. That's why, as long as liberals are making policy, we will ever remain 2nd class citizens in this country.
I wonder what the 'black leaders' of the congressional black caucus will have to say about this racist comment coming from an esteemed high-ranking member of their own Party? Probably the same thing they did when Harry Reid made his remarks about Barack Obama's not being like the "rest of the Negroes." Probably the same nothing they have had to say about Joe Biden's remarks about Obama being the "first clean, articulate black man."
I have been trumpeting this for many years: The Democrat Party is the originator and sustainer of Racism in America! Yet, for no intelligent reason, my fellow black Americans fail to see it. They think being fed by Democrats on the plantation they have kept them on, is helping them.
I doubt, however, the Sunday morning "Circle Jerks" will have any interest in putting that saddle on the back of the jack@ss Party, though, like they did Barton's remarks to Republicans. As usual, so-called "intelligent, educated" blacks like yourself, Dr. Boyce, are the first ones to offer an excuse for Democrat Party racist condescension. Had this been a Republican, however, I'm sure you'd be singing a different tune. Don't worry. We're used to the double-standard.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: shanika on 6/25/2010 2:25PM
AMEN!
Report This
By: Barb on 7/03/2010 10:44AM
This sounds like the skillet calling the kettle black. unless and until we can get over being a red and blue America, and become Americans, America will always have problems.
I believe that we its impossibe to hang on every word that comes out of a person mouth. But their actions speak for them selves.
Report This
By: bob on 6/25/2010 10:01AM
Boyce you never seem to disapoint! I guess in the college that you went did not teach you how to read. you'd like to insinuate that these programs are about. Those are the kew words Doctor. These people should just not use the word minority because each time they do cockroaches like you run from the cupboards to find a racist angle.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: John Lindsay on 6/25/2010 10:10AM
1. We're giving relief to people that I deal with in my office every day now unfortunately.
2. But because of the longevity of this recession, these are people - and they're not minorities
3. and they're not defective and they're not all the things you'd like to insinuate that these programs are about - these are average, good American people."
JL: Perhaps the comments aren't, but he should have taken more care with the wording.
What is Kanjorski's record on voting for other legislation, particularly civil rights legislation?!
That would help provide some "speculatory clues," but not help definitively in evaluating his current comments.....because there have been plenty of people who supported civil rights legislation and later "stuck their foot in their mouth" with a boneheaded statement.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Observer on 6/25/2010 10:45AM
This is the best the republicans can come up with? He was saying that the republicans like to say that unemployment goes to minorities as they like to say about welfare etc. This is a non story.
Reply to this Comment | Report This