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.
Dr. Watkins, while I agree with you pretty much of the time, this time you are wrong. The congressman's words are what they are. He is only speaking what he believes in his heart. I think its racist to his core and this is nothing new in how he believes. Democrat or Republican it really doesn't make a difference!
The term "minority" is grossly overused, and is a copout. When counted on a global scale, blacks are a glaring majority. To continue to use this term for sympathy is crazy. Celebrate your majority status, and refrain from treating the new minorities the way they terated us! Dr Boyce, quit buying into that "Racism" crap!
I believe the Congressman is trying to tear down the labels. The GOP (Generally Oppressing People) have put labels on everything to scare the "god fearing white folk". ""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."" He clearly states "these are people", "good American people" everything else is superfluous.
The only thing that I read into this story is that you as a writer had a slow day and decided to nitpik at something that was stated in a conversation pertaining to foreclosures. The statement was made for those who need the help whether, black, white, hispanic or whatever. As blacks we must stop to really look and listen then to think about what is deemed a story, deemed racist or deemed NOT A STORY as this one was.
My interpretation, not that anyone cares, is that the congressman is attempting to assauge the elected officals and the electorate that the free government monies aren't going to those groups of persons which the white media tends to focus, propagate (actually misinform) on being the usual recipients of government handouts.
This group of usual publicized handout recipients would include blacks and hispanics (minorities to be sure in this country, however, not asians, of course), or defective (I guess mentally challenged?). I don't know what defective means.
I believe the statement has more to do with dispelling white folks fears that the money, aka wealth transfer, is being used to assist persons who look like them, period; and the monies aren't being used to assist persons who don't look like them, or who aren't carrying their weight in terms of being "good hardworking, taxpaying citizens."
We all know, or should know, that the general long term belief (read: propagandized belief) of all minorities by white folks in this country is that all minorities are shiftless, lazy, incompetent, persons who cannot be trusted or relied upon, and who are reliant on drugs and alcohol.
Just think of the American Indians, Mexicans, Blacks/Africans as being the impetus for the illegalization of most drugs (read and view the history on the legalization of drugs).
This misinformation is put out there to marginalize minorities. There are a cadre of white folks who firmly believe that it is their right and duty to run this country, because their forefathers, "created" this country, and that they (white folks) should be the only ones running the country. This is not hyperbole; this 411 is factual based on written and verbal statements, which are verifiable.
Again, to leave on a more positive note:
Persons of color, shouldn't get too involved in white folks misstatements, since in the back of our minds (as well as in the front of our minds as well), know that we are in only a short moment of history, things shall pass, and the future luminates brightly, for those who want to see the light!
It's good to call persons on their mistakes, but don't harp on them. I've never seen or heard of anyone who got anywhere by stepping backwards....except maybe stepping out of the way of a bullet, or something.....
I remember when I was working there was a huge belief that beacuse of affirmative action, only blacks and women were getting appointed to firefighters positions. This turned out to be a smoke screen. I would take pictures of each graduating class of 32 students and always 2 would be of a minority group and the rest (30) were white males. Even when presented with the facts by showing each class photo for several years, their were some who refused to admit they were wrong. Similar to this. Cast this as a means for minorities to receive help all the while I would hazard to guess since I don't have these numbers but I'd bet the house that there are alot of "other" folks taking advantage of this. Smokescreens... works almost every time.
So AOL, Why do you always try to censor my posts, especially when it relates to religious and race relations? This is supposed to be a black site right? Well. I am a black man, so leave my posts alone.
Wait a minute?? WHAT??!!! Oh , I see... "this is a BLACK site" Well... isn't that a racist comment if I ever heard one?? Let's see... the "Negro College Fund" etc, etc But God forbid someone should ever start a "WHITE SITE" why.. that would make them ... "a RACIST"??!! and the world would be up in arms and prosecute them!! Makes me sick.. and so sick of all of it!!!
I am so sick of hearing ethnic people whining about racisim!! They use racism to every advantage, and the way it suits them the best!! To hear the complaining of certain ethnic groups who are more eligible and get way more assistance than others is getting so old!!! Enough is enough!!! Drop the racism card! This guy is simply telling it like it is!!! And I hear more racist comments from African & Hispanic/Latino Americans than from anyone else, but I guess it;s ok coming from them, right?
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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. 
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By: Wyllyemozelle on 6/27/2010 8:43PM
Dr. Watkins, while I agree with you pretty much of the time, this time you are wrong. The congressman's words are what they are. He is only speaking what he believes in his heart. I think its racist to his core and this is nothing new in how he believes. Democrat or Republican it really doesn't make a difference!
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By: Eldon Pittman on 6/28/2010 3:03PM
The term "minority" is grossly overused, and is a copout. When counted on a global scale, blacks are a glaring majority. To continue to use this term for sympathy is crazy. Celebrate your majority status, and refrain from treating the new minorities the way they terated us! Dr Boyce, quit buying into that "Racism" crap!
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By: Marlon Lowe on 7/10/2010 8:01PM
I believe the Congressman is trying to tear down the labels. The GOP (Generally Oppressing People) have put labels on everything to scare the "god fearing white folk". ""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."" He clearly states "these are people", "good American people" everything else is superfluous.
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By: angeandre4 on 7/01/2010 4:03PM
The only thing that I read into this story is that you as a writer had a slow day and decided to nitpik at something that was stated in a conversation pertaining to foreclosures. The statement was made for those who need the help whether, black, white, hispanic or whatever.
As blacks we must stop to really look and listen then to think about what is deemed a story, deemed racist or deemed NOT A STORY as this one was.
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By: ThePlayer on 7/01/2010 1:36PM
My interpretation, not that anyone cares, is that the congressman is attempting to assauge the elected officals and the electorate that the free government monies aren't going to those groups of persons which the white media tends to focus, propagate (actually misinform) on being the usual recipients of government handouts.
This group of usual publicized handout recipients would include blacks and hispanics (minorities to be sure in this country, however, not asians, of course), or defective (I guess mentally challenged?). I don't know what defective means.
I believe the statement has more to do with dispelling white folks fears that the money, aka wealth transfer, is being used to assist persons who look like them, period; and the monies aren't being used to assist persons who don't look like them, or who aren't carrying their weight in terms of being "good hardworking, taxpaying citizens."
We all know, or should know, that the general long term belief (read: propagandized belief) of all minorities by white folks in this country is that all minorities are shiftless, lazy, incompetent, persons who cannot be trusted or relied upon, and who are reliant on drugs and alcohol.
Just think of the American Indians, Mexicans, Blacks/Africans as being the impetus for the illegalization of most drugs (read and view the history on the legalization of drugs).
This misinformation is put out there to marginalize minorities. There are a cadre of white folks who firmly believe that it is their right and duty to run this country, because their forefathers, "created" this country, and that they (white folks) should be the only ones running the country. This is not hyperbole; this 411 is factual based on written and verbal statements, which are verifiable.
Again, to leave on a more positive note:
Persons of color, shouldn't get too involved in white folks misstatements, since in the back of our minds (as well as in the front of our minds as well), know that we are in only a short moment of history, things shall pass, and the future luminates brightly, for those who want to see the light!
It's good to call persons on their mistakes, but don't harp on them. I've never seen or heard of anyone who got anywhere by stepping backwards....except maybe stepping out of the way of a bullet, or something.....
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By: Ismail on 7/02/2010 2:00AM
I remember when I was working there was a huge belief that beacuse of affirmative action, only blacks and women were getting appointed to firefighters positions. This turned out to be a smoke screen. I would take pictures of each graduating class of 32 students and always 2 would be of a minority group and the rest (30) were white males.
Even when presented with the facts by showing each class photo for several years, their were some who refused to admit they were wrong. Similar to this. Cast this as a means for minorities to receive help all the while I would hazard to guess since I don't have these numbers but I'd bet the house that there are alot of "other" folks taking advantage of this. Smokescreens... works almost every time.
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By: sharon on 7/04/2010 9:52PM
half dead will fall
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By: de mushdoctor on 7/13/2010 1:28PM
So AOL, Why do you always try to censor my posts, especially when it relates to religious and race relations? This is supposed to be a black site right? Well. I am a black man, so leave my posts alone.
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By: sickofitall on 7/31/2010 5:25PM
Wait a minute?? WHAT??!!!
Oh , I see... "this is a BLACK site"
Well... isn't that a racist comment if I ever heard one??
Let's see... the "Negro College Fund" etc, etc
But God forbid someone should ever start a "WHITE SITE" why.. that would make them ... "a RACIST"??!!
and the world would be up in arms and prosecute them!!
Makes me sick.. and so sick of all of it!!!
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By: sickofitall on 7/31/2010 5:20PM
I am so sick of hearing ethnic people whining about racisim!! They use racism to every advantage, and the way it suits them the best!!
To hear the complaining of certain ethnic groups who are more eligible and get way more assistance than others is getting so old!!!
Enough is enough!!! Drop the racism card!
This guy is simply telling it like it is!!!
And I hear more racist comments from African & Hispanic/Latino Americans than from anyone else, but I guess it;s ok coming from them, right?
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