I suspect the reason why the term ‘racist’ is such an easy term to use nowadays is because it is a word without standard or objective criteria. And since “racist” is such a subjective term, like “hot” or “cool,” one can apply it to anything or anyone, without fear of contradiction, or charges of unfairness, or charges of hypocrisy.
If it were not so, then how could someone on the Left so shamelessly behave as if s/he is an official arbiter of what is racist? Without the obligation of having to define the word, those on the Left obviously feel free to use it in any manner that suits their fancy, and what suits their fancy is to use the word to bludgeon anyone who does not share their progressive, atheistic worldview, all the while absolving their ideological soulmates from it, regardless of what they say or do.
Take for example this comment on Obama’s handling of the BP oil spill: “I thought when we elected a black president, we were going to get a black president. You know, this [BP oil spill] is where I want a real black president. I want him in a meeting with the BP CEOs, you know, where he lifts up his shirt where you can see the gun in his pants. That’s — (in black man voice) we’ve got a ‘motherf***ing problem here?’ Shoot somebody in the foot.” Would you think this person is a racist?
How about if I told you the originator of the quote above once said “I don’t know, it was just, it was just a crappy week for America. The oil spill making a huge mess. And Arizona deporting all the people who mop up.” Is that racist?
What if this same someone was sued by an African-American ex-girlfriend for physical and verbal abuse, including making “degrading racial comments?” By now you would have to conclude that the person I’m referring to is clearly a racist. After all, Rush Limbaugh, who played a song parody called “Barack, the Magic Negro,” based on a column by an African-American writer calling Barack Obama a “magic Negro,” is called a racist. Tea Partiers who protest Obama because of his policies are called racist. Surely anyone depicting our first African-American president as a stereotypical gangsta thug would be called a racist as well.
However, if you are a liberal, you probably won’t, because the person I’m quoting is Bill Maher, who has become somewhat of a spokesperson for progressivism over the years, thanks to his shows on ABC and, now, HBO. In fact, not only can’t Maher be a racist, he — in his role as liberal commentator — gets to determine who is indeed a racist. But that determination is easy, it is simply anyone with an R next to their name on their voter registration card. As Maher said on ABC’s This Week, “I would never say, and I have never said, because it’s not true that Republicans, all Republicans are racists. That would be silly and wrong. But nowadays, if you are racist, you’re probably a Republican.”
In a rational world, Bill Maher would be denounced for what he is — a racist — regardless of how he votes. However, in the world that we have, it is only possible to label a person a racist if someone finds a few copies of The Weekly Standard in a brown paper bag hidden on the top shelf in his or her closet, even if that person is African-American. A white person, however, is by definition a non-racist, even if caught burning a cross on a black family’s lawn, if he or she drives up to that lawn in a car that has the appropriate “Hope and Change” bumper sticker . . .
–DK
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Your Write-up mirrors my initial thoughts and tweets when I saw the video clip. That there is a Racist history to Bill Maher, makes it even worse. Thank you for exposing the facts to Bill Maher. I agree, he will be protected due to his Progressive status.
I believe most people have no idea what racism is. I would define it as “a belief that there are inherent fundamental differences between races.” When I was a teen, a couple of friends and I were discussing our heritage (I don’t recall how the discussion began), but one said he was of English descent. I followed by saying my I was “Heinz 57″… Canadian, Dutch, German, English, and French (those are the nations in which I am aware I have roots), my other friend said he was Mexican… I was confused because he appeared to be embarrassed. I brushed it off as “maybe it was my imagination.” But, now older and less naive, thinking back I realize that he was ashamed of his heritage. I never considered him different from any of my friends, sure his skin was a bit darker than most of my friends, but I thought nothing of it.
On the other hand, my English friend had a girlfriend whom we caught prostituting herself for drugs. I was angry with her for betraying my friend’s loyalty to her, but she immediately called us “racists”?!?! The drug dealer was a black teen. His race had nothing to do with my anger, it was her immorality, indecency, and betrayal. NOW GET THIS… she said, “You’re just a racist! I’m not a racist; in fact, I think blacks are nicer people than whites.” !!!! She believes that she’s not racist, because her racist beliefs are not negative towards blacks!
Bill Maher’s comment definitely sounds racist to me. I virtually never even mention race, but when it does come up, I never typify a person’s character because of his appearance. It appears that Liberals believe (much like my friend’s idiot girlfriend) that they are immune to being labeled racists because they are “supposedly” pro-black… I suppose you could call it that.
Truth be told, I believe that the Liberal Democrats have far more of a racist problem within their party because they are actively and dishonestly using race to create a voting block. Their dishonesty only perpetuates the race problems in America. There’s no doubt that happens in the GOP as well, but not nearly to the same extent. I believe real Conservatives call out for equal rights, religious freedom, and equal opportunities for all Americans, no matter their race. I must add that I stress EQUAL OPPORTUNITY does not mean that there will be equal results. Hard work, work ethics, personal talents, being born into wealth, and just pure luck all play roles in all citizens’ stations.
I have no idea why Bill Maher thinks he’s so much more brilliant than average Americans. It seems has two rectal cavities… the second one on his face spews the same disgusting gases and fecal matter as his first.
Even when a term is well defined Progressives & leftists of all stripes have NO problem using it in inappropriate, or even contradictory, ways. President Obama’s admonition to George Stephanopoulos not to turn to the dictionary to look up a word (tax) demonstrates the level to which leftists will go to control/define terms to serve their own purposes.
According to one dictionary definition of “racism” (“The belief that race accounts for differences in human character”), Maher is a racist. Most leftists apparently believe that the dictionary is a tool of racists though, so not sure if a leftist would accept this assessment.
Maher really is just an overpaid idiot who happens to also be racist (or an overpaid racist who happens to also be an idiot). Lots of them runnin’ around in the media these days. Perhaps we need to coin a new term for leftist racists who make money by leading millions of folks astray with their mind-numbing misuse and abuse of the English language. Anyway, it doesn’t matter…leftists have so indoctrinated the masses in the U.S. that leftist racism is now seen as a mandatory trait for anyone looking to hold influence in the Progressive sphere.
Thank you for a great article. Spot on!
Those burning crosses are smaller in size now that they have to fit in the trunk of a Prius!
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