A NEW “SOUTHERN STRATEGY”
This website has made its views on Lee Atwater abundantly clear: We don’t like him.
The former Republican National Committee chairman and White House strategist was an establishment hack who preyed on people’s fears to put big government liberals in office. Liberals with “R’s” behind their names.
So, the fact Atwater’s widow – Sally Atwater – is running for State Superintendent of Education doesn’t impress us.
Atwater is a former federal educrat who wants four more years of life on the public dole. So she’s picked one of the most superfluous positions in all of state government to run for – and engaged her husband’s old political network to help her lure voters.
So … is Atwater rebuking her husband’s legacy?
Not at all. In fact she’s embracing it.
“He was creative,” Atwater told reporter McKay Coppins of Buzzfeed. “He always could think out of the box.”
Really?
Atwater also reportedly smiled when Coppins asked if negative politics turned her off.
“I’m not gonna go that far,” she told him.
Hmmmm …
Here, in the late Lee Atwater’s own words, was his “Southern Strategy” for electing Republicans nationally beginning n the late 1980s …
You start out in 1954 by saying, “Nigger, nigger, nigger.” By 1968 you can’t say “nigger” — that hurts you, backfires. So you say stuff like, uh, forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff, and you’re getting so abstract. Now, you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is, blacks get hurt worse than whites
“We want to cut this,” is much more abstract than even the busing thing, uh, and a hell of a lot more abstract than “Nigger, nigger.”
What a classy guy, right?
Of course as we’ve noted in the past Atwater’s “Republicans” didn’t cut anything … they grew government by leaps and bounds.
And Atwater didn’t disavow his shameful repression of individual liberty until he was struck down by a terminal brain tumor.
Sally Atwater is establishment trash. A recycled Washington, D.C. bureaucrat from a thoroughly discredited wing of the “Republican” party.
There were no compelling reasons to vote for her to begin with … but her refusal to disavow her late husband’s shame is yet another reason to vote against her.
160 comments
Forced busing, school vouchers…. it’s all the same and she’s a dipshit who stayed married to a dipshit. She shouldn’t even run for outhouse cleaner.
Yeah, forced busing was an overwhelming success…in the minds of Dumb@$$#$…
Not sure what the answer is, but a D*@m sure know, your ignorant liberal don’t have a F*#king clue…
No you don’t have a fucking clue. Never did, never will.
Thanks Pee Wee…Is Cowboy Curtis going to be on the show this weekend…or is it King Cartoon??? (Let the Cartoon begin)… I used to trip on that…LMAO…
I knew you tripped on SOMETHING, man. And life since them has been one big flashback fantasy.
He doesn’t even have clues on where to find the first clue.
I was part of forced busing, and frankly, the hatred that was displayed toward me and my small group of white friends that rode to the other sections of town pretty much set my tone to get away from Leftists and their social experiments for the rest of my life… so yeah SC Blues Woman, snicker, and belittle me as a hater all you want, I learned many years ago on a yellow school bus in Richland County, SC that I neither trust, nor need, your kind.
Don’t even pay attention to trash that got lost on the way to Daily Kos, must be one of those people that Harry Reid said didn’t know how to use the internet. They watched Eyes on the Prize twenty years ago and think they know everything.
Why are you always filled with hate on here? You have brought up several times in different ways that “this is not a progressive site”. So what? South Carolina is not a “progressive state” but I live here. And living here does not mean that I cannot think for myself or have any political leaning that I’d like. Do you own this site because you are not “progressive”? I see (and enjoy) posts from folks of all different political persuasions and apparently from all walks of life in this site.
So was I, sir/mam and no, I neither trust nor need your kind. You are what is wrong with America, along with your sidekick Brigid.
And GT.
Listen you troll, you are the very definition of a troll. You are clearly a progressive and this is not a progressive website, yet you come here every day and insist on commenting on every story, comments that you know full well ahead of time will be disagreed with, vigorously. I don’t go to Bay Area Indymedia or ANSWER Coalition or Occupy and hector every article, arguing with commenters, starting arguments, YOU are that troll. Now you insist on calling out commenters by name, that is a TROLL, so don’t be surprised when someone rips you a new asshole, you are asking for it, we didn’t come in search of you, but you absolutely brought yourself here. If you believed in what you trolling, then you wouldn’t be online on a conservative/libertarian website arguing with people that you know full well are going to call you out. You are not even making any points, nothing to do with policy, just attacking the other people here who wish to have a conversation, to which you contribute nothing.
Look trashy hashy, I’m not blocked from posting here and I have a discus account. You are more stupid than dirt. I’ll bet you are all for the constitution as long as it’s interpreted YOUR way. F**K you and your friendss.
Troll, plain and simple. Heavy on the plain and the simple. Go wherever you wish, but don’t expect to not be called out for trolling.
Why are you still trolling SCBlueWoman?
Don’t feed the trolls, kiddos.
“You are more stupid than dirt.”
Ohhhh…the irony of you putting it that way.
So what you are saying is you want to live in a right wing echo chamber where everybody high-fives your Obama insults and does not tax your brain too much. I guess that is fairly typical of your kind.
Absolutely not, merely pointing out the dynamics of a troll. There is plenty of disagreement on this site–if anyone has ever agreed on anything here–and within the Republican party, more diversity of opinion than the Dems will ever produce. By the way, there’s plenty of liberal media to take in, we are surrounded by it. We know your stupid failed ideas, to the nth degree.
You are clearly a progressive and this is not a progressive website, yet you come here every day and insist on commenting on every story, comments that you know full well ahead of time will be disagreed with, vigorously.
Hello? Yes, 911? I’d like to report an emergency. I was browsing on this website that leans to the right, and a liberal came barging in and had the audacity to use their First Amendment right! Can you believe it!?
*click*
…Hello?
Sorry BrigidBernadette, I tried, I really tried, but looks like they aren’t sending a WAHHHHHbulence.
Smirks, you live on this site, yet I give you credit for taking the time to present counter arguments and it is clear you do your homework, which is not trolling.
No! ME! Call ME a funking troll. You don’t have a hair on your fucking pedantic and stultifying boring ass if you don’t! D double Doggie Style fucking DARE you to call me a troll!!!!!
“The “troll” has a Disqus account and the offend party does not. Pitiful. Stupid bitch doesn’t get the freedom of speech thing at all, or the nature of this site and what keeps people coming back even after Sic cleaned up for Nancy. Comments from people who agree with Sic all the time would be boring. And there would be damned few posts, too, because even among libertarians there are damned few who would support all of his positions. People who lean that way are not sheep like that. Or lemmings.
Buz, I want you to keep coming back. So, Whatever you’re for I’m against.
me! me! call me a troll too! Mememememe!
Ditto here!
Wanted that last from me to post after yours. But clearly she needs to call me a troll, not you. You are far too civil. I desperately need the street cred of being called a troll by a nobody on this site.
There’s only so much to go around.. we’re all fighting for the same few scraps…
Buz, we look up to you as our leader troll.
Actually you obviously do need us, otherwise what else would you do all day. Your need to troll consumes your life.
You sure do love calling everyone you don’t like a troll. Perhaps you are the troll?
Clearly the case.
SOMETHING has to, yes/no?
Actually, I agree w/ FITS about Sally Atwater. She IS the problem, and has not a clue…but not because Lee Atwater had some F*#ked up view about race and voters…
But Lee Atwater’s strength was his ability to castrate his opponent..not his perceptions about politics. FITS will not even admit who his enemies are…and tries to crucify the ones he says he belongs to.
Your pillow is absolutely caked with yellowish drool, isn’t it? And let’s not even discuss you sheets.
“his shameful repression of individual liberty” ?
Lee Atwater is a prime example of karma. Hope that brain cancer was more painful than it sounded. The story of the wrapped bible tells you all you need to know about this piece of shit.
You’re a vile piece of human excrement. Wishing painful brain cancer on anyone, you are disgusting.
I didn’t wish it on him. He brought it on himself.
Hate. Hate. Hate. Always hating.
You are a prime example of why their should be an IQ test required to reproduce if you genuinely believe that Lee Atwater deserved brain cancer. Subhuman trash.
Cockroach level, if you ask me. And I say he sucks cocks in hell. But wishing brain cancer on someone, even retroactively on someone who actually HAD it, is beyond the pale. Many very pale people, for some reason, constantly feel compelled to go beyond it.
Classy or not, he was honest, and his strategy is still the basis of Republican politics today. Its those who embrace his strategy but deny it that bare the shame.
Modern Republicans not only embrace the strategy they have doubled down. Not only do they still discuss the things Atwater identified, they are doing things even Atwater never thought they could get away with. Does anyone in their right mind believe that Voter ID laws have anything to do with the integrity of elections? Does anyone in their right mind believe reducing the time for voting is about saving money? Does anyone in their right mind believe that reducing the number of polling places in low income areas is about saving money? It is about suppressing minority votes and calling it something else. The classic Atwater strategy in modern form. If Republicans could reintroduce poll taxes they would.
I wish Republicans in general could just be as honest as Atwater and return to their 1954 wording.
What a surprise, you see racism everywhere.
What a surprise, another Republican who is just like Atwater
Your response is so profoundly stupid that I can’t answer beyond noticing a cadre of stupid supporters giving you a thumbs up. It is indeed hopeless.
Ok so which of these statement do you believe to be true?
1. Voter ID laws are all about protecting the integrity of elections, they have nothing to do with reducing the number of minorities who vote.
2. Longer voting hours benefit no one. We can reduce those and save money. This has nothing to do with reducing minority voter turn out.
3. There are too many polling places in low income districts. We can reduce those and save money. This has nothing to do with reducing minority voting.
Two guys walk through a predominantly black neighborhood late at night. One is white and the other is black. Who is in more danger?
The one with the Rolex? HAW!!!
(Works in a poor white ‘hood, too, bruh.)
Neither. Everyone will they are cops because of the white guy.
Everyone will think they’re cops because of the white guy.
I’ll trade you voter ID for required IQ tests to vote. No with an IQ under 125 can register.
Who gives a shit about IQ? You can be a rocket scientist and have no clue about politics.
It doesn’t take a high amount of intelligence to understand issues facing the nation, but it does take a lot more effort than a lot of Americans put in.
By the way, an IQ of 125 isn’t far away from being Mensa material.
http://www.us.mensa.org/join/testscores/qualifyingscores/
Since research has shown that liberals tend to have higher intelligence than conservatives, that would be a shoe in for the progressive crowd.
I’ve read the studies on that and it’s only provable by those that identify as very liberal and very conservative. The studies are interesting to read though.
WTF are you talking about? Post a link if you are going to cite “research”.
The precise phrase is “shoo-in”, but that’s OK. I admire your trolling style.
That research was done by a mensa member. I actually had the exciting experience of turning down a national mensa membership, offered twice to me. I wrote them back, the second time, noting that people are detestable who need a membership in a society which breeds on the need to prove oneself, intellectually.
I’m well aware of what the Mensa requirements are, let’s just go with that. I get peeved with idiots that can’t find the Iowa on a map, know who the vice president is, or get all in to the Kardashians latest shenanigans voting exactly how the media tells them to vote. It’s sad. I’d lower it 100, but that’s average and we know how dumb the average person is.
Extra points to you for “the Iowa.”
I still recommend the short story “The Whores of Mensa” by Woody Allen. Anyone who has an IQ of 125 or higher will appreciate it ..(just kidding). Google it and you can read it online.
That is a great story.
Thanks, it shows the peculiarities of human nature. Also, in a way, that’s why I come to this site to share in some opinions, arguments, humor, or down-right cussin’ which some of my friends, family or neighbors wouldn’t understand.
I come here to read what you have to say.. well, you and TontoBG, Euwe, 9″, Shipyard, Smirks, and a few others, “which I cannot now remember..”
Can’t wait to see who posts to say how much they appreciate it . . .
I feel confident you would not be voting under that test.
Would you like to lay some cash down on that feeling? I’ll take the bet if you do. My car needs some work.
Voter ID, are you progs still clinging to that canard? Newsbreak, the NSA is so far up your ass, logging every phone call, every bank transaction, every piece of medical information they can get, and you are still trotting out the very racist idea that there are feral blacks in the delta living in the woods with no ID and no connection to the system. Progs push the ACA, yet argue that blacks are too stupid to get IDs. And certainly don’t need them for anything else in their life, right?
Thank you for helping me prove my point. Republicans always change the subject when its a topic they don’t like. That said if it were the topic of discussion, I would be happy to discuss the NSA domestic spying network set up by the Bush Administration and how to dismantle it.
Even if it is Republicans who argue that Americans have no right to privacy under the Constitution, and who trashed the ACLU when they tried to block what the NSA was doing under Bush.
Can you read for comprehension? You use voting as an example, and my point was directed to that and that only. Don’t pretend it is a different topic, but i guess you have no response.
My response is if you believe that voter ID laws were not designed to suppress minority voting you are not in your right mind. I did not know I needed to say that again.
How does that work? Only minorities don’t have ID’s? Huh?
Even the downtrodden illegal Mexicans get IDs. Many of them take advantage of the right to file income tax returns and receive refunds – even though they are here earning illegally. This privilege afforded by our government.
What is so hard about getting and not losing, carrying and not misplacing, A GODDAMNED IDENTIFICATION CARD? It is no harder than carrying an EBT card.
Voter ID is about one thing – ONE PERSON = ONE VOTE!
I do see how you may think that that is an unfair advantage to the other side if you are carrying your free phone, slashing your food card for booze at the little corner party shop and milking the system in all the other ways but you sound too smart to be part of the problem. From where do you come?????
Look, don’t get all worked up because people with common sense can see your motives. It does not matter why particularly older black citizens, older Hispanics citizens, young minorities who live with their parents, and college students who don’t drive are less likely to have picture IDs. The fact is they are, and getting the ID is another hoop to jump through for them before they can vote. It is an obstacle to voting and in close elections that makes a difference. It becomes even more clear when you pair that with reduced voting hours, fewer polling places in minority districts, and restrictions on registering people to vote. The motives is just obvious, to anyone who is not totally brain dead.
If you are worried about the integrity of elections you would do something about voting machines with no paper print outs. These can be easily hacked. Far more likely that will happen than getting enough people to use fake voter registrations to swing an election.
Voting is a fundamental right. You should put as few impediments to someone exercising that right as possible. Republicans scoured the country and could not find one single election affected by people using fake voter registration cards. These laws will accomplish nothing except their intended goal of reducing minority voter turnout.
It is the same hoop that everyone must jump through. EQUALITY MOTHERFUCKER.
So you and Beaudreux, would not oppose registration of guns? Right.
Well of course they would not, Jack, as long as we made both the black gun owner and the white gun owners register. EQUALITY MF. Registering a gun is no more difficult than getting a drivers license. Even downtrodden illegal Mexicans could do that. What is so hard about getting and not losing, carrying and not misplacing, A GODDAMNED GUN PERMIT? It is no harder than carrying an EBT card.
1)I graduated from college in 1989 and the school gave everyone a picture ID then.
2) if you can get to the precinct you can get to the DMV – hell all your cousins work there anyway. They will let you cut in line too.
3)Your type do not wish to play by the rules of society but you want the benefits of the people who do.
So let me hear it. Your great great great great granddaddy was a slave so you do not have to abide by the rules that everyone else must abide by all these 150 years later.
So I take it you would have no objection to registration of all gun owners?
So you don’t know about how guns are bought, in this state. Odd. You pretend to know all about it.
Actually my great, great, great, great, great granddaddy owned slaves. What is your point?
I am not questioning the ability of people to comply, I am alleging the motive behind requiring people comply with an unnecessary procedure is to suppress voting by minorities. Which only the brain dead would not admit, at least to themselves.
It’s only unnecessary if you’re honest. People who vote 6 times are not in that category. NAACP members had to show a picture ID to attend their Washington “Do.” What a bunch of racists!
Just like the poll tax…. provide free id, and make it easily accessible. That isn’t the case currently. It’s voter suppression, plain and simple.
A South Carolina picture ID is now freely available to anyone 17 years of age or older at any SCDMV branch. There is no longer a charge and I believe many organizations are providing transportation to and from the DMV to get people that don’t have IDs an SC ID card. Just like voter registration drives.
http://www.scdmvonline.com/dmvnew/default.aspx?n=fees
If you are a U.S. citizen, you must visit a SC Department of Motor Vehicles office in person to apply for a SC identification card. You must bring:
A completed Application for a Non-Commercial Credential (Class D, E, F, G, M, or an ID) (Form 447-NC).
WHAT IF YOU CANNOT READ OR WRITE?
Proof of your identity and citizenship (e.g. original birth certificate, U.S. passport, or original Certificate of Naturalization).
SOME CITIZENS HAVE NONE OF THESE. Note it has to be an “original” birth certificate. Not a copy. You may have to pay for one and wait weeks. Especially if you were born in another state. Getting this over the phone is hard, and almost impossible if you do not have a credit card.
Proof of your Social Security number (e.g. Social Security Card, U.S. military photo ID card, or Medicare card).
WHAT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THESE? The law does not require you to get a social security card until you get a job. Why should you need a social security number to vote??
Proof of your SC residence (e.g. recent utility bill, current SC payroll stub, or SC student ID card).
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NONE OF THESE. WHAT IF YOU LIVE WITH YOUR PARENT, OR YOU ARE AN OLDER PERSON WHO LIVES WITH A CHILD? ALSO, REPUBLICANS KNOW THAT MANY MINORITIES WORK FOR CASH AS MAIDS AND YARD WORKERS. I.E. NO PAYROLL STUB.
Documents showing your name change, if applicable (e.g. adoption records, marriage certificate, or court ordered name change).
A LOT OF PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE CANNOT EASILIY LOCATE THESE THINGS.
In addition you must get to the DMV and be prepared for about a 4 to 5 hour wait. No compensation for a lost day of work.
Of course, none of this is relevant to the motive behind Voter ID laws. The bet the GOP is making is that the more difficult you make it for poor people, minorities and students to vote the fewer of them will go to the trouble to do so.
I hope they are wrong. I hope these people see this for what it is and start turning out in record numbers. That would be justice.
If you don’t have a pay stub, then you’re probably not employed so why would you get compensated for a lost day of non-work?
Oh, and while you are here, why don’t you give us the name of an organization that will provide a free ride to the DMV and sit there with someone all day while they wait in the DMV line.
Yes, you just have to go to DMV and have 3 acceptable forms of ID. Easy peasy. Not for everyone.
Voter ID laws are put in place so illegals, the dead, and people wanting to cast more than one ballet can’t vote. It’s not about “racism”, it’s about the integrity of the vote.
We know your IQ is above 125 based on your earlier post (LOL) – perhaps you can look down from your lofty perch and explain the meaning of life to all of us dimwits who have no comprehension. You are so smart! I am in awe of you – can I have your autograph, please???
No, Atwater wasn’t honest. Far from it.
He was honest about Republicans using racism to win elections in the South. Beyond that I can’t say.
It was his idea to use racism. Yes, Republicans use racism to win votes. Atwater was one of the first to say and use racism publicly. His death bed confession was an apology for doing this and other bad things.
Hardly his idea. He just said it out loud.
The only way anyone can make something their idea is to say it aloud . Forgive me but I had little respect for Atwater or any politician.
First to say and use racism publicly – are you insane? How about this little gem of a quote from one of our former governors: “We have done our level best [to prevent blacks from voting] … we have scratched our heads to find out how we could eliminate the last one of them. We stuffed ballot boxes. We shot them. We are not ashamed of it.”
Yeah, Ben “Pitchfork” Tillman, circa 1900. For those of you who support campaign finance reform, Tillman was the author of the original campaign finance reform bill banning corporations from participating in politics – make you wonder doesn’t it?
Does not make me wonder at all. Unlimited political contributions will result in making the speech of the richest the most important. If money is speech, those without money are mute and those with little money must hope their whisper will be heard among the screams. And that is very unlikely.
Money is not speech and corporations are not people!!!
But what about people who contribute nothing to the maintenance of state getting to vote for those who will give them evermore favor?
I assume you are referring to among others big oil and defense contractors. They get way more from the government than they pay in taxes. These people actually profit on the backs of taxpayers, so they pay a net of nothing to maintain the state. In fact they get way more than poor people on food stamps. Yet in your world we should elevate their speech to make their speech more important
Everyone gets one vote. Everyone has the right to speak with his voice. Everyone has the right to write to his representative. Everyone has the right to call his representative. Everyone has the right to go out and try to convince others to think his or her way with his or her voice. That is speech.
I guess if you are rich its ok if you get a handout.
You assume incorrectly. Again.
You’re right I’m Insane. My excuse (even though I don’t need one) is I was born and raised in South Carolina.
So what is your point here? That South Carolina has a history of suppressing minority voting, so it must be ok?? Or that all is fair in politics and it is ok to hurt minorities, poor people and middle income people, so long as you win?
No one doubts that for most of its history South Carolina has been governed by racists. Are you concerned that people will discover SC still is governed by racists? I doubt any minority in this state doesn’t know that, and the rest of the country assumes it.
Hilarious.fitsnews don’t like Atwater?Heck he apparently didn’t like Sanford even though the dude had worked for him- until the polls told the ‘RINO’, Sanford was a lock.Who cares? Not a damn soul, Boz Jr.!
Exactly right! I grew up with Lee and knew him very well. He was just a political whore. He was originally a Democrat who could not find a way into the established Old South Democratic party. So, he became a Republican, because there was opportunity for him in the “New South,” Republican Party. It did not make a difference to Lee whether you were a Democrat, Republican, Liberal, Conservative or Communist. Just pay him the money and stand back. Because, Lee took no prisoners and always played to win. No mater who he represented because coming in Second meant that you were just “The First Loser!”
No endorsement here of his tactics, just the facts about the man, and the unfortunately legacy we live with today.
This is probably the best summation of Atwater in these comments.
Thanks.
Lee Atwater played to win and he understood the game of politics better than his opponents and they hated him for it. He was creative in his thinking, even daring. Lesser men now employ the strategies he may have devised. All politicians are whores. He WAS honest, but I have never believed he was racist in his personal life, ever. He recorded a CD, “Red, White, and Blues” with BB KIng and some of the best rock&rollers in the business. Profits go to charity. Lee Atwater would have done his best no matter which party hired him or which candidate. It was all about winning. And he was a genius and a master. Those who followed him are soulless pygmies in comparison.
You are correct, again. And my brother gave him is first guitar lesson. Lee, like ALL fire-eaters in South Carolina, gave his word and did what he said he would do. He did what worked.
We laud lawyers for doing everything they can to defend slime and say, “We need these people to defend even the guilty,” but we do not expect political advisors to do everything they can to win?
Spoken racism depends a lot on who hears it. Will’s quotation is accurate. It was the answer to a question about race in SC politics, during a private conversation among colleagues, later quoted (I can’t remember where, sorry) accurately in a publication.
I know a guy who once tried to get his client to buy the vote in a certain SC ethnic community, telling him they expected it, but his client said, “No, I have given my ethnic friends my entire life – I do not need to buy their votes.” He lost the primary for the price of a box of fried chicken per ethnic voter. A true story.
You fight with whatever you have. Sheheen will be buying votes this year, and anybody else who wants to influence “controlled” voting groups. All we Conservatives and libertarians have is the truth. Great will be the battle.
I never knew Lee Atwater, but after watching “Boogie Man” I wish I had known him. I am NO conservative or Republican, but a liberal and progressive. My husband, back in the day, was a Republican operative who gave Lee Atwater his first political task when Lee was still in high school, I believe, passing out pamphlets. They later became friends. My husband agrees that Lee would have worked just as hard for the Democrats, just as he would have, if they’d been the ones who had hired him. My husband later worked for Thurmond in Washington. IMO, you have to see past the surface to find Lee’s genius. He had a talent, no doubt about it. I’m no doctor, but I think that Lee’s unfortunate, tragic brain tumor was the result of the burning energy, the creative fire that flamed in his life…the music, to me, was the man’s heart and soul.
It wasn’t that Lee Atwater was a racist. I don’t think he was. I believe he was amoral. He would exploit anything (racism, fear or ignorance) to win. I won’t judge his end of life confessions, but the Republican party and the nation still suffers from his legacy. His full court press for white voters has left Republicans with the short end of the demographic stick.
“He would exploit anything (racism, fear or ignorance) to win”
That describes today’s Republican Party precisely. And I disagree totally with you as to whether he was a racist – he obviously was – it takes a whole helluva lot for FITS to call anyone a racist – read the title of this thread – case closed.
The head of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP said (of Tim Scott)he’s a “ventriloquist dummy” for “the extreme right wing” in South Carolina. That statement is a racial stereotype. The ventriloquist is of course the clever white man and the dummy is black. Democrats use racial stereotypes and real racism shamelessly for their own purposes. Particularly they use racism to keep African Americans in lock step with the Democratic party line.
I would never in a million years connect “ventriloquist dummy” with racial stereotyping – probably because I do not associate the “white man” as being the “clever” one and do not associate the “dummy” as being “black” – silly me – guess I need to get with the program, huh? And the simple fact that you have automatically made these associations speaks legions about how you view black and white folks. Democrats do not need to do anything to keep “some African Americans” in “lock step” with the party line – Republicans take care of that quite well. And quite frankly the more that you post on the subject reveals that you have no clue about “real racism”. (And as an aside, I receive Tim Scott’s emailed newsletters – he will never, ever distinguish himself in any way – I am not impressed. I would tend to agree with the NAACP representative you spoke. It will be interesting to see if Scott can actually be elected to that office in SC).
The very fact that African Americans are subject to harsher insulting criticism (usually directed towards their intelligence or freedom to think for themselves) for being a Republican than whites is proof of racism. Some black Democrats were courageous enough condemn it but unfortunately most supported it.
I don’t need to read the article again. Got it the first time and your condescension is noted. In the “in his own words” box – I see the word “N” several times. You are the one that is insulting African Americans and it becomes clearer with your every post. You are the one that associated the “dummy” with black people. You are the one who said they could not think for themselves – that Democrats “use racism” to keep blacks voting for them. Trust me – black people understand racism and can spot it a mile away – they’ve been there and done that their entire lives – and they are intelligent enough to figure it out. Yet your posts continually infer that they are not smart enough. If I were you I’d just stop posting on this subject – as noted above by another poster, you are totally clueless.
You say that I associated”‘dummy’ with black people”. I apologize for not giving the full quote.
“A ventriloquist can always find a good dummy,” Barber said. “The extreme right wing down here (in South Carolina) finds a black guy to be senator and claims he’s the first black senator since Reconstruction and then he goes to Washington, D.C., and articulates the agenda of the tea party.”
http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/01/21/naacp-leader-likens-black-gop-senator-to-ventriloquists-dummy/
As you can read Barber (head of the NAACP) tied his insult to Tim Scotts race.
I didn’t say blacks voted “lock step” Democratic because they are a dummies or can’t think for themselves. Instead peer pressure and ostracism heavily laced with racial stereotypes are used. Tim Scott was meant to be an example to others.
The full quote makes Barber’s meaning of the very widely used expression regarding a ventriloquist’s dummy even clearer. I’ve heard the expression numerous times – and it is not a racist expression. You were the one who tried to distort the expression to include the “clever white man” (your words) and the “black dummy” (your words). Barber brings up Scott’s race as the right wing touts it repeatedly – “the first black senator since reconstruction” and by golly he is Republican. They use it along the lines of we have a black senator from the south – we could not possibly be racist – even though Scott was not even elected. And in regards to the other issue, you clearly stated that Democrats “use racism” (your words) to keep some black people in “lock step’ (your words) with the party line. You – just like the majority of the Republican Party – refuse to look inward and to examine why black people and other minorities generally vote in large majorities for Democrats – and that is why the Republican Party is going to continue to lose national elections. You – and the majority of the Republican Party – think that the only black people who are smart and that can “think for themselves” are the ones that vote or identify as Republican – and that is insulting to the majority of black people in this country.
Thank you for the last two post. I have had to sharpen my argument. Yes, some of the words are mine, but I was parsing the anatomy of a racial slur.
Several points:
1. Between the ventriloquist and the dummy, the ventriloquist is the “cleverest”.
2. The “black guy”(Barber’s words) is identified as the “good dummy”(Barber’s words)
3. The “extreme right wing…. finds a black guy”. Notice that implies a group not Nikki Haley herself. Perhaps this slur is also sexist. A nonwhite woman is not (the clever ventriloquist) blamed or credited. The “extreme right wing” makes the decision not her herself.
4. The racial makeup of this “extreme right wing” is not clear, but it seems clear that a clever black man among the ventriloquists would be better choice than a “dummy”. “Down here” suggest they were South Carolinians presumably eligible for office.
Most Americans (blacks and Democrats especially) are proud of electing the first African American president. We should also be proud of the first “black Senator since Reconstruction”. The pastor who hosted Barber “The Rev. Kevin E. Donalson Sr., the Zion Baptist Church’s pastor told FoxNews.com that although he agreed “in principle” with Barber’s comments, he would not have used such language. And although he’s “grateful” that South Carolina has an African-American senator, he believes the policies Scott supports hurt the people whom King spent his life trying to help.” That Reverend has class.
The “we could not possibly be racist” statement needs documentation. Perhaps some think like that. I believe every large organization has racists. I don’t believe statements in regard to Scott are any different than those made by Obama supporters.
As for Democratic racists, I believe that they also have their Atwaters who also shamelessly use race as a wedge issue. You suggest Republicans look inward. Whether I look inward or outward I see some racism in both parties.
Any implication that I made that blacks who vote democrat are not as smart as black republicans is not what I believe. To many posters claim those who they disagree with are idiots. That is a poor substitute for an intelligent argument.
You are obviously not an idiot – I would never say that. For me the Republican Party’s actions – and inactions – speak loudly. The preoccupation with these Voter ID Laws and their efforts to limit early voting and to make voting more difficult in the absence of any concrete proof of widespread voter fraud is troubling. The fact that the Republican Party did not force Joe Wilson to resign after his vulgar behavior at the State of the Union Speech of our country’s first African American President is reprehensible. That spectacle played out on national television – for all to see – it made me ashamed to be a white South Carolinian.
True story: I was a Democrat in college. I attended the College Democrats Club. Everyone present, self included, was white. At our very first organizing meeting, everyone who had a car was asked to raise their hand. I raised my hand. We were asked if we would provide rides to and from the polls on general election day.
Then an adult man stood up and explained the strategy. We were told that we were only going take blacks to the polls. Presuming that anyone wanting a ride with us would be voting Democrat, I asked why wouldn’t we take white voters. He said in the critical close races we are concerned about whites often vote split ticket blacks always vote straight wicket.
I felt black voters were being taken for granted. No one else in the room was offended by this strategy. My father who held local office told me that was “real politics”. I was too idealistic at the time and started moving toward the Republicans. They were less involved gritty get your hands dirty politics at time. More discussion of issues than the mechanics of politics.As I have gotten older I have become more cynical about both parties and libertarins. I probably woudn’t object to that election strategy today.
I don’t doubt the veracity of your story – but I will say that I have been involved with Democratic groups or clubs or other organizations my entire life (55+ years). I have assisted with get out the vote efforts – I have helped drive people to the polls on election days – I have been a poll worker – etc. I have never, ever witnessed or heard of anything similar to what you experienced – never – not once – nothing even close. It is interesting to me that you mentioned “to me it felt like racism where blacks were being used like pawns mostly by whites”. I would say that for at least the past 25 years or so most of the Democratic groups that I have been affiliated with on a local level have had a high percentage of black people involved or actually running them – and that there have been a high percentage of black elected officials. Has that been your experience in any Republican groups? I still say that the number of black voters who overwhelmingly vote for Democrats (especially in national races) cannot be written off to racism by the Democratic Party – yet you seem unwilling to admit that the Republican Party is at fault in any way – you will not even respond to the Joe Wilson disgrace played out on national television that I mentioned above – you seem to think that some instance of college kids in a political club behaving badly should be an equal example of racism by the Democrats. Do you recall the smear campaign against John McCain back in 2000 before the Republican Primary here in SC? That was the most blatant instance of racism that I can recall – and it was Republican on Republican racism.
“a “ventriloquist dummy” for “the extreme right wing” in South Carolina. That statement is a racial stereotype.”
.
Total cluelessness. Drop the “in South Carolina” and it would work in lily-white Lapland.
Then neither is the way Atwater used the “cutting taxes”, “forced busing” and “states rights” racist. But I believe it was. Who’s clueless?
“Then . . . blah blah unsupported blah”
“Who’s clueless?”
.
Say what you want about Lee Atwater, but he was a brilliant political strategist. I don’t know if he was a racist and personally I don’t care. He knew what buttons to push to get votes for his side, he knew how to play the game. It’s a pitty that he died from brain cancer, if he was still around we may not have had to endure eight years of “Hope and Change”
Win at any costs, regardless of the damage it does, including your personal integrity. That is what he did.
He had a mind for politics, but if you are unscrupulous, it doesn’t take much to win.
Politics is like love and war, all is fair.
And therein lies the problem. This is what Republicans believe and why they will always be corrupt.
The Democrats believe the exact same thing.
Man, dat niggas head was bad. For real!
It really makes me sick to see the things being said on this posting. It shouldn’t surprise me by now to see the complete trash people come up with in the security of their mamas’ basements when they can hide behind their anonymity.
Mr. Folks – You’re entitled to your opinion about Ms. Atwater, as misguided and skewed as they may be, even though it’s doubtful you know nothing about her or her career or her family. If you read the article, it’s obvious that you’re taking Ms. Atwater’s comment out of context. I don’t even have a position in this campaign and its clear to me.
Why on earth would Ms. Atwater speak ill of her husband? He’s the father of her children and was her life partner, and I would think less of a woman that turned her back on the memory of her husband or would tarnish the memories her children may have of their dad.
And working as an advocate for persons with disabilities for most of her career, outside of working as a teacher in S.C. for over a decade, is hardly what I would call an “educrat”.
Ms. Atwater seems to be a very classy lady who’s risen above gutter politics despite all of those who seek to pull her down. To do nothing less than applaud her for what she’s had to overcome in life is a disgrace.
This post and many of these comments are a testament to hypocrisy and are at the height of self righteousness.
TL;DR crap post. The only reply that is needed:
If you decide to marry someone, and stay married to someone, like Atwater, you didn’t “rise above” gutter politics, which is what the man supported, you actively embraced living with it.
Don’t u bee playin me like dat. I aint no fool, nigga. I is for real! No what I be saying?
“Why on earth would Ms. Atwater speak ill of her husband? He’s the father of her children and was her life partner, and I would think less of a woman that turned her back on the memory of her husband or would tarnish the memories her children may have of their dad.”
“No man sinks so low that he can’t be loved by a dog or a woman.”
-author unknown (by me at least)
I am going to get me a website going. To be successful I will tout the most controversial positions possible. I will bash different religions, promote the most corrupt politicians. Hell I might even run some poodle snuff films where we kill off small animals. With the clicks from the outrage I should do quite well sitting by the pool.
Thanks Will – I get it now. Now I think I can use a Mary Bloody so I’ll stumble next door to the bar…….where I can ponder names for my new Blog/not a journalist/ unaccountable/lechorous (got to have a fetish),website. Note to self: call T-Rav.
I don’t know, bro. If it was that easy everyone would do it.
Someone already has. Take a look: http://www.democrats.org/
Will, Are you mad because:
A – his strategy worked and you didn’t think of it first?
B – libertarians could never make it work?
C – he was right all a long?
Say what you want about ol’Harvey LeRoy “Lee” Atwater, he wore ol”Doofus Dukakis out. Was he ruthless – hell yes, was he “mean spirited” – hell yes. Most importantly was he effective – hell yes.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mk 8:36
Well, a lot of pretty sordid people are “effective.”Whats your point?
Atwater was not the racists in this equation – Atwater took advantage of the racist to get the guy he thought should be elected, elected. George H.W. Bush, in addition to being a genuine hero, is the antithesis of the “Republican Racist” stereotype that libs love to bitch about
So he played the race card.Ok we all KNEW that.As for your assertion he wasnt a racist?Im agnostic on the subject, as all of us should be ,as the evidence can point in any direction the one presenting it wishes.You apparently admire Atwater.Fine,but you have NO actual knowledge of his racial attitudes nor do I.
Accordingly, saying he wasnt a racist is your “opinion.” Others think he was.After reading Bad Boy, the only full length biography of Atwater and remembering his general attitude,In my view he likely wouldnt have given a damn what anyone thought of him.
I met Mr. Atwater on a number of occasions, he was a friend of a friend – he wasn’t a racist, I know plenty of those and he wasn’t one. And you’re right, he wouldn’t give a damn what you thought of him.
WOW!You knew a friend of a friend and you “met” him.Well Hells Bells cant get any better authority than that!Gee whiz I take back everything I said!I stand in awe of you “Colonel!”
Are you black? I think not based on your posts. How would you know if he was racist or not? I would imagine that most racists are not racist towards those of their own race. Just saying.
You are truly ignorant of human behavior if you believe what you posted. Most racists (or “ists” of any form) are most comfortable expressing their racism around people who they think are like them.
Actually most racist express their racism to people they know or have significant reason to believe think like they do. They know that because they have interacted with those people and those people have either agreed with them, made statements that let them know they agree with them, or never challenge them when they express racists attitudes. I guess they operate on the walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, must be a duck theory.
So I take it you hang out with a lot of racists who feel comfortable expressing their opinions around you?
He wasn’t a racist.
He was a Republican.
She’s a big girl and WELL KNEW that her entrance into a political race was going to resuscitate debates over her very well known late husband.Unfair as some have hinted?No more so than attacks on Hillary Clinton over Bills shenanigans.
She seems capable of handling it,lest she wouldn’t have stepped into the arena.
I agree about Lee Atwater, Will. But let me get something straight in my head about this post, please.
You’d be OK if someone in his position today used the same racist tactics to stir up fear and get the guys or gals you agree with elected. Right? Just so I’m clear on it, indulge me please and spell it out. Most accounts say Atwater repented for his race-baiting, and worse, tactics. NOT for helping to elect former DixieCrats who were big-spenders, tax whores and neocons.
Reality check: Atwater helped elect Ronnie Reagan, and that’s how he “made his bones” for the GOP and helped deliver the South for the party, seemingly forever. So this piece is mainly boilerplate to sink Sally. Since I am in support of the sinking of Sally, though, I will now leave this alone. Enough chops-busting on the issue. ‘Cept to say Lee Atwater sucks cocks in hell.
Reagan GOT Reagan Elected. Atwater had very little to do w/ that…….Reagan had to wade through Dumb@$$#$ like you, in 1976, to finally persevere in 1980 (Carter’s incompetence helped a lot)…to get to the heights he achieved,…and thank God he did….
Idiots like you are dangerous…you’re F*#king ignorant, but run your mouth, and if someone is not smart enough, they may believe the uneducated, stupid $#!* you spout…
Ronald Reagan was one of the biggest taxers in American history.I curse the ground he walks on!
While you Gulp Obama’s D*#k, you Liberal piece of $#!*….
More badges of honor from you GT. Keep ’em coming.
The only thing I hate about Sally Water is that Delinda Riddings is going to be riding the coat tails of her success and taking all the credit. Atwater could win this election without her as a “campaign manager.” A Campaign Manager does more than update their minimal Facebook page and snapping a photo at an event. I hope Atwater will create a more suitable, qualified staff following the primary.
If there had been no Southern Strategy then both parties would have dumped Southern Conservatives and Southern Conservatism would have nothing like its present influence.
Politics is war, enemies are to be defeated by ANY legal means, and BTW if not for the Southern Strategy it’s doubtful that FITSNews would even exist because it would have few or no Southern precursors. Further, FITS links to plenty of GOP/Teapublican clickbait which continues variants of the Southern Strategy.
There is no shame, there is war. Ethics are not for application to ENEMIES. Political opponents are to be defeated and preferably broken. They are not “fellow citizens with whom we differ”, but opponents vying for power. If they win, you lose.
The Southern Strategy is the foundation of modern Conservatism and it’s critics on the Right are either hypocrites or delusional.
Again, I post: you are nothing but complete scum. You need to check into a candidate’s platform and history before you go insulting them, and calling someone trash. This blog is trash. Sally spent the majority of that time as an “educrat” doing exactly what she’d be doing as state superintendent: returning the power of Ed to the states.
You are a dumbass, Will.
Here are Lee Atwater’s redacted words . . . that’s what y’all should have wrote.
lol, what? I want States’ rights and lower taxes, not because it hurts a particular people, but because I like my State to determine her own laws, and I don’t like taxes. I don’t know what the heck that fellow was blabbing on about.
Will – for realzers? you could EASILY append to that same quote now days to say at the end ‘then u had to start talking about tax vouchers and school choice’ to get government tax money back in the pockets of those white parents who didn’t want their kids in integrated schools – you couldn’t say nigger nigger no more’ and I wonder if you truly dont see it, or if Atwater was just more honest with himself than you are…?