March 22, 2010

"Obama: He staked everything on this and, like the long distance runners from his fatherland, he made it (barely) across the finish line."

That's Newsweek's Howard Fineman, making a racial remark, which he probably thinks is okay, since he likes Obama.

120 comments:

Balfegor said...

His "Fatherland?" I mean, I sometimes use the terms "Fatherland" and "Motherland" ironically to refer to the countries my Father and Mother come from, but I'm pretty sure that, in strict parlance, The Fatherland, for an American, is either the United States of America, or Germany. And the Motherland, for an American, is either the United States of America or Russia.

ethan said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Henry said...

All runners fear the marathoners of Kansas.

* * *

Now that Obama has won the game on which he staked everything, what does he do next? His big win delivers no benefits to the country until after his term is up.

So Obama, what have you done lately?

Kansas City said...

Can't you ban someone like Ethan from posting?

It is funny how liberals can make racial comments with impunity. Fineman probably doesn't give it a thought since he loves Obama and the health care bill. Fineman does not say much that is interesting these days.

bagoh20 said...

This isn't a bathroom wall at summer camp. If you nothing to say, shut up already.

garage mahal said...

Henry
Many provisions kick in immediately. Small biz tax credits for one, allowing 35-50% deductions on premiums for employees. Dare I say, many that Democrats can run on this Nov? Even some temporary exchanges will be set up before then.

Mutaman said...

One thing about people who are hung up on race, they label everything "racial". Get a grip Ann, despite the fact that you were once again on the wrong side of history, my tax dollars will continue to pay for the health insurance for you and your slackard husband.

Fred4Pres said...

Tea Party members gone wild! Obiviously the healthcare vote sent them over the edge.

knox said...

What a thing to say! Almost as weird as when the Academy played "I Am Woman" for Kathryn Bigelow.

The phrase "out of left field" comes to mind, ha ha. But when one's entire political viewpoint is shot through the lens of categorizing people instead of seeing them as individuals, I guess it's easy to come up with racist, sexist tripe.

Peter V. Bella said...

Yeah, Kenya, we see how that free country is doing. No wonder they have to run so fast. It is a foot race out of there.

Fred4Pres said...

So Nancy Pelosi staked everything on this and, like the lazy wops from her motherland, she got the votes (barely) to get this mess passed.

Phil 314 said...

from the cited article:
LOSERS:
Insurance industry... They stayed aloof from a deal, and ended up losing the game of musical chairs, even though they will get new customers.


What a minute! Wasn't there that big pow-wow and presser with the Insurance executives a year ago where they said they agreed in principle to the reform initiative and would agree to "no pre-existing conditions" language.

And then later wasn't there consistent bashing of the industry by the very folks who "brought them onboard"?

And how was a clear message that the present bill will not address costs staying aloof from the process.

This comes back to one key victory for Obama in all of this. He successfully sold the message that if you didn't agree with this bill, lock, stock and barrel, you were and obstructionist and an adversary.

What happened to our President's vaulted desire to have dialogue?

Patm said...

Democrats and pressers are the biggest racists in the world.

Kansas City said...

This whole "stakes eveything" theme always seems like drama created by the media.

I assume Obama knew he had the votes and wasn't really taking any significant risk of losing. But even if that is not true and he lost, what would have happened next? Would Obama have gone away? It is not even clear that dems would have done worse in November than they will do now.

No, if he lost, Obama and his political hacks would have gone on to the next issue and the media would have gone along with them to create the next drama and great comeback.

Fred4Pres said...

But I like Italian food, so it is okay for me to call Pelosi a wop.

jayne_cobb said...

As a runner myself I would to point out that in no race that I can remember was I allowed to pay my fellow runners to let me move ahead of them.

Truth be told this is more like having a 30 minute head start in a marathon, but only winning by 30 seconds.

Patm said...

Democrats and pressers are the biggest racists in the world.

Chennaul said...

Fineman:

Rahm Emanuel: The White House chief of staff was tasked by Obama with the job of getting this done, and Rahm, whose effectiveness and commitment have been questioned, has just taken a major step toward showing that he was the right guy for the job.

has just taken a major step toward show*er*ing .

bagoh20 said...

Yes, he's half from a continent of supreme governmental failure and corruption and half from a political movement of totalitarian leftist. It all makes sense now: It's genetic!

Balfegor said...

They stayed aloof from a deal, and ended up losing the game of musical chairs, even though they will get new customers.

Wait, how does that get scored as a "loss?" They get new customers, and the government will route massive subsidies to them. That looks like a big "win" to me.

Palladian said...

"One thing about people who are hung up on race, they label everything "racial"."

Yes, there's nothing racial about comparing the American-born half-white President to black Kenyan runners. LOL.

"Get a grip Ann, despite the fact that you were once again on the wrong side of history"

History is written by the winners. The battle isn't over, honey. But you're right in this case. Ann was on the wrong side of history. She voted for Barack Obama.

Peter V. Bella said...

Hey Garage,
How about unions picking half the cost on health care in all union contracts. They are getting a free ride. What's fair is fair. They should share the pain too.

Tax credits are a scam. You pay upfront and have to wait a year to get your own money back with no interest. Ponzi would be proud.

Shanna said...

Fatherland is a bad word and screwed up the sentence, but Kenyans are awesome at running. I don't think it's wrong to say that. This is a case of trying to hard and in the process writing a bad sentence.

themightypuck said...

@balfegor Mommy and Daddy got into a really big fight in 1940. Daddy slapped Mommy around a bit until Mommy called her friend and they beat the living shit out of Daddy.

themightypuck said...

I'm a bit jealous of Meade. There's nothing like an adventure to invigorate the soul.

Phil 314 said...

Comment deleted

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

3/22/10 1:05 PM


Wow, the Professor speaks...
or should I say
the Professor moderates

(PS I saw it before it went away)

Palladian said...

The Obama Marathon rules are different than most marathons. The winner, who trained their whole life to be the fastest and best will have to split their 250 thousand dollar prize money equally among the 30 million runners who never made it past the starting line.

mccullough said...

I've never seen a Kenyan marathoner struggle across the finish line. They always look like they could run another 50 miles.

Poor simile.

Anonymous said...

STFU, Mick.

(I know Mick hasn't posted anything yet. But he will.)

michaele said...

Just because you cross the finish line doesn't mean you are the winner. Let's hope that history judges this as a loss for Obama and the leftists like Pelosi.

Henry said...

@garage -- The other big immediate benefit is the almost literal nanny-state provision that allows kids to stay on Mom and Dad's insurance until age 26. Ignoring the fact that this will increase Mom and Dad's premiums (as well as their childless neighbors), one has to wonder about an administration that placed this priority above that of making sure 25-year-olds have some decent job opportunities.

Dave said...

Where's the racial remark?

jayne_cobb said...

Perhaps a better analogy involving running would be that of Rosie Ruiz.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Henry:

You may be thinking of Jim Ryun who was a topnotch miler from Kansas. I think he served as a Congress critter for a while too.

garage mahal said...

The tax credits take effect immediately as well, so businesses don't have to wait. Quarterly, if I'm not mistaken. As far as union workers, I've yet to see anyone from the GOP advocating their kids to go work at an auto plant, or a food line in a hospital as a career choice.

rhhardin said...

Althouse is playing the race card.

jayne_cobb said...

Henry,

That would be a hidden bailout for law students who by and large graduate around 25 or 26.

MnMark said...

Nice to see a liberal like Fineman admitting that America is not Obama's "fatherland", but rather Kenya. If he's really a native-born American as the Constitution requires of a President, wouldn't the U.S. be his fatherland?

Or is it just that the jewish Fineman is used to thinking of someplace else as his fatherland and assumes everyone else does too?

garage mahal said...

That was to Peter Bella-

I'm Full of Soup said...

"....who never made it past the starting line."

Palladian- I'd go further and say they split their winnings with peoiple who never even get out of bed until noon.

Tank said...

Newsweek is still in business?

Who knew?


Wasn't Fineman one of the cowards who appeared on Imus' show every week for years, promoting himself and Newsweek, and then, at the first sign of trouble, ran away as fast as he could?

ken in tx said...

Caesar Augustus (Octavian) liked to be called Father of the Fatherland. Our word patriotism comes from the Latin word for Fatherland.

wv Evull--what we are seeing now

MadisonMan said...

Obama's father is from Kenya. Some Kenyans are awesome Marathoners.

Two valid observations. It's a very long stretch to take that and make Fineman's sentence. He was trying way too hard to write something interesting.

Henry said...

@AJ -- I was thinking in line with Balfegor on the meaning of "Fatherland". Obama's mother is from Kansas, which has just as much claim to be his "Fatherland" as Kenya.

HT said...

That's the Internet's Ann Althouse, accusing someone of making a racial remark, which she probably thinks is okay, since she voted for Obama and she interpreted the remark as supportive of him.

Blig blod Blash.

WHEN WILL IT END?????

Palladian said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rhhardin said...

My log shows Fineman on Imus on March 12, 2009 (8:35am), so he may be one of the weasels Imus had decided to put up with.

Apparently it didn't add much to the show because he's not around.

exhelodrvr1 said...

So Finemann is a birther? Who'd a thunk it?!

Palladian said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
exhelodrvr1 said...

bagoh,
"Yes, he's half from a continent of supreme governmental failure and corruption and half from a political movement of totalitarian leftist. It all makes sense now: It's genetic!"

Yeah, but which is his mother's side, and which is his father's side?

Tank said...

rh

You keep a log?

Palladian said...

"You keep a log?"

Probably about EVERYTHING. Which in my opinion is a good practice.

Alex said...

BTW, the chances of the GOP filibustering HCR has gone from low to zero. They would face electoral extinction to oppose this now.

Alex said...

BTW, biggest ever headlines on Huffington Post. I mean font size and amount of letters.

Anonymous said...

Fineman strikes me as a posterboy of white, professional, well-meaning but ultimately misguided elitist.

He really outta read Norman Podhoretz's "Why Jews Are Liberal".
But, of course, that book would not resonate with him because it was written by an evil neo-con.

Newsweek, which Fineman works for, is a financially foundering enterprise, unlike the money-making moneychangers of his Fatherland.
It's okay for me to say that because I like the Jewish people.

bagoh20 said...

The biggest beneficiaries of this bill are college student still living under their parents wing. The government will protect your health insurance and student loans. Way to help those poor underprivileged slackers. They will grow up to be excellent parents, employers and citizens.

Palladian said...

"All persons are created equal," said Barack Obama, lounging on a Aubusson tapestry-upholstered Louis XV fauteuil.

"But some persons are more equal than others," said Nancy Pelosi, gliding up behind him and cracking a momentary broad grin which immediately turned into a slight wince as her taut skin strained painfully across her skull. She quickly recovered and delivered a percussive giggle through clenched teeth and a now-restrained smile.

Barack Obama beamed which caused several journalists across the vast plushness of the room to rise from their settee and applaud. They quickly and silently collapsed back into their seat when the smile faded and Barack Obama's expression resumed its usual state, like a lead life-mask of his own face.

"I'd like some more of those delicious fois gras canapés," Michelle Obama, dressed in a magenta skirt with a pattern that was a simplified five-fold enlargement of an edge of the Aubusson tapestry that covered the chaise in which she sat said with her amiable scowl. Nancy Pelosi gestured with her slitted eyes and a servant slid silently forth with a silver tray upon his back.

Nancy Pelosi again restrained a grin.

Kevin said...

...and like his drunken, indolent father, somehow managed to stagger across the finish line, by the tiniest of margins.

Still PC?

jayne_cobb said...

I wonder if the length of the race caused major chafing.

Unknown said...

Vaterland??!!??

Well, The Zero and his friends have spent the last year proving they're a pack of National Socialists, so I guess they're entitled to the vocabulary.

Balfegor said...

The biggest beneficiaries of this bill are college student still living under their parents wing.

I'm pretty sure a large fraction of college students -- if not an outright majority -- actually get very generous health insurance through their university, along with enrollment. It's young NEETs who are the beneficiaries of the dependents stuff.

themightypuck said...

No trophy, no flowers, no flash bulbs, no wine.
He's haunted by something he cannot define.
Bowel shaking earthquakes of doubt and remorse,
Assail him, impale him with monster truck force.
In his mind he's still driving, still making the grade.
She's hoping time that her memories will fade,
Cause he's racing and pacing and plotting the course,
He's fighting and biting and riding on his horse.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Where is Alpha with the outrage over this comment?

Michael said...

Jane-Cobb: I think he won by a few seconds even though he got a year long head start and took a little ride on the subway in between. a la Rosy Ruiz. A triumph!!

The National Park Service is reporting that Jeremy and some others have taken it upon themselves to begin carving HIS image into Mt. Rushmore. Could this be possible? They appear to be dangling ineptly from some very thin ropes and the NPS is not complimentary of their sculpting. So far at least.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Henry:

I got the Kansas link in your comment. I was just showing off my personal treasure trove of worthless trivia.

Hoosier Daddy said...

Small biz tax credits for one, allowing 35-50% deductions on premiums for employees.

Oh boy! Hey, you either provide health insurance for your workers or we'll fine you into oblivian. But look at the bright side, you can take a 35-50% deduction on the premiums we're mandating you pay!

That's what you call a regulatory reach around.

dbp said...

I don't understand what sense Mr. Fineman means by,

"like the long distance runners from his fatherland, he made it (barely) across the finish line."

Is he under the impression that professional runners enter races they are not sure they can complete? For elite runners it isn't a matter of, will I finish, but rather, will I win?

Now, for a piker like me; there is some question of whether I can finish a marathon. In this sense, Obama and I are alike: Amaturish at our hobbies, me distance running, he getting his agenda enacted.

Calypso Facto said...

Small biz tax credits of up to 35% of premium costs for businesses with 10 or fewer employees averaging $25,000 a year or less IF the employer pays for at least 50% of their employees' health insurance premiums.

Gee, thanks! That's really going to help a lot of people. And at only an EXTRA COST of at least 15% to your business. Sweet.

Ray said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rich B said...

So Obama wanted a monument to his ego. Wouldn't a pyramid have been a lot less costly to the country?

Ray said...

What happened to our President's vaulted desire to have dialogue?

That only applies to people willing to blow shit up and not dumb enough to be a pirate that keeps their hostages alive or a Pakistani civilian.

I've yet to see anyone from the GOP advocating their kids to go work at an auto plant, or a food line in a hospital as a career choice.

And which elected Democrats have you seen advocating that? Or any blue collar unionized job, as a career? Cite please.

@themightypuck:
More apropos... They deftly maneuver and muscle for rank
Fuels burning fast on an empty tank
Reckless and wild, they pour through the turns
Their prowess is Potent and secretly stern...

David said...

I guess to White Howard, all Africans are alike.

Obama's father was a Luo, a tribe concentrated around Lake Victoria. They are not known as runners. In fact about 75% of Kenya's champion runners are from the Kalenjin tribe, which are ethnically quite distinct from the Luo.

I am not sure if this makes Fineman racist or ignorant, though of course the two are pretty much interchangable.

He also insults Kenyan runners.

Kenyan runners do not barely make it across the finish line. They surge across it. They are quite beautiful to watch.

Balfegor said...

Oh boy! Hey, you either provide health insurance for your workers or we'll fine you into oblivian. But look at the bright side, you can take a 35-50% deduction on the premiums we're mandating you pay!

As a general rule, aren't employer-paid premiums (like other forms of employee compensation) deductible as business expenses anyway? What the provision actually gives is a tax credit to directly reduce the corporate tax liability (as I understand it. Tax law is the most boring kind of law on Earth). It's pretty small potatoes, comparable to other existing business tax credits like the employer-provided child care credit. Look here for the other weird credits and carve-outs we already have.

AF said...

So what if some idiot makes a benign racial remark?

Unknown said...

wow, what a completely stupid and inappropriate remark.

do kenyan runners 'barely' make it across the finish line ?

is there some particular reason he wants to draw attention to Obama's paternity ? was he trying to be funny ? clever ? or just get attention ?

he failed miserably on the funny and clever attempt if that's what it was. he's just the guy that wants to come off funny and clever but is neither.

Joan said...

Fineman's an idiot. I mean, he also said this: [T]he world is not going to end if and when the bill becomes law. In fact, nothing much at all will happen.

Taxes go up immediately, benefits aren't seen for 4 more years, after Obama completes his term. That's nothing? It certainly will give the Republicans something to run on.

Balfegor said...

is there some particular reason he wants to draw attention to Obama's paternity ? was he trying to be funny ? clever ? or just get attention ?

I think he thought long march to health care bill => marathon => Kenyans! I don't think he was thinking about it particularly. I still find the fact that he used "Fatherland" -- apparently unironically -- to refer to Kenya kind of hilarious. Or perhaps it's just us, and he's really talking about American long distance runners. Wouldn't that be a bit of a joke! But no, he's just a journalist -- they're paid to spew words, not agonise over le mot juste. You scrawl a million words, you're sure to come out with some embarassing turns of phrase.

rhhardin said...

rh

You keep a log?


I'm a computer programmer. It's automatic.

Anonymous said...

I'm puzzled also as to what's objectionable here? Long distance runners are high achievers... it's a positive thing.

If you were asked to associate a country with long distance runners, you'd say "Kenya". Just like if asked to associate a country with chefs, you'd say "France". Or to associate a country with impressionist painters, you'd say "France." Or with fine wine, you'd say "France". Or with existentialist philosophers, you'd say "France." Or with new age cinema, you'd say "France." Or with post modern criticism, you'd say "France."

Nothing wrong with that.

Ann Althouse said...

"So what if some idiot makes a benign racial remark?"

You're conceding that Fineman is an idiot? Then why is he writing for Newsweek/why would anyone read Newsweek? That's kind of important, I think.

Chip Ahoy said...

Oh, I like being continuously reminded of our president's racial heritage by the people who put him in office, otherwise I'd completely forget.

Balfegor said...

Taxes go up immediately, benefits aren't seen for 4 more years, after Obama completes his term. That's nothing? It certainly will give the Republicans something to run on.

It's also worth noting that in some respects, the Senate Bill is even more demented than the House Bill was. I paid attention mostly to the House Bill, reasoning (in error), that the House (i.e. Pelosi) was going to be driving the final product, since the Democrats had 60 votes in the Senate, and the President is totally clueless, and couldn't make a credible commitment to veto anything it pleased Congress to send him, no matter how junky, anyhow. Then a Republican won the Senate seat in Massachusetts. Haha, how wrong I was.

Anyhow, browsing the map to our doom, I noticed that while the House bill had outright taxes (as percentage of income or payroll) to incentivise people and businesses to provide health care, it looks like the Senate Bill actually just has flat penalties, keying off of an "applicable amount" of $750 (see sec. 1501 of the bill). This is less than the average annual premium in every age category. (See page 7). The maximum a taxpayer can be obliged to pay is only $2,250, which is also lower than the average family premiums. And that's $750 in 2016 dollars (there's a phase-in for 2014 and 2015). How is this supposed to force people to buy health insurance? Businesses don't actually get hit much harder -- the tax (or penalty or whatever you want to call it) only applies to businesses with 101 or more employees, and is only $750 a head. (Sec. 1513). And average premiums for employer plans look, if anything, even more expensive than individual plans. (See pages 20-28). This is ridiculous -- it actually creates an incentive for taxpayers and employers to game the system by dumping health insurance coverage and paying the dinky $750 tax/fine instead, and then rely on the bar on pre-existing condition exclusions (sec. 1201). The 8% payroll tax was sufficiently onerous that you could imagine some businesses being pushed into paying for health insurance for their employees, on the margin. This is just silly.

Balfegor said...

Then why is he writing for Newsweek/why would anyone read Newsweek?

Because it's there, in the waiting room of the doctor's office. And we can look forward to a lot of waiting now.

AF said...

"You're conceding that Fineman is an idiot?"

I'm conceding it's a stupid quote.

"Then why is he writing for Newsweek/why would anyone read Newsweek?"

I don't read Newsweek, so I wouldn't know. One stupid quote doesn't tell me much one way or another.

"That's kind of important, I think."

If I understand you correctly, you're saying that a stupid, benign racial comment by a Newsweek writer discredits his magazine in an "important" way, but a malignant, racist comment by a protester says nothing about his political movement.

Balfegor said...

If I understand you correctly, you're saying that a stupid, benign racial comment by a Newsweek writer discredits his magazine in an "important" way, but a malignant, racist comment by a protester says nothing about his political movement.

Well, if you think about it a moment, it's not hard to see why you might think this. After all, Newsweek has an editor, who has to take responsibility for this kind of thing. A public protest hasn't got an editor at all -- the most people can do is give disapproving looks at someone who shows up and says nasty things. It's a free country, after all.

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

Kenya has good runners. What's racial about that? (I mean, other than the racial perspective existing in your mind that you would like to conflate with Fineman's statement...)

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

Oh! Oh! Oh! and... (imitating Horshack).

Let's pretend that all comments referring to race are demeaning by virtue of that fact alone.

It must take a colossal effort for the right-wing mind to rationalize that referring to one's national roots is somehow demeaning to the race of people that live there. But if they didn't engage in such fantasy gymnastics then they would be incapable of warping the meaning of racism to the extent that they have.

Kirby Olson said...

Fatherland. Where have I heard that before?

William said...

Newspaper ink comes off in your hands and sometimes on your clothes. When you travel by subway a glossy magazine like Newsweek can save you money on dry cleaning. Also it's lighter than the Times and far easier to turn the pages. I would recommend all subway riders read Newsweek instead of the Times. Also, while some Times columnists will sometimes write something interesting or surprising, that's never the case with Fineman. Even more than Alter, he's one columnist you can reliably skip. I've sometimes managed to get thru the entire magazine within four local stops.

Ann Althouse said...

"If I understand you correctly, you're saying that a stupid, benign racial comment by a Newsweek writer discredits his magazine in an "important" way, but a malignant, racist comment by a protester says nothing about his political movement."

I'm saying I have no idea who the person in the crowd was and that his hatefulness is only important if it is characteristic of the group or if he's a person of some significance. I'd also like some assurance that the person in fact exists and that he's not a dirty trickster (ie, someone who is antagonistic to the rest of the protesters and trying to make them look bad).

Ann Althouse said...

And in fact, the racism of the people who imagine themselves to be good is especially important, because it is not rejected instinctively. It's more insidious and influential. It even appears in major media.

I have a quote from Justice Thomas on this point that I'll dig out. Hang on a minute.

Mick said...

bagoh20 said...
"Yes, he's half from a continent of supreme governmental failure and corruption and half from a political movement of totalitarian leftist. It all makes sense now: It's genetic!"


Right, and if his fatherland is Kenya he's not a Natural Born Citizen, the definition of which is an indigenous citizen, born from within (born in a country of citizen parents). The Framers only wanted an indigenous citizen to be in charge of our armed forces and to reduce the possibility of foreign influence.
This whole episode in our history has happened because young and dumb, black, and educated idiot voters voted for "change" from a Naon Natural Born Citizen, with no attachment or allegiance to this country. Everyone can whine about how he's a socialist, how he wants to destroy our way of life, wah wah. You all have his Kryptonite directly before you. How can a Natural Born Citizen's citizenship be "governed" by Great Britain at birth?

Ann Althouse said...

Here's the Thomas quote:

"Indeed, if our history has taught us anything, it has taught us to beware of elites bearing racial theories..... Can we really be sure that the racial theories that motivated Dred Scott and Plessy are a relic of the past or that future theories will be nothing but beneficent and progressive? That is a gamble I am unwilling to take, and it is one the Constitution does not allow."

Ann Althouse said...

"It must take a colossal effort for the right-wing mind to rationalize that referring to one's national roots is somehow demeaning to the race of people that live there."

It's not referring to the nation Kenya. It is a reference to the physical qualities of the people, that they (supposedly) excel at running. It's on the level of saying Obama's timing was good, because black people have rhythm.

Mick said...

Paul Zrimsek said...
"STFU, Mick.

(I know Mick hasn't posted anything yet. But he will.)"



Never. You can whine and cry all you want. The means to oust Obama and make void anything he signs is directly in front of us, but you all are afraid of being deemed a "racist" for upholding the Constitution. He is definitely not a Natural Born Citizen, an ancient concept of Natural Law, where only an indigenous member of the citizenry is fit to lead them. He must be born in the US of US Citizen parents. Since his father was Kenyan, he does not qualify.
What the founders warned about is coming true, and you all are part of the reason that it is allowed to happen. What would his handlers do if every day the drum beat got louder, asking "how can you be a Natural Born Citizen if, at birth, your citizenship was "governed" by Britain? You all are uneducated pussies, afraid of the cries of "racist" by the MSM. Afraid to defend the Constitution. I spit on all of you, and challenge anyone to prove me wrong (you will lose).

Mick said...

David said...
I guess to White Howard, all Africans are alike.

Obama's father was a Luo, a tribe concentrated around Lake Victoria. They are not known as runners. In fact about 75% of Kenya's champion runners are from the Kalenjin tribe, which are ethnically quite distinct from the Luo.


And that is what disqualifies him from eligibility for POTUS. His father was never a citizen. Natural Born Citizne = Born in the US of US Citizen parents.

Mick said...

Henry said...
"@AJ -- I was thinking in line with Balfegor on the meaning of "Fatherland". Obama's mother is from Kansas, which has just as much claim to be his "Fatherland" as Kenya."

Right, and the fact that he was born w/ dual allegiances diqualifies him from being a Natural Born Citizen. Natural Born Citizens posess the unity of blood and soil. Their citizenship is unquestioned. That is the citizen that the framers wanted to lead our armed forces.

Methadras said...

Ritmo Brasileiro said...

Oh! Oh! Oh! and... (imitating Horshack).

Let's pretend that all comments referring to race are demeaning by virtue of that fact alone.

It must take a colossal effort for the right-wing mind to rationalize that referring to one's national roots is somehow demeaning to the race of people that live there. But if they didn't engage in such fantasy gymnastics then they would be incapable of warping the meaning of racism to the extent that they have.


That's like me calling you a cunt, but your mouth opens like one so you can lie and say that you aren't. That still makes you a liar and a cunt.

Methadras said...

Tarahumara runners eat Kenyans for breakfast.

Dave said...

'It is a reference to the physical qualities of the people, that they (supposedly) excel at running. It's on the level of saying Obama's timing was good, because black people have rhythm.'

He's referring to the physical skills of some Kenyans, not all Kenyans. Where does he say all Kenyans are world-class runners?

Mick said...

MnMark said...
"Nice to see a liberal like Fineman admitting that America is not Obama's "fatherland", but rather Kenya. If he's really a native-born American as the Constitution requires of a President, wouldn't the U.S. be his fatherland?"


Exactly Mn Mark!!! Since his father was a Kenyan Citizen, Kenya is his "fatherland". I think Newsweek has stumbled on an inconvenient truth here. The correct term is Natural Born citizen not "Native Born" (native born just means born in the US). Obama has never said he was Natural Born, because he knows he's not because his father was never a citizen when Obama 2 was born.

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

Methadras is as fond of his gutter, new vocabulary word as he would be of a shiny rattle! Oh, so cute! You use the word vagina in a vulgar, pejorative context! What a clever little piece of poo you are!

Anyway, Fineman uses a single phrase referencing Kenyan runners as a metaphor to Obama's win, and now we're talking racial theories? You fuckers are cracked.

I'm waiting for allegations of racism to crop up in response to any reference of Thor Heyerdahl's sailing skills that make mention of his Norse ancestry.

Keep up the stupid fight.

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

"It must take a colossal effort for the right-wing mind to rationalize that referring to one's national roots is somehow demeaning to the race of people that live there."

It's not referring to the nation Kenya. It is a reference to the physical qualities of the people, that they (supposedly) excel at running. It's on the level of saying Obama's timing was good, because black people have rhythm.


In a demeaning way?

What is wrong with all of you? So what if someone says blacks dance better, run faster or have better rhythm? Maybe they do and maybe they don't. And if they do, it could be cultural, or it could be natural. Who gives a rat's ass? Either way it's not done to demean one group, or portray a group in a way that comes at the expense of another.

Blacks also have variations in the way their ability to regulate water affects blood pressure. Black hypertensive patients are best treated with diuretics as opposed to the treatment regimens given to other races? Is this racism? Is noting a lower incidence of skin cancer in blacks racism?

Noting a racial difference is not racism. But pretending that any purported racial difference is an ipso facto evil is the ultimate stupidity. King's dream provides conservatives with a shorthand for erasing those pesky differences between us, but - hey - not everyone was bothered by them in the first place. That, I think, was the point, rather than fretting over differences and how they must somehow play into presumptive, bullshit notions of "superiority" or "inferiority".

Maybe for you guys they do. For me and a whole lot of other folks, they don't.

Alex said...

Ritmo just made the case that Jimmy the Greek and Rush should never have been fired from their sports gigs.

Ritmo Re-Animated said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ritmo Re-Animated said...

Rush Limbaugh and Jimmy the Greek never figured out that context is everything - something that Alex is also completely oblivious to.

Plus, Rush Limbaugh is obsessed/fixated with issues of race (and in a way that blacks somehow seem to find demeaning), while claiming to be color blind. That also says something.

Alex said...

Ritmo - fuck off Alinskyite.

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

So having a better argument than you makes me an "Alinskyite", eh?

How gentle am I supposed to be to you? How sensitive am I supposed to assume you are regarding your perception of your own intelligence? How many tissues am I supposed to offer, to clear up the tears of your bruised ego? You lost an argument, it's not the end of the world. Freaking deal with it!

Mutaman said...

"It's on the level of saying Obama's timing was good, because black people have rhythm."

You really are frigging nuts.

Palladian said...

Hey look, Alex had one of his anal-cranial inversions sometime this afternoon! Now he's in his fake conservative mode!

G Joubert said...

I don't much care for Fineman, or this new law, or Obama either, but, sorry, I don't see any racism what Fineman wrote. Taking notice that Obama's father came from a country of great marathoners is not racial. Marathon running is not a stereotype like in the case of basketball, and it's more than a stretch to make it one.

Unknown said...

LOL, that's I said too, he's a birther!

I guess Obama's black side is worthier than his white side. We can't mention the fact that he was actually born in America and raised in the Caucasian American culture.

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

We can't mention the fact that he was actually born in America and raised in the Caucasian American culture.

Sure you can, Pat. I mean, it's important that you be able to relate to him in some way.

Anyway, "Caucasian American culture"...? That's pretty damn funny. If that's really your view of things, then I'd hate to deprive you of pride in something so bland and meaningless. Hell, let Obama share that with you. "Caucasian American culture"! What a hoot! Let's have "Caucasian American culture" Day!

Ritmo Re-Animated said...

And Wednesday is Prince Spaghetti Day!

kentuckyliz said...

clean

articulate

professor

can turn the Negro dialect on and off

watermelons

Magic Negro

kentuckyliz said...

Pelosi mentioned the passing of the civil rights act at her signing ceremony...

which set the record for a filibuster by those in opposition--Democrats!!!

exhelodrvr1 said...

gjoubert,
"Marathon running is not a stereotype "

Really? Take a look at who has won the top men's marathons for the past 20 or so years.

Anonymous said...

If you haven't already, please sign the petition to REPEAL the bill!

http://the-raw-deal.com/2010/03/22/dont-kneel-to-it-repeal-it/

Nathan R. Jessup
http://the-raw-deal.com

Ohio1 said...

ALL native-born citizens are Natural Born Citizens. Only Naturalized citizens are not Natural Born Citizens.

Lawyer Mom said...

Come now. A liberal racist is an oxymoron.