January 7, 2019

The follow-up question Anderson Cooper should have asked Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after she said "Yeah" to his "Do you believe President Trump is a racist?"

I don't think I'm seeing a full transcript to last night's "60 Minutes" (at the "60 Minutes" website), but here's the section of the interview that I'm seeing and reacting to:
Anderson Cooper: You don't talk about President Trump very much.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: No.

Anderson Cooper: Why?

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: No. Because I think he's a symptom of a problem.

Anderson Cooper: What do you mean?

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: The president certainly didn't invent racism. But he's certainly given a voice to it and expanded it and created a platform for those things.

Anderson Cooper: Do you believe President Trump is a racist?

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Yeah. Yeah. No question.

Anderson Cooper: How can you say that?

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: (CHUCKLE) When you look at the words that he uses, which are historic dog whistles of white supremacy. When you look at how he reacted to the Charlottesville incident, where neo-Nazis murdered a woman, versus how he manufactures crises like immigrants seeking legal refuge on our borders, it's— it's night and day.
"How can you say that?" is open-ended and dull, and she heard it as an invitation to serve up something that seems sort of factual.

Amusingly enough, she talked like Trump, with sentences that began with "When you look at...". When you look at X... what? She (like Trump) is gesturing at something and instead of detailing what's in her head, she involves us. Just look! If we look, we will connect the dots the way she does... however that it.

She referred to one occasion when Trump uttered some words, but she doesn't quote the words. We have to remember them or look them up, and she's performing the assumption that if we do that, we will understand that Trump is a racist. (For the record, what Trump said was: "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.")

But what I wish Cooper had asked her about is: Do you believe that racism is pervasive in America — and in human beings — and that everyone is, to some extent, racist? And: Do you think that some of the people who — unlike you — talk about Trump a lot and call him a racist are failing to face up to their own racism?

I would assume her answer would be yes. If everyone is racist, the question whether Trump is a racist is easy.

101 comments:

Kevin said...

If everyone is racist, the question whether Trump is a racist is easy.

And no longer significant.

rehajm said...

Yeah, Kevin. Not much of a revelation then, is it?

Kevin said...

The question isn’t whether all people are racist. It’s whether the racism of some people crosses a magical threshold by which their racism can be distinguished from ours.

As Biden and others have shown, one way to ensure you stay under this threshold is to vote Democrat.

AllenS said...

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: (CHUCKLE) "When you look at the words that he uses, which are historic dog whistles of white supremacy."

Sure. How many people can hear dog whistles, Occasional?

Kevin said...

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides."

The Dems don’t seem to have a problem with hatred, bigotry and violence, so I could see why his words were so upsetting.

If people stop accepting hatred, bigotry and violence, all the left will have is the movies to cause social change.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

Not only do racists hear the dog whistles of racism, they wag their tails and bark in agreement. The rest of us hear them and feel revulsion. That’s the difference.

Shouting Thomas said...

Racism isn't a significant problem in the U.S.

To the extent racism exists, it can't be fixed.

The diagnosis is wrong. Systems don't cause racism. Racism is part of the human condition. We fear the other tribe, often enough with very good reason.

Inga...Allie Oop said...

“The Dems don’t seem to have a problem with hatred, bigotry and violence, so I could see why his words were so upsetting.”

What partisan hackery.

Tina Trent said...

The racism smear is a wolf whistle to destroy lives.

Five cops murdered in Dallas. Four cops murdered in Lakewood, Washington. Cops threatened every day. Crime victims left to fend for themselves, murder rates kept high in Chicago and Baltimore, St. Louis, Detroit, and so on. Tens of millions of Americans re-educated by force in schools, unknown numbers purged from academic careers and now other industries.

All by the libel of false accusations of racism, and other isms. This is no time to ask for a mild clarification, Ann. Here is the question nobody will ask: "why does Charlottesville matter to you so much when Trump had nothing to do with it and your own movements such as Black Lives Matters riot and destroy property and threaten people and encourage the murder or police officers? Police have been killed because of Black Lives Matters. Let's talk about Dallas."

rehajm said...

Historic Dog Whistles on EBay

Shouting Thomas said...

Inga's reply is indicative of the complete and impenetrable stupidity we're up against.

She's on a moral crusade to banish sin.

This is impossibly stupid, and Inga's too stupid to comprehend how impossibly stupid this is.

You might as well talk to a stone.

rehajm said...

No way barber shop black guys are voting in a Madam President.

David Begley said...

I’ve cited Tom Wolfe’s “Back to Blood” here before. From that book, I learned that some Blacks are racists to other Blacks based on skin color.

Greg Hlatky said...

If every trace (such as they exist) of racism in the US were to disappear tomorrow, there would be a ton of "activists", "community organizers" and "public intellectuals" with nothing to do.

(see also: fake "hate crimes")

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

She's not smart or articulate.

I don't know about Anderson Cooper.

rehajm said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
rehajm said...

America is racist and sexist and misogynistic so let's run a minority female candidate for President.

I'll resist voting for you because you cant spot the faulty logic.

John henry said...

Some of my best friends are nyoricans. (classic reference) Even some of my family are nyorican.

I have mixed feelings them as a group. Especially nyorican politicians. Too many are like AOC and Gutierrez

I guess that makes me a racist, right?

John Henry

Rory said...

Kevin said: "The Dems don’t seem to have a problem with hatred, bigotry and violence, so I could see why his words were so upsetting."

Racism has to be looked at as a special category, a superpredator of hatred, bigotry, and violence, or (in America) all progressive narrative fails.

The blogger wrote: "If we look, we will connect the dots the way she does... however that it."

This is the definition of conspiracy theory: you take a few points (some true, some mangled, some made up) to emphasize, ignore anything that doesn't fit your conclusion, and then assert that those few points have universal application. In the political field, it goes by the name disinformation.

rehajm said...

It's not because of your race. It's because your policies suck and they harm people.

John henry said...

David,

I learned that from WKRP when Venus Flytrap talked about not being able to pass the "brown bag test" in New Orleans.

I'm pretty sure I knew about it before that though.

I wonder how AOC feels about Dominicans. Esp black Dominicans?

John Henry

John Henry

Phil 314 said...

Racism is tribalism for stupid people.

“I can’t figure out who to fear/loathe so Ill just go by looks.”

Kevin said...

What partisan hackery.

The whole point of the counter-march was to direct hate and violence toward a group they could not tolerate.

It was Trump pointing this out that created the need to brand him a racist, one who couldn’t tell the difference between good and bad hatred, bigotry and violence.

Phil 314 said...

Racism has become a Rorschach test:

“What, you don’t see the butterfly? You must be a racist.”

Shouting Thomas said...

Racism is tribalism for stupid people.

“I can’t figure out who to fear/loathe so Ill just go by looks.”


You're wrong.

If I don't drive thru black neighborhoods in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Newark, my chances of ever being assaulted, car jacked, robbed or murdered decrease down to almost zero.

I have the feeling you know this too.

Humperdink said...

“The Dems don’t seem to have a problem with hatred, bigotry and violence, so I could see why his words were so upsetting.”

Inga Oop responded: "What partisan hackery."

Eric Holder, former AG, currently (and always) an African American: "....my people...."

Hmm, I wonder to whom was Eric Holder was referring.

Darrell said...

The Democrats always have to come up with young Turks because all their old Turks are so pathetic. And discredited.

rhhardin said...

Just substitute asshole for racist whenever it comes up and it clarifies the question.

Darrell said...

AO-C would have gotten the obsidian knife as soon as she could bleed. No wonder she honors Cortez with her surname.

rhhardin said...

When you call Trump an asshole are you failing to recognize your own assholery?

rhhardin said...

Asshole may be sexist.

rhhardin said...

I don't understand the AOC fascination. From the occasional pic and the quotes she blends into the left completely undifferentiated.

Tommy Duncan said...

Inga said: "What partisan hackery."

She wanted to say: "What partisan hackery. You f---ing white bastards should be shot."

rhhardin said...

Scott Adams thinks AOC is a genius persuader, getting everybody talking about her.

Trump did it by cutting through political correctness. AOC is the opposite, a PC go-along.

John henry said...

RHHardin?

Only women have cunnies.

Only men have dicks.

So those terms are sexist.

Everyone has an asshole so how is that sexist?

John Henry

Humperdink said...

I often wonder, once the American populace is effectively disarmed, what type of execution the Commie-Pinko lefties will employ against the haters and racists. You know, for those that refuse free admission to the re-education camps. Gassing and the guillotine, although efficient, won't make for good you tube viewing. My guess is lethal injection.

Any thoughts Inga Oop?

Ralph L said...

Althouse, you left an important word out of the post title.

Mike Sylwester said...

Being a Republican is inherently racist.

That's why the people who oppose racism are Democrats.

Mike Sylwester said...

If Joe Biden runs for President, he will continue to run on his platform that Republicans want to put Blacks back in chains.

Bay Area Guy said...

The Dem playbook - as typified by young AOC - is to push for socialism and tar any and all opponents as racists.

The media playbook - as typified by Anderson Cooper - is to provide a big prominent platform for AOC to spout her views unchallenged.

The normal sane American playbook - as typified by most Althouse commentators - is to mock and/or ignore the first two playbooks and focus on work, family, sports, beer and church.

TrespassersW said...

Saying something is a racist dog whistle is a racist dog whistle.

Bruce Hayden said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Humperdink said...

I am an old guy and I must tell you, I have never heard a dog whistle. I am wondering if Inga could describe the sound. It would appear she is an expert.

Hunter said...

Trump also said:

"Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans."

But this statement condemning racists took too long, after the first statement condemning racists was twisted and portrayed as an outrageous defense of racists. The fact that it took so long to condemn racists the second time is further proof of Trump's racism and refusal to condemn racists.

Bruce Hayden said...

“What partisan hackery.”

Says a defender and likely stalwart in the racist party for the last 200 years. The party that marched the Indians to Oklahoma. The party that owned the slaves in the south and defended slavery in the north. The party of Jim Crow and the KKK. The party that resegregated the federal government after it had been desegregated after the Civil War. The party that destroyed minority families with their War on Poverty, and as a result are primarily responsible for the problems of violence and drugs found these days in so many inner city minority communities. For two hundred years now, the party that has achieved and maintained power by playing one demographic group off against another. No wonder they want to rewrite history - they want to bury the reality that they have been the racist party for 200 years.

Gunner said...

She is the femal SJW version of Trump. But even more defensive about slights on Twitter.

Hunter said...

A lot of people claim to be able to hear the other side's dog whistles.

This misses the point of a dog whistle. If you can hear it, there are two likely explanations. Either it isn't a very well designed dog whistle, or you're the dog.

Bruce Hayden said...

The funny thing about the Dems and their “dog whistles” is that they are the only ones who can hear them.

Bruce Hayden said...

@Hunter - much better explanation than mine.

Ann Althouse said...

@Ralph L

Thanks. Fixed.

John henry said...

One of the things I've always found notably absent is just how PDJT is a racist. Nobody can ever give any examples.

Chuck, in his inimitable manner, tried a few months back and failed epically. none of the examples he gave had anything to do with race.

So anyone? Examples?

I know he is a horrible person (All together now)

ORANGE MAN BAD!!
ORANGE MAN BAD!!
ORANGE MAN BAD!!
ORANGE MAN BAD!!

But racist? Does anyone have any examples?

John Henry

Gahrie said...

Do you believe that racism is pervasive in America — and in human beings — and that everyone is, to some extent, racist?

Her answer would be: "No, only White people are racist."

Rigelsen said...

It takes a dog to hear dog whistles and a racist one to hear racist dog whistles.

And Ann, do you really expect thoughtful answers from AOC? I’m just curious, has there been any interview where she’s demonstrated anything other than intellectual vapidity and easy demagogy? It’s a shame our public interlocutors only believe in doing their jobs when interviewing Republicans, or Democrats might actually have to learn how to speak to the unconverted.

Unknown said...

Let those without whistles

blow the first dog

Unknown said...

she's utterly predictable already

doctrinaire jacobin

Unknown said...

Interesting she "has the back of her sisters"

the Muslim women

what unites them?

Unknown said...

for her next trick

Sandy from the block

will flip pancakes

and talk about the rise of the proletariat

for her xx million instagram army

Anonymous said...

Kevin: The Dems don’t seem to have a problem with hatred, bigotry and violence, so I could see why his words were so upsetting.

That what he actually said wouldn't be upsetting to rational persons who paid any attention to what he actually said, in context, and who have a grasp of events above sub-basement level, is entirely beside the point. The progs and their MSM flunkies got, afaics, just about everybody (including plenty of "conservatives") to accept their Charlottesville narrative, lock, stock, and barrel, to believe that Trump said what they wanted everybody to believe he said about Charlottesville, and to get all affronted and upset by it. To this day they're going with that script. It worked, and it continues to work.

tcrosse said...

Syllogism:
I hate racists.
I hate Trump
Ergo, Trump is a racist.
QED.

CWJ said...

tcrosse,

Kudos. That works with Hitler in the first statement too.

narciso said...

Yes it was McAuliffes blood price to win the gubernatorial election, all he had to do was to stand down the police, and cancel the permit.

Henry said...

He should have asked her to whistle.

Chuck said...

johnhenry100 said...
One of the things I've always found notably absent is just how PDJT is a racist. Nobody can ever give any examples.

Chuck, in his inimitable manner, tried a few months back and failed epically. none of the examples he gave had anything to do with race.
...


What are you talking about? What I recall having linked to in the past were two stories. One was the series of federal lawsuits brought against Fred Trump, Donald Trump and Trump Management Company for racial discrimination in renting apartments in Brooklyn and Queens in the 1970's.

The other was the story in which Donald Trump was quoted the 1991 book by John O’Donnell, "Trumped!" O'Donnell had been president of Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. And he quoted Trump saying,“ Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are short guys wearing yarmulkes… Those are the only kind of people I want counting my money. Nobody else…Besides that, I tell you something else. I think that guy’s [a black financial officer of the casino] lazy. And it’s probably not his fault because laziness is a trait in blacks.”

When the O'Donnell book was published, Trump (who was never shy about defending himself in the press) did not contest it. Years later in an interview with Mark Bowden for Playboy, Trump stated that the O'Donnell book was "probably true."

Beyond that, I don't think that I have ever tried to make a claim of racism against Trump. I have never liked the broad, general, implied-only claims of racism against Trump. I look to the specifics, not the merely implied. It is possible, but I don't think that I have tried to make the case that Trump was a racist. Trump placed black people in his Administration. One was Dr. Ben Carson, who is a wonderful man but someone who had almost no discernible credentials to serve as secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Another was "Apprentice" alumna Omarosa Manigault, who had no discernible credentials to do anything in the Executive Branch, and whose function in the White House seems to have been to supply a black face.

campy said...

Her answer would be: "No, only White people are racist."

Only republicans.

Chuck said...

On the actual substance of Althouse's blog post, I had nothing to say about any supposed Trump racism. My question was about Althouse's several posts about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, wherein Althouse is making the point that Ocasio-Cortez is using communication methods and styles that are similar to ones used by Trump.

Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a leftwing Trump? That's what I am picking up from you, Althouse. And I find it interesting.

Wince said...

Chuck said...
Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a leftwing Trump? That's what I am picking up from you, Althouse. And I find it interesting.

AOC is a left wing Trump with MSM-supplied training wheels. A darling, not a disrupter.

rcocean said...

Her comments on Trump's "Racism" sound like Mitt Romney.

rcocean said...

BTW, she'd be saying the thing about any Republican President. And that's the real problem.

The liberals in this country are going crazy Left, they now believe borders and immigration laws are "immoral" and they are pardoning crooks and killers because they might be deported.

rcocean said...

You'll never stop the charge of Racism by playing defense. you need to counter-attack.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Sad commentary that this young idiot is getting so much attention.

HoodlumDoodlum said...

If he's a symptom the problem is widespread racism, concentrated in/with his supporters. She thinks people who don't object to Trump as strongly as she does are all racist.

Asking "do you think everyone is a little racist>" is nearly as big of a softball/non-question as "how can you say that?" Of course the Left holds that everyone is racist to some degree. They also believe, though, that the non-Left are REALLY racist: that they're racist-racist and are in fact the problem. They'll hedge about the numbers/percentage, of course, but it's a core belief--thus "deplorables" and similar ideas.

roesch/voltaire said...

Yes Althouse everybody has some bias against the other bust not everybody has the power over others and their behavior the way a racist president does, and that’s the point.

n.n said...

Is Trump a diversitist? There is no evidence that he judges people by the color of their skin, their sex, or even gender. Or that he labels people by their "minority" class. If anything, it was Cooper who laid down a press cover-up of immigration reform forced by social justice adventures. Then there is illegal immigration that violates the civil rights of Americans and immigrants, excessive immigration that exceeds the rate of assimilation and integration before and after Planned Parenthood (and other dysfunction), and the men, women, and children left behind.

Birkel said...

Yes, roesch/voltaire, but nobody was talking about Obama or Biden.
Please stay on topic.

Howard said...

You people are the ones obsessed by the O-C. She lives rent free in your limbic system. Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?

Howard said...

AC did clutch his pearls for a moment, that's the excuse for his nancing response to O-C's blunt observation.

Birkel said...

Howard: "You people..."

Dog whistling past the graveyard.
The Left projects its many -isms.

stevew said...

"This misses the point of a dog whistle. If you can hear it, there are two likely explanations. Either it isn't a very well designed dog whistle, or you're the dog."

That's what I think every time someone deploys the pejorative 'dog whistle'.

Michael Fitzgerald said...

The stupidest thing that she said in that interview was that president Trump "manufactured the crisis on the border where people were coming to seek asylum legally."

A democrat party talking point lie unchallenged by the "journalist", the hero rushing into the fire, the courageous truthfinder storming the beaches of Normandy, the slimy faggot selling democrat party propaganda.

Known Unknown said...

Trump is an outsider. That's the primal basis of his appeal.

AOC is just starting as an insider. A left-leaning Trump would be an Oprah, or a Howard Schultz.

n.n said...

Ocasio-Cortez: (CHUCKLE) When you look at the words that he uses, which are historic dog whistles of white supremacy. When you look at how he reacted to the Charlottesville incident, where neo-Nazis murdered a woman

As far as we know, the neo-Nazis set up a kill zone, assaulted a vehicle with the intent to intimidate the driver, and sacrificed the life of one of their followers in order to create a press spectacle.

Howard said...

You people are absolutely spot on regarding the misuse of the term dog whistle. Your racisism is more easily revealed when you drool whenever rasis bells ring.

Birkel said...

Howard stays with "you people" because he must other somebody.
Ever has the Democrat Party been that way.
The projection is amazing.

Howard said...

it's all about triggering snowflakes like birkel

M Jordan said...

I’m not a Cortez mocker. She has some real political gifts and she senses the zeitgeist of a part of our society. But I despise her for calling Trump a racist. To me, calling a person a racist is a dealbreaker. I. O longer can take that person on good faith.

M Jordan said...

By the way, is it just me and my Anderson Cooper contempt or is the guy getting uglier? Because he looked uglier to me than I remembered. Not that it matters (tee hee).

Birkel said...

It's cute that you recognize the snowflake argument when I reorient it toward you, Howard.
I accept your abject surrender, therefore.

It is odd that you assume emotional content in what I have typed.
Can you point to the specific word or phrase that you believe betrays any emotion on my part?
HINT: Mocking you and your side is decidedly not emotional on my part.

Mike Sylwester said...

It's been a few years since I watched Sixty Minutes.

Does each show still end with a funny comment by Andy Rooney?

chickelit said...

rcocean said...You'll never stop the charge of Racism by playing defense. you need to counter-attack.

It's pretty easy to imagine that AOC is racist and despises white people. What has she ever said to counter that notion? She oozes class resentment which she projects onto white people.

narciso said...

Zombie Andy Rooney, a little like the amazing spiderman proposed part 3

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

It's racist to condemn violence by Blacks and the good white people against the Deplorables.

n.n said...

It's pretty easy to imagine that AOC is racist and despises white people

The former, probably. The latter, maybe. She was likely raised with the precepts of diversity doctrine, which has colored her judgment of people. Also, white people turn green when sick, blue when suffocating, red when burned, etc. So, who are the real "colored" people? This juvenile "insight" is praised by some parents.

Howard said...

Birkel: "side". Emotional sports fans root for sides.

PuertoRicoSpaceport.com said...

Blogger Chuck said...

renting apartments in Brooklyn and Queens in the 1970's.

The other was the story in which Donald Trump was quoted the 1991 book


And here we have you repeating the epic fail. Leaving aside the question of whether either example is bullshit, which they seem to be, they don't come anywhere near the question.

If either or both stories prove what you seem to think, all that would be is that PDJT WAS a racist. The O'Donnell story was from the 80s, the other from the 70s. More than 30 & 40 years ago.

How do they show that PDJT IS a racist.?

You also might want to mention that O'Donnell had an axe to grind in his book. Might shade the believability of the anecdote.

Beyond that, I don't think that I have ever tried to make a claim of racism against Trump.

At the time you posted those to things originally it was your response to being asked for examples of how PDJT is a racist. You had claimed, without offering examples, that he is.

You also claimed that because of his stance on 1) Illegal Mexican immigration and 2) his ban on people from certain mid-east countries he was racist.

I and several others pointed out that Mexicans and citizens of certain middle eastern countries are not races by any stretch of the imagination.

So not only did you fail epicly the first time, here you come again with the exact same fail. Half of it anyway.

So how about some examples showing how PDJT is a racist? Or perhaps you are saying that he is not a racist?

As with so many of your comments, you seem very confused.

John Henry

Jim at said...

Not only do racists hear the dog whistles of racism, they wag their tails and bark in agreement.

Well, considering it's always - and I mean, always - leftists like you who are pointing out said dog whistles, it makes one wonder who the real racists are.

Woof.

Jim at said...

You people are the ones obsessed by the O-C.

We're not the ones who booked her on 60 Minutes.

Chuck said...

No, John Henry; I don't agree with your characterization at all.

First, there is nothing at all that is "bullshit" in what I wrote and linked to. The federal racial discrimination litigation against the Trumps was real, and so were the consent judgments that the Trumps ultimately agreed to.

Second, the anecdote from "Trumped!" and Trump's reaction are a matter of record. You can think what you want but I certainly didn't make any of it up.

I don't know and don't much care what sort of racist that Donald Trump is. Again, for the third time I say to you that if you want to argue about something I wrote in the past, you need to quote me and link to the source.

I like stories that are well-sourced and undeniable and which paint Trump in a bad light. I don't know exactly what Trump's racial prejudices are, but I do know what a reckless, stupid, malignant asshole he is. That is quite enough for me.

Howard said...

Yeah Chuck, Trump's cunt level is oddles of magnitudes greater than his racist level.

Birkel said...

Sure, Howard.
When you type "you people" it does not mean you are separating people into groups.
Again, I accept your abject and humiliating apology.
Twice, even!

Birkel said...

Chuck, fopdoodle extraordinaire and demonstrated racist, typed a bunch of words to imply things that are not supported by the evidence.
Then, the useless Lefty demanded other people comment to his liking.
And then a different Lefty ran to support Chuck, almost as if Drago has a point.
Howard defends his team, bless him.

Finally, I enjoy watching a guy who claims to be a Republican so fully supporting a disparate impact claim made by NYC (big government) DOJ lawyers without the slightest question.
That's just terribly sad.
You might be more convincing in your Moby role if you knew and expressed the reservations that conservatives have about such things; you can't because you don't share the reservations.

You are conservative for a Lefty Moby.

Bilwick said...

tcrosse wrote:
"Syllogism:
I hate racists.
I hate Trump
Ergo, Trump is a racist.
QED."

Well, tcrosse, that's more logical than most of the things AOC and your average State-cultist says. AOC probably doesn't even know what a syllogism is.