Ramblings' Journal

Ketchup Boy's racist rhetoric

BlogSister of mine, LaShawn Barber, takes on John Kerry's pandering ways today.

In her piece, she points to an article by US Civil Rights Commission member Peter Kirsanow in National Review.

Much of Senator Kerry’s message to black audiences, however, is drawn from negative and sometimes ugly stereotypes about putatively “black” concerns. For example, while speaking before the Urban League in July, Kerry stressed the need for more Section 8 funding rather than stressing home-ownership, and stressed government programs more than entrepreneurship (because, you know, most blacks are either on welfare or otherwise dependent on the government). He’s done so without challenge. Imagine the justifiable outrage if Kerry had employed offensive stereotypes when courting voters from other ethnic groups. Even when not engaging stereotypes Kerry tends to appeal to the lowest common denominator — a bland Huey Long.

Senator Kerry’s attempts over the last several months to “energize” black voters by invoking the specter of Jim Crow and falsely claiming massive voter disenfranchisement apparently aren’t impressing black Democrat leaders. That could well mean he might make even more incendiary comments in the upcoming weeks. If he does, he must be called on it. Senator Kerry’s divisive statements are more likely to create the two Americas of which he and his running mate complain rather than promote a more unified America.

Mr. Kirsanow points out the obvious flaw in Kerry's campaign -- at least when it comes to black America.

Unfortunately, black America, as a whole, is so fixated on a collective hatred of George W. Bush, thanks to the mainstream media and self-flagellating pulpit sitters like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. As a result, when confronted with the glaring racial pandering of Kerry, most blacks are willing to ignore it. And that leaves Martin Luther King spinning in his grave like a top.

Posted by mhking at September 17, 2004 03:57 PM