Tag: racism

Here’s Why Republicans’ Disturbing Romance with the Racist Confederacy Is So Troubling

The following article by W. Fitzhugh Brundage of the Independent Media Institute was posted on the AlterNet.org website August 17, 2018:

The road to the violence around statues is paved with hate, lies, and political gamesmanship.

Lee Park, Charlottesville, VA by Cville dog, via Wikimedia.org

Among the historical ironies of our current era is the defense of Confederate monuments and southern white “heritage” by Republicans. The curious path that the Grand Old Party of Abraham Lincoln has followed to its present stance is an example of expediency and ideology subverting principle.

For more than a century after the Civil War, the defense of white southern “heritage” was the preoccupation of white Democrats. Until the 1970s, Republicans in the South were a long suffering minority who had to battle against all manner of Democratic machinations to enfeeble their opponents. The party recruited African Americans—who remained loyal to the party of Lincoln and hostile to the white segregationists who still presided over the Democratic Party in the region—and whites who favored Republican policies and were less enchanted by white supremacy than their Democratic rivals. Southern Republicans were often vocal opponents of the poll tax and other Democratic schemes that suppressed voter turnout and impeded equal representation in state houses. Nationally, Republican ranks included moderates and liberals whose commitment to racial equality was crucial for the expansion of civil rights from the Civil War until the election of Ronald Reagan.

Continue reading “Here’s Why Republicans’ Disturbing Romance with the Racist Confederacy Is So Troubling”

Trump says he condemns ‘all types of racism’ ahead of Charlottesville anniversary

The following article by Avery Anapol and Tal Aexelrod was posted on the Hill website August 11, 2018:

President Trump on Saturday tweeted that he condemns “all types of racism and acts of violence” ahead of the first anniversary of the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va.

Trump has been under intense pressure to condemn last year’s violence and speak out against white supremacists organizing an anniversary rally set to take place on Sunday.

“The riots in Charlottesville a year ago resulted in senseless death and division,” he tweeted. “We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!”

View the complete article here.

Laura Ingraham insists she’s not racist, then doubles down on racism

The following article by Zack Ford was posted on the ThinkProgress website August 10, 2018:

Laura Ingraham Credit: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

Fox News host Laura Ingraham wants everyone to know that she’s not racist. Unfortunately, she made that clarification by expressing more racism.

Ingraham opened her show Thursday night with some clarifying remarks about her opening monologue Wednesday night. “A message to those who are distorting my views, including all white nationalists and especially one racist freak whose name I will not even mention: You do not have my support,” she said. “You don’t represent my views and you are antithetical to the beliefs I hold dear.”

The “one racist freak” she didn’t name was former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, who praised her remarks as “one of the most important (truthful) monologues in the history of MSM [mainstream media].” It’s not hard to see why he found affinity with the way she had bemoaned how the “massive demographic changes” from immigration were making it “seem like the America that we know and love doesn’t exist anymore,” a claim that bears a strong resemblance with the white supremacist “14 words” slogan.

View the complete article here.

Charlottesville Anniversary

President Trump answers questions about his response to the violence, injuries and deaths at the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville as he talks to the media in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, Aug. 15, 2017. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

We’re one year past the Charlottesville tragedy, and Trump has only further cemented his status as a divider. Rather than work to ease racial tensions and bridge cultural divides in America, the president has made it clear that he prefers to use division as a tool to rally his base.

We have not forgotten that the leader of this country openly and unapologetically defended the alt-right, white supremacists, and Neo-Nazis. Every time Trump insults black leaders, tweets about anthem protests, or uses racist and offensive language, he continues to divide our country.

Democrats have denounced in the strongest possible terms the hatred, bigotry, and racism that led to the senseless murder of an innocent woman at the Charlottesville protests. Democrats believe that there’s no room for this sort of brutality in America.

Democrats believe in a future of inclusion and opportunity for all Americans. Absolutely no one should fear for their safety because of the color of their skin.

Diversity is our nation’s greatest strength, and any actions that make this country less inclusive are inherently un-American. We’ll fight tooth and nail against any attempts to divide our country.

Putin Says ‘Jews’ Possibly Behind Russian Hacking

The following article by Tom Porter of Newsweek was posted on the National Memo website March 11, 2018:

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Jews may be behind alleged meddling in the U.S. presidential election.

In an interview broadcast late Friday, Putin was asked by NBC’s Megyn Kelly whether he condoned the electoral interference by 13 Russians named in an indictment by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

“Maybe they are not even Russians but Ukrainians, Tatars or Jews, but with Russian citizenship, which should also be checked; maybe they have dual citizenship of a green card; maybe the U.S. paid them for this. How can you know that? I do not know either,” he said. Continue reading “Putin Says ‘Jews’ Possibly Behind Russian Hacking”

Sessions invoking secession sets his critics up to revisit concerns about the AG’s history on race

The following article by Eugene Scott was posted on the Washington Post website March 8, 2018:

Attorney General Jeff Sessions scolded Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who warned the city of a possible ICE raid last month. (Reuters)

While attacking his political rivals in California on Wednesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions made a bizarre comparison that left some questioning the former senator from Alabama’s recollection of American history.

He was speaking before law enforcement officials at the California Peace Officers Association’s annual gathering, a day after suing California over sanctuary city laws that he said violated the Constitution, obstructed immigration enforcement and put officers in danger. Continue reading “Sessions invoking secession sets his critics up to revisit concerns about the AG’s history on race”

Trump tweets another anti-CNN cartoon — this one by the same artist who drew Clinton in blackface

The following article by Callum Borchers was posted on the Washington Post website February 18, 2018:

President Trump renewed his attacks against CNN, which he has repeatedly called “fake news,” with a tweet on Christmas Eve. (Video: Jenny Starrs/Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

President Trump on Sunday used his Twitter account to share an anti-CNN cartoon by an artist who in 2016 caused heartburn for Trump’s presidential campaign by drawing Hillary Clinton in blackface.

The latest image by cartoonist Tony Branco imagines CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer in the year 2038, leaning on a cane as he delivers the following report: “Update! We should see evidence of Russia-Trump collusion any day now.” The implication is that the media will never let go of the story. Continue reading “Trump tweets another anti-CNN cartoon — this one by the same artist who drew Clinton in blackface”

MLK III compares Trump to George Wallace

The following article by Olivia Beavers was posted on the Hill website January 15, 2018:

Martin Luther King Jr.’s eldest son on Monday compared President Trumpto former Alabama Gov. George Wallace (D) amid backlash over Trump’s controversial “shithole countries” remark, The Associated Press reported.

“George Wallace was a staunch racist and we worked on his heart and ultimately George Wallace transformed,” Martin Luther King III said while speaking in Washington on the holiday named after his father. Continue reading “MLK III compares Trump to George Wallace”

Roy Moore’s attorney offers bizarre defense of Roy Moore

The following article by Aaron Blake was posted on the Washington Post website November 15, 2017:

News anchors appeared to be offended by attorney Trenton Garmon while discussing the allegations of sexual harassment against his client Roy Moore. (Patrick Martin/The Washington Post)

First there was the Alabama state auditor whose biblical defense of Roy Moore suggested that he hadn’t read the Good Book in some time. Then we had the Moore-supporting journalist who compared the sexual touching of a 14-year old to stealing a lawn mower.

Not content to let anybody else have the worst possible defense of Moore, Moore’s own lawyer stepped to the plate Wednesday. And he took a big swing. Continue reading “Roy Moore’s attorney offers bizarre defense of Roy Moore”