# Barbra Streisand's racist ass **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 22, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777 "2004-03-22T22:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/81 "2004-03-24T21:08:04Z")
šŸ˜ƒ Well, at least not every liberal is a mean spirited dork. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/82 "2004-03-24T21:23:15Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > šŸ˜ƒ Well, at least not every liberal is a mean spirited dork. But it does seem like every Libertarian is a mean spirited goofball who thinks the countryā€™s worst problem is high taxes. Now your giving the impression that their dissingenuous as well. I have never seen you complain about racism untill now when you feel the need to attack some dipstick cause she is the personification of that which you feel is Libralism. Chill on this one Lib, it ainā€™t going anyplace you want to be. Hope this doesnā€™t mean we canā€™t still be friends. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/83 "2004-03-24T21:40:42Z")
What do you mean you have ā€œnever seenā€? You havenā€™t been here a month. Iā€™ve been posting for five years. Have you lurked for five years? Iā€™m an equal opportunity basher of liberals and conservatives. When I talk about Bushā€™s Gestapo, for example, I donā€™t mean it in a positve way. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/84 "2004-03-24T21:46:59Z")
I was going to post a ā€œstill holding out for the punchline of this parodyā€ post, but it has been done to death. Iā€™ll just say: Lib, do you truly think that Streisand is a racist? Truly? If this is really about how liberals can make jokes based on race and people laugh, while conservatives making the same joke would get dead silence, then you may have a point. But insisting that Streisand is a racist over this just looks silly. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/85 "2004-03-24T21:52:29Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > What do you mean you have ā€œnever seenā€? You havenā€™t been here a month. Iā€™ve been posting for five years. Have you lurked for five years? Iā€™m an equal opportunity basher of liberals and conservatives. When I talk about Bushā€™s Gestapo, for example, I donā€™t mean it in a positve way. Listen to yourself! By equal-opportunity basher, you mean that you bash Barbara Streisandā€™s half-assed joke equally with Bushā€™s long record of cutting back on civil rights? This is in the same sense that Iā€™m an equal-opportunity basher of liberals and conservatives. Hey, Clinton bombed a medicine factory in Sudan in an effort to distract people from his sexual indiscretions, effectively murdering people for propaganda purposes ā€“ but hey!look! George Bush Sr. puked at a Japanese dinner, the evil bastard! Thatā€™s some bizarre sense of equivalence you got there. Best to apologize abashedly for a ridiculous OP and back away slowly. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/86 "2004-03-24T21:55:43Z")
Nightime I didnā€™t say that Barbra Streisand is a racist. I said that she did not deserve to be applauded and encouraged for this particular racial slur. I certainly donā€™t think she meant to raise the rebel flag. But as Iā€™ve already said, she made a point of how important what she says and does really is, because she has so much exposure. This is the sort of thing that racists can point to and claim a double-standard. Why is it okay for Barbra? There is absolutely no reason to cut her slack on this. The only remotely reasonable argument offered has been that she is not generally seen as a racist, and so therefore deserves the benefit of the doubt. But heck, I canā€™t even get an acknowledgment that it even meant what it looked like. Thatā€™s not benefit of the doubt; thatā€™s shielding from responsibility. If what she says is important, then let her watch what she says and how she says it ā€” verbally or otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/87 "2004-03-24T21:59:30Z")
> [@](#): > > **Left Hand of Dorkness** : An apology means you wonā€™t do it again. Oops. Hell no! No one gets his shit together once and for all. Do they? **Libertarian** , if I had received the same message from Streisandā€™s gesture that you had, I would also be offended. If I were made aware that women of color are ashamed of having curvaceous buttocks, I would give it serious thought. If Streisand began to make obvious racial remarks, I would gladly join another pitting of her. {Aside to **Lib** ā€“ Interesting list of questions in your post above. Is support for these positions generally considered libertarian, just the liberal side of libertarianism or something else all together? (Pardon my ignorance and donā€™t you dare jump on me for asking.)} > [@](#): > > **featherlou** : I think weā€™re all forgetting that in her day, Barbra was pretty hot. In her day? _In her day?_ Why, sheā€™s only a year older than I and Iā€™m in me prime! šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/88 "2004-03-24T22:01:48Z")
Daniel Iā€™ve bashed plenty of liberal politicians for their tyrannical acts. I bashed Clinton and I bash Bush. And Iā€™ve bashed plenty of conservative pundits. I did a whole parody thread of Ann Coulter. Iā€™ve said many times there ainā€™t a dimeā€™s worth of difference. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/89 "2004-03-24T22:07:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Libertarian, if I had received the same message from Streisandā€™s gesture that you had, I would also be offended. Thank you, Zoe. > [@](#): > > Aside to Lib ā€“ Interesting list of questions in your post above. Is support for these positions generally considered libertarian, just the liberal side of libertarianism or something else all together? Libertarians are the so-called ā€œclassical liberalsā€, believing that people should have freedom in both their personal and fiscal lives. Liberals these days are what used to be called ā€œcentristsā€, striving always to compromise for the sake of political expedience. All the positions I listed above recognize the rights of individuals and the sacredness of consent. Thomas Jefferson was a classical liberal who wrote in the Declaration of Indepence that government derives its just powers from the consent of those it governs. Government was made for man, not man for government. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/90 "2004-03-24T22:09:34Z")
> [@](#): > > **Libertarian** : I didnā€™t say that Barbra Streisand is a racistā€¦ Thread title: _Barbra Streisandā€™s racist ass_ I think itā€™s easy to see why we might have thought otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/91 "2004-03-24T22:10:35Z")
Hey Lib, I know I have only been posting here for less than a month, and you have been doing it for 5 freakin years, which means you are better than me. But you still have not provided an example of where you stood up for African Americans that was not based on an attempt to bash a Liberal. Just curious, since you are so concerned about alleged insults to African American women, are you a member of NAACP or are you as I bet, a member of the NRA? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/92 "2004-03-24T22:11:42Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I didnā€™t say that Barbra Streisand is a racist. Does this thread have a different title for you than for me? > [@](#): > > I said that she did not deserve to be applauded and encouraged for this particular racial slur. Hold on, hold on. A ā€œslurā€ is an insult. Youā€™ve offered no evidence at all that she shook her ass insultingly. And if what she made was a racial comment as opposed to a slur, then your case falls apart. ā€œWe whities boil like a lobster under the open sunā€ is a racial comment; surely nobody would find that offensive. > [@](#): > > This is the sort of thing that racists can point to and claim a double-standard. Let them, but donā€™t help them. If they point to it, theyā€™re not making a legitimate point; instead of chastizing Babs for a nonissue, chastize the racists for their racism and for making intellectually bankrupt arguments to defend their racism. > [@](#): > > The only remotely reasonable argument offered has been that she is not generally seen as a racist, and so therefore deserves the benefit of the doubt. So **monstroā€™s** point that this isnā€™t offensive isnā€™t remotely reasonable? I mean, thatā€™s not even her case to prove: itā€™s your case to explain why, assuming Barbara **was** saying that black women have got bigger butts (not something Iā€™m convinced of), thatā€™s any more offensive than if sheā€™d said white women have got more freckles. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/93 "2004-03-24T22:17:51Z")
**Lib** , thanks for the explanation. > [@](#): > > Liberals these days are what used to be called ā€œcentristsā€, striving always to compromise for the sake of political expedience. I havenā€™t quite reconciled myself to all of the implications of supporting the ideas on your list. Maybe if we could all agree to be free to arm ourselves with muskets, I would be won over. Sorry to hijack. Iā€™ll stop. I was just interested. Again, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/94 "2004-03-24T22:18:36Z")
Zoe > [@](#): > > Thread title: Barbra Streisandā€™s racist ass > > I think itā€™s easy to see why we might have thought otherwise. She made a racist gesture with her ass. It is her ass that was racist. People have already admitted that, had Ann Coulter done the exact same thing, it would be a racist gesture. The implication being, of course, that conservatives are racist but liberals arenā€™t. Thatā€™s just not satisfactory to me. Daniel > [@](#): > > So monstroā€™s point that this isnā€™t offensive isnā€™t remotely reasonable? I mean, thatā€™s not even her case to prove: itā€™s your case to explain why, assuming Barbara was saying that black women have got bigger butts (not something Iā€™m convinced of), thatā€™s any more offensive than if sheā€™d said white women have got more freckles. As I said before, she should have told Lipton that that was not an appropriate question, just as she would likely have told a Fox News reporter. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/95 "2004-03-24T22:18:54Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > I didnā€™t say that Barbra Streisand is a racist. No. You said she had a racist ass (see the glaring title of this thread). > [@](#): > > I said that she did not deserve to be applauded and encouraged for this particular racial slur. How is shaking oneā€™s butt suggestively a ā€œracial slurā€. There is nothing inherently wrong with big butts. The fact that you seem to think so is YOUR problem. > [@](#): > > I certainly donā€™t think she meant to raise the rebel flag. Letā€™s seeā€¦youā€™ve called this thing a ā€œtragedyā€ and said that she was getting away with murder. You donā€™t think she raised the rebel flagā€¦you think she started the freakin Civil War and killed Abraham Lincoln! > [@](#): > > But as Iā€™ve already said, she made a point of how important what she says and does really is, because she has so much exposure. This is the sort of thing that racists can point to and claim a double-standard. Why is it okay for Barbra? Because she didnā€™t do anything that was offensive, fool. > [@](#): > > There is absolutely no reason to cut her slack on this. Arenā€™t Christians supposed to be forgiving? Wouldnā€™t Christ give Streisand the benefit of the doubt? > [@](#): > > The only remotely reasonable argument offered has been that she is not generally seen as a racist, and so therefore deserves the benefit of the doubt. What is wrong with this argument? > [@](#): > > But heck, I canā€™t even get an acknowledgment that it even meant what it looked like. Even if it was what you think it looked like, SO WHAT?! Do you really think black people are that hypersensitive to get worked up about someone making fun of our big black asses? > [@](#): > > Thatā€™s not benefit of the doubt; thatā€™s shielding from responsibility. If what she says is important, then let her watch what she says and how she says it ā€” verbally or otherwise. Why should she watch what she says and how she says it? Sheā€™s a freaking entertainer, not a school teacher. Youā€™re being a silly little attention-whore, **Libertarian**. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/96 "2004-03-24T22:24:06Z")
> [@](#): > > No. You said she had a racist ass (see the glaring title of this thread). Idiot. I addressed that twice just above your post. > [@](#): > > Youā€™re being a silly little attention-whore, Libertarian. Then you must be my pimp. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/97 "2004-03-24T22:25:40Z")
> [@Libertarian](#): > > She made a racist gesture with her ass. It is her ass that was racist. You and I both know that thatā€™s not even worthy of response. > [@](#): > > People have already admitted that, had Ann Coulter done the exact same thing, it would be a racist gesture. The implication being, of course, that conservatives are racist but liberals arenā€™t. Thatā€™s just not satisfactory to me. Me either. Please donā€™t assume that **lissener** speaks for all liberals. If Ann Coulter had done this, or indeed if she ever makes any comment that points in a non-disparaging fashion toward a physical trait often held by a particular ethnic or racial group, I double-dog promise not to call her a racist for it. And youā€™ll never find me saying that conservatives are racist but liberals arenā€™t. > [@](#): > > As I said before, she should have told Lipton that that was not an appropriate question, just as she would likely have told a Fox News reporter. Why was the question inappropriate? Thatā€™s what I donā€™t get. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/98 "2004-03-24T22:34:21Z")
Why all this fuss over Babā€™s opinionated donkey? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/99 "2004-03-24T22:39:36Z")
Daniel > [@](#): > > Why was the question inappropriate? Thatā€™s what I donā€™t get. Look at the transcript. She had just told him that the guy turned her down at first because he couldnā€™t tell if she was black or white. And then Lipton said, ā€œWas it the look of you or the sound of you?ā€. That is a completely inappropriate ā€” not to mention stupid ā€” question. Come to think of it, part of her antics might have been intented to convey exactly that point. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777/100 "2004-03-24T22:42:46Z")
Hmm. I wonder if that might be what she meant. In other words, perhaps her gesture was meant not to insult blacks but rightfully to insult Lipton. I concede that that is possible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbra-streisands-racist-ass/235777.md?page=6)