# Harry Belafonte sticks his head up his ass **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237 "2006-01-10T00:10:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/21 "2006-01-10T02:22:23Z")
**Clothahump** : The new **Reeder**. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/22 "2006-01-10T02:26:35Z")
Hey, at least [he came back to this thread before a week had passed.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346902) ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/23 "2006-01-10T02:35:10Z")
The guy’s 78 years old. Maybe he’s senile. Maybe he doesn’t know Hugo Chavez from Cesar Chavez. Maybe he & Danny Glover are just a couple of old rich entertainers and don’t have anything to do with “the left” in American Politics. Why the fuck do I have to answer for what Harry does? And just because someone in the USA is in a labor union, votes Democrat more than Republican and opposes the war in Iraq doesn’t make them a marxist any more than **Clothahump** espousing his brand of “right wing” politics makes him a Nazi, Fascist, or Czarist. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/24 "2006-01-10T02:42:03Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > There was nothing else that needed to be said. The asshole went down and rubbed shoulders with a dictator and called his own President a terrorist. But, Hugo Chavez is **not** a dictator, and George Bush **is** a terrorist, and an asshole besides. I wouldn’t agree, without more data, that “millions of Americans support the socialist revolution of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.” But everything else Belafonte said is right on the money. So what’s your fucking problem? > [@Clothahump](#): > > Perhaps the left no longer has any sense of pride in our country any more. :rolleyes: Of course we have. That’s why we revile our “president” for the piece of shit he is. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/25 "2006-01-10T02:45:04Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Because we’ve got more sense than to listen to what a singer has to say about politics? Harry Belafonte hates George Bush. Big fuckin’ deal. Why don’t you explain to me why I should give a shit. > > What I wonder is, when did the right become such a gigantic collection of sobbing pussies? Oh my God! The guy who wrote “The Bananna Boat Song” doesn’t like George Bush! It’s the end of the Republic! > > Get a grip, you whiny douche. First, no one is saying it’s the end of the Replubic. You blow that out of proportion while you seek to minimize Belafonte’s stature. You know damn well he is not just an ex-singer. He has embroiled himself in politics. He has become a spokesman for the hate America, or at least, the hate Bush crowd. This is not like you, Miller. I agree with the OP’s sentiments wholeheartedly. Not only do I think Belafonte is an asshole of the highest order, what he did was inappropriate. Or are some of you fans of a notable American going to countries, particulalrly those in turmoil, and fanning the fans of the “America is Evil” chant? Must you clowns always excuse, if not applaud, America being shit on? Just curious. On another note, **Clothahump** , the OP sans commentary is not a good idea and does not help your case. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/26 "2006-01-10T02:48:27Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > [The story](http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=AnsvoTf1Fxrl3CKoSI9u7R5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2NjFrYmM0BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMgRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNjU1Xzc2/SIG=12ubdp4f3/EXP=1136938128/**http%3a//news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060109/ca_pr_on_wo/venezuela_us_activists) speaks for itself. > [@From Linked Story](#): > > Belafonte suggested setting up a youth exchange for Venezuelans and Americans to learn from each other. He finished by shouting in Spanish: “Viva la revolucion!” OMG! :eek: :eek: The cad! ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/27 "2006-01-10T02:49:06Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > … George Bush **is** a terrorist…? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/28 "2006-01-10T02:54:04Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > :rolleyes: > **[Bush wanted to bomb al-Jazeera HQ in Doha, Qatar?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346082)** > > The British newspaper The Daily Mirror just broke a story based on a “Top Secret” Downing Street memo: In April 2004, when Tony Blair visited Washington, Bush proposed bombing the Doha, Qatar, headquarters of the al-Jazeera news network. Blair... And that’s just something he **didn’t** do. What he **has** done is far, far worse. Terrorist indeed. And only a slimy, anti-American **traitor** would ever think of defending him. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/29 "2006-01-10T02:58:25Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Must you clowns always excuse, if not applaud, America being shit on? > > Just curious. Why must you clowns always confuse Bush with America? Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/30 "2006-01-10T03:02:17Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Why must you clowns always confuse Bush with America? [Groupthink](http://www.afirstlook.com/archive/groupthink.cfm?source=archther), and [Crimestop.](http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/ns-dict.html) ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/31 "2006-01-10T03:09:02Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346082](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346082) > > And that’s just something he **didn’t** do. What he **has** done is far, far worse. So your argument for Bush being a terrorist boils down to something he did NOT do. Okay. I understand now. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Terrorist indeed. And only a slimy, anti-American **traitor** would ever think of defending him. :dubious: :eek: Bu…bu…but, now what am I supposed to do. Your stellar logic has trapped me.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/32 "2006-01-10T03:14:13Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Why must you clowns always confuse Bush with America? > > Just curious. No confusion. A simple acknowledgement of the fact that the former was elected to be the leader of the latter. And that they are tightly related, especially in the eyes of those in other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/33 "2006-01-10T03:17:52Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > No confusion. A simple acknowledgement of the fact that the former was elected to be the leader of the latter. And that they are tightly related, especially in the eyes of those in other countries. Yet criticizing one is not critizing the other, no matter how much you’d like to link the two in order to accuse your political opponents of “shitting on America” when they find fault with Bush. That’s a transparant, bankrupt, and frankly embarrassing ploy. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/34 "2006-01-10T03:20:29Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > No confusion. A simple acknowledgement of the fact that the former was elected to be the leader of the latter. And that they are tightly related, especially in the eyes of those in other countries. > [@magellan01](#): > > Must you clowns always excuse, if not applaud, America being shit on? It’s the backpeddling two step, everybody join in! Someone slams Bush, you say that people are excusing or applauding “America being shit on.” But, nope, you weren’t implying that people were excusing or applauding America being shit on. Nope. And do you think that maybe, just maybe, Bush is seen as strongly linked to the American collective psyche because of bootlickers who try to equate any criticism of Bush with “shitting on America?” ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Windchill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/35 "2006-01-10T03:21:29Z")
Instead of exclaiming, “OMG!!11!! HE INSLUTED OWR PRESSIDENT! WORST OURTAGE EVAE!11,” reflect on why an intelligent, thoughtful person like Belafonte would have that opinion of Bush. He wasn’t born with it. He must have come to that belief somehow. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/36 "2006-01-10T03:25:01Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Yet criticizing one is not critizing the other, no matter how much you’d like to link the two in order to accuse your political opponents of “shitting on America” when they find fault with Bush. That’s a transparant, bankrupt, and frankly embarrassing ploy. The two are linked. Not equivalent, but linked—strongly. And more so abroad I’d say, than here. Is it your opinion that this does not hurt the image of the U.S.? Do you not think that speaking well of JFK or Reagn or Roosevelt had a positive effect on America’s image? Do you think that the masses in other countries are as clear on the distinction you make as you or most of the people on SDMB are? ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Windchill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/37 "2006-01-10T03:25:56Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > The two are linked. Not equivalent, but linked—strongly. And more so abroad I’d say, than here. > > Is it your opinion that this does not hurt the image of the U.S.? Do you not think that speaking well of JFK or Reagn or Roosevelt had a positive effect on America’s image? > > Do you think that the masses in other countries are as clear on the distinction you make as you or most of the people on SDMB are? The image of US has been hurt a lot more by Bush than by Bush bashers. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/38 "2006-01-10T03:27:06Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > First, no one is saying it’s the end of the Replubic. You blow that out of proportion while you seek to minimize Belafonte’s stature. You know damn well he is not just an ex-singer. He has embroiled himself in politics. He has become a spokesman for the hate America, or at least, the hate Bush crowd. Has he? I hate what Bush has done as much as anyone, and I hardly know who Harry Belafonte is. I read liberal blogs, I listen to liberal talk radio, I get emails from various liberal groups, but this is only the first or maybe second time I’ve heard his name in connection with politics. He’s no Michael Moore or even Sean Penn. > [@](#): > > I agree with the OP’s sentiments wholeheartedly. Not only do I think Belafonte is an asshole of the highest order, what he did was inappropriate. Or are some of you fans of a notable American going to countries, particulalrly those in turmoil, and fanning the fans of the “America is Evil” chant? Maybe you’re right, notable Americans should stop doing things that make America look bad - and I say that should start with the most notable American of all. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/39 "2006-01-10T03:28:59Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > The two are linked. Not equivalent, but linked—strongly. And more so abroad I’d say, than here. > > Is it your opinion that this does not hurt the image of the U.S.? Do you not think that speaking well of JFK or Reagn or Roosevelt had a positive effect on America’s image? > > Do you think that the masses in other countries are as clear on the distinction you make as you or most of the people on SDMB are? So the president is to be above reproach because people in other countries falsely link the two? That’s more important than our right to dissent? Incredible. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237/40 "2006-01-10T03:31:11Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > The two are linked. > [@magellan01](#): > > Must you clowns always excuse, if not applaud, America being shit on? > [@magellan01](#): > > Not equivalent, but linked—strongly. And more so abroad I’d say, than here. > [@magellan01](#): > > Must you clowns always excuse, if not applaud, America being shit on? Same old bullshit meme, same bullshit dance, same “America haters” hollow rhetoric, same cowardly smear tactics. Isn’t it interesting that Bush Apologists have gone from defending his actions to simply attacking his critics? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-belafonte-sticks-his-head-up-his-ass/339237.md?page=3)