# Let the Race Baiting begin **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 8, 2000, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490 "2000-08-08T00:13:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/21 "2000-08-08T14:45:39Z")
Hey. I’ve noticed several mentions in this thread that the people who would be bothered by Lieberman (his being a Jew) wouldn’t be voting for Gore anyway. WTF? Is it a common perception that the only racists in this country are Republicans? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/22 "2000-08-08T15:04:42Z")
I was wondering the same thing… I know for a fact that racists vote Democrat as quickly as they vote Republican. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/23 "2000-08-08T15:47:52Z")
Well I think a lot of the preception of racists being republicans comes from the switching of the old segregationists to the republican party. Strom Thurmond for one. The democrats also tend to be more vocally anti-racist. While the Republicans tend to quietly accept people like David Duke and Pat Buchanan. True, there are quite a few racist dems. But, public acts like the ones stated above tend to influence people’s idea of the party. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/24 "2000-08-08T16:40:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by VaHermit \* > \*\*Nobody else has brought this up yet, so I just thought I’d pitch it out and see what y’all think. What will it do to the Mid-East talks if we have a jewish VEEP. Or a jewish president if it came down to that? Would Arafat still be willing to come to Camp David? > \*\* This is a _ **very** _ good point. I was actually wondering the same thing as the OP, but he started a thread on it before me. But even more importantly (to get back to VaHermit’s point) what if somehow Lieberman became Prez? I’m sure of one thing: It’d make Saddam Hussein think twice about launching missiles at Israel again. 😃 Seriously though, I don’t think Lieberman being Jewish is any reason to vote against Gore. But it _is_ significant that he is Jewish,(because of the history of the Jewish people and the peculiar situation of the state of Israel) and there could be ramifications if Gore is elected. At the very least the potential consequences should be thought out and discussed ahead of time, so they are not a total shock when/if they arrive. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/25 "2000-08-08T16:45:48Z")
I actually see him as being particullary anti-jewish. This is just my opinion but, bear with me. Gore is accused of being a tree-hugger, does all sorts of things to distance himself from that. Lieberman is accused of being pro-jewish, does everything he can to make it seem that he is impartial, maybe even going out of his way to be pro-arab, so on. Just to make sure that Saudi Arabia doesn’t start boycotting American business. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/26 "2000-08-08T17:16:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*For years I’ve been seeing this crap on Usenet: > > NAZI LOSER: Jews runs the world, uh-huh! They’re running the US! > > ME: Gosh, I don’t recall many Jewish Presidents. > > NAZI LOSER: It’s a secret conspiracy! > > ME: So how do you know about it, spanky? > > NAZI LOSER: You’re a ZOG spy! > The Internet’s going to have so much crap about this it’s going to ooze out your hard drive. Mark my words. Now I hope Lieberman ends up being President somehow 'cause it’ll give the David Irvings of the world embolisms. \*\* Personally, I believe that the ZOG has been running the U.S. for years. They have been doing a fine job and, if they ever end their secrecy, I’d vote for them. [smilely implied] Sua ---
**Author:** ![DavisMcDavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@DavisMcDavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavisMcDavis)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/27 "2000-08-08T17:58:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Necros \* > \*\*Hey. I’ve noticed several mentions in this thread that the people who would be bothered by Lieberman (his being a Jew) wouldn’t be voting for Gore anyway. WTF? Is it a common perception that the only racists in this country are Republicans? \*\* I’ve always felt, perhaps incorrectly, that anyone who is racist is probably also anti-gay and anti-women, and that they all sorta go hand in hand. I’m including the Nation of Islam in that group of racists - I don’t think you need to be white to be racist, actually. I think you’ll note that they, too, are anit-gay and anti-women. If you’re willing to actually admit that you don’t like [insert minority group here] because [insert reason here here] then you’re probably willing to dislike other groups because of other things, never quite realizing that such “groups” are fairly arbitrary and don’t all act the same way based on skin color, vagina possession, or the ability to sing “A Little Fall Of Rain” acapella. Since the Republican Party is actually willing to admit they are anti-gay (or pro-family, as they strangely call it), I think there’s a better chance there’s a couple more racists in that bunch. I am definitely conceding that my logic could be flawed. Feel free to disagree Anyway, this is all leading up to this funny anecdote I’m dying to relate: My political science teacher in college, who had a rather dry wit, once said in class: [Teacher] Does anyone have a guess as to why Quayle was picked as a running mate? [Student] Uh, well he’s young and attractive, relatively speaking - maybe to get the women’s vote? [Teacher] Wellll [deadpan] Yeah, sure, if you think that women vote as a block. I don’t think the kid knew he’d been insulted. That was one funny broad, that chick. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/28 "2000-08-08T18:16:53Z")
**DavisMcDavis** said: > [@](#): > > Since the Republican Party is actually willing to admit they are anti-gay (or pro-family, as they strangely call it), I think there’s a better chance there’s a couple more racists in that bunch. I am definitely conceding that my logic could be flawed. Feel free to disagree OK, I will. (Gee, I seem to be on a mission to hijack **oldscratch** ’s threads lately; it’s completely unintentional, I assure you. WARNING! Blatant generalizations ahead! 1. I think everyone in the northern part of the country has always seen the South as a more racist, or at least more overtly racist, area of the country. The South has historically been a Democratic stronghold. 2. It has probably been proven that the lower education level you have, the more likely you are to be a racist. Well, Democrats have traditionally represented the underclass, and thus less educated, portion of society. 3. There is a stereotype, to go along with #2, that blue-collar workers tend to be more uneducated than white collar ones. Blue collar workers are more likely to be in a union, which tend to be staunchly Democratic. See? You can make a pretty good case, from “I get this impression” kind of reasoning, that Dems are the ones who are racists. I’m not arguing that. What I am arguing is that you can’t determine some’s racist tendencies from their party affiliation. After all, the GOP is the party of Lincoln, as they like to say. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/29 "2000-08-08T18:55:02Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. I think everyone in the northern part of the country has always seen the South as a more racist, or at least more overtly racist, area of the country. The South has historically been a Democratic stronghold. Not since Reagan. Democrats are, in their own way, just as racist as Republicans. Liberal racists treat African Americans and other ethnic minorities as brain-damaged wards of the state who can’t be expected to achieve success on their own. Liberals also also seem to believe that the politics of race and gender trump the common experience of being American. Of course, that does not excuse the shameful record of conservatives on race. Dubya should be ashamed of himself for giving aid and comfort to racists by failing to denounce South Carolina for flying the Confederate flag. ---
**Author:** ![DavisMcDavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@DavisMcDavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavisMcDavis)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/30 "2000-08-08T22:24:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Necros \* > > What I am arguing is that you can’t determine some’s racist tendencies from their party affiliation. After all, the GOP is the party of Lincoln, as they like to say. 🙂 \*\* I totally agree. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/31 "2000-08-08T22:56:53Z")
True. But, you can frequently tell someone’s party affiliations by their biases. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/32 "2000-08-09T12:28:46Z")
News item: (And I guarantee that I got some facts wrong; I just heard it on the radio this morning, and the Washington Post has no article on the matter yet) NAACP President Mfume has suspended and denounced the remarks of a Texas regional NAACP coordinator as “anti-semitic” and “bigoted”. The NAACP coordinator spoke on a radio program, stating that he was disappointed that Al Gore would choose “a Jew person” and that the Democrats had nothing in common with Jews, “who only care about money.” Racism knows no party. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/33 "2000-08-09T15:43:58Z")
Well, John. We actually don’t know what party that NAACP director is in. The director of Oakland is a GOP scumbag (not because he’s in the GOP, just because of some other things he’s done). So it could very well have been a republican anti-semetic African American Naacp director, or a RASAANAACPD for short. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/34 "2000-08-09T19:34:57Z")
Strom Thurmond is old. (duh) But that’s a better reason to accuse him of being racist rather than republican. Racism knows no political boundaries. The older generation has a better chance of being Racist. Could be another generalization, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/35 "2000-08-09T19:57:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Strom Thurmond is old. (duh) But that’s a better reason to accuse him of being racist rather than republican. Racism knows no political boundaries. Strom Thurmond ran for President in 1948 on the Dixiecrat ticket on a pro-segregation platform, so calling him a racist would be not be inaccurate. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/36 "2000-08-09T23:40:08Z")
Here is a scary story on \*ism’s [http://dallasnews.com/latestnews/137692\_alcornweb\_10me.html](http://dallasnews.com/latestnews/137692_alcornweb_10me.html) ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/37 "2000-08-10T00:13:46Z")
Just a few reflections… Yeah, Strom Thurmond is older than rock, not to mention an arrogant, bigoted retrograde asshole. His regional and party affiliations are irrelevant only until I reflect the despicable old dinosaur keeps getting elected! (He’s also a canny pro at bringing home the bacon. Forget party rhetoric; he funnels megabucks back to his constituents. Money doesn’t talk in Washington; it orders.) I’ll know things have _really_ changed when a woman, black, Jew, gay, Muslim, whatever can run and not have the label outweigh the substance–or not even be mentioned at all. I barely remember the JKF/Nixon race, but DO remember the ugly assertions that “we’d be run by the Vatican”. For the first time the parochial school pals got set apart. (Usually we congregated after school and swapped Scary Teacher horror stories.) So Gore’s running mate is Jewish. What’s despicable is his entire record in public life is being reduced to that sound byte. Sure, “balancing the ticket” was a factor. But hells bells, count me in among the “it’s about time” crowd. So he’s Jewish. And Colin Powell is black, etc. etc. They aren’t _just_ those labels! Possibly, just possibly, they’re also bright, dedicated people who want to serve. Veb (P.S. Politically, I’m weary but grimly determined. I’ll go for sense everytime, party and brouhaha be damned. That’s why I couldn’t vote for Bush. His record in Texas reeks, and he’s a PR lightweight frat boy. Nice guy, but no depth.) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/38 "2000-08-10T01:43:04Z")
I’m sure as hell ready for some race-baiting. I’d like to put some out for some nice Swedish chicks. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/39 "2000-08-10T02:59:38Z")
> [@](#): > > Lieberman is accused of being pro-jewish Uhhhh…wouldn’t accusing Lieberman of being pro-Jewish be sort of like accusing grass of being green? Or am I missing something here? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2000, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490/40 "2000-08-10T16:16:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by goboy \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Strom Thurmond is old. (duh) But that’s a better reason to accuse him of being racist rather than republican. Racism knows no political boundaries. > > Strom Thurmond ran for President in 1948 on the Dixiecrat ticket on a pro-segregation platform, so calling him a racist would be not be inaccurate. \*\* I understand that. 🙂 I was simply saying I didn’t think he was a racist cause he happened to be a republican. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-the-race-baiting-begin/28490.md?page=1)