# Rush Limbaugh calling Obama a "Halfrican American." WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 26, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513 "2007-01-26T02:20:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Homo\_Ergaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Homo\_Ergaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homo_Ergaster)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/121 "2007-01-31T05:31:09Z")
BTW I’m using Condi because she’s the top Republican African-american. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/122 "2007-01-31T15:32:30Z")
[QUOTE=Homo Ergaster] let’s make a deal. We’ll all agree that Rush is an asswipe but if somebody says a racially charged thing about Condi can we freely call them an asswipe with you joining us? [/QUOTE] Sure, why not? But you seem to have forgotten Colin. Don’t forget Colin. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/123 "2007-01-31T16:22:51Z")
[QUOTE=Homo Ergaster] No cartwheels. Condi may suck or not, whatever. My point is the black conservatives aren’t “really” black and and non-conservative blacks (for want of another name) have to say and do certain things to be accepted as really black (by the so-called “black leaders”). If you don’t beleive that both parties play double-standard race cards well…there’s nothing I can do for you. let’s make a deal. We’ll all agree that Rush is an asswipe but if somebody says a racially charged thing about Condi can we freely call them an asswipe with you joining us? [/QUOTE] I don’t get this whole “black but not really black” thing your talking about. Who said anything racially charged about Condi beside that cartoon that I’ve never seen before? Do you have cite where Democratics have made racial remarks about Condi? I can’t remember hearing Colin Powell’s race being an issue anywhere. He was popular with both parties until he was shown to be a lying tool for Bush. Or is he part of your " black but not really black" thing? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/124 "2007-01-31T18:33:55Z")
[QUOTE=Caridwen] I don’t get this whole “black but not really black” thing your talking about. [/quote] I don’t get it either. Glad I’m not the only one. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/125 "2007-01-31T19:16:46Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] While I’m sure it was intended to be insulting, I think it’s also a sign of progress. Up until know, American culture has held that “one drop of black blood” made you 100% African-America, This did not apply to other ethnic groups - while Halle Berry is always black, actors Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Tilly and Dean Cain, who each have one Asian parent, are never called “Asian-American.” Tiger Woods is the ultimate example of this: while he has twice as much Asian heritage as African, I’ve never heared him referred to as anything other than black. [/QUOTE] (draping my arm over **Alessan** ’s shoulder and whispering conspiratorially) Well, y’see, Orientals are, for all intents and purposes, practically white. I mean, I know some [del]Chinks[/del], er, _Asians_ who’re whiter than me, y’know? [del]And loads better than them yids.[/del] (looking at **Alessan** , realizing he probably has an Uzi at home, and backing up quickly) Er, where was I? Oh yeah–Tiger and Obama and Condi, they’re, well, _you_ know, though I wouldn’t mind tastin’ some of Halle Berry’s light brown sugar, if ya get my drift. 😉 **My Real Statement:** Rush is a tool and his use of “halfrican” was obvious racebaiting to this middleaged, middleclass white guy who theoretically of his target demographic and who can read the code. The desired reaction was chortling that Rush is right and that n **r Osama isn’t really black, though he’s still a n** r. However, I stand by the lewd thoughts behind my statement regarding Halle Berry, if not its wording. ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/126 "2007-01-31T19:35:09Z")
[QUOTE=Homo Ergaster] BTW I’m using Condi because she’s the top Republican African-american. [/QUOTE] So, you might say she’s a …Rafrican-American? Damn, guess I’m not as witty as Rush. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/127 "2007-01-31T20:03:46Z")
[QUOTE=Taber] Damn, guess I’m not as witty as Rush. [/QUOTE] It’s all in the delivery. I’m sure he could also say “wigger” and provoke mirthful spit-takes and busted guts across the country. Probably helps to know your audience, too. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/128 "2007-01-31T20:45:15Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] (draping my arm over **Alessan** ’s shoulder and whispering conspiratorially) Well, y’see, Orientals are, for all intents and purposes, practically white. I mean, I know some [del]Chinks[/del], er, _Asians_ who’re whiter than me, y’know? [del]And loads better than them yids.[/del] (looking at **Alessan** , realizing he probably has an Uzi at home, and backing up quickly) Er, where was I? Oh yeah–Tiger and Obama and Condi, they’re, well, _you_ know, though I wouldn’t mind tastin’ some of Halle Berry’s light brown sugar, if ya get my drift. 😉 **My Real Statement:** Rush is a tool and his use of “halfrican” was obvious racebaiting to this middleaged, middleclass white guy who theoretically of his target demographic and who can read the code. The desired reaction was chortling that Rush is right and **that nr Osama isn’t really black, though he’s still a nr**. However, I stand by the lewd thoughts behind my statement regarding Halle Berry, if not its wording. [/QUOTE] Just a question, but this bolded portion doesn’t make any sense to me. If Rush’s targeted demographic’s main concern is that Obama is (still) a nigger, why would they care at all that he isn’t really black? ---
**Author:** ![Homo\_Ergaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Homo\_Ergaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homo_Ergaster)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/129 "2007-01-31T21:16:11Z")
The whole _“not really black”_ is another way for some people to say, not in so many words: a) “acting white” b) “Uncle Tom” / “House slave” ( **I** never use them and I consider them racial slurs) The terms are clear. Have any top democrats use such terms? I don’t think so. Have people usually more on the democrat side of the aisle used them for (conservative) blacks who, for example: a) oppose affrmative action b) emphasise responsibility and hard work rather than a governmental role in helping African-americans (say, Bill Cosby) c)get to prominent positions without playing the race card d)Do not feel represented in any way or form by Jesse or Al.? YES BTW, “only one cartoon” is the same as “only saying halfrican once” and look where it’s taken us. BTW2, how many racist cartoons are OK? One apparently is not enough. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2007, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/130 "2007-01-31T21:55:31Z")
[QUOTE=Homo Ergaster] BTW, “only one cartoon” is the same as “only saying halfrican once” and look where it’s taken us. BTW2, how many racist cartoons are OK? One apparently is not enough. [/QUOTE] That cartoon you linked to earlier was atrocious. When I follow the blogger’s link, it’s broken. [When I check Danziger’s website for the cartoon, it shows as a blank](http://www.danzigercartoons.com/archive/cmp/2004/danziger2152.html). Hitting Previous and Next does not give me blank cartoons. What’s up with that? [Oh, here’s what’s up with that](http://www.maynardije.org/columns/dickprince/041025_prince/): > [@](#): > > The Wall Street Journal, following the lead of some other conservative critics, has gone into high dudgeon over an editorial cartoon by Jeff Danziger that shows Condoleezza Rice as Prissy in “Gone With the Wind” – a cartoon that apparently, no one ever ran. > … > Danziger pulled the cartoon from his Web site and at first attempted to defend it, e-mailing correspondents that he was responding to "the standard lies told by a political operative, out of her depth, who happens to be African-American. > > “Whenever this administration is in trouble they send out Condi Rice because the press, which is mostly white and male, gives her a far easier treatment than they would a white male. Meanwhile, our troops are dying and being grievously wounded in a war that could have been avoided, or at least unsought. Ms. Rice’s (and other’s) statements about the aluminum tubes are the same kind of lie as the Gulf of Tonkin lie from Lyndon Johnson’s people. 55,000 GI’s died for that lie.” > … > “I thought it was funny and didn’t think deeply about it. It was stupid on my part, because the movie itself is a racist stereotype,” Danziger told Journal-isms. In fact, he added, “the movie is not just racist against African Americans, but is also anti-Irish,” given its portrayal of Irish-American drinking. > > “I do 300 cartoons a year,” he said, and such lapses are bound to occur. Okay, so on the one hand, as you say, we’ve got Rush race-baiting. On the other hand, we’ve got a cartoonist drawing a cartoon, nobody running it, the cartoonist saying that in retrospect it was stupid and a lapse, and pulling it from his website. When Rush calls his comment stupid and a lapse and stops making it, I’ll consider the two cases equivalent. I look forward to being able to do so. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/131 "2007-01-31T22:00:04Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] Just a question, but this bolded portion doesn’t make any sense to me. If Rush’s targeted demographic’s main concern is that Obama is (still) a nigger, why would they care at all that he isn’t really black? [/QUOTE] In my little imagining of a stereotypical Rush listener’s reaction he’s real pleased with himself because he caught the “irony” of Obama being only half African while still supposedly self-identifying as black. Hey, folks don’t always make sense and Rush and his listeners tend toward the left side of the “draw logical conclusions” bell curve. Anyway, by the “one drop rule,” as supported by the Supreme Court when it refused to take on Susie Phipps’ case (Jane Doe v the State of Louisiana 1985), it doesn’t matter; Obama is a black as the ace of spades. But so was Peter Ustinov. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/132 "2007-01-31T22:14:34Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] In my little imagining of a stereotypical Rush listener’s reaction he’s real pleased with himself because he caught the “irony” of Obama being only half African while still supposedly self-identifying as black. Hey, folks don’t always make sense and Rush and his listeners tend toward the left side of the “draw logical conclusions” bell curve. **Anyway, by the “one drop rule,” as supported by the Supreme Court when it refused to take on Susie Phipps’ case (Jane Doe v the State of Louisiana 1985), it doesn’t matter; Obama is a black as the ace of spades. But so was Peter Ustinov.** [/QUOTE] There, that’s why I was asking the question. Presumably, Rush and his ilk would focus on and only care about that standard. What would calling attention to Obama’s not being “black enough” do for that bunch? That’s why I posted that I thought his “halfrican” _“joke”_ was only his attempt to make sure America, in any given week (day? span of hours?), doesn’t forget that he’s just an immature, neanderthalistical asshole. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/133 "2007-01-31T23:07:41Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] There, that’s why I was asking the question. Presumably, Rush and his ilk would focus on and only care about that standard. What would calling attention to Obama’s not being “black enough” do for that bunch? That’s why I posted that I thought his “halfrican” _“joke”_ was only his attempt to make sure America, in any given week (day? span of hours?), doesn’t forget that he’s just an immature, neanderthalistical asshole. [/QUOTE] I agree with you. I can’t for the life of me imagine that Rush is actually saying that Obama is passing as a black man. That math ain’t adding up. Rush’s target audience will never vote for Obama for two reasons. Because he’s a Democrat. And because he’s black. To suggest, even in a subtle meme-ish way, that Obama is a white man who just calls himself black to curry favor with the populace, is akin to saying that Obama is really a conservative who just calls himself liberal. Acceptance of that idea would only make him seem more palatable (in their eyes), not less. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/134 "2007-01-31T23:20:42Z")
[QUOTE=you with the face] I agree with you. I can’t for the life of me imagine that Rush is actually saying that Obama is passing as a black man. That math ain’t adding up. Rush’s target audience will never vote for Obama for two reasons. Because he’s a Democrat. And because he’s black. To suggest, even in a subtle meme-ish way, that Obama is a white man who just calls himself black to curry favor with the populace, is akin to saying that Obama is really a conservative who just calls himself liberal. Acceptance of that idea would only make him seem more palatable (in their eyes), not less. [/QUOTE] While that would make sense, I don’t think it’s true in this case. If you’re a freaky racist, the idea that someone not black would identify as “black” is perverse and scary. And the idea of a “half breed” is even more perverse and scary. So, it’s not that Obama is white, it’s that he’s _mixed_, an abomination. So, if he identifies as “black” he’s a fake and a liar who is trying to hide his own despicable heritage. Or, Rush could just be the world’s biggest ass who managed to stumble across a punny slur. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/135 "2007-01-31T23:30:26Z")
Come on, it was just a pun, with nothing else to read into it. Halle Berry was brought into just for the setup. Otherwise, he’d have to deliver it like this: “Hey guys, I just thought of a clever way to describe Barak Obama - “Halfrican-American”. Get it? 'Cause he’s only half African-American. So anyway, onto the show…” ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2007, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/136 "2007-01-31T23:41:29Z")
[QUOTE=you with the face] I agree with you. I can’t for the life of me imagine that Rush is actually saying that Obama is passing as a black man. That math ain’t adding up. Rush’s target audience will never vote for Obama for two reasons. Because he’s a Democrat. And because he’s black. To suggest, even in a subtle meme-ish way, that Obama is a white man who just calls himself black to curry favor with the populace, is akin to saying that Obama is really a conservative who just calls himself liberal. Acceptance of that idea would only make him seem more palatable (in their eyes), not less. [QUOTE=jsgoddess] While that would make sense, I don’t think it’s true in this case. If you’re a freaky racist, the idea that someone not black would identify as “black” is perverse and scary. And the idea of a “half breed” is even more perverse and scary. So, it’s not that Obama is white, it’s that he’s _mixed_, an abomination. So, if he identifies as “black” he’s a fake and a liar who is trying to hide his own despicable heritage. Or, Rush could just be the world’s biggest ass who managed to stumble across a punny slur. [/QUOTE] [/QUOTE] That’s why I was saying in an earlier post that this could only have been an attempt on Rush’s part to call attention to the fact that Obama is mixed – his “mutt” status, if you will. How that discredits and disqualifies him anymore than simply being black (in the eyes of Rush’s target audience) I’ll never know but, then again, this is Lush Limbaugh we’re talking about. Tee-hee, **jsgoddess** said “_stumble across_” in referring to Rush. Oh, and what **Pizzabrat** said. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/137 "2007-02-01T01:05:10Z")
We all know that’s the first time he ever made a comment that was considered racist. :rolleyes: [http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/02/limbaugh/](http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/02/limbaugh/) [http://mediamatters.org/items/200608240003](http://mediamatters.org/items/200608240003) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/138 "2007-02-01T16:21:19Z")
This is the strategy for 2008. The conservatives know they never had the black vote, so they don’t have to worry about losing it (in contrast, they’ll be very careful about how they mention Hillary Clinton’s gender). So the wedge will be to portray Obama as a “black politician” to hopefully convince enough voters that he’ll favor blacks over whites. If Obama gets the nomination, they’ll try to make him look more radical than Malcolm X. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/139 "2007-02-01T17:28:37Z")
_Barack be nimble Barack be quick Barack jump over Limbaugh shtick_ Everybody sing! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2007, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513/140 "2007-02-01T17:52:19Z")
[QUOTE=5-4-Fighting] That’s why I was saying in an earlier post that this could only have been an attempt on Rush’s part to call attention to the fact that Obama is mixed – his “mutt” status, if you will. How that discredits and disqualifies him anymore than simply being black (in the eyes of Rush’s target audience) I’ll never know but, then again, this is Lush Limbaugh we’re talking about. [/QUOTE] Because that means that Obama’s uppity dad slept with a white woman!!!one~! Oh, the horror!!! Dittoheads hate very little quite so much as that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rush-limbaugh-calling-obama-a-halfrican-american-wtf/389513.md?page=8)