You know, I wonder if what really scares the right about Obama is that, while impeccably American, he’s so damned cosmopolitan. Just like Teresa Heinz-Kerry. Only worse, because he’s . . well . . . you know . . .
So does this mean only half his success can be attributed to the media being very desirous that a black politician do well?
Not Jewish?
Well, it’s better than “mulatto.”
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.
In short, maybe “halfrican-American” is a first step to seeing mixed-raced people as neither white nor black, but rather quintessentially American… and as such, more qualified than anyone to be president of the United States.
I’ve got nothing to add except: Rush is a fucking piece of shit.
That same website mentions a different radio host used the same term earlier: http://mediamatters.org/items/200612070006
So I’m guessing Rush probably heard about the term from that guy and is using it with the same sort of rationale that guy did.
I’d wager that perhaps most of the people currently living in the US who self-identify and are identified by others as “Black” are not the descendents of slaves. Would Rush dare to tell a recent Haitian immigrant that he’s insufficiently Black? It’s not about his actual ethnicity, or his ancestry. It’s about his socioeconomic status. He’s insufficiently “'hood”.
If you ask me, the phrase “Halfrican American” is meant to imply that Obama should be unacceptable to everyone, too white for the blacks, and too black for the whites.
Or, perhaps Rush listens to NPR and picked it up on November 13, 2006, in an episode of All Things Considered:
I believe his term is “environmental whackos”.
I totally agree but would add that the people who listen to him without complaint are also fucking pieces of shit.
Keith Olbermann had him as “Worst Person in the World” last night. And it’s funny you should bring up “Mulatto”, Alessan, as Keith pointed out that Rush was probably dying to say that instead. He might as well have.
Rush should be more niggardly in the number of puns he makes.
Regards,
Shodan
Holy crap. I’ve never been so offended! NPR is a bunch of racist fucktards!
I can just picture this thread going into page two with all the posters who slammed Rush for making this statement will go on to slam NPR for doing the same thing. That’s what’s going to happen? Right? Bueller? Anyone?
Really? What makes you think that? African immigrants comprise only a small proportion of the black American population. The rest of the black folks living here descend from the slave trade diaspora, which includes immigrants from the Carribean and South America, as well as those whose ancestors have been in the US since the founding of the nation. In the US, I think you’re much more likely to come across a black descendant of slaves than not.
As far as the Halfrican-American thing, I don’t get the ire. Even though I’m not at all impressed by efforts to create new racial categories for people (because doing so gives undue credence to the idea that race is a meaningful biogically-determined construct), I don’t see how Rush’s comments are offensive. He obviously sees Obama and Halle as a group different from other blacks (because of their parentage). But that’s not offensive to me. It’s a bit ignorant, maybe, but not a slap to the face or anything.
. . .not a chick?
I think that it’s because of the source. After all, this is the same individual who herked and jerked while explaining how Michael J. Fox was simply acting as if his Parkinson’s were doing. . .well. . .what Parkinson’s actually does. He’s an idiot who plays to his base. He’s also smart enough to know what his base wants.
Dunnno as I’d allow “a bit”. Or “maybe”.
[hijack] The majority of Haitians are the descendents of slaves. It’s the only nation to form from a succesful slave revolt, in fact. [/hijack]
This is what I think it is. Rush is certainly a right-wing fucktard, but he’s also an entertainer, and he needs to come up with stupid shit like this periodically to maintain his notoriety. Now the dittoheads (so called because their minds are fuzzy and smeary) have something else to identify each other, and relive when they meet a fellow traveller.
slight hijack
I’m not sure if its along the same lines, but WTF is with all of this racist shit coming out of the wood-works!? Its like someone is cranking up the Jim Crow machine, Big Time!!!
A few years ago, when I was younger & more foolish, I subscribed an email account I have to a place called ‘Joke of the Day’. The jokes were stupid, but every 3rd one seemed to be Clinton-bashing and/or racist/sexist. I tried to unsubscribe several times (I was totally ignored) so I spam-blocked them. I hadn’t heard anything from them since Bush was first elected. Now, this January, their racist/mysogenist shit-missives are starting to creep past my spam-filters again.
Must be ‘Dirty Tricks’ season again… :rolleyes:
Not sure what the point would be, but I take it as the fat tub of goo and vicodin is saying - “hey this guy is claiming to be all black and he’s only half black”???