# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1508
**Author:** ![Club\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Club\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Club_33)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30142 "2016-07-19T04:41:25Z")
CNN is all over the plagiarism issue like a fly on shit right now. Even better, apparently she gave a speech in the last couple of days stating that she wrote almost all of it herself. I’m sure someone else will get fired for it though. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30143 "2016-07-19T04:55:07Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Scott Baio will [sue your ass](http://www.ifyouonlynews.com/politics/scott-baio-threatens-to-sue-anyone-who-thinks-hes-a-moron-for-saying-obama-is-a-secret-muslim/). [I think I know just the attorney for him](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwWAsNZTnug)! ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30144 "2016-07-19T07:33:57Z")
[A proposed Texas school textbook on Mexican American studies (which the Republicans opposed in general) has tons of racist passages in it.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2016/07/18/proposed-texas-textbook-describes-mexican-americans-as-lazy-new-coalition-works-to-block-it/?tid=sm_fb) > [@](#): > > “Industrialists were very driven, competitive men who were always on the clock and continually concerned about efficiency. They were used to their workers putting in a full day’s work, quietly and obediently, and respecting rules, authority, and property. In contrast, Mexican laborers were not reared to put in a full day’s work so vigorously. There was a cultural attitude of ‘mañana,’ or ‘tomorrow,’ when it came to high-gear production.” ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30145 "2016-07-19T08:00:56Z")
If you’d like to speak about the value of hard work, you probably shouldn’t plagiarize your comments. If you do plagiarize comments about the value of hard work, you probably shouldn’t plagiarize comments seen by millions of people. If you do plagiarize comments about the value of hard work that were seen by millions, you probably shouldn’t have it broadcast to millions of people. If you do broadcast to millions of people plagiarized comments about the value of hard work previously seen by millions of people, there is a chance that the people who saw the first set of comments won’t be the same people who see your comments, or that those who did see both won’t make the connection between them. Melania Trump’s luck [didn’t hold out](http://gawker.com/melania-trump-apparently-plagiarized-a-section-of-miche-1783889522). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30146 "2016-07-19T08:43:47Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I’m sure he’s the same guy who was setting up the “Red Elevator” and “Blue Elevator” signs. > > Red, White, and Blue Zones at a political convention. Is this really something to get excited about? My office building has “White Stairs” and “Black Stairs”. Also “Red Stairs”, “Yellow Stairs” and “Green Stairs”. Sometimes a color is just a color (although when the GOP are concerned it’s usually a good idea to doublecheck). ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30147 "2016-07-19T10:36:05Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > [I think I know just the attorney for him](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwWAsNZTnug)! “I have the worst fucking attorneys.” ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30148 "2016-07-19T11:53:14Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > [A proposed Texas school textbook on Mexican American studies (which the Republicans opposed in general) has tons of racist passages in it.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2016/07/18/proposed-texas-textbook-describes-mexican-americans-as-lazy-new-coalition-works-to-block-it/?tid=sm_fb) > > > [@](#): > > > > “Industrialists were very driven, competitive men who were always on the clock and continually concerned about efficiency. They were used to their workers putting in a full day’s work, quietly and obediently, and respecting rules, authority, and property. In contrast, Mexican laborers were not reared to put in a full day’s work so vigorously. There was a cultural attitude of ‘mañana,’ or ‘tomorrow,’ when it came to high-gear production.” I’m expecting the next passage to read something like "Only a few Mexican laborers reared within the culture of the southwestern United States, like Speedy Gonzales, were ever capable of producing a suitable work ethic. Even then, the stain of Mexican culture would normally win out as could be seen with Mr. Gonzales’ cousin Rodriguez aka “Slowpoke”. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30149 "2016-07-19T13:42:20Z")
Yes, bit Pinky is definitely an American mouse. _poit_ ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30150 "2016-07-19T14:09:21Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > If you’d like to speak about the value of hard work, you probably shouldn’t plagiarize your comments. Daienu > [@](#): > > If you do plagiarize comments about the value of hard work, you probably shouldn’t plagiarize comments seen by millions of people. Daienu > [@](#): > > If you do plagiarize comments about the value of hard work that were seen by millions, you probably shouldn’t have it broadcast to millions of people. Daienu > [@](#): > > If you do broadcast to millions of people plagiarized comments about the value of hard work previously seen by millions of people, there is a chance that the people who saw the first set of comments won’t be the same people who see your comments, or that those who did see both won’t make the connection between them. Daienu > [@](#): > > Melania Trump’s luck [didn’t hold out](http://gawker.com/melania-trump-apparently-plagiarized-a-section-of-miche-1783889522). Dai- dai- enue, dai- dai- enue, dai- dai-enue, daienue di-en-ue! The [predictable reaction](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/19/trump-campaign-denies-plagiarism-melanias-speech-blames-reaction-clinton/87282068/): > [@](#): > > Donald Trump’s campaign is denying any similarities between Melania Trump’s speech during the Republican convention and Michelle Obama’s speech during the Democratic convention is 2008, and instead blaming it on Hillary Clinton. Countdown until people start pointing out Democrats similar stunts? Countdown until Fox covers the story with a (D) next to her name? Don’t care, but please don’t let this be a countdown to armageddon. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30151 "2016-07-19T14:17:26Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Countdown until people start pointing out Democrats similar stunts? You’ll have to count backwards; **Starving Artist** already jumped in with ‘Obama did it too’ and ‘liberals are therefore hypocrites and liars’. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30152 "2016-07-19T15:24:31Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > **Lance**? Why did you bring this? Who the fuck is “Right Scoop”? I don’t know why _you_ care, and totally don’t know why _we_ should. Um, really? ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30153 "2016-07-19T15:30:46Z")
> [@YogSothoth](#): > > That’s right, because unlike you, I don’t automatically assume that racism in the past is dead and gone. I don’t either. I just don’t assume everything that could possibly be racist is racist. Do you think “white elephant parties” are racist? Do you think your printer is racist when it says “black toner is low?” > [@](#): > > It still exists, and even innocent things like this are a call back to it. Not always. Sometimes innocent things are innocent things. You actually think someone did this on purpose, with the deliberate intent of it being racist? Coe on. > [@](#): > > The question really is: if they had intended it to be racist, how would you know? You wouldn’t, of course, so its better to not even suggest it in the first place. Which means YOU can’t know either. All we can do is look at the evidence we have and make a good judgement. It’s silly stuff like this that the Republicans use to say that the left is a bunch of ninnies who cry “racism!” at everything, no matter how absurd. And they have a point. You can laugh a their stupid mistake. But no, nobody sat down and said “Let’s have a “White Elevator” sign so we can celebrate the glorious days of segregation at our convention because I don’t like white people” and printed a sign. That’s ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30154 "2016-07-19T15:38:22Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > You’ll have to count backwards; **Starving Artist** already jumped in with ‘Obama did it too’ and ‘liberals are therefore hypocrites and liars’. Someone needs to tell that guy to chill out. It’s _day one_ and he’s already in full-out meltdown mode. He’s old and feeble; there’s no way he’ll last three more days of this glorious trainwreck. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30155 "2016-07-19T15:57:06Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > You can laugh a their stupid mistake. But no, nobody sat down and said “Let’s have a “White Elevator” sign so we can celebrate the glorious days of segregation at our convention because I don’t like white people” and printed a sign. That’s ridiculous. I agree. But that doesn’t excuse them. What happened is someone had the idea for “white elevator”, and no one had the idea that this was a bad idea because it seems to make light of segregation, because they were either insufficiently aware of the history of segregation or they just didn’t care. Not the worst sin in the world, but an indictment of their lack of knowledge about racism, or lack of interest in avoiding racism. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30156 "2016-07-19T16:29:37Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I agree. But that doesn’t excuse them. What happened is someone had the idea for “white elevator”, and no one had the idea that this was a bad idea because it seems to make light of segregation, because they were either insufficiently aware of the history of segregation or they just didn’t care. Did it occur to you that being “insufficiently aware of the history of segregation” could be a GOOD thing? That someone who didn’t grow up around racism and isn’t a racist might not know all the details about racism, and might not immediately think about racism when seeing something as simple as a color coded sign? I grew up hearing racist jokes that nobody dare say today. I’m certainly not going to tell them to my kids just to make sure they know about them and don’t accidentally make a similar joke. Part of defeating racism is inevitably going to be ignorance about the details of racism, and that’s a GOOD thing. I see many instances of people making inadvertant racist statements simply because they are NOT racists and didn’t know something was racist, or didn’t think about a racist angle to an innocent statement. ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30157 "2016-07-19T16:31:20Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > **Lance**? Why did you bring this? Who the fuck is “Right Scoop”? I don’t know why _you_ care, and totally don’t know why _we_ should. P.S. here’s a better angle then: Allen West, Republican, is spewing this dumb rumor. [http://www.allenbwest.com/michellejesse/after-coup-turkey-holds-1500-u-s-soldiers-hostage-while-obama](http://www.allenbwest.com/michellejesse/after-coup-turkey-holds-1500-u-s-soldiers-hostage-while-obama) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30158 "2016-07-19T16:34:30Z")
I was going to ask if you are really _that_ stupid, **lance** , but I see that you are. Let’s break it down even further for you: A political party wanting to run the country **had fucking well better be aware** of racism and its history in this country. Anything less just proves their total ethical bankruptcy. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30159 "2016-07-19T16:47:03Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Did it occur to you that being “insufficiently aware of the history of segregation” could be a GOOD thing? That someone who didn’t grow up around racism and isn’t a racist might not know all the details about racism, and might not immediately think about racism when seeing something as simple as a color coded sign? We’ve had this conversation before. This is a very bad thing and inexcusable in modern America. The history of racism and oppression must be learned and understood in order to be avoided in the future, as well as in order to fully understand present day interactions and events. Especially for anyone involved in politics and governance. Absolutely inexcusable. > [@](#): > > I grew up hearing racist jokes that nobody dare say today. I’m certainly not going to tell them to my kids just to make sure they know about them and don’t accidentally make a similar joke. Part of defeating racism is inevitably going to be ignorance about the details of racism, and that’s a GOOD thing. Jokes are different than the history of segregation. It’s absolutely a terrible thing to be ignorant of it when we’re just a couple of generations removed (or even closer for other forms of oppression and discrimination), and when many living people suffered through it (and some still are). Maybe in 500 years it will be different (hopefully). But today, such ignorance of history is a terrible thing that should be challenged and criticized. > [@](#): > > I see many instances of people making inadvertant racist statements simply because they are NOT racists and didn’t know something was racist, or didn’t think about a racist angle to an innocent statement. This doesn’t excuse them from criticism. At best they’re ignorant, and a sharp rhetorical lesson is appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30160 "2016-07-19T16:48:32Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > I don’t either. I just don’t assume everything that could possibly be racist is racist. Good for you, neither do I > [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Do you think “white elephant parties” are racist? Do you think your printer is racist when it says “black toner is low?” No, but “White Elevator” at a GOP convention where their nominee has said Mexican judges can’t be impartial and Mexicans are rapists IS racist > [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Not always. Sometimes innocent things are innocent things. You actually think someone did this on purpose, with the deliberate intent of it being racist? Coe on. Yes. You think the GOP is so smart as to not use a bullhorn sometimes when they should be using a dog whistle? LOL, you give them too much credit! Yes, somebody there likely looked at “White Elevator” and had a guffaw about it, showed it to their buddies, and thought “Why don’t I hang this up, my white friends and I will get a kick out of it!” > [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Which means YOU can’t know either. > > All we can do is look at the evidence we have and make a good judgement. And the evidence is that its likely to be racist when your party blames blacks for crime, dehumanizes them by calling them thugs, thinks any cop that shoots one is ok, calls for deportation and an impossible wall, thinks Mexico is filled with biased judges and rapists, thinks Muslims should be barred from coming into the country, etc. It was a racist sign. And still you didn’t answer my question. What would you accept as racist without someone explicitly saying “Oh that sign? Yeah, we did it cause we’re racists” > [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > You can laugh a their stupid mistake. But no, nobody sat down and said “Let’s have a “White Elevator” sign so we can celebrate the glorious days of segregation at our convention because I don’t like white people” and printed a sign. That’s ridiculous. You give them too much credit. Your party IS that stupid ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2016, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/30161 "2016-07-19T16:49:12Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Someone needs to tell that guy to chill out. It’s _day one_ and he’s already in full-out meltdown mode. He’s old and feeble; there’s no way he’ll last three more days of this glorious trainwreck. What amuses me is that, after days of him moaning about all how awful it is to be an ‘apologist’ for something (such as Islam), he seems to have appointed himself the board’s Chief Trump Apologist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1507) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=1509)