Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama is demanding that John Tanner, head of the Justice Department's voting rights division, be fired for racially insensitive remarks:
John Tanner's remarks came during an Oct. 5 panel discussion on minority voters before the National Latino Congreso in Los Angeles. Tanner addressed state laws that require photo identification for voting, saying that elderly voters disproportionately don't have the proper IDs.
"That's a shame, you know, creating problems for elderly persons just is not good under any circumstance," Tanner said, according to video posted on YouTube. "Of course, that also ties into the racial aspect because our society is such that minorities don't become elderly the way white people do. They die first."
"There are inequities in health care. There are a variety of inequities in this country, and so anything that disproportionately impacts the elderly has the opposite impact on minorities. Just the math is such as that."
Tanner has worked for Justice since 1976, last serving under the Clinton Administration's White House counsel's office.
Tanner's spokesman, Erik Ablin, said,
"Mr. Tanner is an attorney who works to protect civil rights on a daily basis," adding that [Tanner] had won numerous awards from African-American groups. "Nothing in his comments deviated from his firm commitment to enforce the law, and it is unfortunate that they have been so grossly misconstrued."
Obama stated that
"Such comments are patently erroneous, offensive and dangerous, and they are especially troubling coming from the federal official charged with protecting voting rights in this country."
That doesn't jibe with what the article says two paragraphs later, that "It is well documented that black Americans — particularly black males — have shorter life expectancies than whites." But, of course, African-Americans do live to become senior citizens. The article, probably merely like Mr. Tanner did clumsily, is just indicating a statistical reality.
Are Obama's demands for Tanner's firing justified? If so, perhaps Obama will consider the June (2007) appointment of Julianne Malveaux as the president of Bennett College. Malveaux, back in 1994, made the exact same point that Tanner did, albeit in a much more vicious way: She pointed to the statistic hoping that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas would "die early like many black men do" because he "is an absolutely reprehensible person."
Does anyone recall there being mainstream media (or any) coverage of these reprehensible comments when Malveaux was [recently] hired as president of Bennett College?
Neither do I.
Video of John Tanner's remarks.
Video of Julianne Malveaux's remarks about Clarence Thomas. (Scroll down to last segment.)
(h/t to NB reader David Henry.)
—D. S. Hube is an educator and a member of the National Association of Scholars. He blogs regularly at The Colossus of Rhodey.
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Comments Policy
Not George Bush?
October 19, 2007 - 18:23 ET by Jerry MackObama must have run out of things to use to criticise George Bush. A good Democrat candidate will always find a Republican to call a racist.
When are these people going
October 19, 2007 - 18:39 ET by Chris NormanWhen are these people going to learn to stay a million miles off the subject of African Americans, even if their job is directly related to them? Anything they say will be used against them. For that matter, who in their right mind would take a job like this in a Republican administration? I'd rather be an electrician, working with live, uninsulated wires, barefoot, ankle deep in water...outside, during a thunderstorm - the chances of getting zapped are lower...
What was it John Edwards
October 19, 2007 - 18:31 ET by drillanwrWhat was it John Edwards said just a couple weeks ago ... hmmm ... Something like
Young black men will either die or end up in prison ...
Don't recall Obama wadding his BVDs over that ... and HE was there when it was said.
Another quote...
October 19, 2007 - 23:54 ET by m4ster chiefJohn Edwards also said, "Just give me a quick trim around the sides...leave it long in back. I'd get a shave, too, but I only have $300 on me right now."
Sunrise at sea; a breeze across the deck, salty spray tickles the face, the aroma of fresh coffee, stack gas, and haze-gray paint is in the air. Another Navy day aboard ship as a Navy Chief...the perfect life!
m chief -
October 20, 2007 - 16:17 ET by drillanwrAre you active duty?
If so, Thanks and G-d bless, and stay safe.
If retired, Thanks and G-d bless, and have a very enjoyable retirement.
}}---> An inconvenient point
October 19, 2007 - 18:34 ET by Cool ArrowIt is evidently inconvenient to couch statistical evidence in a conservative argument.
I think it's unfair that Black men have to work until they're 65 only to die four years into retirement while White Men statistically live fifteen years past retirement age.
But that is the burden Liberal Theology has foisted upon them.
Please forgive me if I'm wrong (and correct me) but this isn't a new demographic revelation.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
I think it's unfair that
October 19, 2007 - 19:15 ET by motherbeltI think it's unfair that Black men have to work until they're 65 only to
die four years into retirement while White Men statistically live
fifteen years past retirement age.
<sarc> so, do you think we should let black men retire at 54 to make up the difference? Or should we kill a certain number of white men 4 years after they retire, just to make it fair?
}}---> No, MB
October 20, 2007 - 01:55 ET by Cool ArrowI think we should all be in control of our own retirement, healthcare, childcare, destinies . . .
The Government is extremely good at administring nothing very well.
There are, I should add, certain things the government should do. Policing borders comes to mind.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Permission to be
October 19, 2007 - 18:38 ET by mostlymoderatePermission to be politically-incorrect? Ok, I vehemently oppose having "anyone" with the middle name "Hussein" as President. <end of un-P.C. rant>
Having said that, I am "glad" Obama is sticking his nose into this topic because it will show what voters have to look forward to with him as President: a trouble-making, special-interest, ultra-liberal that is more focused on policing "words" than creating solutions.
By the way, I want evidence that what Tanner said is false.
}}---> No evidence forthcoming
October 19, 2007 - 18:45 ET by Cool ArrowIt's an argument Liberals use quite often when they attempt to show inequities in healthcare.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Or when the libs were
October 19, 2007 - 19:02 ET by HypocriteHaterOr when the libs were against Bush's proposal to privatize social security. They had convinced african americans that black men wouldn't benefit from privatization since they didn't live as long as whites. I distinctively remember that.
Malveaux said she hoped
October 19, 2007 - 19:05 ET by motherbeltMalveaux said she hoped Thomas' wife would feed him lots of butter and bacon and eggs, and that he would die early "of heart disease" like many black men do. Was Malveau insinuating that the cause of black men dying young was their wives' cooking? Wow.
Is it racist to state the statistical fact that many black men die young of heart disease? Hypertension is more prevalent among blacks than other races too....is that racist?
I think Obama is getting a little desperate for attention.
}}---> Julianne "Fries" Malveaux
October 20, 2007 - 05:15 ET by Cool ArrowNonsense MB, I think all Julianne was trying to say is that African American women routinely, consciously, and maliciously kill their husbands with unhealthy food.
Suggesting a woman's place is murdering her husband is possibly indicative of Malveaux's own brand of homespun activism.
There, you see? I can say the same thing as you while pretending I'm disagreeing.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Tanner is right.
October 19, 2007 - 19:14 ET by c5thenThe statistics are correct and Tanner's analysis is correct also. It's rather ironic in a sad sort of way, that Tanner was arguing for an issue on the same side as most liberals. Specifically, that any requirement for photo ID's to vote will disproportionately affect the elderly as they are most likely NOT to have the required ID. The blind liberal of course don't care, they just jump on any opportunity to smear a conservative or republican at any opportunity even when there is no actual issue.
This is another non-issue that is trying to be blown out of proportion by the left and their media lackeys. Tanner's pointing out the statistics is no more racially insensitive than pointing out that African-Americans (is that better than Blacks?) are disproportionately affected by sickle cell anemia.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Fred08.com
Obama
October 19, 2007 - 19:23 ET by SlicksterObama is done, he was never more than an Opra made for TV negro. Babbling mindless catch phrases. He is no better than the world's most famous transvestite, hillary.
What was racially insensitive?
October 19, 2007 - 19:45 ET by PamI'm being serious? Are we at the point in our society, that we ;
a.) can't talk about any race other than our own lest we be judged racists?
b.) can't discuss black people at all unless we offer a written explanation in advance so as not to confuse the listener?
Yes, yes, and
October 19, 2007 - 20:12 ET by motherbeltYes, yes, and yes.
Unfortunately.
}}---> Yup, yup, yup
October 20, 2007 - 05:29 ET by Cool ArrowMB is right, and your observation that our perceived need to preface each of our remarks with pandering insulation is indicative of our cognizance that there is no meaningful debate on the issue - only gotcha politics.
Our fears are not without foundation as the same group that demands rigid monolithic Liberal politics will seethe with rage when Ross Perot says "you people". Hard to imagine how he developed such a "racist" mindset isn't it.
No, we can't have an honest dialogue unless it's among honest Americans who've already taken control of their own destinies and stared down every "acting White" epithet flung at them.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Seething over the smallest
October 20, 2007 - 10:51 ET by RackieSeething over the smallest little things. This sounds so familiar. Where have I heard of this recently? Angry crowds threating this and demanding that..it's all so kneejerk-to-the-chin thirdworld lunacy.
"black' president
October 20, 2007 - 11:46 ET by iveseenitallOne more reason we shouldn't elect a "black" president. Like all black "leaders", Obama can't see beyond his race. For them, "racism" is part of every discussion; it trumps everything, just as "sexism" does for feminists like Hillary. Is this what America needs to be president of all the people---- narrow minded bigots who practice the politics of personal destruction? If either Hussein or Hillary is elected, the prison doors will open wide for all "minority" criminals to leave and anyone who is not P.C.to loose his job and even go behind bars. No exaggeration. Obama wants the guy to lose his job for exercizing his free speech. What more proof do we need? He and Hillary are socialist/communists who will destroy the Constitution.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal