It's time for a TGIF edition of one of our favorite games: WIARHSI. For you beginners, that's "What If A Republican Had Said It?"
What if a Republican had said, in explaining why schools in Iowa are performing better than those in Washington:
There's less than one percent of the population of Iowa that is African American. There is probably less than four of five percent that are minorities. What is in Washington? So look, it goes back to what you start off with, what you're dealing with.
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Now, it's true that the person in question added:
When you have children coming from dysfunctional homes, when you have children coming from homes where there's no books, where the mother from the time they're born doesn't talk to them — as opposed to the mother in Iowa who's sitting out there and talks to them, the kid starts out with a 300 word larger vocabulary at age three. Half this education gap exists before the kid steps foot in the classroom.
On the other hand, as an aggravating element, imagine that the same hypothetical Republican had a history of insensitive racial comments, including suggesting that you have to be from India to be at a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts, and calling a black candidate "clean and articulate."
OK, then. Ready to play? Good. Please estimate the following:
- Number of Dem congressmen and senators taking to the floor of their respective chambers to denounce the remark.
- Time [in minutes] before first of Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson gets in front of a TV camera to castigate the offender.
- Combined number of New York Times and Los Angeles Times articles, editorials and op-eds on the subject.
Of course, it wasn't a Republican who said this. It was Senator and presidential candidate Joe Biden (D-Del.), in an interview with the editorial board of the Washington Post. WaPo covered as best it could for Biden, describing his statement as a "stumble." And the New York Times and Los Angeles Times? If they've written anything about the incident, I can't find it. Here and here are the results pages for "Biden" from their own respective search engines.
Note: While cutting Joe slack, Hot Air also rightfully observes: "we all know this would be 'special comment' material at Keith 'Maglagong' Olbermann’s house o’ chicken and waffles."
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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He'll be forgiven. After
October 26, 2007 - 14:02 ET by mattmHe'll be forgiven. After all, he's a Democrat. They can be as racist and as bigoted as they want and still get 90% of the Black Vote...
You ask WIARHSI? A Republican doesn't even have to say anything remotely close to this, or can even say something that is eminently respectful, encouraging and uplifting regarding equality, equal opportunity, and "judging someone on the content of his character" yet still be considered a bigot - or an Uncle Tom...
It's a topsy-turvy world.
Biden
October 26, 2007 - 14:06 ET by Emma GrumpAnd the MSM will assist him by not reporting his comments, because, they all know that he is "down for the struggle".
And look at what happens
October 26, 2007 - 20:47 ET by Cape Conservativewhen Bill Cosby tries to address the situation...if anyone should be admired by the black community, it is him. But you don't hear Jackson or Sharpton echoing Bill's comments to try to inspire the young blacks to grow and succeed in the world. Oh no, they MUST keep them in the VICTIM mentality! Truth or not, it doesn't matter...just keep those "victim" stories coming.
Joe Biden should be taken to task for these statements - but won't.
But JEEZ!
October 27, 2007 - 14:55 ET by KeithCome on people it's time to kick this BUTT LINT out of politics! He's the worst kind of RACIST! He's like a friggin' ARCHIE BUNKER or something, he thinks he's better than EVERYBODY! It's not just the blacks, it's blacks, indians, foreigners, mexicans, and he's PROUD he's from a G@dd@mned SLAVE STATE! I daresay that there are more moderate voices IN THE FRIGGIN' KU KLUX KLAN! Why aren't conservatives jumping on this, it's YOUR FAULT. If you stomp loud enough they have to answer, immigration anyone? Dubai Ports? It's not like theres a complete media blackout on conservatism it's that "conservatism" isn't YELLING LOUD ENOUGH. On anything. You let "transgendered" Frankensteinian freaks TEACH OUR CHILDREN THEIR FILTH. You let butt raiding abominations stand there with suits and ties on and pretend to be "normal" while advocating the sickest stuff this side of HELL! BUSH let radical homosexuals invade the education system UNDER HIS WATCH and that idiot he made Secy of Ed has said NARY A PEEP! But we got TAX CUTS! Well, to all you fake ass Christians who have let this thing get this far down the skids to hell, " You cannot serve GOD and MAMMON (money)." And that seems to be what the republican party has concerned itself with while perverts are enlarging the anus' of our children and RACIST NUTBAGS are running for President! Gee thanks.
BTW: Where are the calls for his resignation? Hmmm. Not all that bothered by his speech after all, are ya?
Wow, keith,
October 27, 2007 - 15:05 ET by RJyou've got a real anal fixation going there.
Between that and blaming Republicans for everything, including what the Democrats do, you get some pretty wild, irresponsible and illogical rants going, doncha?
}}---> Watch it, RJ
October 28, 2007 - 00:14 ET by Cool ArrowKeith took an IQ test, y'know.
In fact, he invented intelligence.
}}---> Keith
October 28, 2007 - 00:10 ET by Cool ArrowYou'll notice we are denouncing Biden for his stupidity.
You should be directing your rant to the Democrat party for refusing to do the same.
So keep bowing down to Robert Byrd and Joe Biden if you like, but there's no sense in crying to us because you lack the fortitude to address them directly.
I did notice diversityInc did address Biden's comments. Surprised the heck outta me.
He'll be forgiven. After
November 2, 2007 - 05:48 ET by motherbeltHe'll be forgiven. After all, he's a Democrat -mattm
matt, he doensn't even need to be forgiven, because they just pretend he never said it.
So Biden basically said
October 26, 2007 - 14:08 ET by motherbeltSo Biden basically said that test scores are lower in DC because you are "starting off" with mostly African Americans and other minorities. Way to go. Now I know why they call him "Slow Joe Biden. He is definitely slow on the uptake.
He got away with the other two stupid remarks. I doubt the third time will be the charm. The MSM will cover for him. Again.
The only way this will hit the news is if Rush Limbaugh produces a parody based on it. Then HE will be blamed for racist remarks, like with his takeoff on the "clean and articulate" and "Magic Negro" lines.
Wellllll...
October 26, 2007 - 17:41 ET by heldmywIn this case... He's not wrong.
He is insensitive, thoughtless, and a complete tool, but... not wrong.
The differences in "start points" isn't actually 300 words though, in households where infants hear speech directed at them from birth, are read to, and interacted with, the difference in Pre-K can be THOUSANDS of words.
There is pretty darn good documentation from USDOE about the "startup" levels of various socioeconomic strata, and when the data is disaggregated, it breaks down along racial lines.
That doesn't make Biden a good communicator. He's awful. Pompous, inconsiderate and self-important.
But, in this case, he's not wrong.
held... I totally agree
October 26, 2007 - 18:28 ET by bigtimerheld...
I totally agree with your post about Biden and his sentiments on this subject.
My husband and I watched him say this exact thing basically in one of the dem. debates...we thought he was really going to get clobbered in the msm...
Wrong.
The difference here is if a repub. candidate had said any of this he would of been tarred and feathered by the msm... the msm would claim it was racism as the media defines it when convenient...it is always okay as long as it is democrat saying it.
Hope I got my point across okay...lol.
Later.
heldmyw, I agree with
October 26, 2007 - 20:51 ET by motherbeltheldmyw, I agree with bigtimer.
The point is not whether Biden is right or wrong; the point is twofold: was it a politically correct thing to say, and how will it be played (or will it, at all) in the media?
Do you really think it is OK to say, from a PC standpoint, (even if there is data to back it up), that black parents talk to their babies less and therefore their kids are at a disadvantage when they enter pre-kindergarten?
Our point here is that, because Biden is a liberal democrat, he will get a pass, or, be described, (as you said), as pompous and self-important, or a poor communicator. But he won't be called racist. If a Republican representative, or someone like Rush Limbaugh said the same thing, or even mentioned the studies you cited, they would be called the worst sort of racist, and apologies and a rolling head would be demanded.
Come on now folks! He is a
October 26, 2007 - 14:41 ET by Airforce_5_OCome on now folks! He is a Democrat, he can’t be prejudice.
What…..
Byrd was…
Wallace was….
Johnson was….
Al gore's daddy too.
Well blows my theory out of the water.
The only thing you should feel when shooting insurgents is the rifle recoil.
Forgot the grandaddy of
October 26, 2007 - 21:27 ET by ahusserForgot the grandaddy of racist democrats, Woodrow Wilson. Not to mention we fought the civil war because the Democratic Party seceded from the Union over the election of Abraham Lincoln and the perceived threat to slavery. They may have changed their politically correct spots but have only changed their bigotry to new and different victims. But then again the Dems have always been the party that sows discord, disunity, irrationality.
...ahusser... ...and they
October 26, 2007 - 21:45 ET by bigtimer...ahusser...
...and they shall reap what they sow....
One way or the other...sooner or later.
The MSM hypocrisy is easy to
October 26, 2007 - 15:05 ET by mulerider24The MSM hypocrisy is easy to foreshadow on this one. But it's really not that much of a slip of tongue if you think about it. Liberals like Biden have made a living out of equating minorities to low socio-economic demographics. The two variables are inseparable in his mind.
The problem arises when liberals try and apply that same thinking to an issue outside of government welfare... say, education. The original thesis involves a poor African-American who can't find a job simply because he is an African-American. That line of thinking is acceptable because it allows society to be blamed for any misfortune, thus opening the door to government assistance.
However, Biden uses the same blueprint, but instead equates the same poor, African-American to one who can't be educated simply because he is an African-American. Now you have an entirely different outcome.
"Joe Biden does not care about black people!" - Kanye West
Please let there be a
October 26, 2007 - 15:12 ET by 10thAmendmentPlease let there be a video.
After the fuss that was raised because Rush said, "phony soldiers" when talking about phony soldiers. Perhaps Senator Reid will send a letter signed by 40 other Senators condeming . . .
If Media Matters didn't report it, it didn't happen to the legacy media. So, don't look for any controversy.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
I'd like to hear him explain.....
October 26, 2007 - 15:14 ET by echojackJust as an academic exercise, I'd like to hear Biden's explanation for the high percentage of males with advanced degrees in math, science and engineering. It would be interesting to see the response to anything he might say.
Maybe he should consult with Larry Summers before he speaks.
Just another example of
October 26, 2007 - 15:23 ET by Tom in NCJust another example of Biden's FIMD(Foot In Mouth Disease). Could you imagine this guy as President, they would have to put a seven second delay on his inaugural speech
I am sure Media Matters,
October 26, 2007 - 15:34 ET by kgI am sure Media Matters, Move On dot Org, and Daily KOS all covered it completely.
Loose cannon
October 26, 2007 - 15:36 ET by celatorBiden's always been a loose cannon, so this is no surprise.
Loose Cannon?
October 26, 2007 - 15:48 ET by PAPA LA PROUD AMERICAN
I think Mr. Biden is trying to catch up to that other loone Jimmuh Cottah.
And George Allen
October 26, 2007 - 20:53 ET by Cape Conservativegot clobbered for one goofy word! Oh, I forgot, he's a Republican!
Interesting...Biden
October 26, 2007 - 15:46 ET by WGEargleInteresting...Biden commenting on the state of education. He's such an expert. After all, he lied about his own college credentials, he must know something.
I wonder what sort of advice he would offer to fix the education gap? Just lie about it?
mattm said: "He'll be
October 26, 2007 - 16:59 ET by Sonny Lykosmattm said: "He'll be forgiven. After all, he's a Democrat. They can be as racist and as bigoted as they want and still get 90% of the Black Vote... "
And that's why I contend that blacks are, by and large, the most stupid people in our country. They even still believe it was the Democrats who got the civil rights act through.
Slow Joe Biden
October 26, 2007 - 18:40 ET by RackieTo think that Slow Joe could have been a journalist.
A terrible mind is a waste of time.
Honest Joe?
October 26, 2007 - 20:22 ET by BarkerIMHO, Joe Biden said what most white liberal elites believe, that minorities don't have the capacity to get ahead in life, and need the help of their superiors, superiors being white liberal elites.
This is obviously not news to the MSM.
Biden just dropped the mask, again.
}}---> Biden's racism
October 27, 2007 - 03:15 ET by Cool ArrowBiden isn't racist because of his thoughts, but because of how he expressed them.
He did not begin with sociological science, but with an observation of ethnic origin.
True enough, kids who aren't communicated with early have problems developing. But Biden took the opportunity to single out an ethnic group as causative and backtrack when he realized he'd once again, stepped in it.