Politico's Jonathan Martin Mocks Conservative Florida Voters as the 'Cracker Counties'
Politico reporter Jonathan Martin on Tuesday mocked the "cracker counties" of Florida's conservative Panhandle. Talking to Daily Rundown host Chuck Todd, he derided, "Chuck, a lot of the counties in the Panhandle, in north Florida, the cracker counties, if you will...more resemble Georgia and Alabama than they do Florida." [See video below. MP3 audio here.]
MSNBC anchor Chuck Todd appeared indifferent to this attack, agreeing, "right." That area of Florida, of course, is where fellow MSNBC host Joe Scarborough represented when he was a member of Congress. No word yet on how Scarborough has reacted. [See update below.]
Martin, as of 11:35am EST, has not apologized on his Twitter page.
Martin's insult came as he was trying to explain how North Florida could be instructive for future, southern primaries: "I think the other reason why north Florida is going to be fascinating to watch tonight is because it's going to give us a sense of what's ahead in March, when this primary does move to the deep south states."
UPDATE: 2012-01-31 13:05:32
Some have asserted that Martin meant the word "cracker" as a reference to native Floridians and not in a racial way. However, the Politico reporter wasn't on local Florida TV and the rest of the country sees the term as an insult.
The context of the comment came while talking about conservative Southerners. Remember, Martin claimed that Florida is "going to give us a sense of what's ahead in March, when this primary does move to the Deep South states."
Certainly, the use of the N-word, or some derivative, would not so easily be explained away.
A transcript of the January 31st Daily Rundown exchange can be found below:
9:21
CHUCK TODD: But Jonathan, going back to Gingrich, he doesn't seem to have a strategy in Florida. It's been odd. It's been all messaging, but I haven't seen an overly played Georgia card, for instance, in Jacksonville.
JONATHAN MARTIN (Politico): No. Look, I think the problem that Newt has had here is the problem that he had in Iowa, the attacks on him have gotten into his head and that has sort of consumed his entire focus. And Romney folks knew that, and that's what the goal was entirely, as Jeff and Jim Rutenberg reported on Sunday, was to get in Newt's head, and it's worked effectively here. Look, we saw Newt yesterday here in Tampa. It's hard to discern a message, besides the fact that he's angry towards Romney. And, obviously, that's not terribly effective. He does have an element of strong message, which is pitting himself as the leader of this insurgent movement against the establishment. The challenge is, he can't just drive that message. He sort of scatter shot all about. Chuck, one last thing on the map, though, if I could. I think the other reason why north Florida is going to be fascinating to watch tonight is because it's going to give us a sense of what's ahead in March, when this primary does move to the deep south states, because as you know, Chuck, a lot of the counties in the panhandle, in north Florida, the cracker counties, if you will-
TODD: Right.
MARTIN: -more resemble Georgia and Alabama than they do Florida. So, it's going to be interesting to see if Romney can really show some signs of strength in and around places like Pensacola, Panama City, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.
- Scott Whitlock's blog
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Comments
A white guy said this?? I
Submitted by killa37 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:50pm.
A white guy said this?? I expect him to be getting a phone call from Donna Brazille any minute. I'm wondering what he calls the counties that are predominantly 'black' or 'Latino'...........surely he uses the same type of language, huh???
Racism is racism
Submitted by c5then on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:53pm.
no matter who's mouth it comes out of or what color they happen to be.
That is the hypocrisy of the leberal media, they try and make believe it is a one-way street.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
To Respond to Martin
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 4:24pm.
In the "cracker" dialect he apparently is familiar with, "He shore duz have a purty mouf."
Gee....
Submitted by c5then on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:48pm.
What would they refer to the other counties as in order to contrast the "cracker" counties mentioned above?
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Cracker counties?
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:49pm.
That includes ol' Joe Scarborough's former Congressional District around Pensacola.
What will Joe say?
What will Mika blurt out?
Oh My God!!!
Submitted by killa37 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:03pm.
Oh My God!!!
"Cracker" is the white version of the "N" word
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:54pm.
I'd love to see this ignorant moron come down to Georgia and say that to a white guy's face.
He'd be spitting up teeth for two days.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Yep, Dave.
Submitted by bkeyser on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:26pm.
I was down that way for a short spell back in '02 (I think). In Valdosta. We took a short drive down 75 into one of those cracker counties for some skeet-shooting and dinner one night. I'd like to see Martin start running off with the cracker-talk in that restaurant.
That would require the ignorant moron to have a spine.
Submitted by Radical1979 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 6:55pm.
Libs don't.
Five minutes to Google.....................
Submitted by Tomorama on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:55pm.
Hannity said last night: "I hope Romney does well where the wetXXXXs and bone****s live as that will give us a chance at overtaking Obama and his massive minority vote lead"
Dick Morris - "You are so right"..............
Hannity - "So that bears watching"
Dick Morris - "Yes"
OF COURSE IT DIDN'T HAPPEN, but imagine if you will the OUTCRY?
Broad brush hate much?
Submitted by Tomorama on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:59pm.
Historically the word suggested poor, white rural Americans with little formal education.
Real nice PMSNBC.
Slow Down
Submitted by Falze on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 12:59pm.
Although one definition is listed as being usually derogatory, one of the definitions Merriam Webster gives for cracker is a resident of Florida or Georgia. In other words, not much to see here. Maybe he meant it in a negative fashion, but it's quite defensible.
New Oxford American Dictionary disagrees.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:07pm.
"often offensive, another term for poor white." No state residencies mentioned.
Or maybe he meant "a thin, crisp wafer often eaten with cheese or other savory toppings"
lame
Submitted by Falze on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:06pm.
I said it was 'defensible', not proper.
A comment is insultng or complimentary
Submitted by cocodrie on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:19pm.
One can be called dumb by the word intelligent depending on the intent or inflection.
My, my wasn't your comment intelligent?
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
So Falze, how many saltines can you squeeze in between
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:25pm.
'quite defensible' and 'proper'?
Quite defensible ???
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:24pm.
You sir are a moron.
not sure if he meant it or not
Submitted by HamiltonNJ on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:00pm.
but I actually gotta give the guy a pass on this one. That show about how the states were shaped made mention of parts of Florida being known as cracker country...not heavily used anymore cause of what it now denotes...but people were called crackers back in the day because of the 'crack' of the whip when they were herding cattle. Something I didn't know was Florida is home to tons of cattle, and those parts were called cracker country. Now I'm not sure if this guy even knew that or if he did know it's called cracker country, but not why it's called that. But I gotta look the other way on this one...too much gray area to make a definitive case for or against him.
Seriously?? You think this
Submitted by killa37 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:05pm.
Seriously?? You think this guy had THAT in mind??
Yeah, that's the ticket.
Submitted by c5then on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:14pm.
He was using it in a way that went out of style even before his grandfather was born.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Get real
Submitted by Tomorama on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:12pm.
Oh yeah he meant it in the "whip snapping" kind of way or some other far fetched and never used anymore "term".
They knew exactly what they meant, white, poor and of course STOOPID.
Again, i'll write the question real slow for you - A Conservative is having a cordial conversation with a black man and they get too joking around and Hannity goes "you are one funny brother' OR WORSE, "you are one funny ni***" all in good fun as they like each other.
Would "the good definition" of the cool word used in the hood be allowed to explain away Hannity or would he NOT BE DEMONIZED by every and I mean every black liberal in the world?
Come on, be real.
don't shoot the messanger
Submitted by HamiltonNJ on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:25pm.
I'm just giving you the historical context of the term. I dunno, maybe he watched the same episode I did...maybe he's a bigot...I just think there are bigger fish to fry than this.
Yeah, right. And I'm sure you
Submitted by Immortal Fish on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:23pm.
Yeah, right.
And I'm sure you often use the word "niggardly" as well.
And a hearty 23 Skidoo to you.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:29pm.
.
Now that's the bee's knees!!!
Submitted by killa37 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:35pm.
Now that's the bee's knees!!!
Old terminology
Submitted by Dave the mailman on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:39pm.
They used to call cigarettes "fags" didn't they? I never hear that one either...
True story.............and it
Submitted by killa37 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 3:00pm.
True story.............and it gives a new meaning to 'having a fag'. Oh, by the way, Boy Barry smokes................
I am sure when he is covering
Submitted by WarEagle66 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:30pm.
I am sure when he is covering the Michigan Democrat primary he will use the word....Negro Counties, or maybe the old standby of Darkie Counties...when describing the voting in and around Detroit.
NO...he was not refering to a whip used 200 years ago.
Is that saltine or oyster?
Submitted by Pilgrim1949 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:01pm.
Dear Dem foam-at-the-mouth-tolerant spokesdonkey ---
No soup for you!
"Ye canne change the laws of physics....." but some politicians believe that with the right legislation you can pretend they don't really apply to your own pet projects...
Jonathan Martin is so anxious
Submitted by d1carter on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:06pm.
Jonathan Martin is so anxious to become a "big time" media pundit that he will say or write anything to endear himself to the Prog media powers. Onward and upward, J. Martin!
Regardless of what he meant by 'crackers'...
Submitted by vrwc13 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:08pm.
...it's not just the panhandle counties that are conservative.
As this map shows, Florida is just like other 'big city' states where the city (Miami in this case) overwhelms the rest of the conservative portion of the state (usually a much larger portion of the state).
New York, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and even Californication have similar attributes.
...(the city thing) might have something to do with welfare and all that socialism stuff.
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
~Cracker is a historical term for denizens of
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:12pm.
certain areas of Florida.
It then became a derogatory term for uneducated white people, but watch him defend it by explaining that he was just using it in it's pure, historical, native Floridian sense.
I do see the point, but...........
Submitted by Tomorama on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:22pm.
That's the problem, HE NEVER WILL have to defend it.
Hannity would have, if he used the term "brother" in a good, friendly way.
That is the difference.
~I'd bet money
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:34pm.
that this tool knew the history of the word in Florida and planned to say it so that he could watch conservatives go nuts over it, then smirk and call them historically ignorant. Then he'll offer a non-apology apology.
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/photos/arts/crackr/crackr.htm
http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~fcc/main/what%27s_a_cracker.htm
Bru
Submitted by bkeyser on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:43pm.
You nailed it.
~What a creep he is
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:59pm.
Republicans can't say 'niggardly' without an uproar, but smarmy-@ss liberals pull stunts like that and plume themselves on it.
Cracker theory
Submitted by Schofield Kid on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 7:50pm.
From the 2nd link above:
"Different areas of the state embrace different theories. For example, the corncracker theory prevails in the Panhandle and along the Georgia border. In those areas, Cracker is considered an insult."
Exactly the places he was referring to.
Well, Bru....he's ignorant as a pig in that, too
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:49pm.
Because the real "heart" of cracker country in Florida is Central Florida....where the land flattens out and there are vast grasslands, not the hilly areas of North Florida and the Panhandle. The historic "cracker trail" runs from Bradenton (near Tampa) to Fort Pierce. He's an idiot.
Those of us who are native Floridians aren't offended by "cracker", as we know most damned yankees haven't a clue. Just like this idiot, who throws it out as a derogatory racist word, he misuses it.
He (or she) who laughs last, laughs best. And I am laughing.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
~Oh, I'm sure he didn't take it so far as to learn
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:00pm.
which counties could properly be called that in a historical sense; he was just throwing that out there so he could insult white Republicans and still have plausible deniability. What a tool.
Rush is talking about "crackers" now
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:09pm.
Reading the dictionary definition, LOL.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
~Good
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:12pm.
Breitbart just tweeted to Johnny about it, so I tweeted him a link to a Florida cracker history site before he went completely bonkers over it. No need to play into Johnny's paws on this.
Cool!
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:17pm.
Blow it up early, Bru. Great thinking.
Now post the meaning as a racial epithet. Really nuke this idiot.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
~Check out JM's response to Ken's tweet..
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:31pm.
Ken Shepherd .@jmartpolitico So is an apology forthcoming for your "cracker counties" comment?
1 hour ago in reply to ↑ @jmartpolitico
jmartpolitico @KenShepherd huh? It's a common fl pol term
A "common FL pol term". Yeah, I hear talking heads use it all the time. Right.
Have a link, Bru?
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 3:06pm.
That would be fun to watch.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
~Sure
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 3:18pm.
https://twitter.com/#!/jmartpolitico
If you scroll down his feed just a bit you'll see his response to Ken, click on the little arrow on the right of the comment and you'll open up the convo.
Interestingly, JM is using a pic of an old 'cracker' Florida pol as his avatar right now.
I can certainly understand that...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 6:31pm.
...when I use the term "Negroes", I am merely referring to descendants of the the tribes that emigrated here from the African country of "Niger", nothing more.
Little does Johnathan Martin realize
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:14pm.
I checked out the bio on Johnathan Martin and it said that he lives in Virginia. Little does this guy know, but I would be willing to wager that the bulk of New Yorkers, Bostonians, and San Franciscans would say that this guy also lives in "Cracker Country".
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
That's true, but I'm sure he
Submitted by Schofield Kid on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 7:55pm.
That's true, but I'm sure he lives in one of several cities surrounding DC where most of the elitist snobs in that state reside.
Yankee Doodle
Submitted by CJohnson on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:17pm.
Fe Fi Fo Fum, read the words of a liberal bum; be they alive or just braindead we find their words and make alot of bread. Or crackers.
Little Johnny Martin
Submitted by bkeyser on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:22pm.
channels his inner Chris Rock. Or maybe his inner Dante (caution, language. NSFW) -or, is it Wanda Sykes?
At least he didn't say "uppity cracker" counties; that would have been insensitive.
Little Johnny
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:55pm.
Sorry, this is kind of OT, but I stole a great "little Johnny joke" (very popular in the casa) from the Wrathful One, and put it on my blog.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Remember its Not racist when
Submitted by okie-pastor on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:45pm.
Remember its Not racist when liberals say this.
Side note: last Sunday night I offered four quotes for the church to answer
Who said this?
"read my lips no new taxes" they all said George Bush
"I didn't inhale" they all said Bill Clinton
I will spend the rest of my life looking for the real killer of Nicole and Ron Goldman" they said O.J. Simpson
Then the last I said "the American people have a right to know that their president is not a crook. And I am not a crook."
I heard a loud voice in the back shout "Barack Obama!"
Lol!!!!!
Blonde can clarify, but it's
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:42pm.
Blonde can clarify, but it's been my understanding that "Cracker" indicated native Floridians, as opposed to the transplants. Those whose families have lived there forever; the ones who never had and still eschew air-conditioning.
Whether Martin meant it in that way or as sort of "redneck guns and religion" snipe, I won't judge. But you can bet if a conservative had used the term, there's no way it would be considered a non-insult by liberals.
See above, MB
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:54pm.
The real "crackers" are, as you say, from a long line of native Floridians. I am an "honorary" cracker, inasmuch as I was born here, but my parents came here in the 50's. One of my best friends, though, is a true cracker....her great grandparents came here early on, farmed and raised cattle (which is the true derivation of the word cracker, the Florida cowboy didn't use a lariat, instead he drove his cattle with the crack of a bullwhip).
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
That's what I thought.
Submitted by motherbelt on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:57pm.
And that's what I'm sure Martin would insist he meant, if pushed on it.
But it's still just another way of saying "poor, uneducated and easy to command" as was said of evangelicals.
But who, other than we NB posters, will push him on it?
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:15pm.
No one. He meant it in the racist sense of the word, of course, used in the "black" sense of the word, an epithet. It's not even "code" the way he used it.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Would I be considered an
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 3:02pm.
Would I be considered an "honorary cracker"? Born in Ft. Walton Beach but raised in NY.
No Cracker for you!
Submitted by Agnostic on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 3:29pm.
one of my Great-Great Grandmothers was born in Florida
Three of my Great Grandparents were born in Florida
All of my Grandparents were born in Florida (Both sides of the family even lived in homes with metal roofs and wrap around porches)
My parents were born in Florida
I was born in Florida and I'm only a honorary Cracker - why? Because I was born south of Miami and lived several years up north during my more impressionable years.
But seriously, beyond the term Cracker - this guy seems to be implying the important parts are where the cities are and you have to watch out what those bumpkins in the sticks might do.
Dagnabit!!! Who knew it was
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 3:44pm.
Dagnabit!!! Who knew it was so tough to get into the cracker barrel. :-p
Yes Agnostic, this guy is definitely one of them thar "elites". He thinks the smartest one are they folks inhabiting the cities. Yeah, their the smart ones gaming the system ruining this country.
Cracker Barrel Adjacent
Submitted by Agnostic on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 4:17pm.
Friends of mine a couple of canals over from where I used to live moved into a house with the name 'Hicks' on the mailbox - they left it there. Unfortunately that is not a joke.
For a year or so I lived in
Submitted by Scuba Dude on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 5:25pm.
For a year or so I lived in Hicksville. :-)
Now why would they leave the former occupants name on the mailbox? They trying to hide or something?
Scuba
Submitted by Agnostic on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 2:49pm.
They liked being called Hicks - thought it was funny and appropriate.
Some folk (blk panther) have their view of "Cracker."
Submitted by Gary Hall on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 4:23pm.
Some folk (black panthers) have their own view of what "Cracker's" are.
We goin to have to kill some of them crackers, and their cracker babies.
And, that view is protected as a right, by Obama's Attorney General, Eric Holder.
(;~/ gary
Like the Virginian said in the book by the same name, ...
Submitted by Newsbubba on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:57pm.
... smile when you call me that.
It's not what you call a person. It's how you say it. I hear sarcasm dripping all over Jonathan's little prep school chin as he says "cracker."
It's kind of like calling someone a redneck. Most of us wear that as a badge of honor, but let some lard-assed liberal who uses the term as a synonym for ignorant rube, he will get his lard-ass kicked.
For instance, if i was to quote from the magnificent Stupid Hoe video, and call, oh, say Obama a "nigga monkey," why every liberal pundit on the planet would get their panties in such a wad, that they'd have to get a doctor to remove them!
I'll bet I could even look "nigga" up in the dictionary and find a definition of it.
Besides, I could say that I was only using it in it's historic meaning, so it must be OK, especially if I smiled. Or I could use it like that icon of the Democrat party, Bobby Byrd, who said that he knew lots of "white niggers." Right?
And we've been so careful over all these years to say "N-word" instead of "nigger." Now how dumb is that?
If I remember correctly, my
Submitted by killa37 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:28pm.
If I remember correctly, my great-great-great-great (however it worked out) uncle Mark Twain used that word quite often in his writing - and he's pretty well known and repsected in literary circles............although I'd venture to say that if I looked into one of those books now, the words would be changed - or at least the ones that pertain to 'black' people.
Uncle Mark (hahahaha - I like the way that sounds!!) was also a pretty incisive and insightful political commentator - it's too bad we couldn't bring him back these days for an assessment of the whole charade.
~Excerpt from the forward of a Lois Lenski children's book
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 1:55pm.
about Florida "crackers", printed in 1945.
"The Crackers lived a primitive life, an endless battle went on--a conflict with nature, with wildlife, and with their fellow men. Their life was replete with drama, and being people of character and dignity, they lived it, and still live it, with vigor."
...a little further down in the forward...
"My material has been gathered personally from the Crackers themselves, and from other Floridians who know and understand them"
Bru, think of "The Yearling"
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:14pm.
by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Cross Creek (her home) is just east of Gainesville.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
~Oh man
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:25pm.
That's one I haven't been able to re-read as an adult; as I recall, I cried buckets over it back in the day.
I re-read Strawberry Girl last year while looking for things to read with my 6 year old daughter, so those references were fresh in my mind.
I see pudgy is at it again
Submitted by zachlind on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:36pm.
Well, I see Jonathan Martin; the pudgy John Harris inspired DNC stenographer of Politico and black conservative Republican destruction fame has gotten his all-white abundant rearend in a proverbial crack again, pun intended. You remember Martin, the whitest of white Politico stenographers along with John Harris’ blessing went after the black conservative Republican Herman Cain and ran him out of the race and won the secret JournaList award, the George Wallace Medal of Achievement. The all white crackers at Politico appear to be going after anyone not agreeing with their left-wing agenda pitched daily at the “political news” outlet.
Did anyone notice that articles by Jonathan Martin were pulled from the Politico home page after this Politico Cracker crack appeared including the Rush Limbaugh piece?
Wait till they travel west!
Submitted by Dave the mailman on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 2:46pm.
Will the "coon-asses" support Romney?
Heaven forbid...
Submitted by DumbCanuck on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 3:10pm.
...if a repub said something like this, or better yet, if Hannity or O'Rielly had used similar vernaculars on air.
"There... Are... Four... Lights!"
No... He didn't... You're making that up...
Submitted by Annie Ashe Fields on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 4:07pm.
Wow. UNBELIEVABLE.
Light Voting in my Precinct Today
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 4:23pm.
We were the only ones there. Very strange ballot...only the (R) Presidential candidates. Usually the ballot is pages long.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
No other Republican primaries?
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 6:49pm.
That seem's kind of odd.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
No, not here
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 7:51pm.
Allen West (for now) is the Congressman, unopposed. No other races, or ballot issues.
It was rather bizarre.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
I think it's safe to say..
Submitted by helomech on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 5:03pm.
that Jonathan Martin won't say that outloud anywhere in FL, especially rural areas. Another dicktard in a long line of dicktards in the Lame stream media
...so was he calling them 'crackers', crackers', or 'crackers'?
Submitted by vrwc13 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 6:19pm.
all from Wiki:
1. One theory is that slaver foremen in the antebellum South used bullwhips to discipline African slaves, with such use of the whip being described as 'cracking the whip'. The white foremen who cracked these whips were thus known as 'crackers'.
2. Historically the word suggested poor, white rural Americans with little formal education. Historians point out the term originally referred to the strong English and Scots-Irish farmers of the back country (as opposed to the wealthy planters of the seacoast). Thus a sociologist reported in 1913: "As the plantations expanded these freed men (formerly bond servants) were pushed further and further back upon the more and more sterile soil. They became 'pinelanders', 'corn-crackers', or 'crackers'.
3. As early as the 1760s, this term was in use by the upper class planters in the British North American colonies to refer to Scots-Irish and English settlers in the south, most of whom were descendants of English bond servants. A letter to the Earl of Dartmouth reads:I should explain to your Lordship what is meant by Crackers; a name they have got from being great boasters; they are a lawless set of rascalls on the frontiers of Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas, and Georgia, who often change their places of abode.
4. A similar usage was that of Charles Darwin in his introduction to The Origin of Species, to refer to "Virginia squatters" (illegal settlers).
5. In 1947, the student body of Florida State University voted for the name of their current athletic symbol of "Seminoles," out of more than 100 choices. The other finalists, in order of finish, were Statesmen, Rebels, Tarpons, Fighting Warriors, and Crackers.[8][9]
6. "Cracker" has also been used as a proud or jocular self-description. With the huge influx of new residents from the North, "cracker" is used informally by some white residents of Florida and Georgia ("Florida cracker" or "Georgia cracker") to indicate that their family has lived there for many generations. However, the term "white cracker" is not always used self-referentially and remains a slur to many in the region.
7. The Florida Cracker Trail is a route which cuts across southern Florida, following the historic trail of the old cattle drives.
...interesting note: In 2008, former President Bill Clinton used the term "cracker" on Larry King Live to describe white voters he was attempting to win over for Barack Obama: "You know, they think that because of who I am and where my politic[al] base has traditionally been, they may want me to go sort of hustle up what Lawton Chiles used to call the 'cracker vote' there."
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
Just another name
Submitted by GatorEd on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 8:12pm.
As a Floridian who's Great Great Grandfather served in the Fifth Florida Calvary in the Civil War, I know exactly what he meant. He could have used Redneck, Hick, or Trailer Trash, its all the same. His point is that we are the ignorant ones that live up north, not sophisticated or intelligent. If he had used any slang names for Hispanics, African Americans, or East Timorians, he would have already been fired.
Gator
Submitted by Radical1979 on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 8:17pm.
I'm a bitter clinger up here in Pennsylvania. You know what, I'm proud of clinging to my gun and my religion. Nothing better to cling to.
Nice to see you here, Gator
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 8:24pm.
I'm merely an honorary cracker, you sir, are apparently the real deal.
Welcome here, from a fellow Gator.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
I don't know a lot about Fla
Submitted by Dan Diego on Tue, 01/31/2012 - 8:16pm.
I don't know a lot about Fla Jon, so help me out here.
Was it the Crackers that had a hard time selecting a candidate on a 2000 ballot and embarrassed the entire state?
Is West Palm Beach considered a "Cracker County"?