I have spent the last week hearing, and seeing, interviews with Sarah Palin, droning on about how incensed she is regarding the remarks made by David Letterman in reference to one of her daughters. She insists the joke was about 14 year old Willow, and Letterman says it was about 18 year old Bristol. That point is moot, as the remark was in poor taste either way, and he should have been roundly slapped down for it. And he has been. He has been called a pedophile, a dirty old man, and child rapist by some because of that remark, which is going just a bit overboard in my opinion. That being said, he does not represent the feelings of the Democratic party. HE IS A COMEDIAN, WHO WRITES JOKES FOR A LIVING, NOT A POLITICIAN. I do wish he would have kept his mouth shut, if for no other reason than it gave Sarah Palin, the most inane speaker I have ever had to displeasure of listening to, a reason to start flapping her lips again. She is so far out of her league, that if this were baseball, she would be playing tee ball and the rest of the players would be Albert Pujols.
I keep reading the self-pronounced claims by the Republican party about being the party of family values and equality. They insist that their tent is large enough to include all segments of the population, and that they welcome all minorities with open arms. If that is true, then they need to inform their activists.
Over the weekend a gorilla escaped from a zoo in Columbia, South Carolina. Now I have seen these animals, and they are truly magnificent. They are powerful, beautiful, smart, and when you look at them, you cannot help but have a feeling of intense awe. However, a longtime Republican party activist in South Carolina decided that he saw another side of these phenomenal animals and informed the world that this gorilla was also an ancestor of Michelle Obama, on his facebook page. This comes during a campaign, by the Republican party in South Carolina, to show minorities that the party is opening it’s collective arms to them, and that their tent is large enough for everyone.
The activist, Rusty DePass, issued a half-hearted apology, but also blamed Michelle Obama for his remarks.
“I’m sure it’s just one of Michelle’s ancestors – probably harmless.”
…DePass told WIS-TV in Columbia, “I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest.”Then he added, “The comment was hers, not mine,” claiming that Michelle Obama made a recent remark about humans descending from apes. The Daily News could find no such comment.One wonders if DePass feels the same way about RNC chairman Michael Steele.
Remarks like these are the reason that the Republican party is in the fix it is in. In order to be thought of as the party of family values and equality for all races, they are going to have to purge the party of these old white men, who continue to spew this poison. The party yells loudly about a comedian and his jokes about a young, white girl, but turns a blind eye to the hatred and racism within it’s own party, and then has the audacity to question the patriotism of any who dare disagree with them.Of course, this is only my opinion and I could be wrong, but I think that comparing our First Lady, Michelle Obama, to a gorilla is a pretty clear example of racism at it’s finest.
Guess that tent isn’t quite a big as they would like us to believe.
Geez. I did this comment about racist people having life changing experiences, then clicked “submit comment” and the page jumped to wordpress’ home page.
Oh well. You guys know my heart.
Yes, Auntie we do. That is what makes you so special.
Perhaps you should try retyping your comment. 😉
Simply because your comments always promote serious thought.
That’s because you’re a serious person, dear friend.
Thank you, Auntie. That is probably one of the nicest things anyone has said about me in a long time (Except for family, :-)). People tend to assume that since I don’t hold a paying job outside my home, that I am just “a housewife”, with no real thought processes of my own. They couldn’t be further from the truth. I am fairly smart and like most with half a brain, I enjoy having my brain excercised. The use of our brains is so important and there are so many who simply wait for others to tell them what to think. You on the other hand give us food for thought and force us to use our brains and examine what we think and why, and that is the best method of teaching and debating. It is a true gift.
And yes, Auntie, they did bring those monkeys with the Obama bumper stickers around their heads to the rallys. I remember an older gentleman at a rally who looked like a kindly old grandpa. He had white hair and horn rimmed glasses, and then he held up one of those monkeys and turned into such a nasty old man, that I was nauseated.
Auntie, I am so glad you are finally here. I read your story about your experience in 1969 with much interest. My experience with my auntie in NC, was in 1970. Sometimes I look around and cannot believe that we have so far to go still. I can remember when I was a young teen and I first became aware of the difference in the way people of color were treated. My dad had always been in the service and we were always taught that everyone was the same. When I discovered that a lot of people didn’t believe that, I was astounded. And I vowed to try to never base my opinion of people on the color of their skin, their religion, their ethnicity, or anything other than their actions. It has served me well through the years. And I have made some of the most marvelous friends, whom I like and respect, and who are kind and fair, as well as extremely intelligent. People who accept others as God made them and realize that we are all God’s children, are truly special, and will find treasure in the most unexpected people.
italco, I simply cannot believe that these people do not understand that they are destroying the very thing they profess they are attempting to save. They have “shown their true colors” as my mother would say. There are simply too many people in high places, in the republican party, who show too much racism and hatred. Unless they get rid of these “good ol’ boys” the party is doomed.
Hey Ann, Lette, Italco, and Auntie. So good of you guys to take the time to drop in.
Ann, I know exactly what you mean. I live in Missouri and I see that darned flag being flown on poles in the back of these big muddin’ trucks. I am appalled that people do not seem to understand why that flag, as a part of our history, belongs in a museum, next to the Nazi flag, not in our yards, at our government buildings, or in the back of our pickup trucks. It is time to say NO MORE!! These people need to have it made crystal clear that this kind of racism and hatred are no longer acceptable. You can criticize our government with out using slurs of any type, and it is time that people quit accepting this behavior. EVOLVE!!!!!!
Multi tasking, bbiab, with more thoughts. Making meatloaf.
Okay. Better late than never. 🙂
Good article, CT. I could talk about this for days.
Good to see you MartinT!!!
I agree that someone in the Republican party needs to speak out against hate, including how some allege that President Obama’s policies provoked a racist to kill at the Holocaust Museum. They should speak out against it, or all Republican politicians will be seen as being in agreement with it.
The gorilla — didn’t some people attending Palin’s rallies bring stuffed monkeys with them with Obama’s name taped on them? What did Palin say to correct them? Nothing. She smiled.
Well, I suppose that the gloves are off and the heels are on, because she is kicking her party into oblivion. Putting on those heels sure didn’t help McCain win the election.
MartinT, I was stationed in Parrish Island, S.C. Being Chicago born and raised, it was an awakening for me. There I was in a barracks with a diversity of women from across America, including Native Americans and Hawaiians. We appreciated and learned from each other’s culture. A bunch of us went out one night into a small town, (don’t remember the name now). It was 1969.
The waitress didn’t go around the table and take orders according to how we were sitting. Rather, she asked all of the White women first what they wanted. We looked at each other, got up, and began walking out. The waitress yelled at us and I remember someone saying, “We are Marines. When our blood is spilled for this country, it’s red. Why don’t you go to Nam and tell bullets to wait and kill colored soldiers last? Take your food and go to hell. It’s probably lousy anyway.”
The republicans have done the democrats a favor with all the rheteric they have been spewing since the campaign and then with the attacks before president Obama even took office.
The attacks have been a form of “throw anything and everything and hope something sticks” type politics. It has been non stop since prior to day #1
How this has done the Democrats a favor is no one is listening anymore. The boy who cried wolf is just a voice in the background yammering at the airways…they have lost all credibility.
They have nothing positive to offer America.
“Leading the torch-bearing mob is New York State Assemblyman Brian Kolb (R), who clearly has too much time on his hands. He’s a co-sponsor of the site, which features a list of major advertisers and CBS bigwigs, to whom people can complain.”
Oh sure…..let’s fire David Letterman, granted not a real smart thing to say- but this (R) didn’t bother to speak out against any of the racist, offensive dialogue from many of his own party has spewed! Astounding! go figure!
Here-http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainmentheadlines/ci_12594530
Again-David Letterman is a comedian- not a politician!
EXACTLY!
ct-It’s just sad the way the Repbulican party has members that are unable to keep their idiotic thought processes shut. It’s almost like a contest, who can out do who in the realm of stupidity.
The turning point for me was when McCain picked Palin- never before have I seen a party spiral downward so fast. And I do recall the appalling racist remarks, chanted at the rallies, while she stood back and said nothing.
Much like today, how people are somewhat irritated at the American Muslim community for not speaking out against the actions of the terrorists after 9/11.
It’s more inflaming that here we are in the year 2009 and we have our own people conducting themselves and insinuating such nonsense about our First Lady.
To me, that was not any sort of an apology from DePass at all. Shameless!
Where is the outcry from what is left of sane Republican party?
I know there has to be a few left! Family values? -don’t believe so.
2010 is going to be a real wake up call for what is left of them.
And I’m not fond of the idea of not having a 2 party system- just hoping, the Republicans get this message loud and clear and wake up already, and start behaving like human beings.
And remember- South Carolina still flies that despicable flag- maybe no longer on the same pole as our flag…..but all the same- they have a long way to go, to show the rest of this country, that racism is not what reflects the values of that state.
I would think that comments made by Rusty DePass are not going to help the republican party at all.. As a matter of fact, looks like they are on the verge of total collapse!! Sooo, Rusty.. keep up the good work..you do your party proud..
Yes, he does, doesn’t he. His ilk are what is wrong with that party. They just keep crawling out of the woodwork. That is what is meant by the “Good Old Boys Network”.
I hope ctlss you have hit on a nerve for anyone reading this that are palin worshippers! Her behaviour is worse than any rational person who is in politics.. Now, that doesn’t say much for a lot of politicians does it LOL …She has brought so much of this publicity on herself with her own big mouth, hatred and intolerence of others.. She is just burned because she and McCain lost the election.. Thank God for that too!!!
She actually attempted to blame President Obama for the remarks of Letterman! If you see the video, she goes on and on about how during the campaign that Barack Obama said “his family” was off limits.. aahhh excuse me Sarah Palin.. you have that statement all wrong!! He said that ALL AND ANY FAMILY MEMBERS OF ANY OF THE PEOPLE TAKING PART IN THE ELECTION WERE OFF LIMITS” ..NOT JUST HIS FAMILY!!! See, she has not got the capabality to listen..she runs off at the mouth and pays no attention to what the hell she is saying..
I along with many many others do not see her as a candidate or EVER winning an election for her to become president or any other office in the whitehouse!! NOT EVER!
As for the remarks of such a low life as DePass, all anyone can really say about it is ..not surprised considering the mentality of the person. They really don’t deserve much attention at all.. They are the one that looks like a complete ignorameous and fool..
Great report ctlss…good girl…
Thanks, Nite. I heard her say that about President Obama’s children during the election and wondered what the hell she was talking about. There was one major difference during the election that she is not taking into account, and seems to have conveniently forgotten; President Obama didn’t parade his children across every stage he could find, and at every fundraiser or rally he attended. Governor Palin did. She paraded her family from the special needs infant, Trigg to the pregnant teenage daughter, Bristol, across every stage she could find. She used them like a fisherman uses a lure. Cast them out there and hoped people would bite. Then she uses them one more time to get interviews so that she can complain about them being exploited. Hypocrit!!
As for DePass, he is an ass, as Lette so aptly put it, and he needs to be called out for it.
What about the fact that Palin’s rallies emboldened hate groups like the KKK and Skinheads? What about the whole McCain/Palin campaign of hate?
Oh, Lette. We were simply being to sensitive. Don’t you now that only people who didn’t vote for McCain/Palin are the ones who preach and spread hate, racism, sexism, and intolerance??? Why, we are all so unfair and mistreat poor Larry and her family all the time. Heaven forbid that anyone say anything about the Palins, with the mother that is so politically competent that no one could ever question her qualifications to lead the country, and that have been so maligned. We musn’t say anything that could even be construed as criticism, why, they are the next first family, wink, wink, you betcha!!
DePass is truly an ASS! Did that rhyme? And I wasn’t joking!
It amazes me that a comedian gets so much grief for doing, well… what he does for a living. I agree that the joke was in poor taste, but that’s what comedians do. Just like Wanda Sykes, they made a big deal about it. But when Republican politicians and people like Limbaugh are insensitive, it was taken out of context or was just entertainment!
You’re a poet and don’t know it, Lette. And I agree with your assessment. Maybe it is because these Republicans feel that they are exempt from being PC. From the looks of it, they don’t even know what the term means.
LOL @ the poet! 😉
Tis true, oh ye of the rhyming word.
Why is it always South Carolina that leads the way in the racist idiot field? I grew up on SC and it just chaps my butt that white folks down there still feel as if they are entitled to their racist views, and many of them will defend their “right” to be racist and ignorant by claiming that “it isn’t about race, it’s about heritage.” Yeah, a heritage of Hate and Racism is exactly correct.
Martin!!!! I am so glad that you decided to visit. My Pop is from North CArolina, and one of my earliest memories is driving down the street and seeing a very small African-American child and hearing one of my old aunties say, “Oh look at the little n****r baby. Isn’t he adorable!” She thought no more of that than saying “oh, look at the cute little baby.” Of course, she did not mean it in any kind of a deragotory way, as she didn’t have a prejudiced bone in her body. That was simply acceptable and the term used in 1970, but I was still dumbfounded, even though I was only 12, because I had never heard anyone use that term. It simply wasn’t done in my family, as we were military and constantly surrounded by people of all nationalities. What this man said was done in a racist and hate filled way, and was in no way innocent. That there are still people who feel that hate and racism is part of their heritage, proves that we still have a lot o work to do.