Mitt Romney Joins the Race-Baiters

This is what he has to do to win
Politics • Views: 23,520

What can you even say about this? Mitt Romney clearly understands that the GOP base is responding to Gingrich’s ugly race-baiting, so he’s jumping right into the sewer with Newt.

TPM’s Benjy Sarlin is at a Romney Rally in Ormond Beach, Florida and tweets that the former Gov. said “I think it’s time we had someone in the White House who knows how to create jobs because he’s had a job.”

The Republican Party is sick to its core.

UPDATE at 1/22/12 9:37:39 pm

Here’s why Mitt Romney is diving into the gutter with Newt Gingrich: according to the latest Insider Advantage polling in Florida, he’s behind Gingrich by nine points.

Newt Gingrich - 34.4 %
Mitt Romney - 25.6 %

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354 comments
1 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 7:59:47pm

I read it as a standard slam against ‘career politicians’, rather than race baiting. He may yet prove me wrong, and I’m not likely to be surprised.

2 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:00:00pm

As many have noted, thing about Mitt is his “jobs” have been in line with his trust fund. Born with a silver spoon, he was set up to be part of something like Bain.

No doubt Mitt is trying to do a soft-peddle dog whistle. It’s not as blatant as the “food stamp” hot button, but it does play into the stereotype.

3 dog philosopher  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:00:33pm

GOP race - get ugly or get out

4 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:00:49pm

re: #1 Slumbering Behemoth

But… when you add up the years that Mitt was governor and running for president and compare them to his time at Bain… what do you get?

5 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:02:00pm

re: #1 Slumbering Behemoth

I read it as a standard slam against ‘career politicians’, rather than race baiting. He may yet prove me wrong, and I’m not likely to be surprised.

I’d agree with that call.

6 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:03:36pm

Even if it’s not race baiting. It’s still shitty and he knows it. Sick of Romney pulling this stunt. Hey Mitt,. Obama’s run this country for the last few years while you’ve been changing everything you believe in to satisfy your party’s base.

7 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:03:53pm

re: #4 freetoken

But… when you add up the years that Mitt was governor and running for president and compare them to his time at Bain… what do you get?

I know. Yet many who run for office try to paint themselves as ‘Joe The Plumber’ while painting their opponent as a ‘career politician’.

And we have many months yet before November, so Mitt may yet prove to be another race baiter. And as I said, I’m not likely to be surprised if he does.

8 SpaceJesus  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:04:11pm

He’s not gonna let Gingrich out-klan him this time

9 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:04:24pm

Mmm-kay — so we should just forget about the fact that Newt Gingrich just trounced Mitt Romney by pandering to the lowest kind of racist ugliness?

If you want to ignore that context, you’re free to do so. I can see what’s in front of my face, and this is Mitt doing what he needs to do to be elected.

10 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:04:43pm

re: #1 Slumbering Behemoth

I read it as a standard slam against ‘career politicians’, rather than race baiting. He may yet prove me wrong, and I’m not likely to be surprised.

As do I. A repost of what I had planned to say on the last thread:

So far, Mitt Romney hasn’t gone race-baiting. If he does clearly, then we could consider throwing that flag for his line. But Mitt Romney is not Newt Gingrich, and thus we should not be nearly as quick to find against him. If Newt has said the same thing, them throwing the flag would be justifiable.

Again, this has been said about politicians of both black and white ethnicity. It is about career path, not race.

11 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:05:34pm

Yes, Mitt once held a job. Just don’t ask him what that job entailed, what the failure rate was while he was at that job, how much that job still pays him years after he retired, or how there was never any danger he’d be fired because his contract came with an iron-clad guarantee of a job back at the old firm.

12 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:05:38pm

re: #10 Dark_Falcon

Again, this has been said about politicians of both black and white ethnicity. It is about career path, not race.

You are the least qualified person around to make that kind of judgment.

13 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:05:46pm

re: #10 Dark_Falcon

As do I. A repost of what I had planned to say on the last thread:

Again, this has been said about politicians of both black and white ethnicity. It is about career path, not race.

Bullshit. Mitt Romney is getting into the gutter with Newt Gingrich, because as he’s proven many times, he’ll do and say whatever he needs to do to win.

14 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:06:04pm

re: #6 HappyWarrior

Even if it’s not race baiting. It’s still shitty and he knows it.

I agree. Regardless of where it’s coming from, either ‘race baiting’ or the typical slamming of ‘career politicians’, it’s still off the mark.

15 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:06:43pm

re: #6 HappyWarrior

Even if it’s not race baiting. It’s still shitty and he knows it.

Yeah, this.

The GOP base, at its core, is made up of a bunch of atavistic, ignorant, greedy, racist, sexist, xenophobic assholes. Just read the wingnut sites for proof. They want a candidate who will shout all of their resentments towards women, minorities, gays, liberals, the poor and everyone else they blame for their shitty lives.

Newt knows this, which is why he won in SC. Mitt Romney knows this too, which is why we’re going to hear more of this shit from now until November, and for the foreseeable future if Barack Obama wins a second term.

16 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:06:49pm

Mitt needs to get it through his frigging head that working for the government is a career. You know I don’t care if he was race baiting or not. He’s attacking thousands of Americans who work their ass off everyday. Would Mitt say this same thing about a lifelong military member? Why is it okay to go after lifelong government employee civilians?

17 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:07:03pm

It’s not race baiting, it’s Charles just being oversensitive.

///

lmao

18 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:07:37pm

re: #12 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

You are the least qualified person around to make that kind of judgment.

Leaving Dark out of it, do you see this as a racial comment? I think Romney is, so far, deliberately trying to find ways to trash Obama without mimicking Newt’s very overtly racial language, which he knows will damage him in a general.

19 Kragar  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:08:07pm

For Mitt and the entire GOP

Youtube Video

20 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:08:25pm

re: #16 HappyWarrior

Mitt needs to get it through his frigging head that working for the government is a career. You know I don’t care if he was race baiting or not. He’s attacking thousands of Americans who work their ass off everyday. Would Mitt say this same thing about a lifelong military member? Why is it okay to go after lifelong government employee civilians?

No, actually, he’s attacking African Americans, using Barack Obama as a proxy. This is a winning strategy in the Republican Party, and Gingrich proved it in South Carolina.

Romney is now running neck and neck with Gingrich in Florida. He knows which side his bread is buttered on — the white side.

21 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:08:37pm

re: #10 Dark_Falcon

As do I. A repost of what I had planned to say on the last thread:

Again, this has been said about politicians of both black and white ethnicity. It is about career path, not race.

It’s a dog whistle, goes hand in hand with the food stamp shit and Santorum’s blah people comment. It’s also a blatant lie, last time I checked law school professor was a real job.

22 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:08:49pm

re: #18 SanFranciscoZionist

Leaving Dark out of it, do you see this as a racial comment? I think Romney is, so far, deliberately trying to find ways to trash Obama without mimicking Newt’s very overtly racial language, which he knows will damage him in a general.

In other words, he’s trying to call Barack Obama an N-word without actually calling him an N-word. He’s dog whistling.

23 dog philosopher  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:09:16pm

if borrowing money and giving it to other people to buy companies and manipulate their finances for fun and profit is real world experience that we want in our president, then we might as well borrow another trillion from china and ship them our unemployed, since the point of having a government must be to make a profit, and not to help us citizens, um, i mean employees of the united states, have a better life

vote romney for a leaner and meaner america, incorporated. way meaner

24 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:09:40pm

re: #9 Charles

Mmm-kay — so we should just forget about the fact that Newt Gingrich just trounced Mitt Romney by pandering to the lowest kind of racist ugliness?

If you want to ignore that context, you’re free to do so. I can see what’s in front of my face, and this is Mitt doing what he needs to do to be elected.

Yes Charles, on this one we should not throw the flag. Mitt Romney does not have Newt Gingrich’s record of race baiting. I therefore argue he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

25 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:09:46pm

re: #20 Charles

No, actually, he’s attacking African Americans, using Barack Obama as a proxy. This is a winning strategy in the Republican Party, and Gingrich proved it in South Carolina.

Romney is now running neck and neck with Gingrich in Florida. He knows which side his bread is buttered on — the white side.

Yeah maybe I was being naive. Just frustrated with this nonsense. I hope Romney continues to get slammed for being a career corporate tool.

26 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:09:52pm

At the Weekly Standard Jay Cost explains away the racism that Mitt and Newt are courting as “frustration.”

So what on earth was this conservative crowd applauding? It was that last sentence – “Only the elites despise earning money” – which captures the essence of this most recent Gingrich boomlet.
Conservatives are very frustrated, and rightfully so. Their feeling is that they play by the rules – they work hard, pay their taxes, raise their kids right – but what do they get for it? Their values are mocked on television and the movies, the media castigates them as a bunch of extremists, they pay taxes while half of the country does not, and the Obama administration took to demagoguing them virtually from day one of his tenure. I know of what I speak – a few months back I was driving down the road and saw a sign in front of a business lamenting, “Where is the America I grew up in?”

27 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:10:07pm

Wow, so we’re supposed to forget what happened last night in South Carolina?

Mitt Romney was clearly paying close attention.

28 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:11:09pm

re: #26 jaunte

At the Weekly Standard Jay Cost explains away the racism that Mitt and Newt are courting as “frustration.”

frustration? Yeah that’s it. Assholes. They’re mad because they don’t like the fact that a black guy is CoC when many of them remember the good ole days where they could legally prohibit blacks from participating in democracy.

29 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:11:34pm

re: #28 HappyWarrior

they pay taxes while half of the country does not

And that’s false, too.

30 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:11:49pm
“I think it’s time we had someone in the White House who knows how to create jobs because he’s had a job.”

This is one of Mitt Romney’s poll tested lines. He said the same thing back in a November debate.

“He’s never had a job. I think to create jobs it helps to have had a job. I have.”

It’s an oldie and it works for him. It has nothing to do with his loss in South Carolina.

31 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:12:07pm

re: #26 jaunte

“Where is the America I grew up in?”

Deader than disco, and we give thanks every day for that.

32 dog philosopher  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:12:23pm

re: #10 Dark_Falcon

As do I. A repost of what I had planned to say on the last thread:

Again, this has been said about politicians of both black and white ethnicity. It is about career path, not race.

only if you intentionally ignore 150 years of vile racist rhetoric about “shiftless, work avoiding negroes who would rather pick up welfare checks than work an honest job”

33 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:12:23pm

re: #22 Lidane

In other words, he’s trying to call Barack Obama an N-word without actually calling him an N-word. He’s dog whistling.

Kind of sort of. I think he could as easily throw this at Hillary Clinton, while Newt’s stuff really only makes sense with a black politician as the target.

But he’s definitely ramping up, in response to Newt. It will be interesting to see what he does in the next couple of weeks.

34 Professor Chaos  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:12:31pm

re: #9 Charles

Mmm-kay — so we should just forget about the fact that Newt Gingrich just trounced Mitt Romney by pandering to the lowest kind of racist ugliness?

If you want to ignore that context, you’re free to do so. I can see what’s in front of my face, and this is Mitt doing what he needs to do to be elected.

When Mitt doubles down and makes it part of his strategy I will agree and will be the first to admit my error. Until then I will not ascribe motives of this kind to someone based on the context of what his rivals have said.

35 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:12:33pm

re: #24 Dark_Falcon

Yes Charles, on this one we should not throw the flag. Mitt Romney does not have Newt Gingrich’s record of race baiting. I therefore argue he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

Mitt Romney has a very clear record of saying anything he needs to say to be elected. He’s thrown every other one of his previously “moderate” positions under the bus.

He gets no presumption of innocence from me. I expect you to try to make excuses for him, though, because you’ve made it very clear that nothing the GOP does or says will make you rethink your blind support.

36 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:12:40pm
“Where is the America I grew up in?”

Translation: “Where is the America I grew up in, where women and minorities knew their place?”

37 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:13:36pm

re: #34 Girth

When Mitt doubles down and makes it part of his strategy I will agree and will be the first to admit my error.

He just did.

38 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:13:43pm

re: #33 SanFranciscoZionist

Kind of sort of. I think he could as easily throw this at Hillary Clinton, while Newt’s stuff really only makes sense with a black politician as the target.

Being an attorney isn’t a job? That’s news to me.

Nope. This is very, very clear dog whistling.

39 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:13:55pm

re: #23 engineer dog

This idea that the President of the United States is supposed to be some business CEO and run the US like a business is absurd.

The President is in service to the country, like every military member and every member of the civilian government work force. The office of the President is ceremonial in part (especially for foreign interaction), and executive in part (in running the various departments and agencies.) It is not a CEO position - the President actually has very limited authority when it comes to hiring, firing, or spending.

40 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:14:04pm

re: #18 SanFranciscoZionist

Leaving Dark out of it, do you see this as a racial comment? I think Romney is, so far, deliberately trying to find ways to trash Obama without mimicking Newt’s very overtly racial language, which he knows will damage him in a general.

It’s slightly less overt, it’s also a lie.

re: #24 Dark_Falcon

Yes Charles, on this one we should not throw the flag. Mitt Romney does not have Newt Gingrich’s record of race baiting. I therefore argue he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

I get it, he’s just out and out lying about Obama’s work history. The fact that this lie dovetails neatly with the stereotype of the shiftless black man so popular with the current GOP base is purely coincidental.

41 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:14:06pm

This kind of hateful pandering is exactly why I will never vote for a Republican again.

42 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:14:18pm

re: #36 Lidane

Translation: “Where is the America I grew up in, where women and minorities knew their place?”

“And ‘gay’ meant you were happy, while queers were in the closet or a mental hospital?”

43 andres  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:14:35pm

re: #10 Dark_Falcon

As do I. A repost of what I had planned to say on the last thread:

Again, this has been said about politicians of both black and white ethnicity. It is about career path, not race.

While initially I agree with you, context can make Mitt’s assertion tricky.

The thing with dog whistles is that they are barely noticeable. And sometimes context can give plain words ulterior meaning(s).

44 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:14:53pm

re: #38 Lidane

Being an attorney isn’t a job? That’s news to me.

Nope. This is very, very clear dog whistling.

Mitt thinks if you’re not a career corporate guy like him you don’t have a real job. There’s a very real reason why this guy is perceived as an arrogant asshole because he is an arrogant asshole.

45 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:15:28pm

re: #27 Charles

Newt has a track record of race baiting. Mitt does not. So far.

Though I’ll not be voting for him, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until he digs himself a little deeper.

46 dog philosopher  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:15:30pm

re: #36 Lidane

Translation: “Where is the America I grew up in, where women and minorities knew their place?”

that woman last week praised newt for “putting that juan williams in his place”

47 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:15:53pm

re: #18 SanFranciscoZionist

Leaving Dark out of it, do you see this as a racial comment?

Given the intended audience, yep.

48 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:16:35pm

re: #45 Slumbering Behemoth

Mitt is the Tofu candidate.

Tofu absorbs the flavor of the sauce in which it is marinated.

49 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:16:51pm

re: #39 freetoken

This idea that the President of the United States is supposed to be some business CEO and run the US like a business is absurd.

We had a POTUS with an MBA for eight years. How’d that turn out again?

You can’t run a government like a business. It’s not designed that way.

50 Professor Chaos  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:16:53pm

re: #37 Charles

He just did.

We all know that the wingers don’t consider a college professor a real job. I need more than this to throw this kind of label around.

51 Killgore Trout  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:17:05pm

re: #18 SanFranciscoZionist

Leaving Dark out of it, do you see this as a racial comment?

No.

52 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:17:18pm

re: #32 engineer dog

only if you intentionally ignore 150 years of vile racist rhetoric about “shiftless, work avoiding negroes who would rather pick up welfare checks than work an honest job”

It could not possibly be clearer. Romney’s starting to get desperate, and he knows what he has to do. So he’s doing it.

This is absolutely standard GOP politics, and has been for many years. They do not deserve the benefit of the doubt.

53 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:17:43pm

re: #30 Max D. Reinhardt

This is one of Mitt Romney’s poll tested lines. He said the same thing back in a November debate.

It’s an oldie and it works for him. It has nothing to do with his loss in South Carolina.

He’s resurrected this “oldie” the day after getting his ass whipped by a race-baiter, whose general theme has been the “foodstamp president” and saw no reason to apologize for suggesting that blacks should demand paychecks and not food stamps.

It’s not an overt dog-whistle, it’s the sly, back-of-the-hand “That’s not how I meant it” dog-whistle.

54 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:18:29pm

He’s smart enough and calculating enough to use whatever he needs to use; if it means appealing to racists to win the base back from Gingrich, he’ll do it.

55 dog philosopher  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:18:51pm

re: #39 freetoken

and who had the most business experience of any president?

herbert hoover

56 Kragar  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:19:17pm

re: #53 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Accusing them of using codewords is racist.
//

57 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:19:19pm

re: #24 Dark_Falcon

Yes Charles, on this one we should not throw the flag.

LOL what flag. Romney is no victim here. What he said was a flatout lie. You’re already falling for it.

Mitt Romney does not have Newt Gingrich’s record of race baiting. I therefore argue he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

e_e oh my, such hyperbole and pathos!

He’s also not on trial.

What he said was a lie, directed at deliberately-gullible people like you, who will fall for it, defend it, and vote for it.

58 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:20:00pm

re: #39 freetoken

This idea that the President of the United States is supposed to be some business CEO and run the US like a business is absurd.

The USPS is run like a business (paying for itself, not using tax dollars), and look at how much that “Run It Like A Business” crowd bitches about the USPS.

59 Just never mind.  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:20:19pm

re: #13 Charles

Bullshit. Mitt Romney is getting into the gutter with Newt Gingrich, because as he’s proven many times, he’ll do and say whatever he needs to do to win.

I SO want to see Mitt & Newt wrestling in mud, or jello!

60 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:20:22pm

re: #53 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

He’s resurrected this “oldie” the day after getting his ass whipped by a race-baiter,

He used the same line on his Facebook page days before the primary.

And again.

“I think to create jobs it helps to have had a job,” Mr. Romney has said repeatedly.

61 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:20:30pm

Has anyone ever criticized Gingrich for not having a real job when he was working as a professor?

62 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:20:48pm

re: #51 Killgore Trout

No.

It’s still a lie, and one which wouldn’t play nearly as well against a white candidate.

63 Killgore Trout  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:21:04pm

I am stumped, confused and slightly befuddled. I just don’t see it.

64 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:21:17pm

re: #38 Lidane

Being an attorney isn’t a job? That’s news to me.

Nope. This is very, very clear dog whistling.

Did I say that I thought he was correct, not lying, or not trying to smear Obama? No. He’s going negative, and he’s using pieces from the Fake Narrative of Barack Obama. Which is, in itself, heavily laced with racial language and interpretation.

However, it’s actually significant to the race, and to how he positions himself against Newt, what specific things he chooses to say and not say. Romney is lurching after Newt, but he still isn’t daring to commit to the language Newt’s been using.

“Never had a real job” is extensively applied to Obama. It’s got some racial overtones, but it was also thrown at Bill, and Hillary, and a whole slough of politicians.

Mitt is trying to play it safe. He’s saying things that have plausible deniability, which Newt’s crap does not. How long he can keep that up will depend on whether Newt’s streak continues successfully.

65 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:21:42pm

re: #52 Charles

It could not possibly be clearer. Romney’s starting to get desperate, and he knows what he has to do. So he’s doing it.

Here are the two polls people are talking about today, showing why Mitt is desperate:

twitter.com!/ppppolls/status/161267070040936449

66 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:21:50pm

As I said racist or not, Romney still deserves to be criticized here for claiming a sitting president has never had a job. College professor? Mitt that’s a job. Community organizer? That’s a job. State senator? That’s a job. United States senator? That’s a job. He didn’t take your career path Mitt but he’s worked. And Romney knows it. I would love to see Romney say this to a lifelong military member he won’t because he knows he’d get politically crucified for it. He’s not stupid but he is a panderer. By the way he talks about takes experience creating jobs to be in this position. Wasn’t Mitt’s job about getting rid of people’s jobs?

67 KingKenrod  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:22:00pm

re: #52 Charles

It could not possibly be clearer. Romney’s starting to get desperate, and he knows what he has to do. So he’s doing it.

This is absolutely standard GOP politics, and has been for many years. They do not deserve the benefit of the doubt.

He’s been using the line for a long time.

68 SpaceJesus  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:22:02pm

Gingrich is setting up for a repeat in Florida

69 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:22:10pm

re: #43 andres

While initially I agree with you, context can make Mitt’s assertion tricky.

The thing with dog whistles is that they are barely noticeable. And sometimes context can give plain words ulterior meaning(s).

Well, some of these guys, they’ve got dog whistles that everyone can hear. They’re more like all-species whistles.

70 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:22:17pm

re: #38 Lidane

Being an attorney isn’t a job? That’s news to me.

Nope. This is very, very clear dog whistling.

This has gone way beyond dog whistling now. The GOP is pursuing an all-out racist scorched earth policy.

71 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:22:48pm

re: #63 Killgore Trout

I am stumped, confused and slightly befuddled. I just don’t see it.

Me neither. This smacks of a nontroversy. As I’ve pointed out, Mitt Romney has used this line repeatedly. He even used it back in November when he was still trying to appeal to the independent voters of New Hampshire.

72 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:22:55pm

re: #60 Max D. Reinhardt

He used the same line on his Facebook page days before the primary.

And again.

I’ve heard his use the “I’ve been in the private sector” bit more, but I’ve heard his say it before. Regardless, even if one doesn’t consider it overtly racist, it’s still a bald-faced lie.

73 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:23:11pm

re: #61 jaunte

Has anyone ever criticized Gingrich for not having a real job when he was working as a professor?

Or racking up dollars as a lobbyist.

Or Romney for cashing dividend checks every quarter while “unemployed”?

Lol this is who the GOP thinks is going to save them from the Affirmative Action Peril of Black Moozlum Liberation Theology Teleprompters.

Stupid idiots, so predictable.

74 The War TARDIS  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:23:12pm

re: #68 SpaceJesus

From Mr. Silver:

fivethirtyeight Nate Silver
InsiderAdvantage, which has had very pro-Gingrich results, out with new Florida poll. Gingrich 34, Romney 26. bit.ly/w8Tx5G

75 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:23:20pm

re: #61 jaunte

Has anyone ever criticized Gingrich for not having a real job when he was working as a professor?

I think that someone should. Perhaps Obama. With a straight face.

76 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:23:28pm

re: #68 SpaceJesus

Beat you by two comments. Your omniscience is slipping.

77 Interesting Times  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:23:59pm

re: #70 Charles

This has gone way beyond dog whistling now. The GOP is pursuing an all-out racist scorched earth policy.

I look forward to the next debate, where the contenders show up in blackface and perform a minstrel show

///

78 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:24:09pm

re: #68 SpaceJesus

Gingrich is setting up for a repeat in Florida

[Link: www.realclearpolitics.com…]

And that’s why he’s now resorting to race-baiting. He saw how the party’s base responded to Gingrich’s “food stamp President” line, and his “never had a job” line, and he’s trying to get some of that buzz for himself.

The GOP does not deserve the benefit of the doubt on this issue.

79 SidewaysQuark  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:24:13pm

OK - I love this site - and it was a rude comment - but someone please explain to me how it was “race-baiting”. I’m not getting this one.

80 The War TARDIS  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:24:16pm

re: #76 freetoken

And you both beat me to the punch. Good job.

81 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:24:26pm

re: #66 HappyWarrior

As I said racist or not, Romney still deserves to be criticized here for claiming a sitting president has never had a job. College professor? Mitt that’s a job. Community organizer? That’s a job. State senator? That’s a job. United States senator? That’s a job. He didn’t take your career path Mitt but he’s worked. And Romney knows it. I would love to see Romney say this to a lifelong military member he won’t because he knows he’d get politically crucified for it. He’s not stupid but he is a panderer.

Well, he’s definitely LYING.

But he knows that a section of his audience would believe him if he said that Barack Obama eats kittens.

82 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:24:34pm

OT:

Here’s my photos from my Battletech game yesterday.

And as promised, here’s the Marauder IIC and Warhammer photo I just took. I painted the Marauder IIC myself.

83 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:24:34pm

re: #74 ProLifeLiberal

From Mr. Silver:

Not looking good for Mitt. I am sure he’ll be changing more of his positions now though.

84 SpaceJesus  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:24:39pm

re: #74 ProLifeLiberal

Yup, expect Romney to step up the hate rhetoric that catapulted Gingrich

85 Professor Chaos  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:24:45pm

re: #64 SanFranciscoZionist

Did I say that I thought he was correct, not lying, or not trying to smear Obama? No. He’s going negative, and he’s using pieces from the Fake Narrative of Barack Obama. Which is, in itself, heavily laced with racial language and interpretation.

However, it’s actually significant to the race, and to how he positions himself against Newt, what specific things he chooses to say and not say. Romney is lurching after Newt, but he still isn’t daring to commit to the language Newt’s been using.

“Never had a real job” is extensively applied to Obama. It’s got some racial overtones, but it was also thrown at Bill, and Hillary, and a whole slough of politicians.

Mitt is trying to play it safe. He’s saying things that have plausible deniability, which Newt’s crap does not. How long he can keep that up will depend on whether Newt’s streak continues successfully.

You may be absolutely correct.

86 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:24:49pm

re: #64 SanFranciscoZionist

It’s got some racial overtones, but it was also thrown at Bill, and Hillary, and a whole slough of politicians.

None of whom are Black, let alone the dreaded First Black.

Yes, it is different.

Mitt is trying to play it safe. He’s saying things that have plausible deniability, which Newt’s crap does not. How long he can keep that up will depend on whether Newt’s streak continues successfully.

Mitt is full of shit, like the rest of the dumb bigots he’s trying to impress.

87 Killgore Trout  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:25:16pm

re: #71 Max D. Reinhardt

Me neither. This smacks of a nontroversy. As I’ve pointed out, Mitt Romney has used this line repeatedly. He even used it back in November when he was still trying to appeal to the independent voters of New Hampshire.

Has Mitt ever had a job? Maybe he bagged groceries as a 14 year old for six months but I doubt the man has ever worked a day in his life. I don’t think thanks racist or anti-Mormon.

88 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:25:36pm

re: #82 Dark_Falcon

OT:

Here’s my photos from my Battletech game yesterday.

And as promised, here’s the Marauder IIC and Warhammer photo I just took. I painted the Marauder IIC myself.

*whistles* Now that’s some work.

89 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:26:01pm

re: #51 Killgore Trout

No.

Thank you, Killgore.

90 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:26:02pm

re: #79 SidewaysQuark

OK - I love this site - and it was a rude comment - but someone please explain to me how it was “race-baiting”. I’m not getting this one.

It’s a basic tenet of GOP race-baiting politics that African Americans are lazy and inherently shiftless. When Romney — or Gingrich — invoke this tenet they know exactly what they’re doing.

91 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:26:02pm

re: #81 SanFranciscoZionist

Well, he’s definitely LYING.

But he knows that a section of his audience would believe him if he said that Barack Obama eats kittens.

True. As I said I am guilty of being a little sensitive to this particular criticism I don’t know 100% if he was racebaiting or not and really that’s not what matters to me. It matters to me that a candidate of a major party continues to spread the lie that working for the government isn’t real work.

92 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:26:24pm

re: #72 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

I’ve heard his use the “I’ve been in the private sector” bit more, but I’ve heard his say it before. Regardless, even if one doesn’t consider it overtly racist, it’s still a bald-faced lie.

Not really. I understand what Romney is trying to say. He’s run a business and he knows what it takes to succeed in the modern economy. (Insert Bain Capital sellout joke right here if you must.)

President Obama has been a community organizer, a law professor, and a politician. While those are “jobs” in the everyday sense of the word, they are not business jobs.

93 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:26:34pm

re: #74 ProLifeLiberal

Which explains why Mitt is now using racial language.

We’re going to see a lot more of this as the primaries drag on. The GOP power brokers know this, which is why they’re desperate for the base to STFU and choose a candidate already.

94 andres  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:26:35pm

re: #24 Dark_Falcon

Yes Charles, on this one we should not throw the flag. Mitt Romney does not have Newt Gingrich’s record of race baiting. I therefore argue he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

The reality is, we’ll have to wait on this. Maybe Mitt’s race baiting in a more nuanced way1. Maybe he’s not. Until Mitt opens his mouth again, I won’t be sure. I’m not holding my hand over fire for Mitt2, but I won’t roast him unnecessarily. Mitt has enough gaffes and faults to roast him for.

——
1 Well, compared to Newt’s race baiting, a grenade counts as subtle.

2 Or any politician for that matter.

95 Killgore Trout  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:26:51pm

re: #89 Dark_Falcon

Thank you, Killgore.

Racist!
/

96 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:27:08pm

re: #91 HappyWarrior

True. As I said I am guilty of being a little sensitive to this particular criticism I don’t know 100% if he was racebaiting or not and really that’s not what matters to me. It matters to me that a candidate of a major party continues to spread the lie that working for the government isn’t real work.

Well, to judge by this statement, neither is education, or nonprofit work.

97 Killgore Trout  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:27:37pm

Tipping a glass and toking a bowl for Steve tonight. Godbless.

98 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:27:52pm

re: #87 Killgore Trout

Has Mitt ever had a job?

After his youth, Mitt worked for the Boston Consulting Group, then went to work for Bain, then eventually headed a joint venture with Bain called Bain Capital.

I guess those are “real” jobs… but ones for which he was bred, groomed, and greased.

99 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:27:53pm

re: #92 Max D. Reinhardt

Not really. I understand what Romney is trying to say. He’s run a business and he knows what it takes to succeed in the modern economy. (Insert Bain Capital sellout joke right here if you must.)

President Obama has been a community organizer, a law professor, and a politician. While those are “jobs” in the everyday sense of the word, they are not business jobs.

Personally don’t give a damn what he considers a job or not, Obama has worked and was working for years before becoming president. If Mittens views that as not measuring up to having his golden ticket issued right out of the womb, then that’s his problem.

100 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:27:58pm

re: #92 Max D. Reinhardt

Not really. I understand what Romney is trying to say. He’s run a business and he knows what it takes to succeed in the modern economy. (Insert Bain Capital sellout joke right here if you must.)

President Obama has been a community organizer, a law professor, and a politician. While those are “jobs” in the everyday sense of the word, they are not business jobs.

Being a law professor is not a real job? What?

101 dog philosopher  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:28:03pm

and conversely, if romney was jewish the whole issue of him running on his credentials as a millionaire finance capitalist would resonate in a radically different way

102 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:28:14pm

re: #92 Max D. Reinhardt

Not really. I understand what Romney is trying to say. He’s run a business and he knows what it takes to succeed in the modern economy. (Insert Bain Capital sellout joke right here if you must.)

President Obama has been a community organizer, a law professor, and a politician. While those are “jobs” in the everyday sense of the word, they are not business jobs.

Being president isn’t a business job, as it happens.

103 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:28:27pm

re: #88 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

*whistles* Now that’s some work.

It took around 2 hours to paint that big mini. I needed multiple coats of Games Workshop Dark Angels Green to get the primary green color on correctly. The blood red highlights were easier in terms of coats, but they needed a fine detail brush and a steady hand.

Glad you like it.

104 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:28:30pm

re: #86 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

None of whom are Black, let alone the dreaded First Black.

Yes, it is different.

THIS.

Yeah, some of the same language can be used against a white politician, but let’s not bullshit ourselves here. When used against a black POTUS that the party base hates beyond all reason, it’s not just a statement about someone working in government too long or whatever. It is absolutely a way for a white candidate to exploit the racist resentments of the party base.

105 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:28:55pm

re: #96 SanFranciscoZionist

Well, to judge by this statement, neither is education, or nonprofit work.

Yeah that too. And honestly if Mitt’s going to play this game. It needs to be pointed out he spent a grand total of four years in elected office and then he left to ran for president and started abandoning of what got him elected in office.

106 Aqua Obama  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:29:26pm

Well, using his own logic, Romney’s been unemployed since 2002.

America! Romney feels your pain

107 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:29:27pm

re: #100 Charles

Being a law professor is not a real job? What?

I never said being a law professor wasn’t a real job, but law professors do not power the American economy and they do not see firsthand the impact that government policies have on American businesses.

108 Killgore Trout  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:29:42pm

re: #100 Charles

Being a law professor is not a real job? What?

Beats the hell out of digging ditches in Kuala Lumpur.
/Old GTA Joke

109 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:29:46pm

re: #103 Dark_Falcon

It took around 2 hours to paint that big mini. I needed multiple coats of Games Workshop Dark Angels Green to get the primary green color on correctly. The blood red highlights were easier in terms of coats, but they needed a fine detail brush and a steady hand.

Glad you like it.

Good stuff. I tried my hand at model-building some years back, but I just don’t have the skill or patience for those.

110 Buck  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:29:48pm

They said the same thing about GWBush. That he never had a real job.

And worse. Many called him a spoiled rich party boy.

111 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:30:26pm

re: #110 Buck

And worse. Many called him a spoiled rich party boy.

That was not an inaccurate claim, at least in regards to his youth.

112 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:30:31pm

re: #27 Charles

Wow, so we’re supposed to forget what happened last night in South Carolina?

Why do you blacks Afro- African whatever American hyphen whatever you’re calling yourselves now, insist on living in the past!!

113 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:30:38pm

re: #104 Lidane

THIS.

Yeah, some of the same language can be used against a white politician, but let’s not bullshit ourselves here. When used against a black POTUS that the party base hates beyond all reason, it’s not just a statement about someone working in government too long or whatever. It is absolutely a way for a white candidate to exploit the racist resentments of the party base.

Of course it is. After everything else that’s gone on in this election, I’m astounded that anyone would try to argue otherwise.

114 SidewaysQuark  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:30:42pm

re: #90 Charles

It’s a basic tenet of GOP race-baiting politics that African Americans are lazy and inherently shiftless. When Romney — or Gingrich — invoke this tenet they know exactly what they’re doing.

Well, I’ll personally politely disagree that it’s race-baiting, but agree that it’s ugly politics. I admit I had thought more highly of Romney prior to this point - but, given his tendency to be whatever is wanted of him in the moment, I can’t say I’m too surprised.

115 Meitantei  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:30:53pm

re: #100 Charles

To a lot of the right-wing extremists whom he’s courting? It isn’t. Those professors don’t do any REAL work, don’t you know?

I’d argue it’s certainly class-baiting and is a sign of the continuous cultural wars that a lot of the GOP is disgustingly fostering, but I’m a bit more hesitant on its being race-baiting. I can understand where you’re coming from, Charles, I just disagree on this.

116 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:31:03pm

re: #92 Max D. Reinhardt

Not really. I understand what Romney is trying to say. He’s run a business and he knows what it takes to succeed in the modern economy. (Insert Bain Capital sellout joke right here if you must.)

President Obama has been a community organizer, a law professor, and a politician. While those are “jobs” in the everyday sense of the word, they are not business jobs.

lmao

117 Buck  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:31:20pm

Also, “the had a real job” meme is directed at Newt as well.

118 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:31:23pm

re: #110 Buck

They said the same thing about GWBush. That he never had a real job.

Actually, they pointed out that his track record showed a lot of companies being driven into the ground.

Many called him a spoiled rich party boy.

It’s not an attack if it’s true. By his own admission, he WAS a spoiled rich party boy.

119 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:31:44pm

re: #107 Max D. Reinhardt

I never said being a law professor wasn’t a real job, but law professors do not power the American economy and they do not see firsthand the impact that government policies have on American businesses.

“I have business experience, and I know firsthand the impact that government policies have on American businesses” is a good thing for a campaigner to say.

“I know how to create jobs because I’ve had a job” is a dubious statement, especially if that job was essentially a birthright.

“The current president hasn’t had a job” is a lie.

120 KingKenrod  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:32:11pm

This has been part of Romney’s stump for a long time now. Here’s Romney in June 2011:

Youtube Video

121 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:32:24pm

re: #108 Killgore Trout

Beats the hell out of digging ditches in Kuala Lumpur.
/Old GTA Joke

Tar. Five dollars an hour. Don’t forget.

(Jeff Foxworthy’s alternative to whatever his current unpleasant job is.)

122 Professor Chaos  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:32:36pm

re: #97 Killgore Trout

Tipping a glass and toking a bowl for Steve tonight. Godbless.

Did something to albusteve?

123 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:32:48pm

re: #119 SanFranciscoZionist

“I have business experience, and I know firsthand the impact that government policies have on American businesses” is a good thing for a campaigner to say.

“I know how to create jobs because I’ve had a job” is a dubious statement, especially if that job was essentially a birthright.

“The current president hasn’t had a job” is a lie.

And it’s a lie that’s carefully calculated to appeal to the white Southern base, where Mitt Romney needs to win, soon.

124 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:32:53pm

re: #122 Girth

Did something to albusteve?

He got banned.

125 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:33:11pm

Honestly business experience isn’t everything. Romney can harp on about running a government is like running a business a gazillion times but that doesn’t make it the case. I actually do value private sector experience but it’s not the whole thing. We’ve had great presidents and leaders who were lifers in government.

126 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:33:40pm

re: #68 SpaceJesus

Gingrich is setting up for a repeat in Florida

[Link: www.realclearpolitics.com…]

Wow, Romney might actually be fucked. It’s going to be very hard to knock Gingrich down a third time. If Gingrich wins and Santorum drops out after Florida, it’s game over.

127 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:33:53pm

re: #119 SanFranciscoZionist

I know how to create jobs because I’ve had a job” is a dubious statement, especially if that job was essentially a birthright.

How was his position at Bain Capital a “birthright?”

128 Kragar  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:33:55pm

re: #82 Dark_Falcon

OT:

Here’s my photos from my Battletech game yesterday.

And as promised, here’s the Marauder IIC and Warhammer photo I just took. I painted the Marauder IIC myself.

Where is the rest of the army?
///

129 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:34:11pm

re: #16 HappyWarrior

Mitt needs to get it through his frigging head that working for the government is a career. You know I don’t care if he was race baiting or not. He’s attacking thousands of Americans who work their ass off everyday. Would Mitt say this same thing about a lifelong military member? Why is it okay to go after lifelong government employee civilians?

If it’s so demeaning than why has Romney been running for such positions for the last decade?

130 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:34:24pm

re: #113 Charles

Of course it is. After everything else that’s gone on in this election, I’m astounded that anyone would try to argue otherwise.

I’m not, not in the slightest. It’s the reason this sort of thing persists.

131 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:34:33pm

re: #125 HappyWarrior

Honestly business experience isn’t everything. Romney can harp on about running a government is like running a business a gazillion times but that doesn’t make it the case. I actually do value private sector experience but it’s not the whole thing. We’ve had great presidents and leaders who were lifers in government.

I doubt many modern “conservatives” would think highly of a California governor whose previous experience was as an actor as ever holding a “real” job.

132 Lidane  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:34:50pm

re: #126 goddamnedfrank

Wow, Romney might actually be fucked.

And the GOP will be fucked if they nominate Gingrich. There’s a reason his own party tossed him out on his ass, and why he lived in the political wilderness for over a decade.

133 dog philosopher  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:35:17pm

mitt is not a despicable moron like newt, but he’s decided he has to play one on teevee if he wants the nomination

134 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:36:33pm

re: #131 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

I doubt many modern “conservatives” would think highly of a California governor whose previous experience was as an actor as ever holding a “real” job.

Heh yeah what qualified Ronald Reagan to run one of the nation’s biggest economies in ‘66? And being the Gipper doesn’t count nor does being Grover Cleveland Alexander on the big screen. Funny for all I hear conservatives snicker about actors airing out their political views, the big conservative hero these days is a former actor turned politician. Not sure what his degree but I am certain it wasn’t business.

135 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:36:42pm

re: #125 HappyWarrior

Honestly business experience isn’t everything. Romney can harp on about running a government is like running a business a gazillion times but that doesn’t make it the case. I actually do value private sector experience but it’s not the whole thing. We’ve had great presidents and leaders who were lifers in government.

Whoever brought up the “business experience” canard is full of it, and they know it.

Talk about putting words in Romney’s mouth…rotfl, the desperation of the rwnj right is absurd, and hilarious.

136 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:36:48pm

re: #132 Lidane

And the GOP will be fucked if they nominate Gingrich. There’s a reason his own party tossed him out on his ass, and why he lived in the political wilderness for over a decade.

Newt campaigns better than Romney, but he can’t actually lead, you know, other people.

They annoy him.

137 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:36:53pm

I doubt anyone will be able to find a single Republican voter who thinks that Barack Obama literally did not have a job before becoming President of the United States.

His work as a community organizer, a law professor, an author, and a politician are well known and routinely discussed by his critics on the right.

138 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:37:37pm

re: #128 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Where is the rest of the army?
///

It was 30 units facing 15. The Com Guards had a 2-1 advantage in overall numbers, but 12 of their units were vehicles and not Battlemechs and the Mechs they had were technologically inferior with less skilled crews. However, they were tactically better than their Clan Diamond Shark adversaries and so won a Substantial Victory. I was playing the Clan side and so lost.

139 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:37:49pm

re: #135 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

Whoever brought up the “business experience” canard is full of it, and they know it.

Talk about putting words in Romney’s mouth…rotfl, the desperation of the rwnj right is absurd, and hilarious.

I first started seeing it a few years ago when it became clear Obama would be the nominee. The most hilarious thing was Meg Whitman or Carly Fiorina acting like Palin was more experienced than Biden. I guess chairing two major Senate committees doesn’t count.

140 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:38:59pm

re: #139 HappyWarrior

I first started seeing it a few years ago when it became clear Obama would be the nominee. The most hilarious thing was Meg Whitman or Carly Fiorina acting like Palin was more experienced than Biden. I guess chairing two major Senate committees doesn’t count.

“You can actually SEE Russia … from land here .. in Alaska!!” e_e

Lol, they will vote for anything.

141 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:39:03pm

re: #134 HappyWarrior

Heh yeah what qualified Ronald Reagan to run one of the nation’s biggest economies in ‘66? And being the Gipper doesn’t count nor does being Grover Cleveland Alexander on the big screen. Funny for all I hear conservatives snicker about actors airing out their political views, the big conservative hero these days is a former actor turned politician. Not sure what his degree but I am certain it wasn’t business.

And it’s not just Ronnie. Remember a lot of those same “conservatives” were thrilled at the idea of seeing an amendment passed to allow Ahnold to run for the presidency.

142 Just never mind.  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:39:29pm

re: #97 Killgore Trout

Tipping a glass and toking a bowl for Steve tonight. Godbless.

No! He didn’t get the stick, please tell me true?

143 SanFranciscoZionist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:39:47pm

re: #142 Floral Giraffe

No! He didn’t get the stick, please tell me true?

Yeah. Earlier this evening.

144 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:39:49pm

re: #138 Dark_Falcon

It was 30 units facing 15. The Com Guards had a 2-1 advantage in overall numbers, but 12 of their units were vehicles and not Battlemechs and the Mechs they had were technologically inferior with less skilled crews. However, they were tactically better than their Clan Diamond Shark adversaries and so won a Substantial Victory. I was playing the Clan side and so lost.

“Quantity has a quality all of its own.”

145 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:40:10pm

re: #137 Max D. Reinhardt

I doubt anyone will be able to find a single Republican voter who thinks that Barack Obama literally did not have a job before becoming President of the United States.

lmao

146 Professor Chaos  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:40:24pm

re: #124 Lidane

He got banned.

An irritating interesting motherfucker. Peace brother.

147 Just never mind.  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:40:43pm

re: #132 Lidane

And the GOP will be fucked if they nominate Gingrich. There’s a reason his own party tossed him out on his ass, and why he lived in the political wilderness for over a decade.

And, there is NO WAY he could beat Obama. Although that is true of all the Republican hopefulls.

148 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:40:44pm

re: #141 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

And it’s not just Ronnie. Remember a lot of those same “conservatives” were thrilled at the idea of seeing an amendment passed to allow Ahnold to run for the presidency.

Yeah I remember that some too. Also funny how the right hated FDR for having four terms but then wanted to get rid of the term limit so Reagan could run thrice even when it was clear that he was growing more senile.

149 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:40:58pm

re: #134 HappyWarrior

Heh yeah what qualified Ronald Reagan to run one of the nation’s biggest economies in ‘66?

Lol being a union boss thug?

150 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:40:58pm

re: #144 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

“Quantity has a quality all of its own.”

Marshal Zhukov certainly had the right of it on that point, didn’t he?

151 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:41:02pm

re: #141 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Remember a lot of those same “conservatives” were thrilled at the idea of seeing an amendment passed to allow Ahnold to run for the presidency.

At first, perhaps. That wore off pretty quick, though.

152 SpaceJesus  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:41:19pm

re: #137 Max D. Reinhardt

Agreed. So what is this statement of Romney’s?

It’s not intended to be a lie, because everybody knows Obama has worked.

It’s not a mistake, because Romney knows full well that Obama has worked.

What does that leave?

153 Killgore Trout  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:41:36pm

Youtube Video

154 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:41:44pm

re: #151 Slumbering Behemoth

At first, perhaps. That wore off pretty quick, though.

Well Arnie’s not bat shit insane. He’d poll worse than Huntsman if he ran this year and that’s without the affair allegations.

155 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:42:46pm

re: #148 HappyWarrior

Yeah I remember that some too. Also funny how the right hated FDR for having four terms but then wanted to get rid of the term limit so Reagan could run thrice even when it was clear that he was growing more senile.

They were aghast a decade later when the Left started floating the idea for Clinton, as he was enjoying fairly strong support even into his last year.

156 The War TARDIS  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:43:02pm

re: #134 HappyWarrior

Not only that, but I can think of more than a few actors in Hollywood right now more erudite than Reagan.

157 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:43:06pm

I feel like I used to feel when LGF readers would try to defend Rush Limbaugh against charges of racism.

I really don’t get it. Mitt Romney is now TIED with Newt Gingrich in Florida. He saw how Gingrich won in South Carolina, and he and his advisers are trying to get some of that racist buzz, because they saw how the right wing is trending. This is a political calculation — it’s not a coincidence, and it’s not innocent.

158 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:43:29pm

re: #152 SpaceJesus

Agreed. So what is this statement of Romney’s?

It’s not intended to be a lie, because everybody knows Obama has worked.

It’s not a mistake, because Romney knows full well that Obama has worked.

What does that leave?

Steve Martin: You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. “Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?” First.. get a million dollars. Now.. you say, “Steve.. what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, ‘You.. have never paid taxes’?” Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: “I forgot!”

159 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:43:48pm

re: #152 SpaceJesus

Agreed. So what is this statement of Romney’s?

It’s not intended to be a lie, because everybody knows Obama has worked.

It’s not a mistake, because Romney knows full well that Obama has worked.

What does that leave?

‘President Obama: he has no experience running his own business and has not seen firsthand how government affects the private sector. Vote for Mitt Romney, a conservative businessman.’

Nuff said.

160 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:43:55pm

re: #150 Dark_Falcon

Marshal Zhukov certainly had the right of it on that point, didn’t he?

There’s always something to be said about siccing virtually unlimited numbers of heavy armor on a numerically inferior, if technologically superior, foe.

161 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:44:34pm

re: #156 ProLifeLiberal

Not only that, but I can think of more than a few actors in Hollywood right now more erudite than Reagan.

I remember my mom’s dad who was obviously old enough to see his film career.
“Reagan? He was an even shittier actor than he was president.”

162 Just never mind.  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:44:38pm

re: #153 Killgore Trout

LOL!
That is SO not what I expect of your music posting!

163 SpaceJesus  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:45:46pm

re: #152 SpaceJesus

What does that leave?

I’ll answer my own question.

It’s purely rhetorical. It’s the rhetoric of the racist right.

164 Just never mind.  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:45:55pm

re: #157 Charles

I feel like I used to feel when LGF readers would try to defend Rush Limbaugh against charges of racism.

I really don’t get it. Mitt Romney is now TIED with Newt Gingrich in Florida. He saw how Gingrich won in South Carolina, and he and his advisers are trying to get some of that racist buzz, because they saw how the right wing is trending. This is a political calculation — it’s not a coincidence, and it’s not innocent.

There is, I am sorry to say, NOTHING innocent in politics, these days.
It has stopped being an honerable profession, a LONG time ago.

165 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:45:58pm

re: #159 Max D. Reinhardt

President Obama: he has no experience running his own business and has not seen firsthand how government affects the private sector.

Nuff said.

That’s assuming things not in evidence. Romney didn’t say “know’s how to create a job because he’s owned/operated a business.”

166 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:46:00pm

re: #159 Max D. Reinhardt

The problem for Romney is, “he has no experience running his own business” is very specific and accurate, and has zero dogwhistle effect compared to:
“I think it’s time we had someone in the White House who knows how to create jobs because he’s had a job.”

167 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:46:58pm

re: #154 HappyWarrior

Well Arnie’s not bat shit insane. He’d poll worse than Huntsman if he ran this year and that’s without the affair allegations.

He turned out not to be a “Super-SoCon”. And if you polled the folks that were eager to see a constitutional amendment allowing him to run for POTUS, at least in the very beginning of his term, it’s likely not many of them would be CA residents.

168 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:47:02pm

re: #123 Charles

And it’s a lie that’s carefully calculated to appeal to the white Southern base, where Mitt Romney needs to win, soon.

These are the same people who believe these additional lies:

That he is “foreign”

That he is “a Muslim”

That he is a Luo Tribesman angry at colonialism

That he needs a teleprompter to speak properly

That he throws like a girl

That Herman Cain would somehow have had to have ridden Jim Crow in the 60s and Barack Obama wouldn’t

That he hates and is trying to destroy America from within

That he’s a long-legged mack daddy/pimp

That he is an ape who married an orangutang

That he eats mustard on hamburgers (well, that much is true)

In other words, dumb, stupid confederates who will believe ANY negative thing said about anyone who looks like him, yet is not beholden to their repressive way of life.

There are many; their number is legion.

169 SpaceJesus  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:47:12pm

re: #159 Max D. Reinhardt


Does not equal “I think it’s time we had someone in the White House who knows how to create jobs because he’s had a job”

170 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:47:15pm

re: #152 SpaceJesus

Agreed. So what is this statement of Romney’s?

It’s not intended to be a lie, because everybody knows Obama has worked.

It’s not a mistake, because Romney knows full well that Obama has worked.

What does that leave?

Know the truth, but believe the deliberate misstatement anyway.

171 SpaceJesus  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:47:32pm

re: #166 jaunte

and i get beaten

172 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:49:06pm

re: #159 Max D. Reinhardt

‘President Obama: he has no experience running his own business and has not seen firsthand how government affects the private sector. Vote for Mitt Romney, a conservative businessman.’

Nuff said.

/straw-grasp

173 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:49:41pm

re: #160 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

There’s always something to be said about siccing virtually unlimited numbers of heavy armor on a numerically inferior, if technologically superior, foe.

True, but I didn’t deploy my force right. Of course, it didn’t help that I lost the initiative roll every single turn. As a result, my side had to backpeddle instead of flank repeatedly. But the main fault was on me for not reacting properly to the enemy’s big mass of units. I should have devoted more force to stopping it.

174 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:49:53pm

re: #166 jaunte

The problem for Romney is, “he has no experience running his own business” is very specific and accurate, and has zero dogwhistle effect compared to:
“I think it’s time we had someone in the White House who knows how to create jobs because he’s had a job.”

re: #165 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

That’s assuming things not in evidence. Romney didn’t say “know’s how to create a job because he’s owned/operated a business.”

Funny. I’m a registered Republican and I hear “I’ve spent my life in the private sector and know how to create jobs”, not “The President is a shiftless black man that never had a job before moving into the White House.”

Maybe I’m a Democrat trapped in a Republican’s body.

175 Interesting Times  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:50:11pm

re: #130 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

Did you see ever this? Offensive-as-all-hell collection of stereotypes, put together in 2008 as spoof of GOP ads:

Youtube Video

Rather disturbing how it’s even more fitting now o_O

176 wee fury  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:51:19pm

TPM’s Benjy Sarlin is at a Romney Rally in Ormond Beach, Florida and tweets that the former Gov. said “I think it’s time we had someone in the White House who knows how to create jobs because he’s had a job.”

So … the above statement doesn’t read like gutter talk to me.

177 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:51:37pm

re: #174 Max D. Reinhardt

It’s the “because he’s had a job” part (unlike that guy who’s in there now).

178 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:51:49pm

re: #132 Lidane

And the GOP will be fucked if they nominate Gingrich. There’s a reason his own party tossed him out on his ass, and why he lived in the political wilderness for over a decade.

Given this piece of history and Gingrich’s interest in history I just have to wonder if Newt casts himself as a sort of American Winston Churchill. Being called back from the wilderness to lead the USA to victory in a cultural world war.

179 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:51:52pm

re: #174 Max D. Reinhardt

re: #165 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Funny. I’m a registered Republican and I hear “I’ve spent my life in the private sector and know how to create jobs”, not “The President is a shiftless black man that never had a job before moving into the White House.”

Maybe I’m a Democrat trapped in a Republicans body, because I must be missing something.

You’re missing what just happened last night in South Carolina. Romney was trounced by Gingrich, and Gingrich’s race-baiting was undoubtedly the deciding factor.

180 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:52:05pm

re: #175 publicityStunted

Did you see ever this? Offensive-as-all-hell collection of stereotypes, put together in 2008 as spoof of GOP ads:

[Video]Rather disturbing how it’s even more fitting now o_O

No, but I probably have all of those cartoons. They, and Birth of a Nation have conditioned conservatives very well.

181 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:54:08pm

re: #179 Charles

You’re missing what just happened last night in South Carolina. Romney was trounced by Gingrich, and Gingrich’s race-baiting was undoubtedly the deciding factor.

Like I pointed out earlier in the thread, Mitt Romney started using this line long before he took his electoral thrashing in South Carolina.

182 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:54:15pm

This is why Mitt Romney is now turning to race-baiting — according to the Insider Advantage poll, he’s behind Gingrich in Florida by NINE POINTS.

He’s desperate.

183 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:54:53pm

The link:

polltracker.talkingpointsmemo.com

184 The War TARDIS  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:55:12pm

OT, but I found out a little bit about the 4th Crusade and its origins. The Byzantines weren’t totally innocent.

185 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:55:21pm

re: #174 Max D. Reinhardt

re: #165 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Funny. I’m a registered Republican and I hear “I’ve spent my life in the private sector and know how to create jobs”, not “The President is a shiftless black man that never had a job before moving into the White House.”

Maybe I’m a Democrat trapped in a Republicans body, because I must be missing something.

Saying that he’d owned/operated a business would have been unambiguous, where as declaring that Obama has never held a job leaves plenty of wiggle room for misinterpretation.

186 Altermite  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:55:37pm

re: #179 Charles

You’re missing what just happened last night in South Carolina. Romney was trounced by Gingrich, and Gingrich’s race-baiting was undoubtedly the deciding factor.

Which means that Romney needs to try a new tack. Whether that is mimicing the race-baiting or something else is not clear to everyone. Romney has been playing up the ‘real business/exec experience’ line for years, and this could easily be more of the same, especially as he doesn’t have a history. Personally, I’ll wait until he says something a little more different from his usual campaign line before jumping on it.

187 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:56:10pm

re: #182 Charles

This is why Mitt Romney is now turning to race-baiting — according to the Insider Advantage poll, he’s behind Gingrich in Florida by NINE POINTS.

He’s desperate.

Florida is a closed primary, which could be harmful to Mr. Romney. He’s bound to do better in the winner-take-all primaries that come along later. Even if he loses Florida, he still has the money and the machine to go on to win the nomination.

188 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:56:16pm

re: #174 Max D. Reinhardt

Funny. I’m a registered Republican and I hear “I’ve spent my life in the private sector and know how to create jobs”, ….

Just to be clear, Mitt Romney spent 4 years as a Governor, 2 years running a pseudo-governmental/public organization (which indirectly depends upon tax funds or special governmental relationships), and 5 years running for President.

That’s 11 years not in the “private sector”. Not including the time he was running for other offices (and no telling what would have been Mitt’s career had he won those.)

189 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:56:23pm

re: #184 ProLifeLiberal

OT, but I found out a little bit about the 4th Crusade and its origins. The Byzantines weren’t totally innocent.

No, they were trying some shenanigans of their own.

They didn’t deserve to have their city sacked, though.

190 Altermite  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:57:01pm

re: #185 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Saying that he’d owned/operated a business would have been unambiguous, where as declaring that Obama has never held a job leaves plenty of wiggle room for misinterpretation.

I don’t feel comfortable calling someone a racist based on some perceived wiggle room. Calling somebody racist is a serious allegation, even if it happens to be true of many of his peers.

191 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:57:22pm

re: #173 Dark_Falcon

True, but I didn’t deploy my force right. Of course, it didn’t help that I lost the initiative roll every single turn. As a result, my side had to backpeddle instead of flank repeatedly. But the main fault was on me for not reacting properly to the enemy’s big mass of units. I should have devoted more force to stopping it.

Yeah, bad dice rolls will get you every single time.

192 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:57:28pm

It was pandering to a racist mindset about non-working blacks back then, too.

At a fruit processing plant in Miami, Romney charged the president has a fundamental misunderstanding of the economy.

“He’s never had a job. I think to create jobs it helps to have had a job. I have,” Romney said.

The statement is flatly false. President Obama has had jobs before. But it fits neatly into the Romney playbook. Attack the president. Ignore the GOP field.
politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com

The only reason to attack him with this falsehood is the racial angle.

193 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:57:56pm

The prevailing view of white conservatives 100 years ago, regarding Black lawmakers:

Youtube Video

The anxiety is 100% intact a century later. Thanks for the reminder, Mitt!

194 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:58:17pm

Why am I supposed to believe Mitt Romney is somehow above racist politics? He’s certainly not above pandering to the misogynistic religious right, or pandering to the Muslim-hating right, or pandering to the idiots who believe Obama “bowed to the Saudi king.”

Mitt Romney will say and do anything he needs to, to be elected. And right now the winning strategy is pandering to the racist far right.

195 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:59:08pm

re: #190 Altermite

I don’t feel comfortable calling someone a racist based on some perceived wiggle room. Calling somebody racist is a serious allegation, even if it happens to be true of many of his peers.

Nobody was called “racist”.

196 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:59:18pm

re: #190 Altermite

I don’t feel comfortable calling someone a racist based on some perceived wiggle room. Calling somebody racist is a serious allegation, even if it happens to be true of many of his peers.

I don’t view Romney as a racist, I view him as an opportunist. Throw this sort of statement out there, knowing that those who want to hear it as a dog-whistle will, then “clarify” it down the line to be something more innocuous, such as the oft-repeated “private sector” business.

197 Altermite  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:59:40pm

re: #195 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

Nobody was called “racist”.

My bad. Pandering to racists.

198 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 8:59:58pm

re: #192 jaunte

It was pandering to a racist mindset about non-working blacks back then, too.

The only reason to attack him with this falsehood is the racial angle.

Exactly - the fact that Romney has used this angle before doesn’t exonerate him from racist pandering. It actually reinforces the point. This is what works in the Republican Party in the Tea Party era.

199 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:00:07pm

In my humble opinion, Mitt Romney does not need to resort to race-baiting to trounce Newt Gingrich. He just needs to remind the voters that Gingrich is a conniving, contemptible, corrupt, mean-spirited, mercurial, maniacal, unscrupulous Washington insider.

200 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:00:49pm

Willard has clearly come to the conclusion that the GOP base will never go for his “the president’s a nice guy who’s just in over his head” spiel. I’m sure was hoping he could avoid attacking the president personally by just being the most electable and obviously superior candidate. But after, SC that shit’s over. Expect Romney to blow many a dog whistle and lying through his teeth about the president for the foreseeable future.

201 SidewaysQuark  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:01:19pm

re: #152 SpaceJesus

Agreed. So what is this statement of Romney’s?

It’s not intended to be a lie, because everybody knows Obama has worked.

It’s not a mistake, because Romney knows full well that Obama has worked.

What does that leave?

It’s obviously a play on the “community organizer” meme in conservative circles. I look at it more as a dig against academia and the common person than a race thing. (Not that that’s a good thing….)

I’m sorry, but I reserve charges of racism for cases of the real thing - it’s not an accusation that I think should be doled out lightly. Hunting for “racism” (or any other “-ism”) where it might or might not exist is a trip down a slippery slope.

202 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:01:42pm

re: #199 Max D. Reinhardt

In my humble opinion, Mitt Romney does not need to resort to race-baiting to trounce Newt Gingrich. He just needs to remind the voters that Gingrich is a conniving, contemptible, corrupt, mean-spirited, mercurial, maniacal, unscrupulous Washington insider.

As far as I can see, all of those attributes are pluses to the GOP base, not negatives.

203 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:02:41pm

re: #202 Charles

As far as I can see, all of those attributes are pluses to the GOP base, not negatives.

Then I must not be part of my party’s base.

204 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:02:45pm

Birth of A Nation was bad enough, but the view 30 years wasn’t much better.

Youtube Video

Youtube Video

Seeing the great Ethel Waters and a 7 year old Sammy Davis Jr. moves “Rufus Jones for President” (1933) up to the level “unwatchable”.

205 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:02:48pm

re: #199 Max D. Reinhardt

In my humble opinion, Mitt Romney does not need to resort to race-baiting to trounce Newt Gingrich. He just needs to remind the voters that Gingrich is a conniving, contemptible, corrupt, mean-spirited, mercurial, maniacal, unscrupulous Washington insider.

Perhaps you weren’t paying attention last night, but the Tea Party’s embraced all that. Hell, they cheered him on on Thursday for responding to accusations of being a serial philanderer by attacking the moderator and the media. And the debate before, getting cheered on for putting Juan Williams “in his place,” before attacking Romney for not taking responsibility for his Super PAC’s ads.

Newt’s thriving on all his bad qualities. Romney trying to exploit them is only working against him.

206 The War TARDIS  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:03:09pm

re: #189 Dark_Falcon

To be more precise, Cracked had a well sourced little thing here:

The Byzantine Empire was pretty much the Biff Tannen of Medieval Europe. When the Western Roman Empire began to crash and burn, their eastern equivalent, Byzantium, turned away and pretended not to hear their desperate pleas, thus establishing Byzantium’s reputation as the alpha-asshole on the European continent.

In 1171, the Byzantines decided to step up their schoolyard-style bullying on the small but thriving Republic of Venice; arresting their merchants for no reason, stealing their goods and repeatedly calling them buttheads. Naturally, Venice got pretty pissed off over this, but with little in the way of military might they appointed an old man named Enrico Dandolo ambassador to smooth things over with the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos in the capital of Constantinople.

The Byzantines instead thought it would be more fun just to blind him, and continue to shove Venice around for another 14 years. Nevertheless, Enrico continued to serve as Venice’s emissary, despite being blinded, surrounded by Nia Vardalos fans and badgered with jokes about how to make a Venetian blind.

The Payback:
In 1204, 33 years after the Byzantines blinded him and subjugated his people, Enrico returned from Venice armed to the teeth, and directed the armies of the Fourth Crusade to sack the ever loving shit out of Constantinople.

It was an act of blind revenge (sorry) as brilliant as it was brutal, since it caught the entire Byzantine Empire completely with their pants down. The city had never fallen to an enemy before, but this little old blind guy managed to capture its capital, and with it, the entire Byzantine Empire.

With his revenge finally fulfilled, Enrico died the next year. In his 90s.

The Byzantines were not nice. Not even remotely. There’s a reason the Rashidun were able to so rapidly take over much of it. The Byzantines were very abusive towards the Monophystic Christians and Jews. When offered a better deal by the Rashidun Caliphate, they flipped. Only the Coptic Church had a strong enough organization to keep any number of followers.

Erdogan was in Egypt in the past year, during which he called the Byzantine Empire a dark country. I have an extremely hard time disagreeing, looking at the history.

207 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:03:52pm

re: #190 Altermite

I don’t feel comfortable calling someone a racist based on some perceived wiggle room. Calling somebody racist is a serious allegation, even if it happens to be true of many of his peers.

Nobody called him a racist, we are talking about blowing dog whistles directed at racists. It’s been in the GOP arsenal for the last 40 years, better known as the Southern Strategy and it’s highly affective.

208 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:03:59pm

And to those reading this thread and then posting on the Stalker Blog, I say the following:

What Mitt Romney said was not race baiting, but you goons should know what race-baiting looks like, since you’ve allowed on your “Blogmocracy” repeatedly. Even saying Charles is wrong on this matter, he still a better person with a better batting average than you, you bunch of slimeball choads.

[flips Stalkers a double birdie]

209 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:05:04pm

This meme about Obama “not having a job” or never having a “real” job is quite established in the reactionary crowd.

Of course the Romney campaign knows this - otherwise it wouldn’t have been worth the time for Mitt to focus on this. Everything he says is calculated.

For example, and this is just one of probably millions out there, from this week courtesy of our old friend Glenn Beck and his Blaze, wherein Beck’s followers lovingly write:

SPANKADONKEY
Posted on January 18, 2012 at 11:16pm
JZS and ENEMA are seeing their government free ride fading away and they are sooo angry. They might have to leave their free basement, lose their food stamps, and actually have to get a job – not that anyone in his right mind would hire either of them.

This equivalency of “food stamps” with not having a job is very, very well established in the right-wing hate machine of the American populace.

Do any of you believe that the Romney campaign, with all their high paid advisors, don’t know this?

210 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:05:09pm

re: #201 SidewaysQuark

It’s obviously a play on the “community organizer” meme in conservative circles. I look at it more as a dig against academia and the common person than a race thing. (Not that that’s a good thing…)

I’m sorry, but I reserve charges of racism for cases of the real thing - it’s not an accusation that I think should be doled out lightly.

No need to be defensive. No one has been charged with anything and nobody is on trial.

Hunting for “racism” (or any other “-ism”) where it might or might not exist is a trip down a slippery slope.

As does pretending it might not exist where it well may. That slippery slope, as our history tells us, has far more damaging consequences to far more people.

211 Altermite  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:05:17pm

re: #208 Dark_Falcon

And to those reading this thread and then posting on the Stalker Blog, I say the following:

What Mitt Romney said was not race baiting, but you goons should know what race-baiting looks like, since you’ve allowed on your “Blogmocracy” repeatedly. Even saying Charles is wrong on this matter, he still a better person with a better batting average than you, you bunch of slimeball choads.

[flips Stalkers a double birdie]

STALKWHISTLING

212 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:05:51pm

re: #208 Dark_Falcon

I’m not wrong. This is what works in today’s GOP. I’ve spent the last 3 years thoroughly documenting the rise of blatant racist stereotypes in the right wing. This isn’t happening in a vacuum.

213 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:06:41pm

re: #199 Max D. Reinhardt

In my humble opinion, Mitt Romney does not need to resort to race-baiting to trounce Newt Gingrich. He just needs to remind the voters that Gingrich is a conniving, contemptible, corrupt, mean-spirited, mercurial, maniacal, unscrupulous Washington insider.

He’s tried that. In SC he found that the GOP base would take all of those things over a moderate, Massachusetts Mormon. He’s got to find a way to show the base that he is one of them someway and his just enough of an unprincipled and ambitious asshole to try anything. This thing has gotten ugly and Willard is perfectly capable of ugly.

214 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:07:10pm

I’m a politically active Republican living in a conservative area. I talk politics everyday with almost everyone I know. No one has ever come up to me and said, “Ya know dat Obomber has never had a job? I like dat Mitt Romney. He’s had a job. I’m gonna be gettin’ along to go canvas for him.”

I work, talk, and live with the GOP’s base, but I guess I am woefully out of touch because I haven’t seen this rampant racism.

215 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:07:15pm

re: #208 Dark_Falcon

And to those reading this thread and then posting on the Stalker Blog, I say the following:

What Mitt Romney said was not race baiting, but you goons should know what race-baiting looks like, since you’ve allowed on your “Blogmocracy” repeatedly. Even saying Charles is wrong on this matter, he still a better person with a better batting average than you, you bunch of slimeball choads.

[flips Stalkers a double birdie]

Why do you care so much what those assholes think?

Stop trying to impress them.

216 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:08:47pm

re: #212 Charles

I’m not wrong. This is what works in today’s GOP. I’ve spent the last 3 years thoroughly documenting the rise of blatant racist stereotypes in the right wing. This isn’t happening in a vacuum.

You’re not wrong, and it works.

It’s always worked on white conservative bigots, and always will.

217 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:09:38pm

re: #214 Max D. Reinhardt

I’m a politically active Republican living in a conservative area. I talk politics everyday with almost everyone I know. No one has ever come up to me and said, “Ya know dat Obomber has never had a job? I like dat Mitt Romney. He’s had a job. I’m gonna be gettin’ along to go canvas for him.”

I do believe you, that no one has literally told you that, in those exact words.

e_e

218 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:09:38pm

re: #214 Max D. Reinhardt

I work, talk, and live with the GOP’s base, but I guess I am woefully out of touch because I haven’t seen this rampant racism.

Maybe you missed this post from yesterday:

littlegreenfootballs.com

That’s the Republican base, telling you how they feel. And it’s far from the only example.

219 Altermite  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:10:50pm

I’m also of the opinion that Romney’s awful debate performance and debacle in dealing with the tax records had a lot to do with the shift, not simply dog whistling.

Newt wasn’t only whistling- he was also being loud and confident (or arrogant, w/e), while Romney got chewed up on all fronts. Exit polls pointed to those two things as having a lot to do with voters taking newt over romney.

I’m also of the opinion that you could have said anything about the president in front of that crowd- racial tinged or not- and so long as it sounded bad, they would have cheered.

220 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:11:04pm

re: #214 Max D. Reinhardt

I’m a politically active Republican living in a conservative area. I talk politics everyday with almost everyone I know. No one has ever come up to me and said, “Ya know dat Obomber has never had a job? I like dat Mitt Romney. He’s had a job. I’m gonna be gettin’ along to go canvas for him.”

I doubt they have said that to you. But I’m sure they’ve at least once said “I think Romney’s right, we need somebody who’s run a business in the White House to get the economic back on track,” yes?

221 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:11:34pm

re: #206 ProLifeLiberal

To be more precise, Cracked had a well sourced little thing here:

The Byzantines were not nice. Not even remotely. There’s a reason the Rashidun were able to so rapidly take over much of it. The Byzantines were very abusive towards the Monophystic Christians and Jews. When offered a better deal by the Rashidun Caliphate, they flipped. Only the Coptic Church had a strong enough organization to keep any number of followers.

Erdogan was in Egypt in the past year, during which he called the Byzantine Empire a dark country. I have an extremely hard time disagreeing, looking at the history.

Yeah, they had gone way down after Hericlinus (I’m sure I spelled the name wrong). He was one of their few truly great leaders, though he did live to see much of the empire overrun by the armies of Islam (although his forces were somewhat caught out of position).

Disclaimer Note: I have only stated facts. While I mentioned the early Muslim armies, I did not say anything disparaging or bigoted about them. This is put in due to the topic, in order to make clear I’m not using any code words in this post. What you see is what you get.

222 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:11:58pm

re: #194 Charles

Why am I supposed to believe Mitt Romney is somehow above racist politics?

For my part, I am not saying you should believe that. Just that my reading of it seemed more of the typical anti-career politician stuff.

Again, I have no intent to vote for Mitt. And again, Mitt may yet prove me wrong about this being race baiting or not. And yet again, I won’t be particularly surprised if he does prove me wrong.

223 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:12:07pm

Romney is perfectly fine with race-baiting.

Media Matters Video

Here Hannity asks him if he thinks that black liberation theology and its emphasis on social justice is part of why Obama is terrible, and Romney agrees that it is part of it.

This most recent line by him— and yes, I get that he’s been using it for awhile— make no sense. Obama’s had a number of jobs. He worked as an attorney, among others, and any lawyer can tell you a junior attorney works horrific hours.

It’s a stupid lie, so what is the purpose of it? It’s either the rankest of class warfare— basically, claiming that only running a business, only being the boss, is a real job, a position that’s fucking stupid, malicious, and elitist beyond elitist— or it’s playing on the racial angle, the Obama as affirmative action president.

Either way, it’s a disgusting lie. I don’t really care to unpick exactly how Romney is trying to lie and smear and deceive.

224 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:12:30pm

re: #218 Charles

Maybe you missed this post from yesterday:

[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com…]

I did and I found it repulsive. I don’t know why the Fox Nation website doesn’t moderate their comments section. However, those commenters do not represent me, my friends, or my colleagues.

225 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:12:53pm

re: #214 Max D. Reinhardt

I’m a politically active Republican living in a conservative area. I talk politics everyday with almost everyone I know. No one has ever come up to me and said, “Ya know dat Obomber has never had a job? I like dat Mitt Romney. He’s had a job. I’m gonna be gettin’ along to go canvas for him.”

I work, talk, and live with the GOP’s base, but I guess I am woefully out of touch because I haven’t seen this rampant racism.

Well apparently people of color do. Or do you think 90% of blacks and 66% of Hispanics vote for Democrats because we’re all tree huggers who want people to stop wearing fur and a single payer health system?

226 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:12:56pm

A lot of race-baiting today gets outsourced to the pros:
Limbaugh: Obama is “more African in his roots than he is American” and is “behaving like an African colonial despot”
Media Matters Video

227 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:13:20pm

re: #219 Altermite

I’m also of the opinion that Romney’s awful debate performance and debacle in dealing with the tax records had a lot to do with the shift, not simply dog whistling.

I have no doubt that Romney’s goal is to get the heat off of himself (and his tax returns) and onto the President.

228 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:13:30pm

re: #220 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

I doubt they have said that to you. But I’m sure they’ve at least once said “I think Romney’s right, we need somebody who’s run a business in the White House to get the economy back on track,” yes?

Yes, and I’ve said that myself.

229 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:14:19pm

re: #224 Max D. Reinhardt

I did and I found it repulsive. I don’t know why the Fox Nation website doesn’t moderate their comments section. However, those commenters do not represent me, my friends, or my colleagues.

The GOP base just voted for Gingrich and his stupid, racist ‘food stamp’ smears. So how can you be denying racism in the GOP base, when Gingrich just won while being blatantly racist?

Nobody’s saying every last GOP member is racist.

230 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:14:32pm

re: #214 Max D. Reinhardt

I’m a politically active Republican living in a conservative area. I talk politics everyday with almost everyone I know. No one has ever come up to me and said, “Ya know dat Obomber has never had a job? I like dat Mitt Romney. He’s had a job. I’m gonna be gettin’ along to go canvas for him.”

Do you live in The Song of the South or something, is that why you imagine people talking like that when expressing things they never say?

Please don’t throw me in that briar patch.

231 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:14:40pm

re: #228 Max D. Reinhardt

Yes, and I’ve said that myself.

So, is it possible your interpretation of his statement has to do with that unconscious conclusion?

232 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:15:09pm

re: #226 jaunte

And that example I linked to at the Blaze was on an article about a Limbaugh show.

Hate radio is being the surrogate for the political operatives in these campaigns. It’s a two way street - the politicians are dependent upon the approval of the hate-talkers too - but one walked of a free will by the likes of the GOP candidates.

233 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:15:12pm

re: #218 Charles

Maybe you missed this post from yesterday:

[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com…]

That’s the Republican base, telling you how they feel. And it’s far from the only example.

Bases can vary by area Charles. Any area could be quite ‘red’ and still be quite unaccepting of comments in supporting lynching. So Max can be right about where he lives, while still allowing fo you to be right about South Carolina. It has, after all, been consistently behind the times socially.

234 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:16:05pm

re: #231 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

So, is it possible your interpretation of his statement has to do with that unconscious conclusion?

Nope. I’m his target audience. I know what he’s trying to say.

235 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:16:06pm

re: #233 Dark_Falcon

Bases can vary by area Charles. Any area could be quite ‘red’ and still be quite unaccepting of comments in supporting lynching. So Max can be right about where he lives, while still allowing fo you to be right about South Carolina. It has, after all, been consistently behind the times socially.

That’s my interpretation, that Mitt’s playing to the audience with a fairly ambiguous statement.

236 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:16:41pm

re: #223 Obdicut

Romney is perfectly fine with race-baiting.

[Link: mediamatters.org…]

Here Hannity asks him if he thinks that black liberation theology and its emphasis on social justice is part of why Obama is terrible, and Romney agrees that it is part of it.

This most recent line by him— and yes, I get that he’s been using it for awhile— make no sense. Obama’s had a number of jobs. He worked as an attorney, among others, and any lawyer can tell you a junior attorney works horrific hours.

It’s a stupid lie, so what is the purpose of it? It’s either the rankest of class warfare— basically, claiming that only running a business, only being the boss, is a real job, a position that’s fucking stupid, malicious, and elitist beyond elitist— or it’s playing on the racial angle, the Obama as affirmative action president.

Either way, it’s a disgusting lie. I don’t really care to unpick exactly how Romney is trying to lie and smear and deceive.

Quoted for truth.

Romney has been going along with the racist stereotypes for quite a while, but now he’s not just going along, he’s embracing them - because he saw how well they worked for Gingrich, and he’s on the brink of losing Florida now too.

237 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:16:54pm

re: #234 Max D. Reinhardt

Nope. I’m his target audience. I know what he’s trying to say.

Let me guess, you consider yourself a moderate Republican?

238 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:17:23pm

re: #228 Max D. Reinhardt

Yes, and I’ve said that myself.

Another rightwing nonsense meme. May I ask what evidence you have that a person who has run a business would be better in the WH? I mean seriously who are the great businessman president’s that we have had? And how many jobs did Romney create in the private sector? How many as governor of Massachusetts?

239 The War TARDIS  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:17:49pm

re: #221 Dark_Falcon

Heraclius is viewed well in the Muslim World.

However, it doesn’t change the fact that the entire southern 2/3rds of the Empire more or less defected over poor treatment by what would become the religious hierarchy that would become the Orthodox church about 400 years later.

240 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:18:24pm

re: #225 moderatelyradicalliberal

Well apparently people of color do. Or do you think 90% of blacks and 66% of Hispanics vote for Democrats because we’re all tree huggers who want people to stop wearing fur and a single payer health system?

Well I don’t know about you, but I vote Democrat Party because I wish to remain on the plantation that promises me they’ll go take away all the whites’ guns and give me welfare and affirmative action as reparations for sins of the past, which really weren’t so bad because after all we came to know Jesus from it.

241 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:19:08pm

re: #229 Obdicut

The GOP base just voted for Gingrich and his stupid, racist ‘food stamp’ smears. So how can you be denying racism in the GOP base, when Gingrich just won while being blatantly racist?

No poll that I’ve seen has indicated that conservatives swarmed to the voting booths to vote for Gingrich because of his “food stamp president” meme. Every poll that I’ve seen has indicated that South Carolinian voters were concerned about the economy and who could beat President Obama in a head-to-head match up.

I don’t agree with the voters’ decision and I think Newt Gingrich would be a terrible candidate, but so be it.

242 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:19:27pm

re: #238 moderatelyradicalliberal

Another rightwing nonsense meme. May I ask what evidence you have that a person who has run a business would be better in the WH? I mean seriously who are the great businessman president’s that we have had? And how many jobs did Romney create in the private sector? How many as governor of Massachusetts?

This is something I want to know. I’ve been hearing for a while “we need to run the government like a business” and yet I can’t think of too many successful presidents who have been businessmen. I think private sector experience is important but Romney arrogantly brushes off Obama’s public sector experience as if it it means nothing.

243 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:19:40pm

re: #237 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Let me guess, you consider yourself a moderate Republican?

On the contrary, I consider myself a rock-ribbed conservative.

244 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:19:56pm

re: #239 ProLifeLiberal

Heraclius is viewed well in the Muslim World.

However, it doesn’t change the fact that the entire southern 2/3rds of the Empire more or less defected over poor treatment by what would become the religious hierarchy that would become the Orthodox church about 400 years later.

Very true. Why is Heraclius well regarded in the Muslim world though? Was it because he beat down the Sassanid Persians?

245 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:20:16pm

re: #243 Max D. Reinhardt

On the contrary, I consider myself a rock-ribbed conservative.

Which leaves me confused as to why you’re supporting Romney.

246 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:20:19pm

re: #234 Max D. Reinhardt

Nope. I’m his target audience. I know what he’s trying to say.

I’d send back any drinks he tries to buy for you.

247 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:20:21pm

re: #223 Obdicut

Romney is perfectly fine with race-baiting.

[Link: mediamatters.org…]

Here Hannity asks him if he thinks that black liberation theology and its emphasis on social justice is part of why Obama is terrible, and Romney agrees that it is part of it.

This most recent line by him— and yes, I get that he’s been using it for awhile— make no sense. Obama’s had a number of jobs. He worked as an attorney, among others, and any lawyer can tell you a junior attorney works horrific hours.

It’s a stupid lie, so what is the purpose of it? It’s either the rankest of class warfare— basically, claiming that only running a business, only being the boss, is a real job, a position that’s fucking stupid, malicious, and elitist beyond elitist— or it’s playing on the racial angle, the Obama as affirmative action president.

Either way, it’s a disgusting lie. I don’t really care to unpick exactly how Romney is trying to lie and smear and deceive.

Romney may want to stay away from talking about church affiliation. Especially church affiliation related to race. At no point has any black church taught that some people didn’t have souls. I’m just sayin’.

248 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:20:49pm

Wasn’t Obama’s first job scooping ice cream? That’s a business job right, sales or something. I’m sure he knows all about how the government stifles hard working businesses with stupid pasteurization regulations.

Isn’t he also a best selling author and grammy winner?

Real business jobs involve wearing suits and crushing people’s dreams, you insensitive clod!

249 simoom  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:22:03pm

re: #92 Max D. Reinhardt

President Obama has been a community organizer, a law professor, and a politician. While those are “jobs” in the everyday sense of the word, they are not business jobs.

He also worked as the director of Project Vote, as a civil rights attorney for many years, served on the board of directors and as the President of the Board of a number of prominent foundations, and obviously is also a successful author.

Romney’s actually been using variants of this in his stump speech for months, for example:

“To create jobs, it helps to have had a job.”

Which in later speeches morphed into “real job” — like this:

“I don’t happen to think Barack Obama is a bad guy, I just don’t think he has a clue. Never having worked in the private sector, never having had a real job, it’s not a surprise he doesn’t know how to create a real job.”

IMO, yes, it’s pretty f’in offensive.

250 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:22:27pm

re: #242 HappyWarrior

This is something I want to know. I’ve been hearing for a while “we need to run the government like a business” and yet I can’t think of too many successful presidents who have been businessmen. I think private sector experience is important but Romney arrogantly brushes off Obama’s public sector experience as if it it means nothing.

GWB: bidnessman (as we say down here in Texas)
Clinton: what Romney would call a career politician

Who had a better economy when they left office then when they came in?

251 CuriousLurker  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:23:06pm

re: #214 Max D. Reinhardt

I’m a politically active Republican living in a conservative area. I talk politics everyday with almost everyone I know. No one has ever come up to me and said, “Ya know dat Obomber has never had a job? I like dat Mitt Romney. He’s had a job. I’m gonna be gettin’ along to go canvas for him.”

I work, talk, and live with the GOP’s base, but I guess I am woefully out of touch because I haven’t seen this rampant racism.

Max, I work, talk, and live around Muslims and no one in my daily sphere supports terrorism or spouts extremist, jihadi rhetoric. Does that mean a serious problem with extremism is non-existent in Islam, despite all the news reports?

252 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:23:25pm

Limbaugh, appealing to the GOP base, while trying to help Romney:

“Let me tell you what Romney doesn’t do. Romney has not played over 90 rounds of golf in three years while everybody is suffering. Romney has not flown all over the world on the federal government’s dime. Romney has not had lavish parties and concerts on the public’s dime. Romney has not lived like a king on other people’s money. He has sent his wife on government jets four hours ahead of him to the same destination. Romney is not responsible, nor is any other Republican, for the 16% unemployment, real unemployment in this country. Romney is not responsible for increased fuel and food costs. He’s not responsible for any of this. That would be Obama, who pretends to care about the middle class but lives like a king at the public trough.

… Every one of [the GOP candidates] is a decent person. Every one of them is an average American in their own ways. Obama is not, his wife is not.”
mediaite.com

Dog whistle explanation:

The counterpart to the slave was the dandy, a common character in the afterpiece. He was a northern urban black man trying to live above his station by mimicking white, upper-class speech and dress—usually to no good effect.
en.wikipedia.org

253 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:23:30pm

re: #243 Max D. Reinhardt

On the contrary, I consider myself a rock-ribbed conservative.

What in the world is that?

254 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:24:02pm

Really. If Romney isn’t race-baiting, then he’s saying that only running a business is having a job. Hell, Obama had business jobs, too, including one at Business International Corporation, which is about as businessy as you get. So, Romney’s lie is a lie from top to bottom, a stupid, cheap, craven, lie.

But Romney doesn’t just lie for no reason. It’s hard to unpack statements like this when I’m not the intended target. The intended target is someone who doesn’t mind being lied to, or is operating off of a base assumption of Obama that dismisses any achievement as affirmative action or ‘not a real job’.

And yeah, in the end, I do think it’s racist. It’s not overly racist, but it’s obvious, with the food stamp president stuff, the affirmative action charges, and all the rest— stuff that any decent GOP candidate should be shunning and confronting, as McCain occasionally had the guts to do— this is a racist statement. On its own, in the middle of a field, is it racist? No.

But the GOP primaries aren’t in the middle of a field, on their own. They’re surrounded by constant attacks on Obama for being a food stamp president, an affirmative action president. “Never had a real job” just fits perfectly in there with the rest of it. It may not even be fully intended as racist, but Romney isn’t just some dude talking at the watercooler, he is a consummate politician, very judicious in his statements.

He knew this was a lie, and still chose to say it. What a pathetic man.

255 The War TARDIS  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:24:06pm

re: #244 Dark_Falcon

This little passage (sourced) from Wikipedia is a good explanation:

In Muslim tradition he is seen as a just ruler of great piety, who had direct contact with the emerging Islamic forces. The 14th-century scholar Ibn Kathir (d. 1373) went even further stating that “Heraclius was one of the wisest men and among the most resolute, shrewd, deep and opinionated of kings. He ruled the Romans with great leadership and splendor.”

256 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:24:22pm

re: #250 moderatelyradicalliberal

GWB: bidnessman (as we say down here in Texas)
Clinton: what Romney would call a career politician

Who had a better economy when they left office then when they came in?

Exactly. Romney can harp on and on about you need business experience and I would agree honestly that it’s helpful given that the most successful governor in recent memory for my state had business experience but he also had some government experience too serving as chairman of the state Democratic party as well and running some campaigns. Romney IMO is being a patronizing ass. As I said, I don’t know if it’s racist or not but it’s a pathetic pander nonetheless.

257 Interesting Times  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:24:25pm

re: #253 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

rock-ribbed conservative

What in the world is that?

According to Limbaugh and others to whom the GOP establishment bows, it means a creationist and a climate-change denier, among other things.

258 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:24:56pm

re: #241 Max D. Reinhardt

No poll that I’ve seen has indicated that conservatives swarmed to the voting booths to vote for Gingrich because of his “food stamp president” meme. Every poll that I’ve seen has indicated that South Carolinian voters were concerned about the economy and who could beat President Obama in a head-to-head match up.

I don’t agree with the voters’ decision and I think Newt Gingrich would be a terrible candidate, but so be it.

Okay. But you do agree that Gingrich is race-baiting to beat the band, right?

So the GOP base, is, at least, perfectly fine with voting for a race-baiter?

259 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:25:16pm

re: #252 jaunte

Limbaugh, appealing to the GOP base, while trying to help Romney:

Dog whistle explanation:

And King Dog Whistle speaks.King Dog Siren rather.

260 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:26:11pm

re: #255 ProLifeLiberal

This little passage (sourced) from Wikipedia is a good explanation:

Thanks.

261 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:26:16pm

re: #257 publicityStunted

According to Limbaugh and others to whom the GOP establishment bows, it means a creationist and a climate-change denier, among other things.

Lol two thousand updings for that.

262 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:27:20pm

re: #247 moderatelyradicalliberal

Romney may want to stay away from talking about church affiliation. Especially church affiliation related to race. At no point has any black church taught that some people didn’t have souls. I’m just sayin’.

One
would
think…

263 Max  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:27:54pm

re: #251 CuriousLurker

Does that mean a serious problem with extremism is non-existent in Islam, despite all the news reports?

I don’t think radicalization in the Islamic community is a widespread problem. Sure, it deserves some attention just like eco-terrorism, the sovereign citizens movement, and other extremist groups in America.

Are there a few people with tainted minds who vote Republican? Yes, of course. There will always be a few crazies in any large group of people.

264 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:28:10pm

re: #249 simoom

He also worked as the director of Project Vote, as a civil rights attorney for many years, served on the board of directors and as the President of the Board of a number of prominent foundations, and obviously is also a successful author.

Romney’s actually been using variants of this in his stump speech for months, for example:

Which in later speeches morphed into “real job” — like this:

IMO, yes, it’s pretty f’in offensive.

When Palin made her snarky comment about community organizers, I knew I hated her with the heat of a thousand suns. My joy in every humiliation that she has suffered since then starts at that moment. If Mitt wants to claim that any job that isn’t in the business world is not a real job, or that only people in the business would are fit to govern, he can have at it. The more people he offends the shit out of with his disrespect and condescension, the better. Because that’s, you know, most working Americans. Nice to know how he really feels. Can’t care about people when you don’t respect their livelihoods.

265 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:28:43pm

Oh, and Romney’s plan on dealing with undocumented aliens— deporting every single last one of them, with prejudice— may not be technically racist, but it’d certainly have a racist effect, given the percentage of ethnicities that make up undocumented aliens.

266 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:29:24pm

What makes Mitt truly pathetic in my eyes is that he’s ran away from pretty much everything he accomplished in Massachusetts. What really struck me was seeing him bash Massachusetts when he ran a few years ago. Okay, Mitt, I get your base hates Massachusetts liberalism but damnit you ran for governor and became governor of that state. That’s low and pathetic and it shows he obviously cared more about using Massachusetts just to say he had government experience than he did the people in that state. He’s a shallow, little man. This is the same guy who after all demonstrated for the Vdraft and then didn’t bother enlisting. That’s a coward move in my book. I hate using the Chickenhawk card, i really do but that’s why that card was made.

267 Interesting Times  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:29:53pm

re: #263 Max D. Reinhardt

Are there a few people with tainted minds who vote Republican? Yes, of course. There will always be a few crazies in any large group of people.

Every GOP presidential candidate remaining is (or has now “converted” to) a climate-change denier. Does this bother you?

268 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:30:01pm

re: #264 moderatelyradicalliberal

Obama also worked in the business world. Only for a little over a year, but he did. So it’s still just a plain lie to say he never had a real job if you mean jobs in the business world.

269 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:30:12pm

re: #265 Obdicut

Oh, and Romney’s plan on dealing with undocumented aliens— deporting every single last one of them, with prejudice— may not be technically racist, but it’d certainly have a racist effect, given the percentage of ethnicities that make up undocumented aliens.

That’s actually one of the few places where Newt comes off sounding halfway sane, in supporting limited amnesty and expanding work visa programs.

270 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:30:17pm

re: #249 simoom

He also worked as the director of Project Vote, as a civil rights attorney for many years, served on the board of directors and as the President of the Board of a number of prominent foundations, and obviously is also a successful author.

It’s simply a blatant, ugly lie, and it’s not a coincidence that it fits so neatly into the right wing stereotype of the lazy African American who lives off of affirmative action and food stamps. Romney is the consummate calculating politician and he knows exactly what he’s doing when he says things like this.

271 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:31:33pm

re: #266 HappyWarrior

This is the same guy who after all demonstrated for the Vdraft and then didn’t bother enlisting. That’s a coward move in my book. I hate using the Chickenhawk card, i really do but that’s why that card was made.

I would hate using it less if there were fewer chickenhawks braying for the death of others while they sit on their own rear ends, and throw their votes at the men who do the same. That part, I don’t like. /

272 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:31:35pm

re: #268 Obdicut

Obama also worked in the business world. Only for a little over a year, but he did. So it’s still just a plain lie to say he never had a real job if you mean jobs in the business world.

I didn’t even know about this one until you pointed it out. So he’s a liar too. And he won’t apologize on it but he’ll be offended whenever someone suggests that the wealthiest people in this country should have to pay a more reasonable share of taxes since the spending cuts won’t effect them.

273 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:32:15pm

re: #268 Obdicut

Obama also worked in the business world. Only for a little over a year, but he did. So it’s still just a plain lie to say he never had a real job if you mean jobs in the business world.

I think that’s the job where he meet Michelle.

274 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:32:42pm

re: #258 Obdicut

Okay. But you do agree that Gingrich is race-baiting to beat the band, right?

So the GOP base, is, at least, perfectly fine with voting for a race-baiter?

In South Carolina, it was. Beyond that, we will see. Let’s see how Newt plays in Florida.

275 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:32:51pm

This brings me back to my old confusion:

Why the hell do some people like being lied to?

I hate being lied to. When Obama lies about the dangers of marijuana, I get pissed at him.

Why don’t GOP voters get pissed at Romney for flat-out lying like this? What gives?

276 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:33:14pm

re: #275 Obdicut

This brings me back to my old confusion:

Why the hell do some people like being lied to?

I hate being lied to. When Obama lies about the dangers of marijuana, I get pissed at him.

Why don’t GOP voters get pissed at Romney for flat-out lying like this? What gives?

Confirmation bias.

277 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:33:16pm

It doesn’t really matter where Obama has or hasn’t worked.

278 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:33:44pm

re: #274 Dark_Falcon

In South Carolina, it was. Beyond that, we will see. Let’s see how Newt plays in Florida.

Your entire party demands it.

279 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:34:27pm

re: #275 Obdicut

This brings me back to my old confusion:

Why the hell do some people like being lied to?

I hate being lied to. When Obama lies about the dangers of marijuana, I get pissed at him.

Why don’t GOP voters get pissed at Romney for flat-out lying like this? What gives?

Because…

280 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:34:32pm

re: #277 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

The President being a businessman isn’t in the Constitutional requirements for office??!

281 goddamnedfrank  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:35:27pm

re: #253 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

What in the world is that?

Someone who is utterly inflexible. Conservatives often describe themselves this way because they either don’t realize what it means or they enjoy the idea of sounding rhetorically tough and immovable, like talking to a big rock.

282 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:36:09pm

re: #281 goddamnedfrank

Someone who is utterly inflexible. Conservatives often describe themselves this way because they either don’t realize what it means or they enjoy the idea of sounding rhetorically tough and immovable, like talking to a big rock.

Or a whole box of them.

283 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:36:30pm

Perusing new (to me) fields of derpitude, I stumble upon (via a very minimal exercise of Google-foo) the following comment (again, just one of millions of examples) at a website that has “conservative” in the name:

Florida Polk says:
January 22, 2012 at 8:17 am
Please – Answer YES or NO to the following:
1. Was Obumbles born and raised in a Muslim home ?
2. Did his grandparents raise him and teach him to hate England & America ?
3. Did he attend Muslim Schools and pray to Allah ?
4. Did he get a senate seat by having opponents disqualified ?
5. Did he ever hold a real job where he was not on the take ?
6. Did he seek out anti American friends like Bill Ayres ?
7. Did he listen to the “God Damn America” Rev. Wright .?
8. Did he promise transparency and reforms in government pork barrel projects ?
9. Did he break all of his promises for change ?
10. Did he bring Chicago style politics to Washington D.C. ?
11. Did he use threats, bribes and backroom deals to get ObamaCare passed ?
12. Is he helplessly lost without his teleprompter and writers ?
13. Is there such a thing as a “closet Muslim” ?

How convenient , a list of right wing memes - even numbered for us.

So, a quiz for the class: which meme number did Romney regurgitate most recently?

284 moderatelyradicalliberal  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:36:52pm

re: #277 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

It doesn’t really matter where Obama has or hasn’t worked.

When Obama left Harvard he went to work with people who lost their jobs in steel mills. When Willard left Harvard he went to work putting people out of work at steel mills. I feel confident that the president is ready for anything this vile little man can throw at him. In fact, I think it may be one of the easiest jobs he’s ever had.

285 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:36:52pm

re: #276 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Confirmation bias.

I just can’t tell if they know they’re being lied to, or they just creatively interpret the statement, like Max above, until it gets close to something resembling a half-truth. I doubt most GOPers really know Obama’s history— so why do they think they do? Why do they think they know about Reagan, when they don’t? Where does this wellspring of self-certitude come from?

The combination of certitude and ignorance is a pretty heavy brew.

286 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:37:36pm

Re:OP. Well, first of all it’s a lie. The question is why the lie. When such lies tap into stereotypes, it’s at least “borderline” bigotry. Like when ADL called out Rush on his “borderline” antisemitic comment about Wall Street Jews.

287 simoom  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:37:45pm

re: #270 Charles

It’s simply a blatant, ugly lie, and it’s not a coincidence that it fits so neatly into the right wing stereotype of the lazy African American who lives off of affirmative action and food stamps. Romney is the consummate calculating politician and he knows exactly what he’s doing when he says things like this.

Yeah, Newt’s response to Juan Williams’ question sort of wrapped that all up into a nice, neat package:

“It tells you everything you need to know about Barack Obama and the five of us, that we actually think work is good. We actually think saying, ‘I’ll help you if you are willing to help yourself,’ is good. And we think unconditional efforts by the best food stamp president in American history, to maximize dependency, is terrible for this country.”

288 Interesting Times  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:37:55pm

re: #285 Obdicut

The combination of certitude and ignorance is a pretty heavy brew.

They love lies that make them feel better about themselves.

289 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:38:21pm

re: #286 Sergey Romanov

Re:OP. Well, first of all it’s a lie. The question is why the lie. When such lies tap into stereotypes, it’s at least “borderline” bigotry. Like when ADL called out Rush on his “borderline” antisemitic comment about Wall Street Jews.

Please check your email, Sergey.

290 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:40:24pm

re: #285 Obdicut

I just can’t tell if they know they’re being lied to, or they just creatively interpret the statement, like Max above, until it gets close to something resembling a half-truth. I doubt most GOPers really know Obama’s history— so why do they think they do? Why do they think they know about Reagan, when they don’t? Where does this wellspring of self-certitude come from?

The combination of certitude and ignorance is a pretty heavy brew.

It’s why I said that Romney’s comment was structured as is, as it reads differently to each listener. To those who want to hear it as a continuation of his “we need a business owner to fix the economy” bit, that’s what they hear. To those who want to hear it as a racist dog-whistle, that’s how it reads. And so forth.

The man’s spent over a decade either holding office or running for them, he knows how to speak in a way that gets the widest appeal while being totally deniable.

291 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:40:51pm

re: #289 Charles

Sent you a reply.

292 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:42:16pm

re: #290 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

I think you’re right. Look at the clip of him with Hannity. If you just take Romney’s reply, it’s standard, boilerplate “Obama the big-spending liberal failure out of touch” speech. But it’s in direct response to a question about whether Obama is driven by black liberation theology, and Romney agrees. He manages to sound sane and reasonable while agreeing to wild, racist shit.

293 CuriousLurker  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:42:51pm

re: #263 Max D. Reinhardt

I don’t think radicalization in the Islamic community is a widespread problem. Sure, it deserves some attention just like eco-terrorism, the sovereign citizens movement, and other extremist groups in America.

Are there a few people with tainted minds who vote Republican? Yes, of course. There will always be a few crazies in any large group of people.

Right, and that’s probably not a huge problem except when people spouting the ugly rhetoric (as Gringrich has been doing) are running for President and will have have access to the gold codes.

You’ve said before that you’re not Jewish, but you grew up with lots of Jewish friends and are a defender of Israel, right? How would you feel if the GOP was instead blowing anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist dog whistles? Probably about the same way blacks, latinos, women, atheists, Muslims, etc. feel about the ones that are being blown, don’t you think?

294 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:44:11pm

re: #291 Sergey Romanov

Sent you a reply.

Gotcha. Replied.

295 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:44:50pm

re: #293 CuriousLurker

How would you feel if the GOP was instead blowing anti-Semitic, anti-Zionist dog whistles?

Ron Paul!

296 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:46:16pm

re: #287 simoom

Yeah, Newt’s response to Juan Williams’ question sort of wrapped that all up into a nice, neat package:

Folks who want to kid themselves that there was no racist element to Newt’s victory in S.C. need to look again at the poll number track over the course of last week. He went from a weak 2nd place prior to the Juan Williams remark to closing the gap with Romney, then after Thursday’s performance he was the front-runner.

297 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:46:17pm

re: #294 Charles

Image: 1299969-hey_guys_whats_going_on_super.png

298 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:46:24pm

Speaking of new fields of derpitude, over at Murdoch’s #1 meme empire, Fox News, there are wrinkles in that space-time-hate continuum of which I wasn’t aware, such as the “radio” website (radio.foxnews.com). At which we find this delightful combination of Christian-victimization thread:

Obama Once Accused Christian Right of Intolerance, Narrow-Mindedness

Now, I expect Mitt to steer clear of the Obama-persecuting-Christian meme only because Mitt wants to avoid religion all together (for obvious reasons), but I do think Newt will continue find it plays well, and perhaps even better in some states, than the shiftless-black-man meme.

299 CuriousLurker  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:46:27pm

re: #295 jaunte

Ron Paul!

There you go! (Good thing he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of ever being POTUS.)

300 Tommy B  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:46:41pm

*Sigh.*

The trick to a good dog whistle is that it’s got to have plausible deniability. That way, nobody can be 100 per cent sure about the intended meaning, but it’s conveyed to the target audience anyway.

So sure, it’s possible that Romney’s statement was not intended as a racist dog whistle. But it looks and sounds exactly like one.

It’s also pretty damning that Romney’s telling such a brazen lie is par for the course, to the point where it barely raises an eyebrow anymore. As many have pointed out, even if he was talking about non-government jobs, the statement is still untrue. Law professor is a non-government job. Bestselling author is a non-government job. It’s pretty depressing that it’s got to the point where we’re all earnestly debating whether a front-runner for his party’s nomination for President is a calculating racist liar, or a casual racist liar, or a clumsy non-racist liar.

One final thing: Even if we concede that Obama is a “career politician”, it still puts him a cut above Romney in my estimation. Obama at least had to work his way *up* to being a career politician. Romney had a dad who was a state governor, and young Mitt followed him into the family business. As with Dubya, so with Romney: born on third base and thinks he hit a home run.

301 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:46:57pm

re: #295 jaunte

Ron Paul!

He’s an ass, no two ways about it. But being against defense spending is not popular in the Carolinas (North or South) nor in Florida.

302 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:47:43pm

re: #297 Obdicut

Image: 1299969-hey_guys_whats_going_on_super.png

We’re dividing Zionist paychecks.

303 jaunte  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:47:55pm

re: #300 Tommy B

I vote for ‘calculating.’

304 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:48:00pm

re: #298 freetoken

Speaking of new fields of derpitude, over at Murdoch’s #1 meme empire, Fox News, there are wrinkles in that space-time-hate continuum of which I wasn’t aware, such as the “radio” website (radio.foxnews.com). At which we find this delightful combination of Christian-victimization thread:

Obama Once Accused Christian Right of Intolerance, Narrow-Mindedness

Now, I expect Mitt to steer clear of the Obama-persecuting-Christian meme only because Mitt wants to avoid religion all together (for obvious reasons), but I do think Newt will continue find it plays well, and perhaps even better in some states, than the shiftless-black-man meme.

So did McCain and he and Obama were both right. The Christian Right are intolerant bigots. They don’t merely believe being gay is a sin. They believe we should be totally oblivious to children being bullied because of their sexuality because it’s religious freedom to call a kid a faggot and then beat him. But conservative Christians are the real victims //

305 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:48:18pm

re: #302 Sergey Romanov

We’re dividing Zionist paychecks.

You guys got your paychecks? I was told mine was lost in the mail…again!

///

306 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:48:23pm

re: #284 moderatelyradicalliberal

When Obama left Harvard he went to work with people who lost their jobs in steel mills. When Willard left Harvard he went to work putting people out of work at steel mills. I feel confident that the president is ready for anything this vile little man can throw at him. In fact, I think it may be one of the easiest jobs he’s ever had.

Well, we’re talking about the same bunch of people, a portion of whom thought they could prop up a Black restaurant chain CEO and tack the word “business” on his back, thinking that was someone to vote into highest office.

I suppose it’s liberal’s fault HC went groping all those women, but they would rather have someone with a record of a failed senate run 8 years ago than someone with actual political experience.

They deserve exactly what they get in either Romney or Newt. Thing is, even a junkyard dog deserves better than those two.

307 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:48:51pm

re: #305 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

You guys got your paychecks? I was told mine was lost in the mail…again!

///

Oh, if you only knew.
/

308 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:49:05pm

re: #301 Dark_Falcon

He’s an ass, no two ways about it. But being against defense spending is not popular in the Carolinas (North or South) nor in Florida.

That’s what will cripple him. Gosh though if he had been running in 48 or 52 when his type views still were fairly popular. The best outcome from WWII aside from the obvious was that the American public turned away from isolationism forever.

309 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:50:01pm

re: #305 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

You guys got your paychecks? I was told mine was lost in the mail…again!

///

Direct deposit, dude.

310 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:50:11pm

re: #295 jaunte

Ron Paul!

Nothing shocks me about that guy anymore. And the story about the gay man and the rest room is too weird.

311 Just never mind.  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:50:22pm

re: #309 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

Direct deposit, dude.

And that’s a DUDE!

312 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:50:58pm

re: #309 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

Direct deposit, dude.

They said they lost that paperwork too! I think they’re just trying to cheat me out of my pay.

//

313 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:51:18pm

re: #300 Tommy B

So sure, it’s possible that Romney’s statement was not intended as a racist dog whistle. But it looks and sounds exactly like one.

It’s meant to.

314 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:54:48pm

re: #312 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

They said they lost that paperwork too! I think they’re just trying to cheat me out of my pay.

//

Well, they are Jooos, after all.

/

315 Four More Tears  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:56:08pm

re: #65 freetoken

Here are the two polls people are talking about today, showing why Mitt is desperate:

[Link: twitter.com…]

[Link: www.realclearpolitics.com…]

Best part about that poll… look at where the black vote is going.

Gingrich: 42.8
Romney: 7.6

Wait, what, I don’t even… error error:does not compute

316 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:56:31pm

re: #300 Tommy B

Not only do I agree, but your login is the only nickname I’ve ever had. I hate being called Tommy, but for some reason when my initial is appended on it becomes fun and jaunty.

317 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:56:32pm

re: #315 JasonA

Best part about that poll… look at where the black vote is going.

Gingrich: 42.8
Romney: 7.6

Wait, what, I don’t even… error error:does not compute

…the frak!?

318 Four More Tears  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:57:09pm

re: #317 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

…the frak!?

I need this explained to me.

319 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:57:45pm

re: #315 JasonA

Best part about that poll… look at where the black vote is going.

Gingrich: 42.8
Romney: 7.6

Wait, what, I don’t even… error error:does not compute

Why would anyone race aside vote for either? It’s like this. Do you want to get punched in the nose or kicked in the nads?

320 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:58:14pm

re: #317 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

…the frak!?

Maybe the black Republican vote in South Carolina is always terribly ironic. I mean, you’d need a good sense of irony to be a black Republican in South Carolina.

321 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:58:52pm

Or absolutely no sense of irony.

322 Olsonist  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:58:54pm

re: #284 moderatelyradicalliberal

Minor correction, when Obama first graduated from Harvard he took a job on Wall Street for a year at the Business International Corporation. Maybe disillusioned or maybe seeing a life mission, he went on to Chicago.

Again, this doesn’t get mentioned in the never had a job Saul Alinksy line of attack.

That said, my dog ears aren’t quite hearing this one from Mitt. Mitt’s gonna have to get really dirty to out dirty Newt. I still think he’s gonna have to go after Newts character to make any way. He’s either wasting time or he’s reusing old campaign lines. He’s competing with Newt::

What if [Obama] is so outside our comprehension, that only if you understand Kenyan, anti-colonial behavior

323 Four More Tears  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:58:55pm

re: #320 Obdicut

Maybe the black Republican vote in South Carolina is always terribly ironic. I mean, you’d need a good sense of irony to be a black Republican in South Carolina.

Ummm… that’s a Florida poll, bro.

324 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:59:00pm

re: #318 JasonA

I need this explained to me.

Feels like my brain just tried to divide by 0.

325 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:59:02pm

re: #320 Obdicut

Maybe the black Republican vote in South Carolina is always terribly ironic. I mean, you’d need a good sense of irony to be a black Republican in South Carolina.

I believe they elected one to Congress.

326 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 9:59:56pm

re: #323 JasonA

Ummm… that’s a Florida poll, bro.

Ah. Then I just say “Well, it’s Florida.”

327 Uncle Obdicut  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:00:05pm

And kind of throw my hands up in the air.

328 Dark_Falcon  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:02:06pm

re: #323 JasonA

Ummm… that’s a Florida poll, bro.

Even so, its still odd.

And with that, Good Night. Everyone please sleep well.

329 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:02:54pm

re: #326 Obdicut

Ah. Then I just say “Well, it’s Florida.”

There’s a reason Florida has its own dedicated tag over at Fark. Stories out of that state often seem to be just above The Onion in disbelief.

330 Four More Tears  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:03:03pm

On second thought, that result might be a little skewed since there were all of 28 African-Americans responding in it. 28/557.

331 HappyWarrior  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:07:56pm

Well I am going to bed people. Got a big day ahead of me since I’m flying out to ABQ to visit my best friend who I grew up with and haven’t seen in years. Should be fun. Enjoy your weeks.

332 CuriousLurker  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:08:14pm

re: #330 JasonA

On second thought, that result might be a little skewed since there were all of 28 African-Americans responding in it. 28/557.

With that small of a number it could be ultra conservative/religious (probably older) voters. Or business owners who think they’ll fare better under the GOP and don’t care about much else.

333 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:09:59pm

re: #315 JasonA

Best part about that poll… look at where the black vote is going.

Gingrich: 42.8
Romney: 7.6

Wait, what, I don’t even… error error:does not compute

As you noted, the actual number of those self declared as “black” was a very small sample.

Still, I think it merits discussion.

As in the Allen West case, I believe that the strongly Tea Partying black “conservatives” are almost all highly religious, self-declaring evangelical Christians. Thus, when Newt plays the Christian-victimization card he gets that vote. Mitt can’t play that card very easily, as he wants to avoid discussing religion.

334 CuriousLurker  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:10:03pm

re: #331 HappyWarrior

Well I am going to bed people. Got a big day ahead of me since I’m flying out to ABQ to visit my best friend who I grew up with and haven’t seen in years. Should be fun. Enjoy your weeks.

Have a fun, safe trip.

335 CuriousLurker  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:11:12pm

I’ve gotta go too. Need to get ready for Monday. Ugh.

336 freetoken  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:12:22pm

re: #335 CuriousLurker

Need to get ready for Monday.

We all need to get ready for Monday… after all, there is another “debate” (9PM Eastern, NBC.)

337 Charles Johnson  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:13:10pm

Nate Silver now has Gingrich with a 66% chance of winning Florida, versus Romney’s 32%.

elections.nytimes.com

338 CuriousLurker  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:13:11pm

*groan* I forgot about that.

Later, lizards.

339 The War TARDIS  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:14:47pm

re: #337 Charles

Hehehehe

Oh, this is magical!

340 Targetpractice  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:16:00pm

re: #337 Charles

Nate Silver now has Gingrich with a 66% chance of winning Florida, versus Romney’s 32%.

[Link: elections.nytimes.com…]

I’m beginning to wonder if it’s not really possible that Newt could successfully plow racism and being “non-establishment” into winning the nomination.

341 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:19:53pm

re: #315 JasonA

Best part about that poll… look at where the black vote is going.

Gingrich: 42.8
Romney: 7.6

Wait, what, I don’t even… error error:does not compute

Yeah, they polled all 3 Black Republicans in SC, at all.

Whenever somebody trots out stats about “Blacks” always ask for the real numbers. Take it from one who has been that “300% increase in BLACK [WHATEVER] OVER TEN YEARS”

e_e

342 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:23:37pm

Lee Atwater’s corpse rises

343 AlexRogan  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:34:11pm

re: #223 Obdicut

Romney is perfectly fine with race-baiting.

[Link: mediamatters.org…]

Here Hannity asks him if he thinks that black liberation theology and its emphasis on social justice is part of why Obama is terrible, and Romney agrees that it is part of it.

This most recent line by him— and yes, I get that he’s been using it for awhile— make no sense. Obama’s had a number of jobs. He worked as an attorney, among others, and any lawyer can tell you a junior attorney works horrific hours.

It’s a stupid lie, so what is the purpose of it? It’s either the rankest of class warfare— basically, claiming that only running a business, only being the boss, is a real job, a position that’s fucking stupid, malicious, and elitist beyond elitist— or it’s playing on the racial angle, the Obama as affirmative action president.

Either way, it’s a disgusting lie. I don’t really care to unpick exactly how Romney is trying to lie and smear and deceive.

This.

To anyone who is still on the fence about what Mitt meant when he said what he said, think on the bolded stuff above, that ask yourself if a logical, rational person could understand and support either option.

If no, you’re ahead of the majority of Americans. Mitt has learned a new language the past couple of months or so: fluent Asshole.

344 AlexRogan  Sun, Jan 22, 2012 10:41:24pm

re: #342 WindUpBird

Lee Atwater’s corpse rises

Yeah, but even Atwater repented on his deathbed. I seriously doubt that Southern-Fried Newt or Mitt the Tofu Candidate would have any shame for even that.

345 Tommy B  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 12:00:10am

re: #316 Obdicut

Not only do I agree, but your login is the only nickname I’ve ever had. I hate being called Tommy, but for some reason when my initial is appended on it becomes fun and jaunty.

Heh. Oddly enough, the “B” isn’t even my initial. I used to play in a band as Tommy Bedlam, and the nym comes from that.

346 John Q  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 3:04:27am

Heh!

Intrade (on Sunday night) has Romney and Gingrich both at 50% for the Florida primary.

Popcorn!

347 Randall Gross  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 5:49:29am

The republican formula the past six elections has been to run on populist fear. While there’s certainly a historic element of underlying racism when Republicans refer to blacks without jobs, the biggest fear right now is about the economy and jobs, so both sides will be talking about that from now until November.

The trope about “blacks who don’t work” and Obama not having a job was used last election as well, and it’s so accepted among the GOP base and the general public is so used to hearing it that you aren’t going to convince many that it’s racist at a time when jobs is the conversation on both sides.

That said, it’s a cut that also works within Obama’s base — discouraging and disheartening his base because larger percents blacks and Hispanics are out of work right now than ten years ago. When the election truly hits national stage this is going to be the lever that the GOP tries to turn the election over with so we have to have a better argument to defeat that fear other than “That’s Racist!” — even when it is.

348 [deleted]  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 8:19:41am
349 Uncle Obdicut  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 8:21:41am

re: #348 tshinkle

the ridiculous comparison of same-sex marriage with interracial marriage.

Why is it ridiculous?

350 Cardio (formerly JRCMYP)  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 9:23:14am

re: #60 Max D. Reinhardt

He used the same line on his Facebook page days before the primary.

And again.

I haven’t read this whole thread, but the “having a job” thing with Obama goes back to the 2008 election where the GOP tried to compare Palin’s jobs as dog catcher/mayor/political appointee/governor to Obama as a “community organizer.” It was silly. But that’s the image that Mitt is trying to resurrect. And now that I’ve sat with this a bit, yes, it’s a very very very high pitched dog whistle. I didn’t see it at first.

Mitt was my governor. I don’t recognize the guy now. But he will, most certainly, do and say just about anything to get elected. And it’s the *get elected* part that is key here. Newt will do anything to win the primaries. Mitt is smarter than that. He knows that he needs to win the general election, ultimately. And sounding like Newt won’t do it.

So, yes, it’s a dog whistle. It very gently strokes that racist sweet spot without offending people who think they aren’t racist. Clever man.

351 JeffM70  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 10:20:35am

I guess if one were to give Romney the benefit of the doubt he meant Obama has never had a private sector job. But his statement has spoken is a lie, he knows it’s a lie, and I’m pretty sure he knows how the base will take it. Today’s GOP is beyond contempt. The country is becoming more diversified and the Tea Party doesn’t like it because it threatens their traditional socio-economic roles.

352 Gepetto  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 11:09:05am

re: #140 OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin

“You can actually SEE Russia … from land here .. in Alaska!!” e_e

Lol, they will vote for anything.

of course, that single Palin claim has been proven. the Alaskan island of Little Diomede is only a couple of miles from the Russian island of Big Diomede. very visible, and scientifically irrefutably true.

353 Gepetto  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 11:32:40am

re: #247 moderatelyradicalliberal

Romney may want to stay away from talking about church affiliation. Especially church affiliation related to race. At no point has any black church taught that some people didn’t have souls. I’m just sayin’.

you’re wrong on that point. United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors preaches just that, as well as the descent of white people from jackals and dogs.

354 Gepetto  Mon, Jan 23, 2012 11:38:28am

re: #268 Obdicut

as near as I can see, he worked as an attorney. He also scooped ice cream at Baskin Robbins as a job early on. I would not belittle a very ground-level job like food service either, as many of us who didn’t grow up Romney share that first-job experience.


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