Michelle Obama, Carla Bruni 'smackdown': The Swamp
The Swamp
Chicago Tribune
Posted April 3, 2009 12:00 PM
Obama Bruni anthems.jpg

First Lady Michelle Obama, left, and France's first lady, Carla Bruni, listen to their national anthems during a welcoming ceremony in Strasbourg, France, today. (AP photo by Christophe Ena)

The Swamp

by Mark Silva

"The first ladies fashion smackdown.''

That's what MSNBC was calling the public appearance of Michelle Obama, first lady of the United States, and Carla Bruni, first lady of France, today in Strasbourg, France.

Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni.jpg

They both wore bows.

It seems odd to be talking about a Harvard-trained lawyer (Michelle Obama) in these terms, inasmuch as her sartorial counterpart got her post-graduate training from Mick Jagger. But the wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, she being a model and singer, went toe-to-toe today with the wife of President Barack Obama, and it's fair to say that the European press was paying close attention.

"Last year, we avidly followed the wardrobe manoeuvres of Carla Bruni-Sarkozy,'' the Guardian noted. "Regal in Christian Dior couture, the former model was a picture of never-to-be-achieved aspiration. She inspired comparisons to Jackie Onassis, Audrey Hepburn and any other classically chic fashion icon you care to mention. Her demure smile, teamed with shades of grey and the odd flash of royal purple, meant that Parisian chic was the look to aim for.

Obama Bruni crowd.jpg

"This year, with the recession in full swing, she's been ousted from the top of the leaderboard by Michelle Obama, whose styling is nothing if not achievable. Mrs O champions young designers like Jason Wu, yet also wears high street brands like J Crew, the US equivalent of our Marks & Spencer. Carla, on the other hand, wouldn't be seen dead in a M&S twinset and pearls.''

As the two toured Strasbourg on the eve of a NATO summit along the German border this weekend, it was reported that Mrs. O was actually wearing a dress by Thakoon Panichgul, a Thai-born designer who grew up in the States. "His label Thakoon launched in 2004, and he is one of Michelle's favourite designers. Carla Bruni-Sarkozy's coat is by Dior, as suspected.''

Carla Bruni and Sarkozy.jpg

The two found a red carpet, of course, joining their husbands in receiving full military honors from French soldiers dressed in camouflage combat fatigues - French-military designed - on the steps of Strasbourg's Rohan Palace.

"Photographs of Mrs Obama and Mrs Sarkozy, both formally but fashionably dressed, are now expected to lead French and international media coverage which was previously dominated by images by images of violent anarchist protesters,'' the Telegraph noted.

Obamas in Strasbourg.jpg

Add this historical note to the contest: "In 1779, Marie Antoinette stayed there'' at the palace. "In 1805, 1806 and 1809, the palace was home to Napoléon Bonaparte... who had rooms changed to suit the tastes of his wife, Joséphine.''

(Photos above: Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy at the start of the NATO summit in Strasbourg, photo by Saul Loeb AFP/Getty Images; Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni greeting wellwishers, photo by Christophe Ena / AP; Bruni whispers in the ear of her husband, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, by Christophe Ena / AP; President Barack Obama and wife kiss at the start of a town hall-styled meeting at the Rhenus Sports Arena in Strasbourg, photo by Charles Dharapak / AP)

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Comments

Thank God. Finally, some hard hitting journalism. A bit disappointed though - no pictures of the two 1st ladies kissing hello?


I enjoy both of them and I doubt that there is competition. Michelle has a totally different fashion taste than Carla. They also have different interests and heros.

This is as stupid as the so-called contest between the Russian lady and
Nancy Reagan. Just media pomp.


Michelle is the only reason I voted for him.


Go Michelle! Represent the all-around American woman, smart, strong, savvy, caring and politically aware, so much more than a little ole cookie baker!


What a contrast between the two women. Carla is striking and elegant compared to her counterpart. The only accessory Michelle is missing is a trick or treat bag. Face it folks - our first lady (?) exhibits absolutely no sense of style or class. I'm sure all of Europe is enjoying a good laugh.


Obama's dress looks like a housecoat. Please someone show that woman how to dress - her taste looks cheap even though I am sure she spent alot. Target and Penny's is OK for around the house.


Blackie O is dressing for the recession.

She is a role model for blacks.

While the Obamas are in Europe, they can look around and see how many other blacks are elevated to such high political offices....very few.

Be glad, be proud that you're an American, Michelle.


I wouldn't call Hilary an OLD cookie baker - I doubt that she even looked after her daughter and let that to the Secret Service to babysit.


Conservatives don't have any solutions for America's current problems, but they sure are full of fashion advice for the First Lady.


Barf


Michelle: chic and elegant
Carla: boring, and, for a former fashion model, surprisingly frumpy.


When you consider Michelle's poor manners and taste for clothing you must remember she is a peasant. Michelle is also not well traveled, tyear is her first exposure to the rest of the world. Meeting royalty and wealthy are very new to her. She only recently received the great paying job at the hospital that paid well because Barack became an Illinois State Senator. Now that she is in the White House I am sure they will deliver to ger training on how to socialize, manners, clothing tips, etc.


Blackie O is dressing for the recession.

She is a role model for blacks.

While the Obamas are in Europe, they can look around and see how many other blacks are elevated to such high political offices....very few.

Be glad, be proud that you're an American, Michelle.

Posted by: jod | April 3, 2009 2:37 PM


She's a role model for everyone, not just blacks.

And your reference to her as "Blackie" shows that you yourself need some good role models to get past your racism.


jod: Maybe Obama can ship some of those ACORN people over to Europe and teach them how to round up the homeless and register them 17 times. Perhaps a voter fraud class - you know a grass roots thing.


Color evades you, jod, your vision is limited to Black and white. There's nothing like some color to cure the thin-lipped pale-faced look of blase'. The beautiful, cultured couple leading the free world today are attractive, intelligent and well-educated. Look up Ms. Sarkovsky when she's Ms. President's age. She's got a lot of growing to do (and, quite obviously, so do you!).


jod: Maybe Obama can ship some of those ACORN people over to Europe and teach them how to round up the homeless and register them 17 times. Perhaps a voter fraud class - you know a grass roots thing.

Posted by: vla | April 3, 2009 3:35 PM


Yeah, because no one would legally and legitimately vote for a person of color, right?

Ladies, and Gentlemen this is a fine example of the deep racism which sadly infects all too much of the right in this country. Shameful. Utterly shameful.


Lou, the problem with your view "of the right" on any board, about any article you don't know if someone from the LEFT or the RIGHT wrote the post.

We can all attack "a" group, but it might have been setup by someone who wanted the Right or Left blamed.

Someone responded to me the other day, talking about me responding to their post. Problem was they were using a different name.

As for me this is all wonderful, the dress code, the touching, etc.... BUT Congress passed a 3.5 trillion dollar road map yesterday, and articles like this (as I see them) are smoke screens.


PG, glad to see thay your hear to run interference for the racists, of whatever political stripe they might be. I'm sure they appreciate your thoughtful efforts on thier behalf, and your willingness to take on any criticism of their intolerance. They really have a good friend in you.


Yeah Sarkozy's wife is a real class act. The only man she hasn't slept with is Boy George..


Yes Lou....these people are tired of the "guilty white" attacks. There is no racisim......it's all a big set up. Easier to say a set up than stand for what's right.

PG...I also posted many other remarks found in the swamp.....how brave of you to dismiss them all....it's all so trivial.


PG.......why don't you ask Mark to see if my address was the one who made these remarks you think I set up????
Mark could you let PG know if I made the posts on this thread ?


"Yeah, because no one would legally and legitimately vote for a person of color, right? Ladies, and Gentlemen this is a fine example of the deep racism which sadly infects all too much of the right in this country. Shameful. Utterly shameful."

Yes it is, and it is as equally shamefull of those who vote for the likes of a Barry O, a Stroger, or a Jackson just because of their dark skin color. It goes BOTH ways.


Lou....I had this waste of a discussion with PG yesterday. Guess what? I was the racist for pointing the obvious racism in some of the posts. Those poor "guilty whites". There is no racism....just against them.


Wow...two fabulous women standing next to one another looking happy. THIS CAN ONLY MEAN A CATFIGHT!!! I'm super serial dudes, grab your Jello...

Come on. They look like first ladies posing for a photo op. Why the hostiliy?


Hey. April 3, 2009 6:36 PM, since you want to talk about other posts from other threads from other articles to cover you racist arse. I'm not the one who ranted about the monkey reference, and the lady having her face ripped apart, and how sensitive you were in telling me what "monkey" really meant then you go and write a post talking about the "GORILLA" in the room. After the President had spoken.


Hey genius, "PG.......why don't you ask Mark to see if my address was the one who made these remarks you think I set up????
Mark could you let PG know if I made the posts on this thread ?".

Who said it was this thread.


Hey Lou, all I did was state a fact. But obviously some here like to bring out the racist/racism rant.

Just read what I said carefully.


Michelle Obama is a fashion disaster. No taste. Both Barack and Michelle need fashion, etiquette and protocol consultants ASAP! They both embarassed themselves and our country in Europe this week with their behavior and breach of protocol. Michelle never should have pawed the Queen and the Ipod gift to the Queen loaded with Obama's own speeches was the height of arrogance! Who would want that?

Carla Bruni looks stunning in that classy gray outfit. Perfection. Mr. Sarkozy looked sharp too. Wow. What an impressive couple. The French really do understand fashion.

I do hope Michelle continues to emphasize that "it's cool to be smart" to girls as she did at the girls school in London. Girls need to hear those words often.

The President failed to accomplish what he had hoped to during this trip so in that sense his trip was a failure. It's telling when the socialist Europeans reject Obama's economic plans to spend our way out of recession.

Capitialism is what made America great! Let's fight to keep it. Socialism is not the model to emulate. Obama's budget just passed by Congress will quadruple the already massive deficit we have. It's madness. Obama will spend more than ALL of the previous Presidents combined. ALL OF THEM! God, help us. It's an unfair burden to give to our children and their children....

Bush was bad and Obama is proving to be far worse. My Democratic party has taken a sharp turn left and I am not supportive. I am centrist. Dear God, I miss Bill and the real Chicago native Hillary.


and how sensitive you were in telling me what "monkey" really meant then you go and write a post talking about the "GORILLA" in the room. After the President had spoken.


Posted by: PG | April 3, 2009 7:52 PM

You're a piece of work son.....Yes that old saying....800lb gorilla in the room certainly has started many a race riots.



What's the big deal ... ? Michelle is dressing typical of her race ....


STOP...just for a second and ask YOURSELVES a question, why am I where I am today. What makes me so hateful negetive,bitter, jealous,mean spirited, and small in character? What has Michelle Obama ever done to any of you who hate her? Do you know God does not like ugly attitudes? Do you know one day he will judge us all for every idle evil word we speak against someone? Look, you may not think two-cents about either of the Obama's, but God made them, placed them in high places where they are today and he LOVES them whether you like them or not. He even LOVES YOU in spite of all your negetive vile talk, but he hates our ugly characters. God will take you through brokeness, lots of tears, and some hard trials in life as a wake up call to get you to CHANGE!!! He wants to place you in your high place if you're willing to change. Please spear yourselves some heart ache and make positive changes. Do we have to hate everybody we disagree with? No! Inner beauty never fades with age cause kindness rocks! That's why Michelle Obama is where she is today. Kindness is a gift from God and he expects us to use it. When someone is kind to you it feels real nice doesn't it??? Yeah, I thought so.... so go spread some !


Michelle Obama dresses like a tramp, plain and simple.


Michelle Obama dresses like a tramp, plain and simple.

Posted by: Chicago voter | April 4, 2009 9:01 AM


Coming from a classy person like you....that means soooo little.


Give Michelle a break .. this job did not come with a manual.

She will find her feet in fashion and etiquette.

Americans have no manners or style - they are the worst dressed and least respected , most negative people in the world - who are they to judge!


Speaking of fashion accessories, someone must have opened a zipper - because a bunch of racist pinheads have run into the room. I don’t care what your political persuasion might be. These racist and mean spirited remarks about Michelle Obama are appalling. There is simply no excuse for any of it. She has done nothing to deserve them (not that she could have done anything to deserve them). You should be ashamed of yourself.
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Having said so, I have a message for Lou and bill r:
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You have to clean your own house before you start throwing rocks at non-Democrats. There is plenty of racism on both sides of the aisle. I mean, do I really have to remind you of who Geraldine Ferraro is, or the horribly racist things she said about Barack Obama during the campaign? Do I have to remind you about the stuff that Ed Rendell said in Pennsylvania? Or do I even have to remind you of Hillary’s attempts at smearing Barack Obama by painting him as a racist through his associations? She was banking on a certain level of racism among Democrats to help her win. Face it: Racism doesn’t just infect the “right.” It is unfortunately still a problem everywhere. PG was correct in pointing this out. Try testing the message for its truth before you shoot the messenger.


The truth is difficult. And in respect for my deceased father, I am not your son.


John W. I would speak against racisim no matter what camp it comes from. This is not a political issue....this is a human issue.


One other point John W. Where in fact does PG point this out? I made a comment suggesting many of these comments have racial overtones, which indeed some do, and PG was quick, not to point out these statements, but to attack me as the racist. Again...this is not a political issue and all must stand against it no matter what side.


Hey. April 3, 2009 6:36 PM, since you want to talk about other posts from other threads from other articles to cover you racist arse.
Posted by: PG | April 3, 2009 7:52 PM


Hey Lou, all I did was state a fact. But obviously some here like to bring out the racist/racism rant.
Posted by: PG | April 3, 2009 8:01 PM



* * * * *
Posted by: bill r. | April 5, 2009 9:02 AM
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I am glad you do speak out against racism, and so you should. However, I distinctly recall a number of posts from Lou in which he claimed that racism was a problem that infects the “right.” PG took Lou to task for pointing his “racist” gun invariably at the “right.” In your response I didn’t see anything like, “Now wait a second, Lou, this is a human issue and not a political issue.” You agreed with his response to PG, adding: “Those poor ‘guilty whites’ . . . There is no racism . . . just against them.” Looking at the entirety of the discussion, that sounds like an endorsement for Lou’s view of the “racist” right.


bill:
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Look at PG's post on April 3, 2009, at 4:34 PM.
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There, he wrote:
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"Lou, the problem with your view "of the right" on any board, about any article you don't know if someone from the LEFT or the RIGHT wrote the post.
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"We can all attack 'a' group, but it might have been setup by someone who wanted the Right or Left blamed."
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PG’s was pointing out that racism can come from the left or the right. Lou, being totally impervious to the point, then accused PG of running "interference for the racists, of whatever political stripe they might be." You can't win with logic (or lack thereof) by Lou. And THAT is what you appeared to be in agreement with.


John. W, thanks for pointing out what has been very obvious.

Hopefully the people can follow what I wrote responding to a post. Posted by: Lou | April 3, 2009 3:57 PM


"Lou, the problem with your view "of the right" on any board, about any article you don't know if someone from the LEFT or the RIGHT wrote the post.
Look at PG's post on April 3, 2009, at 4:34 PM.

That's wasn't what he was talking about John...he was accusing me of writing the posts. Not once did he admit there were racist remarks. He has consistently denied the remarks and further commented that I was the racist for bringing them to light. Go to the thread on Michelle and the queen to get the whole story.

And PG.......There is nothing obvious other than the fact you completely ignored the racist posts and instead attacked me instead of calling it what it was......and that was racism. That's what is obvious.


John w, please spare me. The Right, and the Republican Party can lecture the rest of us about racism when they have a single African American in elected state wide or federal office anywhere in this country. Not only have they none elected, they haven't run a single African American for those positions in the last two cycles.

Yes, I'm quite sure their are Democrats and people on the left who are racists. But the evidence is unarguable: at this point the far majority of racists would identifty themselves as conservatives and Republicans.

That's the harsh reality. That's why the Republicans are hard pressed to get even 10% of the African American vote in any election. John W and PG can pretend like it's all equal, but only an idiot or obe desperate to defend the right would make that claim.

Please note John, that it's not lefties or Republicans that you've been defending Michelle Obama against here (for which you deserve credit) , It's your fellow conservatives. They are out in force. Angry, Intolerant, and showing their full racist venom.


* * * * *
Posted by: bill r. | April 5, 2009 8:23 PM
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I don't see it that way. PG made no reference to you in particular at the point in time he responded to Lou. In fact, you hadn’t even posted anything to this thread when he made the remark I quoted. Thus, no one (and especially someone who hadn’t witnessed the prior exchange) could reasonably believe PG had singled out anyone other than Lou for criticism for his views. He otherwise made a general reference to all posters and motives. I think you are reading it in an unnecessarily narrow fashion. Perhaps this is so because of the prior exchange you two had in a different thread. Whatever the reason, I think you might have misunderstood his intent this time around.


P.S.
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bill - I read the exchanges between you and PG in the thread concerning Michelle Obama and the Queen. That was a total waste of time. Both of you were talking past each other because both of you were upset.
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I understood your first post, although I don’t understand why you felt it necessary to preemptively condemn racist remarks before they happened. It was also a bit confusing without bringing in the other, prior threads for context.
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There may have also been something in your first post (and perhaps it was subliminal) that might have stirred some ire. That is, you used the word “rabid.” Rabid, in political-speak, is often a reference to the “right,” as in “the rabid right.” I have never heard that term used (in recent history) to refer to Democrats or anyone on the left. I can see how someone might have mistaken your opening post as an unfair attack against a specific group. Ehh. Take it for what it’s worth.


John W......I understand. I guess I was hoping that with a little light on the subject others may stop the race attacks. What angered me was PG's insistence that none of the attacks were racial in nature, which as you had observed, where. And that by my mentioning them, I was indeed racist. I do give you kudos John on your fair observations sir.


Lou,
.
I don’t quite know where to begin.
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1. I didn’t know that African-Americans were the only “people of color.” I thought Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans (from all parts of Asia), Guamanian-Americans, Samoan-Americans, Australian Aboriginal-Americans and even Native American Indians counted too (to name a few). You know darn well that there are plenty of Republicans of the latter description in elected, statewide and federal offices. In which case, I think your insistence on seeing an elected African-American Republican in federal or statewide office as a pre-condition to “lecturing” anyone about racism is setting the bar too high. I think it is terribly narrow-minded of you to set that precondition for the added reason that a lot of African-American Republican candidates have lost in recent elections simply because they were Republicans, rather than because of their ethnic heritage.
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2. In any event, you are in error in stating that Republicans have no “African American in elected state wide or federal office anywhere in this country.” A little research turned up four Republican African-Americans who currently hold statewide offices, and I suspect that a little more research might yield even more. The four I found are: Jennifer Carroll, Representative in the Florida legislature; Maurice Washington, Nevada State Senator; Dale Wainwright, Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court (they elect Justices in Texas); and Michael L. Williams, an elected member of the Texas Railroad Commission. Four is more than one, I think. So, I guess that means Republicans have the right to lecture others on racism, huh?
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3. The number of racists among the ranks of conservatives and/or Republicans would be significant if conservatives or Republicans could control their membership to exclude such people. But they can’t. You know darn well that an individual has the right to declare his or her own party affiliation, and that no party has any right to exclude anyone from party membership. You couldn’t oust Geraldine Ferraro from the Democratic Party with a unanimous vote of all Democrats.
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Furthermore, the number of racists among the ranks of conservatives and Republicans was also affected by the historical exodus of many southern Democrats to the Republican Party after the Democratic Party went radical and nominated George McGovern in 1972. Before then, many racists called the Democratic Party their political home and refused to join the Republican Party because of the south’s loss in the Civil War.
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In any event, one cannot immediately assume that someone is a racist simply because they are a conservative or a Republican. No one, apparently, that is, except YOU. You do it all the time. That is why I find your posts so offensive. I am a conservative, but I am definitely not a racist. I defend “people of color” against criminal charges for a living. I hired “people of color” to work for me. I have even had a romantic relationship with a “woman of color.” So, how dare you point your “race” gun in my direction simply because of my political views. It is totally unfair.
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4. I defy you to tell me how you can determine a person’s political affiliation by a blog entry. You would have to have magnificent mind reading powers to make such a determination, and these are powers you simply don’t have. In which case, you can’t tell me that I was defending Michelle Obama against racist attacks from conservatives versus Democrats or Independents. I have never seen any of those posters before on the Swamp. I can’t tell who they are, what their political affiliation might be, or even if they represent separate individuals. And neither can you. And, no, I am not simply trying to defend conservatives. I’m simply trying to bring some rationality back into the discussion.


* * * * *
Posted by: bill r. | April 6, 2009 11:35 AM
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bill,
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I believe your heart is in the right place, and that your intentions were (and are) noble. However, I think my experiences on this board have shown that no amount of preparation or pre-emption is going to stop racist attacks. There are too many idiots in the world to hope for such a thing. Thus, you and I should content ourselves with smacking down racist remarks when they happen.


Thus, you and I should content ourselves with smacking down racist remarks when they happen.

Posted by: John W. | April 6, 2009 12:54 PM

Agreed sir!


Not one person writing in this thread and the other thread (that's been mentioned), noticed there was someone else before me who took offense at the very first post that had nothing to do with the article. I seem to be a target.

More so, the person keeping it all alive NEVER mentions how I said how they had a "MOMENT". I didn't think I needed to explain that. That first post was taken by "me", as an attack on an innocent article. As Political activism. The post sounded like a guy at a wedding, the ceremony just finished, the couple are in a "moment " (of their own) and you stand up and say, OK, that was nice but it won't last and all the divorce lawyers are outside waiting for your business. Why destroy that, just like the "moment" the Obama's had with the Queen.

Because you've had problems with other people (I guess) on other threads, you seem to think it necessary to continue that attack on every article-thread-post. Problem is you don't, do you.

And I had stopped continuing responding to this because you were off base aimed at me, after you made my point about, "Those poor "guilty whites".


John, I don't know how to break this to you, but a State legislator is not in "State wide office", State wide meaning that they are elected by the entire voting populace of a state.

But wow, 2 state legislators, a Judge, and the all important Texas Railroad commission. What a multiracial triumph there. You Republicans must really be proud! You're puuting the Democrats to shame with a record like that.


But I see that you do admit that a large number of racists joined the Republican party after Nixon specifically targeted them with his "Southern strategy". They've had a happy home in the Republican Party ever since. They like it with you guys. Your interests and their apparently merge quite nicely. Certainly the Republicans havn't made any effort to discourage them from voting Republican.

Let me teach you a bit of basic logic. Saying "Most racists are conservatives/Republicans" is in no way the same thing as saying "Most conservatives/ Republicans are racist." I would have thought you'd understand that. I'll spell things out for you more in the future.

I'm sorry that calling out the racists among your fellow party members upsets you so. I know you'd rather we'd all ignore the racists that are your friends and allies, but I'm not going to do that. I'm going to fight racism, even your Republican and conservative fellow travellers. If that offends you in some way, well, to be honest, I really don't care.

John, do you really believe that their is a liberal conspiracy to post racist attacks on the Obamas to make conservatives look bad? Come on, be serious. If you're honest with yourself, you know where those attacks are coming from. By the way vla posts around here alot. Very conservative, but then again maybe he's just pretending. Maybe you're really pretending. Are you a deep cover Marxist John, here to stir up trouble?


Hey Lou, your logic is hysterical.

What your saying is that every Democrat that has voted for Sen. Byrd (KKK) is a racist.

Got to admit, but I've probably missed it, how you have attacked anyone voting for him, and led a loyal opposition to NOT vote for him, now, in the past or the future are promoting the KKK. Right.

I just love it when someone smacks themselves down and others stay quiet while NOT acknowledging the obvious remarks.(again)


noticed there was someone else before me who took offense at the very first post that had nothing to do with the article. I seem to be a target.
Posted by: PG | April 6, 2009 2:08 PM


That was Inky for crying out loud.......Inky is a bumper sticker who really is hard to understand when he writes. You're welcome to whatever view you see, There were many remarks in there that were quite distasteful...John W. saw them and commented. I only wish you would spend as much energy fighting racism as you do reverse discrimination.


PG, I strongly condemn Senator Byrds past involvement with the KKK. I have no problem saying that. I strongly oopose any individual who votes for him based on a racist agenda.

Again, as both you and your buddy John W seem to have trouble comprehending, I have not said that all Republicans are racists. I've said that there is a strong current of racism coming from the right, and that most racists would identify themselves as Republicans or conservatives.

The fact is, that after 1968, the Republicans made a clear decision to try and attract the rcists of this nation into their ranks. A policy which was extremely successful, leading to the Republican domination of much of the south. You guys can pretend like that's not true, but the facts speak for themselves. The posts here do as well.


Before my post: "Prepare for more tasteless comments from the rabid. Some with their obvious racist taint.
Posted by: bill r. | April 2, 2009 11:27 AM-
Sounds like you are a racist through and through.
Posted by: Inky | April 2, 2009 12:08 PM"

You find that difficult to understand?

Lets just keep on cherry picking "some" words, and ignore the context.
I do try to fight racism by challenging people who bring up racism when it's not there, as you did. You don't want to accept the fact you messed up.


PG.....Well it seems John W saw it. I have a feeling he is closer to your ideology than mine. There was NO DOUBT that there were many racist comments on ALL the threads about Michelle. I also posted about 6 from other threads on the Michelle and Queen thread. So quite frankly your insistence that there were none only proves my case further. Granted, there are plenty of times when the race card is played, but I don't play that game. I can only assume that if you don't see them, you agree with them. When John W said he was appalled at the racist comments.....what was he talking about if they didn't exsist?

ps...and once again...that was Inky. Inky doesn't put 4 words together in any posts. It is like an argument with a 2nd grader. No satisfaction there!


Lou,
.
Your ignorance is turning rather invincible. You denied that there was even one African-American Republican in any state wide office. I have demonstrated with a small amount of research that there are two such Republicans, counting out the legislators. (And, parenthetically, I wouldn’t count them out because I am unsure of how legislators in Nevada or Florida are chosen). I never even suggested that my research was exhaustive. In any event, the existence of two African American Republican statewide office holders is still two more than you were willing to admit. Your assertion has been proven false regardless of how you cut it.
.
And then you say stuff like, “But wow, 2 state legislators, a Judge, and the all important Texas Railroad commission. What a multiracial triumph there.” Of course, here again, you are counting out the numerous other Republicans who hold statewide and federal office who belong to racial minority groups. From statements like yours, one could reasonably conclude that you consider only the inclusion of African-Americans as counting toward some hallmark of equal treatment. Is that it? If so, then YOU are the racist, bud. All people of all racial backgrounds count.
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Oh, and how again was it that Republicans are supposed to discourage people from voting Republican? I don’t know of any political party that discourages people from voting for them. Democrats will take a racists vote as fast as any other - just as long as they can do it without letting everyone know that racist voters support a particular candidate.
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And don’t give me this B.S. about your sorry attempt at a logic lesson. That is the last, desperate act of someone who has lost an argument standing toe-to-toe. You never said “some conservatives,” implying less than all conservatives and Republicans are racists. Your first reference was to “racism which sadly infects all too much of the right in this country.” That’s a rather inclusive statement. In none of your posts, until now, did you ever suggest that racists comprise less than a majority of conservatives or Republicans. Even then you just told me that “racists . . . are [my] friends and allies . . . .” If that’s so, then you divide conservatives and Republicans into two groups: (1) racists; and (2) those who are friends and allies with racists. Again, there is no rational way of contending with this kind of reasoning. A conservative or a Republican can’t win.
.
Furthermore, I really resent the implication. No racist is a friend or ally of mine. Then again, I suppose I will never get that idea into your narrow little mind.


Lou, that was pretty good. Opposing anyone voting for him on a racist base. respectfully LOL.

The part you left out was "any Democrat who votes for a racist Senator, whose affiliation with the KKK, doesn't deserve any respect". Because you seem to think all the racist's are in the opposition. LOL

Very dodgy wording, but very good. Let me copy it. "PG, I strongly condemn Senator Byrds past involvement with the KKK. I have no problem saying that. I strongly oopose any individual who votes for him based on a racist agenda."


John, you really do need a remedial english class "All too many" is not the same as "all". "All too many" means too large a proportion of the whole. There is simply no implication of a majority even. You may not feel that there are too many racists in your party, You may be fine with the proportion, but to claim that is saying the same thing as all is either a lie or stupidity. I'll let you pick.

And yes, I'd agree with your statement that there are racist Republicans, and their friends and alllies in the Party. Your parties whole electoral stategy for the past 40 years has been based in locking up the deep south by appealing to the racist vote. You even admit that. Those are the people you choose to associate with. Those are the people you choose to ally with to achieve your goals. You're right. You can't win, not when you happily side with bigots to get your candidates elected. You choose to be a Republican, knowing full well what their electoral stategy is. You support the candidates that benefit from that strateggy. I really have no sympathy for your or your poor hurt feelings. Don't like it? Find another party, or fight to change it. The answer isn't to attack those who point out the racism, as you do.


Lou,
.
Republicans didn’t try to attract racists after ‘68. The Democrats simply scared away the southern Democrats. George Wallace gave McGovern a run for his money in ’72, which is why the southern Democrat fallout didn’t occur until after McGovern was nominated. It wasn’t until after the unsuccessful assassination attempt on Wallace in ’72 that southern Democrats jumped over to the Republican Party by default. In fact, there is good evidence that the “Southern Strategy” of which you spoke was more paranoia than reality. Nixon lost the majority of southern electoral votes in 1968, and his 1972 victory would have occurred even had he failed to carry a single Southern state. There was no strategy either. It was simply a fact beyond the control of anyone that more white southern voters began to register in the ‘70s as Republicans as black voters registered as Democrats in larger numbers. As I asked before (to which you have yet to answer), what were Republicans supposed to do?
.
And in the second place, between the two of us, YOU are the one in desperate need of a remedial English class. Once you have said that ALL conservatives or Republicans are either racists or the friends and allies of racists, you have basically stated that all conservatives and Republican are the moral equivalent of racists. That was the point of my last post. One who knowingly allies with or befriends an evildoer in any endeavor is just as guilty as the evildoer in the eyes of society. That is the logic you chose in dissing all Republicans; and that, my friend, is just plain B.S. In which case, it simply doesn’t matter if you claim, as you now do, that you said that “all too much of the right” consists of racists, or that you disclaim that all of them are racists. Once you have made all Republicans the moral equivalent of racists, you have effectively called them all racists. Your attempt at word games beyond that is just so much picking nits out of rat filth.
.
And you know what else? I know you don’t care if you hurt my feelings or anyone else’s. I know what you are. Your verbal behavior betrays your victim mentality. The dangerous part about people with victim mentalities is that they can never properly judge their own conduct. And that is why you don’t care.
.
FYI - I am not going to try to change parties to fix the situation. If every Republican who hates racism left the Republican Party, there would be no one left to reform the party from the inside out. There are still a lot of people of good will within the Republican Party who can make a meaningful difference - despite your contrary opinion. If that is the case, then why should I weaken their efforts?


To: PG and bill r.:
.
If it makes any difference in settling your dispute - then, Yes I did see some appalling racist remarks in this thread. Look above to the posts of “jod” (April 3, 2009, at 2:37 p.m.), “vla” (April 3, 2009, at 3:35 p.m.) and EHD (April 4, 2009 12:03 a.m.), all of whom pulled racism into the discussion in a very negative and despicable manner. Did I see any appalling racist remarks from either PG or bill r.? No, I did not.


John W, is your knowledge of history so limited that you don't know about the "Southern Strategy"? Or are you just willing to tell any lie?

Here's how one of the originators of the southern strategy explained it:

"From now on, the Republicans are never going to get more than 10 to 20 percent of the Negro vote and they don't need any more than that... but Republicans would be shortsighted if they weakened enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. The more Negroes who register as Democrats in the South, the sooner the Negrophobe whites will quit the Democrats and become Republicans. That's where the votes are. Without that prodding from the blacks, the whites will backslide into their old comfortable arrangement with the local Democrats."

Lee Atwater later explained it as :

“You start out in 1954 by saying, ‘Nigger, nigger, nigger,’ ” said Atwater. “By 1968, you can’t say ‘nigger’ — that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff. You’re getting so abstract now [that] you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things, and a byproduct of them is [that] blacks get hurt worse than whites.”"

The Republican hero Ronald Reagan chose to launch his 1980 Campaign in Philidelphia, Mississippi. The only thing that town was known for was that three young civil rights activists where brutally murdered there for their activism in 1964. Was he there to show solidarity with those martyrs? No. He never mentioned them at all. He did however proclaim "I support States Rights", the battle cry of their killers.

That's your party John. Proud?

And no, I don't find your being the ally of racists morally equivalent to being a racist.I just think it's quite sad that you are willing to work with them, and in fact,to defend them. However they are morally far more at fault for their own acts, than you are by association. If you feel it's morally equivalent, then I think you should take a good hard look at the political company you keep. You choose to be with them. Am I to avoid pointing out their existence because it might reflect negatively on you? Am I to tolerate their hate speech because you chose to be in the same Party as them?

John W, where is this mythical effort to reform the Republican Party from within? I'd truly like to believe there is one, but I've seen no sign of it. On the contary, the past few months just seems to have been an eruption of the dark side of the right. Be honest John. You can see the increase of nakedly racist posts attacking the Obama's on this blog in the past few weeks. You know that those posts are coming from people on your side of the political spectrum. Doesn't that disturb you? Doesn't it make you question where your party is going at all? Can't that outpouring of racism from the right be challenged without you needing to step in to cut off my criticism of it?


Lou, one very simple question.

Anyone who has voted for Democrat Sen. Byrd, are they racist? Yes or No.


i was going to respond to all of this dribble, but i decided to erase it all. most of these posts are not worth addressing, but i have one question, how did an article about the obama's greeting france's leaders turn into a discussion on race, or even garner racial comments?


Michelle is deliberately dressing like a clown to shame America.


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