PrintJuly 2, 2007
Spot the racist (updated)
If someone told you that blacks are different from other groups in America because they just can't control themselves, getting carried away with raw emotion, you might assume it was a KKK member speaking. But in the latest such instance of negative stereotypiung, it turns out that it is BET television personality Tavis Smiley practicing the not-so-soft bigotry of low expectations. Freedom Zone brings us the story
The moderator of Thursday's Democrat presidential debate was asked by C-Span host Brian Lamb why he didn't enforce a no-applause rule for his PBS-sponsored debate like other debate formats; moderator Tavis Smiley replied: "Because black people are an emotional people. I know it wouldn't have worked."Smiley says the black audience attending the 90-minute session at Howard University would not have listened or complied with such a request for silence, suggesting African-Americans are unable to control themselves.He made the remarks on Friday morning's Washington Journal program aired on C-Span.
The implications of Smiley's assertions are mind-boggling. Blacks, unlike others, cannot be relied upon to respond as adults, in Smiley's formulation. All sorts of invidious discrimination is justified, if Smiley's assertion is to be believed.
I remember a previous appearance of Smiley on Washington Journal a number of years ago, where he engaged in what can only be called double-talking in response to difficult questions from viewers, spewing a rapid-fire string of words at considerable length. Lots of code words were in the responses, but if one listened to actual sentences, they did not scan. In attentive listeners would hear the code words and nod their heads, but there were no actual coherent thoughts being expressed. I cannot think of anything which better illustrates Smiley's contempt for his audience.
Where, or where are the PC police when you need them? Oh, that's right: blacks cannot be racist.
I remember a previous appearance of Smiley on Washington Journal a number of years ago, where he engaged in what can only be called double-talking in response to difficult questions from viewers, spewing a rapid-fire string of words at considerable length. Lots of code words were in the responses, but if one listened to actual sentences, they did not scan. In attentive listeners would hear the code words and nod their heads, but there were no actual coherent thoughts being expressed. I cannot think of anything which better illustrates Smiley's contempt for his audience.
Where, or where are the PC police when you need them? Oh, that's right: blacks cannot be racist.
Hat tip: Larwyn
Update: Alert reader Jimboster supplies us a link to a clip from the same C-SPAN appearance of Smiley, where he is asked to comment on the Fairness Doctrine and is thrown for a loop. Instead of admitting he doesn't know what it is, he fakes it. It could have been worse, though. No double talk this time.
